It has been five months since I had last seen Robin. He left a week after we talked about his worries, and he wasted no time to get himself that time to figure things out. No one knew how long he would be gone, and he couldn't guarantee any time.
It was strange without Dick around, but we all knew he needed some time off to work things out. He still called often to give reports on where he was- or to call Wally about something silly he saw.
I got a text from him every so often, or some silly picture. Nothing more than that. I think Robin tried to keep as much distance as possible to really give himself a chance to figure things out for himself.
If something serious happened he would be there in a second though.
Bat Man never talked about him, so I couldn't fully tell if he accepted this or not.
"Orange." Kaldur says suddenly. Realizing he was pointing to one of the spaces on my crossword, I quickly filled it in.
"A five letter word for a potato type." I say.
Kaldur tilts his head back, and looks at the spaces around it. "Idaho?" he guesses.
"Idaho? That is a type of potato?" I question. He nods. Shrugging I put it in.
"Hey gang." Wally saunters in and collapses on the couch, "What are we doing for fun around here?"
'Kaldur is reading, I'm doing a crossword." I explain, moving my ankle a bit to brush my foot against Kaldur's since our legs were tangled together on the couch. He nudged me back, his eyes never leaving his book.
"Ughhhh.' Wally says in disgust "When did this team get so boring?"
"You could help." I offer the crossword.
"...Yeah okay." he sits up.
"What was scrabbles original name?"
He makes a little face, as if to question the random question, "How many letters is in it?"
"Six."
"I don't know." he shakes his head. "Babe?" he calls over his shoulder to the kitchen.
"Hmm?" Artemis inquires.
"What was scrabbles original name?" She gives him a bewildered look. I hold up the crossword to explain. "It has six letters."
"That isn't something relevant enough for me to know." she explains. She pulls out her phone though and looks it up. "It was called Lexico."
"Never would have known that- THIS IS SO BORING!" Wally falls back. "Can't we go out? Go on a mission? Do anything?" he pleads.
"No one is stopping you from doing that Wally." Artemis smirks at him.
"It isn't fun alone." he looks at her with pleading eyes, "Go see a movie with me?"
"I'm cooking."
"After cooking."
"Then I'll be eating the food."
"After you are done…. Can I have a bite?"
"Sure, but afterwards we have that team meeting."
Wally is puzzled, "Team meeting?"
"I told you about it yesterday." I remind him. He looks to the side, pursing his lips.
"...No you were talking about getting cookies from the store." he tells me.
"Yes, and then afterwards I told you about the meeting."
He shrugs, "I wasn't listening. I was thinking about the cookies."
"Of course you were." I chuckle.
30 minutes later we were meeting inside the training room. I found it almost strange to see everyone together like this. "Hey, M'gann." I wave to her. I found myself only seeing her at school lately.
"Arinna." She grins, "Hey there." we hook arms and smile at each other. "So what do you think this meeting is about?" she whispers. "Kaldur tell you anything?"
"I tried to squeeze it out of him, but he wouldn't say." I pout at her, "I even tickled his toes."
"That man has nerves of steel." M'gann murmured in awe, "I squeal when someone tickles my toes."
"I know." I snorted. "Me too. But, I think it might have something to do with the teams."
"The meeting?"
"Yeah."
"Ooh." her eyes sparkle, "Exciting." we both paused when Kaldur cleared his throat. Straightening, we all gave him our full attention.
"Thank you all for saving the time to join us today." Kaldur nods his head, "I only have a few quick announcements and then you all may go." he looks at Tula and Garth, "To be quick, Tula and Garth are changing teams." he smiles, "You both will be graduating to team Beta as of the next mission."
The two of them perked up, looking to me, thrilled. I gave them both thumbs up, never doubting that they could do it.
"Welcome to the team." Artemis patted their backs.
"It is good to have you aboard." Zatanna agreed.
"Speaking of Gamma, with the absence of Robin, Beta Squad will now be run by Ms. Martian, who will be on break from going on Alpha squad missions." Kaldur announced
She looked a little pale to hear this, but her confidence had been growing since we first joined the team a year and a half ago. Had Kaldur told her this when she first joined, she might have just fainted on the spot.
To think it has almost been two years since I first go here. Man, time sure does fly.
"I-I will try my best." M'gann stammers.
Behind her, Conner took her hand and gave her an encouraging look. She smiles weakly at him.
"With that being said- Arinna." He looks at me, "You will be receiving a new team member within the next week."
That startled me, "Someone is joining the team?" I gasp.
"Dude, cool! Who is it?!" Wally grinned. Kaldur frowned a little.
"I do not have the full details yet, but Bat Man will be bringing the new member by."
"Bat Man?" Zatanna raised an eyebrow
Kaldur gave us all a long look, as if he knew more than he was letting on, but must have promised Bat Man not to reveal too much till this new person arrived.
"I wonder who it could be." Rocket whispers to me. I shrug, not really knowing too many heroes or their sidekicks, but I could assume it was a teenager- similar to ourselves- that would be joining.
"That is all for today's meeting. It was short, but I appreciate all of you being here for it." Kaldur gives us a small nod. With that the group separated, most going to M'gann to congratulate her. She numbly smiled, looking the same way I must have when I was told I would be Gamma team leader.
"You'll do great.' I insist.
"You really think so?"
"If I can be a leader, the girl who has been known to have mental issues, I think you have nothing to worry about." I grin. She chuckles a little, nodding.
"Arinna has a great point. I mean, no one on Gamma has died yet, so this leader thing will be a piece of cake." Conner agrees.
"Hey." I hit him.
"What? You started this." he snorts. "Still though, a new member." we all went a little quiet.
"I don't know many sidekicks or young heroes." I admit, "I have no idea who it could be."
"Most of the young heroes I know are already on this team." Wally nods his head, "So beats me. Maybe some new hero who Bat Man found out about? One who isn't really connected to a League member?"
Artemis nodded, "Yeah, that sounds like the kind of thing Bat Man would keep his eyes on. I mean, who knows what kind of people have powers out there who just hid it away or just never get recognized for having them." she paused, "Or they don't have powers at all." she smirked
"That too." Zatanna smiled at her.
"Hope it is another girl." M'gann says, "There aren't enough on this team."
"There are six of you." Wally snorts, "With Robin gone there are only four boys now. I want it to be another dude!"
"Oh yeah. I guess the tables have finally turned for you men." Rocket snickered, "Girls for the win!"
