A/N: This was originally supposed to be only one chapter, but it's gotten to be so long I'm splitting it into two parts, but they'll be published together.
Saturday the 17th of December
12:00am
"It is not possible…and yet…" Kaldur rolled to his side in the mountain side layer, away from the alarm clock. He sighed heavily, closing his eyes against the moonlight streaming into his room. No matter what he tried he couldn't get to sleep.
"I gave the anklet to Tula, not to Cailan…I am sure of it. I did not even know her until this summer! But the story she told…" Kaldur flipped onto his stomach and buried his face into the pillow.
"The story she told was exactly as I remember, but I do not remember Cailan!"
…
Cailan held her breath as she peered around the corner. She was sure she'd heard everyone go to sleep already but she couldn't be sure of it. And the last thing she wanted was for them to think she was trying to escape or snooping around.
The coast was clear.
Constantly looking over her shoulder she opened the blinds to the windows, the moonlight flooding into the living room of the mountain hideaway. She wanted more than anything to open the window, climb out and walk along the beach, feeling the cool sand between her toes, feeling the warm waters of the night lick her feet.
However, the alarm was on and if she unlocked the window it would go off and then she'd really be in trouble. With a sigh she put the ear buds of her headphones into her ears and began listening to Requiem, closing her eyes and drawing her breath in deep.
Cailan was frustrated out of her mind. She didn't want to dance; she felt it was senseless, especially now. All through high school she'd kept the foolish hope alive that she'd be scouted and giving a college scholarship for her dancing abilities. She'd entertained the notion that she'd be accepted into a ballet troupe and she'd make a name for herself, that she'd finally make it like she'd dreamed. But it'd always been just a dream. Deep down she'd known that the possibilities of it actually coming true were little to none.
And now she was stuck inside a mountain that no one knew about. She couldn't leave, couldn't go outside without an escort; Megan had insisted that she wasn't trapped, wasn't a prisoner, but the more Cailan thought about her dreams of being a dancer the more she felt like a bird in a cage, who's wings hadn't been clipped.
But she'd choreographed this dance for the performance at the end of the school year and now she couldn't stop thinking about the moves. She wanted them to be perfect. She had no reason to dance anymore, there wasn't any end that dancing would bring her to. Yet she still wanted the dance to be perfect. No, she didn't want it, it had to be perfect.
The floors of the mountain base were specially made; they didn't tremble as she jumped and spun, they didn't vibrate with her moves. It wasn't like being in the school gymnasium where her footsteps echoed or like being on a stage where her steps became throbbing, deep masses. Here she was silent, like a ghost. Like a good dancer should be; her footfalls were as loud as drifting snow.
…
12:34am
Kaldur finally gave up on trying to sleep. He was going to get a drink and then slip into the waters at the base of the mountain for a swim. He needed to clear his head.
He stretched and massaged his neck; crime had been down and his team was getting along better now. The stress had eased somewhat. Yet there was a growing fear at the back of his mind that they were coming across something even greater, that they had some trail yet to face.
"And there's still the matter of that mole…" he grimly reminded himself as he massaged the back of his neck walking down the hall.
He passed the doorway to the living room and then doubled back; he'd seen something. Pulling a stream of water from the sink and inched along the wall, his body prepared for attack. Shifting so as to peer around the corner he looked again. Doing so he let out a frustrated breath.
It was only Cailan.
He couldn't deny that he enjoyed watching her, but there was also an irritation in him. Did she not understand how dangerous it was? But no. How could she? Perhaps she would never understand. Kaldur let himself watch the gentle contours of her body move. She was lovely to watch.
She danced, at first, with painstaking perfection, her face strained in concentration. He watched her falter a few steps, but she ignored these and continued on. And soon, as he watched her face, her body relaxed. She let her body fully ease into dancing, she gave into it; he watched as she positively radiated. Her movements became less precise and less formal, but her movements more graceful and she made fewer mistakes when she gave her body up to her dance.
He looked on her and saw that it must be that she looked dancing how he felt swimming.
Kaldur did not feel a danger in letting her dance. He wished he could watch her, but his heart pulled him to the water. It stood well to him that this would serve as a first test to Cailan. She had free reign this night to do as she wished. For ill or good would decide where she stood in their family.
…
4:42am
Cailan's legs shook under her. She'd been at it for hours; constantly catching herself losing herself in the dance. It needed to be perfect, had to be and here she was, getting lost to the whims of movement that took her.
She was so taken that she didn't notice Conner come into the room.
For his own he watched for a little bit, through drowsy and lidded eyes. He nodded, a look of appreciation on his tired face, but he realized she took no notice of him.
"Cailan," he said, catching her with a hand on her shoulder.
She gasped, jumping nearly out of her skin as she turned around vehemently. She yanked the ear buds from her ears and breathed heavily, her eyes wide as she stared at him.
"Y-You scared me," she managed out.
"You're a good dancer," he nodded, still tired, the look on his face neutral.
"Uh…thanks. Thanks," she said, nodding.
"What are you doing up?"
"Uh…" she glanced down and looked at herself, sweating and trembling from the long practice. "d-dancing…"
"Ah…right," he nodded as if they'd been talking about deep philosophical things.
Conner rubbed the sleep from his eyes and stretched, rolling his neck.
"And you…" she asked, looking around and stepping back from him.
"Hungry; this must be what Wally feels like twenty-four, seven," he muttered with a shrug.
"Oh," was all she could say.
"Want something?" he called over his shoulder to her, as he walked into the kitchen.
"…yeah, yeah sounds good."
…
"Always get the munchies at four in the morning?" she questioned over a bowl of cereal.
He shrugged again.
"Heh, real talker huh?" she joked looking around slightly uncomfortable. Small talk wasn't her forte.
"I just don't have a lot to say," he said gruffly, looking up with narrowed eyes.
"Sorry," she said, cringing a little.
