Hi guys! Don't eat me please! I know I've been gone a while but there is a reason! Sorta... not really. Life just kinda hit me in the face and I got distracted by the Avengers... again. I'M SORRY! I didn't mean it. But if it makes you feel better it gave me motivation and lots of bunnies to come back to Smooth Criminal so I can write it the way I wanted to. I hope you're all still interested in the story cause I worked super hard on this chapter to make it awesome.

Disclaimer: I don't own DC comics or Young Justice. If I did it wouldn't have gone on a hiatus AGAIN!

Also, excuse all the fish and sea puns in this. There's only a few and I didn't realize they were there until I read over this chapter again. Please enjoy otherwise!

Happy Harbour

Mount Justice

October 20th 10:23 PDT

One would think that today was the perfect day in Happy Harbour. The sun was shining and it wasn't terribly cold considering the season. Very few clouds hovered in the sky and even they were little more than wisps but best of all there was no report of any major villain activity in the area. Oh sure there was still the occasional small crime such as theft but that was somewhat expected while living in such a large city. However as the civilians enjoyed probably one of the last nice days before the weather turned no one seemed to notice the storm that was brewing steadily over the mountain that sided the coastline that the Justice League had once used as their base of operations. Now this storm was a proverbial storm that had nothing to do with the weather, however the current occupants of the mountain were the ones who had to bear the brunt end of this storm for there was one in particular that had caused it.

"I don't really care what your reasoning is; I'm not letting a bunch of strangers poke and prod me like some science experiment." Tori growled haughtily at probably the last person she should have been arguing with.

Batman simply glared at her, not that she could tell with his face partially covered and the part she could see remaining a stoic mask. She had the distinct feeling that he was sending her a dirty look though. She seemed to be getting more and more of those from him every time they encountered one another. It should have been a sign that she should really stop getting into fights with the senior League member but his constant need to order her around grated on her nerves. She wasn't one of his little mini heroes that he could push around. Technically she was a villain under surveillance, he should have expected her to argue and be generally hard to work with.

"This is for your own good." You'd be wise to just get it over with." Batman said, his voice pulling at the young woman's nerves even more. She could sense the inevitable 'or else' at the end of his sentence even if he hadn't made any indication of it with his tone.

"You know it's morally wrong to force me into doing something I don't want to do." She quipped back stubbornly. "And I'm pretty sure the Justice League has rules against that kind of stuff."

Batman glared at her even harder because technically she was right. He'd just been hoping to intimidate her into agreeing but that really didn't seem to be working out. Even though he could tell she was intimidated by him, maybe even scared as he thought most villains, ex-cons or not, would be in the face of someone who could cart them off to jail, she stood her ground. If she was anything she was definitely stubborn, especially over something like going to the doctor.

"Recognized, Superboy, B-zero- four. Recognized, Miss Martian, B-zero-five." The computer announced as the Zeta tubes whirred to life, Tori didn't even look over to see the two teens walk into the mission room but she heard their footsteps stop when they noticed her and Batman standing several meters apart glaring at each other while Aqualad looked as if her wished he could be any other place then between the two.

Of course it was his own fault really that the argument had started in the first place seeing as it had been him that had invited her to spend the day with him in Atlantis with him since it was his shift on babysitting duty and he had matters to attend to with Aquaman. Of course then Batman had showed up practically demanding that the Atlantian take her to the science center in Atlantis with absolutely no explanation as to why he wanted her to do so.

Tori didn't blame Kaldur though. He had just been trying to be friendly. He was the only one on the team besides Megan to try to get to know her at all, and even Megan was still pretty guarded. She suspected that the only reason Kaldur was even giving her a chance was because of Roy. The two were good friends from what she could gather and the Atlantian seemed like the type to allow second chances so long as he thought you were sincere in actually wanting one.

But there was still the issue of Batman.

"What's going on?" Megan asked looking first at the leader of the League and then to Tori. When neither of Batman or the girl replied Kaldur decided to enlighten Megan by answering her question.

"Batman wishes for Tori to have some medical tests done while she accompanies me to Atlantis today so we can better understand her power and the illness that results of it." He explained calmly. Of course he really had no idea what exactly this illness was, or the seriousness of it. Tori had only told Roy, Dinah and Oliver about how fatal it really could be. She suspected that Batman also knew but she wasn't entirely sure how much he knew or how many other Leaguers knew of her 'condition'.