"Score for the females!" Zatanna high fived her.
"Since when was this a competition!?" Wally demanded.
"You don't understand, when this team started the boy always outnumbered the girls!" M'gann explains.
"So?"
"So now it is our turn to outnumber you." Artemis poked his chest with a smirk. He blinked rapidly.
"That- what? W-Well not anymore! I bet the new member will be a boy! We'll get back our numbers in no time!"
I chuckled at them, slowly stepping back from the group when I noticed Kaldur returning to the living room. Following after him, I flipped over the couch to join him.
"Hey there~"
Startled, he smiled at me, "Were you not just talking with the others?"
"They were getting into the whole competition of how many girls there are to boys thing again." I roll my eyes, "Doesn't really interest me."
"I see." he opened his book. It was The Shining by Stephan King. I had bought it for him a week ago and since then he hasn't been able to put it down.
"You like it?" I coo.
"Huh?"
"The book."
"Oh… yes. It is quite interesting. Very well written." he nods.
Laying my head on Kaldur's knees, I look up at him. His gaze didn't move from his book.
"...Hey." I reach up to poke his chin.
"Hmm."
You don't have to tell me who they are, but I would just like to know what I should expect. Have you met the new team member?"
"Not in person, but I've seen his face." Kaldur says.
"So it is a he." I smirk
Kaldur lowers the book, giving me a look. I chuckle at him, kissing his hand. 'You said it, not me."
"Yes well… I forget to keep my guard up with you sometimes. You are sneaky." he pouts slightly.
"I can not confirm nor deny the possibility that you may have a soft spot for me." I say innocently.
"I can confirm it." he leans down and kisses my forehead, "I am not giving you further information on the matter however. My guard is now up."
"Aww, come on." I chuckled. "At least tell me if he is nice or not."
Kaldur paused, "I believe so. You should not have to worry about him getting along with the team." he paused, as if he should take back those words. 'At least, I hope he will get along with them."
"That doesn't really make me feel better."
" Bat Man said he was an exceptional young man."
"Bat Man? Complimenting someone? How unheard of." I gasp.
Kaldur chuckles and glances down at me, "He said the same about Dick." he reminds me.
"I don't think he said it enough to him." I say softly. Kaldur lowered his gaze.
'Bat Man is not a man of words but action."
"Well he should have done more action than to show Dick how much he appreciated him. Gave him a hug or something, or a pat on the back- or tell him he could be whatever he wanted when he got old enough." I huff.
"We can not change the ways of others. Bat Man is not a bad man." Kaldur runs his hands through my hair.
'I know." I sigh, "He is a pretty good man. I just want Dick to be happy at the end of this."
Kaldur nods in agreement, "We all want that. All we can do is wait to see what Dick decides."
"Yeah…" I look up at him then smile, "Oh dearest boyfriend."
Kaldur blinks once, not use to me calling him by this, "...Yes?"
"I think you should put down that book and go do something with me. Like~ I dunno~ Go on a date? Since we both have the time today~ We can go see a movie." I grin, my mind stuck on that ever since Wally mentioned it with Artemis. Sure I have moments like this with Kaldur from time to time, but overall we haven't been able to see each other often.
He looks at his book with almost a pout, "I just reached a very intense chapter." he says.
"And it will still be there when you get back." I insist.
He looks torn, "...One more chapter?"
I couldn't resist his puppy eyes. "Okay, one more chapter. But then the date."
"I agree." he opens the book up excitedly.
000000- Next day-000000
I awoke to the sound of heavy banging on my door. Turning groggily, I barely had time to open my eyes before Zatanna burst into my room, blinding me with the light from the hall.
"Arg!" I turn my head from it, "Zatanna? What do you want?!" I demand.
"Arinna! Get up!' she sounded panicked as she pulled me out of bed by my legs.
"Wha-' I hit the floor, "What is going on?" I demand as she drags me out of the room, not even allowing me the time to switch out of my fluffy pink pajamas.
"Bat Man wants us to meet his new- There is a-" Zatanna struggles for a moment, " THE NEW MEMBER IS HERE!"
"H-He is?"
"And you won't believe it!" she is huffing heavily. He is- I mean- I can't- you won't believe it!"
"Not until you tell me!" I try to kick my feet out of her grip. "Let me get up!"
She drops my legs and scrambles to get me on my feet, "There is a new Robin." She drags me out of my room and into the hall, where a few other members of the team are gathered to discuss this shocking news before we go confront Bat Man.
I can only stare at her, "What?"
"It is totally weird!" Wally yells, "He is even wearing the same kind of costume! I mean… it is a little different I guess, but overall the same!" He sounded annoyed at this.
"A new Robin?" I blink rapidly. "Really?" I knew Dick had left for some soul searching, but I guess I never thought of the possibility that a new Robin might step in for him.
"And it's only been a few months. You would think Bat Man would take a little time to go solo before finding a new sidekick. Guess that shows something in its own way." Wally snorts. "Not too excited to meet the new guy."
"How long has this uh- new Robin been with Bat Man?" I ask, still dumbfounded at the very idea.
"Probably a while- at least a few months." Zatanna says, "He seems well trained from the glance I got."
"So then Bat Man didn't even wait the full 5 months. He probably only waited one! Just tossed Dick aside, just like that. Probably isn't even upset that he is gone." Wally throws his arms up.
"I'm sure he will be nice." M'gann offered.
"Feels more like a replacement if you ask me." Conner folded his arms.
"Being a replacement for another is never a position one normally wishes for themselves." Garth reminded us, "He will be our new team mate, not a replacement for Dick. I say we should treat him as anyone else who joins the team."
I felt oddly proud of Garth for standing up for the new Robin, "I agree with Garth." I perk up, "Though… this might take some getting use to."
"Yeah well… I hope things don't turn sour like they usually do." Wally mumbles.
"Hey, things didn't turn sour when I got here." Zatanna disagreed.
"Yeah, but we also almost got killed and doomed the planet because of a volcanic robot." Artemis reminded her. "And when Rocket joined the entire League got brainwashed. Or what about Tula and Garth? The Atlantean heir got kidnapped."
"...True." Zatanna sighed.
"It must be a curse. Bad things will always happen when we get new team members." I shiver. "And we all know which squad he will be joining." I point to myself and Rocket, "Gamma~"
"Great." She sighed. "So the bad luck will just fall on us while the rest of you go about your days in peace."
