A/N: I own nothing you recognize.
This is a pretty short chapter since it follows Red Arrow in Taiwan. It's mainly Kaldur and Lilith, bonding I suppose you can call it. Hope you enjoy :)
Thank you for the follows, favorites, and comments. It really means a lot to me :)
Guest (chapter 10): I will consider your request! I've still got some major editing to do, but I will keep that in mind as I do.
ShadowXMoonlight: Thanks so much! Hope I continue good work for you guys.
Remember, comment who you think Lilith should be paired with!
Mount Justice
September 7, 0640 EDT
"Lilith."
She glanced up as she stepped out of the transporter and saw Kaldur walking toward her. She swept a loose piece of dark hair off her forehead and asked curiously, "What is it?"
"Superboy and M'gann are about to start their first day of high school," Kaldur explained. "I was wondering if you wanted to see them off."
A grin spread over Lilith's face. "Oh, I wouldn't miss this for the world." Kaldur nodded and turned back, Lilith easily falling in step beside him.
"What are you doing at the Cave so early?" Kaldur asked conversationally as they made their way through the halls.
"There was a news cast I wanted to catch," Lilith explained, fiddling with the zipper of her black jacket absentmindedly. She glanced up and caught the tilt of Kaldur's head that told her he was wondering why she needed to be up so early. "The event is taking place in Taiwan," she explained. "And they're filming live."
"I see," Kaldur said as they were joined by J'onn and Red Tornado. M'gann caught up soon after, and the quartet made their way to the bay, where Superboy was working on his bike.
"Ready for school?" M'gann chirped as she flew ahead of the small group. "I made our lunches!" she sang, gesturing to the two brown paper bags in her hand.
"The first day of a scholastic season carried great cultural resonance," J'onn said as they approached.
Lilith snorted. "Yeah, it signifies the end of our freedom," she joked, but she was met with blank stares. "Never mind," she sighed.
"We want to wish you both well," J'onn continued, turning from Lilith back to his niece and Superboy.
"Guess it's not a Kryptonian thing," Superboy pointed out.
"You may wish to...change, before you depart," Kaldur said hesitantly, gesturing to the black shirt Superboy wore with Superman's signature S and M'gann's usual "casual" outfit.
"Oh, I spent hours choosing this outfit!" M'gann exclaimed as her clothes shifted into something that tugged at Lilith's memory. "What do you think?" M'gann asked, glancing around at them. "Can M'gann M'orzz pass as an Earth girl now?"
"Well…" Kaldur started, looking unsure how to phrase what he wanted to point out.
"Just kidding!" M'gann called. Lilith watched as M'gann's usual green skin changed until it was Caucasian. "Meet Megan Morse," she declared, doing a little spin and small curtsey at the end. "What's your new name?" she asked Superboy, turning to face him.
"My what?" Superboy asked uncertainly, his eyebrows lifting slightly in confusion.
"I chose the name John Jones for myself," J'onn spoke up to clarify. Lilith glanced behind her to see J'onn's clothes and skin change. "And I suggested John Smith for Red Tornado. You could be a 'John' too," J'onn suggested.
"Pass," Superboy said, crossing his arms with a scowl.
"Conner's always been my favorite name," M'gann said hopefully, putting her hands on Superboy's arm. Superboy shrugged carelessly, and Lilith knew that would be the end of that conversation.
"A last name will also be required," Kaldur pointed out.
"Perhaps, Kent," J'onn said, and Lilith's lip pulled up in the corner as she caught the knowing look on J'onn's face.
"Oh, in memory of Doctor Fate," M'gann connected. "The late Kent Nelson."
"Uh, of course," J'onn said, shifting back to his usual form.
"Okay, sure," Superboy said. "I guess it would be an honor, or something." Lilith chuckled at Superboy and M'gann's obliviousness to the real reason behind the name, and Superboy looked at her curiously. Lilith glanced at J'onn before looking back at Superboy and shaking her head in a never-mind-it-was-nothing kind of way.
"Well, Conner Kent," M'gann spoke up, trying out Superboy's new name, "time to change your shirt." Superboy glanced down at the S and put his hand almost protectively over it. "You don't want to reveal your identity," M'gann said, tapping the icon.
"Who'd know thought?" Lilith pointed out. "I see people wearing shirts like that all the time."
"Perhaps she is right though," Kaldur said thoughtfully. "Already he does bear a remarkable resemblance to Superman." Lilith crossed her arms and shrugged and Superboy pulled his black shirt over his head easily and flipped it inside out. Lilith bit her lip to keep the giggle from escaping her lips when she noticed the blush that crossed M'gann's now easily-flustered cheeks.
"Will this work?" Superboy asked with a sigh, oblivious to M'gann's predicament.
Lilith heard M'gann sigh, "Works for me," but Superboy didn't seem to catch it as he was already turning and pulling on his shirt.
"Wait, shouldn't I be Conner Nelson?" he questioned as he began to walk away, M'gann following closely behind.
