The sound of Clicking Crickets permeated the night as Clark rose from his slumber. He rubbed his eyes, blinking a few times to check if he was really awake. Scanning the room, he found that his teammates were asleep, the exception being Bruce whose bed was empty.

He's probably working in the cave. He's always up at this time.

Clark sighed, clutching his head as a headache came along.

"Ugh," groaned Clark, "Why now?"

Clark swung his legs onto the floor, stretching out his arms before putting on a nightgown his mother had packed for him.

I'll take a walk, that'll clear my head.


Clark walked the grassy fields of Beacon Academy, listening to the Crickets and the animals in the forest. Despite the fact that some of the animals were miles away, Clark could hear them just fine. He would do this often in Smallville as a way to calm himself the rare times he was upset. Unfortunately, it did nothing to ease his headache.

"Jeez, why won't it go away?" mumbled Clark to himself.

Clark thought back to Metallo, specifically the green stone in his chest.

That stone, is that what's causing the headaches?

Clark shook his head.

And where did that stone even come from? How is it weakening me so much?

Clark stopped in front of the fountain, its spouts still spewing water.

It's funny, after the big day when I broke Pete's arm and figured out I came from a spaceship, I never gave my place of birth any thought. I kinda just pushed it down and didn't think about it.

Clark peered over the fountain edge, taking in his own reflection in the water.

But this rock, it's got me thinking about it again. Is it made by the people who made me?

Clark looked closer at his reflection.

What am I really?

"Kal-El"

Clark jumped as he heard a voice, whirling around trying to find its source. The voice itself was distorted, though Clark could find the words in the mess of sound using his hearing.

"Who's there?!" said Clark.

"Kal-El!"

The voice led Clark to the fountain, causing him to peer over the edge at his own reflection again. This time though, he saw something else.

A man with a beard dressed in white cloth stood in place of Clark's reflection, his arms raised as if to take someone's hand.

"Who are you?" asked Clark.

"Kal-El, &*^( Krypton &**^ (^*%." said the man, speaking a language Clark didn't know.

"What?" said Clark, confused.

The man stretched his hand out more as if asking for Clark to take it. Clark raised an eyebrow, raising his own hand.

"Alright, let's do it your way." said Clark.

Clark reached his hand down towards the water's surface, prepared to take the man's hand. As soon as his hand made contact with the water, the hand Lunged forward, grabbing Clark's forearm and dragging him over the edge and into the water. Clark gasped as he fell into the water, his eyes lighting up as the imagery around him shifted.

He was now floating over a burning city, fields of ash all around it. Buildings were crumbling and people were crying out in pain.

Clark heard it all immediately, covering his ears as the shouted invaded his brain.

It sounds like the world is screaming!

Clark screamed, tears in his eyes, but he only produced air bubbles. The man beside him floated in front of him.

"& (^# Jor-El &(# &% (&%( &(" said the man, "%*)!*% !)%*!#% Lare Vor-Van !%*#!* Krypton!"

I don't understand a word this guy's saying!

The man placed his hands on Clark's temple, causing pain to sear across Clark's mind.

"AAAAAAAAAGH!" screamed Clark.

"Clark? CLARK?!"

Clark gasped for air as Ruby ran up to him, patting him on the back, "Agh! Spit out the water Clark."

"*Kaff!*" coughed Clark, spitting the water out of his lungs, "T-Thanks Ruby."

"No problem!" said Ruby, "I like the little bunnies on your pajamas!"

Clark looked down at the rabbits adorned on his Nightgown, "Why thank you Ruby!"

"So, what're you doing? Taking a bath in the fountain?" asked Ruby.

"What?" said Clark, before realizing he was soaking wet, "Oh no, I just thought I saw something in the water and I tripped trying to get it."

"Really?" said Ruby, "It seemed like you were talking to yourself."

"What? Nooooo." said Clark before he realized something, "Wait, why are you up? It's like 4 in the morning."

"I fell out of my bed." said Ruby, "Then I looked around and saw that Blake wasn't in the room like always and felt too sad to fall asleep.."

"Blake?" said Clark, squeezing the water out of his nightgown, "What's wrong with Blake? Is she in trouble?"

"No, but she has been spending a lot of nights in the cave with Bruce." said Ruby, "They've been working day and night on this mission thing, but I'm afraid she might be working too hard, Bruce too."

Clark frowned, "Bruce is a different case, he sleeps like 2 hours by default."

"But Blake doesn't!" said Ruby, "She's been falling behind in class and she hasn't been talking to us as much."

