I don't own Young Justice.
A/N: Sorry it's been a little bit since my last update. I was dealing with some family things. And I didn't have Wi-Fi. But I'm back now. The next chapter should be much quicker to make up for the last one.
A/N: Thanks everyone for all the reviews. They really helped me get over my severe condition of writers block. Keep them coming, even the negative ones.
Read. Review. Enjoy.
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THIRD PERSON POV
Artemis joined the rest of the Team. Batman was giving them a brief overview of the mission.
"In South America, kids have been going missing."
"Missing?" asked Robin, "I thought it was just a bad case of the sniffles going around causing a decrease in the youth population?"
"At first, it was believed to be a disease epidemic, but these kids are missing, not dead. The epidemic was used to scare away the media.
"One of our operatives has confirmed that Bane has been the one kidnapping the children from their homes or schools. He has informed us that the kids are to be taken into America tonight.
"Your job is to follow the truck in order to find out who Bane is working for. Do not engage in battle. This is a covert intel mission only."
He looked at Artemis. Artemis wasn't paying attention though. She was still trying to digest all the information the kids had entrusted her with.
A nudge in the side from Kid Flash brought her back to reality.
"Dismissed," said Batman. They made their way toward the Bioship. Batman grabbed Robin as he turnedto leave.
"You're staying."
"What? Why?" Robin responded, clearly flabbergasted.
"You're in no condition to fight with only one usable arm. Furthermore, we need someone watching the children at all times. I've been informed about the accident earlier today."
"But I'm fine Batman. And Red Tornado is always here, why can't he watch them?"
"You're staying," Batman said and walked away, leaving Robin standing there speechless. He couldn't believe that you he had been demoted to babysitter. He wanted to strangle someone, but knew anger was useless at this point. He plopped on the couch, stewing in his own frustration.
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VANESSA POV (FIRST PERSON)
Alex and I continued to sit in silence. The memories that had just been pulled were so painful, I didn't have any words to say.
"I'm going out front. The room is giving me an eerie feeling," Alex said.
I followed him out, not wanting to be left alone with my thoughts.
As we walked into the living room area, I was surprised to only see Robin angrily flipping channels.
"Where's everyone at?" Alex asked.
"They had a mission," Robin replied without looking up.
"You weren't good enough to go, or what?" I taunted. I was still hurting on the inside, but I couldn't let it show on the outside, especially since I didn't trust Mr. Suspicious.
He looked up. I could tell he was still angry, but it couldn't be heard in his speech.
"I got into a fight." He gestured to his arm.
"I'm sorry," Alex confessed, looking at his tattered shoes. "Are you okay? I can make it up to you."
"As long as you keep those powers in check and swear you won't do it again, I think we'll be fine." Robin paused before he continued.
"Does that usually happen when you use your powers?"
Alex answered quietly, barely above a whisper, "No. It only happens when the anger gets bottled up. Then you get what you got. You were getting under my skin and I was frustrated that I was losing so easily."
Robin turned and thought this over. He then turned to me.
"Do you even have any powers?"
The nerve. I couldn't believe he had asked me that.
"Do you have powers?" I shot back at him. But all that earned me was a nudge to the side from Alex. I sighed giving in to my older brothers wishes.
"Yes, I have powers. But don't go askin' what they are 'cause it's none of your business."
"Vanessa," Alex said exasperated.
Robin just shook his head and went back looking at the TV, and after a few more channel changes, he surrendered the remote to us.
"You two can watch whatever. There's something I need to do." He walked out the room.
We began watching TV to our hearts content.
I started falling asleep again at somewhere around one in the morning. Alex rushed me off to bed, and told me he would join me soon.
As I jumped in the bed and laid down to rest, I knew tonight's sleep wasn't going to be any better than last night's.
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THIRD PERSON POV
"Noooo!"
A loud scream was heard throughout the cave.
Alex woke up abruptly and frantically searched the room to make sure everything was alright.
His sister was still asleep in the bed, but she was laying down the wrong way. Her head was at the foot of the bed. He shrugged it off in order to find the source of the scream.
He slipped out the bed quietly so as to not wake up Vanessa.
He slipped into the hallway and tiptoed his way down. As he peaked around the corner, he could plainly see there were no intruders, but what he did see was a great big mess.
The kitchen was in ruins. Cabinets were destroyed. Doors were hanging off their hinges. Food was all over the place. Kid Flash was on his knees crying at the state of the kitchen. It was him that had given the scream.
Alex knew no one had broken in last night; he was up most of that time.
"What happened in here?" Artemis asked, surprise written on her face.
"They destroyed it. Of all the places to ransack, all the technology to steal, and they choose the kitchen. It's diabolical," Kid Flash whined.
"Who could have come in here?" Aqualad questioned.
