Chapter Two: Caught in a Web

"You little freak!"

I slammed against the wall and let out a gasp of pain. Oh what I wouldn't do for a piece of rope and the chance to tighten it around his neck.

I kicked him in the face and ran out of the apartment as fast as I could. My lip was busted and I was pretty sure I had a black eye. My brand new uniform was slightly torn and dirty. Panting and gasping for breath I collapsed to my knees by one of the pillars at the front of the school. People walked past and didn't seem to notice me, or did but didn't care.

I had this nagging feeling I forgot something and when I looked down I realized I had forgotten to put on my fake arm in my mad rush to leave the house before my Foster Parents woke up. I was such an idiot. I flapped the empty sleeve about and watched it flutter.

"This week couldn't get any worse." I lent my head back and groaned.

"Havin' a bad day?"

I looked down and found Dick peering at me with his bright blue eyes. I went red and waved my empty sleeve at him.

"A bad life is more like it!" I huffed, struggling to get to my feet with one arm.

I saw his eyes narrow at the sight of my face. I wiped the dry blood from my lips and chin with the back of my sleeve. He didn't seem fazed when I flapped my empty sleeve at him.

"What happened to you?" he asked, lightly touching my eye with his finger tips.

I pulled away. "I was really hoping I didn't have to tell anyone."

"Why not? You look awful!"

I tried to cross my arms but found air instead of another arm and they dropped to my sides stiffly. I blushed and hoped he didn't just see that. He did and raised an eyebrow at it.

"Your arm-"

"Yeah, I know…" I sighed and rubbed my temple.

Why did life hate me? What did I do? If it just told me, I'd gladly apologize over and over just to make my life somewhat better. I didn't want to explain to him about my shitty life at 'home' and why I didn't have an arm but sometimes thought I did. I certainly didn't want to tell him about my 'extracurricular activities' outside of school. Or how Giselle wasn't really my older sister.

"I was born without an arm. Get over it, I have." I blushed and pulled the sleeves up a little to show the gnarled stump at my elbow. I let out a nervous laugh. "I sometimes I forget I have it, I do things normal people do and end up getting hurt. Hence, the black eye and busted lip. Fell down a flight of stairs this morning. Giselle thought it would be funny to set my clock so it looked like I was getting up late. So I rushed around and forgot my arm and fell down the stairs. No biggy."

I was lying through my teeth and once I had gotten started there was no stopping me. Though I was praying he'd buy it and leave me alone, maybe help me out around the school today since I was handicap.

And, for once, Life smiled down at me. He bought my lie. Ate it up like cake.

He smiled. "I know the felling. Wally's the same way." He grabbed my wrist. "Let's go get some ice on your eye."

I blushed and followed him obediently. Oh dear…

Xx

"Penny for your thoughts?"

I looked up from Giselle's couch and pulled a face. "It's nothing."

"It is." she slid onto the couch and poked my cheek. "Tell me."

"I forgot my arm at home today." I mumbled, hugging the pillow closer to me, my green eyes staring at the blank TV. I was spending the night at her place since I refused to go home. "And some guy at my school noticed my bruises. I had to lie." I hugged the pillow closer and glanced at her. "I feel guilty."

Giselle purred. "Ooh… was he cute?"

I threw the pillow in her face and huffed. "You're impossible."

"Nope," chirped the busty girl. "Just being a normal teenager."

I glared at her smiling face.

"Was he?"

"Why are we friends again?"

Xx

"Looks like we got company, Widow."

"Do we now, Red?"

We stood side by side in the middle of the alley. The moon poured light around us so we could clearly see the group surrounding us. No way out. Red Queen smirked, after all it was her idea to do something to attract the attention of the Justice League. She wanted to be classified as a Top Criminal on their lists. And she got her wish. I wasn't so sure, but I would follow her to the ends of the Earth if she asked.

Stealing Wayne Enterprises Top Secret files won us the attention she craved. And there they were, the Young Justice demanding we hand over the Disc I held in my hand. The group stood a close distance away and didn't move, yet.

"Who are you?" demanded Robin in a calm tone. "What do you want with that kind of information?"

"Ooh a little birdie!" chuckled Red, flicking back a strand of red hair. "I'm the Red Queen, and this is Black Widow, nice to make your acquaintance!"

"Never heard of you." Snorted Kid Flash, crossing his arms. Ooh…! He was just as cute as Flash himself!

