I Do Not Own DC Comics, Movies/TV, or Animation

And I'm Back, Baby!

Touching down in London he had all the gear unloaded and they were pulling up to his London flat now.

"Hey," Raven started when they pulled up to it.

"Yeah, I know," he shoved her shoulder a bit as he unloaded the gear.

"What?"

"We were here last year," Raven supplied.

"Yup, and I do own it." He handed several bags to Roy who huffed but accepted them as they walked into the flat, he got the door as the Amazon, clone and Raven walked by. He got everything unloaded and hauled up, Roy just set all the stuff up and Jason continued the trips collecting the gear. Once set up he straddled a stool and opened one of his laptops as he started looking over the information.

"We should attack them, they are not expecting us," Artemis stated.

"That's a bad idea, darling," Jason said as he started up his network.

"Why is that? This is our opportunity to complete the mission and part ways" she stated.

"Because, attacking what we don't know is never wise, and Jay and I like breathing, we aren't invulnerable like you, Rae or Biz," Roy filled in as he started pulling his arrows out for sharpening.

"I'm not invincible," Raven stated.

"Queen of Hell," Roy and Jay called out, Raven narrowed her eyes on them and he smiled. He was trying not to remember Christmas when she was covered in blood and dying, while Tim and Roy were trying to save her. He knew full well she wasn't truly invincible, still he smiled.

"Little bird!" Biz smiled.

"Fine, I'm temporarily, unless I leave my body again, invincible," she supplied as she walked away.

Jason looked up the intel of the auction and he started working his way into the mainframe as he contemplated what they were selling. Worse he could probably call Selina for an invite to this, everyone would want Cat there. She was the world class burglar, he was probably only outclassed by her. Or…

"Rae…" he called out.

"Hm?"

"Red X."

"No," Roy and Raven groaned. "I thought I annihilated that reputation."

"No, I mean, kind of, but I worked with you as Hood, not X, maybe I could go in. X would get an invite, and I have items that could be auctioned off for this." He offered, Roy glared at him, but Jason couldn't see a better alternative. Red X was right up there with Cat in terms of being a thief for hire, and X was known to drop off the grid from time to time, he didn't see it being that far of a stretch to return to the field as Red X.

"You can't be serious, I thought you were done with that!" Raven snapped as she glowered at him.

"Not entirely," he admitted. "I don't play on the good side all the time sunshine," he pointed out. Jason rarely felt like he had to defend himself to Raven or Roy at this point, but the way they were glaring at him had him needing to defend himself.

"Fine, if it gets us into this auction. And what are you selling?" Raven asked.

"It will, and do you honestly want to know little bird?" Jason asked.

"No."

"Yes," Roy answered.

"Well…" he started.

"I'm going to go prepare magic for the Bow, I don't want to hear what treasures you're selling Jason!" Raven snapped as she stalked off and he smiled broadly, then he looked at Roy.

"I'm up for it, just tell me the plan, I'm game," Roy promised.

"What exactly have you done?" Artemis muttered.

"More than I'd ever tell you, Arty," he stated and turned back to his computer as he resumed work. He looked through the inventory of his stashes as he stood and dialed the number for the auction house. Picking up a tablet and his voice modulator he walked to the roof and waited a few before there was an answer.

"Hello," the stiff British voice answered.

"What would it cost to get a few pieces into the auction?" he asked, the modulator changed his voice, and he chuckled a bit as he tried his best to be flippant.

"Mr. X, I had heard you retired."

"Wrong answer chuckles," he cackled.

"For you, half the fee, and double the commission, will you be attending this auction or why bother asking?"

"I got a date!" he answered.

"I see, we'll arrange for you and your plus one," the auctioneer started.

"Two," he corrected thinking to take Artemis in. Raven he knew would be good in this kind of pressure, Raven was so indifferent and apathetic. She'd be good eye candy, but the Amazon, that'd be a hell of a distraction.

"I see, we'll arrange for you to have three seats, up top or in the crowd?"

"Up top," he answered.

"Very well, and when can we expect your items?"

"Sending them now, should be there in two hours," he answered.

