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The next day.

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Ethan

Ethan sighed with relief as the collar snapped off his neck.

Wearing the device had been a grueling experience, every time Ethan had reached out for his powers they had been pulled back by an unseen force, it was like being held underwater with no hope of coming up for air. He hated it. Without his powers he was just like everyone else; weak, vulnerable, exposed. All the qualities that made you an easy victim.

But as his abilities sank back into his bones Ethan felt his senses sharpen, he could sense the ground under him feeling the vibrations echoing through it.

He felt like himself once again.

"Feel better?" Black Canary stood by the now open containment cell watching the teenager.

"Much, thank you" Ethan rubbed his neck massaging the areas the collar had rubbed raw.

Canary gestured for J'onn to move forwards which caused Ethan to back away from the green-skinned Martian.

The teen couldn't help his apprehension, after the interview with Manhunter he hadn't been able to look at him the same. It had been Ethan's first encounter with an actual alien up close and on top of that the alien in question was one of Earth's most famous heroes. And of course the second he realized that there was someone inside his mind his traitorous brain thought it would be hilarious to summon every dirty, perverted thought he had had about the League's male members.

After a blustered string of apologies Ethan forced himself to think of puppies and rainbows not Green Lantern's ass. Thankfully the Martian didn't freak out, instead he kindly reassured him such a response to first-contact telepathy was normal. Needless to say it had been an awkward experience.

"I mean you no harm" J'onn's spoke calmly.

"I know...sorry, this is weird...like really weird"

"I understand..."

J'onn slowly placed a pile of clothes at the foot of the bed.

"..fresh clothes, these were borrowed for your use"

Ethan eyed the black shirt and cargo pants mumbling a thanks.

"You remember what we discussed last night?" Ethan nodded at Canary remembering the words he shared with her and Manhunter the night before.

"Yeah...although I don't believe it"

Canary unfolded her arms standing straight.

"Believe it. This is a second shot, make the most of it"

Ethan nodded again, this time more slowly.

"We'll wait outside, don't take too long"

Now alone in the cell block Ethan ran his fingers through his hair. Briefly he thought about slapping himself to make sure he was truly awake but he remembered he had his super-strength again and it would probably hurt...

The U-turns his life was taking felt like part of some big ironic joke. Forty-eight hours ago he was breaking and entering with a master thief and now he was being recruited by the League for a secret 'team'. They hadn't told him much. All he knew was that the team had been founded by the League and formed up of various sidekicks and other young heroes.

And now he was part of it. On a team full of real-life heroes, on a team with Robin.

The Boy Wonder was a familiarity that he clung to in all this madness. After their conversation yesterday Ethan found himself thinking about him often. There was something about him that made the meta-human feel at ease; maybe it was his good nature, his smile or the way he blushed from the rock-wielder's teasing. He wasn't sure, but Ethan hoped he could continue to cling onto the closeness they had shared in the short amount of time they had known each other.

Especially because Ethan was struggling to make sense of everything that was transpiring around him.

Selina's backstabbing had really messed with his head. Ethan had let himself be fooled and now he didn't know if he would ever be able to put his faith in anyone again. And no matter how badly he wanted to believe Robin's words from yesterday he didn't want to repeat the same mistakes.

What was it Selina had said? 'Never trust anyone who isn't under your paycheck...'. Ethan remembered the night she had said that, looking back, he should have taken that advice much more seriously.

The League had offered the young teenager an olive branch but he didn't trust them, he couldn't. Nobody offers something without a price being attached. But it wasn't like he could have argued anyway. Us or them. That was the choice he was given. The League or the police. Vigilante or criminal.

It didn't take much brain power to choose, at least if he worked with the League he could figure out a way to help his Mom. Something he wouldn't be able to do behind bars. The thought of being held in a meta-human facility with one of those collars around his neck again made him feel sick and despite what his life choices might say he was in no rush to find himself in such a situation.

The teenager knew he needed to check up on his mom soon it had been too long since his last visit and although she was safe where she was he wanted to make sure of it himself. He also needed to figure out a way to sweet talk the people asking for payments...even if he hadn't yet worked out a new plan for meeting those payments.

But for now he would have to do whatever the League wanted him to. Whether he liked it or not.

Ethan pulled off his dirtied clothes glad that he could wear something that wasn't stained with blood and betrayal. As he put on the clean clothes he was surprised to find they fit rather snug although the shirt felt a little tight around his chest and shoulders. It was only when he was fully dressed that he noticed the red 'S' shield on the front of the shirt but he shrugged making his way to the awaiting League members outside.

When the doors opened Canary and Manhunter motioned for him to follow leading him down winding corridors of exposed rock.

Ethan could sense the cool stone around them, it rose up high above but was built like an anthill with different passages and tunnels funneling in and out.

"Are we underground?" Ethan asked curiously.

