I do not own Young Justice or any of the characters.


Work Ethic

Cassius groaned as he stirred, looking around himself. He was in a metal cell with no cracks anywhere, and when he punched the door, it was solid, though he could probably still break it. However, they likely knew that, so there would be countermeasures to keep him there. Not that he couldn't get away. He could get away with relative ease. The question was, was he abandoned, or would the Shadows send someone for him? And would they be there to save him, or eliminate him?

He sat against the wall, forming himself a ball of slime and beginning to bounce it off of the floor and wall, then caught it and threw it again. After several hours of this, a small metsl slat in the door finally opened.

"I'm surprised you're still here," Lady Shiva's voice said. "I figured you'd have broken out of here yourself by now."

"I was just waiting for permission," Cassius said.

"Granted," Lady Shiva said. "The Shadows still have a use for you. When you get outside, I'll be waiting."

The metal slat closed and Cassius rested a hand on the door, goo reachiung out of his hand, wrapping around the door, slipping between the door and the frame before squeezing, crushing the door into a ball. Across from him, a gun fired, an anti-aircraft round slamming into the remains of the door, exploding. He shot backward, crashing into the wall of the cell and groaning before kicking a chunk of door and sending it crashing into the gun, smashing it.

He sighed, standing and stepping out of the cell as footsteps echoed from the right. He turned, quickly moving down the hallway to the left and reaching a supply closet. Inside, he climbed into the ceiling and made his way through it to an air ductb then used his goo to keep quiet as he moved through it to the roof, where the air intace was. He broke it open, tripping an alarm, then walked to the edge and dropped, his goo legs cushioning the fall but cratering the ground. Then, he walked to the, motorcycle waiting in front of him, Lady Shiva seated on it.

He climbed on behind her, wrapping his arms around her before they sped off. Within seconds, several armored vehicles were following, but Lady Shiva dropped into a ditch and they sped into an exposed sewage tunnel, then slowed to a stop beside an electrical box. However, when Lady Shiva flipped a switch inside, the floor in front of them opened into a ramp and they sped into it, the floor rising again behind them. Cassius smirked. The Shadows had everything.

"Congratulations," Lady Shiva said. "You've officially broken out of the most secure prison on Earth, Belle Reve."

"Thank you," Cassius smiled. "I have no idea what that is, but thank you. And also thank you for the lift."

"No problem," Lady Shiva smiled. "And to answer your question, Belle Reve is a maximum security prison for meta-human, like yourself. Until you, it's been inescapable."

"You got in and out," Cassius pointed out.

"That I did," she smirked as she slowed the bike to a stop in a round room with several computer screens displaying blacked-out silhouettes. "Sorry we're late. It took him a few minutes longer to get out than I anticipated."

"It's not a problem," one of the silhouettes said with a distorted voice. "It's nice to finally meet you, Cassius. I hear you have a knack for leaving no evidence."

"It's easier to get away if no one's looking for you," Cassius said. "I assume you have something in particular in mind?"

"He's very free with his choice of words," another voice criticized.

"I like it," a third chuckled. "He's got guts."

"I'm sending your mentor the details of a particular assignment," the first voice said. "It requires your specific tallents, and will be more of a challenge than you are used to. See that you do not disappoint me."

"I won't," Cassius said.

The screens winked out and Lady Shiva patted the seat behind her on the bike. Cassius sat down, wrapping his arms around her again and she sped off into a second tunnel.

"How are we getting out of here?" Cassius asked.

"About five miles down this tunnel is an underground helipad that will have a ride waiting for us," Lady Shiva said.

"How does the Justice League not know about this tunnel?" Cassius asked.

"Oh please," she snorted. "Most of the Shadows don't even know about this tunnel."

"Well, I feel honored," Cassius said.

Lady Shiva simply smiled and after a few more minutes, they reached the helipad. Lady Shiva loaded her bike and secured it before they both got on and strapped in, the helicopter taking off. It was a combat model, but with a mount in between the two rows of seats for the bike.

Cassius looked out the side door as they flew and after a few hours, they landed at a midway point before taking the bike back to Cain's hideout. Cain turned to him and grunted.

"Took you long enough," Cain said. "We've got an assignment. The target's death has to have no evidence whatsoever."

"I can manage that," Cassius nodded.

"Good," Cain nodded. "I'll run interference. Let's go."

Cassius nodded and followed him out of the room.


Cassius watched the target in silence. He was a business man; the owner of a shipping company that oonly ever did business with Wayne Enterprises. He was in his late fifties, and was a bit less than pleasant to be around. He was snippy, harsh, and didn't think anyone was worth his time, including his twenty four year old wife, Amelia.

"You'll have to gain access to the room," Cain said through the earpiece Cassius wore. "How you do it is up to you, but make sure he doesn't know you're there."

"Understood."

Amelia, having been outright ignored for the fifth time as she tried to talk to her husband, got another margarita and walked away. Cassius walked over to the bar and ordered the biggest, strongest thing they had. A moment later, he had a fish-bowl-challice with at least twenty vodka shots in it, some food coloring, a splash of soda, and a few lemons. He walked over to Amelia and set the drink in front of her.

"I'm sorry," Cassius said. "I couldn't help but notice your date was ignoring you, so I was wondering if you'd like some proper company. Also, I'm going to need some help finishing this."

Amelia smiled. "I don't know. He might not be too happy."

"Why?" Cassius asked. "We're just talking, right?"

