March 26th
Washington DC
1030 EST
"You excited about this?" Maddie asked, leaning into Deke. He was standing there with he, and the rest of the team in full costume, looking at the original Hall of Justice. They were off to the left of the main crowd, behind the cordoned area, giving them a slightly better vantage point. "I'm excited about this."
"Yup." Deke drawled, absently aware that Aasha had slipped her small hand into his. He was going to say something to her, but there was no point, the veteran Movers had, at some point or another, all asked some variation on the question of who they thought they were fooling. They were all there, together, amongst a massive crowd at the League induction ceremony. The Movers had worked with many of the soon-to-be-inductees, and counted among them several friends and allies.
Fractal, in his full costume, stepped up alongside them. "Forgive my tardiness, but I wasn't about to leave the Hacienda until the work was completed." He said, leaving the statement hanging.
"You finished early?" Maddie asked, turning to look at him with a broad smile across her perfectly painted lips. Her excitement was plainly obvious, since it meant she had a home again.
"I did." Fractal said, looking dangerously close to smug. "I thought we'd have a 'family dinner' to christen the place."
"That's not how you christen a place." Maddie said with a saucy wink. "I'll get that taken care of, if someone doesn't beat me to it." She added, elbowing her teammate in the ribs, causing Deke to squirm. Aasha snickered quietly and squeezed his hand before releasing it and bringing herself a foot and change into the air so that she could see properly.
"Hey, all I need to hear is food." Liho said, happy to see Maddie didn't seem uncomfortable around him anymore. Whether it was real or an act was still up for debate though. He'd learn more when Pacifica joined them. "All kind of reporters here. I think that's Cat Grant." He said, gesturing across the crowded assembly to the media section.
"Yeah, that's her, plus Iris West, and Lois Lane." Fractal said, the technology in his suit giving him a magnified view as well as facial recognition. "Several news organizations are here, but that's not surprising."
"I wonder if there's gonna be that many when they finally let us sit at the big kid's table?" Deke drawled, trying desperately to shut out the crowd. He finally understood why Aasha had been gripping his hand. It wasn't for affection (well, maybe some), it was to help him feel calm in the large group of people, something he still wasn't perfectly at ease with.
"Who cares?" Maddie retorted casually. "We're awesome and we know it. We don't need media to make us feel better."
"Far cry from your previous attitude." Fractal said. "But certainly commendable."
It was true too. At one point obsessed by the idea of being on the news, Maddie had since stopped caring at all. She'd discovered much more important things to care about, and validating herself on television ceased to carry the kind of weight it used to.
"Thanks. Oh hey, there's Superman." She said, pointing up to the sky. Indeed, the big man in blue was descending slowly, as Wonder Woman, Batman, the Flash, and Martian Manhunter exited the hall. They were surprised to see Superman land a couple of feet from the Podium, and the Flash take up the position. Apparently, they switched out mic duties. In short order, a large portion of the Justice League gathered in front of the Hall.
"Good morning." The Flash said, tapping the mic and of course, there was feedback. He winced, and let it pass, before continuing. "Since the founding of the Justice League, we've tried to handle every threat that comes to Earth, working together for the common good of everyone. When things get too tough, we've looked to those we've trained, and those who've stepped up to help in their own home towns. We've been selective, hoping to choose people whose abilities complement our own, or to fill a space we find ourselves lacking. We made a mistake along the way. We're just people too, and sometimes we make them, and the mistake we've made is not extending the invitation to these heroes sooner."
The crowd buzzed, the media more so. The immediate psychic resonance of the place was one of curiosity and excitement, which made sense given the announcement. "Aqualad, Miss Martian, Static, please come up." The Flash said, and from the side of the podium, the three heroes walked up. Kaldur looked no different, but Virgil had finally put together a proper costume. Blue and gold like his mentor, his suit covered him head to toe, with a cutout to let his hair free, and an almost Bat style facemask. Over it, he'd added a long coat in similar colors. M'gann also showed up looking different, with a costume which was colored very similar to her previous, but with elements of armoring to give her a more dangerous look, though her bright, easy smile betrayed the look.
