Exactly one month since my last update -_- Huh. You know, at one point, I was updating this chapters every week exactly on time. I wonder where that went?
Sorry. But yeah, as always. Please excuse any spelling and/or grammar errors.
This isn't an episode based chapter. This is a chapter before Episode 25: Usual suspects.
As for how many more chapters are left before this story is done... ehhh -_- It's hard to fully say. I can at least say there will be around 5 0.0
Sounds like a lot doesn't it? But hey, 5 more and then season one is done! Yeahhhhhhhhhhhh
Thank you all for sticking with me for so long. It makes me so happy. THANK YOU!
Bat Man liked to ask me questions. As for why he seemed to use this as our normal pass time, I dunno, but he did. At first it felt like he was interrogating me, and perhaps he was, but now him asking me a large sort of questions is just normal. Like our version of two friends sharing coffee or something.
"Head aches?" He asked.
"Haven't had one in a few days." I answered automatically. Well, my head hurt this morning. I woke up with a headache, but it went away 5 minutes later, so there was no point in bringing it up. At least not to Bat Man anyway.
"Sleeping?"
"I sleep as much as I usually sleep."
"So barely enough."
"Yes." I nodded.
"Do you feel overwhelmed at school? Keep up your grades?" he was checking off things on his notepad.
"Sometimes, I don't know nearly as much as the students there do. I've made some friends though and we study together sometimes. My grades are fine. C's mostly, but some B's. Red Tornado has been helping me with homework."
Bat Man nodded his head again, checking something off. "Your relations on the team?"
"…Normal?" I shrugged.
"You are getting along with everyone I assume."
"Yes. At least, I think so."
He glanced up at me, "Canary says you are still avoiding your therapy sessions." He noted.
"I don't feel I need them anymore." I countered. "That exercise was months ago. I've moved past it."
"Have you moved pass everything else?" he folded his arms. A breath caught in my breath and I hesitated. He was giving me this deadpan look, the one that meant he knew I wasn't being completely honest with him. "Your break downs? New powers? How about the nightmares? Or even the fact that the day you disappeared without telling anyone and told me you were in Star City with Wally, you were actually in Philadelphia?" It was stiff and faint, but there was an undertone to the last question.
Feeling my heartbeat quicken, I tapped the table nervously, "How did you know where we went?" I asked.
"The location log in the Arinna Mobile." He answered. The words, Arinna Mobile, sounded strange coming off his tongue. "What were you two doing there?"
"Sight seeing." I say.
"Is that a lie?"
"Not entirely." I glanced away. "I never went there before, so it was mostly sight seeing."
"Arinna." He frowned, "The truth."
"That is the truth." I said sourly. I didn't understand why I always had to tell the Justice League everything that happened during my day. At first, I didn't mind doing this. I would love to just talk about all the different thoughts and feeling I had with them because none of them were things that I would want to keep to myself. Learning about the sea or sky and telling them I did so were things that didn't affect anything.
I also wasn't expected to do this, I just did.
Now however, when my thoughts were hectic and I just wanted to be left alone half of the time, I was expected to tell them everything! A day didn't go by where I was questioned about how I felt through my day, what I was doing when I went out of the lair. I couldn't have anything private at all!
I even had to tell Red Tornado what Kaldur and me did whenever we went on a date. I had to give him exact times and locations when we went somewhere. It was ridiculous!
They never tell me anything they do in their personal life if they don't want to.
"I went there because I wanted to." I said. "Wally just followed me."
"That is it?" he narrowed his eyes.
"Maybe. Maybe not."
This didn't please Bat Man, boo-hoo for him, but before he could use whatever means I figured he was planning on using to get me to answer him properly, Canary stepped through the door. "Bat Man?" she paused when she noticed me sitting across from him. "Oh, I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?"
"No." I glared at my feet. She stood there dumbly for a few seconds, her eyes trailing to Bat Man as she stepped in.
"Okay then." She cleared her throat, "Could I borrow you for a second Bat Man? It is important."
He rose to his feet without a word, stepping out of the room with Canary. Waiting until the door clicked shut, I leaned back into my chair. I wasn't going to wait around until they were done talking. If I did, I would have to spill my guts to Bat Man one way or another.
With that thought in mind, I closed my eyes, thinking of Kaldur. Kaldur never made me feel cornered like the Justice League did. I know they mean well, but they never leave me alone until I answer their questions or feel satisfied that they accomplished something with me. I don't even know what they would aim to accomplish, but Kaldur wasn't like that.
He always waited for me to talk to him. Never tracked me down and demand to know what was happening or how I was feeling. He would ask, but never pester. He never acted like he was obligated to know what was going on with me, if that made sense.
Honestly, Kaldur's patience made me want to run to him and tell him everything, but the fear of what he would think made me hesitate.
Feeling my fingers tremble, the ground dropped below me for a split second before I landed on something else. A presence flinched besides me, and I snapped open my eyes, my gaze instantly locked with Kaldur's.
…Did I just teleport to his lap?
…OH gosh… Oh gosh I did! "Uh…" my face felt hot, "Over shot a bit." I chuckled. Eyes wide and mouth wide, Kaldur stammered.
"Wha-" he looked away, flustered. "…Arinna." He greeted meaning to sound casually but it came out too soft and squeaky to be taken as so. To save him and myself any more embarrassment I rolled off his lap onto the couch next to him, which is where I originally intended to go to.
"Sorry." I whispered.
"It is alright." He assured.
"Uh…" I cleared my throat, "How has your day been?"
"Good. May I ask where you were just before you um… visited me?" he inquired.
My mood turned sour, "Talking with Bat Man."
"I assume it did not go well." He noted.
"Not at all. Honestly, I left in the middle of it. He might come looking for me." I tapped my chin. "Will you hide me?"
"It might not be wise to hide from Bat Man, if one can even do so." Kaldur smiled. "Did he say something to upset you?"
"More of less."
His fingers slide across the couch surface to intertwine with mine, "Bat Man at times can be crude." He says, "But if he says something that is bothering you, then you do not have to see him. I get the feeling you are not on good terms with many of the League members."
Observant as always, "A little." I admitted. "I know they don't mean to, but I wish they would give me a little space."
"They are concerned."
