All characters, settings etc associated with Young Justice and DC, are not owned by me. I merely own that which is unfamiliar and am not making any profit off this fiction venture.

Some dialogue from Young Justice Episode 110: Targets.

Chapter Warning(s): coarse language, violence

EDIT 03/06/13: Changed 09:56 PDT to 10:56 PDT, so it makes a bit more sense.

Maelstrom

Kalladura'ham

"The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart."

Elisabeth Foley

20

Mount Justice, Happy Harbor, Rhode Island : September 7, 2010 – 06:30 EDT

With M'gann and Superboy prepping for school I find myself waiting by the zeta-tubes to see them off. My com-link beeps as I'm waiting and I answer immediately, "Aqualass."

::: Red Arrow. :::

I raise my eyebrows, surprised. I had not heard from Roy in quite a while. I had thought that perhaps he did not wish to contact me, or be contacted by me.

He continues, ignorant to my happy surprise, ::: I need access to the League's database and the exact height of the League of Shadows assassin known as Cheshire. :::

I pull up the holographic interface, type in my code to access the database and pull up the League of Shadows intel, followed by Cheshire's, "Checking…and Cheshire is 1.67 metres."

::: Um… :::

I smirk, "She is 5'6" and exceptionally dangerous. Do you require backup?"

::: Please, the last thing I need is the Junior Justice League. :::

"Just our computer," I remark as I track where his com-link is. "Good luck, my friend. Aqualass out."

Taipei, interesting. I believe there is a Peace Summit occurring there today between North and South Rhelasia. If Cheshire is there that can only lead to death, death and more death. Roy will deal with it, hopefully without killing himself in the process.

After a moment of searching, I pull up a live feed of the GBS in Taipei and raise an eyebrow as I find myself staring at an explosion. Roy, in a well-tailored suit, comes into view tackling Cheshire to the ground then being surrounded by various authorities of Taipei, North and South Rhelasia. The camera swings over to a white limo and the reporter, Cat Grant, explains, / "We have just witnessed an assassination attempt, live. Thankfully, no one seems to have been hurt, including our mystery arbitrator – Lex Luthor?" /

What.

Lex Luthor steps out of the car behind Cat Grant. I stare.

Why would...Lex Luthor? Really? Who's bright idea was that? I…what? Oh, he definitely has an angle to this, and I am willing to bet it is more than simply avoiding nuclear war between the two countries.

On the other hand, who would contract out a hit on Lex Luthor? And at a Peace Summit of all things?

06:41 EDT

"Ready for school?" asks M'gann, flying to Superboy ahead of myself, Red Tornado and Martian Manhunter. "I made our lunches!"

Superboy stands up from his bike, which he has been tinkering with for awhile, as Martian Manhunter, J'onn, remarks, "The beginning of the scholastic season carries great cultural significance. We want to wish you both well."

"Guess it's not a Kryptonian thing," Superboy comments as Sphere rolls to the side to let M'gann land in front of Superboy.

"You may wish to change before you depart," I suggest, looking pointedly at M'gann, green and in her skirted uniform.

M'gann grins, "I spent hours picking out this outfit!" Her uniform morphs into the usual skirt and sweater combo she wears when wanting to be in civvies, "What do you think? Can M'gann M'orzz pass as a normal Earth girl?"

I raise an eyebrow, looking at her green skin, "Ah-"

"Just kidding!" she hops up and twirls, her skin morphing from green to one that portrays her as a white human, with red hair of course. "Meet Megan Morse!" She looks to Superboy, "What's your new name?"

Did he not have that picked out for when the forms for the school application were filled out? Did Batman simply write down 'John Doe?'

"My what?" Superboy asks, looking bewildered.

"I chose the name John Jones," says J'onn, shifting into his human form, that of a bald black man currently wearing a suit and tie, "and suggested the name John Smith for Red Tornado. You could be a John too."

"Pass," he says, crossing his arms.

"Conner's always been my favourite name," says M'gann – Megan.

Superboy – Conner – shrugs.

