#IntrigueInTheMist
In his house, Johnny looked at himself in the mirror, as he slowly began to comb his hair, getting ready for another day of school. His daily routine was something hard. Going to the gym with Diana, classes, fighting crime in Metropolis, and on top of that, dealing with his power control classes with Zee. His mind was a little preoccupied, even more so considering that a few days ago, Zee didn't show up at the park, at least, that's what he thought.
In the suite she lived in, Zee Zatara was practically trying to understand what was happening. It was as if there was an unexpected twist. Being involved with her secret admirer, not knowing that the person behind the letters was closer than she could have imagined. And now, she felt torn about Johnny and what she might actually feel for the boy. Looking at her cell phone, the magician started to think a little, taking some pictures to start her day.
Descending the stairs, Johnny grabbed a glass of water, trying to figure out what he was supposed to do. Still feeling some of his injuries, but not to a painful level, the boy could feel some of the marks from the blows he had received slowly fading. Heading toward his mother, Johnny looked at Kate, concerned.
(Johnny) - Gee, Mom. You don't look so good. What's wrong? Hard day? - He looks at his mother, who was holding some bills in question.
(Kate) - These are some of the bills for the month. They're coming in a little earlier than imagined. - He looked at one of the bills, surprised. - They're already starting to charge you for the gym you're doing.
(Johnny) - Well, it's become a pastime. Diana and I spent a good deal of time exercising. - Kate looked at her son, who took a drink of water, forcing a smile to disguise it. - It's just that she likes to challenge herself, so I'm trying to see how far I can push her. Almost a friendly competition.
(Kate) - How much did you say you were going to pay the gym bills?
(Johnny) - I said to leave it every three months. - Little by little, he looks at the invoices, kind of surprised. Light, water, etc.
(Kate) - Some are not even that expensive. Your father, with his salary, will be able to help me a little. And you could do the same.
(Johnny) - Let's see what I can do. - He starts to leave the house, while slowly, preparing his feet a little, deciding to exercise a little. Running, Johnny started to look at the situation, knowing that he would have to pay the gym bills himself if he continued this way. Grabbing his cell phone, he called Barbara, trying to get something. - Hello? Babs?
(Barbara) - Johnny?
(Johnny) - What are you doing? - At the hideout, Barbara was assembling some new gadgets, deciding to keep herself prepared for whatever came her way.
(Barbara) - Not much. Maybe I should start my own business firm. The gadgets and gizmos I make could yield something for rescue and hazard operations. And what are you doing, buddy? - She giggles lightly, while Johnny is standing still, staring at his phone.
(Johnny) - No big deal. I just need some help. My mom just got the bills, and some of them are a little high. The gym I'm going to with Diana already sent the first invoice and I need to pay it before the end of the month. - Barbara then gave a cocky smile on her face.
(Barbara) - I know exactly how to help.
Burrito Bucket...
Johnny walked in, surprised to see the place where Babs worked. It was something a little out of the ordinary in his opinion. Looking at the redhead at a counter, serving customers, he went to the girl.
(Johnny) - Is this how I'm going to be able to help this situation? - Barbara hands the boy a uniform as she pushes him into the cleaning closet.
(Barbara) - It's going to be easy. I was able to convince my boss to find someone to help at the Burrito Bucket. All you'll need to do is help me serve the customers while they order. - The girl hands a list to Johnny, who is slowly starting to get a little worried about the weight that was the size of a giant book. - Payment is due at the end of the week, so you'll be helping out a lot around here.
(Johnny) - Waiting tables? - The boy then becomes confident in the moment, seeing that he could do a great job. - It will be easy.
At the junkyard, Diana and Deva trained with each other as they tried to raise their combat strength. Diana knew how much untapped potential the Amazon in front of her possessed, but she needed to put it to the test now.
(Diana) - It's going well, Deva. - She gives a blow to Deva, which makes her go up with the sword, concentrating her strength in her body and standing as an equal before Diana.