"Is that what you call it?" I said dryly, "Seemed more like controlling. It's like I can't have any privacy anymore."
Kaldur didn't say anything for a while and I slowly found myself moving to lean my head into his shoulder, "Perhaps…" he finally spoke, fingers trailing through my hair, "They do not know how to understand you, so to do so, they can only resort to questioning your actions?"
I was confused, "What?"
"Whether you notice it or not Arinna, it is hard to figure out if your thoughts are the same as your actions. You tend to keep your thoughts on your own life to yourself. Even I have troubles being able to tell if you are upset unless you tell me."
"Oh… Really?" I titled my head.
"Yes." He nodded, looking troubled with that fact. "Everyday I wonder if you are in pain or get headaches and simply never tell me so as not to worry me. Or if you have remembered something frightful, and do not inform me of this because you are scared of what you remember."
As though struck by a lightning bolt, I jerked away from Kaldur's touch and to my feet. My heart seemed to be lodged into my throat by this point. I could feel Kaldur watching me, but I dare not turn around to him. "…I should go back." I said quickly. "You're right. Bat Man would just hunt me down anyway. Only be delaying the inevitable." I was working for nonchalance and failing spectacularly.
"Arinna?" Kaldur asked quietly.
"Bye." I waved, my mind shooting to anywhere else but here. On command, my powers shot into action bringing me to what I could only describe as the top of a mountain. The air suddenly thinner then a second ago I stumbled, falling to my knees. "…Great." I grumbled.
Way to be casual and un-reacting Arinna. You would be the worse spy ever.
But I couldn't help it. I couldn't help but be frightened when Kaldur spoke his thoughts. Spoke my own thoughts. What he a mind reader I wonder? And what made it worse, I totally just let him know that, yes, everything you just asked is true, because I was lying through my teeth when I told Bat Man I hadn't had any headaches in a while. In fact, I was starting to get one now; perhaps due to the sudden change in altitude or stress that has been building up.
Decided this might be my only chance to have some piece and quiet for a bit, I plopped down on a rock and look out past the trees to the mountain range. I'm going to assume I'm somewhere along the Rocky Mountains. It was a nice view, but it probably would have been better if I didn't have to keep pulling out my phone and clicking deny when Bat Man tried to contact me. "Ignoring you." I text him.
He didn't reply, but it didn't take long before I got a text from Robin, "Bat Man is looking for you. He is angry. :) (Why did he send me a smiley face when saying that?) "What did you do?"
"Nothing." I texted back, "…Much." I added at the end.
"Well Kaldur is worried. You should come back to the cave."
I sighed. Guess my relaxing time was over. I hated making Kaldur worry. Maybe one day the two of us could go travelling or something? No talk of amnesia. No worrying about the team or Justice League. Just the two of us relaxing and having fun. That would be nice.
"Heading home now." I sent Robin. With a snap of my fingers, I was back in the cave.
Man, I totally got this teleportation thing down.
00000- 2 hours later -00000
"ARINNA!" M'gann was shooting through my door at incredible speed. Spazzing within my bed, I tumbled off of it.
"What? What?" I shrieked, scrambling to my feet, "Are we under attack?!"
"No!" she grabbed my arm, swinging me.
"M'gann.' Artemis stuck her head in, "Calm down. You're gonna give her a heart attack."
"Gonna be stick…" I grunted at the rapid swinging around my room. Stumbling when she released me, I covered my mouth. "W-What is this about?"
"Did you hear the news?!"
"W-What news?" I stammered.
"Bat Man just announced the arrival of a new team member!" she shrieked.
"A new…" I trailed off. "Wait… We're getting a new member of the team?" I gasped.
"Yeah, another girl!" M'gann cheered.
"Finally." Artemis smirked, "4 girls to 5 boys was totally uncool, especially now that grumpy Red Arrow is part of the team."
"Well he won't be staying too long." M'gann offered, "We all know it won't be long now till the League fully initiate him into the Justice League. But yeah, the more girls the merrier. I wonder what she will be like?"
"Who knows? Hopefully it won't cause any problems though." I prayed.
"What do you mean by that?" the others two girls inquired.
"It's like some sort of curse that whenever someone new joins the team, everything is so awkward. We are all really angry at each other for some reason." I pointed out.
"It was like that when you got here and when Red Arrow got here." M'gann agreed.
Artemis pursed her lips, "That wasn't my fault. And Red Arrow is just a grumpy guy. Green Arrow said the new girl was nice."
"Why is she joining the team though?" I inquired.
"Well, you didn't hear this from me, but Green Arrow mentioned something about her mentor joining the Justice League. So since he is going there, she is coming here." Artemis whispered to us.
"Who is her mentor?" M'gann asked.
"Icon."
"Who?" I frowned.
"He's a new hero that showed up in the last few months. Helped out when those crazy plants attack. Haven't met him myself, but Canary says he is a good man. Real mellow." Artemis says as we entered the training room. When we arrived, the team and a few Justice league members instantly greeted us.
They were surrounding this pair of two heroes I had never seen before. One was a dark skinned male who was looming above all, his outfit a dark red and a beautiful cape shifting behind him. This guy was huge. I felt almost nervous as we shuffled near him.
Intimidating was the best word I could say for him.
But his friend, a girl with dark skin bearing a gray jumpsuit, was bouncing towards us as soon as she saw us. "Hey there!" she greeted.
We waved to her. "Uh… hi." We smiled.
"Guys, come met the new girl!" Robin waved us over. Moving towards him, I paused when I noticed Bat Man seemed to be in the room.
He was glaring at me. I'll admit, I went home like Robin asked, but I have been avoiding Bat Man like the Plague. Can you blame me though? I mean, come on. I felt like that guy wanted to throw me off a building or something, which he would probably do, if I didn't answer his questions. And knowing I probably wouldn't answer his questions, it was just better to stay out of his clutches.
So, shuffling around him as fast as I could, I moved to greet the new girl. She had this short haircut that stuck upward, revealing three earrings on her ears. The grin on her face was welcoming, "I'm Rocket." She held out her hand and I gladly took it, shaking it.
"Arinna. Or um- Clarity." I smiled. "Welcome to the team."
