Sorry for the later updates. I have theater camp during the day so i don't have as much time to write. :/

Anyway, please enjoy and tell me what you think. I appreciate constructive criticism.

L.L.A.P

~Laces

Chpt.16

Alfred walked calmly into Athena's room, ready to wake the sleeping child up. He was prepared for any mumbling and groaning the girl was going to throw at him, because Dick was just as bad, and Bruce, worse.

However, Alfred didn't expect to see the child floating in her sleep.

He was told prior to her visit that Athena had some abilities that she didn't know how to fully control, but it still didn't prepare him from walking into a room and seeing someone floating.

However, instead of screaming or freaking out, Alfred gave a small look of surprise, a quick mumble of,

"Oh, my word." and then he walked calmly over to the bed. (For Alfred, that was as shocked as he was going to get.)

Athena's eyes were glued shut, and she had brought her bear up into the air with her, hugging it tightly as the blankets hung loosely from her body.

"Miss Athena?" Alfred questioned gently. "Miss, it is time to rise. You have a busy day today." When he got no response, Alfred grabbed Athena's arm, and pulled her down slightly. In doing so, he woke up Athena, and she let out a scared strangled noise from her throat as she looked around in horror.

"Alfred." she sighed calmly when she saw the man, everything clicking into place. She took in a deep breath, and found herself back onto her bed and no longer in the air.

"Are you alright, Miss?" Alfred inquired, and she slowly nodded.

"Yes, Sir. I just had a bad dream." She answered stiffly.

She had wished that she would never have to see Ra's Al Ghul ever again, however she was wrong. The man had no qualms about haunting her dreams, and she hated him. She was always running, yet he was ten steps ahead of her, smiling at her mockingly.

"Are you alright?" Alfred inquired, and Athena looked up at the man, giving him a smile.

"Yes. I am alright." She nodded proudly, even if she didn't feel entirely okay. "Thank you for waking me up." She slid out of her bed and headed towards her dresser to pick out some clothes to wear.

"Breakfast will be ready shortly." Alfred informed, then traveled back downstairs.

Athena got dressed into jeans, sneakers, and a blue long sleeved shirt. Even if it was going to be warmer out, she wanted to cover her scars. She assured herself that she'd get more comfortable with them in time, but at that moment, she didn't want to show them off.

The girl quickly ran downstairs to where she knew the dining room to be, but bumped into Dick on the way.

"Hey there, Athena." he grinned, ruffling her hair. "How'd you sleep last night?" Athena didn't want to lie to him, but she didn't want to worry him either.

"I slept alright." She answered with a small shrug.

"You sure? Because you have some dark circles under your eyes." Dick informed, and Athena simply gave a small shrug.

The two made their way to the dining room and Alfred had already set out the pancakes and milk. Athena smiled, savoring the smell as it tickled her nose, while Dick bolted to the table and started inhaling food.

"Thanks Alfred." Dick smiled, making sure to swallow the food so he wouldn't talk with his mouth full. Alfred hated seeing chewed food in someone's mouth. He hated to see already chewed food in general.

Athena took a seat and took some bites of the pancakes, and yes, they were delicious. Athena was resigned that whatever Alfred cooked was pretty much a masterpiece.

She finished her pancakes quickly, not at the record time Dick ate, but still fast.

"Miss Athena, Master Bruce is waiting for you in the Batcave." Alfred informed, and the girl nodded, sliding off of the chair, and following Dick and the Butler through the grandfather clock and down into the cave.

Bruce was in his Batman costume, and it still amazed Athena how Bruce and Batman were the same person.

"Dick, get changed. Athena and I are going to Mt. Justice. I'll meet you there." He informed to the older boy, then looked over at Athena, who walked over and grasped the man's hand.

Batman gently gripped her hand and walked to the transporter.

"Batman?" she inquired, and he looked down at her.

"Yes?"

"You said I am meeting Green Lantern today?" Athena questioned, and Batman nodded. "Do you think he'll like me?" she inquired timidly.

"Yes, Athena. I think he'll like you." Batman informed with a small hint of a smile. The two then walked into the transporter.

~*~*~*~*~At Mt. Justice~*~*~*~*~

Conner stood with green Lantern, John Stewart, waiting for Athena to come through the transporter.

"What is she like?" the man questioned, looking at Conner.

"She's… different from most little girls." Conner informed after a beat of thinking. "She just talks more mature. She's gone through a lot recently, and she scares easily."

