The Teen Titans, the heroes of the city, beloved by all. They were the perfect team, a well-oiled team, the four of them working in perfect harmony. No villain stood in the way of their justice, and no hero escaped their sight. They were the Teen Titans, the ultimate heroes. Nothing could change their team dynamic…

"There have been reports of a person dressed in all black stealing from big businesses." Robin told his team. Cyborg, Raven and Starfire sat on the couch, listening to the report with varying levels of interest. "At the same time, there are reports of a figure in all black donating large sums of money to orphanages and shelters."

"So we have some kinda Robin Hood guy 'round the city now?" Cyborg asked, raising his eyebrow in disbelief.

"Seems like it. The businesses have reached out to us to stop this person, but…" Robin trailed off, looking away from his team.

"But that would mean no more help for the helpless." Raven supplied, looking up from her book. She had a nack for multitasking.

"Exactly…" Robin sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Is it not our jobs to help those who need help?" Starfire asked, furrowing her brows. "It does not seem these 'Big Businesses' do not require our assistance, for they are already doing quite well. It is our duty to help those who are not doing well."

"Star's right. This guy has to be at least half good." Cy said, standing and stretching. "Maybe we should talk to 'im."

"I'll keep my scanners peeled for any activity that matches the figure. Maybe we can recruit them."

The boy ran along the ally way, listening to anything that might give away the one following him. The boy scoffed as the person stepped on a piece of trash, causing a fairly loud cracking sound. Or rather, loud to the boy's ears.

The boy dipped his head down so his hood covered his ears more. He counted to three before taking a deep breath.

The person following him lunged and the boy took off. His clothes dropped to the ground, settling around nothing. A small green bird flitted through the air, dodging the person's hands by a hairsbreadth.

"Get back here you little freak!" The person cried, grabbing for the bird frantically. The bird quickly transformed into a large bear, causing the person to fall several steps back. "W-what the fuck are you?"

The boy turned back into his human form. Though his larger outer layer had been shorn and lay in the ally, he had a tight body suit of all black on. The person could see the boy was small, maybe the size of a malnourished fourteen year old.

But that's not what scared them. What scared the person the most was what the small boy looked like. He was green, with pointed ears and dangerous looking fangs. The boy looked at them and cocked his head to one side, making his green hair flop over.

"What am I?" The boy asked, trying not to laugh at the person's frightened face. "I'm just your worst nightmare, man." And he charged.

"Titans!" Robin called, watching the small blip on the screen move. He didn't have to turn around to know his team had assembled behind him. "There he is. The Vigilante."

"Already? Wow." Cyborg said, rolling his shoulders in preparation for the battle he was expecting to have. "It's only been two days. This guy likes to keep busy, huh?"

"We are not going to hurt him, are we?" Starfire asked, looking worriedly at the blip. Three more blips had tailed the first, and were closing in fast.

"Raven, can you make a portal to let out around… here?" Robin asked, pointing to an area about thirty yards ahead of the blip.

"Of course." Her eyes were already glowing. Within seconds, the team was sprinting through a portal. Landing on their feet, the Titans prepared for the four figures that were about to meet them head on.

Seconds pass, then a full minute. The Titans release their battle stances and look around uncertainly.

"Are we in the right spot?" Cyborg asked, checking the map in his database.

"Of course we're in the right place." Raven spat, slightly uncertain.

"Titans, listen." Robin commanded, causing his team to fall silent once again. They could hear the sounds of panting and something hitting the wall, something like a body. Without a word, the Titans leapt forward, towards the sounds.

They turned the corner of another ally and stopped dead. In the ally were three people all slumped over and groaning. Robin stepped forward and checked the vital signs of the closest one. He let out a silent sigh of relief.

"He's fine. Just stunned, maybe a minor concussion." He reported, straightening up. Something moved in the shadow, and in the blink of an eye, the leader of the Titans had his staff out and pointed at the shadow. "Show yourself, and we won't attack."

The figure, almost completely masked by the shadows, shuffled. Robin was almost completely sure whoever was there was going to bolt. He readied his staff to attack, but the figure took a tentative step forward.

Whoever it was, Robin noted, was small. Their head barely came to his shoulder, but it seemed like they were slouching. They were wearing an oversized sweatshirt that concealed every inch of their face. Their hands were shoved in their pocket, and it seemed like they were limping.

"Are you alright?" Starfire asked, floating past Robin to get closer to the figure. The figure in black fell back, leaning on the ally wall as if they couldn't stand on their own.

"… 'm fine." They said curtly. Robin heard the voice of a boy, but was worried about his size. Too small for a boy with that kind of tenor, he thought to himself. This boy reminded Robin of himself, before Bruce took him in.

"You don't look fine." Cyborg said, probably a little sassier than he meant to be.

"Look, I said I'm-" The boy started, before Robin cut him off.

"Are you the one stealing from those big businesses?" He asked, taking the smallest of steps forward. The boy flinched and took a step back. A gust of strong wind blew through the ally.

"Are you going to arrest me now?" He asked. Robin could hear the fake confidence in his voice. He took a deep breath.

"Are you also the one donating to the orphanages and shelters?" He asked, hoping to show the boy they weren't about to beat him up too. The boy hesitated, his shoulder still leaning against the wall heavily.

"Yeah… that was me too… I'm not that bad of a guy." There was a hint of a smile in his voice, but his actual face was still concealed despite the wind trying to pull the hood away.

"We never thought you were." Robin said calmly. The boy laughed, but it was a bitter sound.

"Is that why the famous Teen Titans came all this way?" He said sarcastically.

"What's your name?" Robin asked, wanting to appear as harmless as possible. The boy hesitated again, stepping back into the shadows.

"I don't have one." The boy whispered, folding in on himself.

"You have to have some kind of name." Raven spoke up, crossing her arms.

"No… not anymore." He said. He took another step back, but an even stronger gust of wind smacked the boy head on. His hood pulled back, just barely, but just enough for a glimpse of his face to flash in the darkening sunset.

"G-green?" Cyborg gasped. The boy growled and pulled his hood over his head again.

"Don't look for me again." He said, his voice dropping an octave. He stepped back into the shadows and disappeared.

The boy ran away from the ally, tears stinging his eyes. It had been so long since anyone had talked to him like… like a human being.

He had to get away from them.

"What's your name?" Something he hadn't been asked in a long, long time. He had a name, long ago, but he didn't deserve it now. The boy climbed up the rickety ladder to the roof of an abandoned building. He slipped through the skylight and went into the empty pent house.

There, in the pent house suite, was a pile of blankets and rags, lovingly gathered and arranged to form a nest of sorts. The boy took off his baggy clothes, leaving behind the body suit, the only thing he had to his name.

The boy curled up in the make shift nest, the moon light barely lighting up the large, empty room. He curled in on himself more and sobbed, a name echoing in his head.

"Garfield."

My first Teen Titans story… I hope this can live up to the plot bouncing around in my head! I know this is a little out there, AU wise, but I hope to tie everything in nicely.

Any questions, comments, concerns? Shoot me a message!

Until next time!

~Starlight