"Glad to be here." She agreed. She shook all of our hands without hesitation, grinning and talking to us like we were old friends. She was so friendly and open, very unlike Red Arrow. She had this sparkle in her eyes. Like this was the best day of her life to be able to meet us.
It was a nice change of character.
Speaking of Red Arrow, his eyes were narrowed in the same suspicious glint that he always had with us. Oh, don't tell me.
"New girl huh?" he grumbled. "Seems suspicious to me." We groaned in unison at this, while Rocket just blinked in confusion.
"Dude, I swear if you think she is a mole…" Robin trailed off a silent warning.
"I'm not. I'm not." He lifted his hand. "It was just a joke." A smirked spread over his face, a joking glint in his eyes.
"Dude it better be." Wally hit his shoulder, laughing.
"It's not like I assumed everyone on the team was a mole." Red Arrow defended himself.
"I beg to differ!" Artemis scoffed. "All four of us, suspected moles." She hissed pointing to Conner, M'gann, herself and me.
"Uh… moles?" Rocket inquired.
"Long story." Robin shrugged. "But hey, he is kind of saying the truth. He never suspected Zatanna."
"Hey yeah. Why is that?" she asked.
"Cause you had a legit background." He explained simply. "Unlike the others who are questionable."
"Are?" Conner folded his arms.
Red arrow huffed. "Hey, there are still a lot of unanswered questions. I'm just not going to interrogate you for having secrets anymore. Okay? Leave it at that?"
"Oh come on man!" Artemis hit him, but there was a smile on her face.
"That aside-" Canary interrupted us. "Let's welcome Rocket."
"From now on, Rocket will be apart of this team." Bat Man added.
"Don't mind that at all." Robin smirked, folding his arms. "Shall we follow tradition and give her a tour?"
"I hope when you speak of tradition you truly intend to just give her a tour and don't run off last time like you did with Zatanna." Canary piped in. We all grinned at that.
"Well they were technically showing me around." Zatanna laughed. "I got to go around the world, go inside a jail cell, fight a volcano robot. It was fun."
"Whoa what?" Rocket gawked. "I want that kind of tour."
"I would prefer if you didn't." her mentor, Icon, sighed. "But go enjoy yourself none the less." He patted her head, a kind smile on his face. He seemed nice, but definitely still intimidating.
"Will do Icon!" with that we ran off.
Giving Rocket a tour was a great way to get to know her while simultaneously avoiding all questions from both Bat Man and Kaldur. I could just feel the look Kaldur was giving me from behind. To be fair, he had ever right to be worried or want to know what's been up with me lately.
I did just completely leave him in the dark before when I teleported away from him. Probably wasn't a nice thing to do either. He was my boyfriend; I should be able to trust him- Whoa whoa. Wait a minute…
My thoughts trailed off when I could hear Rocket talking to Kaldur behind me. "So you're the leader?"
"Yes." Kaldur nodded.
"That is pretty cool. Must be one hell of a job though." She commented.
Kaldur didn't state his agreement, but there was a slight nod from him. "Icon and you seem close." He noted, "Have you known each other long?"
"Oh yeah, for years. Though, we only got this close when we became heroes together. I'm the one who convinced him to do it." She grinned proudly, glancing Kaldur up and down.
…What was that?
And odd feeling started to bubble in the depths of my stomach. I couldn't explain it, but I didn't like it. Picking up my pace a little, I nudged Conner a bit. He yawned, looking bored and ready to go back to sleep.
"What?" he grumbled. Seeing that it was me who nudged him, he snorted, "Nice bed head."
"Like you are one to talk." I glared at him.
"Heard you skipped out on Bat Man." My brother snickered, "You know he is going to make you pay for that later."
"Probably." I sighed.
"You don't usually avoid him this much though. Something happen?" he asked.
I didn't answer.
-000 Later0000-
M'gann suggested we have lunch as a team to get to know Rocket more. It was a great idea, but we were worried Wally might just eat everything before we could officially start.
"Wally no touching." M'gann scolded, swatting his hand with a spatula. He reeled back, pouting.
"But I'm so hungry. Just a nibble won't hurt." He whimpered.
Robin snorted, "A nibble for you is like a 5 course meal for the rest of us."
We shared a laugh at Wally's grumpy expression.
"So, what is for lunch anyway?" Rocket inquired.
"Well, hope you don't mind, I asked Icon what you liked so we're having Tacos, hamburgers, and smoothies." M'gann clapped her hands together.
"Strawberry Banana smoothies to be exact." Zatanna winked, holding up the blender.
Rocket put a hand to her chest, looking touched, "Girl." She whispered, "That is so nice. Thank you."
Smiling at her, I paused when I realized that our young leader seemed to be absent. Noticing him standing towards the side, I slide off my seat, careful not to gain too much attention to myself and moved to join him. Tiptoeing around him I smiled affectionately at Kaldur when he sneezed suddenly.
His sneeze was always so quiet. Like a puppy's.
"Kaldabear." I spoke suddenly. Her boyfriend in reply choked on his drink, turning to her with wide eyes.
"E-Excuse me?" he coughed.
I pursed my lips, tilting my head in deep concentration; "I'm trying to think of those cute nicknames couples have for each other."
Kaldur was clearing his throat, red cheeked but smiling, "D-Do you really think it is necessary to have those?" he stammered.
I slide into him, leaning against him. "Yes." I nodded. "Cause I see M'gann and Conner do it and I'm jealous of that." I pouted. Calling each other things like hot stuff and cutie. Granted, it is usually M'gann giving the nicknames and saying stuff like that, but Conner beams whenever she does. And it has been proven, because I heard it myself, that Conner calls M'gann angel.
"But… Kaldabear?" he winced at the name.
"…Sweet cheeks?" I asked.
"No."
"Cutie pants?"
"Why?"
"Cause your pants are cute." I reached down to poke the little fins that he pants have. "I mean, your pants have fins. That is adorable."
Kaldur gave me a long look, pulling my hands away from his pant fins. "They are not adorable." He disagreed.
"I disagree with your disagreement." I rested my chin on his shoulder. "How about dumpling?"
"No."
"Hun-Bun?"
He was attempting to keep his composure as he looked over the paper, but the smile was starting to grow on his lips. "No."
"Home-Dog?"
"No." he snorted.