The teen walked between Canary and Manhunter occasionally peeking at them in the corner of his eye.

"Close, but no, we're not"

"A mountain then?"

Canary gave him suspicious look and Ethan quickly explained himself.

"My powers they let me...feel the ground around me"

Canary's primped eyebrows rose.

"Interesting...that seems like a handy talent" She mentally mused the potential possibilities.

"Sometimes I guess...this team, what are they like?" Ethan asked hesitantly.

"They're a group of talented young people, all looking to make this world a better place, I think you'll like them"

"That's...great" But I'm not so sure they'll like me. Ethan thought.

Canary sensed his uncertainty opting to offer some comfort.

"I know the circumstances in which you've joined us are unconventional to say the least, but give this a chance, you have this one opportunity to better yourself, don't waste it" Canary said with sincerity.

Ethan struggled to take her words at face value. He knew this was an amazing opportunity. Joining the League? It had been his life's dream at one point. But it was all wrong. Ethan couldn't be a hero. Because being a hero meant he was one of the good guys and good guys didn't do the things he had done. And although this was what he wanted with all his heart, Ethan knew he couldn't become one of them. Being a hero meant he would never be able to save the one person that mattered the most.

"Any other questions?" Canary asked.

Ethan had hundreds but the one that found itself falling out of his lips was the simplest.

"Can I go home?"

A sympathetic look was shared between the two adults flanking him.

"I'm sorry...but for the moment you are required to remain under our supervision"

It was just as he had feared.

"You will be provided with your own quarters, here, with the rest of the team, but any off-site visits will have to be approved and accompanied by a senior member"

Ethan ground his teeth with frustration.

"So I'm still your prisoner" The rock-wielder couldn't help sounding bitter.

Canary stopped turning on the teen with a steeled gaze.

"You don't understand the risk we're taking here, technically we're breaking several laws by not only allowing you to join our ranks but also by ignoring the crimes you have committed..."

Ethan swallowed dropping his eyes to the floor.

"...you aren't our prisoner, but you are on probation, and if you are unable to follow the conditions we have set then you will leave us no choice but to adhere to the laws of the land, understand?"

Ethan nodded glumly feeling like a naughty six-year old before the fierce heroine.

"Good..."

Canary stepped closer letting her gaze become lighter.

"...work with us, prove you truly want to make a change, and the League will do whatever it can to help you"

It's not me I want to help...Ethan thought sadly.

As her words sank in Ethan simply nodded even though he was screaming inside.

"Now lets go meet your team"

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Robin

Dick sat with M'gann and Superboy in the kitchen area happily munching away at the baked goodies M'gann and Superboy had cooked.

"Mmm these are so good!" Dick said as he stuffed a fourth cookie into his mouth.

"They turned out much better than the first batch...not burning the mix improves the taste greatly" M'gann handed one to Superboy who sniffed at it warily before popping it into his mouth.

"Mmmm, who knew?" Dick said happily.

"Do you think the new guy will want some?"

"I...don't know, you'll have to ask"

M'gann smiled putting several on a separate plate for their new team member.

"I can't believe someones joining us...I mean I knew we'd get more members eventually, just not so soon, there's going to be seven of us now!" M'gann said excitedly.

"Yeah...It feels a bit sudden but we'll manage, we're a team..."

Dick grabbed a spoon from the table dramatically raising it up in the air.

"ALL FOR ONE!..."

Superboy and M'gann stared at the Boy Wonder then shared a lost look with each other.

Dick huffed.

"C'mon guys...all for one, one for all? The Three Musketeers?! No?...now I feel stupid"

"There's only four Musketeers in that story, not seven" Superboy bluntly stated.

"Dude...I was trying to have a moment with you" Dick said while waving the spoon in Superboy's face.

M'gann giggled picking up a biscuit for herself.

"I've never heard that story...is it anything like the one Wally loves, Trek Wars?...I can't remember what he called it"

Dick clutched his heart in feigned offence.

"Star Wars and no it's not the same it's-"

"It doesn't make sense, why is it called The Three Musketeers when there's four characters" Superboy criticized.

"And what does it have to do with waving my spoon in the air?..." M'gann snatched said spoon out of the Boy Wonder's hand.

"...does it have saber swords in it as well?"

"Light sabers. No it doesn't it's about this one guy-"

"That doesn't make sense either, you can't turn light into a sword the entire plot of that movie is flawed." Superboy cut in again.

"Dude! So not cool, if Wally were here he'd have died from a broken heart"

"At least then we wouldn't have to listen to both of you nerds" Superboy quipped.

"Dude!"

M'gann laughed and despite how wounded his inner Sci-fi geek was right now Dick laughed with her. In the corner of his lens he thought he saw the clone try to hide a small grin. To think a few weeks ago Superboy and the Martian had been at odds with each other, now they were practically joined at the hip.

Dick wondered if there was more to it than that...maybe he would ask later.