"Auction is this evening at ten o'clock do not be late," the auctioneer ordered and hung up before Jason could retort. Rolling his eyes and standing up to walk below. If he had a 'box' seat, then he'd have the high ground. Of course the patrons would be scanned for weapons, but Jason didn't need a weapon to do what he was about to do. Getting the Amazon to leave her weapon behind would be difficult, but he felt he could do it, and he felt that in the long run, the promis of that Bow being in her hot little hand would be enticing enough to have her cooperation.

Overall, he did not think Artemis of Bana-Mighdall to be all that woefully impressive. Yeah, she had the regal act of Amazon warrior, able to wipe the floor with all them, down pat, but he wasn't getting a great read from her. She reminded him of him in a way, this painful sorrow that seemed to have dampened her down, he was sure that if Artemis wasn't preoccupied with this Bow she'd a vibrant individual and disciplined. Probably more terrifying than the Essence, but that was a different matter, Jason remained confident he could take her. It was going to hurt, but he could take her.

Walking back to the flat he dropped the phone on the table and looked at Roy.

"Kay, we're in."

"What!?" Roy spun on him.

"You are overwatch, with the clone, I'll take the queen and the amazon with me as my dates," he said.

"No fun," Roy pouted.

"You're too noticeable, and everyone would recognize you as Roy Harper or Arsenal, best you play overwatch this time. Also, arrows, your carbon fiber ones, they'd be good for long distance attacks, and you're a hell of a sharpshooter." Jason's reasons were valid, also, he trusted Roy to have his back with threats he couldn't necessarily see.

"You have valid points."

"Of course I do, Kevin."

"Right, right, chief minion is on the job!" Roy gave a raspberry and Jason resisted snickering. "You know if I'm Kevin, then you're Stuart."

"No!" he grimaced.

"I can't wait for Lian to start actually talking and being a bigger little person, she'll agree you're Stuart."

"I'm Deadpool," Jason decided as he walked to his laptop.

"Really dude, really?" Roy groaned.

"It's him or Bucky and I like Wade better."

"We should dress you up as Bucky this Halloween! I can make a metal arm for you! And put a rocket launcher in it or something cool! Oh there's this awesome Nth metal I've got a stast of with some of the Atlantean armor I think it'd be impenetrable, also light weight, and If I did a spider silk wrap around it it could be the best best body armor ever, I think it wouldn't restrict movement either, though I'd need to think about the design. Maybe I should look into substituting the Nth metal for something else… but it's magic resistant. Not a good conductor though, Oh, maybe I should look into the magic angle of this…"

"K-metal," Bizarro said and Jason spun around to see the clone smiling and hugging 'Pup-Pup'.

"Oh that's an interesting angle!" Roy grinned and the clone and he started talking. Jason just left them be because most of that was way over his head. He might not have been an idiot but he wasn't the engineering genius Roy was.

Jason walked to the room where Raven and Artemis were, he was a bit miffed seeing the girls together, both apparently meditating. Raven was floating, Artemis was not. But the fiery Amazon's red hair hung in a long braid and was currently wrapped in a perfect circle around her. Jason briefly wondered why there were so many redheads in his life when it was a recessive gene from what he had red, but dismissed the thought.

"How did the call go?" Raven asked, her eyes never opening.

"Well, we're in," he answered leaning on the door.

"And the Bow?' Artemis demanded, nearly surging to her feet.

"Easy there, red, you two are my dates tonight, if the Bow is there, we'll retrieve it and part ways."

"And what else is going on auction?"

"I don't know, most these items are too popular or well known to move through traditional channels, but then there's the other factor of if the police stumbled onto the auctions, and how having a list of the actual goods would look. Plausible deniability flies out the window. I can tell you that this isn't an arms auction, I read no weapons manifestoes on the auction mainframe, leads me to be inclined to think museum quality items, I sent a few pieces over, they'll be easy enough to blend in either way, and are wanted," he shrugged.

"You are a dishonorable thief!" Artemis snapped.

"Yeah, I am, and it's about to come in handy," he retorted.

"Enough!" Raven snapped. "Thank you Jason for getting us closer to the Bow, Artemis and I will be ready for the auction."

"It's formal, little bird."

"Really!?" she whined.

"Really."

"Before you I never did formal, Red," she huffed.