"A last name will also be required," I point out.

"Perhaps, Kent," suggests J'onn – currently John.

"Oh! In memory of Doctor Fate, the late Kent Nelson!" Megan beams.

John returns to J'onn, "Of…course."

"Okay, sure," says Superboy turned Conner Kent. "I guess it'd be an honour or something."

"Well, Conner Kent," says Megan, "time to change your shirt! You don't wanna reveal your identity!"

I highly doubt that wearing a Superman t-shirt will reveal his identity. Lots of people wear t-shirts with the symbols of superheroes on them.

Conner promptly takes off his shirt, flips it inside-out, then asks, "Will this work?"

"You do have other shirts," I point out. "I recall Pansy insisting you get at least one shirt that did not have that symbol on it. Unless, that is, you wish to go to school wearing an inside-out shirt. It is also an option to purchase more shirts later without the symbol on it, if you wish."

He looks at me, back to Megan, then sighs and flings the shirt over his shoulder, "I'll get another shirt."

I raise an eyebrow as he walks past us wondering out-loud, "Wait, shouldn't I be Conner Nelson?"

He has a point.

I look back at Megan. She is actually blushing. Cute.

After they leave I head back to the usual team training room, and continue monitoring the situation in Taipei. I quickly wind up distracted by my email inbox though, which my matim has sent consecutive emails to demanding that I contact her and explain my attitude when I last visited. She wants to know what happened. What happened in Bialya and what happened with the Purists.

I have to write my response underwater to keep myself somewhat calm.

oOoOo

Sender: aqualass.k
Date: Tues, 7 September 2010 07:43:16 -0400
From: Aqualass Kalladura'ham
Organization: The Atlantean Monarchy
To: sla_jc
Subject: An explanation

Matim,

I do not believe I can tell you about the Purist situation yet. I will tell you about the rest though. I am sorry, I should have told you what happened, I know you were concerned.

It was our most recent mission that threw me off balance. That's why I'm using this email instead of my other one. It's more secure, even if yours is not. Please, delete this after you read it.

The Team had a mission that involved going to a desert country. We were investigating on behalf of the League. We encountered a strong foe, a telepath, who attacked us. He wiped six months worth of our most recent memories. The psychic attack scattered the Team and knocked most of us out. We only remembered up to March.

I woke up in the middle of the desert, alone, and with my most recent memory being training with Tula. I thought it was still March. I was supposed to be in Atlantis but I was in the desert. Which also happened to be crawling with hostiles.

I walked. I have scars on my feet from the sand because of how much I walked and how hot the sand was. I had to drink some of my combat water. I vomited it back up every time I drank it though so it did not help much. I hallucinated water in the desert and tried to drink it. I wound up with a mouthful of sand instead. I vomited, a lot, thanks to my combat water and then the sand. Poseidon, I remember the heat even now. I remember the sun. I remember thinking that this must be what humans feel when they are drowning.

I tried to keep going, but I just could not do it. My body would not let me. I collapsed in the middle of the desert, unable to move. I was alone. I was scared. I was dying and...I was alone. I suppose that is what most sticks with me now, being alone while I died.

I'm fine now. The Team found me and got me hooked up to some water. The mentors that could be were at the Cave when we arrived, apparently, and Martian Manhunter met the Bio-Ship halfway there and helped us. Martian Manhunter and Batman probably saved my life.

The Team told me, after I woke up and had my memories restored by Manhunter, that initially when Miss Martian managed to restore their memories while in the desert they did not have any memories of me. Miss Martian said it was because she only managed to initially restore the most recent memories, the ones before Bialya, which didn't include me because I was in Atlantis at the time, plus she was distracted by Superboy's mental shouts of pain – which I understand, I understand being distracted by your teammate, your friend being in pain, but I still do not understand the memories part. I do not understand why there were no memories of right before I left, of our mission before then, of any other missions with me in them. They said their memories were restored but if that were true then what happened to the ones with me in them?! Was there just a big hole? A random voice issuing orders to the Team? They forgot me, and before that it was like…Poseidon, it was like Tula and Garth forgot me too and just decided "hey we should get together and no we are not going to consider that this will affect our mutual best friend and turn her into a third wheel and maybe we should tell her about it."