This clearly annoyed Giselle, who shot him a glare then broke into a grin. "Of course you haven't. We're so quiet and sneaky we haven't caught your attention."

"Until now." I finished waved the disc at them.

"I'm done talking!" shouted Super Boy, running forward.

I gulped. Why was he so angry all the time? He was like a bull! One punch from him would land me in the hospital! His fist slammed into the ground, kicking up dust and rubble. Red landed lightly on top of a dumpster and blew a kiss to him. I bit my lip. Why was she so calm! I was having second thoughts now. We couldn't take four guys with Superpowers and two really fast and strong ones.

I made myself disappear into the shadows until I saw an opportunity to attack them. Red could handle herself.

Super Boy made to throw another punch but Red was gone. She slipped easily behind Kid Flash but he noticed her and swung her into the wall. Giselle let out a cry.

I swept Kid's legs out from under him. He landed with a thud and I went after Artemis. She was fast with her arrows and I had trouble avoiding them. I flipped and spun to dodge them. I let out a cackle of laughter at my luck at not getting hit when Karma slapped me in the face. An arrow pierced my left arm. It made a hallow sound making me howl in anger. I just got it back from my house! Now I was going to have to go about armless until I got a new one with the money I was saving!

I let out a string of swears as I dodged Robins attacks. He was fast and more skilled then I was. Of course. Everything was better than I was. If Life was a person, I'd punch them in the throat.

I kicked him in the chest and slid back, panting.

I watched his eyes. They landed on the arm with an arrow in it. They narrowed when he realized no blood was seeping out. I cursed.

Then, just to be a dick, he kicked the arm and I watched in horror as it snapped, breaking it the completely wrong away. It splintered and the straps tightened because of the strain.

"Son of a bitch!" I hissed.

"A fake arm?" one of them asked to themselves.

I let out a scream when Aqualad appeared behind me and wrapped his arms around my torso. My arms were pinned to my sides. I was helpless. Where was Red? Wasn't she going to help me? I watched her slink into the shadows and disappear. She was going to abandon me?

"Red you bitch! Don't leave me! RED!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

I squirmed and struggled in his grip, shouting curses as loud as I could. And they took me away.

Xx

"Let me go!"

I was tied to a chair. I felt like the roles were switched. Weren't the good guys normally the ones to be tied to a chair waiting to be interrogated? Maybe Superhero's like switching the roles. Ha, role playing. Ah my shitty life.

I was in the main hall of Mount Justice and I was not pleased. Was this how they treated their guests? And people respected them? They wonder why I was a Villain.

I refused to stop screaming until they untied me. I tried to bargain with them, saying that I would tell them anything they wanted if they untied me. But they just shook their heads so I continued to scream and scream and scream. My voice was getting hoarse, and even if I lost my voice I would still attempt to scream. I didn't like being tied up. And neither would they.

My arm was still broken at a funny angle and they asked me a few times about it but I just snapped my jaws at them.

They left my mask on so I was at least thankful for that.

"I wonder what she looks like with the mask off." Wondered Kid, strutting over to me.

When he bent down to take my mask off, I kicked my leg out and nailed him right between the legs. He went down like a tree.

"Timber." I said hoarsely.

"You're pretty protective of your true identity." Asked Robin crossing his arms, he stood a safe distance away from me. Oh, I just wanted him a few feet closer so I could do the same thing to him.

"Aren't you?" I snapped.

"What's with your arm?" asked Artemis, stepping closer.

I put on a poker face. "It's a bomb."

They didn't seem fazed.

"I'm an alien. The lizard kind. It'll grow back."

They stared at me.

"I'm a porcelain doll."

They didn't even blink.

"I'm hollow inside."

I stared at them blankly.

"Batman 02."

"Good job." Came a deep voice.

Batman appeared and made his way over to us.

I growled at him.

"Nice job catching Black Widow." Batman stood in front of me. My leg shot up but he caught it and flipped the chair back.

"Oof!" my wig slipped off and my copper colored hair spilled out. I groaned in pain.

"Hey, it was a wig!" gasped Kid Flash, Artemis sighed.

The pressure and the friction caused my fake arm to completely break off. This loosened the ropes just enough for me to summersault backwards and free myself from the ropes. The group of sidekicks stepped back and got ready to right. I held my fist up; I wasn't planning on sticking around for long.

Batman held up his hand. "I don't want any conflict. I just want to talk."

"I don't want to talk." My voice cracked, I pointed my bad arm at him (once again forgetting it was just an empty sleeve.).

