#LonelyNoLonger


It wouldn't be too far fetched to say that Izuku was having a confusing rest of his morning. After getting Barbara's message, he hasn't been able to focus much on today's lessons. There was so many questions attacking him all at once. What is so important that Babs had to fake a sick day? Did her father truly approve it? Was she in any sort of trouble? Didn't sound like it. The list just goes on.

It was the lunch hour and the super teens had regrouped outside the cafeteria, Izuku having called the girls aside before they could enter. He informed them of the Babs situation, and needless to say, they became just as bewildered.

"Wait, wait, wait, she faked a sick day?" Kara asked, jealous of Barbara for managing that.

"Apparently." Izuku shrugged. "For what reason, I don't know yet. She told me to call her when I had the chance so she can explain, but she wanted you guys around to hear it, too."

"As it should be." Zee commented.

"At least she's not in trouble." Karen said.

"Yeah, her text didn't sound like she was." Izuku said, looking down at his phone.

"Well, we're all here. Let's get to that call." Said Jessica, eager for answers.

"Not yet." Diana intervened, halting Izuku from tapping call on Babs' contact. "Wait until we are clear. Barbara's explanation could be... business related."

The others nodded in realization, waiting until they're the only ones in the hall before making the call.

Once everything was silent, Diana moved her hand, nodding for Izuku to continue.

The moment of truth; Izuku pressed call before putting the phone on speaker, the device ringing twice before Batgirl picked up.

"Hey, bestie! What's up?" As they hoped, she sounded completely fine, causing them to sigh in relief.

"Um, I don't know, Babs. You tell us. You told me to call you when I had a moment, so here I am. The others are here, too." Izuku replied.

"Yeah, damn right we're here! What's the deal with you skipping school on us, huh? You know, it isn't fair that we're the only ones in the group who have to suffer through this crap!" Kara complained.

"Alright, simmer down there, Anger-girl. Don't go blowing a gasket now." Zee deadpanned, patting Kara's shoulder.

"It's... It's not fair!" Kara huffed, crossing her arms as she whipped her head away.

Cue the awkward pause..

"...A-Anyway..." Jessica spoke, not even going to ask what came over Kara. "What's going on, Babs? Where are you?"

Unfazed by Kara's outburst, Babs energetically replied. "Oooh, so much is going on you guys! As of last night anyway. As for where I am, that would be midtown."

"Midtown?" Karen exclaimed. "What are you doing all the way up there? I thought you lived in the suburban part of Metropolis."

"I have my reasons, my dear Bumblebee!" Babs chirped. "If you wanna know, you all will just have to come on down to my location and see for yourself. I'll text Izuku the address and you guys can swing on by after school."

"Okay... Sure, we can do that." Izuku spoke. "But, why all the secrecy? Can't you just tell us now what's going on? Because, I gotta say, you're kind of worrying me here, Barbara."

"Aww, how sweet of you to worry about little ole me, bestie~" Barbara giggled. "But, seriously, you guys got nothing to stress about. I'm perfectly safe! Look, all I'll say is that there's a neat surprise here waiting for y'all when you get here. You're gonna love it, I promise!"

"This surprise isn't gonna kill us, is it?" Zee asked with suspicion.

"Pffft! Do you think I'm the type of person to put my friends in danger like that? Ye of little faith, Ms. Zatara." Barbara joked. "But, I suppose if it's a straight answer you seek, it won't."

Trusting Barbara's word, the crew shrugged as they accepted the redhead's secrets. As much as they wanted to know the surprise now, Babs seemed adament in keeping it as such.

"Alright, you win, Babs." Izuku sighed. "We'll be there asap once school is finished."

"Awesome! In that case, we'll be looking forward to your arrival, peeps! Oh, and don't forget to hero up! TTYL!" Just like that, Barbara ended the call, leaving Izuku and the other girls in silence.

"...It's official, I'll never be able to understand that girl." Zee broke her silence, chuckling as she made way to the cafeteria.

"Eh, we'll get used to her antics given time. Something tells me that she really loves surprises, and this particular one most likely won't be the last." Jessica said with reluctant acceptance, her and the rest of the team following the magician's lead.

"Greeeaaat. Totally looking forward to more 'surprises' in the future." Kara said sarcastically, still miffed about Batgirl's absence.

Before being the last to enter, Diana stopped at the door, noticing Izuku falling behind as he stood in place while gazing at his phone baffled. "Izuku? Are you alright?"

His trance broken, Izuku turned to his co-leader. "Huh? Oh, uh, yeah, I'm fine, Diana." He said, returning his phone to his pocket before joining her. "Sorry, I got a little lost in thought there."

"Is there something wrong?" Diana asked, entering the bustling cafeteria with Izuku.

"I... I don't know, maybe?" Uncertain, Izuku answered. "Just something Barbara said put me on edge. Honestly, I don't know what to make of it."

"Did you hear something we have not?"

"Well... Before she hung up, she said "We'll be looking forward to your arrival." Like, she isn't alone, wherever she is. And... that has me concerned. If that isn't enough, she told us to show up in our hero suits. So... yeah, you see where I'm going with this."

