Disclaimer: I do not own the existing characters that we know and love of Young Justice, although I do take ownership over the new characters i.e. The majority of the Team's children
A/N: I realised that we hadn't had a single chapter from Aqualad/Aquaman's son, so here goes. Don't forget to review so I know you're enjoying the story!
Chapter 12 – Fina'barra
Kyle was about to have his first day of human school. Fortunately, I was used to school, but it was strange to be an Atlantean boy taking lessons in a human school when I was thirteen years old. Nearly three or four years later and I was accustomed to everything. Making friends wasn't exactly my forte. It never helped when I had such a rigorous training schedule from Angel - socialising never seemed like an option. Willow was the same, in a way, only she was much more shy and reserved around people. She was timid around me and the Grayson siblings at first, Mari managed to drag her out of her shell a little bit.
Standing at the foot of the stairs to the school, I started to observe the teens around me. As was Kyle.
"Okay Kyle... remember the things we taught you," Willow said calmly with her head down. "Friendly, on time and absolutely no powers. At all."
"How will I make the friends?" Kyle asked.
I put a hand on his shoulder. "Just be you, a you without the powers..."
Another voice greeted us, Superboy. "Ky-El..." Superboy was not much taller than Kyle and I. "Come along." He nodded politely to us and marched Kyle off. "Nice jacket..."
Ky-El... I thought, believing it mist have been his Kryptonian name.
Willow and I exchanged a nervous glance before going to lessons.
I passed Ryan at the top of the stairs with Lola hanging on his arm. Things had been strange in the Justice Squad lately. There was a lot of dramas and conflicts arising within the group. Most of which I was tying to stay out of, as advised by my dad, Aqualad.
Kyle was not helping in the matter either. Whilst it wasn't his fault, a group known as The Salvation were after the mutants. That meant him, and possibly Superboy. The more I thought about it, the more I thought it could have meant all of us. We were all mutants because of our abilities.
My Atlantean gifts. Willow's lightning reflexes. Mari's starbolts. Max's fire. Lola's speed.
The only one who seemed safe right now was Ryan.
-o-
After school, I arranged to meet Kyle at the stairs outside the school. He seemed different. Happy.
"Finn!" he exclaimed.
"Kyle, how was your first day ever?"
"In-the-sane. The teachers have arranged to move me onto the honour roll because I am surpassing the students in my class. And I think I have a date... what is a date? I know the days are dates, but I think this is different."
I widened my eyes. "Are you trying to tell me that a girl asked you out?"
"That might be what she asked. I'm still not sure about the socials of this world." Kyle took off his jacket and held it out to me. "She said it feels like boyfriend material. What is boyfriend material- is it synthetic or a cotton blend?"
I laughed to myself. "No Kyle, it's like a flirting technique. When you like someone more than a friend, you flirt. To show that you like them."
"So. If I like a girl, I should say my jacket feels like the boyfriend material?" Kyle asked with curiosity brimming in his voice.
"Kind of. I'm not exactly a dating expert so I wouldn't come to me for advice. My track record isn't great."
We started to walk down the steps when a group of girls clustered around Kyle. He seemed confident and smiled in a way that melted them instantly. His amber eyes twinkled.
"Ladies, ladies. I must leave now. If I am lucky, I will see all of you tomorrow." Kyle broke off from the group and joined me at the bottom of the stairs.
Ryan bumped into me, Lola too. "Look at you Mr Mental... the chicks are apparently digging this look and you. Remember. This ones mine." He drew Lola closer and she giggled.
It sounded false to me.
Kyle held his jacket out to Lola. "Feel that..."
She looked at me quizzically, before obligingly feeling the leather of the jacket. "Yes, it's a leather jacket."
"It's boyfriend material."
I didn't have a chance to laugh because Ryan was about to lunge for Kyle. My hands grabbed Ryan's shoulder. "Not now- it's just a joke. Something he heard someone say to him. It's not meant in that way."
Kyle tilted his head. "But Finn-"
"Not now, Kyle," I snapped.
Lola screwed up her face and shouted, "Enough!"
People turned to look at us. Their faces confused by the sudden commotion. I pulled Kyle away to remove him from the scenario. Willow caught up with us on the way home.
"What happened back there?" she asked. "I heard there was a fight."
"Hardly a fight." I elbowed Kyle in the side. "Prepare yourself for this, but our baby boy Kyle has his first date soon. Apparently, she told him his jacket felt like boyfriend material and I told him that was flirting and sometimes you say that to someone you like."
