YJI

After the invasion

2016

Chapter 8: Role

June


(Normal POV)

'Are you positive M'gaan?' Kaldur asked the shocked Martian.

She nodded, 'Yes… Yes it was… I-I could detect his mind through her thoughts.'

The room was silent. Mi shifted uncomfortably. She wanted to leave. She didn't know these people very well and didn't like them either. Now if only Jaime realised the huge mistake he had made in joining them…

She spoke up, 'Well I think I have been enough use to you people, I better get on my way and forget any of this happened. See you later Jaime.' She started towards the Zeta Beams.

Jaime grabbed her hand. She looked at him. She established a private telepathic link with him. Martian's weren't the only ones with mind powers.

Jaime I don't want anything to do with these people.

You already made that perfectly obvious. Mi what are you thinking? You have nowhere to go on Earth. Your parents abandoned the planet a long time ago. You have no money, no connections and no shelter. Jaime was concerned for her well-being. After all she was an old friend.

Oh, don't worry. I have the perfect place to crash she turned and ran to the Zeta beams before anything else could be said.

Jaime sighed and shook his head.

'Dude was that the girlfriend you told us bout?' asked Static.

Jaime nearly choked, 'W-what? N-no, n-no way hermano,' he stuttered, 'No way.'

Static raised an eyebrow. As did others.

'Moving on,' Batgirl turned away and faced the computer, 'Aqualad and I are heading down to Earth,'

'Why?' asked M'gaan.

Kaldur and Barbara glanced at each other, 'Covert operation.' Aqualad responded.

'Cool, what for?' enquired Cassie.

'Classified,' replied Batgirl quickly, 'And anyway, you guys are gonna have to hold back the angry mobs of Heroes when they try to extract their revenge on Blue. Have a great night,' she left that piece of information hanging the air for a few moments.

She and Aqualad made their way towards the Zeta beams, but a few members noticed Aqualad grab a jacket just before they left.

Cassie and M'gaan smiled.


Italy, Reggio di Calabria.

21:35 Ct.

(Batgirl's POV)

I walked down the street with Aqualad. It's strange, but, whenever I think of Italy, I picture Rome, the leaning Tower of Pisa, Venice. I've never been to Reggio di Calabria, but somehow, the Atlantean beside me has.

I sighed. It was absolutely beautiful.

After my slight... breakdown, Kaldur had assured me that he would try to help me anyway he could. He said that after this minor ordeal had blown over we could take a night off.

I was giddy.

When I first joined the Team, Kaldur was still with them, and hadn't 'Changed' to the bad side. At that point I had had a crush on Nightwing. I lived with the guy, and we weren't related, what wasn't to like?

But after a while it become clear that he had feelings for Zatana, Zatara or Dr. Fate's, daughter. To say that I was jealous would be an understatement. Aqualad had helped me through that.

His betrayal had left a mark on the Team severely. And his return was a definite relief. No offense to Nightwing but, he wasn't the best leader.

I spoke up then, 'Ok, you're from Atlantis and don't know much about the parts of Earth above the sea, so explain. How come you know about this place and I've never heard of it?'

Kaldur smirked, 'I have had experiences with the land and at times you get to remember the places,'

'Yeah, but that still doesn't answer the question.' I stared at him.

He eventually gave in, 'It was a mission with Aquaman. An Atlantean was trying to extract revenge on the people who killed the girl he loved. Stranger though was that the girl he loved was not an Atlantean but a human, and had lived in this exact same town. He was terrorizing everyone with sea creatures from the deepest parts of the ocean, trying and hoping that he had found the people who had killed her. Tula came to help. This was before I had joined the Team. We eventually stopped the Atlantean as well as find the men who killed the girl. Afterwards I took Tula around the place on what the humans call a "Date",'

I felt sorry for Aqualad at the loss of Tula, but also felt slightly jealous that the girl had had such a deep impression on Kaldur's feelings and had then gone off with his best friend. I smiled.

'So is this considered a date?' I asked, and burst out laughing as Aqualad's face turned a deep shade of red.

'Aah,' I sighed, 'Sorry for that Kaldur.'

'It is alright Barbara. In fact I think that is the first time I have ever seen you laugh.' He smiled at me, 'And if you wish for this to be a date, then let it be.'

Now it was my turn for my face to flush red. I turned away quickly before he could see me and smiled. He is right. In the whole time I've been working at the Watchtower I have not once laughed.

Guess there's a first time for everything.


(Cassie's POV)

'I can't believe you're making me do this!' I moaned as I looked at the rope in my hands.

'Relax,' Robin called to me from the other side of the room. He was on a platform in the air, 'And remember, no powers,'

I gulped and jumped. I screamed. I know what you're thinking. Wondergirl, apprentice of Wonderwoman, strongest girl on the Team.

Well at this moment I was Cassandra Sandsmark. And I wasn't used to this, without powers.

I kept my eye's tightly closed and then felt a warm touch on my wrists. I looked up openeing my eyes slightly. Robin was smiling. He brought me up onto the platform next to him and held me close. I smiled. As scary as that was it was also... Fun.

I kissed Robin. I instantly forgot about the experience and as much as I would have liked to focus on this intimate moment with the guy I love, my mind kept wandering to Jaime and Mi. Was there something going on with them? I did admit to myself, that I had had a slight crush on Jaime for a bit, but decided against it. He proved to me that he just wasn't stable enough for a relationship, what with the whole Reach thing.

But that girl... I couldn't help but feel a slight pang of jealousy... and a happiness, for Jaime. She seemed exactly as crazy as him, and someone that he could relate to.

I pulled away from the kiss and grabbed Robin's hand. I flew with him to the top of the gym and dangled him there. Payback.


(Mi's POV)

I looked at the city before me. Aah, it's been a long time since I've been here. I wondered if the address was still the same. I flew from my watch point down to the ground, and hailed a cab. Oh, wait no money. Never mind.

I started walking. I looked around me. A few new buildings had come up in the time I had been away. Two years. I smirked. The guy couldn't live without me could he. I knew he'd eventually come crawling back, he just didn't know how desperstely he needed me.

You never do Jaime I thought.

I'd finally arrived at the street lined with houses. Nice houses. Nicer than any of the ones I've lived in anyway.

I went to the park first before I headed there. Exactly the way I remmebered it. I looked around. Families were walking around the park, children were playing with each othe ror with balls. I probably stood out like a sore thumb with my bright red hair and blue eyes.

Oh well.

What I learned is to not care what anybody else thinks. With a little bit of help.

I smiled, then screamed at the top of my lungs,

'I'M BACK PEOPLE!'

Everybody in the park stared at me, and I just fell on the grass laughing. I picked myself up after a bit, sighed, then continued back the way I came. I found the house eventually. Not to hard to miss actually.

I walked up to the front door and knocked. There was a scuffle inside the house as the person sounded as though she was placing something down. The door opened and there stood a middle aged, dark haired, hispanic woman wearing blue jeans and a white blouse.

Her brown eye's widened when she saw me. She broke out into a smile and brought me into an embrace.

I hugged her back. It was good to see her again.

'Ah, Mi. How long has it been?' She asked.

'Two years actually. It's good to see you Mrs. Reyes.'