Megan wrinkled her nose at the idea of the tests, seeing that Tori was definitely not pleased with it and even Superboy stiffened at the mention of it. The former thief sort of understood the look of anger that crossed his face. Surprisingly she knew of his circumstances and how he was really a clone. It had been an accident when she found out but he had mentioned something of it when she and Megan had been discussing her days working for the League of Shadows. She rarely received information on anyone on the team. They pretty much tried to keep their true identities and anything concerning their missions or the justice League under wraps in case it turned out she really was a spy and was still working for the Shadows. It bugged her sometimes but she realised she would do the same thing if she were in their shoes.

"And I've already told Batman countless times that I have no desire to go through any more tests. I already know how my power relates to my illness and I'm happy to continue getting through it on my own." She said breaking from her thoughts and getting back to the matter at hand. She didn't need anyone else sticking her with needles to figure out what was wrong with her when she had already endured it to obtain her medication.

"I've already told you, it's for your own good." The older man growled and Tori simply scoffed in disbelief. It was for his own good so he had something to use against her should she really turn against them.

Batman must've decided that he had enough of her foolishness because he turned abruptly and stalked out of the cave. Tori entertained the idea of Batman stomping out like a petulant child to entertain herself for a moment but it didn't bring her as much enjoyment as she thought it would. A full grown man throwing a tantrum like that would have been a sad sight indeed. And an equally sad day for the Justice League considering he was their leader.

After he'd left Tori was sure she should have felt some sort of sense of victory over having, in theory, won an argument with Batman. She didn't have to get any stupid tests done and the Dark Knight was off of her back about the matter, but instead she just felt tired, as if the whole ordeal had drained her of energy. She figured it was because all of her nerves had been fried. Batman was an intimidating and truly terrifying opponent no matter whose side she was on.

"Are we going to go Kaldur?" She asked the Atlantian with a sigh.

Kaldur gave a curt nod and began fishing something out of his pocket. When he handed it to her she took it carefully in her fingers and examined the device she'd been given. It looked like one of those oxygen masks one would find at the hospital with a little air canister attached on either side but she had a feeling it did a lot more than just look weird.

"It's a modified rebreather." Kaldur explained when she shot him a look of confusion. "Though it looks small it has been spelled by the Queen so that the pressure of the ocean does not affect the user. The dome around the city also helps to protect those within from the pressure as well."

"How long can I breath with this?" She asked as she fit it over her mouth and nose experimentally. It seemed to fit fine but she suspected that the device would become increasingly uncomfortable to wear the longer it stayed on her face.

"For as long as we are there. It will filter the oxygen from the water around you as you breathe. Are you ready?" he asked gesturing to the Zeta tubes.

Tori nodded, briefly glancing at the tight wetsuit she'd donned for this expedition. The legs and sleeves of it came to an end just above her joints and she wondered how foolish she would seem if she asked for flippers. She decided against asking however since she had a feeling she would look pretty funny going around Atlantis in scuba flippers.

After a quick goodbye to Megan and Connor, and getting her breathing mask properly situated on her face (It wouldn't do for it to slip off and she really didn't want to endure the horrible sensation of drowning), she and Kaldur stepped through the Zeta tubes and the sudden sense that her equilibrium was thrown off came over her. Now Tori considered herself a fairly decent swimmer, but with her feet suddenly no longer touching the ground she floundered to get her bearings. If the half concealed smile on Kaldur's face was anything to go by, the sight must've been pretty amusing.

"Shut up." She said hotly when she managed to right herself.

"My apologies. For a moment I was reminded of the saying 'a fish out of water' and thought there was some irony to the situation." His face was schooled to calm but Tori could see that he was still laughing at her on the inside.

"For all intensive purposes I'm a non-fish into water." She said dryly as she looked around for something that would divert the topic from her clumsy ability to stay righted underwater. When she actually noticed her surroundings she was pleasantly surprised.

The hall where the Zeta tube had deposited them was ten times more beautiful than what she had expected or imagined. She had though the outside would have been something to look at from what brief description Kaldur had told her of his home but the inside was gorgeous too. Underwater paradise didn't even begin to cover the vast walls that gleamed with an ethereal light that Tori was sure had something to do with sorcery. That or luminescent coral.