"My Jellybean?" I said in a funny voice.
"Arinna." He laughed. 'No."
"My sunshine? The light of my life? Sweetheart?" I cooed.
He lowered his cup and turned his head to look at me. Leaning forward, he kissed me, "Sweetheart is fine."
I giggled at this, "Okay sweetheart." I trailed off, "Hey um… sorry for running off yesterday."
"It is alright." He assured me. "I understand wanting space."
"Yeah but… I didn't mean to just close you off like that." I insisted. "I just didn't know what to say and panicked."
"I do not want you to feel like you are forced to tell me anything Arinna." His expression grew serious. "I want you to trust me on your own and feel ready to talk to me when you wish to."
I felt torn, caught between keeping this all to myself or telling him everything right then and there. "I…" my mouth felt dry, "Thank you Kaldur." I bowed my head.
He brushed his forehead against mine a deep rumble coming from his chest, "Anything for you, Αγάπη μου."
The puzzlement on my face could not be hidden, "What?" I asked.
Blinking once, then twice, Kaldur retreated, covering his mouth and looking away. "Nothing."
"Wha- it was not." I grabbed his arm, "What did you just say?"
"It was not anything important." He insisted.
"Was that Atlantean?" I beamed.
The bashful look he was giving me made it to good to just forget about this, "I… yes but-" he licked his lips nervously.
"Hey Kaldur! Arinna! Come have lunch." Robin called to us. Leaping to his feet as if he had just been let off the hook, Kaldur smiled innocently at me and held out his hand. Frowning suspiciously, but deciding to let it go for the moment, I placed my hand into his and followed.
Αγάπη μου
I had to remember that so I could subtly asked Aqua Man what it meant later.
After that, we all enjoyed a nice lunch together. Rocket talked about her interests and hobbies, explaining how she always wanted to be a hero. Icon was similar to her, but was more inclined to stay hidden in the shadows about his powers over going out and using them publically.
When she found out they both had them though, she couldn't help herself in trying to convince him to fight crime with her. It took some serious convincing, but after a whole 8 months, she finally got him to go out into town with her.
After that, it started as only something they would do from time to time if it was really required, but through the weeks, Icon become more in tune with his super hero self, accepting this part of himself.
"To think he would join the Justice League so fast. I mean, I knew he could do it. There was no doubt." Rocket beamed. "Makes me wonder if I'll join it one day too. For now I am so pumped to be apart of this team. I mean, I didn't even know there was Super Boy, Clarity or Ms. Martian."
"Yeah." Robin shrugged with a smile, "We didn't really make this team too public."
"And Zatanna. Is your mentor Zatara?" Rocket inquired.
Zatanna's expression fell for a second, "Well, yeah. He's also my Dad." The atmosphere fell for a second. Sensing this, Rocket lowered her hand
"Did I say something wrong?" she asked quietly.
"Well-" Wally winced, "Kind of. Long story short, and you should probably know since you are part of the team, Zatara was possessed by the Helmet of Fate. He is now Doctor Fate."
"Possessed…" Rocket trailed off, shocked. "Well that isn't cool."
"It isn't." I agreed sourly
"For now there is nothing we can do." Kaldur folded his arm. "Only hope a chance will occur where we can free Zatara from the helmet."
Nodding her head a few times, the rest of us were desperate to move on to another topic. So instead, we talked our abilities so Rocket wouldn't get too shocked when we went on a mission. Rocket explained her abilities focused mostly on kinetic energy. Flying, shields, they were all formed through the kinetic energy around it.
It was pretty impressive.
"And you're Red Arrow now." Rocket nodded when Red Arrow spoke up. "Can't say I would go with that name, but it's got a classic feel to it."
Red Arrow seemed half glad to hear that. "Where did the name Rocket come from?"
Rocket chuckled, "When I was little I wanted to be an astronaut. When I learned I could fly I kind of… thought back to that time. I was aiming for the sky and all, so the name just stuck."
"That is so sweet." M'gann placed her hands together. "What about Icon? How did you come up with his name?"
"Well, Icon never really liked any of the names I tried to give him, so I tried to give him something that represented him, ya know?" She waved her hands around, "It took me forever to come up with something that stuck. So I choose Icon because he likes to represent others, if that makes sense. A representive symbol."
"Ooh." Artemis nodded, "Yeah I can see how that works."
"I guess you could say, he's Iconic." Wally snorted. We groaned.
A little while later, I found myself on the couch, sitting side by side with Rocket as we channel surfed. The others had all seemed to move on to do their own things or run off to goof off, so that gave me the chance to talk with Rocket a bit.
"When did you become a hero?" she asked.
"Few months ago." I say, "Though, I still don't really consider myself as that yet."
"Well hey, you and me are in the same boat then." She nudged me, "We're both super new at this."
"Yeah." I slowly smiled, "That is true. But at least you have a mentor."
"Icon is just as new as this as I am." She scoffed, "He's just had his powers a little longer, but that doesn't mean he is as experienced in this world of crime fighting as any of the Leaguers. He's always hide away his powers, never fully seeing what he could do." She smirked, "That is until I came along."
I smiled, "Still, it must be nice have someone like that to look up to."
Paused, glancing away, she nodded. "Yeah. He's been there for me a lot. Glad he is getting the recognition he deserves."
Letting the conversation drop at that, there was a small silence between us before she glanced in my direction.
"So, about Kaldur…" she trailed off. "You and him are a thing?"
I almost choked on the question, not expecting it, "A thing?" I asked.
"A couple." she corrected.
"…Yes." I nodded, eyeing her suspiciously.
"Rats." She clicked her teeth together. "He was cute too." She sighed.
"So you did have a thing for him." I accused,
"Well duh girl. Have you seen that boy? He is fine." She hummed appreciatively. "But I'm not a boy friend stealer. If you are together I'll back off." She patted my shoulder with a smile. "You two are cute together anyway."
My shoulder's relaxed, "Really?"
"Totally. And hey, you may not have a mentor, but you got him right? That has got to be nice."
I felt bashful, "Well… yeah."
Rocket laughed, bumping my elbow, "Don't be so shy about it girl. Flaunt your love!"
I covered my face. None of the others were this blatant about this. Well, Conner was, but he was my brother and was just trying to get on my nerves, "Rocket shh."