(Deva) - I can see how much determination you possess, princess.
(Diana) - The path you are walking will yet be revealed. Just give it time. - Diana could see Deva as a sister. Precisely because she shared the same determination as she did when she came to the World of Men, without suspecting her true intentions.
(Deva) - "Yes, Diana. Give it some time. Little do you know what I already have in mind.
In her office, Leslie and Jason were reunited, with the girl practically laughing at the boy over their latest fight. Slowly, it seemed she was unable to contain herself.
(Leslie) - Are you serious that you could lose to a rookie in a fight? Even I wouldn't stoop that low.
(Jason) - I was caught off guard, Les. Even I didn't know something like this could happen. This warrior was stronger than Wonder Woman herself if you stop and analyze what happened.
(Leslie) - You can get a little over yourself in some embarrassing moments. Too bad there was no one recording it. - Looks at Jason, still confident. - We'll still get our shot.
The next day...
At home, Jess began to get ready for another day like any other. Slowly, she began to think a little about things and what she could do. Suddenly, something caused her to trip, almost hitting the stairs. Stopping at the last second, she is surprised at what might have happened. She didn't know if it was a prank or if it could be something else, but someone had tried to act against her.
Waking up, Babs started towards the kitchen, still half asleep, getting ready for another day. Suddenly, a silhouette began to appear behind her. Concealing her presence, she grabbed a frying pan and hit the back of the girl's head, knocking her to the floor, while slowly, Babs looked around, seeing no one. She had just suffered an attack.
At the safe house, Karen was making some adjustments to her Bumblebee costume, trying to prepare for the upcoming fights to come. But out of nowhere, the lights went out, leaving the girl surprised. At the same time, a mysterious silhouette appeared in the same way as in Babs' house. Using a control, she then took control of Karen's costume, who began to chase her around the hideout while trying to deactivate the costume.
-What's going on? - All three shouted at the same time, practically amazed at what could be happening.
At the safe house, the situation was serious. Karen could see some of the sting marks that the stingers had left, just as Barbara had an ice pack on her head and Jess was looking at the situation, worried. A meeting had been called, where all the Super Hero Girls were gathered, trying to understand what had happened.
(Diana) - Let me get this straight: You three were attacked almost at the same time, on the same day, and this person dared to attempt against your lives?
(Jessica) - Yes. Something almost made me fall down the stairs of my house. I tripped over a rope that was positioned in exactly the right way to seriously injure me.
(Barbara) - What about me, who got hit on the head?
(Karen) - It was hard for me. My own costume rebelled. - The trio that was attacked seemed to be surprised by all this, not understanding who it could have been. Practically surprised by the situation, Diana, Zee, Kara and Deva looked at them, and at themselves, trying to understand what happened.
(Diana) - That's crazy. No one could have known what would happen. It's as if the person who tried to attack you was anticipating every detail. The fact that Jess woke up hints that the attacker rushed into her routine and set a trap to hurt her. Karen, on the other hand, for someone to be able to technologically hack into her superhero costume, they have to have prior knowledge. And Barbara was attacked by surprise in the kitchen, meaning that whoever it was, was waiting for the exact moment to act. - The Amazon was trying to understand what could have happened, at the same time it could have been something strange. However, it was something kind of unusual. Unusual attacks. - Whoever we were trying to find knew exactly what to do.
(Johnny) - I would put my chips on Jason. He probably could have done all that.
(Karen) - It can't have been him. My costume was hacked inside the safe house, and he doesn't know who the Super Hero Girls are. But he probably could have been responsible for Jessica and Barbara.
(Deva) - I don't want to jump to conclusions, but we're not risking too much by accusing who we don't know. - The tension was clear among the group, not knowing who might have been the mysterious attacker.
(Barbara) - I agree with Deva. The whole thing was kind of surprising in every way possible.
