July 19th
Outside, the weather was beautiful in Gotham. The sun was out and there were no dark clouds to indicate rain whatsoever. Family's were picnicking in the park or lounging on the beach.
But inside Wayne Manor in the room of the Boy Wonder, the weather was dark and gloomy. The curtains were shut and the door locked as Dick Grayson sat on his bed, holding two photographs in his hand, looking at them by candlelight. One was of him and his parents, standing in their acrobatic uniforms from the days back in the circus. He still had the costume locked away with his circus memorabilia. The other one was of him and his best friend, Alexandria Cramer. Sure Wally was his best friend now, but no one could ever replace her. They grew up together but he lost her the night he lost his parents. Even though Bruce Wayne took him in and raised him like a son, he missed Lexie so much. Today was to be her thirteenth birthday. For the first few years under Batman's wing, there was a gloomy presence that surrounded the young hero. Although he has made new friends, he would always remember her.
As he continued to sit and mourn the loss of those he loved so dearly, a voice was heard over the intercom, Alfred.
"Master Richard, Master Bruce requests your presence at Mount Justice with the other young hero's. He said he knows what day it is but it's in your best interest to go."
Sighing heavily, Dick placed the photographs down on his bed and blew out the candles before swiftly changing into his costume and headed down to the BatCave. There was a zeta-beam transporter that would take him to the new HQ.
"Recognized: Robin, B01."
The female computerized voice spoke as he passed through the hologramized door. Superboy and M'gann were so far the only ones there, mainly because they lived there.
"Robin, do you have any idea why we're all being called together?" The green skin-toned martian asked the expressionless Boy Wonder.
He didn't reply, only shook his head. A few minutes later Aqualad and Kid Flash arrived with Batman, Flash, Superman, Black Canary, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Red Tornado and Wonder Woman who was holding a small black kitten in her arms.
"Hey are we gettin' a cat? 'Cause I'm more of a dog person myself." KF said, but Black Canary shook her head.
"No Kid, you're not getting a pet. This is Bastet and she's going to be your new teammate." Wally looked from his combat teacher to the cat before laughing.
"We're gonna get to have an animal for a teammate? That's a good one." he was cut off by his Uncle Barry glaring down at him.
"This is no ordinary cat. You'll see why in a second." Wonder Woman said as she held the cat up and looked directly into its face. "It's time now. Don't be afraid, I'm right here." She placed the cat on the ground beside her which gave her a small mew before beginning to shift and change form into a teenage girl, shocking the Young Justice gang.
She had long platinum blonde hair and wore a dark blue tight tube top with silver lining, with dark blue leather pants both having black cheetah print with a cheetah's face just above her stomach. Her boots were knee high black with three buckles and silver leopard pattern and silver fingerless elbow length gloves with blue tiger stripe pattern. Her mask was black with a blue outlining that shaped around her eyes but you could still see the blue-sea green color of her eyes. (im going to be putting her picture on my diviant art account with the link to it on my profile here. i'll let you know when i post it)
"Wow, she's cute." Wally whispered over to Robin and Kaldur before speeding over to the girl. "Hi there, names Kid Flash but you can call me Wally." he flirted.
Bastet's eyes widened and she quickly ducked behind Wonder Woman with a small squeak.
"Hey, what happened?" KF asked as he tried to approach the new girl again but she jumped away and hid behind Superman's cape.
Flash came up to Wally and gave him a big smack upside the head.
"Do you have to think that every girl you meet is someone to hit on? Cut it out already, you nimrod!"
Wonder Woman walked over to Superman and gave Bastet a hug.
"It's alright, dear. He's just a little eccentric, something you'll get used to in time. Now let me introduce you to your teammates." She took the girl by the hand and led her first over to Kaldur. "This is Kaldur'am, also known as Aqualad." Kaldur held out his hand to the shy girl.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Bastet."
"And a pleasure to meet you as well...I've...studied all I can about Atlantis through r-reading and sometimes I dream of seeing it. F-from all the tales I've been told, it sounds beautiful."
"It truly is."
Bastet looked away as Flash came up beside her.
"Now moving on, you've already met my apprentice Kid Flash, he's also my nephew. If he tries hitting on you again, just give me a call and I'll kick his butt faster then you can say dumbass." Wally shrank back a bit as Flash gave him a weary look.
Flash stepped back so Wonder Woman could take his place and introduced M'gann next.
"This is J'hon's niece, M'gan."