They did not do that! Garth said that they tried to figure out a sympathetic way to tell me but that doesn't change the fact that they didn't do it! They basically forgot me, like the Team.

That is probably completely unfair of me.

Roy has not contacted me lately either, beyond asking for the use of the League's database.

I had a bit of a meltdown in front of Batman as well. When I woke up after Bialya, when we were back at the Cave, I lost it. I cried in front of him. It was humiliating. Helpful, in retrospect, but humiliating.

My Team forgot me, my best friends ignored if not outright forgot me, my love life just got demolished, Roy seems to have cut off all strings to me besides my access to the League's computer system, I have nightmares about the sun and drowning in heat, the Purists are gaining ground, I broke in front of my Team's General, I'm losing my ability to lead the Team – just look at our last few disastrous missions – I have not spoken to Aquaman or Anassa since our most recent brief visit when the Purists attacked which is frustrating, and I am just so sick of it. I want it to all go away. I want to sit in my closet, in the dark, and just not have to deal with it all. Obviously, that is not an option though. I must lead the Team. That is my job, the position given to me by the Team.

I should go. I need to monitor the situation in Taipei. Roy is on a mission and I am worried he may not be thinking clearly.

Love,

Your daughter

oOoOo

Sender: sla_jc
Date: Tues, 7 September 2010 08:52:46 -0300
From: Sha'lain'a D
Organization: Angelia Graphikos
To: aqualass.k
Subject: Re: An explanation

Baby girl,

Your patera and I are sending you hugs and kisses.

You need to come visit again sweetheart. And if you can't come then I'll come to you. Have you told anyone on the surface how you feel right now? Maybe Batman? You should do that Rini; they can help take some of this pressure off you. That's their job, as mentors and it doesn't matter that they're not your official mentor. They're mentors, it's their damn job to help ALL of you.

I swear, you say the word and I'll be up there in an instant. I'll hug so tightly you'll start complaining. Then we'll go to the crappiest little diner we can find and order their greasiest food. We'll see a movie and laugh at the fight choreography, and then we'll spar because you love our spars, and then we'll lie on the beach staring up at the stars and I'll tell you their stories all over again and you'll correct me because we both know I make them up.

Love you Rini, sending you hugs and kisses,

-Matim

Princess,

I promise this will make sense.

When you were kidnapped, I wanted to find Manta and kill him myself. But whenever I was alone I started getting these feelings of inadequacy. It's my job to protect you, that's what a parent is supposed to do for their kid – biological or not. I know, you can protect yourself, but that doesn't mean the protective feelings just go away. You were taken, and I couldn't stop it. It was a coin toss when I was alone as to whether I'd want to punch someone or get someone to punch me. I know it was similar for your matim. The feelings only really came to a calm when I was with your matim. Just being around her was enough to lift my feelings, to make me more hopeful, to make me less prone to illogical decisions that would have, if enacted, probably gotten you killed.

The point is that having the people you love around you helps. By all means, be alone for a bit, I know you like to sort through your thoughts by yourself. But don't hole yourself up in your bedroom, or closet, alone.

Engage with people. Be around the people you love. Come back to Shayeris, visit your matim and I. Go visit Poseidonis again, meet with Orin, be around Lori, hang out with Topo and La'gaan – it would make their day I'm sure. Call Roy. Shove yourself in that mission of his. You don't have to tell them anything if you don't want to, but it would probably help you to be around them instead of sitting in your bedroom by yourself.

I know, your old patera knows nothing of the trials of 16-year-old girl, but keep it in mind.

Love you Princess,

Patera

oOoOo

I close my eyes and just try to focus on nothing but the fact that my parents had sent an immediate response to my undoubtedly nonsensical email and it was filled with, well, them.