(Jessica) - So who could it have been? - Not knowing what could be going on, it was clear how the Super Hero Girls were trying to understand who could have attacked three of their members, practically half worried.
Burrito Bucket...
With the small incident involving Barbara, Johnny decided to temporarily take over the situation at the workplace taking orders and serving customers, however, he tried to hide his nervousness, feeling that he had too many orders to take. At the same time, Shane O'Shaughnessy, Barbara's boss, was watching Johnny, seeing his problems to keep an eye on the situation.
(Shane) - Young! Keep an eye out for customer orders! - He looks at the note sheets, while grabbing several trays of burritos, going as fast as he can in the direction of the people in the place, while slowly, trying to pull himself together. - Don't miss any of them, otherwise, you know.
(Johnny) - Yes, sir! It's just that Barbara usually knows what to do at those times. It was my first day yesterday.
(Shane) - I'm sorry, but until she recovers from the accident you said she had, you're going to have to work twice as hard to make up for it.
(Johnny) - She just hit her head and doesn't feel very well. She should be back by tomorrow.
(Shane) - You'd better, otherwise one of us is going to get fired! - Johnny started running, while trying to keep an eye on all the details he should pay attention to, knowing that he needed to keep his own sanity until the end of the day.
(Johnny) - "How can she deal with this every single day? Barbara, you better find out what happened and fast. "
While all this was going on, Diana, dressed as Wonder Woman, patrolled the city on her own, seeing what the situation might be like in the streets. Jumping between rooftops, the Amazon was searching, trying to find who might have attacked her friends. Running as fast as she could, she tried to find Jason, trying to see if he could in fact be responsible.
(Diana) - "This is all taking an unexpected turn. Even more so considering the danger we're in now. Who would dare do all this?"
Looking at Jason near a street, she grabbed him using her Lasso of Truth and climbed him to the top of a building, determined to get answers. Diana wasn't drawing much attention, but she was still trying to understand the truth.
(Diana) - Jason Valentine. We need to talk.
(Jason) - What do you want?
(Diana) - The Lasso of Hestia forces you to tell the truth. Three of my friends were attacked, sneakily, and I think you could tell me something now. Tell me what you know. - She tightens the Lasso, trying to get results.
(Jason) - I don't know anything, that I can guarantee. For once, I have nothing to do with what you are talking about. I've been spending most of my time with Leslie Willis, helping her with some unfinished business. As for your friends, I offer my sympathies to them, but I assure you you have no hands in it. - Seeing that he was in fact telling the truth, Diana put him down, while looking a little confused. - Well, I kind of enjoyed that conversation, Wonder Woman. It's nice to know a little truth once in a while.
Alone, Diana began to jump from one building to the next as she slowly patrolled the city, trying to figure out what she could do now to get answers. Activating her communicator, speaking to Barbara, she made contact at the safe house with Jess and Karen.
(Diana) - We can discard Jason from the list of suspects. He is spending his time with Leslie Willis, and knows nothing.
(Barbara) - Did you use the Lasso of Truth on him? - I spoke, a little nervous.
(Diana) - I did, Batgirl. What's wrong with you?
(Barbara) - Sorry, it's just that I'm worried. I had to tell my boss at work that I had been in an accident and now, I'm afraid that Johnny is having some trouble handling the Burrito Bucket duties. - She calls Johnny, while slowly, at the workplace, the boy was resting, enjoying his 15 minute break. - Hey, Johnny. Everything okay over there? It's not a mess at the Burrito Bucket, okay?
(Johnny) - I cannot talk for a long time. I'm on my mandatory break period. Man, it's hard on the second day. It gets complicated. - Slowly, he takes a drink of water, worried. - Mr. O'Shaughnessy is out to rip my skin off if I make even the slightest mistake. Looking at the orders, waiting tables, and delivering everything is getting a little heavy. - She sighs, as she slowly tries to understand the dynamics of Barbara's work. - How do you manage on your own, Babs?