Someone cleared their throat behind them and the three teenagers turned to see Martian Manhunter standing at the entrance to the kitchen.

"Uncle J'onn!" M'gann flew over to her uncle hugging him tightly.

"Did you come to see me? We just made cookies and Robin was telling us about the Three Muske-trek Wars...or something like that"

Dick face-palmed himself.

"That's...interesting, but I'm afraid I didn't come to visit, I need you all to come with me, are the others around?" J'onn asked.

"Oh, Artemis and Wally went out earlier I'm not sure where, and Aqualad is still recovering from the Bialya mission in Atlantis, is something wrong?"

"No, I wanted to introduce you all to your new team member"

"Oh! Of course! Lets go!" She said quickly grabbing the plate of cookies she set aside.

M'gann practically levitated both Superboy and Robin out of the kitchen as they followed J'onn towards the training ring. It wasn't much of a surprise for Dick since he had been in the loop from the start but M'gann looked generally excited about meeting someone new, even Superboy looked mildly curious.

So this was it, Ethan would be on the team. Dick felt his own excitement bubble pleasantly.

When they reached the training area Black Canary awaited them standing proudly as she saw her students approach. Ethan was there as well standing beside her fidgeting nervously.

The first thing Robin noticed were the borrowed clothes he wore and how snugly they fit, the fabric stretched tightly across his chest leaving little to his imagination and Dick knew he was going to have trouble focusing.

Canary confidently addressed the three approaching teenagers.

"Everyone, this is Ethan, aka Paragon, the new addition to the team"

M'gann was first to welcome him smiling brightly as she offered up the cookies she had brought with her.

"Hi! I'm M'gann, this is Superboy and Robin, welcome aboard I guess!"

Ethan gazed at the freshly baked cookies then back at the green girl offering them, his eyes briefly flickered to Dick who nodded encouragingly.

Paragon took one of the treats and took a bite.

"Thanks" He mumbled.

M'gann smiled as Canary and J'onn began moving away.

"We'll leave him in your hands, show him around and help him get settled in"

"Will do" Robin replied.

"And Ethan, remember what we discussed" Canary gave him a knowing look and the meta-human nodded watching the senior League members leave the teenagers alone.

"Good to see you again, sleep well?" Dick asked.

"As well as I could, containment cells were a bit uncomfortable...you never came back"

Dick felt a pang of guilt.

"Oh yeah...sorry dude, Canary and Manhunter beat me to it, figured I'd just let you rest"

Ethan pouted at the smaller teen.

"Here I thought I'd frightened you away"

"Ha no chance, I just didn't want to inflate that ego anymore"

Ethan grinned and winked at him. Dick huffed in response.

"Why were you in the containment cells...?" M'gann inquired innocently which reminded Robin that his team didn't know the whole truth about Ethan.

"Oh, erm I...er-"

"His quarters weren't ready yet and it was the only free space" Robin inserted abruptly.

"What? That's silly! He could have bunked with Superboy, right?"

Superboy who up until that point had remained quiet moved closer glowering at Ethan's clothes.

"That's my shirt" Superboy said accusingly.

Ethan looked down inspecting the shirt and comparing it to the one Superboy wore. Dick swallowed as he saw Ethan's pectorals shift under the fabric.

"Yeah looks like it, you got a problem?"

"You've stretched it...why are you wearing my shirt?"

"...That's a good question..."

Ethan looked at Robin for help and Dick snapped out of his daze realizing he was watching the other males pecs too intently.

"He...was on a mission with me and Bats and...we came straight here after, didn't have time to pick up clean civvies"

Ethan shot him a grateful look.

"I thought you and Batman were an exclusive dynamic duo?" Superboy queried.

Jeez whats with all the questions today? Dick thought.

"It was a weird night and aren't we forgetting to do something?"

M'gann suddenly lit up.

"Hello M'gann! Tour! We need to give you a tour! Come on, this way! We'll start with the kitchen"

M'gann turned back into the corridor they had come from leading the way, Superboy watched the Boy Wonder and Paragon a moment longer then followed.

When they were alone Dick bumped Ethan's shoulder with his own smiling up at the taller teen.

"I'm glad you decided to join us"

Ethan hummed dipping his head closer to Robin.

"Better than the alternative right?"

Dick nodded briefly distracted by how close the other male's face was.

"No arguments there...besides this is a way cooler gig you'll see"

"Yeah...we'll see" Ethan hesitantly replied.

Robin tilted his head towards the corridor M'gann and Superboy had disappeared into.

"Come on, M'gann loves playing hostess so prepare yourself for the tour of your life!...Oh! You can totally help me out, Sups doesn't think Star Wars has a good plot which he is so wrong about, recon you could help me convince him otherwise?"

Ethan's brows drew together in confusion.

"The hell is Star Wars?"

Dick groaned.

"You've got to be kidding..."

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