She didn't even notice that someone new had approached them, entranced as she was by the beauty of the scenery. It was only when the newcomer had cleared his throat did her eyes snap to the familiar form of Aquaman. Startled and aware of his kingly status in the underwater kingdom she tried to bow to him as she would have for royalty on land but this just ended up with more floundering.

"You must be Victoria." Aquaman said with a small smile. She assumed that her antics had amused him just as they had amused his apprentice.

"Um... Yeah." She nodded, bracing herself against one of the coral walls to try and keep from embarrassing herself again. "It's a pleasure to meet you sir." She said brushing off her former fumble.

"And you. Will you be going to the Science Center today? I had discussed with Batman about you visiting because I believe our healers may be able to pinpoint and heal your 'condition'."

Tori blinked and then blinked again as if trying to figure out if she had heard the Atlantian king properly and that water was not logging her ears. Cure. Batman had said nothing about curing, just that they had wanted to do some tests. If they could cure her of spewing up blood every time she used her power that would have been another matter entirely. One that the Dark Knight had failed to mention.

"Batman did not tell you that did her?" the king guessed by the blank look on her face.

"He more or less demanded that I go, only telling me that it was for my own good. I assumed he just wanted information on my abilities." She said with a wave of her hand like she hadn't had a full blown verbal war with Batman and come away unscathed. So far anyway.

"Well the choice is yours whether you want to go or not." Aquaman said in a way that made Tori suspect her was strongly hoping she would listen.

She thought about it for a moment, debating on whether or not the satisfaction of disobeying Batman outweighed her want to be rid of her illness. On one hand she could use her ability without worrying that she was going to drown in her own blood, on the other hand... what was she thinking she wasn't going to give up the chance to live a bit longer just because she didn't like some old man's attitude. He dressed up like a bat on a nightly basis of goodness sake. But just to make it seem as if she wasn't agreeing entirely, just to spite him, she seemed reluctant. "I suppose it couldn't hurt to try." She said with a shrug. She had a feeling she wasn't fooling either Kaldur or Aquaman but she doubted they would mention anything to Batman.

"I will escort you there then." Kaldur said and gave a short salute to his king before he motioned for Tori to follow him.

She did her best to keep up with him, but Kaldur had a lifetime of experience when it came to swimming quickly and he outstripped without even realizing that he had done so and she was left behind in the dust, well bubbles. The thing that amazed her most was that he was only swimming at what she guessed was a casual pace, she would hate to have to be in a race with him where he was actually trying. She watched him swim away for a long moment before she decided to call out to him.

"Um... Kaldur!" She called as she swam, albeit slowly, in the direction he had been going. He turned and she saw his eyes widen when he realised she was not right behind him. It only took him a few seconds to get back to where she was and he gave her an apologetic smile.

"My apologies, I forgot that it would be difficult for you to keep up with me." He said and she couldn't help but laugh a bit.

"It's alright. I don't exactly have webbed feet or hands so I'm pretty slow." She said with a shrug. Noticing something over his shoulder she moved slightly to get a better view of what she thought she saw even though the movement was a little clumsy. Kaldur noticed her movement and turned just as Tori realised what she was looking at. A girl and a boy were swimming towards them.

She was quick to notice that they looked slightly different than Kaldur, even from this distance she could tell they looked very human, like Aquaman and did not have gills on their necks like the dark skinned Atlantian. As they got closer she realised that they didn't even have fins on their legs like Kaldur had though she had yet to decide if that was just the style of the pants or if Kaldur really did have fins sprouting from his legs.

"Kaldur!" The girl called excitedly when they were close enough. "We did not know you had come back to Atlantis! Why did you not let us know?"

"Tula! Garth!" Kaldur greeted his friends with a smiled and motioned a hand to Tori who waved awkwardly when they noticed her. "This is Victoria. I was asked to bring her to the Science Center because she is to be examined by our healers for a way to cure an illness she has acquired."

"Please don't call me Victoria." Tori put in immediately. "Everyone calls me Tori, or at least I try to get everyone to call me Tori."

"It is nice to meet you V- Um Tori." Tula said taking her hands and smiling at her kindly. Tori couldn't help but smile back.