They ate on in silence for a while. Conner glanced up and looked her over. Thinking over it, he felt that maybe he'd been too grumpy. Megan had a similar disposition when he yelled at her.
With a heavy sigh he put down his spoon and looked up at her. "No, I am. I'm kind of grumpy when I first get up,"
"It's cool. I'm a total cat if I don't eat," she shrugged with a little smile.
"Fair enough," he smiled back.
"So, Superboy?" she said, questioning his name.
"…" he stopped and stared at his bowl of milk-sodden cereal for a long moment.
"Never mind, sorry." She said hastily.
"…it's…alright." He forced out. "I…am Superman's…I'm his clone."
It was Cailan's turn to freeze. "…that is…absolutely mind bending. I didn't think it was possible…" she looked up with bewildered eyes. "That's pretty cool."
Conner scoffed and rolled his eyes, digging into his food once again.
"You don't think so?"
"No." his voice was solid and she knew not to talk on it further.
"You care about Megan huh," she said, her eyes drifting to somewhere other than the present moment.
"…uh…well…yeah, I mean, she's a teammate and a friend…"
"And…you care a lot, right?" Cailan continued, as if she hadn't really heard his reply or the awkwardness in his voice.
"…sure…" he said bewildered as to where this was going. Had Megan asked her to talk with him?
"…how…how did you tell her? I mean…what do you say when you care for someone?"
Conner looked at her; this was something he'd never fathomed. He didn't even understand, he wasn't a real human kid. Where the heck was this conversation going?
"…uh…dunno. It just kinda happened," he said, letting his mind drift back to the in-prison kiss after he'd rescued Megan from the ice she'd been trapped inside.
"oh."
"What's with the questions?" he asked, turning it back on her.
"Urm…" she snapped out of her look and went positively red. "N-nothing. I…uh, just being nosey." She said, catching his eye then looking quickly away and shoveling cereal down as fast as she could.
"Well…I'm gonna get back to sleep. Night Conner," she said in a rush, drinking down her milk and darting to the sink to dispense of her bowl before nearly running to her room.
"Uh, okay. Night," Conner said to a nearly empty room, his eyebrows raised.
…
Tuesday the 20thof December
11:13am
"No school!"
"Wally you've said that every day of break so far," Megan laughed.
"But it's so great!" he laughed, running full speed through the hideout.
"Alright guys get over here!" Dick called as he came through the tunnel transport. "I've got the plans for the Wayne party,"
They gathered eagerly; it was a famed party and the first year the rest of them would be going.
"Hey, where's Kaldur?" Artemis asked as she meandered over with Megan, the two chitchatting.
"Yeah, come to think of it Cailan isn't around either…" Wally said looking around for his again-friend.
"…convenient they're both gone together," Dick mused, a sly look on his face.
"Hmm. They're down at the sea-exit with the ship," Megan said cheerfully, her hands at her temples.
…
"What are you two doing?" Wally taunted, like a little brother, hanging over the side of the entrance from the layer to the cave-exit at the base of the mountain.
Cailan looked up into the light, it making her eyes sparkle like emeralds. Her feet were dangling in the water. Kaldur was standing on it in front of her, working with his back to her at practicing his water techniques.
"Cailan has given us demonstrations of her talents," Kaldur said calmly and innocently. "I thought with her living here it would not be a problem for her to see what we do."
"I get to see you run all the time Wally," she added to Kaldur's point, shifting her gaze back to Kaldur on the water.
Wally felt a tinge inside and let his face fall to a frown. He darted down the stairs onto the platform where she sat. "You haven't seen half of what I can do," he argued.
Without waiting he darted off and was running on the water, running in circles around Kaldur.
"Wally," Kaldur said, adjusting his sorcery for Wally disrupting the waters he stood on.
Cailan straightened and let the smile she'd worn fall from her face.
"Hey stop goofing off!" Robin laughed. "I've got news, get your buts to the command-room!"
"Tch, Wally!" Kaldur said, the water-platform he was standing on rocking horribly side to side as Wally continued to run around the waters of the docking-bay.
"Wally, stop, I didn't mean it like that!" Cailan said, trying to hide her giggles.
"Hah, ever wanted to walk on water Cailan?" he said with a smirk, running over to where she sat and pulling her to her feet.
Cailan sank into the water up to her ankles when Wally began pulling her along, an arm around her waist to support her. She felt her body get jerked around this way and that, her feet skimming over the water.
"Wally!" Dick yelled, tossing his smoke-pellets at him.
"Hey!" Wally said, stopping; Cailan instantly fell into the water and Wally, realizing he'd stopped began to run just in time for her to slip from his hands.
She didn't have time even to gasp as she slid below the surface. She blinked fast a few times and then squeezed her eyes shut hard soon after. Her hair levitated about her face as she slowly sank towards the depths. Fighting the sting of the salt against her eyes she tread water, trying to get again to the surface. It wasn't any worry of hers about drowning.
And then her hair fell flat against her face and neck; her clothes hugged her body sodden all of a sudden. She slowly opened her eyes; they were blurred, she thought from the burning of the salty water. With a second glance, however, she saw she was, in fact, encased in a bubble of water. There was a gentle movement; not one of floating. What was happening was that as the 'bubble' of water was fed with undulating movements of water.
The water melted away and she was left sitting on the docking bay, looking up at Kaldur and Wally.
"Cailan—"
"Dude, don't start I'm fine." She laughed. "I do know how to swim."
She stood and began wringing the water out of her hair.
"We will get you a change of clothes and then shall we go find what Robin has heard of the…charity party?"
…
"Finally," Dick muttered as everyone filed into the command room.
"So what's the deal with the party?"
"What's the plan?" Wally asked.