"I'm so glad I'm not the only girl. It'll be nice to have someone else to talk to...who's a girl, I mean." The green martian stuttered as she held out her hand.
Bastet looked a bit nervous at first but she accepted the hand and moved on to a boy with the same logo on his shirt as Superman. She backed away a bit at the way he looked down at her.
"You need to follow Wonder Woman." Clark stated, refusing to make eye contact with Superboy.
Bastet looked at her new teammates before following Diana into a room where Batman and Robin entered a few minutes later.
"Alright what's going on Batman? Why'd you just pull me away, on today of all days no less! Couldn't this have waited?!" Robin asked but the Dark Knight shook his head.
"No. I know how today is for you but there's a reason why we introduced Bastet to you all today. Now go ahead and take off your mask."
Robin looked up at his mentor with surprised eyes. He had been forbidden to reveal his identity to anyone, including Wally yet he could show this stranger? But Batman had a reason for doing what he did, so slowly Robin took off his mask. Wonder Woman knelt down to Bastet's level and took her hand.
"Look closely at him, sweetheart." she whispered before standing.
Bastet looked at Dick's face for a few minutes before her own eyes widened as she started muttering.
"No...it's not possible...you...you're supposed to be dead...This isn't real...You're not real!" Her eyes started watering with tears as she began hyperventilating.
"Uh...what are you talking about? I'm not dead. How am I supposed to be dead?"
Bastet reached up and took off her mask to reveal herself to Dick.
"Because someone screamed 'The Grayson's are dead!' and I felt everything disappear from me that night. I thought I lost my best friend." she whispered as she cried silently, falling to her knees while Dick's eyes widened.
"L-Lexie? I-Is that really you?" Dick slowly reached out and knelt down to her. "How did you - How are you here? What happened to you?" he whispered as she dove into his arms wrapping her own around his neck, sobbing into his shoulder.
"I missed you...I missed you so much and I thought you were gone. I thought you left me forever." she whispered as Dick eagerly returned the hug, afraid to let go in fear that she might disappear again.
But something occurred to him. He looked up at Batman who was standing with Wonder Woman.
"You knew she was alive all this time and you didn't tell me?!" But Batman shook his head.
"She's only been with me at Wonder Woman's home for the past two years. Before that, we had no idea. Superman had chased a criminal into the forest on the outskirts of Gotham. Using his X-Ray vision to locate the criminal, he found Alexandria had already captured him. He came back to the Watchtower after taking the criminal to jail, he explained the situation. Black Canary and Wonder Woman were dispatched to find her. She's been apprenticed to them both ever since." He explained as Diana knelt down beside Lexie while Dick raised her head to dry her tears with his cape. "We weren't planning on explaining her to you and the others. We figured that would be something she could tell if she wanted when she was ready. Dick, she is the only person you can show your true face to and she will be living with us at the manor from now on because it will give her time to adjust to living with other people before the possibility of moving her here. Now, head back to the others for now but be back at the manor by nine." Batman said as Alex gave Wonder Woman a final hug.
"It's time, young one. But if you need me, I'm just a call away."
"Goodbye, Mother." Alex whispered back as Dick placed his mask back on and took his best friends hand.
"Don't worry, you'll like it here. It just might take some getting used to." He said as they left the room and headed back to the main hall.
"But…that boy who looks like, uh...Superman, I mean, he doesn't seem to like me all that much."
"Nah. He just takes some time getting used to. Don't worry too much about it. He tried to kill me, Kid Flash and Aqualad when we first met him but that was because he didn't know any better. See, he's a clone of Superman that was created in a lab within sixteen weeks by Cadmus. But he's Superboy so unless he asks, I wouldn't say anything about Superman while he's around." Dick warned as he opened the door to the main hall where the others were still talking.
The other Justice League members had already left.
"Hey there Bast, everything cool?" KF asked as M'gann noticed the two enter the room.
"Yeah…uh…everything's ok." She mumbled faintly but it was loud enough to be heard by all.
"Well why don't we head into the living room and we can all get to know each other…I mean only as much as you want to tell us." The Martian suggested.
"Uh…sure." She followed Robin and the others through the halls of the cave, pointing out the different rooms along the way.
Bast quickly memorized them all as they came through the kitchen which was connected to the living room. The group sat down on the long curved couch with Superboy on the far left end, M'gann, Wally, Kaldur, Robin, then Bast on the opposite end.
"Well…I guess…since I'm the new girl,…I'll start." She reached up and took off her mask, revealing her face to the others.
