A/N: Just a re-imagining of the original cartoon I decided to write. This was originally on ao3, but I took it down for some edits. Releasing both the Prologue and Chapter 1 today. Hope you enjoy.

Also, the title is supposed to have 1.1 in it, but FFnet doesn't allow decimal points in the title. Just in case it appears as "Season 11" for anyone and they're confused.


PROLOGUE

"The Lease"


-[[[]]]-

"So, let me get this straight. You want to me rent out this entire apartment complex to five teens? None of whom have a credit score or paystub between them?"

Lucy, the landlord of Smallville Apartments, was young but still older than the teenagers assembled before her by a sight. By Richard's estimation, however, her cold blue eyes didn't portray the slightest bit of sympathy for the veritable children gathered around her.

She tossed her black hair to the side and folded her arms, giving each of the teens a once over. One boy who was green, another who had cybernetic-implants; a girl with a strange red jewel implanted in her forehead, another with eyes of emerald-green and who was currently floating in the air.

They were quite the odd bunch, to be sure.

By Richard's estimation, this was the only place in town which had enough rooms available for everyone – and, by enough, Richard meant all, because he couldn't have innocent civilians caught in the crossfire if the place happened to come under attack. Lucy wasn't proving to be the most amenable host, so explaining the risk of collateral damage and day-to-day irregularities of having five superheroes living there would be a treat.

"Money's right, isn't it?" Richard asked, and tried to crack a smile. Lucy was not moved in the slightest. "Listen, we're going all going to need our own rooms, plus a common area and some other spaces for…job-related things. And our credit's good."

"I don't see any forms."

"It's Jump City Credit. You know, protecting the city and stuff."

"And how have you been protecting the city?"

Richard shrugged. "We stopped a bank robbery a week ago. And cleaned up that space ship that crashed downtown."

"Which bank?"

"Star City One."

"I bank with Main Street Trust."

"Listen," Richard said. "we're all new in town, and we have vested interest in keeping the city safe. And, like I've said, we've got cash up front. Isn't that worth anything?"

Lucy placed her hands on her hips. "And I have a vested interest in keeping my apartments from turning into a weird teenage hostel. My dad's real strict about those sorts of things."

Garfield smiled wide. "Wouldn't your pops be jazzed about hosting Jump City's new premier superhero team?"

"You haven't met my dad."

"Please." Kori floated up to the woman, all sunshine and light. "We are all…we have not a place to stay at the moment. I assure you, we will not have the wild parties, or crash the place. We will be model citizens and we will pay on time each month."

"Besides," Victor said. "it's not like we have booming social lives or anything. All we do is fight crime, train, and hang out."

As Lucy's eyes scanned the group, her eyes lingered over Rachel, who was looking off the side and seemingly uninterested in the conversation. Richard could hardly blame her, as negotiating for a potential new home was hardly her wheelhouse. Rachel was the second newest member of the flimsy alliance they called a team, and the quietest and most withdrawn by far. She had a good heart, though; helping people without expecting recompense or even appreciation racked up a lot of points in Richard's naturally suspicious mind.

"What's your deal, Wednesday Addams?" Lucy asked. "Got anything to weigh in here?"

Rachel shrugged. "I like your nails."

The woman glanced at her nails; a purple-to-black gradient of polish was applied to them. "Thanks. Figured I'd try something different at the nail salon."

"So," Richard said. "do we have a deal?"

With a final sigh, Lucy folded. "Alright, here's the deal, kids. I want first, second, and last month's rent, plus security deposit. For all the apartments and communal areas in the complex."

"Done."

Lucy held up her hand. "Not finished yet. No smoking, drinking, parties, weird magic rituals, fights – especially of the super-powered kind, and definitely no pets."

"What about people who can turn into pets?" Garfield asked, raising his finger as a point of order. "It's kind of a habit, you know."

The woman raised an eyebrow at him, thoroughly unamused.

"Gotcha." And Garfield promptly turned into a mouse, hiding behind Victor's leg.

"Anyway," Lucy continued. "absolutely no collateral or structural damage. None. If there's so much as a window cracked or puncture in the wall, you're out. And, keep in mind that in this place, I'm the whole Justice League and half the Justice Society too. One way or the other, I will have your little butts on the curb if my place gets so much as dinged, clear?"

"Sounds fair."

"Well, consider yourselves the owners of a new apartment…complex."

"Wonderful!" Kori rushed forward and hugged Lucy; by the awkward look on Lucy's face, she was extremely uncomfortable with the sudden invasion of personal space. "This is cause for celebration, is it not? You must join us for the house-warming part – er, I mean get-together."

"Kori," Victor said, walking up and separating the two. "Earthlings aren't as…structurally sound as Tamaranians, remember? You gotta cool it with that."

The young Tamaranian placed her hands over her mouth, embarrassed. "Oh, my apologies. You are unharmed?"

Lucy stretched her neck and inspected herself. "I think I'll live. Oh, and the listed rent's going up."

The group threw an exasperated glance to Kori, who giggled in a nervous fashion.

"It was going up anyway," Lucy said. "the situation with the lease is going to be tricky, and more work for me."

"Need any help?" Richard asked. "Because I can – "

"I'll figure it out, you're not the first under-the-table tenants I've had. The weirdest, definitely, but not the first." Lucy shrugged, then threw a salute towards the property, as if this were the last time she would see it unmolested. "Well, move in whenever. Not like there's people living there now. And if you guys could come up with a rough salary figure between the five of you, it would help a lot. Do you get paid for the superhero thing or…?"

There was a collective shared glance between the group; Victor rubbed the back of his head, as if he were still figuring it out in his own mind. "We're still working the super-heroing thing out, but we've all got side-jobs. Under the table, like you said."

"Consulting detective," Richard said.

Garfield struck a heroic pose. "I help out at the Jump City Zoo. Pretty cool, if I say so myself."

"Mechanic." Victor shrugged. "Pays the bills."

Kori floated into the air, spinning as she did. "I have a most interesting profession, translating the different and fascinating languages of Earth at the local international airport. Though, I wish there were more visitors from other planets."

"Curio shop," Rachel said. "Owner has an interest in magic."

"Well, you're all gainfully employed at least." Lucy pulled out her phone and typed something into it. Presumably the information they had just told her, but Rich couldn't tell. "Does your little outfit have a name?"

Richard smirked. "I don't think leases usually have a field for group names."

"It's more for my own personal amusement, really."

The kids all turned towards one another. Loathe as they were to admit it, they had kicked around a few names - before they even had a place to rest their heads, even. And there was only one they managed to somewhat agree on.

"Yeah," Richard said. "I think we've got one."

-[[[]]]-