"They grow up so fast," J'onn said wistfully. Sphere rolled up and beeped and whirred.
"They'll be back," Lilith promised Sphere, stepping forward to pat the top of the metal ball. Sphere whirred again, sounding almost sad to Lilith. "Now, you wanna go watch the news with me?"
The sphere beeped loudly and quickly rolled away. Lilith faked an offended gasp before laughing slightly and turning to head to the transporter room.
As soon as she got there, Lilith pulled up a holographic screen and found the channel she was looking for. It wasn't long until her least favorite news reporter appeared on screen.
This is Cat Grant reporting from Taipei where the historic peace summit between South Rhelasia and North Rhelasia has completely broken down.
The blonde reporter stood in Taiwan, twelve hours ahead of her.
As a last resort, Prime Minster Tseng of South Rhelasia and North Rhelasia's General Singh Mann Li have agreed to bring in an independent arbitrator. But who is it?
Lilith had heard rumors of who the mystery arbitrator might be, and she wanted to see for herself.
Speculation has run from the Secretary General of the United Nations to Superman, Grant hinted dramatically. But the Man of Steel seems unlikely as I'm told the arbitrator is due to arrive by car, not cape, at any moment.
Lilith growled at the poor joke and gritted her teeth. She hated news reporters like Cat Grant. They weren't supposed to be friendly, they were supposed to report the news as impassively as possible, which meant the inflection and jokes were way out of line.
Behind her, she heard Aqualad state his name. Lilith glanced up and saw his hand was to his ear. He gestured at the screen, and Lilith nodded, moving aside and giving Aqualad room to operate.
"Checking…" he said, typing on the keyboard. Lilith watched as he pulled up a database full of stats on an assassin. "Cheshire is one-point-six-seven meters," Aqualad reported. A small smile tugged at his lips as he converted. "She is five foot six, and exceptionally dangerous. Do you require backup?" he questioned. He paused as he listened to the person on the other end. "Just our computer," he responded dryly. "Good luck my friend," he said. "Aqualad out."
Aqualad closed the images and the news screen enlarged.
"Red Arrow?" Lilith asked, not glancing away from the news.
"How did—were you eavesdropping?" Aqualad asked, crossing his arms.
"I swear, I heard nothing," Lilith said, holding up her hands and glancing at him. "But how many other people outside the Team would know to ask you to pull up information on our computers?" she asked, crossing her arms and returning her attention to the screens once more.
A white compact limo escorted by at least six police officers on motorcycles pulled up on the screen just then.
The arbitrator has arrived, Grant said.
Suddenly, in the background, Lilith caught a flash of red and then a grunt, followed by the sound of what was most likely a rocket launcher misfiring. People started screaming, and the guards began yelling at the people in Taiwanese. A flash of green suddenly appeared on the screen, and Lilith said, "Freeze!" The news stopped running, and Lilith saw the person's feet. "Rewind, slow motion," she commanded. Slowly, the frames began to run backward, and after a minute, Lilith said, "Stop." Frozen in midair was Cheshire.
"That must be why Red Arrow was calling about Cheshire," Lilith murmured. "And she must have been the one to fire the rocket launcher. But who was her target?" she pondered. She sighed and said, "Play news."
Grant was on screen again, and behind her, Lilith could see Cheshire straddling a red-haired young man in a suit, surrounded by men with guns.
"And there's Red Arrow," Lilith sighed.
We have just witnessed an assassination attempt, live, Grant said breathlessly. Lilith snarled and her lip curled.
"You dislike news reporters?" Aqualad asked.
"I dislike her," Lilith corrected. Behind Grant, a woman stepped out of the driver's seat of the white car, and Lilith's eyes widened. "So it's true," she whispered.
"What?" Aqualad asked.
Thankfully, no one seems to have been hurt, including our mystery arbitrator, Grant said.
Cameras began flashing, and beside her, Lilith heard Aqualad gasp.
"Lex Luthor?" Aqualad asked at the same time as Grant.
Lilith stared open-mouthed at the screen. Finally, she said, "I had heard rumors that Luthor was to be the arbitrator," she said. "But I never believed it for a moment."
"And that is why you woke early to watch the news?" Aqualad questioned.
Lilith glanced at him. "Alright, maybe it burned me with curiosity," she said. "But I can't believe they actually plan on using him."
They continued watching in silence as more cameras took them inside the hall.
The violence outside has not helped the peace process, Grant whispered dramatically to the camera.
"Hiring assassins, Li?" Lilith heard Tseng say. "Had you no one among your own troops to do the North's dirty work?"
"I need no assassins, Tseng," Li replied. "Such is the method of a southern coward."
They continue to fight, yelling at each other in Taiwanese as the cameras pulled back to Grant.
Tensions are running high and troops are massing on the border between the two countries. Right now, Lex Luthor seems to be the best, or only, hope for peace.
Luthor appeared on the screen, walking up the stairs and approaching the two men and their guards.