(Barbara) - Weeks of training, old friend. You never know what might happen, so I always go prepared. I even trained myself to wait tables, but our boss thinks I'm a bit disorganised.
(Johnny) - I find that a little hard to believe, Barbara. - The two talked to each other, knowing how alert they needed to be. Johnny was trying to keep his cool, ignoring the problems of getting the money to pay some of the bills and help his parents at home. - I'll get the hang of it. I think I'd better hang up now. I'm sure O'Shaughnessy's watching again.
It was slowly becoming clear how different something was about Barbara. Her photographic memory might be enough to somewhat analyze who her attacker might be through her face, however, she couldn't get even a single glimpse of who it might have been. However, she was willing to prove who might be behind these mysterious attacks.
On the streets, Deva was walking alone. Trying to keep up the appearance of a normal person, her clothes seemed to make her feel a little more hidden amongst the crowd. There was no telling what might be happening now. Suddenly, a silhouette began to appear behind her. Slowly, readying a baseball bat, it attacked Deva, while slowly, it threw her to the ground, where she tried to defend herself, seeing a face, and leaving her half surprised at what she saw. Getting up, Diana appeared in front of Deva, where she helped the Amazon to her feet.
(Diana) - Deva, what happened?
(Deva) - It was Johnny. He attacked me.
In the hiding place, Johnny went down the slide, while slowly, he became a little worried. Feeling a pain in his body, he tried to steady himself, until suddenly, he saw Barbara, Jess, Karen, Kara, Deva, Diana and Zee looking at him, worried.
(Johnny) - What are those faces? Did I miss something?
(Deva) - Will you still talk to me after what you did to me? - She looks at Deva, who had wounds on her body, despite being a very strong Amazon.
(Johnny) - But what are you talking about?
(Jessica) - Deva sent us a message. She said you tried to attack her in the middle of the street.
(Johnny) - That's impossible.
(Karen) - And according to her information, Deva also thinks you are responsible for what may have happened to me, Jess and Barbara. She's claiming that you attacked us.
(Johnny) - That's a lie! You know I would never do that! - This made the other girls worried.
(Jessica) - Zee told us something about her training. She said she believes that your negative emotions channel some of the powers in her body. She believes that you may have been influenced by that.
(Johnny) - No, I swear by everything I don't know anything. I really don't! I stayed most of the time at the Burrito Bucket covering Babs. I just went out for a while to pick up a package from Mr. O'Shaughnessy, I was gone for 10 or 15 minutes. - Babs then, grabbed her tablet, showing a shot from the cameras, where the silhouette approached.
(Barbara) - This is footage of the attack that Deva suffered. She said she could see your face, even if it was only for a few seconds.
(Johnny) - Man, even if it were me, I would claim that I am being wrongly accused. You have to believe me. I would never attack anyone on this team. - Diana took her position, along with Kara and Zee.
(Diana) - I believe you, Johnny. I think this whole thing is being an injustice now.
(Kara) - I also think this is being absurd. - Zee just stayed silent, not saying anything, but also making it clear that she believed the boy.
(Johnny) - So, we have three who believe in my innocence. And another three who believe that I am really responsible for what happened.
(Karen) - How many times have you lost control of your powers in a fight? We don't know if that could be influencing you now.
(Johnny) - You know what? You guys are going crazy now! Look, I've given everything for this team, but I didn't imagine I'd be under interrogation here. - He looks at Deva, while Diana, Zee and Kara stand by his side. - I may be many things, but I'm not a liar.
(Deva) - How do you explain that I saw your face?
(Johnny) - I don't know. It might have been someone with shape-shifting ability.
(Diana) - Do you want me to use my Lasso to prove them wrong?
