Chapter Two
Loki was too busy glaring at Wally to notice the design of the mountain stronghold. The boy, who was glaring right back, was infuriating. He kept insisting Loki was a fraud and that his spells were nothing more then cheap tricks. CHEAP! Loki was one of the greatest illusionist in all the 9 realm but that was hardly his only skill either. He was a master of ice and water based spells, highly skilled in Earth and wind as well. Even his charms and hexes were at the very least expert level. He was a master Enchanter, Potioner, and Alchemist. He was one of the primary gods of magic! About the only spell work he couldn't do were fire based and that was only because of his affinity for ice! And that mortal insect dare called him CHEAP!
Loki showed him just how 'Cheap' he was. He spent the entire night using his 'worthless tricks' to smite the brat, including getting one last prank in this morning where he filled the boy's bed with conjured snakes. They were completely harmless of course as they were effectively just solid illusions but they did successfully scare the child out of his wits. As expected the boy responded to this by attending to punch Loki but even though he was a Speedsters he wasn't really fast enough, or smart enough. Loki used more of his 'cheap tricks' to con the brat into going after illusions well throwing conjured snow balls at him (more to annoy then injury as he didn't want to reveal himself yet). But of course the game ended with Loki being taken over the Flash's knee and soundly spanked well the brat looked on... but after Loki was freed and he began to stew over the unfairness of it all as he had during his youth Wally actually found himself in that same position...
That was something different he really was not used to. When he was a child whenever he played a harmless prank and the others acted disproportionately it was always entirely his fault. His brother and his friends always got off scott free well he was harshly punished no matter what they had done to provoke him. He's treatment during his youth made more sense now that he knew what he was. Why his brother had always been praised where Loki himself brought nothing but shame in their father's eyes... mother's eyes however were filled with love when she looked at him. She really never did care what he was. To her she was his son... truthfully Loki worried what she thought of him now.
"What's with that face?" Wally demanded
"Eh?" Loki blinked and realized his face had transformed from a glare to near tears "N-nothing" he lied retreating to the persona he had adopted. Perhaps a bit of truth would help that image? "J-just thinking about my mom"
Wally looked shocked for a moment, followed by an obvious uneasiness. Loki didn't really understand why. The lie he told was that she was dead. Mortals die, it's what they do, yet they seemed so uncomfortable at the thought of it.
Wally opened his mouth to say something presumably comforting by his body language and facial expression but he closed his mouth again and just let them stand in ackward silence until the others came.
Loki looked around the empty lair "Where is everyone?"
"They'll be here soon" Wally shrugged "Give them a break it's Sunday. I'd still be in bed if Flash didn't have to go buy furniture for your room"
Loki scuffed before muttering "He wouldn't of had to buy anything if he let me keep my stuff
Suddenly the computer came to life as the portal of light reopened to bring someone else into the base "Recognized: Robin" a skinny short boy wearing sunglasses walked out of the light and over to them. He appeared to be around the same age as Loki's body.
"Hey Wally" the boy smiled and performed some bizarre 'secret handshake' with the older boy before grinning at Loki "This a new recruit?"
"This is Jivin" Wally introduced "He's another 'magic user'," his use of air quotes caused Loki to retaliate by subtly turning the ginger's hair to hot pink. Loki had learned males of this realm believed that color to be largely feminine and shameful for them to wear... Loki learned this by acquiring himself a pink shirt with a Pegasus printed on it and getting teased relentlessly by other males of his age when he wore it. On Asgard Pegasus were seen as majestic powerful companions to a warrior but here they were seen as something out of a little girl's fantasy. Obviously these idiots had never actually seen a Pegasus or they would not hold such an opinion. Still it was just a bit of culture clash he'd have to look out for.
Robin smiled and didn't alert Wally to the change at all, clearly wanting everyone to see the prank. It was just a minor one after all, no harm in that.
Soon others arrived such as 'The Superboy', who looked briefly at Wally's air but dismissed it. Then a archer called 'Artemis'. A witch girl named Zatana. There leader Kaldur'ahm, AKA Aqualad. And finally M'gann, Miss Martian.
The Martian looked at Wally's hair with wide eyed "Wally that look is perfect for you!" she seemed genuinely excited "Although I thought Earth males generally disliked pink"
"Pink?" Wally blinked
Artemis and Robin started laughing hysterically well Superboy raised an eyebrow not understanding. Aqualad sighed, not getting the joke either.
"You might want to check a mirror" Robin grinned
Wally zoomed away in a blur and not a moment later did they hear a loud scream from deep inside the cave. Zooming back Wally glared at Loki "You little brat, YOUR DEAD"
Loki's eyes widened in shock. Not even Thor would try to kill him over a prank. The miniature god acted immediately, firing a lightning bolt at the Speedsters. Wally easily doubted and charged right for him. He tried to grab Loki and ended up tripping through an illusion. Loki stepped out from behind the couch and shot out a minor shock spell. The incident with Flash proved his body couldn't stand the strain of using his best spells during a fight with a meta human so he's have to use weaker ones and apply more strategy to his choices. He was even using incantations to lessen the toll on his body. He hated incantations. He moved beyond them thousands of years ago but this body was just so weak.
Wally dodged the sparks again and with his speed he was instantly in front of Loki with another attempt to punch him but Loki substituted himself with another illusion. He appeared behind Wally and grabbing his arm, touch spells cost less energy as well. Wally gasped as his body started being coated in ice but quickly punched Loki in the face with such force through speed the miniature god flew back a good ten feet. As Loki got up Wally used his Speedster powers to shatter the ice and was about to charge again when Aqualad stepped in between them
"That's enough" He ordered "Wally stop over reacting to a meaningless prank and Jivin turn his hair back" Both boys just continued to glare at each other until Kaldur snapped "NOW" with a great deal of force and authority.
