I sighed, sitting down at the table across from Jubilee at the only Japanese restaurant in town. She looked up from her food to give me a pointed look. "Well, how've you been?"
"Fine." I said. We were silent for a few moments, eating.
"How's teaching martial arts going?"
"Fine." Another pause, this one lasting a short time.
"How's being a babysitter going?"
"Den Mother." I corrected.
She stared at me, "What?"
"They call it Den Mother." I said, plucking a fishcake out of my bowl and tossing it into my mouth with the chop sticks.
"How do you like being referred to as a mother?" She asked.
I paused for a moment. "Fine."
"Back to square one." She noted.
"Naturally." I countered.
She sighed, "So, the kids seem nice."
"Artemis and Wally won't shut up, Megan is crushing on Conner but he's not interested, Kaldur annoys me, and Robin is… Robin." I said.
"Sounds like you're in Hell." She said.
"It's not that bad." I dismissed.
"Wow, you actually like it here?" She asked.
I paused, "Well, they're annoying, but they're… kids. They're heroes, they save the world, and everything considered, reasonably strong."
Jubilee nodded, "And you're amazed that they didn't have to go through what you did to get that strong."
"Not necessarily." I sighed, "Conner's got Daddy issues, not as bad as mine, but still. Megan, you're right about that one, no trauma as far as I can tell, and I'm always right when it comes to that."
"Cocky much?" She asked.
"You want me to go through the list again?" I asked.
"No." She said quickly. "You're always right when it comes to that type of thing."
The list was basically me picking out random strangers and listing what big traits happened in their life. Using my nose to tell what emotions they generally carried, and their facial expressions, amount of worry lines, etc., I could usually figure out what their past was. Last time I listed ten people, and then left Jubilee to deal with a bunch of people wondering why I could tell them their deepest fears.
"Anyways, Aqualad, I've done a little snooping, abandonment issues." I said, sighing, "Kind of like me, but his father just doesn't care, I don't even know if his father knows about him."
"Is that better or worse?" She asked.
"Better." I clarified. "And Artemis, she's the daughter of the current Sports Master, and the former Tigress."
"The Sports Master?" She asked.
"Yeah, that blond guy Logan fought once, he told you to get in the jet when he fought him."
"You weren't around when that happened." She debated.
"Logan likes to tell stories a bit to much." I said, shrugging, "And he clued me in on some of this before I came. Guess he figured I would end up mentoring them all."
"How much?" She asked.
"Artemis' and Aqualad's fathers, Kid Flash's past, and Super Boy's origin." I said, shrugging, "The rest I figured out."
"Anyways, they've all been through a lot, even Wally. Major family feud with that guy." I shrugged.
"You wouldn't know by looking at him." Jubilee said, smirking.
"People wouldn't know I'm a feral mutants descended from wolves just by looking at me." I retaliated.
"Put your mask on, and they'll probably guess it." She smirked.
"… I really need a costume change." I grumbled.
"Why?" She asked, "You look fine."
"How many costume changes have you had in the past?" I asked.
She was silent.
"Exactly." I said, ending the conversation, then turning to the waitress next to me, "Watashi wa chekku wa shite kudasai koto wa dekimasu ka?" Can I please have the check?
She nodded, going off to get it.
Jubilee shrugged, "So, how's school?"
"Failing every class, like usual." I answered.
"You know, if you actually applied yourself-"
"I'm not Superman." I said firmly. "I can't be a superhero and a star student. I chose being a fighter over a thinker a long time ago."
I wasn't a wonder child, I can't get good grades and be in the hero business at the same time. I decided a long time ago which was more important to me. Logan didn't mind. As long as I was making straight A's in the danger room, he was fine with my performance.
The waitress brought my check, and I paid for the meal, and then me and Jubilee went to the apartment.
"So." She said once we were inside, "You gonna let me have at those kids? I could help you shove some skill into their heads."
"Actually, I'm doing fine on my own, you're welcome to tag along tomorrow though."
Suddenly my phone rang, and I quickly answered it, "Talk now."
"There's been an incident here." Batman said.
"What happened? Conner find his heat vision?" I asked.
"No." He said, "I'll explain tomorrow when you come in, but just to be clear, there will be no physical training."
"That bad huh?" I asked.
He grunted, "Just do what you're told." He hung up.
I snorted, "Mr. talkative."
Jubilee raised an eyebrow at me, "So, where do I sleep?"
"You sleep?" I asked.
She glared at me, "Very funny."
"Sorry, I'm stereotypical." I shrugged.
"And you're racist." She pointed out.
"You would be too if your childhood was spent around people who continuously bashed you because you were one fourth of a different race than them." I snapped.
"Yeah yeah, sob story, Daddy wasn't there for you, I get it. Grow up already, you aren't the only one who's been through this." She said, her voice was calm and comforting, but her words were accusing and contradicting.
"I know." I said slowly.
"Eventually, you're going to have to let go." She said.
"Never." I hissed. "I will never forget what he did to me."
"The only thing he did to you was not be there. He didn't even know you existed! He couldn't have been there for you!" She protested.
"Now you're defending him?" I asked, shocked.
"No! I'm saying if you don't just let it go, this revenge thing is going to ruin your life, permanently!" She contradicted.
"This is my life, and if I wanna spend it using all my time and effort trying to kill one guy, I'll do it!" I snapped.
"Have you ever thought what would happen if you killed him? You know Batman would kick you off of Young Justice. He doesn't tolerate killing people."
"No duh detective." I snorted. "And don't think you know everything about me, you don't!"
"I've been listening to your angst filled story over and over since I met you, I bloody well should know everything." She paused, as if wondering whether to say what she wanted to. "Cub."
I froze for a moment, that one word set me off to the point where I did the unthinkable. I jumped her, tackling her to the floor.
We rolled for a minute, her trying to wrestle me off, but I wouldn't let her, I popped my claws, and stabbed the floor right next to her face. I leaned closer while her eyes widened, not expecting me to have done that. "If you ever call me that again-"
"Think about what you're doing." She said quickly.
I froze again, realizing that I had nearly killed her. I took a deep breath, and sheathed my claws getting off of her, and looking away from her. "Sorry." I mumbled, "That was uncalled for."
She stood up, putting a hand on my shoulder, "No, it was completely called for." She said, "I know how you feel about being called that, especially by Daken."
I shrugged her hand off, "He just… he calls me that when he cuts me up. I guess, I've just… over time… associated that name with pain. Whenever someone calls me that, I just… I don't get scared I just-"
"You expect he's gonna pop out and slice you up." She finished.
"Yeah…" I mumbled.
She hugged me, and then yawned, "Well, I'm off to bed, have fun sleeping, don't stab through your mattress again."
I snorted, "Vain wishes."
She shrugged, walking away, "I prefer to look at it as, hoping for the best."