None of the others would admit they were almost relieved to hear that as we entered the loading bay where Bat Man, Kaldur and a new figure stood waiting for us.
"Team." Bat Man addressed us. Moving into a group around him, we waited expectantly, all of us already aware of what he was about to say. "There is no need to beat around the bush, so I will just say this. Team, this is your new teammate. With the absence of the previous robin, the mask shall now fall to him."
"More like replaced without Dick's permission." Wally mumbled.
Then the man of the hour stepped forward, his smile never once faltering.
He was shorter than I was, which would probably mean he was younger than me too. His black hair and devious smirk as he approached were almost carbon copies of Dick's. It almost made me wonder if Bat Man would resort to cloning, but I quickly cut that idea down when this new Robin spoke.
"Hey there. You must be the team." Definitely didn't sound like Dick. When he spotted me he held out his hand, "And Arinna, right? The Gamma leader, right?"
"Uh… hi." I shake his hand, feeling awkward. "Nice to meet you."
He was giving me a peculiar look at this point. "Uh… nice pajamas."
My reply is to whip around and smack Zatanna across the head for not allowing me to change my clothes before I got here. She yelped, hitting me back.
"Girls." Kaldur scolded quietly, sounding like a father figure scolding his fighting daughters. We stop and lower our arms to our sides.
Second Robin laughed at us for a second then gave everyone a long look up and down. "So this is the team? I was kind of expecting… more?" he shrugs.
"So were we." Wally mumbles quietly.
"Well, whatever. So long as I get to take down bad guys, I don't mind." he grinned
"From this point on you shall be placed into the multiple squads in this team. All new members are required to join Gamma when they first arrive." Kaldur explained to him.
"Ohh that's- Rocket and myself.' I add in.
"I'm apart of your team?" he looked back and forth between Rocket and myself. "Just us three?"
"As just explained- Gamma is really mostly for new members, or those who can't put too much time to the team at the moment." Rocket explained with a grubby tone. "Got a problem with us?"
"No." Robin Two, which I have now named him, says quickly, "Just wondering why we had less members than the others, that is all." There was a sudden silence, as if the younger boy was thinking. Then he smirked, "If these are the only two people on the team, it'll be a cinch!" he cackled.
"W-What will?" I ask.
"Just you wait, in a few weeks, I'll be running the squad." Second Robin said cockily. The team glanced at each other, shocked at his over confidence.
I found the comment almost silly, "Is that so?" I inquire, folding my arms. Glancing at Rocket, she snorted.
"Good luck with that kid." she told him. 'Arinna is pretty set on keeping her position."
"Don't tell him lies. You know that isn't true." I chuckle, nudging her. I would gladly give team leader up. But, I'm not sure if I would want to give it to the new robin. Rocket would definitely be my first choice, but that is probably just because I don't know this new guy too well.
"Just give it a few weeks." Robin Two insists.
"Okay- I just- I can't." Wally stepped forward, "No offense, Bat Man-" he says with a tone which means he completely wants Bat Man to get upset with this, "But mind explaining where this new guy came from and why he is already taking the name of Robin when it's only been a few months since the last one left?"
"It has not been long, that is true, but Robin has shown excellent skills and can handle the job. He works well in Gotham and it has been proven that interacting with other heroes his age does well for your mental state and skills in teamwork."
"Does D- I mean, the previous Robin even know about this guy?" Wally demanded.
"Dick Grayson." Robin Two spoke up, shocking the room. He grinned, "No need to keep getting confused with previous and current Robin names. I already know the name of the previous one."
"Wha- You told him?" Wally demanded.
Bat Man raised an eyebrow as if the question should have been obvious that he didn't. "It is not difficult for anyone to discover the identity of Robin when they discover my own identity."
"Fine- whatever. Still doesn't answer my question. Does Dick know?"
"Yes."
Wally almost keeled over, "Wha- and he just agreed with it?!"
"You will have to discuss that with him. He left, no longer wishing to carry on the role of Robin. So it was taken up by another more willing young man." Bat Man motioned to Robin Two.
Too shocked and dumbfounded to say anything else we let Bat Man finish his small announcements before he left, telling us to give Robin Two a tour of the cave.
"That was- awkward." Zatanna says.
"Indeed. I felt as though I could cut through it with my hand." Garth agreed, moving his hand in front of him to pretend to cut through the air. Tula chuckled at him and mimicked the motion. They were adorable- why were they leaving my squad again? Missions wouldn't be the same without them. Ugh- now I miss them.
"Oh my gosh I am gonna miss you two on missions." I hug them. "I feel like a parent sending their kids off to college." I sniffle.
"Dude, weird." Rocket pulls me away. "You still got me. And uh- baby face over there."
All huddled in a group we were staring at Kaldur and Robin two talking to each other across the room.
"I don't know how that will be like though. It might be just super weird." I say honestly. "
"One of us should go give him the tour." M'gann insists.
"Definitely not going to be me." Wally grumbled, taking a deep offense to everything that was happening. Artemis placed a hand on his arm, understanding. Dick was his best friend after all, so it wasn't a surprise that he would be angry that Bat Man just replaced him without a word.
"I got stuff to do." Conner folds his arms.
"Arinna could do it. She is his squad leader now." Rocket offers with a smirk.
"That means you could do it too since you are his squad mate." I counter. She lowers her arms with a frown.
"I don't want to."
I sigh, "I don't have a problem with it. I'll do it." Saluting the others, I go to approach Kaldur and Robin two. Staying back for a moment to let them speak, I step forward and clear my throat. "Hey."
"Arinna." Kaldur greets me with a smile, "Are you going to be the one to give Robin the tour?" To anyone else, Kaldur's voice would have sounded smooth and calm- but I could sense the tightness from it. I'm sure the whole team could sense it accept for Robin Two. It was hard to just accept this new kid as Robin now, especially since we all consider Dick as the one and true person to hold that title.
"I am." I nod. Robin Two was already bouncing towards the hall.
"Well let's go, come on!"
Trailing after him, I grab Kaldur's hand and give it a squeeze as I pass. He smiles and I disappear down the hall. The tour was short and to the point honestly. After living in this cave so long it doesn't feel as big as when I first go here. It feels small- safe. So the tour might have felt longer to Robin two.