"Calm down, calm down," Dick said, liking the feeling of their attention. "Alright, so here's the plan: The Bat and I show up incognito and run the shindig. The pre-party to nine is assigned already, all League members. Artemis, you are with Green Arrow, Hawk, Dove and Black Canary on the first round of during-party security, starting at nine and running until eleven. Superboy, you'll be the next round with Kladur, Aquaman, Huntress, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern. Kidflash, you, M'gann and I will be with Batman, Martian Manhunter and Flash.
"Our shifts're about two hours each, but the two hours are divided evenly into segments; we'll have about fifteen to twenty minutes, in pairs with our guard-group, to go about the party on shift. This is to exchange information, keep tabs on any suspicious activity and report to other members of the League. There will be other heroes there, of course, but we're not on shift with any of them, so reporting will be a strictly need-based operation."
"Alright cool," Wally said, rubbing his hands together. "So work and play, I like it."
"Yeah, sounds like a plan. I assume we'll be getting more details that night, before we actually go on shift."
"Hey, you guys haven't heard the best part!" Dick said, his secretive laughter echoing around the table.
"But I bet you're pretty excited to tell us," Artemis laughed, crossing her arms.
"Tch. Duh," the boy wonder said, rolling his eyes at her.
"Well?" Conner asked, prodding Dick.
"Heheh, the theme's a masquerade ball."
…
"…Masquerade?" Wally asked, his excitement slightly stemmed.
"Isn't that just a little cliché?" Artemis said, her voice showing her discontent.
"Tch, yeah, like, seriously? Phantom of the Opera much?" the speed-demon joked as he nudged Artemis in the side.
"Eh. Maybe." Dick shrugged "but it makes hiding the good guys a heck of a lot easier."
"Wouldn't it make finding someone harder?" Cailan asked.
"Well yeah, that's the point," Dick said, scrutinizing her.
"No, I think I understand what Cailan is saying." Kaldur mused, stepping forward into the room. "If someone, such as Cheshire, were to infiltrate the party, it would be hard to find the perpetrator among a crowd of masked party-goers."
"Why would the League agree to a party where potential bad-guys could get in so easily?" Cailan asked as she sat at the table.
There was a tense moment when everyone was quiet and glances were exchanged.
Cailan sighed. "Even if I was some kind of spy out to get you guys, it isn't as if I could get any information out of here, is it? Aren't you ever going to trust me?"
"…point taken," Wally said after some thought, also sitting down. "That aside, we still can't really answer you. It isn't as if we really know what the League's got planned."
Her eyes glittered with something as she looked up at him; Wally was slightly unsettled as her green orbs flashed.
"It seems to me we will need masks for this ball," Kaldur shrugged to his team, his eyes lingering over Cailan.
…
2:00pm
"Hey Megan," Cailan came in from the old training room, sweat still running down her body; Kaldur had said it'd be fine to dance in there since they weren't using it for anything. "Uh, I had a question…"
Cailan couldn't remember feeling so anxious about talking with someone before. She'd spent the last five years of her life faking friendships and skirting plans to hide. Now she didn't have to hide. And she was desperate for a friend.
"Oh okay," Megan smiled and waited.
"Uh, well…K-Kaldur invited me to the party—"
"Oh that's so great! It'll be such a wonderful party, I'm really excited! It's the perfect time to display my new earth-girl persona and learn how to be a better one! I can't wait, Conner and I—uh, I mean…that is…he's looking forward to it too,"
"Ah, cool," Cailan nodded, trying to bypass Megan's embarrassment. "Urm, so…ya wanna make some masks for it together…cause…it's a masquerade and all…?"
"That sounds like fun. Ooh! Let's invite Artemis too! She'll need a mask when she's not in uniform too. Oh, and we can make our masks match our dresses! Do you know what you're going to wear, you'll look so pretty in a ball gown Cailan,"
"Urh, thanks Megan. I'll be excited to see what you create for your dress," Cailan stalled. "Maybe…you should ask her?"
Megan paused for a moment. "You don't like Artemis, do you." It was a statement, not a question.
"Well, I don't think we'd ever be friends, but…I-I wouldn't say I don't like her…" Cailan hadn't fumbled over her words so much. "I guess it's hard when you're not liked by someone."
She felt she'd ended lamely but Megan gave her a soft, gentle smile.
It didn't really matter that Cailan didn't have a dress. She actually wasn't sure she was even going to be able to get one. She'd never been to a masquerade before, had no idea what kind of dress or costume was called for. The life of the rich and famous had never been within her grasp—not when she was old enough to understand it, at least.
"Any idea where we can get what we need to make the masks?"
"Yeah, I think I know a place," Cailan smiled, linking arms with the alien.
…
"How about this?" Megan asked, spinning around; as she did so a skirt billowed around her legs.
"Mmm…" Cailan made an indecisive remark as she examined the pink dress. It didn't look bad.
"What if you made it purple?"
Artemis sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Well…what are you wearing Artemis?" Cailan ventured, keeping her voice even.
"Tck." Artemis looked violently around the room. "Dunno," she said.
"Well, we know you look good in green," Megan laughed.
"Look, this isn't really my thing," Artemis said, her gaze following Conner as he walked down the hall.
Cailan followed her look and then went back to Megan who was still using her organic-morphing skills to adjust dresses. The different looks slid quickly over her and Cailan recognized the undercurrents of an affliction she knew all too well. Megan felt she needed someone to tell her she looked beautiful in these dresses.
"Megan, what do you want to wear?" Cailan blurted out, staring Megan down in the mirror as her hands smoothed the velvet-adorned mask in her hands.
"I think blue…" Megan said slowly, letting the skirt again shift. "And billowy, with princess sleeves…" the skirt became full and the sleeves puffed up around her shoulders in a soft pillow. Princess lines ran down the bust of her gown. "Maybe with white lace filigree…"
Her feet adjusted so that she now stood in kitten strap heels and a thin, gauze shawl wrapped her shoulders. She stood looking into the mirror and a smile spread over her face as she turned again. A sheer overlay came to be on the skirt of the gown that glittered like the shawl around her shoulders.