"Oh come on. Give me details. How long have you two been together? Have you kissed yet? Do you call him your Fish hunk?"
"Rocket!" I threw a pillow at her. "Honestly." I laughed, my thoughts fumbling over one another. I wasn't used to this. I wasn't used to talking to someone so naturally after just meeting him or her. Especially if that person was someone joining the team!
It usually took me a while to actually feel comfortable talking to new members. Artemis and Red Arrow my top and only examples. Guess that shows how different Rocket's personality is compared to theirs.
She didn't feel like the type of person to just hide things or that her past was something she wanted to keep secret, unlike Artemis.
"Does he watch over you like a knight in shinning armor during missions? Wisk you away to safety?"
"No." I say, clearing my throat, "We barely even go on missions together any way."
"The Justice League not want you going on missions together cause you're a thing?" she frowned.
"I didn't say that." I said, "I'm just not allowed on missions as much as usual. The League wants to make sure I'm stable or whatever."
"What, you got some handicap or something? I heard you got some mind problems." She announced, blinking. It was a question that could have been taken as rude, but I didn't really mind. I did have mind problems, and I don't think she meant it in a mean way. She definitely sounded like a girl that had no problem speaking her mind though.
"Kind of." I admitted. "Amnesia."
"Hah, what?" she snorted. Seeing that I wasn't laughing with her or joking, her expression fell. "Oh jeez. Seriously?" She gawked, "Sorry I mean- I didn't know."
"It is alright." I waved it off. "I mean, it isn't like it is something horrible that should never be spoken off. It is just how things are."
"But doesn't it bother you-?" she cut herself off, "Sorry."
I waved it off, "It does bother me." I agreed, "But at the same time I'm use to it. All I've ever known is being apart of this team, so it isn't like I am missing my old memories. It is hard to miss something you don't remember having."
"Well I walked in on a major downer." Red Arrow was behind us. Jumping, we turned to him. He always popped up at random like Robin did, honestly. "You would think you would take this more seriously."
"Wha-?" I puffed out my cheeks, "Yes I am. I am super serious."
"Right." He snorted. "Cause being perfectly fine with amnesia is normal."
"…" I pursed my lips, unsure of how to make a come back of that. "I- you- whatever." I threw a pillow at him. He ducked, flipping over the couch to sit next to us. Bouncing a bit at the impact, I folded my arms. Rocket snickered at the sight.
"What you watchin'?" Red Arrow glanced dully at the screen.
"CSI." Rocket answered, glancing between us.
"Miami or the other ones?" he inquired.
"Is there a difference?" I frowned.
"Big." He nodded.
"Uh… I dunno then. I like this one though."
"I'm not really paying attention." Rocket admitted.
"Fine, then what are you two talking about? Other than amnesia of course." He asked.
"Love lives." Rocket beamed. Red Arrow raised his eyebrow, glancing at me.
"Kaldur." He guessed.
I blushed, hitting him. "What of it?"
"Nothing. I heard you two were a thing, but it just seems to weird to be true." He smirked.
I took offence to that, "What do you mean by that?"
"Kaldur is the most mature and respected person I know. He is smart and is always thinking ahead.' Red Arrow explained, "And you are the girl that thought it would be a good idea to put a popcorn bag in the toaster to see if it would still work the same way a Microwave does."
I looked away, "It was one time."
"It was last week." He snorted, "Or that time you convinced Kaldur to dress up in a tutu with you? He would usually never be caught dead doing that." Red Arrow says, though he was smiling at the thought.
"He looked really good in it." I defended myself.
"He looked ridiculous." He corrected.
"So she is tons of fun and he is no fun at all?" Rocket concluded, "I would say that they complete each other."
"Haha, see!" I cheered.
"Whatever. What else is on?" he pointed at the screen.
"Elmo." I changed the channel to it.
"Anddddd I'm bored." Red Arrow got to his feet. I watch him, curious.
"Where are you going?"
"Out. I need to stretch my legs." He was snapping his bow to his back. "Be back eventually."
"Stay safe." I called
"You're not my mom." Was his reply.
"…Uh, yeah I'm not. I didn't say I was." I said confused. "Unless you thought I was your Mom. Cause I thought it was shared and very obvious knowledge that I wasn't-"
"Ah just-" he raised his hand to cut me off. "Forget I said anything." Shaking his head, he went through the Zata tube. Well that was weird.
Rocket was laughing the whole time, "I think I'm gonna like it here."
"I think I'm gonna like it here." I echoed her with a song. Her laughter dying off, Rocket blinked at me.
"…Annie!" she gasped. "I loved that movie as a kid."
We shared expressions of awe.
Oh my gosh she got the reference! SHE GOT THE REFERENCE! Holy cow! That has never happened before!
"I know I'm gonna like it here." We pointed to each other.
-0000 Nicole 000-
We approached Star Labs late into the night. Seated towards the back of the Star Labs parking lot, concealed in a van, Shade went over the plan. Nicole couldn't seem to pay attention to it much expect for the fact that they needed to sneak in unnoticed, keep a low profile, get this job done and get out of there.
"You really think this will work?" Mark asked quietly.
"It has to." Nicole says. Stepping out, she peeked around the alley at the seemingly abandoned Star Labs. Working hours had ended, but that didn't mean there weren't people still inside. Night security, janitors, or perhaps a few lingering workers still finishing up their projects.
"This isn't going to be easy." Shade reminded her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"When is anything in our life easy?" she snorted. "But if we're gonna save Match's life and keep it that way, we need to get inside."
"Then lets not waste another second." Shade said. At the moment they were waiting for Stephan. Since he was the one actually working here it wasn't necessarily suspicious for him to walk inside and take a look around. His cover would be that he forgot something in his lab while he scanned the perimeter.
After waiting 30 minutes, Nicole felt oddly relieved when he stepped out with a stretcher of all things and made his way back to the van.
"I managed to snag a stretcher." Stephan announced, wheeling it towards them. "Wasn't easy with how big it is."
"Nice work." Mark patted him on the back then motioning for Nicole to help him move Match onto it. Carefully taking a hold of his arms and legs, they heaved the clone over the sides and onto the bed.