"And here is the back door." I open the door. It really couldn't be considered a back door since it really just lead to a straight drop off the cave side and straight into the ocean- but we called it that anyway.
Peeking out, Robin Two nods, "Coolio. This place is pretty big."
"Yeah. If you get lost the first few days, don't feel bad. I did the same thing." I chuckle.
"I won't get lost."
"...Right." I turn around, feeling awkward. "Well, there you go. Um… is there anything else you want to know about the cave? Or- or the team? I can try to answer whatever question you have."
He shakes his head, "Nah, I'm good. Probably going to head back to Gotham now. Not that you guys aren't cool or whatever, but going crime fighting with Bat Man is more fun." with that he ran down the hall with a wave.
"...Good talk." I wave back and trudge away. This was going to be weird.
00000- Two days later-0000
Robin Two didn't come to the cave often- and no one really minded that. Wally was still angry at the idea of it anyway, so it was good he got some space from the new guy.
But then Bat Man entered the cave with Robin at his side, announcing that team Gamma had a mission- and I just new today was going to be horrible.
Our luck had held out strong these last two days, but as tradition for any new member, something was going to go wrong soon.
"First mission!" Robin two was bouncing around excitedly. "What is it? What is it?! Stopping a bank robbery? Saving a country from a dictator's tyranny? Preventing an asteroid from hitting the earth?"
"Boy, what do you think we are, the Justice League?" Rocket laughed, "Alpha doesn't even stop asteroids. We are the Justice League's shadow. We do the stuff that doesn't really get seen on the news."
That seemed to excite Robin Two even more, "T-Then what is this first mission?" he grinned.
I hated to see him disappointed, but Bat Man says, "Surveying a Star Lab facility and helping them test their new motion detection gear."
"Star Labs?" I felt a little on guard suddenly, "Where?' I was praying he wouldn't say Philadelphia.
"Boston."
I couldn't help the sigh of relief escaping my lips, "I-I see."
"..." Robin Two lowered his arms, "That's it? Can't their security do that?"
"They could." I nod, "But they probably want us since we are faster and can reach higher/weirder places then their security can. They want to make sure even those with powers can get caught by it."
"Correct, Arinna." Bat Man nods.
"B-But that is so-"
"Easy?" Rocket beamed, "I know. And the best part, I won't have to be exhausted for school tomorrow~"
Robin two wasn't as pleased, and folded his arms, "Che… Lame."
"Gamma is known to be the most boring of the three." I say, "Don't worry though, when Kaldur and Bat Man think you are ready and we see how you do with team work, you can be moved up to the other teams."
"Star Labs is already informed you are coming, so be prepared to leave within the hour. The new security system is experimental, and to test it fully you are allowed to use all means to test it- including your abilities. With that comes the risk of potential hostiles to the facility since blind spots have yet to be discovered with this new system. While you are testing the system you will also be Star Labs physical security, understand?"
"Yes." we nod.
"If tonight goes well this new security system will be placed in all functioning Star Labs facilities."
With that, we got ready to leave. "I haven't been to Boston in a while." I say.
"I think I've been there twice by now- only on missions of course." Rocket snorts, "I should go there sometime when I have free time and just enjoy the sights.'
"I'm not comfortable in going." Ari, being oddly silent the last few days, spoke up for the first time in forever. "Jeez, Ari. Is there never a day you don't feel uncomfortable with something we do?" I sigh.
Rocket didn't so much as blink at my odd conversation with myself since she was used to it by this point, but Robin Two gave me an odd stare.
"Stop being rude, and say hi to Robin two, you are the only one who hasn't introduced yourself yet." I tell her. Ari grumbles and holds her hand out to Robin Two, "Hi. I don't like that you took Robin's name, but you don't seem like a bad guy. Doesn't mean I like you, but it doesn't mean I hate you either. I'm Ari."
Robin Two didn't seem like he wanted to shake her hand and glanced at Rocket for an explanation. "Did Bat Man not tell you about this?" she asks, puzzled by his confusion. "It is split personalities."
I start to laugh nervously, "Oh, sorry. Yeah. A year ago all this stuff happened and I had amnesia, and then I got my memories back, but something kind of went weird with the recovery of those memories so my personality is kind of split between the person I was during amnesia and the person I was before I had amnesia. So the person before I had amnesia is named Ari, and I am Arinna. I mean- we are the same person, but we kind of feel like different people with how different we view certain things at times…" I trail off, "Does that make sense?"
"No." Rocket smirks.
"Shhh it, you totally get it." I hit her. "Bat Man should have told him about it."
"Strange that he didn't." Rocket shrugged. "But yeah- Arinna here has split personalities. After a while you'll be able to tell who is talking between the two. Arinna is more soft spoken. Ari is kind of the rude one of the two."
"Who are you calling rude?"
"You."
"I will kick you for that." our leg automatically swung up to take out her knees. Rocket yelped and fell over.
"Ooh that is it!" she leapt for me.
"W-Wait!" I gasp, "Ari is the one who did that, not me!"
"Can't be helped if you are the same person!" we hit the floor hard and ended up rolling down the stairs, screaming all the way down. Robin two shuffled after us slowly, slowly laughing at us.
"You two are crazy!" he cackled, "I think I'm gonna really like this squad."
00000- Star Labs-00000
"Are you going to be okay?" Rocket asks as we approach the building. Her question caught me off guard.
"Huh?"
"Well, I don't want to step into anythin' I don't fully understand, but I know you girl. You've had a lot of issues with star labs- so I just wanna make sure Ari and you are okay with this mission."
It was sweet of her to worry, "Rocket." I smile, "I'll be fine. Thank you. I- I'll be fine. This isn't Philadelphia's Star Labs-" I say, since that is the one where both of my parents use to work and where my life was completely ruined. "If it was that Star Lab I probably would have had a problem."
"So you're good?"
"Yeah. Thanks." we pump fists and enter the facility. A worker greets us instantly, pushing her way through a few security guards. There were more than usual and I could only assume it was because of the testing of this new security systems.
"Thank you for coming." The woman shook my hand. 'You are Clarity, yes?"
I nod, "That would be us. This is Rocket, and Robin Two- I mean, Robin." I correct myself. He gives me a little look but doesn't say anything. "So- what exactly do you need us to do to test this security system?"
"Honestly, just kind of run around." The woman chuckles, "Some of you have powers, yes?"
"We do."