"I've already checked the security cameras," Robin started.
"What did you find?"
"Who was it?"
"Who do I owe punishment for this crime against food?"
"The camera was destroyed before the person could be seen entering the room," Robin responded.
"Vanessa," Alex breathed to himself.
As he turned to go back to his room and avoid danger, he was roughly grabbed by the collar of his shirt.
"Looks like the crook came back to admire his handy work," Superboy smirked.
He dropped him on the floor. "I heard him breathing, and talking to himself. Now, explain."
All eyes were on him.
"I didn't do this!"
Robin spoke up. "Your powers tell a different side of the story Alex."
"Dude, I thought you loved food. Why would you do something like this?" said Kid Flash. "There's no need ofdenying it. We know you did it," said Superboy.
Aqualad's tone interrupted the hostility. "Please Alex, just tell us what happened. There will be no repercussions, we just need to know so we can help to stop it in the future."
"But I really didn't-" Alex started. But, he couldn't rat his sister out. He knew that he would be able to handle this a lot better than she could.
"I was mad, alright. I was frustrated about earlier still. I went back to my room and thought it over, and it's embarrassing. I'm twelve years old and I can't control the stupid powers I've been trying to perfect for six years."
"Alex I already told you I was fine." said Robin.
"Yeah, but you said as long as it didn't happen again. Well I don't know if I can keep it from happening again! So I came in here and destroyed the kitchen! I blew up cabinets, destroyed everything because I was mad I can't control my stupid powers! There are you guys happy now!"
He was yelling. He knew he should have been calmer about this situation, but he was angry. Not necessarily at the Team, although they played a part. He was mad at Vanessa because he told her not to go off and do something like this again. She was gonna get it when he came back in there.
"Alex, you may leave."
He ran back to his room.
When he arrived, Vanessa was pacing back and forth.
"Alex," she said when he walked in. "What happened? What's wrong?"
"What's wrong she says," he repeated in a mocking tone.
"Alex, what happened?"
"You happened. You promised you wouldn't do it again. Now I'm in hot water 'cause you can't take care of yourself. "
"It wasn't a dream? But ... Alex I have to tell you something. I think I-"
"You think you what, huh?! I can't believe you. After all I do for you, you treat me like this? All I ever do is try to help you out. I ask you to do one thing for me, and you can't even do that right."
"Alex, would just let me ex-"
She was interrupted again. This time he was speaking Martian. He often raved in it when he was frustrated beyond words. She hated when he did though. She didn't understand it completely, and reminded her of B'rnazz's betrayal.
"Alex, would you shut up and listen!"
He stopped and gave her his best glare.
"What?!"
She started again, a lot softer this time.
"It's my dreams. The destruction comes because of my dreams."
"What are you talking about?" He had lost the edge on his voice too.
"Last night, I was running from Wellsworth. He had already, uhh, killed you, and he was after me. I ran into aroom filled with chemicals, books, test tubes, and a bunch of other stuff. I didn't want him to use it on me. So I destroyed it.
"I didn't realize I was in the kitchen. I saw the cabinets messed up and the food all over the place and ran back to bed and hoped it was a dream. But I guess itwasn't."
Alex sighed.
"And last night I was being tested on and I had grabbed on to something to help relieve the pain. I guess I just grabbed the remote in real life. I didn't meanto get you in trouble."
"Vanessa, look, I'm sorry, I'm just a little tense. If it's your dreams that are causing it like I thought, then someone has to watch you to make sure you stay in bed.
I've had a few all nighters in my time. I'll stay up, I don't want to get kicked out yet 'cause of your outbreaks."
"Alex, you can't stay up. I'll stay up. It's my fault we're in this mess."
"Vanessa don't be ridiculous. And I'm not having this argument with you. I'll stay up so you don't have any more mishaps."
There was a weird silence.
PAGE BREAK
The Team made themselves busy with cleaning the kitchen. They hadn't been home long. The mission had been a bust. They had followed the truck, but it lead them to an abandoned warehouse. No lead had been found. They were in the dark still.
"He was lying," said Superboy, obviously upset.
"Why would he lie so he could get in trouble? Kids usually avoid trouble at all cost," said Kid Flash.
"I hate to admit it, but Wally has a point. Superboy, let's be logical, I don't think he would throw himself into trouble," said Artemis.
Superboy glared over at Artemis from his position in the kitchen. The situation between the two was causing a lot of tension between them.
"But it's not out of the question Artemis. The energy residue is different than the one in the training hall," saidRobin.
"But it still raises the question, why would he lie about destroying the kitchen?" Aqualad puzzled.
"Because he was trying to protect his sister," M'gann said.
"How do you guys even know he was lying? I thought it was convincing. And without the evidence Robin had, the world's second greatest detective wouldn't even know," Artemis fought back.
