AUTHORS NOTE: Been a while, but finally this can be posted! I don't have anything else to say but I hope you enjoyed it!
Chapter 4: Joining
Athena, dressed in her Green Lantern outfit was out to meet Speedy, she had worked with him and Green Arrow many times as both their homes were so close. She saw Speedy, but he was dressed differently, she didn't know if it was the real Speedy or not.
"Hey Speedy!" She waved and smiled. He gave her a look of disgust, she slowly stopped waving, and her smile slowly falling to a frown.
"Its Red Arrow now, and what do you want?" He asked her. So it's a name change, he is now Red Arrow, now that people won't get him and Wally confused. Athena sighed and sat on the ledge of the apartment that they said was their meeting point.
"We want you Roy, we want you on the team." Athena said not looking at him, Roy was standing around pacing when he had heard Athena say that he stopped. She knew he was going to say no. Or ask what this team was.
"What team?" He asked, there was her answer. She didn't bother turning around, she just stayed like that, sitting on the roof top looking at his city, looking at what she had to rule once Green Arrow was old and had retired. She too would have to do the same once Hal was old, once John was old and like what happened with Alan Scott.
"We have a team now, we're not a part of The Justice League, we're called 'Young Justice' I don't know why we're not The Young Justice League, or maybe we are..." she trailed off slowly not knowing what to say next, or not knowing what to tell him. She got off of the ledge and turned around – he was still there and she was shocked. She figured he'd of left and not given a word at all about the team.
"Ena, I'm not joining your little group..." he started off angry, she could sense the tone in his voice but she stood her ground, she wasn't going to leave in a fit of sorrow. "You may not understand this because you're not really a sidekick – but we're treated like sidekicks, like we don't know anything. You're not even one, so why should I tell you?"
"Just because I'm not a real side kick doesn't mean I'm not being treated like one. I get called Kid Lantern sometimes. But look okay so you're not going to join us fine. You stay cooped up in your little ball of frustration and I'll just go." Athena said starting to levitate.
"That's not what I meant." Athena shrugged it off and flew back home.
Once home she opened the door, her uniform off and walking into the lounge room where Hal was watching TV. Now by the fridge, she took out some milk and grabbed a bowl and a box of cereal, pouring the cereal and the milk into the bowl grabbing a spoon and sitting down on the couch next to him.
"Did you try and convince Roy?" He asked, slowly looking away from the TV to his friend who nodded slowly before taking a tablespoon worth of cereal and shoving it into her mouth.
"Yeah, but he said no. I don't think he'll ever say yes..." Athena said shrugging her shoulders, "I guess he just needs it at the moment maybe. From being a sidekick to now being on his own. He needs this,"
"But it's so different to what he used to be, remember when we'd team up with him and Oliver and he was enthusiastic about it, but he's..." Hal said not finding the words to complete his sentence but Athena had an understanding of where he was coming from.
"I know, I know." Athena said taking another mouthful of the cereal. "I hope that we pull in with this new team."
"I'm sure you will, don't worry you've got the best members on the team, so if something were to happen Batman would be there. Plus you're a Green Lantern you can handle any problem" Hal said with a light chuckle, Athena finished her cereal and went to go put it in the sink. Hal walked over and gave her a tight hug before proceeding to bed. Athena did the same.
It was a week later, and during that week Athena lazed around the apartment but sometimes the Green Lantern corps had something important for her and Hal to do, to join up with John and the other lanterns to defeat someone. This morning, Athena woke up at 10 am, the normal time she woke up most days anyways. She got up, grabbed the clothes that she would wear today and go into the shower. Once showered, she ate breakfast and waited for Hal to come back from the run he takes every morning. At 11 am he came back, taking her eyes off of the television to her friend she smiled.
"Good morning, how was your run?" She asked watching him, he walked over to the table top to take a bite into an apple he took from the fruit bowl on the tabletop, she went shopping each week and she'd bring back different types of fruit, sometimes national sometimes international. He shrugged his shoulders, moving from the television she walked over to Hal and sat down on the bar stools he had.
"It was alright, the usual stuff. Have you spoken to the team about Roy?" Hal asked her taking another bite of the apple, she nodded her head.
"I called Wally to tell the others... he flirted with me for about five minutes and then I finally told him and he listened and then proceeded to flirt with me again." Athena said with a laugh.
"I may not be your father Thea, but if he touches you, I'll get him!" Hal said pointing at Athena. Athena really valued Hal a lot, he saw Hal as an older brother, as a best friend and even though they had a 16 year difference that didn't mean that she could see him as a brother and a good friend. "I'm telling you the truth, stop laughing at me!"
"What, I can't help it! You know Wally couldn't harm a fly. He's been flirting with me ever since we've met!" Athena and Hal now laughing again but much louder. Quieting down now she sighed. "Plus Hal, I can look after myself."
"I know, but I can worry about you – you know that right?" He asked her and she nodded. "Good, now I think it's a good idea that you go down to the zeta tubes and find yourself in Happy Harbour before Batman gets you."
"Alright, alright I'm going. I'll blame it on you if I'm late though!" She said giving Hal a hug goodbye, he hugged back tightly and he walked off to the shower, only quickly running in before him so she can spray deodorant because she smelled like sweat from Hal's hug. Then running down the flight of stairs to the teleporter she normally uses.
Megan and Superboy were there to welcome Athena, well really Megan was, Superboy was off to himself. Athena brought her lantern with her in case she needed to charge it. Megan watched Athena as she began to recite the Green Lantern's oath.
"In brightest day, in blackest night. No evil shall escape my sight, let those who worship evils might. Beware my power; Green Lantern's light!" The lantern light shown bright and once Athena was finished it quickly dimmed. Athena paused and turned around and smiled at Megan who smiled back.