"That is perfect. Our previous security system had no difficulties in tracking average humans- but enhanced beings were a different story. Bat Man informed me that one of you could teleport?" I hold up my hand, "Ah, yes. Well- with your powers you could easily teleport something or someone in or out of a room. No alarms on doors or windows would go off. With this new system we'll be able to track one's very heat signature, and each measure is specifically designed to accommodate those of powers."
"Meaning?"
For an example, she pulled out a collar from Belle Rev penitentiary. The collar was supposed to stop a powered person's abilities- make them like any other human.. "You've managed to match your systems with the collars so that no powered being can use their abilities within the facility." Ari realizes.
"Yes." the woman eyes sparkle. "With the research we do- any number of our technology could be used for horrible things if they end up in the wrong hands. We want to assure that none of our tech gets taken."
"So- is the system running right now?' Rocket glances around, half tempted to just shot up into the air to see if she could or could not.
"Not fully." the woman frowns. "Honestly, this test was supposed to take place in another facility, but Bat Man felt it would be more effective here. We haven't had a chance to fully incorporate it here though at the request, so nothing is fully functional right now. It is why our guards are on high alert."
"Bat Man changed the location?" I question, "Where was it suppose to be originally?"
"The Star Labs in Philadelphia."
Rocket puts a hand to her heart, "I hate and love that man."
I suddenly get to a crouch, lowering my head for no one to see my face- though you couldn't see it through the mask anyway, and laugh. Could he not allow me to be mad at him for longer than two days? He just had to be randomly super sweet.
"A-Are you okay? Did I say something wrong?" the woman asks, panicking.
"I am fine." I assure her, standing. "When will the system be up and ready?"
"An hour. Do you mind waiting? A little extra help to guard the perimeter would be greatly appreciated."
"We can do that." Rocket winks, "Let's go team~ I'll go guard the area with a vending machine. I'm hungry."
"You go do that." I snort. Giving the woman a nod, I ask where there are the least guards, or areas most weak for infiltration and send Robin and myself there. We basically just kind of pace around for the hour until an odd red light gentle starts to glow from the floor lights. "That usually happen?" I ask the guard next to me.
"Nope. Must be the new security system."
"Oh, cool-" the ground shakes, and we find ourselves struggling to keep our balance as the room above me to the right bursts into flames, shattering the walls and windows. "Get down!" I call, and everyone scrambles to get out of the way.
Feeling a horrible ringing in my ears, I stumble to my feet when the initial impact of the explosion dies down and I can catch my bearings. 'Rocket, Robin Two, come in!" I say into my communicator.
"Already ahead of you Arinna. I'm on my way now."
"Stop calling me that!" Robin replies with a huff. Checking to make sure everyone was okay around me, and seeing that no one seem too injured, I helped them to their feet and we ran inside.
The scientists and workers were in a panic, following the directions of the security and yelling.
"I got five hostiles on floor two." Rocket says, "They grabbed some tech!"
"I'll be right-" I snap my fingers, but nothing happens. I try again. Nothing. Looking at my hand, confused, I glance at the glowing red lights connected to the walls. "Oh…" I grumble. "Heading there on foot!"
"Just teleport." Rocket says
"Can't."
"Can't?"
"Initial thoughts on this new security system- it works." I grumble, pushing through frightening works to get towards the staircase and push my way up. When I got to the next floor- I could already hear the sound of gunshots from the down the hall. Sprinting in the direction, I moved around just to dive to the floor when bullets came my way. Using some debris as cover, I did my best to peek around the edge of it. "Guys?"
"Leave it to me~" Robin two shot out from the vents a second later, swinging a metal pole at one of the men, "Hey. Hey." he says, landing heavily on the man's chest and smacking the pole into his arm, "We having a party boys?" he snorted. The man lifted his gun and Robin two leapt back, ducking behind a pillar.
Rocket, who had previously been pinned down because of the men firing her, lowering her shield and kicked at one of the others, knocking him out when she connected her foot with his skull. The remaining three back up from us, leaping out from the large hole in the wall they created to make themselves and entrance. Rocket moved to follow, but ducked away when they fired at her.
They didn't hold regular guns in their hands- but I recognized the tech. Many henchmen of the light held similar weapons. "Who are these guys?' Rocket grumbled.
"Don't know, don't care." Robin two was leaping out the window after them, landing gracefully like the acrobat he was. Dick and him were similar in that aspect. Watching him, I could see the three men had already made it to their car. Lift my hand out to stop them- but when I flicked my fingers, nothing happened.
"Agh! Curse this awesome new security system!" I waved my hands around furiously.
"I Got'cha girl." Rocket, who's powers came from the gear she wore, flew behind me, lifting me up by the arms to carry me out of the building. Landing down below, we ran to pursuit the car, which had already began to move.
Robin two had been close to catching on to it, but when the three men fired at him, he had no choice but to roll out of the way, allowing them to shoot down the car in their black pickup truck.
"This could be going better." I sigh mentally.
("Well, I don't mean to make your day worse, but it seems our new little bird is causing some trouble." Ari informed me. )
"What?" I turned around, just in time to watch Robin bash the window open with his elbow and hop inside, "Uh… what are you doing?" I demanded, paling.
He unlocked the other door, "Get in." he told me as he pulled out the panel below the steering wheel to jump-start it. I glanced at Rocket in dumb confusion.
She didn't know what to say, motioning for me to do something. I was leader after all.
"Robin Two." I hissed, grabbing his arm. "This is stealing."
"Robin. Just Robin. No Robin Two." he frowns, "Plus, it is borrowing." He disagreed, "We'll only use it for a few minutes. Now, do you want to let the bad guy get away or get in the car?" He inquired.
"Wha- no!' I refused, "We aren't using that. That is stealing, no matter who it belongs to. We'll just take the-"
Robin let out this frustrated sigh, "For crying out loud. Fine, if you aren't willing to get your hands a little dirty to stop the bad guys, I'll stop them myself." he floored it, almost running over my feet, and the car shot down the road.
"Hey!" Rocket yelled furiously at him, "Watch it!' he was already gone.
"I-" I lowered my arms in defeat.
"Plan?" Rocket inquired.
Snapping my fingers, the Arinna mobile appeared next to us. "Follow him, I guess." I say with no enthusiasm.
"I'm gonna kill that kid." Rocket leapt into the passenger side.