"Hmm, you believe someone other than ourselves knows of our identities, and this someone is who Barbara is with." Diana said hushly.

"Exactly... At least, that's the most obvious theory. A part of me's hoping it was just a slip of the tongue, but... I can't say I believe that. As fast as her mouth is, Barbara's brain works just as fast. So I don't think she'd say that by accident. What has me confused though is that, if she's indeed with someone who knows who we are, she didn't sound worried in the slightest.. Like I said, I can't make heads or tails." Izuku said with defeat, the perplexing matter continuing to unnerve him.

"Nor can I.." Diana muttered, going in thought for a moment before proceeding to ease Izuku's worry, not thinking too much on the issue. "In any case, do not ponder on the matter so hard, Izuku. It will not do you any good. We will just have to trust Barbara and hear what she has to say for herself when we regroup. For now, we should take comfort in knowing that she is well and unharmed. At this time, that is the best we can hope for."

Comforted by Diana's words and seeing her point, Izuku got his mind out the gutter. "I suppose you're right. She doesn't seem like the kind of person who'd do any of this without a good reason.. Thanks, Diana. If I spent any longer speculating, I'd have driven myself mad." He joked.

"It is my pleasure." Diana smiled, providing further comfort as she gave Izuku's back a few light pats.

After gathering their lunches, the teens formed up at a roundtable by the windows.

"Izuku, did our new friends happen to mention when they were going to be joining us?" Diana inquired.

"Um, can't say that they gave a specific time, all they said was that they'd meet up with us for lunch. I also don't know if they had anything to do beforehand, because judging by the looks of it, we beat them here." Izuku replied, looking around as there was no sign of their 'new friends' anywhere.

"Uh, what's this now?" Said Kara.

"New... friends?" Karen gulped with social anxiety.

"We expecting some company?" Jessica asked.

"Indeed, we are!" Diana confirmed excitedly. "After we had departed earlier, Izuku and I have become well acquainted with a pair of girls from our homeroom. Thus, they will be joining us for our afternoon feast."

"Well, I can't say that about me as I've already kinda knew them." Izuku mentioned. "I'm sorry that we didn't run it by you all first, but we sorta figured you wouldn't mind. While one of them can be... daring... at times, they're both actually really nice girls. So, it shouldn't be hard to get along with them."

"Hmm, nice girls, you say?" Zee said with a sly smirk, shooting Izuku a teasing glance. "And here I was thinking you had enough girls in your life, cutie. What? Are we not good enough for you?" The violette giggled, her remark causing Izuku to sigh. He was just kinda bothered this time as he already went through a similar situation with Mary Jane.

"Dude, don't make this weird." Kara deadpanned.

"O-Oh, geez.." Karen blushed, finally realizing how outnumbered Izuku was amongst their group.

"Yeah, I know you're joking and all, Zee, but that's kinda pushing things." Jessica said with slight awkwardness.

"Oh, don't go getting all bothered on me now. I'm just trying to spice up my fun a bit, that's all. I don't mean anything by what I said, so you can relax." Zee smirked, waving for the girls to loosen up.

"Mhm, make sure it stays that way." Kara rolled her eyes before taking a swig of her water bottle.


A few minutes later, neither MJ or Felicia showed up, leaving the group to wonder what's keeping them.

"Hmph, looks like our 'lunch dates' stood us up." Zee pointed out after the long wait.

"Damn, sorry dudes." Kara shrugged before taking a wide bite of her burger.

"Ah, well..." Izuku sighed. "I'm sure something just came up for them last second; It happens. I won't hold it against them." He smiled, continuing to eat his lunch calmly.

"It is... unfortunate they were not able to join us.." Diana felt the need to mention.

"Who are these girls anyway? Anyone we know?" Jessica questioned.

"You might." Izuku shrugged. "Do the names Mary Jane Watson and Felicia Hardy mean anything to you girls?"

Upon hearing the names, it was Zee who responded immediately, her eyes suddenly saucer wide as she looked to Izuku in surprise. "Wait, those two? You befriended them?!" She exclaimed.

"Er, y-yes?" Izuku blinked awkwardly, her outburst causing him to reel slightly. "I take it you know them?"

"You... can say that." With a hint of disappointment, Zee huffed, calming her nerves before she got too riled up. "Sorry, I didn't mean to raise my voice like that.."

"...Yooou have a history with them, don't you?" Izuku quickly determined, him and the other girls now looking at Zee with concern.

"I... Yeah... Yeah, something like that." Zee sighed, shaking off her short-lived funk. "Look, I'd really appreciate it if you guys didn't pry. So, let's just forget I ever reacted that way... okay?" She softly pleaded, her eyes begging them to grant her this one request.

Needless to say, the team was shocked to witness Zee appear so... vulnerable. Especially over the mystery they now faced. Obviously, to avoid causing tension, they obliged. However, it's only given them another matter to ponder on.