"How does Ryan fit into this?"
"Kyle proceeded to say- to Lola. As in Lola, Ryan's girlfriend. His jacket feels like boyfriend material!" I burst out laughing, but Willow punched me playfully in the stomach.
"Kyle. You can't do things like that!" Willow gasped. "Ryan and Lola are in a relationship. They are together. That means that she is off limits to anyone else, until she breaks up with him."
"Or he breaks up with her," I wheezed.
Willow rolled her eyes. "Come on Finn- this is Ryan we're talking about..."
"Yeah, a self-obsessed, misogynistic and disloyal man. And the man who is kind of the Justice Squad's leader need I remind you?"
-o-
In the common room area of the base, I was working on my laptop for a piece of History homework, but essay writing was never a strong point of mine. My mind just wondered whenever I was meant to write or plan page after page. It probably didn't help that Willow was scribbling beside me for an English assignment she was working on. Kyle was standing- levitating - across the room from us which was also pretty distracting too, but he was exploring how to control his abilities within a restricted environment. So far, he had telekinetic abilities and enhanced strength, but my dad and Nightwing suspected there were more abilities waiting to be discovered.
"Hey everyone! We brought cake!" Mari burst into the room, bringing an air of cheerfulness and enthusiasm. "I thought that we should celebrate Kyle's first day of school with a party." She twirled in a black and purple skater dress. "So go on, out your homework away, get your glad rags on and let's have us a party!" Mari clapped her hands enthusiastically.
Kyle moved towards Mari. "Your eyes, are like pools of green..."
"Duh, I'm a Tamaranean human hybrid silly." Mari seemed cheerfully optimistic, despite being sensitive to her appearance sometimes. "I wear these special sclera contact lenses that hide them."
Ignoring my homework, I slammed my laptop shut. "You know, I could do with a party..." Stretching and twisting my aching body, I headed down the corridor to the dormitory rooms.
When in my room, I sighed and leant back against the door. Putting on this cheerful front as if everything was fine was beginning to take its toll. I think part of me was starting to miss Atlantis. My home. Here, I had to hide who I was so much that I was beginning to forget my true identity. Elements of it came out around the Justice Squad.
I picked out a light blue collared shirt with some dark wash jeans to wear, noticing my Atlantean necklace in the reflection of the mirror on the door. My mind raced with concern about my Atlantean markings on my arms and I wondered where to change to a long sleeve shirt.
"Finn, come on, we're waiting for you!" Mari called out, knocking on the door. "Hurry up!"
I slowly opened the door and I immediately caught Mari registering my exposed arms. Her eyes lingered on my tattoo markings.
"I was going to change..." I mumbled, cupping a hand over my upper arm.
"No. It's fine. Besides, if I can have my eyes out, you can show off the turtles- are they turtles?"
"I believe so."
The break room was decorated quickly and some of the adult supers were standing in the corner. Nightwing, Superboy and Green Canary were watching us all. I wished they were in casual clothes, maybe just Nightwing who was the only one wearing a mask.
"Congratulations, Kyle!" Lola sped into the room, carrying her shoes and a present. "Sorry- shoes aren't designed for speedsters!" She quickly slipped the wedged shoes on and gasped. "Ohhh- let's take a picture! Green Canary, please?"
Lola held her phone out and ushered everyone closer. Mari picked up the cake and stood on Kyle's other side. Smiling, laughing. Happiness. I loved it. Even Max had made an appearance, having been given his own designation. Like Kyle, he was a part of the F class designations. For friends as we liked to put it. The cake was handed out and I found myself on the outside watching the others interacting. Mari and Willow were giggling over Kyle, who was trying to chat with Max. Max was more engrossed with his tablet to acknowledge Kyle. Lola was busy having a somewhat heated discussion on the phone that I tried to draw my attention away from.
"You seem like you have a lot on your mind..."
"Nightwing," I said, standing up straight.
"No need for formalities Fina'barra. I've noticed that you seemed a little distracted in your training review. Is everything okay?"
I struggled for an answer. "I- erm, well. Sort of?"
"Come- let's talk about it."
Following Nightwing out of the break room, the others noticed us leaving, I tried to ignore it.
"I may have dragged you away under false pretences." Nightwing walked into the briefing room and activated the electronic screen on one wall. "We have been monitoring progress of you, Diana and Jester with a view to deciding whom of you would be suitable for an external mission." He turned to face me. "Are you willing to take on a mission?"
