Chapter Two: The Team Missing Their Halo's
M'gann scanned over the recipe for stir fry once more and without even moving the fridge opened once more and a few ingredients floated out. She watched them take their places beside her other ingredients and listed everything in her head to make sure it was correct.
Pleased she hummed to herself and began the process of opening all the cans and bags with her telekinesis. With her hands she heated up the stove and salted the wok that she would be preparing everything in.
Over the sound of her humming she could hear Artemis, Robin, and Kaldur talking quietly while Connor watched his static from the couch. M'gann smiled to herself, pleased at having the team living in Mount Justice. It hadn't taken much to persuade Wally or Robin but Artemis still went missing for many days, staying with her mother instead. Yet for the most part the whole team lived in the mountain.
A blur entered M'gann's vision and then Wally was standing at her side reaching to pluck a piece of seared beef from her wok. Without pausing in the mixing of ingredients M'gann spared Wally's wrist a firm slap, quickly forcing him to withdraw.
"Aw come on M'gann I'm hungry!" Wally complained, giving her his best puppy dog eyes. M'gann couldn't help but smile but her voice was firm and her gaze steady as she reprimanded him.
"So is the team!" M'gann scolded and chased the speedster from the Kitchen.
"I really thought you'd cave for those eyes, how sad." Wally sighed and M'gann heard Kaldur softly laugh from his seat at the island. The alien glanced over to catch Artemis rolling her eyes at their antics and Robin smirking at her reaction. It really was great having the team all here M'gann thought as she smiled even wider.
"You idiot-" Artemis was cut off by whirring of the Zeta Tubes as they warmed up. The team as a whole turned to peer at the hall leading to the mission room.
"Red Arrow B-4, Guest C-2." The computer's voice announced, it's strange female voice echoing through the mountain.
"Roy!" Wally cried and he was gone. The rest of the team excitedly followed suit, all but Superboy and Artemis who kept a slower pace.
Soon enough the whole team stopped in the mission room to see Wally jumping Red Arrow with his speedster excitement. The team though we're quickly distracted by the small hunched figure standing in Roy's shadow. All were stunned at the sight of the girls large white wings and tattered clothes, her scarred skin showing through the barley wearable T-shirt.
Finally Wally noticed her as well as stopped his Assult on Roy, instead peering around the archer to the girl who was staring at the floor near her feet. With a growl Roy smacked the speedster upside the head, cause the hero to grunt in surprise and pull away.
"Didn't anyone teach you that it's rude to stare." Roy snapped at Wally who just smiled in apology. With a snort Roy looked up at the team as they stopped before him, the winged girl shuffling behind him as if she wanted to just hide behind the archer.
"What do we owe this visit to Red Arrow?" Kaldur welcomed, being careful not to say Roy's name around this stranger.
"Well I have a favor to ask of you, all of you." Roy boasted, his eyebrow rising as a signal to Kaldur of his that it was okay to be relaxed around the stranger.
"What do you need?" Robin questioned, his voice eager and friendly.
"This is Angel." Roy answered and stepped aside to reveal Angel in all her glory.
Angel was small framed and very thin, almost to the point of starved. Her pale blond hair was tangled and dirty, reaching just past her bony hips. Her hallowed out cheeks made her deep eyes seem too big for her face and her pale lips were cracked. She would be beautiful if she wasn't so mistreated looking.
The team had very mixed reactions. Connor and Robin seemed unimpressed but Roy knew they were really just thinking to themselves. Artemis looked surprised, her eyes continuing to search over the girl while M'gann was purely concerned and distraught at the sight of the Angel. Kaldur seemed to be somewhere between Artemis and M'gann. Caught between calculating and worried.
"Hello." Angel quietly greeted, her gaze barely lifting from the floor to see the team before returning to the stone. Then her eyes widened and she looked up in shock at M'gann. "Are you ill?" Angel gasped and rushed to the Martian.
M'gann so caught off guard could only state as Angel looked her over and reached out to touch her. Roy was suddenly beside Angel then and he gently took her wrist, pulling it away from the alien girls skin.
"No Angel, she's actually from Mars. Her skin normally looks like that." Roy informed and watched as Angel's concerned changed from concern to embarrassment, then from embarrassment to disbelief.
"What?" Angel asked, her gaze turning to Red Arrow for answers.
"I'm from Mars." M'gann answered with a proud smile. The alien seemed pleased to find someone who didn't know what Martian's were. "So is my Uncle, The Martian Manhunter." M'gann stated proudly, expecting a reaction.
Angel could only stare blankly at the taller girl, her wings stirring as an uncomfortable look passed over her face. "I'm sorry but I don't know who that is."
"Oh." M'gann uttered, surprise crossing her face once more. "He's a founder of the Justice League."Again Angel stared emptily at M'gann, still confused by the names being told to her.
This time the whole team reacted stunned by Angel's lack of knowledge about the superhero group that had been around most of their lives. M'gann furrowed her brow and have Roy a questioning glance.
"Angel hasn't had much... experience with the world. More to the point she's being hunted and she needs help." Roy filled in calmly, as if he'd just told the team it was dark outside or what the weather would be tomorrow.
"Hunted?" Robin inquired, his brow rising over his sunglasses in question.
"Wait why is she inexperienced with the world?" Wally chirped, his eyes widening as a idea to roof in his mind. "Is she a princess?"
Connor cast a glance in Angel's direction and snorted, he doubted princesses were supposed to look like that. The rest of the team equally skeptical of this idea.
"No." Roy growled, his glare which pinned Wally in place, could be felt even through his mask.
"Why are your clothes burnt?" Kaldur suddenly noticed and the team all took in Red Arrow's blackened suit.
