Disclaimer: Must we always go through this?
Defend
"You're meeting the Justice League."
Cam stares at Batman, not sure where this came from. "Uh, why? Not that I'm not stoked or anything; it just seems, you know, random."
The Team coordinator and Dinah share a look before she explains, "Formality. They've met all the other protégés."
It's a good enough reason for him, so he replies, "Okay. When?"
"Twenty minutes," Batman reports. "So make yourself presentable."
Glancing down at his baggy sweatpants and wife beater, his customary work-out uniform, he opens his mouth to defend himself only to see that the Gothamite is gone. Dinah, chuckling at his confusion, nudges him in the direction of his room. "Clean yourself up."
"I'm going, I'm going," he grumbles.
He briefly contemplates showering, but a major upside to being a cryokinetic is abnormal temperature maintenance, meaning his body naturally stays at his inherent core temperature without him sweating or shivering, depending on the situation. Removing his clothes, he pulls on a pair of jeans and a nice shirt—he thinks it's a nice shirt, anyway, because it smells good and has no stains or holes and what other criteria could there be?
"Tell me you're doing something with your hair," Dinah says as he emerges from his room.
"What? I never do anything with it."
Inspecting him, she muses, "We could try to slick it back—"
"No," he protests, putting his arms on top of his head. "Not a chance."
She rolls her eyes but relents. Knowing that he's safe, he drops his hands and asks, "Is there anything I need to know?"
Thinking it over, she offers, "Nothing really. Just be respectful and mature. Oh, wait, speaking of which—Captain Marvel is actually ten-years-old, so if he does anything that may seem strange to you, that's why."
"He's ten?"
"As Captain Marvel, no. As his natural self, without the powers, yes. But mentally, he never changes."
"Oh…kay."
"And don't try to be funny."
"I don't try. I am."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I do not need you making any inappropriate jokes."
"You really think I'd make sex jokes in front of the Justice League?"
"I wouldn't put anything past you."
"Touché." After a moment, he asks, "So I'm guessing that calling out Superman for being a jerk to Connor for, like, ever is also out of the question?"
"If you have to ask me if it's okay, it's not. You know, here's the rule: if you want to say anything, think about it and then just don't say it."
"So, what, you want me just to stand there and not talk?"
"Perfect."
"Dude!"
"And don't call anyone dude; address them by their names."
"Alright."
"And be mature."
"You've said that already."
"I know. I just really, really want it to sink in, okay? First impressions are so important."
"Okay, okay. Sheesh, Dinah, don't worry; I'll be fine."
"I know you will." She smiles. "Just be yourself, okay? Don't put on an act."
"So I can make sex jokes?"
"Cameron."
"Kidding. Just kidding." Shifting a bit, he asks softly, "Do you think they'll like me?"
"Of course they will."
"Even with my past?"
"No one cares about that," she promises him. "You are not evil, and that's all that matters." Placing a hand on his shoulder, she murmurs, "Let's get going."
Swallowing his nerves, he follows her to the Cave's entrance and steps through the zeta-beam transporter, hoping that when they arrive he'll have some time to mentally prepare himself. As soon as he appears in the Hall of Justice, though, he sees that he has no such luck: the entire League is standing before him, waiting. Panic suddenly sets in because just a few short months ago, he was their enemy, a threat, and he's scared of doing anything to annoy or anger them. He needs to impress them, convince them that he's a true hero, not only for his sake but for Dinah's because she took him under her wing and he knows she must have put a lot on the line doing that.
"Hi," he manages, ignoring that his voice just cracked.
"Hey, Cam." Green Arrow steps forward and puts a comforting arm around his shoulders. "Welcome to the Hall of Justice. This happy lot is, obviously, the League. League, say hello to the newest addition to our covert team."
How the emerald archer can be so calm and collected is beyond him, but he couldn't care less at the moment because, one by one, they greet him. The ones he's never met are pretty stone-faced, but the mentors of his teammates are more open, Flash giving him a thumbs-up and Aquaman offering a gentle smile; even Red Arrow is cool, refraining from calling him Junior. The person who seems happiest to see him, however, is Captain Marvel, who practically breaks him in half with a hug before exclaiming that it's so awesome to meet him because going from a bad guy to a good guy is totally amazing and he's so lucky to be on the Team. He now understands Dinah's warning because if he didn't know this guy was actually a kid, he'd be totally freaking out.