"They look so badass." Liho remarked, watching them cross up the stairs to the podium, almost like a graduation ceremony. The Movers all agreed, watching it from their vantage point. On occasion, someone from the crowd would glance over, a few pointing at Aasha while she floated off the ground to see better. When it happened, whoever noticed them would give a smile or wave.
"We'll be up there one day." Kris said, a truly rare moment of bold confidence for him. "All of us, at once. It will be an incredible day." He added, his beaming smile seeming very out of character for him.
"Mein bruter," Deke began slowly, still working on his command of German. "Wir sind dann helden."
"Jawohl mein bruter. Sehr gut." Kris said, offering his knuckles. "We will be heroes."
"Bugger that," Aasha scolded while the boys bumped knuckles, Liho's massive fist getting in on it. "We are heroes."
"Damn right chick." Maddie said.
March 26th
Destin Florida
1500 CST
The rest of the induction ceremony had been about what one would expect. Media clamored for something, anything from any of the members of the Justice League, and of course, it fell to Green Arrow to issue a closing statement. He had dealt with media extensively as Oliver Queen, so it was no surprise there.
Following the ceremony, the League went in and up to the Watchtower for the customary party to welcome their new members. They'd invited the Movers, but of course, they had plans of their own. Liho had some fishing to do, and Deke was busy in the market. Kris had forbidden any of them to enter the Hacienda until the proper reveal, so it left him, Maddie, Aasha, and Ingrid to drive around the city picking up a few things for the event. Kris had been able to put together a lot of things for the place, but there was a limit to what raw materials he had. Fortunately, for quartering, there wasn't as tight a limit on the budget. Simple things, like towels, detergent, bedding, and other sundries still needed gathered.
"So, nobody at all?" Maddie asked Ingrid as they walked through the aisles of a housewares store. When she'd found out that Ingrid's powers required maintaining chastity, it had become game on for the interrogation.
"Nope, nobody, ever." Ingrid said, playing along like a champ. She'd told Aasha not to worry when the small woman tried scolding her teammate about pestering.
"So, no loopholes? Like, you couldn't give a blowjob or get eaten? And what about with another girl?" Maddie said, at this point trying to do her best to see a bright side. She gave no concern whatsoever to the other patrons of the store who happened to hear her questions, or if she did, it wasn't enough to stop.
"Would you risk it?" Ingrid asked, picking up a towel and feeling it, to form an opinion on it. "And I'm not into girls anyway."
"Self-maintenance then? C'mon, you have to have some kind of out here." Maddie said, watching the redheaded girl set the towel back down after making a face at it.
"Mercifully, that's acceptable." Ingrid said, giving her something at least, as they moved through the different sections. "I'd be a horrible person otherwise."
"Oh good. So I take it you still get urges though, right?" Maddie asked, running her fingertips across a series of bedsheets, stopping on a set of Egyptian cotton, before looking at the price tag. Kristof would have kittens if she tried asking for them.
"Oh yeah, pretty much on the regular. My drive didn't vanish, that'd be too easy." Ingrid remarked; taking another look at the sheets Maddie was lusting after. "You know, I could make these, right?"
"You can?" Maddie asked, baffled. How in the hell did that even work?
"Yeah, I can operate a loom like a champ. When I was little, I picked up a lot of middle ages skills while traveling with my dad. I can weave, sew, smith, build, hunt, and brew. I'm extremely self-sufficient."
"You are seriously awesome." Maddie said with a nod. "What do you need to make this happen?"
Ingrid pondered that, catching Kristof's eye and giving him a small wave. He'd leaned around a corner to check on them, to make sure Maddie wasn't driving her up a wall with her rather vulgar questions. "About four hundred dollars."
"That's more expensive than these sheets." Maddie said with a frown.
"Sorry, I didn't clarify. That would be enough to make a set for everyone, assuming we have king sized beds." Ingrid replied. "It'd take me a while, but if we can live for a few months on basic stuff, I can get us taken care of."
"Yes please." Maddie said enthusiastically, loading their cart with the cheapest sheets she could grab that didn't feel horrible. "I guess you need to keep yourself busy, huh?"
Ingrid nodded. "Not as much now that I'm out of my teens, but the habit stuck with me. I kind of hate most television, so I have a lot of free time."
