Chapter 60: Signs

Hub City was known as the crime capital of the west coast. Surpassing even Starling City in its depravity, Hub City was swamped with the lowest of the low. Murder, theft, and rape ran rampant on almost every corner; the people that lived there only stayed either because they lacked the funds to get out or they were one of the few beneficiaries of the chaos.

So, when a major hospital, one for children no less, was taken hostage by one of the more violent gangs, coverage was minimal. The local news kept abreast of the situation, but other than that it was hardly any noise to the local residents. Unfortunately, it was just another day to them.

Or, that would've been the case two months ago.

For two months, someone had made their home in Hub City - a vigilante. Normally, vigilantes were no cause of concern to the resident crime lords of the Hub. Every once in a while a vengeful citizen would rise up and try to "cleanse" the city, only to be killed a few months in. It had been routine long before even Green Arrow had come into the picture as The Hood.

Unfortunately for the less morally-inclined, this particular vigilante was not so easy to get rid of. For one thing, he had no issue operating in the daylight. For another thing, he wasn't vengeful so much as dutiful and not easy to goad into his (potential) death.

Oh, and he was also an alien from another planet with freaky powers like Supergirl.

That last part was the main reason why they were failing to get rid of him.

Hell, that last part was why they were never getting rid of him.

Hub City's new vigilante promptly tore through the town's criminal element like a hot knife to butter. Scores of gangs were beaten down and promptly thrown at the police to be arrested. Usually, this would be a mood point because Hub City's police department was compromised, proportionally to the city's own. That is, to say, they were corrupt down to the last beat officer.

However, around that time, the county and even state governments had suddenly come down hard on Hub City, and began gutting both law enforcement and city administration on every level, replacing them with new officials. New officials that weren't going to bend the law for anything short of the apocalypse. It was strangely fortuitous for the city's new self-appointed protector.

The smarter ones saw the coincidences and realized they weren't coincidences. Every single one of those developments had been coordinated. With that realization came the need for self-preservation, leading to a great migration of major crime families who had no desire to go the way of the Bertinellis and the Triad. With this migration came all their grudges, both true and petty, and led to a domino effect that resulted in the streets being much safer to walk for the common citizen.

Thus, for the first time in forever, the people of Hub City saw hope. No longer would they have to hide guns and knives in their homes for fear of being robbed, or being collateral damage in some gang war. No longer would they have to hoard their money to pay off "protection fees" for their businesses and schools. No longer would they have to be afraid. And for that, they owed to their vigilante, nay, hero: the Martian Manhunter.

And so, when Martian Manhunter phased into the hospital and laid waste to their children's captors, they cheered. When he led the children out of their prison, they roared. When he presented each and every single one of those criminals to the police to be tried and charged, they screamed.

And when Supergirl descended from the sky to hand him a League ring, all of Hub City rejoiced.

"Breaking News! Just right now, it seems Supergirl has offered the Martian Manhunter of Hub City membership in the Justice League. This is coming off the heels of the induction of Black Lightning of Freeland to the League two months prior, after he, with the help of Green Arrow, the Flash, and Supergirl, exposed and detained a rogue government organization operating in Black Lightning's hometown."

"And another one enters the books." Laurel commented, taking a sip of her shake.

"The Justice League must be really intent on showing how serious they are about their mission." Oliver said, munching on a hot dog.

They were eating lunch together at a local shop in the Glades, one not far from CNRI. Oliver had decided to drop in and take Laurel out spontaneously after a morning of nothing but watching construction over his and Kara's mall. While it was a "friendly" outing, there was an unspoken feeling of more to it, one that had been lingering for longer than they cared to admit, and one that they both understood they weren't quite ready to discuss yet.

"Black Lightning, Martian Manhunter… do you think they'll add anymore anytime soon?" Laurel asked, curious.

Oliver shrugged. "One or two more, maybe. Seven is a lucky number, and the more members they add the more time they need to take to coordinate themselves as a team. They want this to be an international thing, Laurel, that much they made clear when they first debuted. But for something that big, well - Rome wasn't built in a day."

"True." Laurel conceded. "I wonder who they'll pick? There's this rumor of this guy in Coast City, and then there's that Firestorm guy that occasionally shows up in Central."

