GOTHAM CITY

SEPTEMBER 29TH 2010 15:47 EST

Barbara leaned back against her headboard, staring down at the English homework in front of her. Dick sat across from her, legs folded as he scribbled something in his notebook. Betty watched from where she had deposited herself on the floor, math book opened in front of her, every once in a while, peeking up like Dick and Barbara were going to be laughing at her quietly and she was trying to catch them.

Dick and Barbara had offered to let her crash their homework session, and Betty had agreed, although a little reluctantly. Betty had only known them for at most a week, and still felt a bit of the sting of awkwardness that came from learning about new friends. She didn't want to intrude on something they only invited her to out of politeness.

Barbara sighed and pushed her copy of Lord of the Flies away from her.

"Who the heck assigns three whole chapters in one night?" Barbara said, crossing her arms. "It's ridiculous!"

"What's more ridiculous is complaining about it rather than just doing it," Dick said. Barbara stuck her tongue out at him playfully and Dick laughed quietly under his breath.

Betty raised a brow from where she was working on her math homework. Three chapters in one night to read did seem a little unreasonable. Betty was lucky she didn't decide to take Honors English like Dick and Barbara, lest she have to read three chapters in addition to patrol and missions. The only class she had in common with the duo before her was her first period with Dick, which was because it was Honors Algebra which was because it was something, she was actually good at and could completely in time.

"Don't get me wrong, I love to read," Barbara said. "But three chapters? Plus all our other homework? Nuh-uh. Not gonna happen."

Dick rolled his eyes and pushed the book back in her direction.

"Me and you both know you're just going to read it anyway," Dick said. "So just go ahead and do it."

Betty crossed her legs and transferred her paper onto the opposite side from homework in the textbook.

"I say fight the man Barbara," Betty said. "Don't do it." Barbara blinked in surprise, looking down at her, before breaking out into a smile, giving Dick a superior look.

"See, Betty is on my side," Barbara said. Dick sighed and rubbed a finger to his temple.

"Doesn't make it the right decision," Dick said. Betty scoffed.

"Rude," Betty said. Barbara laughed and shut the journal she was supposed to be writing notes about the book in.

"I'm switching to anatomy anyway," Barbara said. "Making flash cards is a much more appropriate homework assignment."

Betty had to agree with her. She had to make vocab cards for her English class the night before, and though tedious, had been a much easier assignment than reading through three chapters of a book.

"You're just going to have to read it later," Dick said. Barbara put her novel back in her backpack and pulled out her anatomy textbook.

"Shhh. I'm trying not to think about it," Barbara said. There was a knock at Barbara's door, and her dad – Commissioner James Gordon – peeked his mustached head into the room.

"Hey Babs," he said. "Just wanted to pop in and check in on you."

Betty had technically known Commissioner Gordon for upwards of three years, as being a masked vigilante of Gotham came to know the police pretty well. It felt strange to see him in such a domestic setting, free of his trench coat and stern look. It almost felt like intruding to see this intimate part of his life without giving him access to hers, even if she had done it unintentionally.

Barbara smiled at her dad.

"We're good dad," Barbara said. "Just doing homework."

"More like complaining about it," Dick jutted in. Barbara tossed a pencil at her old friend, and Dick dodged out of the way, the pencil landing in Barbara's soft purple carpet. Commissioner Gordon grinned and put his hands on his hips.

"As long as it gets done," Commissioner Gordon said. "After school is the –"

"Most important thing," Barbara finished with a roll of her eyes. "I know Dad." Barbara was on the school's gymnastic team, and Barbara had told Betty a few days ago that she could only stay on it as long as her grades didn't slip. Her dad expected much from her, but in the best way, and it's not like Barbara – organized Barbara – was going to let her grades go down.

"Seems we're on the same page," Commissioner Gordon said. He eyed Betty on the ground and outreached a friendly hand to her. "I don't think we've been introduced. I'm James, Barbara's dad."

Betty took his hand and pushed back the wave of familiarity fluttering in her chest.

"Betty Bryons," Betty said. "I'm new this year."

"Well, I'm sure Barbara and Dick are doing all they can to make sure you feel welcome," Commissioner Gordon said. He turned back to Barbara and Dick. "I gotta go in for the night shift at seven, so –"

"Dinner in the oven, make sure you're in bed before midnight, oh, and turn off the hall light, you always forget to do it," Barbara said. Commissioner Gordon feigned an annoyed look.