"Now all you need is a mask," Cailan said.
"You think it'll do?" Megan turned from the mirror.
"Babe, you're going to need Conner to beat guys away from you all night," the elder girl laughed, standing and swinging Megan around so that the dress twirled around the floor.
"Alright Artemis," Megan broke free from Cailan and turned to the blond. "Your turn."
"Look, this isn't really my thing," the girl said standing and inching towards the door, continually looking over her shoulder. "I think…I'm actually up for some training practice so…I'll catch you around."
"Megan…" Cali said after the blond had left. "I think…you and Conner need to tell everyone that you're together now. Artemis…is going to get hurt,"
"…maybe you're right,"
"Alright, why don't we get to work on these masks?" Cali adjusted the subject, turning her attention once again to their task. She was at a deadlock with no dress and no clue why she should even try to go to some high end gala event.
…
"Megan…I need your help," Cailan said, finally dropping the crafting and looking up to her friend.
"What?" the other tilted her head.
"I-I don't have a clue what I'm doing. I don't have a dress…my heart in fluttering out of my chest over this…ball. I—" She looked up again and started laughing nervously. "I think…I really like him,"
There was a flutter in her stomach as she said this; this girl-time was new and exciting.
"This is so romantic!" Megan said; Cali blushed.
"Let's…tackle the dress first…" she changed the subject. "What am I supposed to do?"
"Maybe…I can take you out?"
"heh, no money," she arched her brows and made an apologetic face.
"That is a problem." Megan thought a moment. "Tch, duh! Hello Megan!" her hand clapped to her forehead. "What about the money your parents left you?"
Cailan froze and swallowed hard. "Well, it's not under my control until I'm eighteen…and I can't use it unless…unless I go back to my family."
"Oh,"
"I'm sorry," Cailan shook her head and brought her school-hood smile to her face; Megan couldn't recognize it. "Anyways, let's get your mask made."
"Well, what about your dress? You can't very well go to the party in jeans,"
"Yeah," Cailan had half a mind to not go at all. She began chewing her lip again and began fussing over the feathers and glitter Megan had brought back from the shop Cailan had sent her to.
"You better not be thinking of not going to Mr. Wayne's ball," Megan said, looking up from her mask.
"What would make you think that?" Cailan tried to ask innocently.
"I'm reading your thoughts," Megan said calmly.
Cailan blushed deeply and resumed the masks.
Glancing around, Megan resumed girl talk when no boys were assessed to be near. "So, Kladur?"
Cailan's face was so red she felt the heat as if she were in front of a fire and coughed nervously. "Uh…" the thought that Megan was reading her mind right now made her even more flustered. "y-yeah…I guess. I guess I really do,"
"Oh we have to think of something! You've just got to go,"
"If I could get back to my apartment," Cailan said.
…
3:43pm
"Megan I do not think it is a good idea," Kaldur said, rolling his head and relaxing his shoulders.
"Please Kaldur. I'll be with her, and I can read minds remember? We can trust her."
His grey eyes searched her face. Was she being naïve? Was he? He had though he trusted Cailan but now, now with a test of that trust out in the open he felt he was failing. He took a deep breath and turned to the sea. He wasn't sure how long he spent watching the waves.
"If anything happens it'll be on my head M'gann." He turned back to her.
"Nothing will happen," M'gann brightened and floated on down the hall.
"What was that about?" Wally asked as he walked through the doorway, finishing off a bag of potato-chips and going to the fridge for an apple and yogurt-drink.
"Megan and Cailan are going shopping," Kaldur shrugged and turned back to the sea.
"So, excited to finally get into the Wayne party?" the younger boy asked through a mouthful of apple.
"I suppose. It will be an interesting event, in any case,"
"Wait, you'll be there as Aqualad the entire time, won't you?" Wally asked, suddenly picking up on the fact.
"Yes," Kaldur, hands behind his back.
"Dude! Do you know how lucky you are? Girls are going to be all over a hero!" Wally said, his hands thrown up in the air, the apple half eaten.
"Hm. I suppose so," Kaldur glanced at Wally and looked away again. Girls? No, he just wanted one.
…
4:09pm
"This is where you lived?" Megan asked as they walked through the window from the fire-escape.
"Yeah. Hey, Megan," she paused after stepping into the small apartment. "Can we push back the shopping a little bit, please? I want to do something for Ms. Ginsburg."
Cailan didn't wait for an answer and proceeded through the small apartment and down into the hall. Megan followed along slowly, watching the gentle footfalls of her friend in front of her. Cailan moved so gracefully she almost didn't even walk.
Knocking gently on the last door of the hall down the stairs at the bottom level Cailan turned the handle and walked in. "Ms. Ginsburg?"
Megan heard a scratchy, whispered reply. "I know, I know. It's been a really long time. I'm sorry about that. No, it is my fault. Here,"
Walking in Megan looked over the room across the darkness. Cailan was already in the kitchen; once the stove was on and the little food she'd found was in the pot cooking she walked around the apartment. Her hands weren't as graceful as her feet as she straightened and cleaned things; the first was the bed where the old woman lay most of the time. Then, oddly enough, Cailan went into the bathroom.
"Cailan, what are you doing" Megan hovered in the doorway, asking through her telepathy. She knew Cailan heard it because she gasped.
"Uh…uh well, I have to help her as much as I can while I've got the chance. She doesn't have anyone else…"
Unsure, Megan began helping here and there with her powers, always staying out of sight of the old woman.
"She likes stories," Cailan said over her shoulder as she resumed the dinner she was making.
So Megan stepped forward, changing her appearance to that of an earth girl. She wasn't sure why she was doing it, it was an uncomfortable situation, but at the same time it made her happy to help out. This was what being a hero was about.
Her stories were quick and incoherent, but the old woman was almost completely deaf anyways.
It was almost five thirty when they'd fed her and called in orders for the next month so she'd have food and a bit of care.