"Whoever they choose, it's probably going to be someone who really stands out." Oliver suggested. "The Justice League thrives on their visibility. It's the reminder of their presence that helps the crime rate down in their cities."

Laurel nodded in agreement. The two continued to watch the broadcast, taking bites of their food as it concluded with the video of Supergirl handing a League ring to Martian Manhunter. The cheers of Hub City's adoring public faded out as the news program started its next topic.

Finished with their meal, Oliver and Laurel discarded their trash and left the shop. They still had about another hour before Laurel had to return to CNRI to finish her shift, and had decided to walk together and observe the state of the Glades. The would-be Undertaking had been months ago, and while the effects of that event had yet to completely dissipate, things were much better than they used to be. Buildings had been patched up and renovated, people were walking about freely, and there was just a general air of contentment. While the Glades were still the poorest and most crime-ridden neighborhood of the city, it was significantly better than it used to be, thanks to many volunteers, donations of the city's richest citizens, and the local vigilantes.

"It's better now." Oliver said, smiling at a group of children who were playing hopscotch on the other sidewalk.

"Yeah. And it'll become even better the more people work on it." Laurel concurred, a similar expression on her face. She gave an appreciative look to her friend. "Your mall will no doubt help as well."

"It's Kara's mall too, you know." Oliver joked.

"Yeah, and she'll get her due, but that doesn't mean you deserve the credit any less."

Oliver's eyes softened. "Thanks, Laurel."

"I'm simply saying the truth." Laurel said, playfully. Her expression suddenly sobered up. "Have you talked to Tommy, lately?"

Oliver's face fell, and he groaned. "No. Did you have better luck?"

Laurel shook her head.

Ever since that night at The Palm, Tommy had effectively cut himself off from his two best friends. He refused to accept any calls from them and banned them (banned!) from Merlyn Global. They had to hear via secondhand gossip from Laurel's friend Joanna and the bane of Kara's life, Carter Bowen, that he was officially dating Isabel Rochev. Neither of them had any idea how to feel about that information, wanting to feel happy for him but at the same time resentful of how he wasn't talking to either of them.

"Mom and Dad have tried too - he won't talk to them either. Hell, he won't even talk to Thea. The moment he realized it was her he immediately ended the call."

"What?" Laurel demanded, angry. She regarded Thea as a surrogate sister, and was incensed that Tommy would treat her so callously.

"Yeah, I know. Thea was devastated, and God, I wanted to punch Tommy so much for that."

Laurel crossed her arms. "I don't blame you - I want to punch him right now just after hearing about it."

Oliver sighed. "How about Sara? Did she try? She and Tommy have always had this rapport between them."

"Yes. No luck. Even Mom and Dad tried, but he wouldn't answer their calls either." Laurel drained the anger from her face, and now there was worry and concern. While she might not feel for Tommy the same way he had felt for her, he was still one of her closest friends and practically family. The fact that he was acting like this, so unlike himself and out of character, wasn't a good thing. "Something's wrong, Ollie. I can understand not talking to us. But cutting everyone else off too? That's not right."

"It isn't." Oliver agreed. "But until Tommy starts talking to us again, there's nothing we can do about it. I just hope…" he trailed off.

"Hope what?" Laurel asked.

"Hope that it doesn't take something drastic."

Barry dropped the last notebook into the bag and zipped it shut. "All packed."

Joe, leaning against the sill of his door, chuckled. "I never thought I'd have to go through the First Day of School ritual with one of my kids ever again." His grin widened. "But I'm glad I get to do it with you."

Barry smiled genuinely at his foster father, touched. "Thanks, Joe."

The detective gave him a short nod, then frowned. "Iris isn't here to see you off."

Barry gave a half-shrug. "Yeah, well, things are still… difficultbetween us."

That was putting it mildly. Ever since that night at S.T.A.R. Labs the two of them had a wide berth between them. Whenever Barry went to visit the station, it was either business or to eat with Joe. He avoided Iris like the plague, and Iris was doing the same with him.