"You know it's strange sometimes, how you do that," Commissioner Gordon said. Barbara smiled cheekily and Dick laughed softly. Betty joined Dick after a moment. "Anyway, I'll see you guys later. Love ya Babs."

"Love you too, Dad," Barbara said. A squeeze of her heart at the familiarity made Betty feel a cold breeze overtake her. Seeing their relationship made her reminisce about her own relationship with her mom, one she no longer got to experience. A weed of jealousy threatened to plant but she tried to cut it before it could grow. She would not be jealous of Barbara over her relationship with her father. That was ridiculous.

She wasn't able to cut it.

Once the last drop of rain has dried off the pavement
Shouldn't I find a stain, but I never do
The way the tires turn stones, on old county roads
They leave 'em muddy underneath
Reminds me of you

MOUNT JUSTICE

OCTOBER 1ST 2010 17:57 EST

"Wally, quit eating the chocolate chips," Honeybee said, and the red-haired boy stopped, his face red as scarlet in embarrassment at being caught. Wally set down the chocolate chips carefully while Artemis laughed from where she was setting at the bar. "Now, you said you wanted my help on this school project, so quit eating the supplies."

Wally had roped Honeybee into helping him with a Home Economics assignment to make some kind of baked good, and Wally had volunteered chocolate chip muffins, thinking of the taste and not how he didn't know how to make him. His first instinct had been to ask for help from M'gann, since they were always baking something, but she had been busy studying with Conner. So, Wally had turned to Honeybee, who he remembered mentioned liking to bake off-handily once.

Lucky for him, Miss Nettle had given Betty quite a good recipe for them. So she has agreed to meet Wally in the kitchen of the Cave to help him.

"Slowly pour one cup of milk into the bowl," Honeybee directed, wiping flour off of her apron. Wally picked up the carton of milk and poured into the measuring cup set onto the counter, spilling it out so quickly that it spilled a little over so that white droplets fell onto the marble counter.

"She said slow, Wally," Artemis said. "Not like a rodeo clown."

"I don't remember asking for your opinion!" Wally shot back.

Honeybee shook her head and wiped the milk off the counter while Wally poured the milk not the bowl. It was already filled with the flour, cinnamon, and chocolate chips, all they needed now was the eggs. Wally put the milk down and reached for the carton of eggs, but Honeybee stopped him before he could pick them up.

"You'll need two eggs," Honeybee said. "And crack them carefully. The last thing we need is an eggshell piece choking one of your classmates."

"Babe," Wally said. "This is the Wallman you're talking to here. I think I know how to crack a couple eggs."

"Famous last words," Artemis said. Wally shot her a withering look.

"What are you even doing here?" Wally asked. Artemis looked up from where she was playing on her phone and smiled.

"Miss a chance to see you make a fool out of yourself? No way."

Honeybee crossed her arms and looked up at Wally with a frown.

"Are you going to make the muffins or fight with Artemis the whole time?" Honeybee asked. "Because I can leave if you're going to do the latter." Wally looked away from Artemis, again flushed red from embarrassment. Wally cracked the two eggs carefully, like Honeybee instructed, and she was proud that their seemed to be no eggshells in the mixture. She had gotten them in there the first time she attempted to make them.

Honeybee handed Wally the spoon while she began to clean up the materials.

"Now mix," Honeybee said. Wally took the spoon with a roll of his eyes.

"I think I know to mix next," Wally said. Honeybee rolled her own eyes and turned around to put the milk and eggs back into the refrigerator.

"No superspeed," Honeybee said. "It'll spill."

"Aw man."

Once the batter was done, Honeybee retrieved two muffin pans from the cupboards and set them in front of Kid Flash. She sprayed it with non-stick spray and motioned for Wally to begin pouring.

"Now remember," Honeybee said. "They aren't done unless you –"

"Honeybee, I know what I'm doing," Wally insisted. Honeybee raised a brow at him.

"Is that why you asked for my help?" Honeybee asked. Wally frowned and continued to pour, pointedly ignoring her now.

"You're going to want to put them in the oven for roughly fifteen minutes," Honeybee said. She looked down at her watch and frowned. "But team practice is in ten minutes, so we'll have to finish this later. Cover the pans with foil and put it in the fridge for now."

Wally did as he was instructed and the three in the kitchen made their way to the mission briefing and practice room of Mount Justice. They found Kaldur and Robin talking in the center of the room, while M'gann, Conner, and Wolf (the same wolf from India) were in a corner of the room. Captain Marvel stood with Zatara, the League's resident magician, a middle-aged man with dark hair and a suit as his mission garb.