"Are you a shape shifter?" came a voice from behind me.

I glanced over my shoulder to see the Miss Martian with a confused look on her face. I looked over at Robin who was the closest to me and gestured to the green girl with my only thumb. "She live in a cave for most of her life?"

I turned back to her and pulled up my sleeve. "I don't have an arm."

"Ooh…" she mumbled, blushing a little bit.

I signed.

Turning my attention back to Batman I tried to cross my arms but they just slid back to my sides.

"What's the deal Batty-Boy?" I questioned. "I'd rather go to the Loony Bin then jail, if you please."

"Actually, I'm recruiting you for the team." He said matter-of-factly.

"What?" all of us sputtered.

I stepped back and waved my hand. "Haha, thanks for the offer but I won't be of much help. I'm just a handicap, reject, what could I do for the Young Justice except get in the way?"

"You have potential." He said calmly. "And you know how to do reconnaissance better than them. They need the help of a master. Plus, you know how to get through tight spots and do it as silently as possible."

"We are not bad a reconnaissance!" argued Kid, crossing his arms.

I raised an eyebrow.

Batman ignored him. "You wouldn't be going on missions with them just yet, but you'd train them."

"I am not a teacher!" I snapped. "Besides, why don't you ask another Superhero to do it? I'm just a petty thief."

"That's missing an arm." Pointed out Artemis.

I glared at her.

"It would be easier for them to learn if they had someone close to their age." Batman said.

I bit my lip. It was a good offer… besides, if I went back and cashed the stash I had under my floor I'd be set for life, no more stealing. Well, maybe on weekends. And he didn't say anything about changing my ways. I couldn't help but smirk.

"I'll make a deal with you." I began. "I'll accept your offer IF you give me a place to stay and lock away my Foster Parents for Child Abuse and get me a new arm since your little," I shot a look at Robin. "Bird broke my old one."

"Done." Said the Dark Knight.

I smirked. Awesome! Things were looking up.

The group of sidekicks gathered around me. I felt a little uneasy, but they seemed to be nice towards me, even if I was one of the bad guys. Though they seemed a little unhappy at Batman saying they failed at reconnaissance. Super Boy didn't seem to like me at all and Miss Martian or M'gann was to overly chirpy for my taste.

"Er… so…" I began waving my empty sleeve. "Since we'll be working together… um… am I meant to tell you who I really am and vice versa?"

"Only if you want to." Said Kid Flash, he gestured to Robin. "Though Rob over here refuses to tell anyone who he really is. Even though he knows who everyone is."

I glanced at the boy wearing red and black. He looked slightly familiar…

I held out my empty sleeve. My life sucked as it was. Who cared if the good guys knew my identity? It was already apparent Batman knew more about me then I liked. And Giselle abandoned me. Screw it.

"Winifred Ernstine! Call me Wini."

Kid let out a bark of laughter. "Winifred? That's your name? HA HA HA!"

I glared at him and Artemis punched him in the arm, stopping his laughter. "Your name's Wally, I don't know what you're laughing at."

I pointed at Kid with my working arm. "HA HA HA! Your name's Wally!"

My face went blank again. The room went silent.

"Team, hit the showers." Batman said finally, putting a hand on my shoulder.

The group made to leave but he asked for Robin to stay with us.

Robin looked at me like he was trying to figure me out. Or was just… checking me out. But I doubted it. He was defiantly trying to get something out of me with just his eyes. I wondered what they were like behind his mask.

I glared at him but nonetheless listened to what Batman had to say.

"I've been looking for you for a while." Said the Dark Knight. "Child Services said they lost track of you but that was all lies. Now that you're here," he put a hand on top of my head. "You are coming into my care."

I ducked under his arm. "N-no! I can't! I don't want charity..." I stopped and pointed at him. "You!" I lowered my voice. "You got me that scholarship and sent me to that goody-goody school! I suddenly feel violated. What else do you know?"

"It's not charity. It's a demand." He stared down at me. "What I know about you is classified."

"But Bats," Robin chimed in. "She knows-"

"Who I am, yes. I wouldn't doubt it."

I glared at the two of them.

"She knows more then she should." Said the Dark Knight. "She may even know who you are."

I crossed my arms (which slipped and fell to my sides) and stuck my tongue out at Robin. "Dick."

I wasn't saying a name though. But he just stumbled back.

Then it finally donned on Robin what his mentor was said minutes before. "S-she's gonna live with us?"