"Okay, this should make it easier to move him." Nicole nodded, "How is it looking in there?"
"Everyone is mostly gone. Knowing part of the work schedule and chatting a bit with one of the guards, I learned there are only 8 night guards on watch tonight. Two for each floor." He explained. "The make rounds every hour but don't go into the labs unless they suspect something is wrong. If we can get into them without catching their attention, we should be fine the rest of the night."
Nicole scowled, "There is still the problem of security cameras and witnesses."
"Don't call them witnesses." Mark sighed.
"Why not?" she inquired.
"It makes it sound like we're trying to kill someone or steal something." He explained with a grim frown.
"Well we aren't doing that." Stephan insisted to him. "We are saving a life."
"While borrowing star labs equipment." Nicole smiled.
"All of you focus." Shade commanded, helping Gio down from the van. Being so tiny, Gio could easily sneak through the very vents if he wanted. But Shade would never send him off on his own, so instead he bent down and opened his large backpack. Gio stepped inside without a word.
"You are putting your brother in a backpack?" Mark gawked.
"I do it all the time." Gio stated proudly.
"That- what?" Mark was confused.
"Shut up and don't question it. It is the only way to make sure Gio keeps up with us." Nicole pressed up against the van, glancing at Shade. Locking gazes, her older brother nodded.
"Go." he said. Peeking out from behind the van, she nodded. Ducking down, she used the shadows to her advantage and slipped towards the side of the building. Moving to push herself against the wall, she reached up for the panel above her. Sliding it open, glancing at the guards, she touched her palm to it.
Seconds later, the whole building fell dark.
"Go." Shade commanded, pushing the stretcher, shoving Stephan and Mark forward. Approaching the guards, who were looking around confused and moving to head into the doors to check what was wrong, Shade slide to the back wall. Waiting till the door closed behind the guards, Shade got back to his feet and moved them down the slight slope into the parking garage.
There were always elevators in parking garages, so they would get down to that and use it to make it to the fourth floor. It would be better to do that over just strolling through the front door.
Pitch black and hard to maneuver through, Shade lifted a flash light from his pocket, handing it to Gio. He took it with a smile, reaching over Shade's shoulder to light the way.
"Nice going." Shade nodded to his sister when she returned. "How long do we have?"
"Parts of the building are still active, given that not everything is connected to the same power source. But the main hallway lights and security cameras should be out for the next 20 minutes before they turn back on automatically." She says. "We should make it fast though. They'll get suspicious if I keep them off for too long."
"Sweet. And you did all of that with a touch?" Mark beamed at her.
"Well I may have muttered some witch like incantations." Nicole joked, "But yeah, a touch. There is the elevator."
"Will it work?" Stephan inquired. He clicked the button, but nothing lit up.
"Should work when I do this." Nicole flicked her fingers and the buttons for the floors came to life and the doors opened. "We just have to make sure no one is on the other side when we get off."
"The floor we are heading to should be relatively empty at this point of the night, but some are often known to stay late. Myself included." Stephan explained.
Squeezing inside when the elevator arrived they went up the floors in silence. Standing in front of the door Shade motioned for everyone to be ready when they arrived. The elevator stopped, and Mark held his breath as they doors slide open.
The hallway was empty, thank goodness, but probably would be like that for long.
"Lets go." Shade motioned for them to get out.
"The lab is down the hall." Stephan shuffled forward, pulling a keycard from his pocket. Mark had never felt his heart beat so quickly as when he was waiting for Stephan to unlock the door. His nerves were going haywire as he glanced up and down the hall, just waiting for the guard to come around the corner, spot them, and arrest them all on the spot.
"Here we go." the door clicked, and Stephan swung it open. Slipping inside, we closed it behind us with a heavy breath.
"That was easy." Nicole noted.
"Easy?" Mark held a hand to his throbbing chest. "I about had a heart attack."
"Don't be a baby." She hit him. He sighed as she rolled Match forward towards the metal table that lay directly in the center of the room.
"So… you'll really be able to save him?" Mark asked nervously as Shade and Nicole began to transfer Match from the stretcher to the table.
"Yes. "Stephan assured him. "But I'll need time. One I begin I can not be interrupted." He waved his hand, "Grab that oxygen regulator." He said.
Mark was hesitant to grab the oxygen mask, cylinders, and other breathing devices. "Will he need this?"
"Unsure with how his DNA is, but it is better to be safe than sorry." Stephan told him, moving a computer from one side of Match's head to the other. Pressing a few buttons, he placed a few heart monitors to the boy's chest, checking the computer.
"Alright." He placed on some gloves and goggles. "I am going to start."
"We'll keep an eye on the halls." Nicole lifted her hand, snapping her fingers. Though they didn't realize it, the electricity within the building had once again turned on. "You can do it Stephan."
"Right." He nodded. "I won't let him die." He promised.
0000- Arinna -0000
Bat Man told me I was now required to go to therapy lessons and will shorten my time at school and start learning most of my curriculum here in the cave. Or correction, he ordered me to, as if I had no say in it what so ever. That there would be no excuses for missing it since I am no longer going on missions.
Oh, second note, I'm fully not allowed on missions anymore.
The last one with the circus went perfect, kind of! I mean, sure there were some bumps but not with me mentally. The mission went like any other mission so I don't see why they are treating me like I am more broken then before.
Broken.
The word stung just to think about it. Sometimes, I felt like the League considered me to be broken. Fragile and delicate like porcelain.
I'm no Super Boy, yeah, but I'm not this weak girl anymore. I can handle myself and I'm only getting better with training every day. So where is all this coming from suddenly?
"Do you understand?" Bat Man said sternly.
I glared at my feet, hot rage coursing through my veins. "No." I say.
"You don't understand." He said. It wasn't a question, but almost like an expectation. Like he assumed my amnesia made it so I didn't understand with requirement means. Or that he wanted me to do something without argument.
"No." I growled. "I say no as in I refuse."
There was a chilled silence.
Before I could back out or let Bat Man get in another word I said, "I'm not going to therapy. It's my decision not yours. My mental health does not make you in charge of my actions or choices. It's Amnesia not Dementia. And yes I know what that is. You can tell me that I can't go on missions. Sure as much as I hate that, I'll accept that. You are in charge of the team. But I do not want to go to therapy; I don't need it, and you I will go to school as much as I want. I like school. I don't want to be cave schooled or whatever you would call it, I want to go to public school. I want to live here but also be given the chance to live like any normal teenager! Just the same as everyone else on this team."