…
5:28pm
"Thanks Megan," Cailan said as the two girls walked through the halls back to her apartment room. She stuffed some clothes into a duffel and rummaged around for a bit of money; there was a tin that Natalia had been putting change in that she'd found on the streets. There were the few bills she'd tacked to the fridge for food for the next couple of weeks. And then there was a little stash she'd saved up from before, when she was younger. She kept it hidden in the vent shaft; it was an insurance policy in case her plans had fallen apart and she and Natalia had gone on the run. Things had fallen apart…but she was far from running.
"Alright, let's go," she said, interrupting Megan's gush about how she enjoyed helping where she could.
"Right. Where to?" Megan asked.
"Em…there's a thrift store down the block or so,"
…
When they got there the two girls had a ball trying on different outfits. Cailan showed her what fun it was to put on clothes and different types of dress. They spent hours putting on outfits from years long past, and Megan got a quick lesson of history through the different era's clothes.
"This is wonderful! But," Megan tossed off the hat she'd been wearing. "we must remember we're here to find you a dress for the ball,"
"I'm not sure there's anything here," Cailan said, looking around with a grin on her face. So this was what it was to have a real, actual, true friend. The girls from her school had always acted behind her back, with undertone-comments that were meant as an insult more than a compliment.
"There must be something, what about those?" she said, pointing to wedding dresses.
Cailan laughed. "Well, I guess there's no harm in looking, right?"
"What about this one?" Megan asked, pulling an enormously ruffled dress with flowers running down the bodice.
The other girl paused and laughed, taking the skirt in her hands and pulling it out. She looked to Megan and shook her head, twirling away, letting the skirt be pulled with her so that the fabric billowed in the air. The two commenced to pull dresses haphazardly only to laugh and toss them aside.
"What are you looking for?" Megan asked. "How about pink?"
"Ehm…." Cali paused, thinking a moment. "Pink clashes horribly with my hair…wow that sounds so lame,"
"What do you mean it clashes?"
"Well…see, my hair is kinda…coppery-redish-brown," Cailan moved under the light. "And pink is a cousin of red…color wise; cousins clash,"
"Why'd you pick blue?" Cailan asked, stepping back to the rack of dresses.
"oh…uhm," Megan blushed. "It's the color of his eyes…" she said bashfully.
"That's adorable," Cailan giggled, pulling a dress from the rack and spinning with it before discarding it again moments later. "So, a princess for the ball eh? What's Artemis going as, and Wally?"
"Wally is going as Robin Hood, I think," Megan giggled. "I'm not sure about Artemis, she doesn't seem too enthusiastic about the whole idea…"
"And how about Conner?"
"Uh…he's not totally into the idea either, so I think he's just wearing a tux and mask. I think…I think he's worried about this party in regards to Superman…"
"Conner Kent…Clark Kent…I guess people at the party are going to notice, huh?"
"It worries him." Megan said, putting down a horrible looking bride's maid dress from thirty years ago. "How about Kaldur?"
"…He'll be the Count de Monte Cristo," Cailan let her hands slide over chiffon and silks. "I don't know if I should match him with another a character or not,"
As she spoke her hands drifted across a soft gauze. Megan began speaking but Cailan only half heard what the girl was saying. The gauze was the front of a dress-skirt that was layered, much like the cascades of a waterfall. The bodice was tight fitting, much like that of a dance leotard.
"Hey, Megan," Cailan said, interrupting. "What about this one?"
"Ohh…this is beautiful, is that silk?" Megan's fingers slid across the embroidered bodice and a little train down the back.
"It looks like it…but it must be a night gown or something, the skirt is totally see-through," Cailan said, more to herself.
"But the top isn't like a night gown at all; it's too fitted, and look how low-cut the back is."
"Yeah…" the sheerness of the dress lent it towards a negligee, but that's where Megan's view about the back came in. She was right: it was far too low cut to be simply worn to bed. "I think…it's a ballet costume,"
…
"Blue and black?" Cailan smiled and cocked her head to Megan.
"Yeah, the blue will pull out the color of the dress," the Martian said back.
Cailan was working with a Domino mask, black velvet with gunmetal-black designs worked onto it. The mask she held beaked slightly over the nose in detailing. Unsure how to make her own she looked again to Megan's mask and watched her add feathers and glitter. It looked like a real masquerade mask.
"What is Robin going as?" Cailan asked as she picked up some glitter and glue.
"I think he was going as the Phantom of the Opera," Megan giggled, "I admit that's pretty charming."
"I'm sure he'll pull it off well," Cailan began filling in the spaces around the eyes with glitter; grey and white glitter, with a pale-greyish blue and purple on the outside area of the mask. The gunmetal of the material of the mask shown through the glitter so that when it was turned in the light, the mask had a metallic sheen. Taking a silver-tulle and lining the outside rim of the mask. She set pale grey feathers behind it.
"That's beautiful!" Megan said, leaning over.
"Just taking my cue from yours; I've never really done this before," Cailan shrugged.
"Are you excited?" Cailan asked.
…
Friday the 23rd of December
3:00pm
"C'mon princess," Artemis said as she walked through the door of Cailan's room, tossing a bag to her.
"What?"
"You and Robin are going to the Wayne mansion ahead of time. Get your stuff, you'll be taking the portal,"
"Did you find your dress?" Cailan sat up, trying again.
"…" the blond paused in the doorway, looking over her shoulder. "Yeah, I did."
"…alright…well?" Cailan led, trying for more details.
"Well, what?" Artemis turned and crossed her arms.
"What are you going as? It's a masquerade,"
"…I'mgoingasafairy." She muttered not meeting Cailan's eye.
"…what?"
"I'mgoingasafairy."
Cailan looked at the blond trying to go through what the blond had slurred.
"A fairy. I'm going as…a fairy. Alright?" Artemis growled, clenching her fists as she whipped around to stare at Cailan.
"Tinkerbell?"