"Gentlemen, gentlemen," Luthor called airily. "Shall we attempt some smiles for the camera?"
"That slimy little…donnola," Lilith spat, her lip curling once more. "I can't believe people are buying this." She paused. "I wonder if they're showing this in history classes," she pondered.
"Why would they?" Aqualad asked curiosly.
Lilith turned to him. "Every day, we make history. One day, history will remember this day: the day that leaders of the two Rhelasias met. And history will remember one of two scenarios: the peaceful signing of a treaty that brought about reunification, or the disastrous attempts and how it flung both countries, and possibly the rest of the world, into war."
Aqualad seemed to consider her answer. "I suppose it would be interesting to be in a class right now," he said.
"History has always been my favorite subject," Lilith murmured with a small smile, almost without thought.
"Why is that?" Aqualad asked.
"It's one big story," Lilith replied, her smile widening slightly. "And I always thought it was amazing that every day, some event might be looked at in the future as a significant date."
Aqualad studied Lilith for a moment. "You're a very interesting girl," he said.
"What makes you say that?" Lilith asked, unconsciously crossing one arm across her chest and tapping her exposed collar bone with the fingers of her free hand.
"You come to us with a mysterious past," Aqualad responded. "A past you keep well-guarded."
"I don't want people to think badly of me," Lilith whispered, her shoulders hunching and she found it difficult to meet Aqualad's eyes. "I've done…questionable things in the past," she said, still not looking at him. "And I don't want people to think I'm that person. That I haven't changed." She sniffed, and Aqualad was startled when he realized she was on the verge of tears. He stepped forward and put his arms around her, and Lilith's shoulders began to shake with suppressed sobs.
"You have kept your feelings and fears bottled up," Aqualad stated quietly. "Maybe it is time to let them out."
Lilith pulled away and shook her head, wiping her eyes as she did. "Who could I talk to?" she asked, sounding defeated. "I don't want anyone on the League to know my past; they ight think I'm unworthy or untrustworthy and kick me out." Her voice began to shake and she took a few deep breaths before she could continue. "And I can't talk to a professional. I'd have to tell them my entire story, and I don't think even trained professionals could handle it."
"How much does Batman know?" Aqualad asked.
"He and Alfred know the most," Lilith said. "Where I escaped and the training I was put through. But neither know the monster I am," she finished with a whisper.
"You are not a monster," Aqualad said firmly. "Just because you have demons does not make you a bad person. We all have demons."
"It's not like that!" Lilith gasped. "If the League found out the kinds of things I had to do, the things I was training for, they would never look at me again!"
"But maybe that is the key word: had," Aqualad reasoned. "If you were forced to do something, you cannot be held personally responsible for your actions."
"Do you really believe that?" Lilith asked, glancing up at Aqualad.
"Yes," he said. "Yes, I do."
Lilith sniffed and wiped the last tears off her face. "Thank you for listening, Kaldur," she said quietly.
"I will always be available if you need anyone to listen," Kaldur promised with a soft smile. Lilith managed a small smile back and turned back to the news.
That evening, Lilith heard a soft knock on her Cave bedroom door. She stood and cracked it open.
"Kaldur," she said, stepping out and closing the door behind her. "This is a surprise."
"I needed someone to talk to," he said. "Someone who would listen to reason."
"I'm honored you came to me," Lilith said with a small smile. "But wouldn't you rather talk to Robin or Wally?" she asked. "After all, you've known them the longest."
"This is a matter that must be dealt with…delicately," Kaldur said slowly.
"Alright," Lilith said with a nod. "I know a good place we can go talk in private." She walked down the hall and Kaldur followed.
They stepped outside the "backdoor," as M'gann had put it on their first day. Lilith walked to the wall and began carefully edging her way on the thin ledge that led a little ways down the side of the mountain.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Lilith asked once she had reached a ledge that was wide enough on which to seat.
"I was in Taiwan with Roy," Kaldur started. "Long story short, we met Sportsmaster and Cheshire, and Sportsmaster mentioned he knew of our missions and that he had a very inside source."
"And you don't want to tell Robin and Wally because they would immediately start trying to figure out who the mole is," Lilith hypothesized. "And you wouldn't want to tell the others because they're newer, and because if one of them is a mole, you wouldn't want to tip them off."
"Yes," Kaldur said. "And that is why I wanted to talk to you. I figured you would see things the way I do."
"So what are you going to do?" Lilith asked.
"Watch, for now," Kaldur said. Lilith didn't respond, just gazed over the ocean. "You have a suspect," he guessed.
Lilith glanced at Kaldur. "I do," she said slowly. "But I'm afraid you won't like my answer."
Kaldur nodded. "I will respect your decision," he said. "Thank you, for listening, I mean."
"It's the least I could do," Lilith said with a small smile. "You listened to me." Kaldur smiled back before standing and making his way back to the entrance.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed :)
Tell me who you think is Lilith's best match! Until next time.
