LAST CHAPTER!
OH MY GOD IT'S THE LAST CHAPTER!
But i may be writing a sequel, i just gotta get the plot worked out :)
Please enjoy and tell me what you think
L.L.A.P
~Laces
Chpt.27
"Now, relax and use your hands to push the water to the side, and kick your legs." Athena did as Aquaman instructed as she started to swim in the ocean. She was wearing a bathing suit tank top along with swim trunks.
Despite Cassie begging Athena to wear some "cute" two piece bathing suit, Athena still wasn't comfortable with exposing a lot of skin, so she stuck to tank top bathing suits and boy trunks.
Athena swam through the water and looked over at Aquaman smiling.
"Thank you so much!" she smiled as she made a sharp turn towards him, but then winced and let out a small yelp of pain.
"Minnow, take a deep breath." Aquaman said gently as he held the girl. "we'll continue swimming tomorrow, but you should rest some more." He informed, and the girl nodded, feeling the pain swell up from her wound.
She wasn't fully healed from her injury.
Aquaman helped Athena out of the ocean and she walked onto shore. She was lucky none of her stitches didn't come undone, but it was still painful.
"Was I doing okay?" Athena inquired, looking over at Aquaman and he nodded.
"You were doing great. With some more practice I'm sure it will look as if you were living in the water." He smiled, and Athena hugged the man, lifting him off his feet.
She then placed him down and inquired,
"Can I stay out here for a little bit longer?" Aquaman nodded.
"Alright. Stay safe." He smiled, giving her a hug, then headed back into Mt. Justice, most likely to head back to the Watch Tower.
Athena walked over to the rocks near the shore and laid out on them, sunning herself. She loved the sun, and Conner had told her it was most likely because the sun was what gave Kryptonians strength. Since the girl was part Kryptonian, that made some sense.
"Hello, Young Goddess." A voice stated and Athena jumped in surprise. She turned to see Ra's Al Ghul sitting calmly on one of the rocks.
"Get away!" Athena exclaimed, standing to her feet. However, instead of running, she put her fists up, ready to fight.
"I will due time. I simply want to talk." He informed calmly, but Athena looked at him skeptically.
"You kidnapped me." she stated, and the man nodded.
"Indeed I did. However, if I did so again, there would be little for me to gain. You clearly are more powerful than I thought, and if I tried kidnapping you again, it would not be in my favor." Athena cocked her head to the side.
"Then why are you here?" she inquired.
"I merely want to talk." Ra's said calmly.
"How do I know you're not planning on taking me again?" Athena questioned, crossing her arms.
"If I wanted to kidnap you again, then it would have already happened." Ra's informed honestly. "Now, would you sit so I may start a civil conversation with you?"
Athena's eyes stayed locked on him, as she slowly sat on the rock across from the man.
"First off, Cadmus is no longer interested in you. They have realized that you are not something they need to worry themselves over. They have other matters to attend." He informed, and Athena smiled slightly. It was nice to know Cadmus was off her back.
"However, that doesn't mean you are completely safe. The minute you become more public as a hero, you are going to have many people who will want you to join them. Including me."
"Wait." Athena stated. "Hero? Me a hero?"
"Well, yes. I assumed that you will want to be like your parents and dawn a hero identity and save people." Ra's explained, but then raised an eyebrow. "You don't plan to use your abilities?" Ra's inquired.
Athena pause for a moment.
"I haven't really thought about it." She whispered. "I don't know if I'd be a good hero. The only people I have ever saved were Ramon and Superman." Athena informed.
"Not many people can say that they have saved Superman's life." Ra's stated, then looked at her curiously. "Who is Ramon?" Athena looked at the man with a glare, her hands balling up into fists.
"Nobody. He's nobody. If you dare try to find him, I'll…"
"Do what you did to Dr. Milo?" Ra's inquired calmly, cutting her off, and Athena was silent. "I must say, you were rather violent with him. I honestly didn't think you had it in you to injure him like you did. Doctors aren't sure if he will ever be able to use his arms again." Ra's informed.
"Good." Athena whispered, and this made Ra's smile.
"You do not regret what you did to him?" he questioned, and Athena nodded.
"I only did to him as he did to me. an eye for an eye." She shook her head. "He deserved it. If I had more time, I'd hook wires up and stick them in his head. I would do everything he did to me. And I'd smile the entire time, too."
Ra's smiled even wider. He enjoyed what was coming out of the girl's mouth.
"Isn't that revenge?" he inquired, and Athena nodded.
"It felt good. I know I'm not supposed to enjoy revenge, but I did. And I'd do it again." She informed seriously.
