Sorry for not updating New World because I was on writer's block. I'm so happy to find out someone loved my story despite I'm on slow updates. Here's the new chapter on New World and it's an original story, not from the episodes.~Mira
Arthur was been traumatized twice. He never met his parents before because they died of a car crash. Kent and Caleb are taking care of him since he was a baby until he grows older. 3 months ago, he lost his great-grandfather for risking himself saving the helmet and Wally.
He blames himself for not being strong enough to save him. Arthur is jealous of Aaliyah because she is the strongest person he ever meets. He knows Aaliyah hides her true strength because she doesn't want anyone to feel bad or feel superior than them.
"Arthur?" He nearly dropped his sword and turning around to see Ruby is staring at him. "You've been spaced out, recently." She commented and lowering her twin fans.
"I guess I did..." Smiling nervously and sighs heavily. Arthur never reveals anything to Dinah but the blonde woman knows he bottles up his feeling. It's not healthy for him but he makes an origami crane, releasing his negative emotions. People think it is childish but in Arthur's case, it's his way to release negative feelings. "Can I... ask you something, Ruby."
"Sure, what is it?" Tilting her head curiously and Arthur smiles at her innocent look.
"How... did you cope with it?" He asks her curiously. "All the experiences you've been through." None of them know a certain boy wonder is listening to their conversation.
"Before we ended up coming here on Earth?" She asks Arthur nervously and playing her celestial keys.
"Sorry, Rubes." Arthur apologies and wasn't his intention to ask sensitive questions. "I didn't mean-"
"It's quite alright, Arthur." She assured him. "To be honest... it's hard for me to move on ever since... my guardian gave me a second chance to live and reunite my sister once again."
"Lola sacrificed herself to save you." Arthur gives her a sympathetic look.
"Yeah. When she died in my arms, I often get nightmares and Wendy-nee (sister) always hug me. Comforting me that no matter what happens... our loved ones are always watching us from heaven and still in our heart." She smiles and remembering her adopted sister, Wendy Marvel, who looks after her. "What exactly happened at the simulation, Arthur?" Ruby asks him curiously.
Ruby, Aaliyah and Zara weren't present at that time for their simulation training, due to crimes back in Japan. The three of them are investigating and wondering how the crimes are getting increased instead of decreased. Few of the criminals are happened to be the League of Shadows and wanting to see Aaliyah's skill comparing Ruby and Zara.
"It's complicated, Ruby." He sighs sadly. "The simulation went wrong and gives us a traumatic experience."
"Is that why Kaldur hugs Aaliyah once you guys awake from it?" He nodded his head and not forgetting how Kaldur hugs Aaliyah tightly. It was like the Atlantean is scared that she might disappear again or worse. "He looks a bit shaken and relief seeing her."
"I'm also relief you guys aren't including to that incident." Arthur sighs heavily. "You three are like sisters to me. You girls have been through a lot. The last thing you girls do are going to face it with us again."
Ruby smiles and completely appreciated Arthur's concern of their well-being. "That makes us who we are, Arthur." She smiles. "Each one of us has our own experience from our past. That past changes us for who we are to become a better person. Some people turned into evil but us? We choose for good to protect someone we care."
Arthur smiles and ruffling her hair. "You can be wise often, Ruby. Lola must be proud of you."
"Ahaha... I've been surrounded by wise people." She laughs nervously.
"Don't ever change who you are, Ruby. On Aaliyah's case, she needs to loosen up a bit."
"You could always ask Aaliyah about this one, Arthur." Ruby suggested. "She's been through a lot from what Erza-nee (sister) told me."
"I'll hold onto that, little sister."
Robin silently leaves and wondering where they came from. How did Arthur know their pasts? Maybe he could ask Ruby whether she's willing to reveal her secrets or not. He wanted to know more about them, especially to that scarlet-haired girl
Aaliyah is starting to wonder why Kaldur hugs her out of the blue. She was informed about Batman how the Team gets traumatized due to their feelings are compromised which makes M'gann forgetting they're in a simulation exercise. Her telepathic is more powerful compares to her Uncle, J'onn. Aaliyah lecture Batman how this simulation won't end up successful because they're not ready enough to face that kind of tests. The Dark Knight ignores her opinion and he allows them to experience. The result of the exercise? The Team are shaking in fear and Batman asks Black Canary to consult them as their personal Therapist.
Aaliyah never pushes them to ask what exactly happen but she could guess it. They saw how many heroes and civilians risk themselves to save the Earth. They saw how they died especially herself, Zara and Ruby are included as well to get killed by an alien. She even got hugs from Kaldur first followed by M'gann and Artemis.
"Memories won't fade but they need to overcome when it happens again." Aaliyah muttered in her own language in case someone might hear her in English. She experiences a lot of trauma before including her friends. They need to overcome their fear and move forward because they don't want to get stuck in the past forever.
"Aaliyah." She froze and looking at her surroundings. "Aaliyah." Hearing a faint voice but Aaliyah never feels any presence at all.
"I heard my name pretty clearly..." Muttering under her breath and sensing Kaldur is approaching her. "It's not him who called me. The voice is so familiar-"
"Aaliyah." Aaliyah closes her mouth from speaking and turns around to face the Atlantean. "I notice you always love strolling around the beach whether it's day or night time."
"Water makes me calm and that's where my magic came from." She's looking down at her right hand. "What brings you here?" Aaliyah asks Kaldur curiously.