Getting in, I started the car and floored it. "You know- Dick had a similar kind of thing when he first got here." I start to ramble, "He just kind of ran off on his own and didn't like to follow orders. Or more of- wanted to give the orders but never actually said what they were because he expected you to just read his mind."
"Did he ever steal a car?"
"...No, no that is new." I sigh. "
I stepped on it at the sound of gunfire ahead of us. Shooting through a light and onto a large bridge, I could see the car Robin took and the criminal's car side by side, bullets flying wildly across the two. Robin had ducked down to avoid these, chucking a few batarangs to disarm the criminals.
The chaos from the two was causing all other cars to pull over or swerve into each other.
"Jeez…" Rocket paled at the sight, "Ah!" Seeing one car slamming into another, she lifted her hands to put up a few bubbles around the passing cars, trying her very best to prevent any further damage.
Shooting around the cars, I was starting to gain some ground on the two vehicles, which were slightly slamming into each other to stop the other.
"Arinna, take out the car!" Rocket yelled to me.
Almost nervous to only drive one handed at this speed I hesitantly lifted my hand. "On it." I lifted my hand to flick at the black pickup truck the criminal were driving, intending to possible flip it or hit it off the road- but Robin suddenly leapt at it. Barely able to stop myself from flipping both him and the vehicle, I retracted my palm with a hiss of anger, changing my tactic to teleporting while simultaneously turning the wheel to avoid slamming into his now abandoned vehicle.
I snapped my fingers within Robin's mid jump. Instead of landing on the criminal's car like I assumed he planned, he landed on the hood of the Arinna Mobile. Caught in surprise, he scrambled to grab onto something, giving me a wild look, "Hey!" he yelled furiously.
"Shut up and hold on!" Ari snapped at him. He flinched at the tone, not expecting it. "I swear when we are done with this I'm going to hit you so hard, you little brat!"
"Watch out!" Rocket lifted her hand to form a bubble around us when one pulled out another gun. Deflecting it, she dropped the bubble when we rounded a heavy corner.
I absentmindedly noted the diamond shaped "One Lane bridge" sign to the side.
"Why did you stop me? I had them!" Robin two was screaming. I was struggling to see around him.
"Shut up and get into a seat!" I yell at him.
"No! Just get close enough and I can stop them!' Robin Two was now standing on the hood. I was screaming at him, throwing an empty cup at his back only to have it whip around and smack me in the face because of the speed we were moving.
"Dude! I swear-!"Rocket suddenly screamed. Startled, my hand turned the wheel in a split second reaction, and we hit the railing. The Arinna mobile shot up, flipped over the side and Robin fell backwards into me as we tumbled. Then we were falling, spinning off the bridge in a big heap of people and metal.
Barely able to catch my thoughts in this barrel roll, I aimlessly reached out, grabbing Rocket's arm, then wrapping my other arm around Robin Two's waist.
Gritting my teeth, I thought of the last thing I saw before we fell- the sign of the one lane bridge before we curved the corner- and then we were there. Hitting the ground hard, Rocket lurched to her side, clutching her arm.
Curse words spilled from her mouth as blood spilled from her fingertips. She had been shot in the shoulder.
"Rocket." I crawled to her.
"They are getting away!" Robin was on his feet. "We have to move-" he started to make a run for it. I snapped my fingers.
Appearing in front of me, he didn't see it coming when I slapped him. "Sit down!" I screamed at him. Holding his cheek in bewildered shock, he tripped and fell flat on his butt. "Stay there! Rocket is hurt, the Arinna Mobile is down at the bottom of this bridge- most likely totaled, and we all could have died! So shut up and do as you're told or the next place I teleport you will be the bottom of the ocean!" I snapped at him. I was so angry and fed up with this nonsense, it really put in perspective what Kaldur and Rob- or, Dick, had to put up with half of the time.
Looking pale he stammered, "T-The criminals-"
I rose and turned in the direction, flicking my fingers at the criminal's vehicle. The ground cracked, lifting slightly at the full force placed into the attack as it slammed towards the retreating criminals. They had made it almost out of sight, but then the car flipped- skidding against the ground before slamming into the railing- going dead still.
Robin Two could only stare in a stilled horror, his gaze slowly looking back up to me.
Going straight back to Rocket, I helped her to her feet, bringing her to the side. "Are you okay?" I asked softly, "Let me see." moving her palm to assess the damage, I winced at the bubbling red hole on the area where the shoulder and arm connected.
"Can you move your fingers?" Ari asked her
"Y-Yeah." she winced, "A little. I-I'm okay." she looked down the road, not surprised to see the car tipped. "They'll get away at this point, we should finish the job."
"You sure you are up for it?"
"They should have thought twice on shooting at us." Rocket grumbled darkly, getting to her feet, lifting something along the lines of a long bandana from her side pouch and wrapping it around her shoulder in a quick knot.
Once that was done, she reached out with her good arm and placed it on my shoulder, ready for teleportation. We looked at Robin Two expectantly.
He seemed hesitant to move, but found his way to his feet and hesitantly reached for me. I snapped my arm out to grab his hand before he could, making him jump, and we were in front of the flipped truck a second later.
Two of the men had been tossed from it, sprawled out on the road, but alive and breathing. They were bruised, but the fall had only knocked them unconscious. I felt lucky and relieved at that. I honestly hadn't intended to cause this much damage.
"I did." Ari thought.
"Ari. Not now."
The driver however was still conscious within the car, struggling to take off his seat belt and escape.
Rocket slammed her fist into the window, grabbing the man and yanking him out. "You got a lot of nerve." she scowled at him, the pain in her shoulder numb from her rage. "So you are gonna tell me- what did you get from this? Someone hire you?"
"Like I'd tell you."
"That girl can do a lot more than flip your truck, pal." Rocket motioned back at me. The guy lost the color in his face at the thought.
"I-I don't know his name… He wanted whatever was in the box. I don't know what it can do. He just gave us the supplies to get it saying we could keep it if we got him what he wanted." he stammered.
I moved to the back of the truck, grabbing the edge of the box and dragging it out. Tilting my head curiously at it, I gripped the edges, forcing it open. Rocket quickly approached to peek in with me.
A strange- weapon looking device glistened within.
"What is it?" Rocket questioned.
"It…" Robin cleared his throat, "Looks like a particle-beam." he says quietly.
"A what?" we questions.
"It's a high energy beam that disrupts the atomic and molecular structure of its target. You could do a lot of damage with this." he explains.
