After Red Tornado's betrayal, Mio and Conner had been having sessions more frequently. Mio knew what was going on, she had seen it with so many people before, including herself. He was desperate to prove he was better, that he could do more than act the hostage. He was frustrated that he hadn't been able to protect anyone, not the way he should have been able to.
She knew the symptoms, increased paranoia, frustration, and anger in training.
They were sparing right now, throwing punches and kicks rapidly. She hadn't used her claws since that day outside the cave, and didn't intend to anytime soon. The cut across his cheek had finally healed, and Megan had been pretty upset to see the wound when he had walked in.
"What exactly are you trying to prove?" Mio asked, ducking under his punch.
"I just don't want to… I mean last time… they hurt-" Conner started, lowering his fist and relaxing his stance.
"Megan." Mio finished, grabbing a water bottle.
He looked down at her, "Well, yeah, Megan, but the rest of the team too."
Mio raised and eyebrow, "So, you have no specifics about Megan's pain?"
Conner gave her a questioning look. "What are you talking about?" he asked, grabbing a water bottle as well.
It was her turn to be confused, "I just thought… I mean you and Megan seem close."
"We live together, we've spent a lot of time together." he answered.
"Yeah, well I can tell she likes you." Mio said.
"You mean…"
"Yeah." Mio said. "That's what I mean."
"But I don't like her that way." Conner debated.
"Then don't lead her on." Mio advised.
"Should I tell her-"
"No." Mio said, "I might have very little experience about dating, but from what I've seen Jean, Rogue, Kitty, Emma, and Jubilee do over the years has taught me that telling a girl you don't like her when it's obvious she does like you but hasn't told you yet, makes her cry in her room, call her friends, and then they eat ice cream together all night."
She shrugged, "Not exactly my way to get over a guy, but I've seen it happen, and for some reason it works."
"What's your way to get over a guy?" He asked.
She shrugged, "Turn the danger room on a high level and adjust the settings to make the villain I'm supposed to take down look like the guy."
He paused, picturing that scene. "You don't seem like the type to date much."
"I don't." She said. "I actually haven't been on a date in about a year."
"So, who was the last guy you dated?" He asked, trying to be casual.
She paused, "His name was Jake. First and last guy I ever dated."
Conner was silent, he had never taken Mio to be a girl who looked for a guy to support her, or even a guy to hang out with. At school she was distant, staying away from everyone but him and Megan.
He looked at her, really looked at her. Her skin he had classified as to pale did seem a bit… beautiful now that he thought about it. Her blue eyes were stunning, and the way her short black hair fell around her face, just made her skin look a little paler.
He was taken back, have never realized this but, Mio was… dare he say it… very attractive.
He cleared his throat, "So, what did you guys do exactly?"
She paused again, eyes drifting off, remembering some old memory that she hadn't thought of in awhile. The city park, the moon high overhead, an old swing set. "Well," Let's see, how does one say, he stole my first kiss, was the first person who actually got past the walls I had put up so long ago, and actually got me to care about him, but then he hurt me so bad I actually cried. Mio pondered that for a moment. He was the first man who actually made me cry. I have battled crazy family members trying to kill me, use me to get at Logan, or use me to get at Logan by killing me, I've had childhood trauma that has scarred me for life, I've had my Mother, the only person I have ever cared about taken from me in the most violent heart wrenching way possible, and one teenage boy makes me fall apart just by saying two words.
"Nothing really." She compromised. "We were an average teenage couple. Hung out, talked, kissed. After a few months, it was over."
He nodded as Wolf walked into the room with Lovette on his back, playing the song Wild Child, "OK."
They walked out of the gym, and into the training room, where Robin and Kaldur were sparring. They stopped as the two entered the room, talking about random things, mostly asking Lovette to stop using her mutation that allowed her to act as a human radio, or at least switch the song.
Robin turned to Aqualad, "You know they're gonna turn into a couple right?"
Aqualad smirked, "I believe they will."
"Really expected him to go for Megan." Robin admitted.
"Megan is a very sweet girl, but that might be the problem." Kaldur explained. "Conner needs someone who understands his rage, and is not afraid to put him in his place when he needs to be."
Robin chuckled a little, but the Megan walked in. "Do we warn her that in a while the only options she'll have left is a thirteen year old and a fish?"
Aqualad gave him a stern look. "It is not our place."
Robin turned to look at Artemis and Wally who had walked in together, "Can we at least tell them to give up the act and make out already?"