I do not think I can take their advice though. Matim wants me to speak to Batman, which I cannot do, especially not now. He has to mentor Robin as well, I should not be added to that list just because my mentor is much more busy and has greater responsibilities than simply me. She also wants me to either visit Shayeris or get her to visit the surface. I cannot do that, not now. I have visited Atlantis plenty in the past couple of weeks and need to ensure that I can remain focused on the Team rather than Atlantean issues. I do not want to interrupt her work with the shop either, as I know that takes up a lot of her time and she…I just do not want her to see me like this. Although, I would not complain about a hug.

Then Patera…I did not realize that he thought I thought that about him. I do, at times, but...I still respect him. He is right of my opinion of his advice right now though. He does not know the situation I am in. I cannot just interrupt Roy. I cannot just jump into his mission. He would take it as the League interfering and it would just add another piece of space between us, in addition to the spaces that developed thanks to Green Arrow taking on a new protégé and that protégé becoming a part of the Team – though I of course do not blame Artemis for any of this – and the still healing space that developed thanks to what created this Team in the first place! I do not wish to "hang out" with the Team or my Atlantean friends either. The Team forgot me, literally, even after supposedly having their memories restored. Before that my closest friends, Garth and Tula, ignored me completely! I was gone for two months, yes, but they did not even email me to say that they were together! I thought that was information that friends were supposed to tell their friends!

Apparently not.

Besides, I cannot try to be around my Atlantean friends because to go to Atlantis again in such a short span of time will just increase the likelihood of me losing my focus on the Team.

Am I being unfair to the Team? I have not yet read any of their reports for Batman yet, which I have been given permission to read, so I may be misinterpreting Miss Martian's explanation of the telepathic…forgetting…but…

Ugh. I am probably being unfair to Garth and Tula as well. They clearly hold some affection for one another beyond friendship and I should be happy for them - I am - but...

I loathe this month.

Taipei, Taiwan : September 8, 2010 – 01:06 NST

"Aqualass."

::: It's me, ::: says Roy. He sounds tired. ::: I may, possibly, be in over my head. :::

"I'll be there."

I swear I almost cheered when Roy requested my help. Not wishing to alarm him though, I school my face into an expression of calm before I enter the zeta-tube.

"Is there a reason you aren't in uniform?" Red Arrow asks as I step out of the zeta-tube.

I look down at myself in a blazer with sleeves long enough to hide most of the ends of my channels over a turtle-necked black dress that went down to my upper thighs with a collar I could undo at any point to free my gills. I'm carrying my heels with me and my purse is a version of my water-pack, with my water-bearers inside amongst the water.

"I am wearing my shorts uniform underneath," I explain, "and you said that I am the trump card here. Since getting in as a reporter is hardly going to work with the security there, and Cheshire will spot me if I try to get permission to get in any other way, I am getting in with what else I have."

"Which is?"

"Through the women's washroom from which I will pretend I belong."

"You just want to infiltrate someplace."

"Actually, I wished to wear a dress," I correct. It makes me feel pretty and I could use any form of positivity right now so I am wearing it. "You saw the security. You think they will let me in as a reporter?"

"You can pass as old enough."

I snort, "Perhaps, but I need a pass and reporter friends in addition to being legal."

"Couldn't you get in as an Atlantean? Rep of the King or something?"

I almost start laughing. Poseidon, I almost start laughing. Patera was right.

"No," I shake my head. "There is no way. Atlantis here will simply be seen as an attempt for an outside nation's interference. North and South Rhelasia already are not particularly fond of how much power Atlantis has in the international sphere. I would prefer to remain seen as only Aqualass, not as an emissary of the King."

He glances at my shoes hanging from my hands, "You're gonna wear heels?"

They also make me feel pretty.

"I like them and I can kick them off if I need to." I follow his gaze to my legs, "The scars are from an attack on Atlantis by Black Manta. There was an explosion, which meant boiling water, which managed to burn me. They're all minor and with continued attention the scars should be mostly gone soon." I raise an eyebrow, "Shall we?"