"That was awesome!" Megan said still holding her smile, Athena smiled again and put away the lantern.
"Thank you, I mean it's not that great but I suppose you have the same excitement as I did when I first saw Green Lantern do it." Athena paused, she was happy she didn't say Hal's real name. "So, do you know when the boys are going to get here?" Athena asked, Megan shook her head, Athena sighed and nodded. "Well let's do something, I want to know all about you. Meeting another person from another planet is just so interesting!"
"Oh but I want to know more about you and your earth!" Megan said, Athena chuckled 'Yeah, my earth is very different to this one'. Megan was her new friend and she had to lie to her about this earth. She had to trust Megan though, if they were going to be friends then they had to trust one another.
"Well let's see. I have a mum, a dad and a sister. Plus a cat and a dog." Athena said looking everywhere else except for at Megan, Megan nodded and the pair continued talking until Aqualad came into the cave. Hours later was Robin and Kid Flash, the whole gang was here.
"Did you ask him?" Robin asked excitedly.
"What did he say?" Wally asked matching the same tone his best friend had. Everyone turned around and smiled.
"He's arriving now." Kaldur responded.
"Then what are we waiting for?!" Wally said running off. The group followed with most of them walking except Megan who was flying. For Athena to fly she would have to wear her Green Lanterns outfit. Walking to the front of the cave was Red Tornado flying down. "RED TORNADO!"
"Greetings. Is there a reason why you intercepted me outside the cave?" He asked.
"We had hoped you had a mission for us." Kaldur asked.
"If you do, that'd be lovely!" Athena said with a smile.
"Keep talking like that lovely" Wally said mimicking Athena's accent, Athena sighed and ignored him.
"Mission assignments are the Batman's responsibilities,"
"But it's been over a week and nothing" Robin said before interrupting Red Tornado.
"You'll be tested soon enough. For the time being simply enjoy each other's company" Red Tornado requested. Athena sighed.
'When can we have a mission where we work together?! Come on!' Athena whined inside her head.
"This team is not a social club," Kaldur said looking at everyone.
"No. But I am told that interaction is an important team building exercise. Perhaps you can keep busy by familiarising yourself with the cave." Red Tornado said, then walking off.
"Well, we should at least get to know one another a bit more... I suppose." Athena said looking down.
"Does he think we're falling for this?" Robin asked frustrated.
"Ooo, I'll find out!" Megan said excited.
"Don't" but before Megan could listen to Athena, she was already looking in the mind of Red Tornado, or at least trying.
"I-I'm sorry I forgot he's a machine. Inorganic, I cannot read his mind." Megan said looking apologetic.
"Nice try though. So uh… you know what I'm thinking right now?" Wally asked flirtatiously towards Megan.
"We all know what you're thinking now" Robin elbowed Wally in the back and Athena giggled lightly, she knew that was wrong but at the amount of flirtatious attempts towards both Athena and Megan (he flirted more towards Megan then Athena, but he always liked the 'older women' scene – or as he liked to call it anyways), Robin was in the right.
"And now we tour the clubhouse" Kaldur said looking down, Athena shrugged.
"Well Superboy and I live here, we can play tour guides." Megan said to the group.
"Don't look at me!" Superboy said, obviously not enjoying the inactivity.
"We won't, a private tour sounds much more fun" Wally said looking at Megan.
"She never said private!" Robin said annoyed.
"Can we stop drooling and find our way around our new cubbie?" Athena looked at everyone individually.
"Team building. We'll all go." Kaldur said, and that was when everyone started to walk, with Megan and Athena in front and Wally behind.
"So this is our front door."
"And this would be the back. The cave is actually the entire mountain." Megan said, Athena smiled and looked around.
"Wow, this place is great!"
"It was hollowed out and reinforced by Superman and Green Lantern in the early days of the League." Wally commented.
"Then why abandon it for the Hal of Justice?" Superboy asked arrogantly. Athena shrugged her shoulders.
"Maybe to keep up appearances, you know modernize the whole superhero thing." Athena gave a wild guess, she wasn't up to date on The League's activity, something she'd have to ask Hal about.
"The cave's secret location was… compromised." Kaldur admitted. Athena wondered by whom.
"So they traded it in for a tourist trap? Yeah that makes sense" Superboy scoffed.
"Appearances, Superboy. We could ask Red Tornado who found the place!" Athena gave the group a smile.
"No, no." Megan spoke, she thought for a second. "If villains know of the cave, we must be on constant alert!" Robin grabbed her hand, Athena rolled her eyes, walking around the small area they were standing for the small amount of time, ignoring what they were talking about. Athena noticed that Megan flew back, she then followed the group slowly.
"Thanks Aqualad" Megan said, Athena could smell the burnt crisp biscuits that she believed Megan made. Kaldur spoke of everyone's real names when they are off duty.
"You know Wally, if Robin wants to keep his secret identity a secret then he's allowed to." Athena said with a smile, Robin smiled at Athena with a whisper thanking her. Megan introduced herself.
"Everyone knows who I am- there's no point in saying my name!" Athena brooded, Megan sighed.
"Come on! It's fun! Earth things are fun, right Tea-" she had excused herself in hopes she didn't give away her identity, or her real identity.
"Just call me Athena, or Tea, or Thena, whatever you want." She placed her fingertips on her the bridge of her nose. Megan then spoke to everyone via telepathic waves, everyone except Athena groaned, but no one seemed to notice it and were worrying about their own heads. Kaldur reminded Megan of her powers. Everyone followed Megan to her bioship, including Athena. Watching it transform she smiled. Everyone followed Megan up the stairs to ship sitting in the seats provided ready for lift off.