Aqualad glared at him, "Again, not our place."
The computer's voice rang out, "Recognized, Batman, Zero Two."
"Computer, national news." He ordered, walking in quickly.
The teens watched as the computer opened a video, and Metropolis was attacked by huge plants.
"Should we get out there?" Robin asked.
"No." Batman dismissed. "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 Cobra."
Wally spoke up, "Who combined it with bane's venom to create Cobra venom."
"Which the Brain used to create his animal army." Robin finished.
"Wow, have I missed that much by not reading the mission files?" Mio asked.
"Used it to upgrade wolf too." Conner threw in.
"The Brain also used inhibitor collars." Megan said. "Like the ones at Bella Reeve penitentiary."
"Batman, is it possible that Plant is on cobra venom too?"
"That's what I want to know." Batman said, walking over to Mio with two small containers. "This one is a sample of Cobra venom brought back by the team."
Mio took it, opened it, and took s short sniff. She grimaced, "Ugh, it smells disgusting."
He gave her the other one, "This a small sample of a drug we found in the plant's cellular make up."
She smelled that one too. "Yep, that's definitely Cobra venom, and something else too, but I'm not sure." she confirmed.
Aqualad spoke up, "These can not be coincidences, unrelated criminals are cooperating with each other world wide."
"Exactly." Batman said. "Our enemies have formed some kind of secret society of super villains."
"Which means the attack on Metropolis is only the beginning." Mio said.
"Got that Right." Robin said, looking at a computer screen he had pulled up. "Those plants have sprouted in major cities all over the world."
Suddenly, the feed was cut short, and the Joker appeared on the screen. He tapped the glass for a moment, "Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt your regularly scheduled mayhem to bring you this important announcement." He turned to camera to show a small group of people, "From the injustice league."
The man in the middle with white hair spoke up, "We are responsible for the attacks on your cities. If you wish to save them, a ransom of ten billion American dollars is required. Delivery instructions have been sent to the united nations. There is not time limit, but, the more time your governments hesitate…"
The Joker turned to camera back to him, "The more we get to have our… jollies!" He broke off into laughter, and then the video cut off.
Batman talked into his com link, "Roger that Wolverine, tell them to prepare the ransom as a fall back, but it wont come to that." He stressed. He looked up at Mio, "He says Laura will be staying confined in the X-mansion throughout this battle. The plant's give off her 'key scent'."
"So that's what I smelled." Mio said. When everyone looked confused, she explained "When she was created, they made her so that when she smelled a certain scent, she attacked everything and everyone around her, until the scent had run it's course."
Robin pulled up the picture of the Injustice league, "Count Vertigo, the Joker, Poison Ivy, Ultra Humanite, Atomic Skull, Black Atom, Wotan, and some guy I don't know." Robin said, indicating the man that stood next to Atomic Skull and in front of Wotan. He had a black mow hawk, blue eyes, and a cocky smirk on his face.
"I know him." Mio said, "His name's Daken, I've brawled with him a few times."
"Great." Robin said, "Eight heavy hitters, probably behind nearly everyone we've faced."
"There's your secret society." Wally said.
"Not so secret anymore." Artemis pointed out.
"Perhaps after India, they thought we would devise the truth and saw no point in hiding any longer." Kaldur offered.
"Yeah, well that was their mistake, right now, I say we got kick some plant creature butt!" Wally said, eager to go.
"The Justice League and the X-men will handle the plants." Batman shot down, "I have a different job for this team."
"Oh man." Wally complained.
Artemis punched him. "Ow."
"With the plants attacking so many locations simultaneously, there must be a central control system." Batman explained. "You're mission is to destroy it."
"You realize what you're really asking them to do." Zutana said with worry.
"They're ready." Batman argued.
"Ready?" Wally asked. "Ready for what?"
Artemis hit him again, "Hello Wally, if the big guns are fighting plants, who do you think we'll be fighting?"
"I don't know! I guess we'll-" Artemis pointed to the screen showing the injustice League, "Oh."
Zutana turned to Batman, "Well Batman, I trust you are correct."
"I trust you can locate the enemy." Batman said.
"Indeed." He said.
IN THE BIO SHIP
"So, why are you coming with us?" Conner asked Mio as they flew across in the bio ship.
"Don't want me around?" She joked, "Actually, it's because of the man, Daken. I don't like the idea of sending you into a fight he's a part of unless I'm with you."