Wally scuffed but got out of his fighting stance. Loki observed him closely for a moment to make sure it wasn't a trick. As a Speedster dropping his guard meant nothing as he could be back full swing into an attack not a micro second later. Loki huffed when he was sure it wasn't a trick, boy probably wasn't smart enough for such strategic thinking, and waved his hand. The color spell broke and Loki waited for the boy to make his next move.
"There" Kaldur glared at both of them "It's over. I don't want anything like this to happen again"
"That little monster has been terrorizing me with his stupid pranks all day!" Wally glared
Loki rolled his eyes "Oh yes Pink hair, what a horrifyingly atrocious attack on your person"
"You put SNAKES in my bed!" Wally glared
Loki snorted "Is that what your little temper tantrum is about? Please they weren't even real. Why is it my fault you keep falling for such 'cheap tricks'?"
"That's Enough!" Kaldur snapped and both boys grew quite "If we are to work together then such things cannot be allowed to get so out of hand again. You two need to calm down and declare a cease fire otherwise both of you will be benched the next time we go on a mission. Such in group fighting will likely derail our assignment"
Loki blinked staring at the Atlantian. The Mortal was actually showing himself to be a competent leader "Fine" Loki sneered "But he better stop calling me a charlatan or I'll beat him over the head with my magic until he has no choice but to admit it's real"
Wally scuffed well Kaldur nodded "I realize Wally can be offensive towards the art but I've known him for years and he still considers my people to be 'primitive' and 'superstitious'. I advise you just too ignore him"
Wally looked shocked "When have I ever called you-"
"In the tower of fate" Kaldur reminded "Although I know you did not intend for it to be insulting to my people directly you did say it"
Wally looked down shamed faced "I didn't mean... sorry"
"If I took it personally I would have brought it up much sooner then now"
"Still... sorry..."
Kaldur nodded "Under normal circumstances I would accept but seeing as that's how you continue to treat magic users and therefore don't actually intend to change I am not obligated to" Loki smiled but unfortunately Kaldur caught that "Nor do I appreciate the art being used to for meaningless practical jokes. Magic is dangerous and magnificent. You should have more respect for it then that"
Loki scoffed "You sound like my mother"
"A wise woman, you should listen to her more"
Loki rolled his eyes and snarked "That would be kind of hard" and started to leave the room. He caught Wally whispering something in Kaldur's ear. No doubt telling him his mother was dead. That could prove to be a useful backstory. He could generate a lot of sympathy from the mortals with that if he played it right but he'd have to be careful not to over play it or they might begin to think he was suffering from some kind of depression.
Before Loki could make his exit the portal device flared up again "Recognized: Batman. Recognized: Flash. Recognized: Pied Piper. Recognized: Trickster. Recognized: Mirror Apprentice"
Batman took a look around the room and noticed the children's expressions "What happened?" he demanded
"Nothing" nearly all the kids said as one, as if that wasn't a big give away.
Kaldur seemed to have more sense and replied "It's been handled"
Batman nodded, letting it drop "We were just clearing your new members"
"Cool guys" Wally grinned running over to the Junior Rogues. Most of the boys were Wally's age except for Mirror Apprentice who appeared to be 17 "You finally get tired of me kicking your butts. It's only natural you'd want to be on the winning side"
"Shut up Baby Flasher" Tricksters grinned, obviously playfully teasing "You're League just seemed to realize how pathetic you lot are and called in the experts to whip you into shape"
"Yeah I bet" Wally smiled
"So this is the Junior Heroes Clubhouse" Piper observed. He was carrying a cage of rats in his arms with a flute on his belt "Was expecting some kind of high tech secret alien lab or something... why aren't you guys in costume?"
Wally shrugged "We only wear costumes on missions. This is neutral ground like at school"
Piper shrugged "That works" walking over to the other heroes "Hartley Rathaway" he introduced himself, his name was a matter of public record from his various arrest.
"M'gann M'orzz" the Martian girl shockingly introduced "But everyone calls me Megan" you'd think she be more cautious around criminals... unless she really didn't know who he was.
Piper smiled "That's James Jesse, AKA The Tricksters, and Evan McCulloh, Mirror Master's Apprentice AKA the Mirror Apprentice"
"Mirror Master?" Aqualad eyed looking over at Batman, getting a subtle nod which not only confirmed his suspensions but he was also assured him it was safe "Kaldur'ahm" he never bothered with a secret identity anyway given that he was an Atlantian. Aqualad was a respected title in Atlantis not like the traditional 'codename' most heroes had "That's Conner AKA The Superboy, Zatana, Artemis, and Robin. I fairly certain none of them have real names"
"Zatana is my real name" the witch girl huffed
"Jivin just arrived today as well" Kaldur pointed at Loki who was glaring at Trickster
"You're going to have to change your name" Loki informed
"What!? Why?" James glared
"Because I am the only one worthy of the title 'Trickster'"
Flash groaned as the two boys started bickering at each other.
"Hey shirmp I had the name first!"
"I highly doubt that" Loki glared
Flash looked over at Batman as the kids bickered "So much for Jivin wanting to join the Rogues" they probably won't even tolerate being in the same room together if they weren't being forced. Their plan definitely backfired as they would now be forcing the kids to get along with this. At least this gave the Junior Rogues a good opportunity.