"Sure ya did, but before Constantine trapped us in that house, neither of us cared about formal, now I'm prepping, no weapons, I got ceramic stuff though," he offered and walked away. He could hear Artemis grumbling behind him but ignored it. Jason didn't mind being a thief.

He got to unpacking his gear and paused a moment before sighing and picking up his phone. Slowly he sat on his cot and pressed the number as he waited a long moment with a baited breath.

"Hey Jason," Donna greeted him.

"I'm not thrilled, but you can move in, just please stay away from my area," he said.

"Raven told me."

"Good."

"Why are you calling Jason?"

"No reason."

"You called to tell me, I could move in but to stay away from you?"

"Yup."

"If you want to see Lian, just say so."

"That's not why I call! And I'm not her dad!"

"Her dad face timed fifteen minutes ago to see her, her other dad hasn't, just give me a moment," Donna chuckled.

A moment later found a facetime call coming in and he answered it.

"Say hi to your daddy!" Donna smiled as she held Lian to the camera. He softened a bit seeing the kid, her black hair and green eyes were bright as she squaled.

"Jay!"

"Heyya kid," he answered and just took a moment to stare at her as Donna filled him in on all the fun things that her little Amazon was doing. Lian just made a toothy smile and tapped the screen, he snorted and resisted tracing her face. This was the first time, he realized, that he'd been away away from the kid. And the daunting feeling of missing her.

Lian's smile made the world seem less horrible, even without Zed in the world.

"Talk to you later Donna," he said and hung up before getting ready.

Of course the soothsayer had thought to put it there, it was all rather trivial in her mind. Where else would one put the Ankh of Death? The only think that had set pause to her plans was the rumors of it being here for an auction, so she walked with Lilith beside her.

"Why are we here?" the little girl asked.

"It is not everyday an item like this comes to the market, child, and it will help in eliminating those Amazons once and for all," Circe promised.

A flash of brilliant, dark, loosely curling red hair had her snapping her fingers as she cloaked her assest and walked up to the other woman.

"My, my, it has been a very long time," she purred. "Last I heard, you were dead."

Dark eyes flicked up to her and a sultry smile curled the other witch's lips. "Tasteless as always I see," her deep brogue was charming in a way.

"What are you doing here?"

"Death was borin'," the other dismissed. "Besides, I heartale there's a certain item coming onto auction, I want it."

"I'm warning you now," Circe started.

"Oh, you want the Ankh, you'll have to bid for it, dearie, the item I'm after is far more dangerous," the other witch chuckled.

"And you know about the Ankh."

"I would hope I'd know my own property, especially after stealing it from Death," the redhead smirked.

"And what exactly do you want for it?"

"You'll have to bid on it just like everyone else."

"Then what are you after?"

"The item I am after is not something you can steal, I'm making inquiries," she shrugged daintily as she moved away and Circe scowled.

"I'm warning you now, mortal," she started.

"Oh, deary me, mortal? Really Circe?" the witch demanded with a bit of a pout. Then there was an abnoxious ringing and the redhead sighed. "That'll be the boys, if you'll excuse me," she turned in a swirl of black skirts and walked off. "'Ello Bois, and what have we gotten ourselves into this time?"

Circe scowled at the red head of the witch before walking back to her demigod, she would acquire the Ankh, it would be far more powerful in the spell she needed it for.

"Who was that?" Lilith asked her innocently.

"Rowena MacLeod," Circe scowled.

She would have Death's Ankh, and the Bow of Ra, then from there she would call upon Set and unleash his power on the Amazons, and Hippolyta would fall. Then there'd be nothing stopping Circe from eliminating the disease of man from the world.

But the Ankh of Death would prove more powerful for her plans than the Ankh she had acquired from Klarion all those eons ago. She wanted this spell to stick.

"She's powerful."

"She's a witch, never trust a witch," Circe said.

"Bu aren't you a witch?"

"My dear child, no, I'm a sorceress, which is an entirely different form of magic," Circe smiled.

Lilith was concerned about this alteration in whatever plan Circe had. This teleportation to London was out of nowhere, just as Circe had started prepping things was scary. And it was also unsettling to Lilith because she had been vaguely aware of every step Circe was going to take, now they were here. It was impulsive, and she knew that the sorceress never did anything impulsively.