Amelia's smile grew a little and she drained her own drink. Checkmate. Cassius sat down and introduced himself as a college student named James. They talked for a while, emptying the drink and another within an hour and a half. As they did, Cain payed the bar's DJ to turn the music up to the point that Amelia and Cassius had to shout to be heard. Finally, Cassius suggested they find somewhere quieter and they left together. They walked along the road, continuing to talk about Amelia's life, Amelia even admitting she was married and delving into her marital problems. Cassius was more than happy to keep her unhappy, then give her emotional support. Finally, they reached a five-star hotel and Amelia stopped.

"This is me," Amelia said hesitantly. "You've been so amazing. I haven't been able to enjoy myself with someone like this for so long. I'm a little sad to see it end."

"Well, it doesn't have to end yet, does it?" Cassius asked. "I think this hotel has a bar. One more drink before we call it a night? I'm starting to lose my buzz."

Amelia laughed. "Buzz? How are you not drunk?"

"What can I say?" Cassius asked, holding the door open for her. "My alcohol tolerance is so high I'm practically superhuman."

Amelia laughed again, the two of them heading to the bar. Once there, Cassius ordered a pair of Long IsIslands for them and carried them to where Amelia had sat down. She accepted her drink with a smile and they began to chat again, Cassius steering the conversation back to her marital problems, once again giving her emotional support. After another hour, and several more Long Islands, Amelia was finally ready to call it a night. They finished off their current drinks and headed to the elevator, Cassius taking her hand and wrapping an arm around her waist to steady her as they walked. They took the elevatoelevator to the top floor where the most extravegant suites were located, and Cassius walked her to her door. She unlocked the door and Cassius turned toward herb holding her close.

"I had a wonderful time tonight," Amelia smiled. "I haven't been so happy for years."

"I had a lot of fun too Amelia," Cassius smiled. "I'm not sure I want it to end."

"I'm sad to see you go," Amelia smiled.

"Maybe...I don't have to yet," Cassius said.

Amelia's eyes widened a little and some guilt filtered into her eyes along with a tidalwave of indecision. "I...I'm married. We shouldn't..."

Cassius leaned in, pressing his lips gently to hers, pulling back just as she began to respond. As he expected, she followed, letting out a shuddering breath as he returned the kiss. She reached overb struggling forba moment before getting the door open. Then, he picked her up, carrying her inside and kicking the door closed behind himself. In the short trip throught the main room, which included an indoor pool, to the bedroom, both of them lost their clothes.

As soon as Amelia's back hit the bed, she guided him inside of her. Cassius hissed in pleasure, beginning to move, Amelia moaning and whimpering below him. As he continued, both of their breaths quickly grew labored, Cassius making a trail of kisses down her neck to her breasts, making her come even more unhinged. His right hand moved its thumb to her clit and she began to cry out in pleasure. Not that anyone would hear. The suite they were in was basically a penthouse, and was the only one on that floor.

After a few more minutes, Amelia arched off the bed as she climaxed and Cassius grunted, the undulating of her tunnel's walls pushing him over the edge as well. He pulled out at the last second, finishing onto her stomach and breasts. He lay beside Amelia as she panted and gasped for breath, smiling.

"That was amazing," Amelia smiled, then frowned. "We shouldn't have done that. My husband may not be perfect, but he's still my husband."

"Why not leave him?" Cassius asked. "You're not happy, and you shouldn't live in misery out of duty. You should follow your heart, and do what you want to do."

Amelia was silent for a long while. "Maybe. But...what would I do?"

"What do you want to do?" Cassius asked.

"I want to be with you," Amelia said. "You make me so happy. Hapoier than I've been in years. Would...would you wait for me? If I left him?"

"Of course," Cassius said.

Amelia smiled and kissed him, then stood. "I need to get cleaned up, and you need to leave. How will I meet you when it's done?"

Cassius picked up her phone from the bedside table and entered his phone number. "Call me after."

Amelia nodded and kissed him again before heading to the bathroom. As she did, Cassius got dressed, throwing Amelia's clothes into a dirty clothes basket for her, then opened and closed the door. He lifted himself into the rafters with his goo and hid himself in the shadows, then waited. It was nearly three in the morning before the target arrived. He staggered in, failing to close the door properly, though his bodyguard closed it for him, staying outside, then staggered into the bedroom, passing out on the bed. Amelia was asleep beside him, but when he dropped onto the bed, she woke and promptly left the room, heading to the living room and laying on the couch. Cassius waited thirty minutes for Amelia to fall asleep, then dropped and walked into the bedroom and rested his hand over the target's mouth. Then, he sent goo into the man's throat, expanding it and blocking off his arteries.

After about twenty seconds, he retracted the goo and checked for a pulse. Nothing. He turned, walking outside and to a balcony where there was a second pool. Once outside, he closed the door behind himself and jumped off the edge, forming a glider from his goo. He drifted through the city unnoticed for about half a mile before landing in a parking garage where Cain was waiting.

"Well done," Cain said. "The superiors will be impressed. But why did you give her your number."

"If she calls me when she finds out he's dead, she doesn't know it's me," Cassius said. "Then I change my phone and number, and the evidence is gone."

Cain was silent for a moment before nodding. "Smart thinking. And if she does suspect you?"

"I'll kill her too," Cassius shrugged. "I gave her a fake name anyway."

"Good," Cain nodded. "Come on. We need to get back."

Cassius nodded and they got into the black SUV they were using for the assignment, leaving the parking garage and heading home.


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