"I just wanted to know if the condition in Japan." Kaldur answered and Aaliyah stared at the ocean in deep thoughts. "Aaliyah, is everything all right?" He asks her worriedly since she never seeks help from them despite their struggles.
"Yeah..." Aaliyah nodded her head and still looking at the ocean. "I know the reason why crimes are getting increased." She exhales softly and crosses her arms.
"How?" Kaldur questioned her and she remained silent. "Aaliyah, as your friend and a teammate, you need to understand-"
"They wanted me to join the League of Shadows." Aaliyah interrupts him. "They saw my potential. That's why the crimes increase because they wanted to see... my assets." She explained with a grim look on her face. She would rather die than to betray her friends.
Kaldur frowned and not surprised why they wanted to recruit her in the first place. He knows Aaliyah is holding back her true strength and compares to their team, she's a strong and powerful mage. "Does Ruby, Zara, Keith and Knight knows about these?"
"Yes." She nodded her head. "Knight told me it would be best not to tell you guys. In my case... I would call it stupid because you guys might think of me as a mole."
"We would never think of you as a mole, Aaliyah." Kaldur assures her and she didn't believe his words. "Are you doubting us?"
"Face it Kaldur'ahm." Aaliyah stared at him with a serious look on his face. "The moment we join the Team, you guys... especially Roy doesn't trust me at all." They always have suspicious on them especially Roy doesn't trust her at all. He's almost close to finding out about herself, Zara and Ruby are from different dimension or world.
"Aaliyah, I trust you with my life." Kaldur swears in front of her. "You're not a mole and you've been loyal to us."
Aaliyah sighs heavily and crossing her arms with a defeated look on her face. "You really are something... Kaldur-san." She smiles and staring at him with a curious look on her face. "Why did you hug me back then, Kaldur-san?"
Kaldur frowned and looking away from her. It pains him to recall how she sacrifices herself for everyone despite it's just a simulation. He knows Aaliyah, Ruby and Zara are never involved in the simulation. It feels so real and gives him a nightmare seeing her died in front of him. "You wouldn't understand."
"If you don't want to tell me... that's fine." Aaliyah assured him. "Whatever you've seen gives you a scar that you would never forget. We always wanted to erase those terrible memories but... it often repeating the history itself."
"Aaliyah..." Kaldur is looking at her with a serious look on his face. Aaliyah's expression and body language, she experiences worse than them before.
"It's like we're drowning into the depth of darkness and no one could reach you out." She stares at the clear blue sky. "If we continue going into the path, we're going to be lost forever. The only way to prevent it is to push ourselves to overcome our fear."
"How did you overcome your fear, Aaliyah?" Kaldur asks her curiously.
"How?" She smiles gently. "I have friends and family to know that they have my back." Aaliyah turns around and heading back to the cave. "They gave me the courage and strength to keep me moving forward towards the future." Leaving Kaldur in deep thoughts.
Kaldur wasn't expecting Aaliyah could be so wise at a very young age despite her tall height. The Atlantean didn't know he's falling for her slowly.
Ruby yawned and still tired from reviewing the test last night. She's glad the quiz finally over and couldn't wait to sleep on her bed. Laying her head on the table and ignoring the lunch in front of her.
"Ruby, you need to eat something." Barbara pleads and worried about Ruby's well-being. "We only have two hours of lunch break."
"Can I just go home?" Ruby whined and lifting her head up slightly to look at Barbara. "I'm beat."
"What makes you tired, my gem?" Dick asks her worriedly and it's rare for Ruby to be this tired.
"I've been homeschooled my whole life and it's my first time to attend this school." Ruby is telling them half-lie of her done homeschooled before. "I easily get nervous and panic when it comes to exams. I'm scared if they're going to kick me out due to a failing grade especially Maths is not my forte."
Dick patted her soft scarlet hair. "Don't worry my dear gem, I'll help you with your study." He volunteers and Ruby shakes her head in protest. "Ah, ah! I won't take no for an answer." Winking at her and she blushed furiously.
Barbara sighs heavily. "I hate to admit it, Dick is a genius when it comes to Maths and Computer. You can rely on him."
"Aww, thanks for the compliment, Babs." He grinned widely and Ruby sighs in defeat.
"If he did any malicious, don't hesitate to kick his butt." Barbara ignores his whined. "Please eat your food."
"Aye." Ruby opens her bento and eats sushi using chopsticks. "I don't want to waste it or Caleb might be disappointed and goes mama bear mode."
"Did you made this?" Barbara asks her curiously and she nodded her head. "Wow, can I try?"
"Sure." Ruby pushes her bento in front of them as they took one each then eats it. "Well?" She asks them.
"Wow! This is so delicious, Ruby." Dick compliments her food. "Do you cook always?" He asks her curiously.
"We actually take turns on cooking but I mostly do the lunches." Ruby explained and eating her food. "I'm glad you guys enjoyed sushi."
"We did." Barbara assured her. "You really need to relax Ruby. If you're struggling something... Dick and I can help you out."
"Thank you, guys." She smiles shyly and looking down at her food. "I really appreciate what you've done. I owe you guys a lot."
Dick smirked and goes closer to Ruby's face as she blushed at the sudden closeness. "You can pay me back by making you my girl-"
"Hell no!" Barbara grabs his collar and pulls him away from Ruby. "Stay away from Ruby, Dick! Don't taint her innocent!" She hugs Ruby while glaring at Dick.
Ruby laughs nervously seeing them bickering as usual when it comes to her. She's quite happy to have friends that are outside and not heroes. Ruby vows herself to work hard and protect someone she cares.