"I think you should become a hero." Ra's said. "Not that you probably care what I think, but I have been around for quite a while, and I can tell that you would definitely be a powerful hero." He informed.
Athena looked down at the waves lapping against the rocks, still unsure. She was silent, not answering him.
"Just remember, Young Goddess, if anything happens, you can always come to me. My doors will forever be open to give you shelter."
Athena shook her head.
"I don't trust you." She stated, but as she looked over at the man, he was gone.
"Me? A hero?" she whispered, shaking her head. "I may have power, but I don't want to abuse it."
~*~*~*~*~*~In Gotham~*~*~*~*~*~
"So he thinks you should become a hero?" Ramon inquired, and Athena nodded as she watched him draw.
"Yes." She answered.
"I hate to say that I agree with him, but I kinda do." Ramon sighed, looking over at Athena. "You can do amazing things. You saved my life and Superman's. I'm not saying you should start now or anything, but maybe in the future or something." Ramon shrugged.
"Maybe." Athena whispered. She then looked at Ramon's picture.
"What are you drawing?"
"I don't know. Some sort of land." He informed. Athena could see in his picture a beautiful waterfall along with a dense jungle surrounding it.
"You mean you never saw this place before?" Athena inquired, and Ramon shrugged.
"Yeah, I guess. I just made it up." He informed, and Athena smiled.
"If you ever found a place like this, would you take me there?" Athena inquired, and Ramon smiled.
"I'd take you anywhere you wanted."
~*~*~*~*~*~At Wayne Manor~*~*~*~*~*~
As Athena walked into Wayne Manor, her eyes widened at the site of everyone. Conner, Dick, Blue Beetle, Mal, Bumblebee, M'gann, Beast Boy, Batgirl, Robin, Cassie, Impulse, even La'gaan. And her "parents" were there as well. All of them.
"Happy Anniversary!" they exclaimed, and Conner quickly picked her up.
"Anniversary?" Athena inquired, and everyone smiled at her.
"Athena, this day one year ago, I found you in the incinerator room." Conner informed, and Athena's eyes widened.
"A year? Wow." She whispered.
"This a time to celebrate!" Wonder Woman exclaimed, and Alfred baked food for everyone, and the team talked and laughed together.
The celebration felt like almost like a birthday party.
And then came something Athena wasn't exactly expecting.
Presents.
Besides Ralph, she was never given anything else as a present. It felt very strange to her. But a good strange.
Athena was grateful for the Elvis CD's and posters she got from the team at Mt. Justice. They knew of her obsession with the man so Athena got many Elvis related things.
Then came the presents from the league.
Superman went first, handing her a box, which she opened to reveal a blue knitted scarf.
"Ma made it for you. I'll introduce you to her later." He informed with a small smile, and Athena smiled back.
"It's beautiful. Thank you."
Martian Manhunter handed her a package and Athena smiled widely when she opened it.
Oreos. Athena's favorite cookie.
"How'd you know I liked these?" Athena inquired, and the Martian grinned.
"Because they are my favorite as well."
Green Lantern handed her the next present. A basketball.
"Maybe we could shoot some hoops later on." He smiled, and Athena smiled back.
Aquaman handed Athena the next present. It was a turtle in a small box. The animal was missing a leg, but Athena seemed to become attached to it immediately.
"I found her in a stream nearby, and I figured she would enjoy your company." He smiled, and Athena looked at the turtle with love.
"Thank you." She whispered.
"Here, take mine." Black Canary smiled, handing Athena a box. Inside was a black leather jacket. The fit was a little big on her, but she'd grow into it.
"Thank you." Athena smiled, and Wonder Woman handed Athena her gift afterwards.
Athena's eyes widened at the two silver bracelets, and then looked up at Wonder Woman who smiled at her.
"I heard you have a knack for jumping in front of bullets." She informed. "Perhaps you could learn how to deflect them instead."
"Thank you." Athena whispered, still in shock that Wonder Woman would give her such a thing.
Bruce then handed the girl his present. Once again, Athena was speechless.
It was a belt. But not just a plain belt, but a belt that looked like the one he wore as Batman.
"If you ever want to use it, I'd be happy to help you." He informed.
"You mean…"
"You don't have to now. But I'm sure the team in Mt. Justice could always use extra power." Bruce informed.
"Power." Athena whispered. She was used to hearing the word in her name prior to her new family. She played with the word alone in her mind, but then coupled it with something. She wasn't Project Power. She wasn't a project, she was a girl.
"Power Girl." She said to herself. That sounded like a name she could get used to.
~Not the End, but The Beginning~