"I don't want to scare her." John sighed. "I just want to get to know her. She is partially my daughter, making me partially her father. I don't want to be some sort of bad father, never meeting her." He informed, then sighed. "Being in the Marines wasn't as nerve-racking as this."

"Trust me," Conner smiled. "She's probably just as nervous as you are." The transporter lit up, and Athena and Batman stepped out.

"Conner!" Athena exclaimed happily, running towards the clone, and he hugged her tightly.

"How was your first night away?" he inquired with some concern.

"It was alright." Athena shrugged. Her attention then turned to the man in the black and green uniform.

Conner nudged Athena closer to John, and she looked up at him with a small grin.

"Hello." She smiled timidly. John smiled back at her.

"Hello Athena." there was a pause between the two and Batman sighed.

"John, there is a rec room that has a basketball court in it. If you two want to talk in there." Batman suggested.

John was grateful that Batman knew he talked better while playing a game, mainly basketball. However, he was slightly crept out that Batman knew this when he never even told him.

Athena walked with John into the rec room.

"So, do you like basketball?" he inquired, and Athena nodded with a small smile.

"I'm not that great at it, but I do like it." She informed. John grinned, and passed her the basketball.

"Let's see what you got." Athena smiled and dribble the ball.

After about ten minutes of playing, John understood what Athena meant when she said she liked the game, but wasn't great at it.

She couldn't make a single basket, but each shot she made was with enthusiasm.

John started to instruct the girl how to shoot the ball, and after several shots, she finally made a basket.

Athena's eyes widened and she beamed happily.

"I did it!" she exclaimed full of happiness and started to float. She looked at the ground, then at John. "Sorry." She said quietly, and took in a deep breath, calming herself down. Athena's feet were on the ground safely again.

"Great shot, Athena." John grinned, but was a bit shocked about her floating. He knew that she could, but seeing it for himself shocked him slightly.

They talked as they dribbled and shot the basketball. It was mostly likes and dislikes. What John did for a living, what food Athena liked and so on.

The girl enjoyed her time with John. She also found out that enjoyed playing basketball more than she thought.

"I have to go Athena. My shift in the watchtower is about to happen." John sighed, looking at the clock. He enjoyed talking to Athena as well, and honestly wished he had time for another basketball game with the girl.

"Alright. I understand." Athena nodded, and followed John out of the room, holding his hand out.

"I'll see you again, Athena." John grinned as he gave her a short hug, then returned to the transporter to get to the watchtower.

"Athena! You're back!" Cassie exclaimed, seeing the girl and running up to give her a hug.

Cassie quickly pulled the girl into her old room to talk about what had been going on in her life and boys and typical girl things.

Athena never minded listening to Cassie talk. Cassie was like her older sister, so she had no qualms listening to her talk. She really did look up to her.

"Soooo, I head you can fly! That's so awesome!" she smiled happily.

"Well… I don't really know how to control it. It just sort of… turns on and if I calm myself down I can float back down." she explained. Cassie's smile didn't fade.

"C'mon, get excited or something, and let's see you float!" she said with excitement. Athena took in a deep breath and tried to replicate her excitement, but… nothing happened.

"I… I don't know…"

"C'mon Athena, you can do it." Cassie smiled, and Athena tried again, but still couldn't replicate what she felt when she got excited and didn't lift from the ground.

"I… I can't… right now…" she whispered, but Cassie had faith in her. Perhaps maybe too much faith.

"Sure you can." She said with encouragement.

"No… no… I can't…"

"Don't say that."

"Don't say you can't do it, Project Powers! Deflect the bullet! Tense your skin and don't let it pierce it!" Milo exclaimed.

"But… but I can't. It… keeps br-breaking my… skin. And it… hurts."

"You can do it!" Milo exclaimed and then shot the gun.

"I can't!" Athena exclaimed, and a wave of force threw Cassie against the wall. Cassie looked at Athena with shock, and the girl shook slightly as she stood to her feet.

"I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…" her eyes watered slightly, and Cassie was up and quickly hugging the girl.

"Hey, hey, it's okay. I'm alright. There's no need to cry. That was my fault. I'm sorry." Cassie said quickly as she hugged Athena tightly, and the girl continue to cry into Cassie's chest.

"I d-don't want to… to hurt p-people." Athena sobbed, and Cassie patted her back.

"It's okay, Athena. you didn't hurt me. I'm alright. And you won't hurt anyone either." She tried to comfort the sobbing girl. "It's just something we need to work on."