A/N: You will be pleased to hear that I managed to survive the positive flood of homework my professors tried to drown me in this week. It was a close thing, though. Anyways, posting might become just a weekend thing if this kind of stuff goes on. :'(
So, what with Fallen Heroes and World Turned Upside Down *both* giving me horrible writer's block, this is something new. Not sure if I'm going to work on/finish it anytime soon, but I felt like I should post something and this is all I can come up with. (May I also say that this is a relatively long first chapter as my stories tend to go).
Pairings: not that I have a very clear idea at this point, but eventually there will be at least hints of RoyxArtemis, RoyxCheshire, and KaldurxArtemis (maybe). With Supermartian implied, of course. In this chapter, just a *hint* of Spitfire, which most likely won't amount to anything in the story unless the plot bunnies so decree.
For once, Rated T for injuries/blood only- NO CHARACTER DEATHS! Unless I absolutely can't resist... *evil grin*
Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice. Nor am I affiliated with DC in any regard other than the fact that I am obsessed. But this is obvious by now.
It started out as a covert mission, same as all the others. That was sort of the point of their team, after all. And, just like most of their other missions, the 'covert' part didn't last very long.
"I don't know why we even try for stealth anymore. We might as well just charge in with all guns blazing," Robin said conversationally into his com-link as he executed a perfect spinning kick to the head of the thug he was fighting. Not missing a beat, he leapt into a back-handspring and launched himself, feet first, into another thug who'd been trying to take him from behind. Instant blackouts all around.
He landed in a crouch, battle ready, until he realized he had taken them all out. He scanned the area, still on guard in case there were more of them hiding in the bushes.
Silence.
Suddenly a voice exploded in his ear. "You say something, Rob?"
Robin jumped into action, flinging a handful of explosives in a wide arc. Red lights flashed, and then a series of colossal booms shook the ground as fire filled the air.
"Hey!" the voice shouted in his ear, and he realized—too late—that it was only Wally on the com-link. "Robin, what's going on?"
"KF!" Robin shouted, hiding his embarrassment. "You scared me out of my skin!"
"Hey, you broke radio silence first. Not my fault you're jumpier than a kangaroo."
"Well, you—"
"Oh, will you guys stop acting like babies?" Artemis said exasperatedly.
"Kid. Robin. Artemis. That is enough." That was Kaldur. "Robin, what is the situation outside?"
"All guards neutralized."
"Good. Meet us inside. And," he added wryly, "take it easy on the explosives."
"Got it. On my way." He sprinted into the compound, leaving nothing but a circle of unconscious thugs and a ghostly, echoing laugh in his wake.
"We have company," Psimon said darkly, opening his eyes.
Cheshire scowled behind her grinning mask. "The sidekicks?"
Psimon nodded.
Cheshire whirled around and kicked an ornate end table in frustration. The table shattered and collapsed into a heap of splintered wood. "I don't have time for this!" she yelled, turning on the others, who watched nervously. "Get moving," she ordered. "Search everywhere; if we leave empty handed I promise you will all regret it." Three of the four scurried from the room, trying to hide expressions of pure fear.
Cheshire turned her gaze to the one who remained. "Was I not clear enough for you?" she said haughtily.
"This is pointless," the young man replied, contempt in his voice. "The place is too big, and what you're looking for is too small. We don't even know if it's here."
Cheshire's knife was at his throat faster than he could blink. Not that he did; he just stared down at her uninterestedly. "You and I both know you can't kill me here. A dead body would raise too many questions."
"True as that may be," she said, pressing the point of the dagger further into his skin, "you need to be reminded whose side you're on now." An idea occurred to her, and she exchanged a glance with Psimon. "On second thought, this presents just the opportunity you've been waiting for."
"What are you talking about?"
"The sidekicks. You want to prove your loyalty? Here's your chance. Go," she gestured vaguely, "take care of them."
The man's gaze hardened, but he nodded stiffly. She sheathed the knife. "Good boy. I knew you were a smart one."
"Get the job done," he snapped; then he was gone.
Robin skidded into the ballroom just as Conner straightened up from his fighting stance. The rest of the team was there too, along with unconscious bodies strewn about the vast room. "Aw, man!" he whined. "You guys had all the fun without me!"
Wally snorted. "You had your fair share outside."
"Stay focused!" Kaldur said sharply. "There may be more. This isn't over yet."
"Actually—at the risk of sounding cliché—it hasn't even started," said a voice from somewhere above them.
All six teenagers craned their necks, scanning for whoever had spoken. "There," said Robin, pointing. They looked and saw a figure standing, half in shadow, on a balcony that opened onto the room.
"Nobody moves," the figure said. "Stay where you are and I won't shoot."