He nods and uses his grappling arrow to propel himself onto the rooftop. I follow with a leap.

Within the first hour of the negotiations – lots of shouting – I am glad that I slept a bit at Mount Justice. I would have fallen asleep otherwise. Why does no one, when one is attempting to enter the world of the superheroes, highlight the fact that you will no longer sleep as an inherent danger of the job?

::: Got her, like you said, ::: says Roy.

I turn holding out my water-bearers to face Cheshire dressed as a traditional Rhelasian tea server, as I had suspected she would do, "That is far enough, Cheshire."

Her eyes widen minutely and she takes a step back, bringing the cart with her. I start gathering up the water from the various water glasses and my pack. She takes a step forward and shoves the cart towards me. I move my legs into a solid stance and bring the water forward, around, and down. Roy's arrow comes swooping in over my right shoulder and impacts with the cart in the same instant my water shield forms fully between the cart, myself, and everyone behind me.

I feel the explosion instantly.

It pounds at the water and rushes past in a hurtling wind. I can feel it tearing at my blazer, ripping it to shreds as it pushes me backwards, sliding on my heels, and threatens to tear at my dress beneath my blazer.

Just as quickly as it starts it ends and I'm left bent in half and panting with my blazer hanging off me in scraps and my heels resting in a puddle of water.

I straighten, kick off my heels, and pull the remnants of my blazer off, revealing my dress, though lacking the collar and with rips across my chest revealing the red of my uniform beneath. I tug the strap of my purse so that it is locked firmly in place on my back instead of hanging loose at my side, which would be quite dangerous.

The explosion took out two statues and the entire back window. I am rather impressed with myself. If I could have done that in Atlantis against Manta, that would have been fantastic. I suppose though, seeing as I had no warning of the explosion in Atlantis before it happened, that is asking a lot. I had a warning here.

I sense more than hear Roy land behind me and aim over my shoulder, "It's over Cheshire."

"You would think so," she says, miraculously unharmed besides a few scratches and bruises. Her outfit is barely even ripped. How did she manage that?

I hear the helicopter an instant before it rises to the level of the obliterated window. Sportsmaster and a team of masked and armed henchmen dart out of the helicopter. Some of the Rhelasian operatives dart forward to confront the henchmen.

"Take Sportsmaster, Cheshire's mine," demands Roy.

I really wanted to punch her too. I dart forward and flip over Cheshire as she croons, "Mmm, so territorial and only our third date."

Classy.

I dart toward Sportsmaster as he takes out four Rhelasians. He dodges and manages to block my whipping maces. He retaliates with an attempt to stab me with one of his javelins. I dodge easily enough and step backward, glancing at Roy habitually.

"You called one of your little sidekick friends, but didn't you tell me they weren't in your League?" Cheshire mocks.

Roy said wha – "Oof!"

I hit the ground hard, thanks to Sportsmaster clotheslining me while I was distracted, and hastily clear my head. Why would I listen to her? She is a supervillain. Throwing people like us off is what she is, literally, paid to do.

I catch a glimpse of Sportsmaster flinging a spiked hammer at my face. I roll and the hammer sinks two inches into the ground right where my head had been. Sportsmaster pulls out a sabre as I snap to my feet and quickly block his jab with one of my shields. I dance around his attacks before getting far enough way from him to properly form two blades of my own.

He chuckles, "Not bad lass, better than your Team did at Santa Prisca, or Bialya."

My eyes widen, "How did you-"

"Let's just say I have an inside source, very inside."

An inside…a mole? Fuck. I hope that comment was like Cheshire's comments and meaningless.

"Aqualass," calls Roy, "let's end this!"

My eyes flick up as one of his arrows impacts with one of the sprinklers in the ceiling. I let my blades go as the water begins to spray from the sprinklers. I focus my attention on the sprinkler water and increase the flow, popping the sprinkler heads off and gathering the water around me. The water twists, coming together in a synchronized dance of rushing liquid to form an immense serpent that roars as it twists through the room, taking out henchmen as it closes in on Sportsmaster.