"He's that bad?" Conner asked.
"Worse than anyone you've faced." Mio said, and then turned away.
Conner had never seen her uniform before, Black combat boots, black leather pants, a tight leather sleeveless shirt that he had no idea how she actually got to fit, not that she was fat, she was actually really toned, but the leather just hugged her so tight… he shook those thoughts away, and looked at her mask. She pulled it up over her head, tucking her hair in. It was a cowl, like Batman's, but the ears were different, more like Wolverine's mask. Black leather gloves completed the outfit, they had an opening for her middle finger claws to push through, and two more opening on the bottom of each wrist.
Conner cleared his throat, "Uh, Mio-"
"We're on a mission, it's Hell Hound now." She said firmly.
"Right, but-"
Megan suddenly groaned, "What's wrong?" Wally asked.
"A little dizzy," Megan sighed, frowning deeply.
"Whoa, flyers get airsick?" Robin raised a brow.
"That's ironic," Wally noted.
"Not me. Her."
"Uh, I feel fine," Mio replied.
"No. Her."
"Me?" Artemis turned in her seat to face Jeanne.
"No!" she sighed in frustration. "This ship! She's trying to shield us, but-"
The ship suddenly lurched violently, and everyone clung to the edge of their seats desperately. The ship was hit again, and it fell, toppling and sinking into swampy water. Everyone groaned, trying to figure out what had happened.
Megan cringed in sudden pain as a hole was torn open on the ceiling. Black Atom stuck his face into the ship. "He's hurting her!"
Large plant vines wrapped themselves around the ship, dragging them deeper into the water. Artemis dug around in her pockets, "No. No way am I drowning three missions in a row!"
She placed a mouth-breather on her lips and held on out to Wally. "Wow, uh...thanks."
Mio smirked at that.
Conner turned to Megan, "We need to get out, open a hatch."
"Hello Megan! Of course."
Megan opened a hole in the bottom of the ship. Out! Everyone out! Aqualad urged.
They all swan out quickly, and them stumbled onto dry land as the ship sank. "She's in shock." Megan said, referring to the ship. "She'll need some time to recover."
Everyone suddenly collapsed in pain, as Count Vertigo stood over them. Oppressing them with his telepathy.
"Vertigo." Kid Flash groaned.
"Count Vertigo to you, peasant."
Superboy tried to get up and punch Vertigo, but Black Atom swooped in, slamming him down painfully.
Aqualad grabbed water from the lake, hurling it at Vertigo and sending him back.
Robin, Miss Martian, disappear! We will keep them busy, fulfill the mission objective. Kaldur told them telepathically.
They did so, and then the fight began.
WITH THE INJUSTICE LEAGUE:
Joker laughed as he made the plant creatures attack the helpless cities. Hero's tried to fend him off, but time was taking it's toll. Soon, he will crush them.
Poison Ivy leaned on the central plant, rubbing it with the affection of a mother, Daken standing next to her. "So you like plants?"
"As the name would suggest." Ivy retorted.
Daken was silent, just staring at her as she talked to the Joker, her costume showing just enough skin to tease the eyes of onlookers. "Nice costume." He said, smirking.
"Thanks, where is your's?" She asked.
"I don't wear a costume." He said, looking down at his black pants and dark red shirt. "I've tried, but it just isn't me."
She paused, "So, you said that an X-man is now working with the covert team Young Justice?"
"That's right."
"Which one?" She asked, "There's a good amount of X-men out there."
"You know Wolverine, right?" Daken asked her.
"Yeah, saw him drop off the Joker with Batman once at Arkum." She said. "He's the one working with them?"
"No, the girl who looks like a smaller version of him." He explained, using his hands to imitate the way the mask looked.
"Oh, that one." Ivy said. "I've seen her once on the news with the other X-men, stopping a few brotherhood members from terrorizing a city park." Ivy looked worried, and Daken noticed.
"Leave her to me." He smirked.
WITH YOUNG JUSTICE:
Count Vertigo and Black Atom glared down a the unconscious teenagers, "Three are missing." Count Vertigo spat.
Hell Hound watched from the tree line, sinking into the shadows. Sorry guys, but for this plan to work, I can't be captured. She followed them silently as Count vertigo and Black Atom took them away. Time for a little family reunion! You hear that Daken? I'm coming for you.
She saw the bio ship flying up above and a sudden thought struck her.