"More than anything, but I'd like to request some leave."
"Some leave? Whatever for, Finn?" Nightwing folded his arms. "I'm afraid I'll need a more in depth explanation."
"Right. Well I haven't spoken to my father about it. Yet. It's just that- I want to be more in touch with my Atlantean side. Lately I feel like I have been losing it and want to reconnect with my home."
Nightwing nodded slowly. "Aqualad has been dealing with some politics in Atlantis. Since the events of the Parasite, the Aquaman mantle has been abandoned. Your father has been planning a trip to Atlantis so perhaps you should have that chat soon."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aqualad striding past the briefing room.
"Dad!" I called out. "Sorry- I mean, Aqualad.
"Fina'barra. I was just leaving."
"If it's for Atlantis, then I want to come too."
"Where's this all come from?"
"I guess I want to know more about where I came from."
-o-
I left as Fina'barra and I returned as Aqualad. My dad was now the new Aquaman... I couldn't believe it myself, but the Parasite was the whole reason for this. The Parasite affected the old Aquaman so badly that he was forced to retire. Having to explain my hero name change to everyone wasn't easy, but they were all super pleased for me. Being back in Atlantis was heart-warming and Dad saw that I was at one in Atlantis and decided to authorise me with the opportunity to travel freely between home and Atlantis.
Then there was the mission. Everything seemed to fall perfectly into place in the run up to briefing. Green Canary spent more time on our one on one sessions - Jester was none too pleased with this, but with a stern word from Nightwing, he was put in his place. Whilst Jester might have thought of himself as a leader, he certainly didn't behave like it sometimes.
Nightwing and I were in the briefing room with a new villain's face on the screen. The new villain was named Konstantin. Military buff. Shaved head. Piercing blue eyes. Intimidating stare.
"This guy is currently recruiting for a major operation - one which we are hoping to crack open with some insider help. That is where you will come in."
Although I knew he meant I would be joining Konstantin as a potential recruit, out meeting was cut short by the alarms echoing throughout the base.
"Come on Aqualad!" Nightwing ordered, running out the briefing room.
"B19, Beast Boy. B39, Stem Cell."
"Someone!" I heard Beast Boy scream hoarsely.
By the transporter, Beast Boy was battered and bruised, carrying an unconscious hero I had never met - who I assumed to be Stem Cell as the designation indicated. She was wearing a white suit with green gloves, boots and mask. But the other white material was tarnished with a deep red.
"Beast Boy- what happened?" Nightwing took Stem Cell from Beast Boy. "Aqualad!"
I leapt forward and caught the green skinned man before he hit the floor. "I got you, Beast Boy..."
He rolled his head up to me. "You're not Aqualad... Nightwing, Metallica is joining forces with Icicle Junior-"
"What about Tigress- Artemis?"
Nightwing carried Stem Cell to the infirmary as I helped Beast Boy along the way. I passed the window that looked onto the break room and saw Willow look up from her work. Kyle was busy using his powers to triumph over a steady hand game Max had made.
In the infirmary, Nightwing laid the woman's body down on the white table.
Beast Boy fell into the white table. "Tigress and Icicle Jr ambushed us... Stem Cell bore the brunt of it, because of what she can do- but Metallica has been making new weapons. Metal bullets that explode on impact. Something's embedded in one of her vital organs, I'm sure of it. Otherwise she would be fine." He clasped a hand over Stem Cell's. "I've contacted Miss Martian to see if she could telekinetically remove them here, but she's too far from here."
I glanced at Nightwing before darting off to the break room. "Kyle, we need you now."
Kyle smiled, chasing after me down the base corridors to the infirmary. We burst into the doors, nearly scaring the two male heroes.
"If Miss Martian can't get here, perhaps Kyle can help?"
Beast Boy glared at Nightwing. "No way- when did Project Geno wake up? No, he's going nowhere near her."
"Do you want to save her or not?"
"Listen Aqualad, he's barely made it through beginner's training- not even basic training! He's not doing this."
Kyle jumped off the floor and hovered over Stem Cell's body so that he was almost horizontal. As Kyle started to hold up his hands, Beast Boy argued with us to get him to stop before the beast tore him apart.
The telekinetic's head moved slightly. "He's afraid. Afraid of losing her."
I watched closely as Nightwing set up the scanner to scan Stem Cell's body to show her internals and where the fragments were embedded. The metal fragments looked like they had reformed to become a spider and pierced the heart with a pointed leg.