"Are you on the team of young heroes that Kaldur participates in?" Garth asked curiously and Tori shot a nervous look Kaldur's way, unsure of how she should answer the question. She didn't want to lie, but she didn't exactly want to tell them that she had been in league with the bad guys.

"She is not. Tori is Red Arrow's 'girlfriend' as they say on the surface." Kaldur supplied calmly. "She is under the leagues protection from our enemies that would wish to use her against him."

Tori was relieved when she heard his explanation. She didn't know why but having strangers know she was a villain at one point, even strangers who lived under the sea, made her uneasy. Then again she shouldn't have suspected that Kaldur would tell them such a thing because they were trying to make sure the Shadows didn't know who she was.

"Oh how horrible." Tula said sympathy clear in her eyes. "Don't worry, I have faith in Kaldur's team and the League, they will not allow you to be hurt."

"Umm... thanks." Tori nodded with a smile. She was liking Tula more and more by the second it only sucked that this would likely be the only time she would ever meet the girl.

"We should let you get to the Science Center soon. We do not want to delay you." Garth said after a moment and took Tula's hand. "If you have time when you are done we would love to have your company." He seemed to be speaking more to Kaldur than Tori but she didn't mind he was their friend after all.

"It was no delay. Tori is delaying us more than you would." Kaldur said lightly and Tori scowled at him despite the joking tone he had used. "She is not a very good swimmer."

"I can swim fine!" She protested. "I'm not built to swim at Olympic speeds though. If I was I wouldn't have to go to see your healers!"

The three Atlantians laughed at her outburst and she gave a dejected sigh knowing she really was a horrible swimmer compared to them. Kaldur laid his hand on her shoulder and gave her a good natured smile to show he was teasing which threw her off a bit. He didn't seem the type to tease but she didn't really know him very well either and he seemed more at ease her in his home and with his friends.

They bid goodbye to Tula and Garth and this time when they began to swim Kaldur took hold of Tori's arm to pull her along behind him. They went much faster than what she was used to and though she kicked her feet behind her she had a feeling the action wasn't helping much and that even with her added weight, the Atlantian was having little trouble pulling her along.

They reached the Science Center in little time and they were greeted by several people who resembled the romantised versions of mermen that Tori was familiar with after watching 'The Little Mermaid' as a child, except these ones wore clothes over their chests and were talking rapidly to Kaldur in a language she didn't understand. She came to realise that she probably didn't need to know what they were saying or they would have spoken English as Tula and Garth had so she simply allowed them to speak with Kaldur while they led her into the center and to a room that looked like something they would use as a hospital room.

"I am going to have to stay out in the hall Tori." Kaldur said turning to her as she looked around the room. "It is to make you more comfortable they say."

In all honesty she would have been more comfortable if he was to stay with her but she didn't want him knowing to what extent her illness went. So she nodded and swam over to sit on a raised flat rock that she thought was used as an equivalent to an exam table. She heard Kaldur leave the room and looked at the two healers who remained. One was male and the other was female and both smiled at her as if they knew of the nervous pit in her stomach. She had always hated the hospital or anything that resembled one.

"If you would lay back." The female asked in English and Tori obeyed. Laying back on the uncomfortable rock. "You will feel a slight tingle."

Tori frowned and turned her head to see what she meant when a furious tingling sensation started in her chest. The woman's hands were hovering over her abdomen and glowing a bright green color as they came closer to her chest. Tori suppressed a giggle when the tingle turned into a slight tickle and tried to relax knowing that being poked and prodded was hopefully out of the question. They seemed to be using their form of sorcery to determine how they might help her.

The 'tests' they ran took a little while. After the woman had finished whatever she had done with her hands they had Tori explain what she knew of her illness and the medication she used as well as her meta ability. They had her perform simple movements that were a little harder in water than they would have been on land and lastly examined her prosthetic arm if simply out of curiosity because they had never seen such a thing. Tori was grateful it had been made waterproof or she would have been in trouble. By the time she was finally allowed to leave she was more than ready to get out of there.

"You have given us a lot to look at." The male healer said when they had finished. "But we are confident that we can find something to heal you of your malady. We will let the king know as soon as we are sure we can help."