Clark put his hand to his chin, "You think she's too focused on the mission?"

"I do." said Ruby, "I know the mission is important, but we're here, at Beacon! I still want to enjoy that time, having friends and doing fun things!"

Clark nodded, "Alright, I'll try to ask about Blake once I see Bruce again."

Ruby smiled, tackling Clark with a hug, "THANK YOU, I'll have my team talk to Blake too!"

"I...You're welcome!" said Clark.

Ruby took a step back and yawned, "Well, I'm gonna go back to sleep, have a nice night, or is it morning?"

"Morning," said Clark, "But have a nice sleep!"

Ruby nodded before turning around and skipping back to the dorms. Clark turned back towards the fountain, gazing at his reflection once more.

"What was that?" said Clark, wondering what he had just witnessed.


Blake tapped away at the computer in the cave, heavy lines under her eyes. The Schnee records were arranged on the screen, each showcasing a different case of stolen goods.

"Bruce!" said Blake, rubbing her eyelids, "I think I have something."

"What is it?" said Bruce from the lab, "Did you find something in the records?"

"Yes," said Blake, "Most of the dust robberies happen in Vale. It's a concentrated effort in only a few locations."

"Hmm," said Bruce, "If they had to move that much dust, it would have to be in or around Vale."

"I'll make that note," said Blake, scribbling the info on a piece of paper, "How's it going on your end?"

Bruce, wearing lab equipment, tipped the breaker over the glass of chemicals, watching as the foreign liquid within the breaker dripped into the glass, causing a mini poof of smoke, "Replication of the fear gas is slow, but I've been steadily crossing off routes to its creation. Once I make it myself, it'll be far easier to create an antidote. Right now though, it's still a needle in a haystack situation."

"Damn," said Blake before yawning, "is there any way I can help?"

"Unfortunately no," said Bruce, "I have a degree in Chemistry, earned it in a month. That knowledge is crucial to this process."

"Alright," said Blake, "I'll just go back to dust robberies then. See if I can find a more significant pattern to track down their base."

Bruce nodded behind his lab glasses, mixing up the chemicals in the glass before pouring it into a bottle. Bruce lifted the bottle up and began to shake it.

"Hey Bruce?" said Blake, walking into the lab, "I have a question."

"Hold on," said Bruce, "I need to test this sample."

Bruce walked over to the microscope and poured a small drop on a glass tray, placing it under the scope. Bruce looked through the lense, comparing the sample he just created to Crane's sample, which was already under the scope.

"Hmm," said Bruce, "I'm getting somewhere, but still not too close."

Standing up from the microscope, taking off his goggles, "Right, now what was it you wanted to ask?"

Bruce turned towards Blake and immediately felt something was amiss. Her eyes drooped with heavy lines under her eyes and her whole body sagged as if she was barely keeping herself upright.

"Blake, you look like you could use some sleep." said Bruce.

"I know," said Blake, "That's why I came to ask you."

"Ask me what?" said Bruce.

"How do you do it?" asked Blake, "How do you stay awake for so long, only sleeping a few hours?"

Bruce grimaced, "Over the course of a few months, I was under the tutelage of an aura master in Atlas. He taught me many things, including a form of meditation that lets one become fully rested in a matter of hours."

"Can you teach me?" asked Blake, "It would be useful with the work I'm doing."

"As I said, it takes a few months," said Bruce, "Not just to learn but for your body to adjust and become ready to use the technique."

Blake frowned, "Damn, I'll just have to tough it out."

Blake began to walk away, but Bruce grabbed her arm to stop her, "Blake, you should get some rest."

"But there's still work to do." said Blake, "We still have to find their base and find out what their plan is."

"If you're going to work, I want you fully rested." said Bruce, "If you try to work now you're more likely to make mistakes. I want the clean work."

Blake yanked her arm away from Bruce, "Whatever, it's morning now."

Bruce frowned, checking the time. Sure enough, it was morning, "I'm serious, don't overextend."

Blake started to get angry, "UGH! You sound just like-"

Suddenly Blake stopped herself, a mix of regret and terror on her face.

"Just like who?" asked Bruce.

"Nevermind!" said Blake, who made a beeline for the ladder, "I'll see you at Breakfast."

Blake hurried up the later, leaving Bruce in the cave alone.

I know I let people into the mission because I couldn't do things alone, but I never expected anyone to work as hard as I did.

Bruce returned to the lab, taking off the rest of the equipment.

