Duty
Note: This character, Kaldur/Aqualad, is the only level-headed member of his team. The other members express little concern for him in dangerous situations and mistrusted him after he made a bad decision leading them.
My teammates appear so carefree. This is not to say that they are perpetually happy, but they seem to have no qualms about letting their emotions run rampant, and no concern for responsibilities. I am the one, wearing a calm mask, to whom they all look when decisive action must be taken.
Leadership is my burden to bear for now, I know. Kid Flash is impulsive and lacking finesse in every way. Miss Martian is too eager to please, ready to look to another or hesitate when battles rage around her. Superboy's anger and arrogance make him a poor choice, and Artemis does not trust her teammates or her own capabilities. Even Robin is too young and independent, not ready to step up. I am tempered by my training in Atlantis and have learned much strategy from my king Aquaman, but the duty of leading this team is a lot for a youth to bear.
I realize that a leader must be the one to take charge of a team. He must accept the blame for mistakes, and be the voice of reason when chaos reigns. He must be a general, commanding the soldiers beneath him. As much as I am tempted to let myself be caught up in the storm of emotions in battle, I cannot. I am set apart for as long as others look to me.
I am the youth who does not have homework to complain about, or extracurricular sports to participate in. I have no secret identity on the surface world. I am the one in the background, providing advice when needed, but never intruding. This is my identity to my teammates, to the world, and they do not question it. I am sometimes happy that way. I can see everything. Who they are, their relationships, how they fight, everything that matters. Sometimes I am not happy with my role as an observer and counselor. It puts me on the outside.
It shows, too. I am not as dear to them as Miss Martian. They are loyal to me, and fight alongside me as I command them, but their faithfulness to me is not the sort of affection my teammates feel for Miss Martian. We both burn in the cage, and she is the one they think of first. I know that their immediate thought for our first female teammate makes sense. Robin can step up as leader, but there are few heroic telepaths, and M'gann is the heart of our group. I have put aside any anger towards them.
I have accepted my role. It is the one I must fill, the one that others require of me. The greater good is the highest priority, as my king has told me repeatedly. If my needs and life must be sacrificed, so be it.
So be it.