Now she stared at the disappearing figure of Rowena MacLeod, and wondered what was going on to have Circe here.

"I thought we were ridding the world of men," Lilith said uncertainly as she walked with Circe; who's hand was clasped firmly on her arm.

"We are child, but we are ensuring no one can undo the enchantment I'll be weaving," she clarified.

"Why?"

"Why what? Be specific Lilith, I have taught you better."

"Why do you hate men so much?" Lilith whispered.

"Because they are mindless brutes who take pleasure in taking perceived power from the weaker sex, child. Women are superior to them, but to make themselves essential to society, past the purpose of breeding, they force themselves everywhere like an invasive cancer, and I hate them all. They shall all need to go," Circe stated.

"But!" Lilith started.

"You are too young and sheltered to understand, but men are the vile, evil, cancer on this Earth, and I will free us of it. But to ensure there would be no undoing of the spell I must first eliminate the traitors, then the men. After that, with your divinity, we shall cleanse and save the world," she smiled.

"Women can be just as cruel," Lilith whispered thinking of Circe.

"No, women are pure, and good, and strong and just. It is man who is corrupt, foisting themselves upon us, destroying our world, reducing us to nothing but incubators, it is time for a change."

"Oh," she mumbled. Lilith didn't know boys so she couldn't say if men were good or bad, but she felt people were a combination.

"Just look at your birth father, Lilith, he was no more fit to love a Titan than he was to father you, or your half-brother, they are swine, no more worth than the mud on the street. But you, you are a goddess, and we will right the wrongs of this world, with I at your side."

Lilith sighed and then her head snapped up as she felt that power again and she turned to look around the streets of the city for that power, she had felt it. The woman, and all that power. It was unnerving, it was close, and it wasn't here at all, it was almost like the woman was hiding her powers somehow. Lilith would find it, and she would reach out again as she stumbled after Circe and deeply regretted leaving Kentucky.

She didn't want to change the world.

She just wanted to go home.

Raven decided that it was probably for the best she had worn a dress to the Williams family dinner, because she had one that she didn't have to magically summon, and she just changed a few key pieces of the outfit to make it seem like something that Red X's date would wear. She didn't know what exactly that would be like. But she supposed that Kitten's look was enough to try to copy for Red X.

Walking out of her little ready room she found Artemis in a suit, one of Jason's she guessed because it was too wide in the shoulders.

"I feel ridiculous." The Amazon looked upset and uncomfortable.

"It'll be easier to just go with it rather than fuss about it," Raven offered.

"And what am I supposed to do?" Artemis sneered.

"I'm not going to suggest a smile," Raven answered blandly and saw the other woman blink balefully at her. "Look, I don't know what you've been through, but I do know what it feels like to lose your best friend. If it gets to be too much… try talking to Jason, he's in the same boat as you are at this moment."

"I do not need to talk about feelings," Artemis hissed.

"No, but it was just a suggestion, I'll be out in the living room when you're ready." Raven walked to the living area and found Roy and Bizarro snickering in the corner, Jason was typing and she leaned on the counter beside him.

"Do we need to worry about Kevin and Biz's snickering?" she asked.

"Nope, until it's world domination, and then I'll give them references," he offered.

"Mmm," she hummed. "So what's the plan?" Raven asked as she stared out the window at the rain.

"Well, X and I go way back, so he'll have no problems taking you as a date with Arty as the Queen's Guard," Jason smiled.

"I don't need a guard."

"Don't I know it, but it'll look better if it is a guard, Arty is very intimidating. We're going, going to snoop, see if there's a Bow, if there isn't then we'll scare a few answers from the auctioneer and go from there. I am nothing if not a man of my word," Jason mused dryly.

"Isn't that how you keep landing in these messes?"

"Probably," he agreed.

"Jay, I know you don't want to talk about Zed, but… you do know I am here when you're ready, right?" she asked him softer tone which had Jason's fingers halting in their typing as he turned and looked at her. His eyes pulsed green and he looked conflicted for a long moment then he nodded.

"Yeah Rae, I know, and it… it's scary."