"Listen." Roy snapped, his thinning patience apparent in the crease between his brows. "I need to get her somewhere safe and I brought her here first because I didn't want the league to scare her. But if you guys can't take her I'll have to make arrangements. So I need an answer."
"Of course-" M'gann began only to be cut off by a stern looking Kaldur.
"Who's hunting her?" Kaldur questioned.
"A man that goes by Master and apparently has a following of people he likes to call Angel's. They are his test subjects as well as Angel herself." Red answered, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the team. "I'm sure she could have a few people to relate to here and the protection she needs."
The team was quiet for a long while and Angel fidgeted as the silence stretched on. She and Red Arrow had talked before coming here and she knew what he was going to say. Yet she still found it unsettling to tell strangers where she was from and who was after her.
"I say we keep her." Connor stated blandly, giving his wide shoulders a shrug just to ensure the team he didn't care either way really.
"She's not a pet Connor." M'gann scolded, a blush dusting across her green cheeks.
"I agree, we could use some more feminine friends here at Mount Justice." Wally laughed which earned him a sharp slap to the back of the head from Artemis.
"I say yes." Artemis agreed and Robin nodded yes, casting his vote.
"Alright then it's agreed. Welcome to Mount Justice Angel." Kaldur chuckled and swept his hand around the mission room as if to showcase it. "This is where Young Justice lives. Which is the team us six make up and we promise to protect you."
"Thank you." Angel muttered quietly, her eyes finally meeting the teams gazes. "Sorry if I'm trouble."
Angel eyed the plate placed before her, her stomach twisting into knots at the smell of steaming food. It was strange looking to her, colorful and whole the food seemed a little harsh. Honestly everything in the world outside seemed harsh to the muted grey's of her dimly lit cage, the noises all too sharp and the smells too crisp.
Angel was used to rice and beans, cooked long enough together to create gruel. After all it was one man feeding twenty three people, it only mattered what was cheap and could be stretched. Angel didn't know how her father got money but truly never desired to know.
"Angel?" A warm voice called and the girl peered up at a concerned looking M'gann. Sweat bloomed on the back of her neck as her heart picked up, the rest of the teams gazes all turning on her. "You haven't touched your food, is everything alright?"
Angel's gaze dropped to her food and she eyed the strange green thing that looked like a tiny tree. Had she really just been staring at the strange food this whole time? She couldn't even remember touching it once since it had been placed in front of her. The thought of forcing food down almost making her gag.
"I'm sorry." Angel whispered and felt her shoulders tense.
"Oh no!" M'gann cried and Angel jumped, her skin crawling at the outburst. Hesitantly Angel perked up, expecting annoyance or anger but instead M'gann wore a face twisted with distraught. "Do you not like it? Are you allergic to anything in it? I didn't even ask you! Stupid Megan." She remarked to herself but she was peering at Angel with apologetic eyes.
Hot shame burned across Angel's skin and her mouth went dry at the guilt welling up inside her. She was such a jerk, she should have eaten it no matter what it looked like. Or the fact that her shriveled stomach would throw it up soon after.
"No I'm sorry I'm just tired and I'm not really hungry." Angel hurried, feeling even worse for sort of lying to the kind alien girl. It was true she was exhausted but she knew, even if it felt like a out of body experience, she was starving. Her last meal being almost two day ago.
"Oh." M'gann said, her distraught look remaining fully in place. "I'm sorry I should have asked you."
"No, no it's okay. I'm sorry for wasting your food." Angel murmured, ducking her head to stare at the foreign food.
"Oh don't worry it won't go to waste, trash bin over here will suck down any scraps." Artemis scoffed as she gabbed her thumb at Wally, who had been eyeing her food up till this point.
"Hey!" Wally growled, turning to glare at Artemis from across the table. His anger vanished though as he turned back to Angel. "Really though I'll eat it."
At Wally's side Robin began to snicker, earning him an elbow to the ribs from Kid Flash. The small boy only laughing harder at his friends attempt to shut him up.
"Yeah and I'll show you to your room." M'gann smiled as she moved to stand only to stop as a tattooed hand came to rest on her shoulder.
"It's alright M'gann finish eating, I'll show Angel to her room." Kaldur hummed before his piercing blue eyes regarded Angel. "If you don't mind." He added and Angel blinked, a little shocked at being asked if she was okay with anything.
"Y-Yes, I mean no. I don't-t mind." Angel stuttered, feeling expose under the Atlantan's pale blue gaze.
"Well then come along." Kaldur advised warmly.
Angel only nodded before casting the group one last glance and a weak smile. Then she was on her feet and following quickly after Kaldur, her feet hurrying to match his stride as he strode through the living area. A ruckus stared up behind them and Angel heard M'gann laugh just as she followed Kaldur into one of the many halls.
The alien girls laughter soon faded away as the pair traveled farther away from the center of the mountain. Leaving them in a state of quiet, the sounds of their footsteps the only noise between them.
Angel had noticed Kaldur was bare foot but said nothing as it was clear that it was a choice of the Alantean's. Still Angel wondered how his feet never froze, even through her worn sneakers Angel could feel the chill of the stone floor.
"Here, this is your room." Kaldur stated and eased to a stop in front of a metal door. "Access." Angel leaped several feet back as the door slid into the wall suddenly. Kaldur's mint green eyes glanced at Angel with concern and instantly the girl turned a fair shade of pink.
"It's okay it's the doors response to my command. Just say Access and you can gain access. If you wish for privacy you command it to lock from the inside and it will." Kaldur explained and Angel tried her best not to seem awed by something that seemed so mundane to him.
"Thank you." Angel smiled, because no matter how uncomfortable she was, this was very gracious of the team.
"Not a problem Angel." Kaldur replied, returning her smile with a gleaming one of his own. "Goodnight."