Tori thanked them and then left the room to find Kaldur who was waiting patiently for her in the hallway. She didn't say much to him because she was thinking about what the healers had told her. There was a potential that she could be cured and be able to use her ability without fear of pain. The very idea made her heart seem so much lighter despite everything that was happening at the moment. She laughed in happiness at the news. She had to tell Roy when she got back to Star City. As well as Dinah and Oliver. For once it seemed as if things were finally on her side.

I'm pretty sure I totally suck at ambiguous chapter endings. I mean I was gonna end it with some hang out time with Tula and Garth but I wasn't sure how I would end that or make it very interesting. So I just ended it with Tori all happy cause I haven't really made her happy much since like chapter five before Dom died.

Thanks so much to hyourin-kusabana, catalinashepard, masqueraderose9, Nao-bou, KiaraDuman, KimKitty, Sparkles of Youthfulness, knoxrox, The Nett-Chan, Katie Loom, kitsune-miko-witch, booklover1498, and Lilyblossom01 for the faves and follows!

Booklover1498: Haha yes! She was sent to Atlantis now you know why! Roy didn't really know about her trip to the underwater kingdom it was kind of a last minute thing as you can likely tell. And I know I didn't mention what they had for lunch but it was spaghetti. Not in Atlantis though. They had to go back to the cave cause Tori couldn't exactly eat with that mask on. I'm so glad you like the story! Sorry for the late update!

NekoKittyNinja: Sadly I am still working on that one-shot... it will get finished eventually I just want to do it in a way that seems believable for Roy and Dinah. Especially Roy cause it would be in his POV. I'm glad you liked the last chapter and I hope you like this one! Also I always list who faved! I want to make sure they know I appreciate people supporting my story even though I kinda suck at updating sometimes!

The Nett-Chan: I updated but not exactly soon I hope you can forgive me. Thanks for your kind words and please keep reading!

RunningQueenx5: I'm sorry for your skeletonness. I likely caused it again so I'm going to ship you a supply of heal and cure and remedy potions to make sure you survive future update waits. I apologize for the horrendous amount of time you had to wait for this one as well. I'm glad the last chapter had an effect on you. I kinda sniffled while writing it and was like. I hope people write this cause I fell like I'm shit at writing mushy scenes. Anna was also kind of based on my sister. She doesn't know when to leave something alone either!

bRoKEnhEaRTscROsSovEr: Thanks I hope you love this one too!

Chances vs Pills: I know I've said this a lot but... I'm sorry for the wait. For the last chapter and this one. I hope you can forgive me because I know I totally fail and you've been with me since like the beginning and I will cry if you leave me now! I promise on the life of my goldfish that the next chapter will be up by the end of the week because I'm determined to get it out before people decide to form a mob and beat me.

Music Moon Queen: They are! It makes me happy! Thanks for your review.

Guest: I know I fail at life. I'm sorry and I wish I knew your pen name so I could apologize further but I don't so I'll send you cyber cookies with my mind and hope you get them. please forgive my tardiness.

I apologize again for my fail. but I PROMISE PROMISE PROMISE to get the next chapter out by the end of next week at the latest. I'm going to start writing it tonight after I consult with someone about how I'm going to format the next chapter. Please let me know how you guys liked this one!

Also I was thinking of maybe going back and re-writing some of the past chapters or even doing a revamp of the story cause as I re-read it the other day I realised there was so much more I could have put in and explored in the past chapters like the start of Roy and Tori's relationship. I feel like it kinda just... I dunno happened and there really wasn't any effort put forth on my behalf. An the flip side I could also do a series of "Deleted Scenes" that explore things that have happened in the past that I hadn't put in but I wanted to ask you guys which you thought would be better.

SO who wants to see a flash of what happens next? I do!

Next time: It's everyone's favorite bird's turn to go on babysitting duty. Being around the same age as the kids at Tori's work he blends in pretty well. But things are going down hill when Tori gets a message from someone she's been hoping and dreading to hear from.

EDIT: Also guys I totally forgot but I'm getting close to a hundred reviews! If I can get a hundred I'll put up a picture of Tori! Also the one hundred and FIRST reviewer gets a cameo in the next chapter. So please reveiw guys cause if I get that review AFTER the next chapter is put up the deal is totally off and I'll be using some random character in my arsenal or from the DC comics. I'll still put up a pic of Tori though.