"Arinna-" he frowned.
"No arguments Bat Man!' I turned lifting my hand. Before he could reach out and stop me I snapped my fingers and teleported away.
Best flipping power ever.
Finding myself in the kitchen for whatever reasons, I leaned into the counter sighing.
"…Uh." Wally was there, gawking at me through eating his sandwich. Guess he wasn't completely used to me disappeared and reappearing at random. Artemis on the other hand was leaning against the kitchen table. They seem to have been talking to each other before I showed up.
I waved awkwardly to them. "Uh… Did I interrupt something?"
"No." they said quickly, glancing away from each other. I totally interrupted something didn't I? Dang it me!
"So… hey." Wally greeted. "Still gotta get use to your, disappearing and reappearing at random." Hah, exactly as I said!
"Where were you just now?" Artemis asked.
"Talking with Bat Man." I answered.
Blinking, Artemis shared a look with Wally, "Is he mad?"
"Probably furious." I nodded.
"What did he say?" Wally gulped the rest of his sandwich down. I didn't even know where to begin.
"Just-" I groaned in frustration. "He just drives me up the wall some times."
"Well he is Bat man. But what did he say specifically?" Wally motioned for me to continue.
"That I wouldn't be going to school as much anymore."
"That's a bad thing?" Wally asked. Artemis hit him.
"Why did he say that?" she asked.
"I dunno! Just- cause!" I threw my arms up. "I didn't stick around long enough to ask. I just got so mad. He wasn't giving me a choice with it. He just ordered me to. So I told him no."
Wally went pale, "You told him no?"
Artemis was fuming, "Well I would too. He can't just boss you around like that. He doesn't own you. If you want to go to school then you should go to school."
I sniffed, Artemis practically shinning with understandement. "That's what I thought too." I told them everything at that point. How he wanted me to go to therapy, stop going on missions, get home schooled here at the cave… Basically meaning, he never wanted me to leave.
"That is ridiculous." Artemis was pacing around the kitchen with Wally and me.
"Not saying I would mind the school part, and I understand the missions, but therapy?" Wally winced. "No thanks."
"Yeah."
"And, why would you even go? What would you talk about? It isn't like you are depressed-" Wally paused, "You aren't depressed are you?"
"No." I hit him.
"Good." He went back to pacing with Artemis. "I guess you could talk about you amnesia but taking from what I took from that therapy lesson with Canary, I didn't like it. I didn't like how…" he licked his lips, "I didn't like how she acted like she knew how I felt. I mean, maybe she did a little and she thought she understood everything I was feeling, but it wasn't the same. If I want to talk to someone about what I think I want to tell someone on my own terms. Not be forced to sit in a room repeatedly until I cough it up."
"Exactly." Artemis snapped her fingers at him.
"That is how I feel too." I agreed desperately. "But- they just don't seem to get that! None of the League does."
"Well, that isn't a big surprise." Robin stepped out of the shadows at that exact moment. We jumped at his arrival.
"Dude, how long have you been there?" Wally gagged on his own spit.
"Long enough to hear your little problem." Robin bowed his head to me.
"I wouldn't really call it a problem." I frowned.
"It kind of is." He shrugged. "At least enough of one to make Bat Man mad. But he is currently talking with Canary, so I wouldn't worry about him tracking you down for a while."
Artemis folded her arms. "Canary? What are they talking about?"
"I dunno. Seems serious and I think it is about you." He shrugged. I went pale, not liking the sound of that.
"About me?" were they that mad at me? Conner had done way worse then just disappear at random so what is the big deal?
Artemis nudged him and he flinched, "What? I said I think. I dunno what they are actually talking about."
"But it is probably about me." I concluded. I sighed and turned away. "Of course they would be."
Wally put a hand on my shoulder, "What do you mean by that?"
"I just…" I pinched the bridge of my nose, "They have been on me for weeks wanting to know everything I do, but they don't tell me anything about what they are doing."
"Yeah, that is usually how they are." Wally grumbled.
"Exactly. But it is different." I insisted. "I feel like they are- I dunno, keeping something from me?"
"What would they be keeping from you?" the three inquired.
"I dunno. Maybe nothing. I'm probably just over thinking this."
"Maybe. Maybe not." Robin trailed off. I shivered when he got an oh too familiar mischievous glint in his eye, "I know a way we can find out."
Artemis sidestepped away from him, frowning. "And what exactly are you suggesting?" she asked hesitantly.
"Well, you feel that the League is keeping something. They only way to prove whether they are or not is to figure out what they are doing." The smirk on his face looked like it would be painful if I tried to make my lips curl like that.
"How we would do that?" Wally asked, the possibility of going undercover in something sparking an interest in his eyes.
"Spy work of course."
"Wait, are you suggesting we spy on the League?" Artemis' eyes were widening in a shock like horror.
"Ooh, the great leader going against the book?" Wally gasped in awe.
Robin was snickering at us all, "Hey, I'm technically not Leader, only sometimes." He reminded him. "Besides, this is the job of the heroes of Gotham. Going against the book as always been our ways of doing things."
"True." Wally grinned. "So how do we go about this?"
"Are you serious?" Artemis stepped between them. "You are talking about snooping in the League's personal business. That kind of talk alone could get us into serious trouble."
"So you don't want to join?" Robin inquired slyly.
She paused, her gaze shifting back and forth. "…Fine. Whatever. Count me in."
"Okay." Robin wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer. "This is how it is going to go down…"
00000- One trip to a closet later-00000
"Why does it have to be a closet of all things?' Artemis grunted, shoving Wally's elbow out of her face.
"Closest proximity room to Bat Man's location without him figuring out where we are." Robin answered. "No camera's in here~" he was fiddling with a controller that had a small screen attached to it.
Robin had apparently created a new Spy bot. It was a bot the size of an insect, undetected by normal eyes. For extra precaution, he installed this almost kind of barrier around it to prevent robotic scanners from locating it.
He was currently having it fly towards the room Bat Man was having his little chat with Canary.