AT THE INJUSTICE LEAGUE:
Megan turned to Robin as he dodged an attack, Robin, she's made contact!
Artemis? Robin asked.
No. Megan said, smirking.
The bio ship suddenly appeared, and Hell Hound jumped out, Falling right onto the glowing cage containing her friends. She kicked Count Vertigo off, and then jumped at Wotan, stabbing right through the hand he was using to create the cage.
He screamed, and dropped the cage, making Hell Hound and the rest fall, while the Bio ship shoved Black Atom as hard as it could. Black Atom regained his balance, and grabbed Count Vertigo.
"Not me!" He protested, "Stop those delinquents!"
Hell Hound grabbed Artemis as they fell, since she was the only won who had not regained consciousness.
"This is gonna hurt." Mio mumbled, as they hit the ground together, Mio breaking Artemis' fall, hurting herself in the process.
They slowly stood up, Mio wincing as her ribs cracked back into place, "Thanks." Artemis said, having come to when they fell.
"Pain." Mio choked out, blood leaking out of her mouth. She wiped it away, taking a deep breath as Conner glanced up, catching Ultra-Humanite's gaze. "I hate monkeys."
Mio looked up, and shoved Artemis out of the way, as Daken popped his claws, one between the ring finger and pinky, and one between the pointer finger and middle finger on each hand, before Mio could dodge, he sunk his claws into Mio's chest.
Artemis looked up, and gasped at the sight. "Hell Hound! She cried, firing an arrow at Daken. He dodged, yanking Mio with him, his claws still imbedded in her chest.
She groaned, and Daken put her in front of him, smirking at Artemis, "You wanna try that again? Go on, hit her too."
Artemis glared at him, and Mio shrieked as he yanked his claws violently, tearing cardiac muscle, skin, and probably cutting into other internal organs. Through the incredible pain, Mio shouted, "Help Aqualad, I'll be fine!"
She popped her claws, and then stabbed behind her, shoving her claws into Daken's neck. He screamed, and pulled his claws out of her, stumbling back.
They both faced each other as his neck wound healed, and her wounds healed also. Hell Hound looked down at her uniform, the short now had blood on it, and cuts in the leather.
"I'm sending you the bill for this costume. She growled, lunging at him. They both slashed at each other, trying to go for any shot that they could get.
Daken stabbed through her thigh, and she retaliated by shoving her knee into the side of his head as hard as she could.
He grunted, stepping back as she pelted him with blows, but easily dodged every one of them, before sinking both of his claws into each of her shoulders, and then pinning her down after a little difficulty.
"Haven't changed at all." he taunted her, "Still the same weak little girl I met four years ago."
She struggled, but his only twisted his wrists viciously, severing through skin, flesh, and bone.
She screamed, and his smile grew. "Still can't fight, can't even make a mark on me."
Suddenly, he face lit up, and a cocky grin broke out on her face, "Actually, I can."
She used her legs to shove him off of her, and then leapt at him, viciously cutting his face several times before he kicked her away from him. He glared at her, "How did you-"
"You got a false sense of security." She taunted, "And I took advantage of it."
He frowned, "I never do that, I'm always-" Suddenly something occurred to him, and he broke out into a grin, "Oh, pheromone control huh? Another way you're like me."
Mio glared at him, "I'm nothing like you!" She said, lunging at him and their bloody battle continued.
Suddenly, there was a loud explosion, and they both turned to see the plant being blown up, Miss Marian and Robin standing on top of the building.
"Timber." Robin said quietly.
Mio snorted, and turned back to Daken, to find he wasn't there. She paused for a moment, before feeling his claws stabbing into her lower back, and then through her stomach. She screamed, and he yanked them out, tearing through more muscle.
She whirled around, kicking him in the stomach. If only to have Laura's feet claws right now…
He grunted, and then glared at her, and she smirked, "A handful of kids just ruined your team's plan!" He smirked along with her, and she didn't like that.
"I don't care." He said. "Truth be told, only reason I agreed to help was to see you."
"I'm flattered." She spat, trying to hit him again.
He got out of the way, and then grabbed her arms, pinning her down on her stomach, and resting his knee on her back. "Wanted to see how the little cub was doing."
"Stop calling me that!" She snapped.
He jammed his knee into her back harder, "When you can make me stop, I'll stop, cub!"
She shrieked in rage, and he grabbed her mask, yanking it off and jumping away. She stood up immediately, growling at him, "Give it back!"