As they got closer to Kaldur and Robin, Wally eyed Captain Marvel warily.

"So if Zatara's our babysitter of the week, why is he still here?" Wally said. He zeroed in on Captain Marvel, who was eating on Wally's candy bars he stashed here at the Cave. "And why is he eating my snacks?"

"Recognized: Batman, 0-2."

Batman materialized from the Zeta tube. He walked into the Cave intently, not stopping until he reached the center of the room.

"Computer, national news," Batman ordered. The holocomputer popped up, showing a news woman in the corner of the screen, while it showed the destruction of several cities by large plant creatures. Groups of Leaguers seemed to be in mid-battle with the creatures which was

"The initial attack was short-lived, but Metropolis was only granted a short-lived reprieve. And despite the intervention of Superman and the Justice League, there seems to be no end in sight."

The Team had gathered before the screen as the report popped up, all in various states of shock and confusion. Honeybee felt a stone drop in her stomach as she watched the destruction on the screens before her.

"Should we get out there?" Robin asked, a tad of excitement at the possibility leaking through his tone.

"No," Batman said. "The League will soon have the situation under control. That's not why I'm here. According to your intel, Sportsmaster supplied Cadmus' Blockbuster formula to Kobra."

"Who combined it with Bane's venom to create Kobra Venom," Wally said.

"Which The Brain used to create his animal army," Robin continued.

"And upgrade Wolf," Conner cut in, petting his pet wolf softly.

"The Brain also used inhibitor collars like those used at Belle Reve Penitentiary," M'gann said, thinking back to their solo mission with Conner. Artemis looked at the plants on the screen, a thin look of worry crossing her face.

"Batman, is it possible these plant-things are on Kobra Venom too?" Artemis asked. Batman held up his hologlove and pressed a button, and a cellulose test result appeared on the screen.

"I had Green Lantern run a spot analysis," Batman said. "Divine cellulose does contain trace amounts of Kobra Venom."

"These cannot be coincidences," Kaldur said gravely. "Unrelated criminals are cooperating worldwide."

Robin pulled up a holocomputer gauntlet and started typing away at the keyboard.

"It's clear that our enemies have created some kind of secret society of supervillains," Batman said. He looked at them all sternly, his frown deeper than normal. "The attack on Metropolis is only the beginning."

Other cities under attack begin to appear on the screen. Honeybee saw vines wrap around the Eifel Tower and tower down over Taipei. A second stone dropped. All of these plants looked familiar, and she had sinking, hate-filled suspicion on who it could be that was behind this.

"You got that right," Robin said. "Plant creatures have appeared in Gotham City, Star City, Paria, Taipei –"

The screen cut to static, all of them, and Honeybee blinked in surprise. She turned to Robin, who was typing away on hologlove furiously.

"Dude!" Wally said.

"It's not me!" Robin said, desperation clear. "Someone is cutting the satellite feed. All satellite feeds."

The static suddenly disappeared, revealing the deranged smile of the Joker. His green hair and suit seemed perfectly styled, his make-up on without a smudge in sight. Honeybee narrowed her eyes as she saw the man type on whatever camera he was shooting from.

"Hello," the Joker drawled. "We interrupt your regularly scheduled mayhem to bring you an important message from….the Injustice League!"

The screen changed to reveal a collection of villains standing in front of a black screen, making it impossible to determine where it is that they were broadcasting from. Among them was Black Adam, a tall man dressed in trademark black and dark hair. Assembled with him The Ultra-Humanite, a white gorilla the size of a man and a computer system connected to his head. There was also Count Vertigo in front, wearing a dark green cloak and his signature vertigo machine over his ear. With them was the wizard Wontan, all pale skin and dark hair while dressed in a suit of rich red colors. The Atomic Skull was hidden in the crowd of villains…. along with ….

Poison Ivy stood primly on the side, her hand on her hip and a scowl on her lips. She showed not a care in the world, instead seemed to appear prematurely in a victorious mood. Honeybee felt a growl grow in her stomach and she just barely managed to contain it.

"Ivy," she whispered viciously to herself, earning her a concerned look from Artemis to her left.

"We are responsible for the attacks on your cities," Count Vertigo started. His voice was thickly laced with an Eastern European accent. "If you wish to save them, a ransom of 10 billion American dollars is required. Delivery instructions have been sent to the UN." Vertigo's lips curved into a sly smirk. "There is no time limit, but…."