"Excuse me?" the blond said, arching a brow.
Cailan smiled at her. "You'd make a good Tinkerbell."
"…c'mon, Dick won't wait forever."
"Be right there,"
…
"Wait, it's just us?" Cali asked as she walked into the transport room and saw only the boy-wonder standing in front of the opening.
"Yep, disappointed?" he had an impish grin.
"No! Just…surprised. What about the others?"
"They're reporting to their mentors," Dick said.
"And you?"
Dick didn't like the way she looked at him when she asked the question. It was one of those looks, the kind that accompanies questions that the asker already knows the answer to. She was smiling, looking innocent enough.
"Batman assigned me to look after you," he quipped, careful to keep his tone unsuspecting.
"Oh…that's right," she said. "I'm a pri—uh, protective custody."
"Yeah, and Speedy—er, Red Arrow wasn't on baby-sitting duty,"
"Oh, very funny!" Cali wrinkled her nose and tousled his hair.
"Haha, hey, his words, not mine." Robin pushed her hand away and gave a gentle tug on her own long hair.
"Alright," she tossed her head, her loosely braided hair flopping back over her shoulder. "Let's get this over with…"
"Sounds like your nervous," the boy laughed, typing in his crazy-fast manner onto a keyboard.
"A bit," she admitted, staring at the empty portal.
"Well, let's get going,"
…
"Hey Alfred," Dick said walking cheerfully though the hall. Cailan noticed he seemed at home.
"And this is Ms. Leal I presume," Alfred said with raised brows and a stoic face.
"Yep. Hey, I'm going to jet on to my room, would you mind…?"
"It would be my pleasure." Alfred said with a slight bow. "Ms. Leal, this way,"
Cailan held her breath as she walked down the enormous halls. Her steps echoed along on the tiles. The hall was grand, grander than she'd ever seen. The halls stretched on for eternities above her, much like a dance hall. There were portraits and paintings all along the oak-paneled walls, plants standing in great pots outside every room. The ceiling above her was arched and painted; her neck strained from looking up.
"Ms. Leal," Alfred stopped at the top of the stairs. "if you wouldn't mind waiting here for a moment,"
She didn't have a chance to answer before he'd started off down the stairs to see to the front door. She stared after him for a moment, and then took opportunity of his absence to look at the front hall. It was even grander than the hallway had been. It stretched tall and wide; she felt she could've fit all of her high school inside of it. The stairs looked like they were marble; all the wood was real oak, stained to a deep, rich color. Cailan wouldn't have been surprised if it were all hand polished and carved and painted.
The words that were being spoken at the front door were murmurs and muddled sounds. It all sounded important, the way the voices were hushed and echoed off of the vast walls. It made her shiver.
"You must be Cailan," the voice was calm and almost kind and it made her ears tingle.
"Yes," she answered, turning. "I…um…guess I'm waiting,"
Her smile was nervous as the man stood before her in a suit with his hands behind his back. His posture and attitude were familiar.
"Ah, well, let me show you around,"
Cailan blushed. "You mean you're…"
"Bruce Wayne," he said, extending his hand with a smile.
"Uh, thanks for…letting me stay here…" she said hesitantly; she didn't really know that she was.
"It's my pleasure to help out the league where I can. Now, while Alfred takes care of that caller, I'll show you to your room,"
He walked down the halls next to her, explaining his house and showing her the halls and the different rooms.
"This is where you'll be staying," he said, opening the room and giving a slight flourish with his smirk.
Bruce Wayne watched the young girl's eyes light up when she saw the room. It was nothing special, but it had three French windows that were cracked just a little, the sheer curtains fluttering and the sunlight pouring in. There was a modest bed in the middle of the room and a plush ran under the bed. The floors were a deep mahogany and there was a fireplace in the corner of the room.
He watched her drop her bag in the middle of the room and run over to the windows, pushing one open fully and staring out over the grounds. His mansion sat on a Cliffside, out in the distance was the ocean and she stared intently at that.
"Glad to see you'll be comfortable," he said kindly, not sure what his judgment of her was now.
"Thank you again…for letting me stay," she said, turning from the window.
He nodded and began to leave. "Oh, and dinner will be at seven," he said as an afterthought.
…
6:53pm
"So…what are we gonna do about my identity crisis?" Dick asked Bruce, swinging his legs from the counter.
"Hm. Well, you could always fake an illness." Bruce joked. "Or wear those tights around all this evening."
"Oh ha-ha." Dick laughed.
"She already knows about the others, at least, we can assume as much." Bruce mused, scratching his chin.
"…" Dick swallowed hard. He knew he should tell his own mentor about his suspicions, but he didn't want Batman to be disappointed in him. On the other hand, if he didn't say anything and they were compromised later…
"I think she's guessed that you're Batman," he blurted out, looking down the second he said so.
Bruce's brow furrowed but he nodded. "Clever girl,"
He relaxed his shoulders and walked sternly over to Dick; the young boy waited for a reprimand. Instead, Bruce tousled the kid's hair. "Alright Richard, let's greet our guest for dinner,"
…
7:00pm
"Hey Robin," Cailan caught herself from saying 'Dick'.
"Hiya Cailan, ready for dinner?" he said; his hair was slicked back and his clothes were very nice and high end. She shifted a little in her faded, thin jeans and stretched tank. Pulling the sleeves of her jacket until she held them firmly in her hands she tucked it around her.
"Yep, let's get going,"
She tried to keep her gaze from running all over the dining hall; it was so amazing. She heard Dick laughing but ignored it as they walked together towards the table. It was intimidating to be in such an immense, dim room, elegant as it was. There were two place settings at one side of the table, a third place set a ways down the table, at the head.
"So…do we eat on china plates with actual silver ware?" she smiled as she whispered to Dick.
He chuckled and led her to the table.
"Allow me," Bruce pulled a chair back for her. Dick arched his brow in speculation at the man, curious as to what his mentor was up to.