"And you don't know who hired you?" I growled.
"N-No I swear."
"Well how were you supposed to give this to him? Did ya have a set location to meet afterward?" Rocket demanded.
"No. H-He said he would contact us."
I clicked my teeth, annoyed. Minutes later, sirens were quickly approached.
When the police arrived, we left the criminals to them, explaining what had happened before stepping back to look down the bridge.
Rocket sighed, "She sure fell a long way." she pointed to the Arinna mobile. A wheel had come off, the hood was gone, and every window shattered- it was going to need some serious work to fix her up.
Running a hand through my hair, feeling heartbroken at the sight, I nodded. I mean- it was the Arinna mobile. She was like my child! "Conner is good at fixing his bike, think he could help fix her?" I ask.
"A bike and a car is a little different but- yeah I'm sure we can manage it somehow." Rocket assured me. "Right?" she jab her elbow into Robin Two's side. He flinches.
"Uh… yeah." he nods. I wasn't too happy with him right now and didn't bother to reply. After that, we took the weapon back to Star Labs.
From what Robin Two said it was in some serious planning stages and was most likely a prototype. It was in the storage area of Star Labs, so they hadn't really planned on continuing the project too far- but someone out there did.
We were thanked for getting it back regardless and finish the remainder of the security test. It was a little iffy, but once everything was set it would be pretty good. Perfect.
All we had to do now was go home…
I usually enjoyed taking the long way home from missions, and never used my teleportation often to take us back, but with the Arinna Mobile down, I had no choice. So with a snap of my fingers, I teleported my team and my car back to the hangar bay of the cave.
The Arinna mobile didn't take the trip well and another wheel feel off, tumbling to the side of the room and hitting the wall.
I let out a pathetic sob at the sight, "My car…." I whimper.
Rocket pats my back.
"Whoa!" there was a gasp from the other side of the room. "What happened?" It was Wally.
"A lot happened!" Ari said coldly, her glare turning to Robin Two. The others were rushing towards us a second later. We had never looked this beat up or miserable after a mission for Gamma.
"Arinna." Kaldur was already running forward, his eyes glancing from Rocket to myself. She was the worse out of all of us- though I can't say from all this rolling and flipping that I didn't have my own fair share of bruises.
"Rocket, you're bleeding!" Zatanna gasped.
"Oh my gosh." M'gann covered her mouth. "Are you okay? Who did this?"
"Yeah. I'm fine" she glanced at it dully, "They clipped me."
"Who?"
"There was- ugh, some goons. Big car chase. I'm tired. I have school in…" she glanced at her watch. "6 hours." she groaned. "God…"
"Don't worry about school right now. Focus on your health." Zatanna scolded her.
"Here, we'll take you to the infirmary. Stephan can patch you up." putting a hand on Rocket's back, M'gann lead her out of the room and down the hall. I would go visit her after I explained to the others everything that had happened.
"Dude, I thought this was just testing a security system." Wally eyes me suspiciously, "What were you three doing?!"
"I-" I sigh heavily, "I'll explain." and I did. Kaldur and Wally didn't say anything, but weren't too surprised at the idea that we would run into more trouble. It was the curse of team to be sent on a simple mission and the mission to end up being way more complicated after all.
"Way to go kid." Wally grumbled. Robin Two looked startled, stepping back.
"What?" he frowned, "Why are you putting this on me? What did I do?"
Wally put a hand to his chin as if to contemplate the answer, "Hmm, let me see," he cooed sarcastically, "Do you want the whole list, or just the recent and more relevant bits? Cause I can tell you both if you want!"
"Wally." Kaldur extended out his hand to calm his friend. He huffed heavily and pulled away. "We have all made mistakes when we first started this team."
"Nothing that go another team mate shot though!' Wally yelled. "Rocket was lucky! If that had been just a little bit more to the left it could have been her heart!"
That startled and terrified me.
Wally flinched, "I-I mean- she is fine, obviously." he stepped back, "It just- I could have been bad." he ended up muttering.
"Wally-" Kaldur held out a hand, "Go check on Rocket. Bat Man and me will discuss tonight with Robin."
Straightening, torn between following his leader and doing what he wanted Wally stepped back. Then he turned with an angry huff and stormed out of the room.
With that- the rest of the night was just a blur, honestly. There was scolding from Bat Man on me not being able to lead properly or whatever- which I thought was fair, but most turned to Robin for how reckless he was.
There was a lot of damage on the bridge and to the multiple cars.
Mostly I just spent my night in the infirmary talking with Rocket and what not. "Think it'll scar?" she asks.
"I hope not." I say
"Probably will." she keeps saying, "That might be hard to explain on dates. What should my story be? I went hunting on day and my friend shot me? Or I shot myself? I don't want to seem incompetent though." she snorts.
"You are lucky it isn't too serious." Stephan sighs, dabbing at it with disinfectant.
"Look at it." she sticks her tongue out, "It is just a weird little hole in my shoulder. Nasty. Can I-" she starts reaching for it, her finger extended out.
Stephan slaps her hand away, "No you can't stick your finger in it!" he scolds, "It will hurt and you might start bleeding out again."
"Just once?
"No."
"Why would even want to?' Zatanna sticks her tongue out in disgust.
"So lame." Rocket frowns. "Hey, did someone call Icon and tell him?"
"I did." Artemis raises her hand.
"He is gonna be so mad." Rocket glances away, as if she is picturing her death. "He'll probably bring me a basket of fruit or something though."
"Why fruit?" I smile
"A healthy body means healthier recovery or something weird like that." she waves her hand. She winces when Stephan starts to wrap the bandage around it.
"Sorry." he says. "Do you write with you right hand?" he asks, knowing it would be difficult to write this way.
"Left. Lucky me." she grumbles.
"You are lucky…" I nod. "It could have been your heart." I feel myself shiver.
"It wasn't though." she smiles, "I'm fine. This job has to have some risk right? This could happen to any one of us."
I nod, knowing what she meant. I have been shot at a lot- but I never feared it. This was the first time I actually saw the consequence of going up against people like that.
"Arinna, guys, you don't have to sit here with me. I'm good. You guys can go to bed." Rocket insists.
"We're fine." we say back. She chuckles. But then, the door opens, and a large fruit basket is shoved through the entrance, followed by the towering figure known as Icon.
"Fruit basket confirmed." Artemis says quietly to the side.