This hadn't gone unnoticed. Eddie had a hard time hiding his slight glee at this development, knowing that it would earn his partner's disapproval. Ralph was deliberately staying out of the crossfire, greeting Barry and then leaving the vicinity whenever Iris was nearby. Only Joe was really involved, unsurprisingly; the situation uncomfortably reminded him of his own estrangement with Iris. He had tried to breach the subject with both of his children, only to divert the conversation almost immediately. Eventually, he gave up - both were too stubborn to talk.

"I'm worried, Barry." Joe said finally, a concerned look on his face. "Are you sure-"

Barry held up a hand to stop his foster father. "This isn't something you can fix, Joe. Iris and I - we have to work through it ourselves. And we will. Eventually." Hopefully.

Joe didn't look entirely convinced, but decided to let it go.

It was Barry's first day of college, after all.

"Your first day of school!" Kara exclaimed, pinching Kal's cheeks. He suffered the affectionate abuse of his face with a resigned look on his face.

"Kara…" he whined.

"I know, I know, this isn't actually your very first day of school, but it is the first time you'll be starting a new school year from the beginning! Isn't that wonderful, Kal?"

Kal didn't bother answering, simply sighing in response. There was no curbing his sister's enthusiasm.

Beside him, Ruby was suffering her own adjustments under the well-practiced hands of her mother. Sam gave her daughter a critical look over, before nodding in satisfaction.

"You've got everything your backpack?"

"Yes, Mom." Ruby said boredly. It was like this at the start of every school year.

"Your wallet?"

"Yes, Mom."

"Pencil bag?"

"Yes, Mom."

"Pa-"

"Mom." Ruby cut Sam off before she could continue. She did not want Kal to hear that. "We triple-checked the bag last night, and again this morning, right before we left. I have everything."

Sam sighed apologetically, then brought in her daughter for a hug. "I'm sorry, sweetie. You know how I am. It'll take a while to get back into the groove of all this again."

"Then for both our sakes, could you get into it faster?" Ruby asked hopefully as she returned the embrace.

Sam chuckled. "Sure thing."

"He's growing up so fast!" Kara almost cried as she watched Kal and Ruby disappear behind Balliol's doors, merging in with the crowd of students. "It feels like just yesterday, I was feeding him boiled rainwater with a leaf, and now he's starting his last year of middle school!"

Sam blinked momentarily at the 'rainwater' bit, but then went ahead and brought the sobbing Kara into her arms, patting her comfortingly on the back. "It's alright Kara, it's alright. Come on, let's go grab some food at that new restaurant in the square. It'll make you feel better."

Kara sniffled, then looked up at Sam with wide, bright eyes. "And then a shopping spree afterwards?"

Sam smiled. "And then a shopping spree afterwards." she promised.

The two women departed for Sam's car. So caught up in the emotional significance of the day, both of them failed to notice a strange young man standing far-off to the side, well away from the throng of proud and depressed parents. He was young enough to be a student of the school, but clearly wasn't, judging by the clothing he was sporting.

But that didn't stop him from staring directly at Balliol's entrance.

Barry heard the whispers start as soon as he entered the room, and subsequently ignored them. He knew that being substantially and blatantly older than most of the students here made him the source and subject of gossip. Unfortunately for these adolescents, he had no interest in being baited. He was here to, well, not learn so much as earn certification for what he already knew. He resigned himself to tedious homework and papers for the next few months.

It's going to be a long four years…

The classroom fell silent when a tall, broad-shouldered man entered the room and started writing on the whiteboard. Doubtlessly, he was the professor. Barry could hear gasps from many of the girls around the room, and resisted the urge to groan. While he couldn't exactly blame them, the man was certainly very easy on the eyes, that did not mean he want to spend the semester having to deal with barely legal girls making googly eyes and loving sighs at their teacher.

Barry almost breathed his own sigh of relief when the man turned around, catching everyone's attention. Now he could focus on class and nothing else.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Hunter Zolomon. I will be your professor for this semester."

Is it who you think it is? I don't know, who do you think it is?

The next chapter will take place a week after this one. The last chapter of this arc will be chapter 63, after which I will go on a hiatus of whatever length to plan out Arc IV.

Get ready, everyone! We've only just begun.

Reviews, comments, and constructive criticism are all welcome. Flames will be deleted and ignored. Please update the TV Tropes page. And don't forget the contest!