"If that is what you wish, Zee. We will refrain from prying." Diana spoke for the others, looking down as the atmosphere around them became tense.

'Okay... Looks like the apparent 'reunion' will have to wait for awhile.' Izuku mused, picking his food as if he'd lost his appetite. 'Seriously, what's with all the twists and turns today?' He didn't need his spider-sense to know that it wasn't over yet.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the geek I've been looking for!" Suddenly, a new situation developed.

Peering over his shoulder two tables behind him, Izuku witnessed your typical cafeteria bullying session. 'Ah, crap..' He sighed, having seen enough high school movies to know what's about to happen.

Previously alone, a scrawny brown-haired/eyed caucasian boy sat at the table; Who not only had the physique of your "average" high school intellectual, but also had the look as he wore round eyeglasses. His attire consisted of a blue polo shirt, brown pants with a black, gold-buckled belt, and black shoes.

As for who approached him, it was Metropolis High's very own basketball star, Flash Thompson. Along with his 'big-boned' crony, Kenny "Kong" McFarlane.

"Oh, no.." The loner groaned, closing the chemistry textbook he'd been reading before preparing for the worst.

"Aww, chin up there, nerd. I'm not here to hurt you. At least, not right now anyway." Flash said with a cocky grin as he sat right next to the boy, slapping a few papers on the table before him. "Me and good ole Kong are just here for the first homework drop-off of the new school year, is all. You know how it goes." He dickishly chuckled, giving the nervous boy a pat on the back as Kong placed down his own assignments.

"Haha, yeah, special delivery." Kong smirked, the remark causing their victim to sigh.

"We can still count on you to get us those straight-A's, right dweeb?" Flash teased.

"O-Of course, Flash. Yeah, I'll g-get them done tonight. Promise.." The 'nerd' replied lowly, already loading the 'package' into his bag carefully, and with reluctance.

"Atta boy, I knew you wouldn't disappoint." The main jock said, ruffling the bespectacled boy's hair roughly as he got up from his seat. "Now, as much as we'd like to stay and... catch up. We got places to be, so we won't be on your case too much today. Lucky you, eh?" Flash smirked, making the 'nerd' grunt as he flicked his head hard. "Ah~ I missed doing that." He sighed in content, him and Kong walking away now that they've done what they wanted. "Catch ya later, Nerd. I look forward to another fun year with you."

With that, the bullies chuckled, leaving their victim with nothing but dread and pain as he rubbed the spot he'd been flicked.

"Fun year, my butt.." The boy grumbled, sighing heavily at his usual high school life.

'What jerks!' Izuku scowled after observing the whole brief encounter, glaring at the bullies backs as they ditched the cafeteria.

Frustration and Regret. That's all Izuku felt as he clenched a fist tightly over his group's table. Taking a very deep breath, he hated himself for sitting the situation out. Believe him, he wanted to step in and save the boy from any humiliation, as he'd normally never allow such harsh matters to occur. However, much to his shame, he conceded to the fear of getting in trouble, as he wasn't keen on the idea of possibly getting detention two days in a row. Of course, if things got too physical, he'd immediately 'intervene'. Thankfully, it didn't come to that.

Glancing back at the bullied teen, Izuku expressed concern, said teen returning to his afternoon reading with a sour mood. Not about to let the lad feel so alone after his ordeal, Izuku finally opted to step up. "I'll uh... I'll be back, girls." He said as he got up from his seat, leaving the table to approach the bookworm.

Before any of the girls could respond, he was already gone, his sudden departure leaving them stunned and dumbfounded as they watched him walk off.

"Why can't they just leave me alone..? What'd I ever do to them..? I can't believe I have to deal with two more years of this torture.." The boy grumbled to himself as he went back about his business, opening his textbook to the page he'd been on.

But, before he could start reading again...

"Er, hello there." Izuku's voice spoke.

Perking up, the bookworm looked to his right, blinking in surprise only to see Izuku standing there with a smile. "Erm... H-Hi. Can I... help you?" He asked awkwardly, secretly praying that he's not another bully.

"Um, no, not really." Izuku shook no. "It's just that... Well, I couldn't help but overhear your... chat with those two goons earlier, and I just had to be sure that you're okay after that whole... ordeal.." He said cautiously.

"Oh... You heard all that, huh?" The boy frowned as he looked back to his book.

"Yeah..." Izuku rubbed his head sheepishly. "Are you okay?" He asked with genuine worry.

"...I'll live, if that's what you're wondering.." The boy answered.

"Good. That's, uh... That's good.." Izuku replied, an uncomfortable silence between them going by for a few seconds. Curse his poor ability to converse with the socially awkward. "I'm Izuku, by the way. Izuku Midoriya." Taking the lead again, Izuku broke the silence, introducing himself to another potential friend. "May I... know your name?" He politely requested.

Returning his gaze to Izuku, the bookwarm pondered for a moment as he took in the young super's appearance fully, keeping his guard up despite Izuku's trustworthy face. In the end, he chose to return the favor.

"Peter... Peter Parker."