Kyle stammered, "If I can remove the metal spider, she'll survive?"
The leader of the adult team nodded. "That's the assumption, buddy. Stem Cell here can reproduce her cells and emanate a healing effect. But you don't have to do this if you don't want to."
"I want to give her the help..." Kyle closed his eyes and opened his palms out, splaying his fingers wide.
A small gust of wind hit my shoulder and I turned to see Lola watching the operation.
"You shouldn't be here..." I whispered calmly.
She flicked her hair back. "No chance. Stem Cell used to babysit me with Beast Boy. If anyone should go, it's you Aqualad... nice ring to that name by the way."
The sounds of Kyle removing the spider spike was head twisting. Whilst I wanted to see what was going on, I didn't like seeing Stem Cell's insides projected in front of me. I felt like my eyes were deceiving me when I saw the hole begin to heal over, gradually. Kyle's face contorted as if he was struggling to hold the spider in place. One by one, the legs started to detach and try to follow their way to the entry point.
Bloody metal fragments dragged their way out of the wound. The colour was beginning to drain from Kyle's face as he lowered himself over to the floor. He dropped to the ground and panted heavily, sweat dripping from his forehead.
"Beast Boy?" a soft voice whispered. "Is he okay?"
The green skinned super's eyes lit up. "God Stemy, you had me going for a minute there."
Stem Cell reached over and placed a hand on his cheek. "You can't get rid of me that easily..."
The doors flung open and Miss Martian stood there with Jester looming behind her.
"Beast Boy, I'm so sorry I couldn't get here in time... Stem Cell?" Miss Martian gawped at the hero slowly sitting upright. "Who- How?" A smile crept across her face.
I turned to face the super. "Kyle did it, Miss Martian... It might have taken its toll though."
Lola helped pull Kyle onto his feet. "You did good, Kyle."
"It was my idea, I hope I didn't step on anyone's toes." I nodded to the superheroes and took my exit with Lola and an exhausted Kyle out of the infirmary past Jester.
Jester dipped his face slightly, clenching his muscles in anger. A glint of metal caught my eye and I turned just in time to see the metal cards spinning like mini boomerangs towards us.
I raised my hands and channeled the water through them to create a shield in the corridor,lowering it once the cards bounced off it. "What are you playing at, Jester?"
"He's a mental fre-" Jester halted mid sentence when he knew the supers were within earshot.
Kyle pushed away from Lola. "You're right, Jester. I am a mental freak of a mutant. I'm Mentalist."
Man... I guess he's chosen his hero name.
"And I'm going on a date which I need to get right for."
-o-
I helped Kyle get ready for his date with Chelsea Sanders. Walked him down to the garage in silence. Stem Cell hugged him on the way, thanking him for what he had done.
Opening the garage side door, we were greeted by the evening sun and chirping birds.
"Jester wants me to back off from Stealth... why?"
I scratched the back of my head. "Well. Kyle, he just probably wants you to focus on Chelsea. She's waiting for you Kyle, so go out there and enjoy the night."
"And pay her the compliments?"
"That'll do it." I smiled.
Across the road, I could see Chelsea walking towards us with her head on her phone screen and then looking around as if she was following directions. She was wearing a floral dress and a denim jacket. On her head perched a black felt hat.
"I'm just off home now, Finn!" Lola said cheerfully. "Oh..."
Lola's face dropped and I glanced to where she was looking at to see Kyle took hold of Chelsea and spin her around, dipping her for a kiss. Chelsea's squeaky laughter echoed around.
"Lo-la, I wanted to say-"
But she was gone by speeding off into distance faster than the eye could see.
I disappeared inside before anyone could spot me, bumping into Willow. "Kyle's just off on his date now."
"They grow up so fast, don't they?" she replied jokingly. "I'm going to need you to cover for me..."
"Why?" I asked, uncertain about her request.
"My mum wants to meet and talk."
"Willow, are you sure that is a good idea? You've heard what my dad and Nightwing have said about her."
"And I know that the hero they talk about is still in there. If I can just have the chance to get through to her."
"I can't promise you anything, Willow..."
She grabbed my hand and begged me for my help, but I remained tough. However hard it was, it was the right decision. The decision a future Justice League member would make.
Thoughts from AspiringWriterGirl = So we're going to (re)meet Artemis/Tigress for the first time in this sort of AU story… And what is Finn going to do?