The camera cut back to Joker, who smiled viciously into the screen.

"The longer we get to have our….jollies!" Joker said. Her broke into his iconic, maniac laugh that was cut off by the screen returning to the same static as before.

"Roger that, Aquaman," Batman said immediately into his earpiece. "The UN will prepare the ransom as a fallback, but it won't come to that."

Robin typed away on his holocomputer, rewinding the video so that it returned to the shot of all the villains assembled save Joker. Boxes appeared around their head as they began to be identified by the computer.

"Joker, Wontan, Ulta-Humanite, Count Vertigo, Atomic Skull, Black Atom, and –"

"Poison Ivy," Honeybee spit, interrupting Robin. Honeybee's anger felt like acid that threatened to explode out of her body. Poison Ivy had escaped capture after the death of Honeybee's mother, and now here she was. Finally crawled out of her hiding spot, where Honeybee could find her and finally get her mother some justice.

"That's your secret society," Wally said.

"Not so secret anymore," Artemis scoffed.

"Perhaps, after India, they saw that we would deduce their plans and felt the need to hide no longer," Aqualad pondered aloud. He stepped forward, ready to receive orders for what the Team was to do next.

"Yeah, that was their mistake," Wally said proudly. He fumbled in his pocket for his googled. "How about we get out there and kick some plant creature butt?"

"The Justice League will handle the plants," Batman cut in. "I have a different job for the Team."

"Oh man," Wally whispered.

"With the plants attacking so many places at once, their must be a central control system," Batman said. He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, looking over each member of the Team with a look that Honeybee dared say was reassuring. "Your job is to destroy it."

"You realize what your actually asking them to do?" Zatara asked, stepping forward from where he had been observing quietly.

"They're ready."

"Ready?" Wally asked. "Ready for what?" Artemis hit him in the arm with a roll of her eyes.

"Hello Wally," Artemis said. "If the League is fighting the plants, who do you think we'll be fighting?"

Wally's eyes widened in understanding. "Oh."

"Well, Batman, I trust you're correct," Zatara said. He shot them one final, appraising look, before yielding for good.

Honeybee felt an excited fire burn in her chest. Here it was, finally the chance to put a stop to Poison Ivy and get justice for her mother.

"I trust you can locate the enemy," Batman said. Zatara nodded.

"Wontan's involvement suggests sorcery is part of how the plants are being controlled," Zatara said. "Robin, if you will provide the holomap, I'll search for signs of concentrated sorcery."

Robin pressed a button in the keyboard, up pupped a globe in the center of the training mat. Zatara stepped forward, shutting his eyes in concentration and raising his hands to globe, palms forward towards the hologram.

"Ecolate renteripe fo yrecros!" Zatara said in a loud voice. The globe spun around twice before it stopped completely, revealing a red dot at the bottom of the United States, somewhere around the Mississippi and Louisiana area. Zatara opened his eyes and wiped at a thin sheet of sweat on his brow. "There. That is where you will find the Injustice League's central control system."

"Coordinates locked in," Robin said, clicking a button to make the globe disappear. "The Louisiana bayou.

"We are on our way," Kaldur said. He nodded at the League members in the room and then turned to leave, motioning with a tilt of his head for the others to follow.

Every Team member was issued a guest bedroom for when they needed to sleep over, or it was just so late after a mission they needed to rest immedailty, even if the favorite napping place was on the sofa in the lounge. But regardless, Honeybee did find a way to utilize it. She kept what she liked to call a go-bag she packed with her for occasions where she arrived in civilian clothes and needed to change. It was the same backpack she had put her beachwear in but was now filled with extra stingers plus her utility belt and suit. The others disappeared to change into their hero garbs as well, and Honeybee slipped into her room to change.

The whole time, her body felt like it was alight with an unmatched energy. Fiery anger and a need for justice surged through her being, replacing any kind feelings she had earlier from making muffins with her friends. She was so close to finally meeting Poison Ivy again she could almost feel the bayou air on her skin already, the smell of Ivy's plants filling her memory. The cry of her mother when she was crushed beneath one of Ivy's plants also returned, and it just fueled her even more.

Once she was changed, she pulled her utility belt around her and slipped the extra stingers into her belt. She made sure her lasso was tucked tightly onto her since they would probably be in water and that threatened to make her loose it. She checked herself one final time in the mirror to make sure everything was in place and sucked in a breath as she realized how different she looked from a year ago. When Mom was still here.