"Sure this will work?" I asked, pressing against him to peek over his shoulder. Man this closet was small.
"Positive." He smiled. "…Well, kind of." He shrugged. "This is just a prototype."
"Dude!" Wally side jabbed him. "You should have told us that sooner!"
"It's too late to back down now. Just shut up and let me concentrate." He kicked his heel into Wally's stomach silencing the red head.
Creek~
The four of us froze when the door open. Expecting to be caught red handed, a sigh of relief washed over us when we realized it was just Zatanna. She froze, staring down at us with wide eyes.
"Uh, what are you doing?" she questioned.
"Nothing." We said instantly.
"Oh yeah, cause you all crouched in a closet isn't weird. Definitely nothing." She snorted, stepping inside to join us.
"Aww come on." Artemis grumbled.
Zatanna squeezed between Wally and Robin, hugging her knees to her chest. "So, what are we doing?" she smiled.
"Uhh…" Robin stumbled over his words, suddenly flustered as she leaned against him. Artemis rolled her eyes at the sight.
"Well, if we have to be honest, we're spying on the Justice League."
"Ooh." Zatanna, clapped. "Thrilling. How hard core." She grinned. "What are we spying on them about?"
"We think they are keeping something from us." Wally explained. "Something about Arinna. Well, correction, Arinna thinks they are hiding something from her and we are just here to see if it is true or not."
I frowned at him. "I say I was probably imagining it. It was Robin's idea."
'And I agree with Arinna.' He tapped the controller. "Bat Man's been acting strange lately. And when I heard that he wanted to keep you in the lair as much as possible well… that was just weird. I mean, he let me fight bad guys when I was 9. Cold blooded murderers. Yet he suddenly doesn't want you going out to public school? Something about that isn't right."
Zatanna looked perplexed but nodded, "Well, what are we waiting for?"
Squeezing closer, we looked to the screen on Robin's device.
The little bug had finally moved into the room and had landed on the wall up on the ceiling. Waiting with baited breath, the voices of the League grew louder and louder with each passing second before the picture became clear and the bug adjusted. Feeling that they were close enough, Robin releasing the handle, pulling the small little spy bot to a halt.
We were delving into the League's conversation seconds later. From what I could tell, there were only a few people presence in the room, and it wasn't just Black Canary and Bat Man.. Red Tornado, Green Arrow, and the Flash for some reason seemed to be involved in this meeting as well.
"What is my uncle doing here?" Wally frowned. Robin lifted a hand to hush him.
"She ran off on you, huh?" Green Arrow snickered. "That is what you get when you get when you attempt to boss around a teenager."
"Come on Arrow, like you are any better at keeping an eye on the kids." Flash snorted.
"Well I've never had to deal with one that can teleport." He agreed begrudgingly.
"Can we focus?" Canary sighed.
"We've gotten word on Cenver's movement on the east side of the coast." Red Tornado spoke solemnly.
"Cenver?" Wally asked. "Who is that?"
"Shh." Artemis elbowed him.
"We positive it is even them?" Canary asked.
"Not fully, but for now we can only assume with the presence of Sports Master that their involvement is clear. Large movements of supplies have been shipped off from Sports Master to an unknown buyer. All cutting edge technology." Red Tornado said.
"Whether or not it is Cenver, Sports Master's actions give us reason alone to get involved in what he is doing." Bat man said.
"Sports Master…" Artemis murmured, narrowing her eyes.
"What are they talking about?" I squeezed a little closer, not understanding the conversation.
"How about we listen and find out." Zatanna suggested
"As for now, what have you learned regarding the other children?"
"Not much." Flash admitted. "Honestly, if Cenver did nab them, there is no way for us to know until we track them down. But if Cenver was behind the missing corpses, we can assume they are with them."
Wally looked pale and uncomfortable, "Corpses?" he mouthed
"Still leaves the question on whether or not they are still alive." Canary muttered. "Perhaps they truly didn't even survive the fire."
"Say they didn't though, what would Cenver want with a bunch of skeletons? Those kids had to have survived." Green Arrow piped in. "I mean, look at Arinna."
My heart missed a beat, stuttered, and picked up in double time, thudding so quickly that it hurt. "…W-What… do they mean?" I asked so quietly that I almost couldn't even hear myself.
"Guess that confirms this conversation revolves around Arinna." Artemis commented, glancing at me. Robin's hand was moving to pat my back.
"Breath." He reminded me. I am breathing. I'm breathing all the time. I just want to know what is going on!
"The reason that Arinna is here is partially the problem." Bat Man reminded him. "Her mind holds the key to these questions."
"Yeah, her remembering isn't exactly going too well though." Flash said. "If she is the same person."
"What do you mean by that?" Canary demanded gruffly.
"Nothing!" Flash squeaked. "I just- I mean, she is supposed to be dead, right? Arinna could just be a look alike. Or even a clone. She was in Cadmus."
I could feel Robin's hand tense against my back, and the eyes off those in the closet shift towards me. "…Dead?" Artemis was as pale as I felt.
"We are reaching a whole new level of confusing here." Zatanna bit her thumbnail.
"We've all considered that a possibility Flash." Bat Man spoke up, making me jump at his booming voice. "Her being a clone may just be the reason she is having problems fully remembering her past. However, all of her break downs are caused from things we have proven to be from her past."
"What are they talking about?" Wally hissed, "How would they know if something is from her past? Robin." He snapped his attention to his friend. "Lets get in there. Demand they tell us what in the world is going on."
Robin's jaw clench, "Hold on. If we go in now they might refuse to say anything."
"Whether she is aware of not, she subconsciously recognizes names and places. That is most likely why she ventured to Philadelphia with Wally a few weeks ago."
Wally was searching my eyes for an explanation. "Arinna?"
"I…" I covered my mouth, shaking my head. Too much. This was too much. How much exactly did Bat Man know of Philadelphia?
I jumped when Red Tornado spoke, "If I may interrupt, I suggest we make a decision quickly. I suspect Arinna has already begun to notice our sudden actions in keeping her enclosed more and more to the Cave. We cannot delay telling her what we discovered any longer."
DUN DUN DUNNNNNNN.
Can always rely on Robin to help uncover deep dark secrets XD