Cheshire hops down in front of Sportsmaster, puts on her mask, and throws a smoke grenade into my creation. I feel myself lose my grasp on the water as the explosion ricochets inside it and erupts into smoke that coats the room. I start to cough thanks to the smoke and form a shield and blade in case Sportsmaster or Cheshire opts to attack us while the smoke distracts us.

"Hi-yah!"

Roy and I turn sharply, him notching an arrow and me sending a whip hurtling towards the assassin that managed to escape the serpent and leap through the smoke towards the dignitaries. The forearm of Lex Luthor's bodyguard separates, revealing the barrel of a gun, and she shoots the assassin with a pulse of energy. Roy and I turn back to the rest of the room as the smoke clears. Everyone is gone. Of course.

I glance back at Luthor's bodyguard, Mercy, and watch as the Rhelasian dignitaries thank Luthor for saving their lives – not Mercy, or even Roy and I.

"They owe him their lives?" Roy repeats, looking back at me. I cross my arms, equally unimpressed.

We remain for the rest of the summit in uniform.

Roy comments as we watch the dignitaries sign a treaty on either side of Lex Luthor, "I can't believe we just did a solid for Lex Luthor."

"Not for Luthor," I correct, turning and heading out of the building. "For peace. Beyond that, if Ra's and the League of Shadows wanted to sabotage the summit, the signing of the treaty renders their contract moot. It's over."

"Is it?" he asks as we pause by the fountain outside. "I heard what Sportsmaster said. Do you really think there's a mole on your team, feeding him intel?"

I frown, "I cannot rule out the possibility. I will investigate, quietly."

"Not tell them?"

"I do not want the unit unravelling under baseless suspicions," I explain, silently wishing that this month had not grown worse. "And if there is a mole, I have no wish to tip him or her off."

That would be an unnecessary amount of stress. I would like to avoid stress currently while I continue to recover from Bialya, Atlantis and Tula. I hate this month.

"Good luck with that," he smirks, mock-saluting me. He turns, intent on leaving.

I step forward, "One moment. Tonight, you could have called Green Arrow for help, or the Justice League. Instead, your first instinct was to call the Cave."

"You're right," he says, turning. "The Team deserves, has, my respect. I'm still getting used to this solo act stuff but if you need me, I'll be there."

Now why could he not have said that before Bialya? If I had heard that then I may not have wound up sobbing in front of, of all people, Batman! I still hate this month.

I exhale heavily and nod, "I appreciate that. Would you like to get some food?"

He looks at me for a moment, surprised, then smiles, "Sure."

Star City, California : September 7, 2010 – 10:56 PDT

We wind up back in Star City sitting on a roof of an office building eating fast food masquerading as something healthy. I am distracted by what is occurring below us though.

Across the street there is a beach. I have spent the past ten minutes watching a couple on the beach being adorable. There are linked, swinging hands. Laughing with quick little kisses snuck when the other partner is not looking. They are in their own little world, where only they exist.

I bite my lower lip and duck my head, feigning scratching an itch on my nose when in actuality I am wiping at my eyes. Do not cry. Do not cry. Do not cry. You have cried enough. Do not cry.

"You haven't touched your food in ten minutes," Roy comments abruptly.

I blink quickly and look back up to flash a forced smile at Roy, "My apologies. It appears I am not as hungry as I thought I was. You may have it if you wish."

I turn back to the beach and feign another scratch.

"Whoa, hey."

I hear the rustling of the paper around his breakfast sandwich and then his hand swiftly grabs my wrist and pulls it away from my face. I freeze, determinedly do not look at him, and instead focus on the couple on the beach. I can sense Roy staring at me.

"Are you crying?"

"No," I say, entirely unconvincingly because there was a whimper in there somewhere. I heard it.

"Fuck," he says, moving closer to me, still holding my wrist, "what – why are you – did I say something stupid?"