"My turn," said Robin, reaching for his utility belt.
The figure laughed. "Think again, Boy Wonder. Or should I call you by your real name? Would you like that?"
All eyes turned towards Robin, who tensed. "Who are you?" he demanded. "How do you know my name?" He could be bluffing… please let him be bluffing.
There was no answer; instead there was a sharp twang and something whistled through the air, to land, quivering, at Robin's feet. Not taking his eyes off the figure, he reached down to pull the long, slender object from the carpet.
It was an arrow, fletched with red feathers. The message was loud and clear. "No…" Robin whispered in disbelief, eyes snapping back up to the balcony. "Are you insane? What do you think you're doing?" he shouted. Why, why, why? Around him, his teammates were giving him puzzled looks. They hadn't figured it out yet.
Red Arrow stepped forward into the light, and Wally gasped. Realization dawned on the others. Shock followed. No way, Wally thought, no freaking way. He would never… but there was no denying that it was Roy standing there, bow drawn with an arrow pointed directly at Robin's chest.
"I don't want to hurt any of you, but I will if you force me to. Turn around and walk away, pretend this never happened, and I'll let you go. Try to fight, and you will regret it."
"He is insane," Robin said. "Snap out of it, Arrow! You're supposed to be on our side!"
"Not anymore," Roy said, without even a hint of regret in his voice. "I'm sick of being treated like a child. I've had enough of the League trying to force my hand. They thought they could keep me in check." He laughed bitterly. "Well, no more. The Shadows have given me the respect I deserve."
"We have always respected you, my friend," Kaldur said, his voice steady as always—though Robin could sense how betrayed he felt. "Surely you know that. This—this isn't you."
"It's not open for discussion!" the archer snapped. "This is who I am now. Deal with it. Now, you all have a choice to make."
Robin looked at Kaldur, who nodded. He whipped his grappling gun out, fixing a line to the balcony railing and dodging the arrow Roy shot at him before flying through the air. At the same moment Conner launched himself at Roy, a feral war cry escaping his lips.
Unconcerned, Roy shot another arrow at Conner, who yelled in pain and crashed to the floor as it pierced his arm, and then used a knife to slash through Robin's line. Robin fell, barely managing to break his landing with a roll so that his bones didn't snap. He sprang to his feet, ready for another go, but the sight of Conner bleeding on the ground distracted him. He ran to the clone's side, where Megan was trying to stanch the bleeding. "That shouldn't have even poked him," Robin said. The arrow had punched cleanly through his bicep, the point protruding on the other side. A glint of green showed through the dark red coat of blood on it.
"Kryptonite!" he turned his head to glare at Roy. "The Shadows teaching you new tricks? Where did you get Kryptonite?"
"It doesn't matter."
"You're right; it doesn't," Artemis shouted. "Because we're still taking you down!" She nocked an arrow and drew the string, but Roy was faster. An arrow whizzed towards her, steel tip glinting maliciously. "Look out!" shouted Wally, crashing into her and knocking her to the floor just as the arrow slammed into his back. A scream tore from his lips and he fell onto his hands and knees.
"Wally!" Artemis shrieked, scrambling to her feet. "Wally, hold on, just hold on—" bracing one hand against his back, she wrapped her other hand around the arrow shaft and pulled. Wally screamed again, but Artemis kept working. She tore a strip of fabric from Wally's sleeve and pressed it to the wound, which should have already sealed itself and yet was still pouring blood. "You guys, we can't stay here!" she shouted. "Aqualad, call retreat! We have to get Wally to the bioship!"
"Superboy needs medical attention too, " Robin said.
"Call retreat, Kaldur," Roy sneered. "If you know what's good for you."
Kaldur sighed. "All right. You win. M'gann, the bioship."
"Wh—oh, right…" Megan closed her eyes and reached out a hand to summon the ship. She levitated Conner into it while Robin helped Artemis with Wally.
"We will cross paths again," Kaldur called out as he boarded the ship. "Try to make the right choice next time." He turned his back, expecting to hear the snap of a bowstring at any second. But he was allowed to leave unchallenged. The ship's portal closed, and they lifted off from the ground. Megan pushed the ship to its limits, speeding towards the Mountain, while Artemis and Robin frantically tried everything they could think of to help Conner and Wally. Kaldur watched without really seeing any of it. Roy had betrayed them; he couldn't believe it. Didn't want to.
He knew Roy had always felt slighted, ever since that first day at the Hall of Justice. But he never could have foreseen this. He knew Roy; or he thought he had. Now all he could do was wonder why.
Wow, what a crappy ending for a chapter. =P Oh well.
Poor Roy. So misguided, and yet he has so much potential. Should I keep going with this? Review!