"How does it feel, Cameron, to be a hero?"
Wonder Woman steps forward, prompting Captain Marvel to release his grip and back off. There's an edge to her words.
"It's interesting," he provides lamely, unsure of how to answer.
"It must have been quite a change, suddenly being thrown onto a League-mandated operation unit." She might be talking to him, but she's looking at Batman.
Without hesitance, the Dark Knight replies, "The Team is under my command; no one else's input was necessary to add another member."
"It would have been nice had you even bothered letting any of us know," she counters, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Let it go," Dinah instructs, matching the woman's tone perfectly.
"I'm sorry, but that spot should have gone to a female hero; we're outnumbered as it is."
"If there were any up-and-coming heroines, they would have been added as well. But I really don't think that has anything to do with how you feel, does it?"
An uncomfortable silence settles as the other heroes glance at one another. Glaring at Dinah, Wonder Woman finally replies, "Fine. I don't trust him."
He flinches, the words as strong as a physical blow.
Instantaneously, Dinah is in Mother Bear mode. "I knew it," she hisses, approaching the other.
"You can't blame me for feeling this way. You know who his father is," she responds. "How many people has Icicle killed? How many lives has he ruined?"
"Cameron and Joar are not the same person." She's furious, madder than he's ever seen her. "You can't condemn him to a life of villainy just because of who his father is."
"Maybe if he hadn't been a villain, I wouldn't assume that was his destiny."
"He was forced to do that. You're always bemoaning the poor child soldiers of the world—tell me any difference between him and them. Come on, give me one."
"He's practically an adult; he can make his own choices."
Rolling her eyes, she retorts, "It's not that simple and you know it."
Superman, clearing his throat slightly, inches towards the warring females. "Maybe we should—"
"Stay out of this!" they bark simultaneously, and the Man of Steel retreats.
"He is not evil," Dinah growls. "So don't you dare treat him like he is."
"More precautions should have been taken before he was simply permitted to join. It could have been a trap."
"Artemis suggested it. You trust her judgment."
When Wonder Woman doesn't respond, Dinah continues, "And he's proven that he's a hero. You know why he joined the Team."
With a dismissive shrug of her shoulders, she counters, "Just because he did what he did for an old friend doesn't mean he would do that for anyone."
"You are such a bitch."
Stunned and shocked expressions all around; even Batman seems slightly concerned. Captain Marvel, in a barely audible voice, mutters, "That's a bad word."
Green Arrow tentatively comes behind Dinah and attempts to place a hand on her shoulder. "Dinah—"
"Do not touch me, Oliver!"
He raises his hands and returns to his spot, mumbling, "I tried."
"I can't believe you," Wonder Woman angrily whispers.
"Can't believe me? I can't believe you. He has done everything he could have to turn his life around, and you don't even care. Well guess what? You have no say. He is part of the Team and he is my protégé and that will not change any time soon. So any problem you have with him—any problem any of you have with him—doesn't matter." Grabbing his arm, she instructs, "Come on, Cam."
She's dragging him toward the transporter when Batman blocks the exit. Addressing the League, he announces, "I trust him."
He says those three simple words definitively, as though daring anyone to contradict him.
"I do, too," Superman adds.
"Me, three," Green Arrow proposes. "After all he's done for Artemis, there's no way I wouldn't."
"Kaldur speaks highly of him. And that is enough for me," Aquaman offers.
"He has my approval," Flash declares.
"He is my niece's teammate," Martian Manhunter states. "Her friend. I know he is hero."
"Everyone deserves a second chance," Icon points out. "And if Raquel likes him, then so do I."
"He's a hero," Red Arrow insists stubbornly. "No doubt."
The sudden outflow of support surprises him. No one has ever had his back like this before, not even his dad, and he's never been so grateful before in his life. Each muttered word about him, each dirty look shot his way, makes him question himself, his choices. They fill him with doubt, force him to stare at his reflection and repeat that he is a hero, that he's not his father. Sometimes, though, his pep talks aren't loud enough to drown out those whispers and aren't long enough to make him forget those dirty looks. It's an uphill battle, proving himself a hero, and sometimes he just gets so tired of bothering. Now, though, now he knows he's not alone. Because maybe Wonder Woman doesn't like him, but nine other Leaguers, including the Batman, do. And he definitely likes those odds.