Hey guys, sorry for the wait. In the past few months shit got real and people are making me visit the real world. Like, away from books and writing. So sorry for the wait but its finally here!

Chapter Nine: Free Time

Azula PoV

Slade, Vigilante, Manhunter, and Shade all stand over a long rectangular table. A map sits on the table, decorated with colored push pins, a color for each of them. Manhunter is red; Vigilante is blue; Shade is black; and Slade is yellow, due to there being no orange. The pins would show areas they all planned to patrol and collect data from. They were traveling to Gotham to find out what exactly the Falcone mob was trying to hide by sending Raven to assassinate him.

Of course, when I heard Slades' theory on this, I was dumbfounded; But she was so nice? But then again, when a mercenary comes to your door it's probably not a good thing, period.

Slade brought in these "friends," for a lack of a better term, Slade made it clear that he was going to need all the help he could get.

He also made it really clear that I wasn't going. That's why I currently sit on a couch about twenty feet from the table. I wouldn't want to interrupt their little party.

He could have told me about this earlier, say, before the creepy "You-Are-A-Demon" guy showed up. Oh, and maybe he could have been a little more direct about it. He had been so busy with their plans, that he failed to mention my plans included sitting back at home with my thumbs up my as. Not in that exact wording, but pretty much that.

To say I was upset is an understatement. Like, what the fuck, right? What am I, chopped liver?

And that creepy "You-are-a-Demon" guy, for real who is he? He has no idea who I am, I've never met him in my life.

Why do I have to stay here like I'm an incompetent little child—

Slade interrupts my thoughts, "Azula, you're dismissed. Retire to your room,"

"Fine," I sneer, and stand up with my chin up.

"Watch your tone," he says in a dark voice.

I ignore him and stride out of the room. I needed some air anyways. Jerk.

o\0\8/0/o

"A list?" I ask Wintergreen as he hands me a paper with sloppy writing on it.

"To keep you busy while Master Slade is away on business. Now, off you go."

It reads;

"Chores:

1. Sweep foyer

2. Dust library

3. Water ALL plants in house

4. Normal workout routine

5. Whatever else Wintergreen says.

P.S. — Free time is from 6:00 PM to 12:00 PM.

Upon 12:01 Wintergreen will check to see if you are in bed. You may leave the house only if your chores are done and Wintergreen deems it fit."

Free time? I think excitedly. Drake…

The morning consisted of three hours of dusting, which was treacherous in every sense of the word. Of course the library was huge, and I got lost reading a book when Wintergreen came to check on me. The book was quite short but it was very well written; The Art of War, by a man named Sun Tzu. It was more about the importance of war and reasoning behind such. The book itself was worn and well read, which made me wonder how long Slade had owned this book.

When I ente the foyer it was already 10:00 AM. As I sweep, I bounce happily around the room and get lost in the time. After lunch, I water the plants. It was tiring to carry the water jug by hand, so I carry several of them with my powers to make it go by faster.

Luckily Slade doesn't have many houseplants. Sadly, I had to search the whole house to find them.

Time wouldn't pass fast enough. My workout routine seemed to pass faster than it normally did, and I was left with three hours of nothing to do but wait for my free time.

"So I've done all my chores and my workout routine," I start. Wintergreen doesn't seem startled by my sudden appearance via teleportation.

"Indeed you have, Miss Azula," He says while mopping the kitchen floor. His eyes stay on his mop.

"And I was wondering if I could possibly go out to town and hang out with some old friends of mine? I mean I know it's not quite six yet, but I did everything that was expected of me and I really miss my old friends…" He looks up from his mop and considers; my heart beats a thousand times a second.

"I suppose it will not hurt; but I expect you home by eleven since I'm letting you go early."

A grin lights my face and I feel like squealing.

"Really?"

"Yes, now off you go. Don't forget, eleven o'clock."

o\0\8/0/o

Before I had left, I had called Drake. He said he'd love to see me. I was rather shocked; I thought for sure he wouldn't remember me. Walking wasn't that bad when I could teleport most of the way. We were going to eat pizza at the local "Pizza Barn".

"How'd you get here so fast if you don't have a car?" I jump at the sound of his smooth voice.

I had been spacing out, waiting on the bench outside the Pizza Barn for him, when he strode up to me. Usually, I good about sensing when I'm being approached but my mind was occupied with an overwhelming sense of dread; what if Slade found out, or worse, what if his aura I sensed was a god-sign saying run away while you still can. My eyes land on him and I take in his black T-shirt and blue jeans. His red eyes are hidden behind his aviator glasses again.

"I walk fast," I answer.

"I could've picked you up, you know," He gestures to his red Fiat in the parking lot. I stifle a giggle with my smirk.

"A fiat, huh? I never would have taken you for that kind of guy."

"How do you figure?" He asks as we walk in to claim a table.

"Well I kind of assumed you would be a sports car kind of guy, or a muscle car; not mini M-n-m out there."

"Looks like we have a lot to learn about each other, then. What kind of pizza do you like?"

"As long as it's not vegetarian, I'm for anything."

The waitress struts up; her exaggerated cleavage bulges out the top of her button up shirt and pants are too tight for her frame. She is probably around my age, She smiles warmly at Drake, not sparing me a glance.

Drake glances at her for a moment then back to me before speaking.

"How does a Meat Supreme sound?"

"Great," I agree.

"We'll take the Large Meat Supreme."

"Anything to drink?" She asks him, practically drooling.

"I'll take a coke."

"I'll have a root beer," I add, since she didn't care me.

"Okay, I'll be right back," She smiles at Drake and glances at me, sizing me up, then walks away.

"Was it just me or was she acting really weird?" Drake leans in and half whispers.

I can't resist but to laugh out loud.

"She looked like she was going to devour you," I answer, not caring if she heard.

"Interesting analogy," He chuckles. My eyebrow quirks up.

"Not like that you womanizer," I tease.

"Ooh, owe," He grabs his chest and mocks pain, "So brutal."

"Life is brutal," I shrug and sigh.

"You have no idea."