Across the store, Aasha and Kris were busy trying to make up their minds about kitchenware. Nobody discussed this kind of thing when it came to being super heroes, the absurd banality of what they did when villains weren't plaguing someplace or another. "I think Maddie's made a new friend." Aasha said, glancing over at the two.
"I believe you're right." Kris replied. "Speaking of friends, I saw you clutching to Deacon this morning. Is that something you should be doing in public?"
Aasha blushed furiously at the statement, leaving her standing there holding a tall, narrow pasta pot. "Well, actually, yes, in this case it is. You know how he is with crowds. That's not a secret at all."
"No, I suppose it isn't." Kristof replied, taking the pasta pot and setting it back on the shelf, otherwise Aasha would stand there holding it until the place closed. "I don't want to see anything unpleasant occur is all."
"Oh, that's not a problem. We know our boundaries. I'm sad Babs will be around less often for a while, until she can get accustomed to the new members." Aasha said honestly. The fact that she was still living with her and Deke in Gotham for the time being was still under wraps, for very obvious reasons named Madeline. "I liked having her around."
"I think Gotham might like having her around more." Kris said. "But I know what you mean, and I agree with you. Are you happy though Aasha?"
"That's a silly question to ask. I'm rather happy Kris. I've got everything I want and need. I'm loved, respected, and cared for. My emotional and physical needs are met, and I'm challenged properly in life. I'm not complaining, but this is very unlike you to ask things like this, why the change?" Aasha asked, still blushing. She might be a goddess come walk the Earth, but underneath it, she was still a meek woman.
Kris sighed, blowing a tuft of hair from his face before it looked too close to World War two for his own tastes. It might be time for a change of style, to match his shift in attitude. "I had a very large falling out with my family recently, large enough that I probably won't be welcome at home for quite a while, and it gave me oooof, that's quite a grip you've got." Kris said, interrupted by a hug from his teammate. She looked up at him with her big brown doe eyes, concern welling within them.
"Are you okay?" She asked, still not letting him go.
Kris nodded, trying to extricate himself from Aasha's surprisingly strong grasp. "Yes, actually, it gave me perspective. None of you ever judged me, or questioned me. You just accepted me. It's reminded me where my family really is, so I've decided to stop restraining myself quite so much. All of you have given me much more than I've given you, and I want to change that."
Aasha sniffled and wiped her eyes on her forearm before squeezing him again. She was far too shy to admit she'd been hitting the gym more frequently, since her primary aim was to develop a proper bottom while she was at it. Developing a much more proper hug was just a nice bonus. "We're here for you, and I think Ingrid might be especially so."
Kris nodded at that. "Yeah, I noticed that. We'd actually make a funny pair. She can't have sex and I'm not particularly interested in it. That's definitely compatible, but she doesn't know everything about me either. The veterans don't much care how I'm plumbed, but she might."
"Well, we have dinner tonight to meet and greet. You said Scramble was showing up tonight too?" Aasha said, finally releasing Kristof.
"Yes. This will also be the first real gathering with Maddie and Pacifica since Hawaii. If you've ever wondered why I don't particularly care for sex, well, this is the answer. Too much trouble." Kris replied.
"Maddie and Pacifica don't have issues because of sex Kris, that's love, or something close." Aasha corrected him gently. "And I'm praying things go well. We can't have them spitting and hissing at one another, it would be a horrid mess."
"A solar powered alien and an Atlantean sorceress having territorial pissing matches would certainly ruin the work I've put into the Hacienda." Kris replied, picturing just how messy that would get. Captain Atom had given him a briefing the Green Lantern had written about Nishian physiology and abilities, explaining how they were so adaptable. It would eventually not go well for Pacifica, if she didn't fry Maddie first. Neither were particularly suitable outcomes.
"I think it'll go better Kris." Aasha said, grabbing a rather large blender from the clearance bin. "I have to believe that. Pain is a temporal thing after all."
"You sound like you're speaking from firsthand knowledge." Kris replied, surreptitiously sending a couple of his microscopic helpers into the blender box to check it over and see if it needed repairs.
"Well of course I am, silly boy. We all have our crosses to bear. I think that's why we work together as well as we do. No judgment, because we've all got something to judge." Aasha retorted, her prim accent somehow making her words carry a greater gravity.