(Johnny) - No need, Diana. Because I'm telling you the truth. I was nowhere near Deva at the time she was attacked. - The seed of discord was planted. It was a sign that it could be something different for them. Unbeknownst to them, they didn't know who to trust now. Johnny looked at Jess, Karen, Barbara and Deva, trying to understand what could be going on. While at the same time, Diana, Zee and Kara stood by his side.
(Kara) - Granted, he's a little different, but all the same, Johnny here wouldn't have any guts to hurt anyone or any of us.
(Diana) - The moment we begin to distrust ourselves, we are bound to lose a battle before it even begins. We cannot let intrigues divide us in this way.
(Deva) - I have my doubts about that. - Slowly, they looked at each other, knowing how difficult everything seemed to be for the group. The Super Hero Girls seemed to be facing internal problems.
(Johnny) - Deva, you may have seen wrong. It should be someone impersonating me, because I would never attack a friend of mine.
(Deva) - Then tell me what I saw.
(Johnny) - I don't know what happened. But I'm going to find that out. - Leaving the safe house, Atlas began to make clear his conviction that he was innocent, with Diana, Zee, and Kara leaving the scene.
(Karen) - Are we making a mistake now?
(Deva) - I'm sure I saw Johnny attacking me. I have no doubt of that. But I could be wrong. - She sighs, while slowly, a smug smile comes to her face.
In the junkyard, Diana, Johnny, Zee and Kara were standing next to each other, where the boy was making a point to train again. The Amazon began training exercises without her weapons, using only her fists and skills for a friendly duel. The magician and the Kryptonian watched on top of a car, while Diana tried to understand what might occur now.
(Johnny) - I can't believe it! - He fires a blast from his left index finger, while Diana defends herself using her bracelets. - My day is already hard enough and to complicate it I'm unjustly accused of something I didn't do?
(Diana) - The dirty tactics of a warrior who does not reveal his face is a tricky thing. Whoever did it managed to fool Deva, enough for her to accuse you, believing she saw your face.
(Kara) - There's something I don't understand: First Jess is the victim of a prank, worthy of a Jason trick, then Barbara is attacked at home, which would be the work of a ninja to leave no trace, then Karen is attacked by her own costume, a touch of Livewire and now, Deva is attacked in broad daylight? Something tells me we're missing something.
(Zee) - Maybe this is a conspiracy by one of our enemies. The person who is in charge may have started all this and is trying to frame one of us.
(Kara) - If that was the case, the person responsible should know our secret identities, so that would justify one of the attacks. - Johnny continued to attack Diana, where their attacks collided in a way that a small gale was raised. It was a friendly duel, but for the boy, it was the opportunity to relax a little knowing how he needed to take a break from things.
(Diana) - His attacks are getting a little slower. - The Amazon creeps up on him, as he slowly falls to the ground. Holding out one of her hands to Johnny, she helps him up. - Her concentration has to be on the fights she fights.
(Johnny) - It's hard to concentrate when I have a kind of weird day.
(Kara) - All right, my turn. - She lands in front of Johnny, looking at the boy. - If you're really as strong as you say, use your powers on me. I want to see if you can take on a Kryptonian. But I guarantee I won't take it easy.
(Johnny) - Closed. - He launches a blast from his two hands, which is easily blocked by Kara. Slowly, he tries to hit her, but sees that none of his blows have any effect. Taking a blow to the chest, he's pushed back, making clear the strength of Kara at the moment. - It wasn't even enough to do any damage.
(Kara) - I'm weak to only a few things, but your moves need to be a little better in a fight.
(Johnny) - I need to take a break. - Using his magic, Zee teleported away, while Kara took off, leaving him and Diana alone. - I don't know what I do now.
(Diana) - Fight for your innocence, Johnny. You know you can prove it until the last moment. Make it clear that you didn't do anything. - She put one of her hands on the boy's shoulder, while slowly, he looked at the Amazon, more worried than he could admit to himself now.
(Johnny) - It'll take a while, but maybe I'll get something.