He chuckled, and tossed the mask to her. She immediately pulled it on, and he shook his head. "Are you that desperate to win Logan's approval? Dressing like him, fighting on his team, living with him, following him around everywhere like a helpless little puppy!" He glared at her, "It's pathetic, not only that, but it's ruining my reputation."
She glared at him, adjusting the mask, "I'm not desperate to win his approval." She snapped, "Unlike some, I actually listen to Wolverine."
He snorted, "Teacher's little pet."
"At least I'm not a spoiled brat trying to get his Daddy's attention by breaking the rules!" She snapped. He slashed at her face, but she blocked easily, and then whirled around in a round house kick, her combat boot colliding with the side of his face easily.
"Look!" She snapped, "If you have nothing against Young Justice, then help us!"
He snorted, "Why would I do that?"
"Because, you're not a villain. You're crazy, you have a very dark outlook on life, and the last thing you wanna do is take after Logan's history. But you are not a villain." She reasoned, "I don't have to be afraid of you, because you don't want to kill me, if your really telling the truth."
He stared her down, "Prove that you don't have to be afraid of me."
She took a deep breath, and sheathed her claws. She slowly walked over, right in front of him. She glared at him, and then lifted her chin, exposing her neck. "You'll never get a better shot."
He lifted his claws to her neck, and pressed down. Not hard enough to break the skin, but almost. He stared at her, waiting for her to flinch, to whimper, to run and hide like she used to do, but she didn't. He smirked, and then shoved his claws through her neck viciously.
She screamed, yanking back and grabbing her jugular he had sliced open as it poured blood and clear fluid. She collapsed on her knees, coughing up blood as the wound closed up, and the pain faded.
When she looked up, he was gone again. She sniffed, his scent was gone as well. She knew he could just be controlling his pheromones so that he gave off no scent, but she knew, this time he was really gone.
She looked over at the team, to see lightning suddenly strike them, one by one. She jumped up, trying to run over to Wotan and stop him, but she was struck down too.
Just as suddenly as the lightning began it stopped. She heard Wally shout out, "No Aqualad, don't!"
And suddenly, Aqualad was gone, and Dr. Fate was flying up to meet Wotan.
Hell Hound shrank back into the shadows as she watched the other's fight their battles. She could come help, but letting the team depend on someone who couldn't come with them every time they were on a mission. Helping them now would do more harm than good.
She saw the Justice League fly in, and quickly come to their young ward's aid.
"It's over." Batman said as they cornered them, and Hell Hound stepped out.
"There will be another day." Count Vertigo said.
"Another day? Another day! There won't be another day! Not for any of us!" Joker screamed as he wiggled his fingers. Small bulbs sprouted from the vines, releasing thick clouds of gas. Batman slammed his fist into Joker's face, "Joker Venom spores! Don't breathe!"
"Fear not!" Fate shouted. He rose into the air and absorbed the deadly venom into a magical vacuum. The villains stared in shock as Fate gazed down at them. "Fate as intervened!"
After the whole DR. Fate incident was taken care of, Wolverine walked over to Hell Hound. "Where's Daken?"
She glared at the ground, "He got away. Again."
Wolverine chuckled, but everyone could tell he was saddened by that. "No worries kid, you'll get him next time." He put his hand on her shoulder and she looked up at him. For a moment, he looked at her with pride, relief, and love.
That look was all she needed, no words of praise passed between them, simply a look of understanding.
Wolverine was proud she had stood her ground, that she had faced Daken, the one man she feared, without backing down. He was relieved that Daken hadn't hurt her, well, not as much as he had the last time he had gotten a hold of her.
Hell Hound was angry, angry Daken had gotten away. She was scared, facing your worst and only fear can do that to you, make you scared to where the only thing that can help is being with someone who cares abut you.
"Come on kid." Wolverine said, leading her away from every one else. "I had to tie copper top to a chair to keep her form coming with me, and she's gonna want to know everything that happened." He gave her a look, "Just tone down the life threatening parts."
Batman spoke up, "Hell Hound, you and I are going to have a talk tomorrow."
"What did I do?" She whispered to Wolverine as they walked away.
"No clue," Logan said, "Here's some advice, when he really starts to wail on ya with the lecturing, just start crying, worked for Jubilee and Kitty loads of times with Cyclops."
Hell Hound glared at him, "Yeah... not gonna happen."