Something will have to change.


"How do you get a squirrel to like you?" said Oliver

"I don't know, how?" Said Yang.

"Act like a nut!" said Oliver.

Oliver and Yang erupted into laughter, despite the fact that the rest of the table barely reacted to it.

"HA!" said Yang, "That sounds like something my dad would say. I picked up a lot of my jokes from him."

"Hey, I've got another one." said Ollie, "What happens when a-"

"For the love of all that is holy please shut up Ollie." said Weiss, "You make me want to vomit."

"Hah!" said Oliver, "She called me Ollie, maybe she's growing on me!"

"I most certainly am not!" said Weiss.

"Hello?" said a new voice, "Is this table free?"

The table shifted their gaze, finding that 2 others wanted to take a seat. A certain green-haired girl and a certain silver-haired boy.

"Sure, we have free seats." said Clark, "What's your name?"

"Emerald." said the girl, "His name is Mercury."

"I can introduce myself!" said Mercury, "But yeah, the name's Mercury."

"Clark Kent!" said Clark, getting up to shake his hand, "That's Victor, Oliver, Bruce, Ruby-"

"Oh we already met team RWBY." said Emerald, "We're just greeting you guys too."

"Oh cool." said Victor, "Nice to have you guys here."

"Why thank you!" said Emerald, "You guys excited for the dance this weekend?"

"Dance?" said Oliver, "There's a dance?"

"Yeah." said Victor, "They put up the fliers last week."

"Man, I always miss this stuff!" said Oliver, "What day is it?"

"Friday." said Mercury.

"WHAT?!" said Oliver, "I've got to find a partner quick!"

"He's teasing you Oliver." said Bruce, not taking his eyes off his food, "It's Monday."

"Oh." said Oliver, "That wasn't very nice of you Mercurio."

"Mercury." said Mercury, "We gotta go now actually, we're gonna get to class early."

"See you guys!" said Emerald.

"Bye!" said Oliver as they left, "But seriously, a dance this weekend?! That sounds amazing!"

"Yeah, it could be fun." said Victor.

"I'd be on board." said Clark.

"Actually," said Yang, "our team was put in charge of setting up the party!"

"Really?" said Clark, "That's awesome!"

"I know right!" said Ruby, "It'll be so much fun setting up the fog machines and the confetti!"

"We are not Having confetti!" said Weiss.

"Oh who died and made you the boss!" said Ruby.

"This is a waste of time."

The whole table looked at Blake, who hadn't touched her food and was instead going over the data for the dust robberies.

"What are you talking about?" said Yang, "It's not a waste of time, it could be really fun!"

"We're on a mission to stop Torchwick and whoever he's working with." said Blake, "Every minute we delay means he's a minute closer to executing his plan. We can't waste any time."

"We aren't wasting time." said Victor, "It's all analysis right now, I'm looking at a way to desphagetti code quickly so that if we get attacked by a Paladin again I can hack it quickly."

"I'm contributing too." said Oliver, "I've got some of my company researching medicine. Hopefully if Bruce creates an antidote my company can mass-produce and distribute it."

"And the rest of us are still training for the next fight." said Clark, "We'd love to contribute more, but we have lives outside of the mission."

"I understand that," said Blake, "but I have to ask you, what's more important, a big plan that might result in people dying or having fun at a dance?"

The table was silent, unable to come up with an answer on the spot.

"Bruce, back me up." said Blake.

Bruce frowned, placing his fork and knife on the table before turning his attention to Blake, "Blake, they're right."

"What?!" said Blake, "I thought you of all people could understand!"

"Blake, I've done nothing but fight criminals or train to fight criminals for the last 7 years of my life." said Bruce, "Outside of that, I don't have any modicum of a personal life. I can afford to work those hours, you can't."

Blake frowned, her lack of energy clear, "You don't get to make that choice for me."

"I know." said Bruce, "But that doesn't mean I can't advise against it."

*Ding!*

The bell rang, signaling that classes were starting.

Blake sighed, "Whatever." before walking away, leaving the rest of the team concerned for their friend.


Team BSCO sat in their seats in the arena once more as Glynda Goodwitch began her lecture. The arena was crowded with students, whispers going all around.

"So Bruce," said Oliver, "What are you gonna wear to the dance? I was thinking we could do matching white tuxedos."

"I'm not going." stated Bruce.

"What? Why?!" said Victor.

"Quiet down Victor," said Bruce, "But yes, I am not going to this dance. The work I'm doing is too important to be interrupted."