(Diana) - That's the spirit. - Noticing that Zee could have gone home, Johnny started flying using his powers, heading towards the suite.
Knocking on the girl's door, the magician was surprised to see Johnny at the moment. The two looked at each other, half surprised.
(Johnny) - I can't help talking. I must tell the truth.
(Zee) - About what?
(Johnny) - The story of the secret admirer. - He enters and slowly starts to get close to him. - I have to tell it, but...
(Zee) - Johnny, I already know it's you. I found out a few days ago.
(Johnny) - Why didn't you tell me anything?
(Zee) - I had no reaction at the time. I felt like I needed a break from everything I had discovered. - Both of them were locking eyes with each other, not knowing what to say. - I don't know what to say.
(Johnny) - You've been so helpful to me, Zee. Really, I've kind of started to get an affection for you. There were no words to express how I felt, so I decided to say what I felt in a different way.
(Zee) - You're all right, Johnny. Really, but I'm still trying to understand a little bit...
(Johnny) - Zee, my day is hard enough today. I was wondering if you didn't like me. So, I need you to tell me. I want you to look me in the eye and tell me you don't feel anything for me. If not, I will understand. - Zee didn't know what to say anyway. Speechless, for a boy. It was something a little different for her now. - Zee?
(Zee) - I... - Without a second thought, the magician approached, depositing a kiss on his lips, while slowly letting herself get lost in his emotions. Slowly, he reciprocated in the same gesture. - I don't know why I did that now.
(Johnny) - There is an answer to your question. I love you, Zee Zatara. With all my heart.
(Zee) - I know, but I'm a bit tricky with saying the right words.
(Johnny) - Well, can we go public with that or...
(Zee) - I think I'd like to keep that a secret for now. - She giggles lightly at the boy. - So we can find out a little more about ourselves and what we like best about each other.
(Johnny) - Yeah, it wouldn't make much sense. Well, how about a little secret rendezvous tomorrow? You and me, candlelight, anywhere we choose?
(Zee) - Outside the penthouse, how about?
(Johnny) - Done. - The boy lays a kiss on the girl's cheek and starts to walk away, seeing that not everything went wrong for him in the end, now that he knew how much Zee actually liked him. And for the magician, that was kind of a weird feeling.
Near an alley, Deva came upon a silhouette wearing a black coat that somewhat disguised her appearance. With that, she looked at the person beneath her clothes. Barbara Minerva. The two looked at each other, keeping their confidence in their bodies.
(Deva) - I have to admit you've done a good job now, Barbara.
(Barbi) - What can I say? When you told me about an opportunity to affect the life of Miss Perfect, Diana Prince, I knew it was a big chance.
(Deva) - I was really surprised that you wanted to do the work for free.
(Barbi) - I have enough money. I don't need any more. So what? Did the plan work out?
(Deva) - Quite a bit. Her friends are getting suspicious of each other and it looks like the golden opportunity has finally fallen into my hands. You had to be pretty convincing with that attack you just gave me.
(Barbi) - Lucky for you because there was some cameras around, so it was easy to use deception tactics now. - Barbi kept all his confidence exaggerated at the situation she was in at the moment.
(Deva) - I wondered what Diana would look like going into a difficult time. And now that I've put her friends in internal conflict, it will be easy to get what I want.
(Barbi) - Sometimes the best plans come from unexpected people. - Barbi then walks away, while Deva does the same thing.
Deva put another part of her plan into action. Knowing that all of this would finally be working out the way she wanted it to. The best plan to destroy Diana was internal conflict. And it was precisely what would bring about the downfall of the group of heroes in Metropolis, if it was up to her now.
To be continued...
Author's Note: That was it for today, dear readers. The seeds of discord have been planted with this plan. Now no one is safe and the Super Hero Girls are now distruting each other. But what will happen in the next chapters? It will be a surprise in all means possible.
See you next time. Leave a review, if you can help. Bye!