"It shouldn't be, it's just me."

"I know it shouldn't be, but it is, because…"

"Because I could leave?"

He didn't answer.

"I'm not going anywhere any time soon Jay, promise, besides, I'm Queen of Hell, I have no where better to be," she offeed with a smile.

"Rae! Rae! Rae! Check this!" Roy shouted, and Raven stood, turning to see Roy and Bizarro give each other fist bumps, and the guy's secret handshakes.

"That was… complicated," she chuckled.

"Rae, I know the last few Bizarros have been… well, bizarre and dumb, but I swear, he's smart," Roy whispered conspiratorially to her.

"He's a Kryptonian clone, Roy, they are said to be smart," Raven pointed out and walked up to Bizarro. The clone was smiling, and Raven reached out to touch his shoulder gingerly.

"Biz smart, little bird," he hummed appreciatively.

"Of course you are," Jason announced. "And you got our backs," Jason supplied.

"Biz do anything for Red Him and friends?" Bizarro bobbed.

"He makes me think of a kid with Down syndrome. He's smart, and there, all there, but he's almost impaired somehow," Roy murmured to her.

"I almost agree with you," Raven said. "But he's a Bizarro, and I don't know how long he has," Raven murmured.

"You did that thing, it turned you red," Roy pointed out.

"Yeah, but I don't know what it did, best guess I stalled something. We'll need to run tests, Cal might have the tests, or S.T.A.R. Labs, but I don't know what I did Roy."

"How can you not know what you did?"

"Just because I act like I know everything doesn't mean I actually do."

"Typical Queens," Jason groused.

"Go get ready, we have an auction to crash," Raven waved him off.

Roy waited until Jason was out of the room and Raven hopped into the air. Finally Roy sighed as he looked up at her.

"You holding up?" she asked.

Roy let out a sigh. "Um… the stress, the want, it's a lot, but, ya know, I've been ignoring it. If it gets real bad I'll call my sponsor," he promised.

"I'm here Roy," she promised.

"Rae, I adore you, but you don't get this, and that empathy of yours might be an awesome equalizer in understanding what's going on but trust me you don't fully comprehend this until you know what addiction is like," he promised.

"I'm sure, but I want you to be alright Roy," Raven promised.

"And I adore you for it, we are truly not worthy of having a friend like you, queen," he smiled.

"I like my minions in working condition," she pointed out.

"So glad to know I'm loved," Roy chuckled.

"Just trying to keep it honest," she waved off as she hopped down and walked away from him.

Jason put on his disguise, the vest, rolled up the sleeves, pulled on his creased pangs, then checked his pointer shoes, shoes he loathed, but needed, then he pulled his red tie on before buttoning up the fest and tucking his shirt in. Pulling on his belt he picked up his red sunglasses and slid them on before walking out.

"That's a terrible disguise," Roy stated.

"Shut up, this is Red X," Jason shoved Roy's shoulder then.

"What!? A tacky mustache and wannabe mobster look," the redhead snickered. "And what's the name? Rason Rodd!?"

"Sorry, I don't do porn, maybe you should look in the 70s for Rason Rodd."

"I don't know man, this get up is for the 80s."

"I don't date guys with mustaches," Raven stated promptly.

"And Red X dates vivacious, sexy, curvy fiery redheads," Jason smirked. "Arty is way more my tastes," he decided sidling up to the Amazon when she entered the room.

"Touch me and I will send you straight Osiris for judgement," the regal Amazon warned.

"I must protest, I'll have to go get that asshole back," Raven stated.

"Why would you save him!?" Artemis demanded.

"Because I'm rather attached to this adviser and if he goes to Hell, I do have to go and get him back," Raven stated.

"You're attached to me," he mocked flattery.

"I'm rethinking that attachment, Roy, how'd you like to be promoted to my adviser?"

"I think we're over my thinking levels, Rae, but Biz might be up for it!"

"Bizarro like little bird," the clone hummed.

"I'm irreplaceable and you know it," he grumbled sourly.

"I know," Raven smiled as she sauntered out the door with Artemis on her tail. Jason just groaned then looked at Roy.

"Women are trouble," he decided.