"T-thank you," she said, sitting.
Her stomach turned unsurely; she wasn't sure why she felt so ill at ease, but she did.
…
9:30pm
A/N:note, I honestly don't even think this really works but it makes for a good story.
"Alright, you two will have the run of the house until…later this evening," Bruce said, stopping into the study where the two were laughing over a nonsensical game of cards.
"Oh, this is gonna be fun," Dick chuckled behind Bruce's back.
He stood quickly and darted out of the room with his eerie war-laugh. Cailan looked after him for a moment, then put her own cards facedown knowing he must have some other scheme on his mind. She was right. Not too much later he came back with two long-headed brooms and a can of something.
"…we're going to wax the floors?" she asked, looking at him as if he were mad. He just laughed again.
"Trust me."
She stood and followed him outside to the main hall. For an hour they went around waxing the main hall, the stairs and the banisters. It was about ten thirty when Cailan finally tossed down the waxing broom and sat down.
"No more. I didn't realize this was a working vacation,"
"Quit messing around!" Dick chortled as he came over to her and pulled her to her feet. "Take off your shoes,"
"…huh?"
"Your shoes, take off your shoes." He ordered, taking his off and tossing them down the hall towards the front door.
Shaking her head she did as he said and slid off her beaten sneakers. "…okay, now what…?"
"Tch. What do you think?" he demanded, slouching his shoulders and rolling his eyes. "We're gonna slide,"
"You're insane," she giggled, shaking her head.
"No you just don't know how to have fun," he retorted, skating over to her.
Without warning he grabbed her hand and swung her around. She went flying along the tiles, spinning in a circle around Dick until he let go. She gave a little yelp and then skid along the floor, trying to keep her unsteady balance.
"C'mon, you're a dancer, shouldn't you be able to skate right?" he teased her, easily maneuvering around the floor.
"Not like this ya little twerp," she laughed, trying to steady herself. Her green eyes flashed with dangerous determination.
He darted around her this way and that, giving her little pushes and tugs on her hair. He laughed when she'd fall and helped her up again. But she quickly got the hang of things, learning how to stand and then to move. They began playing a two-person game of tag.
"Nonono," she laughed, darting away. "Hey, hang on a sec!"
She skittered over to the living room where there was a radio and put on some tunes. "We played your game, now we'll play mine," she giggled.
"No, no I don't—"
"Ya do now!"
12:09pm
"Master Richard," Alfred said, his face still straight. "I think that is enough for the evening. There will be a long evening for the two of you tomorrow."
"…eh, yeah…I guess you're right ol'man," Dick laughed.
He helped Cailan to her feet as Alfred retrieved their shoes. "Good night, Master Richard, Miss Leal,"
…
Saturday, Christmas Eve
2:56pm
Cailan pulled her costume from the bag she had. There were workers—they'd been there since just past noon—who were working outside and inside. The house had turned into a literal winter-wonderland. There was fake snow everywhere, the crystal glasses were frosted over to look like ice; the windows were done up there was a great tree in the main hall that was decorated with bobbles, ornaments, and garlands, and more crystal ice cycles.
The party was due to start, but not until seven. She didn't think it'd take her four hours to get ready. But she didn't dare leave her room. The hub-bub outside meant that there was a lot of thought, planning and a lot of money. She didn't want to get in the way of—
"Hey," Dick made her jump. "What'cha up to?"
"dunno…kinda just waiting around," she said honestly.
"Yeah, the others are all busy getting assignments, learning the rotations, posts…important stuff like that."
"…well…movie?"
"Eh, we could pull pranks on those guys out there," Dick said as he strode to the window.
"…the great hero play tricks? Tsk, tsk, tsk," she teased quietly.
"Hey now, kid's gotta get his kicks," he winked back at her.
…
5:29pm
"Haha, Ahh—uff!" Dick laughed out a war-cry, aiming a snow-ball to where he'd last seen Cailan before he ducked behind the trees.
He took one in the face before it left his hand. He heard the girl whoop with delight; her aim was less than impeccable. Then again, he was highly trained in the art of fighting and dodging projectiles.
"Wait, let's end on a good note and go back inside before I freeze!" Cailan laughed as she ducked behind a corner of the decorative wall at the side of the house where they were battling.
"No way! I've gotta get you back now," he teased, crouching to make a rush for the bush slightly closer to her own hiding place.
"No! It's cold and we've been out here for hours!" She squealed, seeing his lunge and dodging around a statue on the terrace.
"We have not, it's only—"
"Master Richard," Alfred peered his head around the door, a snowball from Dick just missing his face.
"Oops, sorry Alfred," Dick laughed.
"Quite. Young sir, it is half past five. Would you and the young Miss like a cup of cocoa before you get ready for Master Wayne's party?"
"That would be wonderful," Cailan laughed as she inched out from behind her hiding spot.
"Tch. That's cheating!" Dick said, standing from his own hiding spot, his hands on his hips as he argued.
"Gotcha!" she yelled, shooting a brilliant aim for the middle of his chest. It missed the middle of his chest, her aim ruined by his well-trained reflexes. Her throw grazed his shoulder just a little, spreading a white dusting over the black pea-coat.
"That's totally cheating!" he yelled, spinning and ducking down to scoop snow into a hurried missile.
"I so gottcha!" she said as she darted around him and rushed for the door that Alfred held open docilely, standing back.
"Alfred!" The young boy yelled in disbelief.
Alfred shrugged and stood there a moment longer, waiting for the young charge. Throwing the snowball down forcefully Dick sulked his way through the door kicking snow as he went.
…
6:03pm
Cailan wiped the fog from the mirror. There was her hot-cocoa, still steaming on the counter of the sink. She had her own bathroom in this mansion. She was still used to bathing in the girls' locker room at school; having a porcelain shower with a removable fixture, decent supply of hot water and a fuzzy bathrobe with a plush carpet were so new to her. She picked up the mug after tying up the robe. It was delicious enough to make her close her eyes and just stand there for a moment, letting the taste linger in her mouth as long as she could.