A year ago, she had hair that flowed to her mid-back in waves, which she wore into two space buns when she was Honeybee, now her hair was as short as a page-boy. Her suit had been just as tight as it was then, but something felt different about it now. She touched the place on her torso where the most of her mother's blood had been, and half-expected to feel the sticky substance on her fingers.

She shook her head and turned around. Now was not the time for self-reflection. It was time to defeat the Injustice League.

She opened the door and stepped out into the hallway, only to be greeted by the form of Robin leaning by her door, already dressed in his black and red suit.

"Robin?" she asked. "Shouldn't you already be on the Bioship?"

Aqualad had given them strict instructions that they were to immedailty report to the ship once they were changed. Robin smiled sheepishly and kicked himself off the wall to full height, which was just one inch taller than her.

"I wanted to come talk to you first," Robin said. Honeybee already knew what this was going to be about. Poison Ivy. Most likely something about that she needed to keep her emotions in check. And honestly, she wasn't in the mood for it.

"Look, if this is about Poison Ivy, I am more than capable of acting rationally," Honeybee said. "There is no way I am sitting this out because of her." Even if Ivy hadn't of been involved, Honeybee would have been itching to go on this mission. It was their first real chance to prove they could work on the same level as the League. No way was she missing out on it.

He shook his head.

"It is about Ivy," Robin said. "But I wasn't going to say you should stay behind." Honeybee blinked in surprise. "I was going to say good luck."

"What?" Honeybee said.

"I know you're going to go after Ivy," Robin said. "In your position, I di -would do the same thing." Melancholy filled the air, and Honeybee could tell that he had lost someone too. Someone important to him, even if he couldn't say it.

"Just…be careful," Robin said. "And don't –"

"Go off mission?" Honeybee finished. She smiled at him and put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm a big girl Robin. I know not to let my personal feelings get in the way."

That's the whole reason she had avoided him and Batman for months. To not let herself be so caught in her anger she put herself and them at risk. And though Honeybee would do nearly anything to get Poison Ivy in a cell at Arkham Asylum or, better yet, Belle Reve, she also knew that the whole world was at stake. Other people's mothers and fathers were going to die unless they fixed this. Her own city was under attack – the city where her aunt, Jason, and friends lived.

Betty was many things. But she was not a fool.

"I was going to say," Robin said, "don't forget I'm here if you need me." Something in his smile twinkled. "Someone's got to make sure you're feeling the aster when all this is over."

Honeybee rolled her eyes and let go of his shoulder.

"Thanks Robin," Honeybee said. "That means a lot." Robin nodded, and just like the conversation was over, and it was back to mission mode.

Robin and Honeybee silently made their way to the Bioship, and found they were the last two to arrive.

"Well, look who finally decided to show up," Wally said. Artemis smacked him on the back of the head, and he turned to her in annoyance. "Ow!"

Honeybee and Robin took their seats, and Kaldur stood from his chair to look at them all. A duffel bag sat at his feet, loosely concealed by his feet.

"This mission will be the hardest this Team has faced," Kaldur said. "We are going against seven of the League's greatest enemies, and that task is not to be taken lightly. I know everyone here is brave, I do not doubt that. But for this mission, if anyone wishes to stay behind or feels they are unprepared, I will not begrudge you for staying behind. Their will be no judgement by anyone on this Team."

All of the Team shared a look and a silent nod. No one was leaving. Not today.

"Very well. Miss Martian, prepare the Bioship for launch."

I lived, and I learned
Had you, got burned
Held out, and held on
God knows, too long
And wasted time, lost tears
Swore that I'd get out of here
But no amount of freedom gets you clean
I've still got you all over me

Chapter Bible Verse: "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant." - Matthew 23:11

Little on the shorter side, but I felt like this was a good stopping place. Next chapter: Ivy vs Honeybee!

Review Replies:

Guest 1: I don't understand why RobinxOC stories are unpopular now? I guess maybe I waited too long to write this story. But this pairing means a lot to me, as I've been sitting on it for so long, so I'm excited to get it out there in the world and that there are some people out there who enjoy it. Thank you so much for your kind words and for leaving a review! Have a blessed day!

Guest 2: Updates will be a little slower because of some commitments I have, but I tend to update at least once a week. Thank you for leaving a review! Have a blessed day!

Comments, questions, or concerns? Let me know! Have a blessed day!

-PrincessChess