"The best kind of trouble," Roy grinned as he clasped Jay's shoulder and walked out the door with Bizarro.

Jason just sighed as he walked after the girls, shoving his hands in his pockets as he went down the stairs. This was either going to be a hell of a story for him to remember or he was going to end up dead at the bottom of Hell, he wasn't entirely sure where this was going to go. He didn't mind though, it was something to do.

He paused at his car seeing Raven in the passenger's seat and Artemis in the back, pouting, it was going to be a long night. He got in the driver's seat and started the car, Raven was muttering an incantation and suddenly she had blonde hair with blue eye.

"What? Since Christmas I actually need to worry about these things!" she protested.

"I am not to blame for Christmas, talk to the troglodyte."

"I know, but I'm just saying Rachel is always associated with Jason Todd," she shrugged.

"Then it's a very good thing we aren't dating and hopefully those rumors will die."

"They haven't yet. I think your brother is feeding rumors to the reporters."

"Wait! Which one?" Jason sputtered.

"Which one do you think?"

"Kay, fine, I'll see what I can do about getting that to stop," Jason replied as he pulled onto the street.

"That would be appreciated," Raven decided. "And if you call me toots or sweetcheeks or anything, I'll send you to hell personally."

"Well, Rae, you know something?"

"What?"

"I'm back baby!" he smiled.

"I should smite you."

"But ya won't, cause ya love me!" he teased, she glowered at him as they merged with traffic.

Artemis scowled as Jason got Raven out of the car, he pushed his ridiculous glasses up and walked with Raven.

"This is ridiculous," Artemis muttered.

"Yeah, but I'm not running in guns blazing, creating casualties in bystanders, or cutting ties with my organization just to get your Bow, princess."

"I Am Not A Princess!" Artemis snapped indignantly at the man. He was infuriating, and she disliked him. But he had a valid point of the casualties, she didn't want to harm the innocent but she wanted to get that Bow back. She wanted that sorceress dead at her feet and the head on a platter, and she would take both. But not yet, she would see what this strange man was doing, she didn't quiet understand his method of madness.

"Then stop acting like a spoiled, pouty princess and get with the program and help us help you. I just wanted to get rid of a cancer, you want a Bow. Learn to work with us or go it alone," he snapped.

"I was doing fine before your witch teleported me around," she countered.

"And would have had the entire JL come crashing onto your head," Raven said as she looked over her shoulder.

"I was not speaking to you."

"No, but you are here now, and I am a member of this team, so you will have to accept I listen," Raven answered.

"Now shut it ladies, I have to do some fast talking," Jason ordered.

Artemis glared at Raven as she walked ahead. She looked over the crowd as they walked into a warehouse. She paused momentarily as she was assaulted by the scents of perfume, cigars, smoke, and grime, as it all foggy and disgusting.

She glared over the room, and Jason shook hands with several people as he walked around the room. Her eyes landed on several items as she walked around the area. These items were odd, paintings, relics, and machines. It was all very odd.

There was a shove against her shoulder which had her turning as she saw a curvy Mediterranean brunette saunter past her. Her eyes looked over the woman, and the woman looked over her shoulder, her purple lips curled dangerously as she disappeared into the crowd.

"So, Red, ya see anything that might help us out here? A cat, goddess or something Egyptian?" Jason hissed at her.

"No," she answered angrily. "Where is Raven?"

"Sweetness is looking around for magic, she said something about there being a lot of magic here, and going to find it," Jason shrugged.

"You seem unconcerned for your protective comrade."

"Sunshine is more than capable of defending herself, and she's also a Queen of Hell so I'd worry more about who crosses her than her," Jason shrugged. Artemis snorted, there was nothing that physically suggested that the sorceress was truly dangerous.

"X," the girl reappeared.

"What?"

"I don't sense the Bow of Ra, but there's something much worse here," Raven murmured and then Artemis saw it, her eyes widened a bit.

"No…"

"What?"

I'm Not Dead. Promise. And Sorry this took so long, but there was a reason for the delay, mostly because I have had to rewrite this about ten times. Until now, I haven't been pleased with this chapter. But I hope this version works and we'll be moving forward now!

That's all for now folks!

Enjoy I've Got the Umbrella =)