She finished the mug of cocoa as she dried her hair; the blow-dryer was a commodity that she'd never had before; her hair was silky smooth. And the bathroom here was better stalked with feminine supplies than her products in the apartment had been. She knew they'd been purchased just for her; they were all still in their wrappings, and there was a computer-printed note stating that different products could be found under the sink if the ones in the cabinet weren't satisfactory.
She recognized the brands from the store; they were the brands she'd look at when she was having a good day, the ones she'd pretend she could afford. The brands Mr. Wayne had provided her with were the brands she pretended she'd have had if her parents had still been alive.
The shampoo had left her hair as pure as down, the conditioner made her hair silk, and the leave in stuff that went with the other bottles made her feel like her hair was made of the clouds. Her skin felt like velvet after the body-wash and the lotion—despite having never waxed, only shaved—she was still startled that waxing didn't hurt like it should have. She'd never felt more pampered.
Well, that's a lie, she thought to herself as she sat down on the bed. Mom made you feel better than anything when she'd brush your hair after a bath.
She shook her head, her locks falling over her shoulder. Taking up a brush she set about doing her hair and makeup before putting on her dress.
…
6:16pm
"How can she seriously still be getting ready?" Dick demanded as he paced around Bruce.
The older man laughed. "Women go to more trouble than we do Dick,"
"Tch. Waste of time if you ask me," the boy grumbled, crossing his arms. He was bored. He wanted someone to joke with once the guests started getting here; he'd never had a sibling and it got lonely being in Wayne manner, greeting the guests as the only kid around.
"Don't worry, she'll be ready. Women are always ready in time to make a grand appearance." Bruce reassured, walking back towards where Alfred was inspecting the crystal glasses and making sure the wine was the proper age.
"Hmph."
…
6:34pm
Her hair had taken longer than she'd thought. Then again, she was going off of pure memory and it'd been ages since she saw the picture. She dumped her cosmetic bag on the vanity and watched her things scatter; there were Royalty Brushes in the bathroom but she felt she'd been greedy in using the other products.
He bought them for you to use Cali. She argued with herself, setting up the pallet she wanted for this outfit. She'd had experience with makeup; she'd toyed with the idea of being a professional makeup artist a while back, just in case dancing didn't work out. Maybe they weren't for you. Maybe they're for the girls he brings home. Like they'll notice you used some? All Mr. Wayne would have to do is get rid of the opened ones. Go on, they're there for you to use.
She glanced in the mirror, then at the clock. Better brushes and applicators meant a better finish. Her makeup would look better if she used them. He's not going to mind.
She jumped at the knock on the door.
"Miss Leal, would you like some more cocoa?" she heard Alfred's muffled voice on the other end of the door.
"Uh, n-no, thanks," she said, raising off the stool a little, unsure if she should go to the door or not.
"Very well. Are you finding the products Mr. Wayne procured for you to your satisfaction?" he asked calmly and not in the least upset by her speaking through the door.
"Yes, yes, I am. Will…you thank him for me?" she stammered out, fighting a blush despite no one could see her.
Told you so stupid.
"Very well Miss," she heard him walk away.
…
The brushes were like air against her skin. She felt a little rushed, but it was like every other 'formal' thing she'd been to. She'd been the same for every dance, it wasn't a big deal.
No, it isn't the same. This time you're with someone you actually like.
…
6:56pm
"Bout time," Dick said, hearing Cailan call his name quietly from down the hall. He turned and his jaw dropped.
When she got closer he whistled impishly, grinning from ear to ear as he leaned back to look at her.
"Oh," she gave him a playful shove and hoped he couldn't see her blush under her blush.
"Ah, Cailan. You're just in time," Bruce said, smiling gently. "Now, don't be alarmed. The League's first round of guards came in about an hour ago and started patrolling the grounds and a general guard detail. The guests are to do start arriving; you're free to wear your mask now or put it on later.
"If you wouldn't mind, would you great the guests with Dick as they come to you?"
She nodded, unsure she trusted her voice to speak.
...
7:15pm
Dick had donned his mask already, his costume complete and his ornery grin in place. Seeing Mr. Wayne put his on as well, Cailan quickly covered her own face; the black slivers of bead slid side to side over her cheeks.
"Megan you look amazing," she breathed as Megan and her uncle—looking like normal humans—came up to them.
"I was about to say the same! Who all's here?"
"Wally just got here, looks like," she giggled as she looked over Megan's shoulder. "S—er, Conner arrived not too long after the doors opened, Artemis too. They walked in together. Kal hasn't showed up just yet.
"Anyways, Dick keeps disappearing…which is kind of weird because we're supposed to greet people together," she hissed over her shoulder, hoping to catch the boy wonder's ear. "He's flirting."
Megan giggled. "Who'd have thought he was such a lady's man? Just like—"
"Hello ladies," Wally said suavely as he sauntered up in his own costume, his mask set carefully and handsomely in place.
"Hey Wally," they said together, their voices sounding harmonized in their giggles.
"So, up for a dance?" He asked Megan.
"Wally, you're so silly. There isn't any music yet!"
"There's dinner first; there's only going to be a light stringed performance for us during dinner."
"…geez, you the planner or just a second adoptee?" Wally teased, his arching brow just visible now over his mask.
Calain was glad for her mask. "Well, Dick left me on my own, I hadda figure things out,"
"Oh, keep the dress on, I'm back," The boy grumbled good-naturedly. "Sup Wally,"
"Man you two look great," Wally said looking back and forth from one crush to the other.
Megan was a princess; the only thing missing was a tiara. Cailan, well, she looked regal, but by no means a princess.
"Hey, why don't you guys go catch up with Artemis and Conner," Cali intercepted, nodding over towards where the two stood with another, slightly older, guy.
…