I pull my knees up to my chest as a smile forces it way onto my face and a half-chuckle half-whimper escapes my mouth, "No, no, you did not…it is not your fault. It is not…" I wipe my eyes with my free hand, "not anybody's fault. I – I am simply stressed."

"Okay, about what?"

I swallow, "I do not wish to burden you with my tr-"

"Fuck, Kalla." He grips my shoulder, "Friends swear at each other about things that stress them out. Hell, I know I do it enough."

I exhale heavily, staring at the couple on the beach. I question softly, "Have you ever loved someone? Someone who did not love you as you loved them? And would never love you as you loved them?"

Roy nods. He moves his hand down from my shoulder to rub my back. "This about Atlantis?"

I nod, "I told you of Tula."

"She's straight?"

"Yes, which I suspected, and she currently is with Garth."

He raises an eyebrow, "Your best friends got together while you were gone?"

"Yes," I confirm, ducking my head back down to my knees.

"Fucking assholes."

"Roy!" I jerk my head up sharply and shoot a disapproving glare at him.

He holds up his hands, as if innocent, "What?! You were thinking it."

"Roy."

"Sorry," he apologizes, sitting beside me and wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

I cringe and clench my eyes shut, "Immediately after that, we had a mission in Bialya."

"Bialya? What happened? The place is a desert, not exactly your Dream Destination."

"I…" I sigh, "I nearly died."

He shouts, "What?!"

Quickly, I explain, "A combination of events led to the team being split up, our memories blocked six months back, and I collapsed in the desert."

He moves closer to me and grips my shoulders tightly, "You didn't think to call me?"

"Using my com-link would have made people attack me," I explain, "so I did not use it. It was Bialya. You know the situation there."

"I should've been there."

I shake my head, "It was not your mission."

"At least to help you," he argues.

"You did not know."

"And now this mole shit…fuck, you've been having a crappy time."

I wrap my arms around my legs tightly and stare at the sea. After a long moment I whisper, "It was terrifying. If it was not for the Team finally remembering me I do not believe that I would be here." My eyes widen and I turn sharply to look at Roy, "You would have been alone when taking on Cheshire and Sportsmaster."

He frowns, "Fuck peace. I'd be looking for you."

Oh.

I lean over, resting my head on his shoulder and add, "I am sorry, my friend, for…" I wave my hand vaguely to myself, "this."

Roy tightens his arm over my shoulders and his thumb rubs circles around my bicep, "You don't talk to the Team much do you?"

I shake my head against his shoulder, "I am their leader. I cannot burden them with my thoughts. Besides, I am usually acting as their therapist and…secondary mentor, I suppose."

"Don't you have any help?" he asks. "I know Aquaman won't be much help, guy's so busy, but what about Batman, Tornado and Canary? I mean, you can handle a lot, you're the toughest person I know, but you're still…you're the same age as they are and you have other stuff to deal with too."

"Red Tornado is studying Earth still," I answer, swallowing. "Black Canary I rarely see beyond our combat training lessons. Batman, I do not know about. Perhaps he will help in the future, I do not know. I appreciate this though." I turn my head to smile at him, "This helps."

"Good, because I have no idea what I'm doing."

I snort and look back to the ocean. The ocean makes me sombre immediately.

"The Purists are gaining power," I say softly, staring at the water. "If it grows worse," I sigh, "I fear for my friends."

"They're tough. They'll be fine."

"I hope so."

"I say so."

I smirk, "And I suppose what you say is always true."

"Obviously," he quips.

I laugh.

A/N: The second part! Where people are awesome and Kalla is working on wrapping her head around everything that's happened.

Also where I swear at timestamps b/c there are virtually none for the events in Taipei and if I'm working off the idea that the time during the Happy Harbor cuts – which I can guess fairly easy because it's a school day – are occurring the same time as the Taipei cuts (just with the alterations made for the time zone differences) then I can make assumptions. Those assumptions, however, lead to the conclusion that superheroes do not require sleep. At all.

I think the quote for this chapter is my favourite quote thus far.

The school semester in RL has started so updates will be a lot slower, fyi.

R&R