"But you said all those things to Blake!" said Oliver, "Isn't it hypocritical that you aren't going?"

"Everything I said to Blake is true," said Bruce, "but it doesn't apply to me."

"Why not?" said Oliver.

Bruce sighed, "Once, I fought a serial killer by the name of Victor Zsasz. By the time he rolled into Mantle, he had already claimed 90 victims. It didn't matter if it was a man, a woman, a child, he had no rules."

"That's horrible." said Victor.

"I spent a whole month chasing him down, during which he claimed 10 more victims." said Bruce, "I slept maybe 9 hours that whole time."

"Bruce," said Clark, "Where are you going with this?"

Bruce Grimaced, "I dedicate every waking hour to fighting crime, Blake doesn't. She has a personal life and she should enjoy it. I don't."

Clark put his hand on Bruce's shoulder, "Bruce, you should go."

Bruce frowned, "What's the point, what could I get out of it?"

Clark smiled, "A chance to enjoy yourself for once."

"Team BSCO!" said Glynda, pointing her wand at the 4 teammates, "It seems you're awfully chatty today."

"Apologies Ms. Goodwitch!" said Victor, "We'll be quieter next time."

"You will," said Glynda, "Especially since it's you four in the ring again."

"Great job running your mouth Ollie." said Victor.

"Hey, this isn't my fault." said Oliver, "Most of it anyway."

"Here are your combatants!" said Glynda, pointing to the screen above the arena.

Oliver Queen Vs. Weiss Schnee

Cardin Winchester Vs. Clark Kent

Bruce Wayne Vs. Pyrrha Nikos

Mercury Black Vs. Victor Stone

"Wow," said Clark, "you've got a heck of a fight coming up Bruce."

"Maybe," said Bruce, "Nikos is an exceptional warrior. She'll prove quite the challenge."

"Ha! I get to beat the rich snotty girl!" said Oliver, "Easy Peasy."

"You're a rich snotty guy though." said Victor, "What's the difference?"

"She didn't go through what I went through." said Oliver, "I've got this in the bag."

"First combatants," said Glynda, "take your places!"

Oliver and Weiss made their way down to the arena, drawing their respective Rapier and Bow. As Weiss brandished her weapon, Oliver suddenly had flashbacks to a certain moment involving a swordfish and instinctively clutched his rear.

"Uh, is it too late to apologize for the apple juice?" asked Oliver.

"No," said Weiss, "You can say sorry."

"Ok," said Oliver, "I'm sorry."

"Thank you," said Weiss, "I don't forgive you."

Oliver chuckled, "Oh now you've done it! I was being genuine!"

"Ready?" said Glynda, "BEGIN!"


I was having trouble with this chapter for a while, but I finally managed to get it into an actual groove! Plus we hit 21,000 views YIPEE!

A big thank you to everyone who reads my story. The fact that you put the time in to read my writing just makes me feel really good. Thank you so much!

Reviews:

DCDGojira: I used a variation of your scene. The Chili scene returning was in a way inspired by your idea (All of them reacting). It only really came in because I wanted a scene with Yang and Ollie cooking and thought, It'd be funny if they all had to try the chili. I checked out some reviews for the Invisible Man and they're quite good! I don't usually do horror but I might try and see it! Joker will return, but not as soon as you think. Ace the Bat hound is confirmed! Metallo would be voiced by Paul Blackthorne (Justice League Doom and Arrow (He's Quinten Lance in Arrow)).

PS: Did you know the Old Man in the beginning of Crisis on Infinite Earths Episode 5 is actually a Marv Wolfman, the writer of the original Crisis on Infinite Earths comic?

Thanks for the feedback as always! :)

Shadow Joestar: Thanks for the feedback as always!

Dracus6: I don't really hate Shield Hero, I think it's an ok anime. It's just that typically I prefer to write about things that I myself am really passionate about. Since DC characters are characters I really love, Young Justice x MHA is a lot more likely. It's not confirmation, but If I were to write a fic like that, It wouldn't be a longfic like the ones I'm doing now. It'd probably be 20 chapters or less and be a dimension hopping adventure between the two properties. I have idea's right now but It might not come in a while or at all since I'm mostly dedicated to these fics. I know I've been shutting you down a lot and I apologize for that, but again, I don't really take requests because I don't want to write something that I'm not passionate about since I think it would come out really trash if I'm not into it.

To Reiterate, I think Shield Hero is fine.

Thanks for the feedback as always! :)