"There you go again. Sticking up for those punks again. Let's be logical Artemis. I have super hearing. I heard his heartbeat speed up," Superboy shot out.
"And I, um, I read his mind," M'gann almost whispered.
"Protect his sister from what?" the scarlet speedster asked.
"He did not wish for her to hear the anger and hostility that he got when we thought it was him," Aqualad explained.
"Then maybe she should learn some more control," Superboy said under his breath.
They all went back to cleaning the kitchen as they thought about the night's events.
VANESSA POV (FIRST PERSON)
Though we were still afraid to go out, we eventually met the Team back in the living room. I knew they didn't know it was me, but I didn't really want to take a look at my handiwork.
They had pretty much finished cleaning when we got in there, only minor details were being attended to.
I walked in and sat at the counter. Alex went and sat on the couch next to Kid Flash. He had started a conversation that only a fanboy could start. I guess he was trying to lighten the mood and get the heat off of him.
I stared over at him without even recognizing it. Artemis came and sat by me without my noticing.
"What you looking at?"
I nearly fell out of my seat. I hated when people scared. It made me feel weak.
"Didn't mean to startle you," she said.
I just shrugged.
"Artemis, have you ever done something you later regretted?"
"Yeah, but you can't let that hold you back. Why? What did you do?"
"Are you alright?" Miss Martian asked, hopping into our conversation.
"Don't you have something that you can do besides getting into our business, like make something?" I aimed at her.
"Sorry," she stammered, "I didn't know you were hungry."
"Ravished," I answered with a sinister smile.
Miss Martian went off into the kitchen downcast.
I put my head back on the counter. I didn't want to eat or talk. I just wanted to shut the world out.
As I put my head down, I saw Superboy coming my direction. Had it not been for Aqualad stopping him, he probably would have reached me.
At that point, I think Aqualad had had enough of the tension.
"The tension in this room has increased greatly in the past few days. With the results of the last mission being undesirable, I believe has added to our constant anger outburst. I think it would be in the best interest of the team's morale if we were to take a break, an outing of some sort," he said.
Everyone looked around the room nodding in agreement.
"Sounds good to me. Where are we going fearless leader?" Kid Flash asked.
" I had not thought of the location. I figured that it would be best that we all confer on a place."
"Well do you have any ideas?" Artemis asked.
"It does not phase me one way or the other. It is not the venue, it is the company that matters."
"Well, then I vote for Five Guys," Kid Flash blurted.
"We are not going to eat for team bonding. That's stupid," Artemis retorted.
"Then what do you suggest?"
"Bowling."
Robin shook his head in disgust. "Definitely not feeling bowling. The game gets boring after five turns. And the only reason you go is because you're a marksmen. You'll roll a strike every time."
"Then what do you suggest Shades?"
"Laser tag."
"Don't you think we've had enough combat for one day?" Superboy asked.
"Why don't we go skating?" M'gann said, a hint of excitement in her voice.
Again, everyone nodded their heads in agreement.
"Then it is settled," Aqualad concluded.
I still had my head on the counter. Alex tapped me on my back signaling it was time for us to leave.
As we left, I saw Robin whispering something to Aqualad.
"It seems I have made a mistake," Aqualad started. We stopped. "When I said the Team, I was also referring to the two of you."
"Really?" Alex nearly tripped over himself, he was so happy.
I couldn't help but grin either. Maybe it was because of all the rather depressing things I had been meditating on the past few days. Maybe it was the fact that after I had messed up so bad, something good could still happen. But I think it was because I had felt a slight feeling of acceptance.
PAGE BREAK
We left soon. They gave us a change of clothes, and we were off.
Alex and I had never been skating, but a few of our training exercises had gave us the basics of it. I was more surprised with the fact at how many of them couldn't skate.
Artemis and Robin were experts. Of course. But Kid Flash was a mess. I think it was because his feet were moving faster than his body could keep up with. I didn't care though. It was hilarious. Superboy and Miss Martian took just as many falls. Aqualad didn't want to
get in the rink, but after much convincing, he was taking his share of falls too.
I was rolling. But my laughter wasn't in spite, but genuine fun, something I hadn't had in a while.
After the fun at the skating rink, Kid Flash had convincedus to grab something to eat. It was the first and best buffet Alex and I had ever eaten. We even had some soda. I thought mine tasted kinda weird, but it was still good.
Soon after, we went back to the cave. The outing was great. Everyone had relaxed, including me.
Upon arrival at the cave, I was dog tired. Alex was too.
"Looks like you two tuckered yourselves out," Kid Flash commented.
"You two need to go to bed," Superboy said. I was too tired to argue back, and just did as I was told, following close behind my brother.
We went straight to bed completely forgetting about words spoken this morning.