Wally's mouth dropped as he whispered 'wow'.
"My name's Alexandria Cramer but you can call me Lexie or Alex if you want…Uh.,.my powers aren't as great as say flying or super strength...I can communicate with animals and transform into any feline, though I don't really don't know how it happens...I do have heightened senses like certain animals. But that's about it. I've been apprenticed to Black Canary and Wonder Woman ever since they brought me to Wonder Woman's house two years ago and I never went anywhere else...This-well-this is my first time being outside in two years...Before that I lived in a small forest on the outskirts of Gotham. There isn't really much else I can say. I-I have no real parents as far as I know. I-If it's ok I'd rather not talk about it anymore…Can I learn some things about you guys…please?" She asked timidly.
Kid Flash gave her one of his wide grins.
"Sure Kittycat. I'll tell you anything you wanna know." Robin glanced at the mini speedster as Lexie chuckled nervously.
So one by one, each of the young hero's explained somewhat of what they could do…from M'gann's ability to link minds in a telepathic link to Kaldur's ability to use magic to help his powers over water and electricity. By the time everything was done and over it was getting to be late.
"Alright guys, I hate to be the one to break up all this fun but Lexie and I have to be heading out. Bats wants us both back at the Cave by ten and you know how he gets when it comes to being on time." Robin said as he and Lexie stood up.
The others bid them goodnight and Robin led her through the tower, to the main room and input her name into the zeta-tube system.
"Recognized: Bastet B05. Recognized: Robin B01." The robotic voice said as the two were engulfed in a bright light and stood in Wayne Manor within seconds where Alfred was waiting.
"Ah Master Richard, Miss Alexandria. Master Bruce has made me aware of the situation and I've set up your room down a few doors down from Master Richard. Tomorrow, Master Bruce will take you and Master Richard out to buy you some new things. But for now, the two of you need to get some sleep. Come, I'll show you to your room."
Alfred led Alex down a series of hallways with Dick by her side. He stopped in front of a set of large French doors and opened it.
"This is your room, Miss Alexandria. Master Richards room is just to your left. If you need anything, call either myself or Master Richard." Alfred gave a small bow and left, leaving Alex with Dick.
"well I guess this is where we'll turn in for the night. See ya in the morning." Dick turned to leave but Alex reached out and grasped his arm.
"Dick…please….stay with me tonight." She whispered.
Dick smiled immediately.
"You bet. Just let me get out of my costume. I'm pretty sure Bruce got you at least some started clothes. Check the dresser and closet. I'll be back in a few minutes." Dick disappeared out the doors, shutting them behind him to give Lexie some privacy.
She took a look around the room. It had an attached bathroom, king sized bed, a huge bearu, walk-in closet and a large window that over looked half the city and the other half the forest that she used to call home. She rummaged through the dresser and found a dark blue nightgown. Stripping herself from her costume, she put the gown on in time for Dick's knock on the door.
"Lexie, everything good?" he asked, opening the door by a sliver.
"Yeah, I'm good." Dick opened the door to reveal himself in black pj's.
"Remember when we used to do this as kids?" he asked as they both climbed into bed.
"Yep…" She threw herself into his arms again. "Promise me you'll never leave me again?" she asked.
"I promise…Nothing will ever make me leave you again…ever." He promised as he hugged her back and then lay down, still holding her hand. "Sleep well, Lexie. I promise I'll be here when you wake up." He reassured.
"Thanks Dick." She whispered back as the two old friends fell asleep beside one another, just like the good old days.
Ok I decided to go back and rearrange and rethink somethings. One major thing I'd like to point out is ROBIN AND LEXIE ARE NOT IN LOVE YET!...They're just two friends who've found each other so forgive me if it seemed like I was trying to be creepy in the end because they slept in the same bed...They're thirteen people!
Also, the reason I gave a lengthy description about how she looked was mainly for her costume. I spent three days just coming up with the design and another two days to give it color.(yes i drew it and it will be posted to my deviantart account soon)
Everything else about her and such will be explained within the first season. If I gave everything away in the beginning, then what's the point of reading it, right?
SO I WANT NO FLAMES ABOUT LEXIE BEING MARY SUE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT(previous reviewers, i've taken your thoughts into consideration and have made the changes to help ease the troubles so i'm not directing this at you...)
Anyway, if you still are confused about some points about this story hold off on them in reviews because this isn't meant to be a quick answer story. There will be answers, I promise, but you have to have patience. Please? :)