"Raquel." he makes his way to the table, eyes filled with worry. "I came as fast as I could. Are you all right? How bad is the injury?"
"I'm fine you big worry wart." she grins at him. "Just a battle wound to add to the list."
He is already handing her the basket and she eyes it curiously, "What is with you and mangos? There are a lot of those in this basket." she frowns.
"Do you not like them?"
"I like them- but they make up 70% of this basket." she reaches in to grab one. Smiling at the sight of mentor and student, I jump when a hand is suddenly placed on my shoulder from behind. Realizing it is Kaldur, I close my mouth when he puts a finger to his mouth to silence me. Rising without a word I follow him out of the room and to the next door.
He motions for me to sit down before pulling out a first aid kit. Glancing at it, I can't help but smile, "Stephan was going to bandage me up after Rocket." I tell him.
"Well, I would prefer to not wait." He says, opening it. Scooting the other chair closer to me, he sits down and gets to work.
We didn't speak- I was kind of afraid to with that look in Kaldur's eyes. He was so calm when we arrived, but I had seen the look the moment he saw the state we were in. He was angry. Very angry.
"You're mad." I state the obvious. He turns my hand to run the wet cloth along it, cleaning it. "Um… I definitely wasn't the best leader tonight." I say, "It is actually really hard and stressful- which you already know, obviously."
Kaldur brushed his fingers against my skin gently as he placed the bandage along my cheek. His silence is making me feel anxious. Can't he just say he is angry or mad or upset or… something?
"So much for Gamma being the safest team- right?" I chuckle quietly.
Kaldur doesn't seem to find that funny and goes back to disinfecting the large scratch on my arm. I purse my lips.
When his hand reaches up to my face again to put a second band-aid on my forehead, I grab his palm and kiss his wrist. He freezes at this, his cold demeanor cracking. Letting out a shaky breath he turns his head. Frowning at this, I reached out to stop him ."Hey…" our gazes meet, "I'm fine."
He lowers the cotton ball drenched in disinfectant and reaches up to cup the side of my face, "This time." he averts his gaze
I lean forward, my forehead brushing against his. I don't move until he looks at me again. "You are the one on the more dangerous squad." I remind him.
"Trouble seems to follow you more than me."
"I cannot deny that." I sigh. "I try to avoid it, I really do."
"I know. I simply- I want to stop it. I seem powerless to do that."
"Everyone is." my voice strains and I try to push past it, "Peace is one thing that struggles to stick around for everyone. But it always comes back. It's like- like the sun. It might leave when the moon rises, but it'll always come back. You just have to find it. Find your sun."
Kaldur's awestruck voice whispering, "You are my sun." echoed around in my head and I couldn't fight off the happy giggle if I tried.
"That is the sweetest thing you've ever said to us." I tell him.
"I mean it." his serious tone made me falter. "To both of you. Arinna… and Ari. I cherish both of you."
"..." I suddenly make a super ugly face- like, super ugly- and sniffle. We're crying. Ari tears included in this.
"I-" Kaldur flinches, "I did not think that would make you cry." He admits, panicked, reaching forward to brush away our tears.
"W-Well it did- that was so sweet you big- p-puffer fish." I croak.
"Puffer fish?" he inquires.
"Puff puff." I sniff. "O-Or an angel. An Angel fish. Ugh I'm ugly when I cry~"
"No- you just make weird noises." he insist.
"That does not make me feel better!" I hit him. "B-But did you mean that? Even Ari?"
"Of course." he smiles.
"Y-You promise?" His eyes widen when Ari speaks up. "I-I'm not sweet like Arinna… I'm not kind… I've been called a jerk more times than I can count…"
"Ari… Arinna and you are the same. You are both Arinna Kentin. Both Clarity. Your thoughts may differ but your heart is the same. You soul is one." He kisses us. "Please never doubt my affection for either of you and know that I have only ever seen you both in the same light."
"Ohmygosh-" I'm falling into his arms, "How- who- why are you perfect? Huh?" I sob into his chest, "Puff puff…" I'm slightly banging my forehead into his chin. He is chuckling, allowing me to be as weird as I want.
0000- Next day-0000
"I'm walking on Sunshine- WHOA-Oh-OHHHHHH~" I sang through the halls of the cave.
"For supposedly having a horrible mission yesterday, you are oddly happy." Conner notes. "And is-" he squints his eyes, "Ari singing with you?"
"Yes." Ari says proudly.
I start do some odd tap dance, "I love my boyfriend~"
"I'm aware."
"He is amazing."
"...Yeah."
"Super cool. Super sweet~ Best of men that boy,"
"Okay yeah, whatever." Conner rolls his eyes.
"I wuv him~" I lean against my brother. He shoves me away.
"So- then you aren't mad at Robin anymore?"
My happiness depletes in a second, "You had to ruin my good mood." I sigh.
"You had to get all up in my space." he waves his hands around his chest. I pinch his nose.
"Have you even seen Robin Two?"
"Is that what you call him?" he asks, "And no, I haven't. Probably still being scolded by Bat Man."
"I hope so." I sigh, "Yesterday was crazy."
"At least you all got out with your lives, right?" he pats my head.
"Yeah." Reaching around him I stole one of the doughnuts he had on his plate.
"Hey no!-" I teleport away, cackling like the troll I was and munching down happily. "Hmm, doughnut…"
Plopping down on my bed, I'm ready to lean back and take a nap when there is a knock on the door. Sitting up I frown, thinking it was Conner seeking revenge or the return of his doughnut. Stuffing the rest in my mouth I open the door with a poker face.
It's Robin Two.
I feel awkward standing there with my mouth full and hope he doesn't realize.
"So uh…" he stood at the door for a while, struggling to say whatever was on his mind. "Can we talk?"
"..." I nod my head slowly, motioning for him to come in. Turning away for a second I whip the crumbs off my face and chew like made.
"So um- about yesterday. I just um, I realize I was in the wrong and-" he pauses, "Are- are you chewing something?"
"...No?" my voice sounds muffled. Feeling caught, I glance at him before quickly chewing the rest of the doughnut. "Proceed." I say after swallowing.
"I-" He shakes it off, "Right. Well, what I wanted to say was sorry. About before."
"Which part?" I grumble, "Theft? Team endangerment. Endangering yourself?"
"All of it I guess." He paled a little.
"Well…" I fold my arms and sigh, "I'm not saying no one on the team has done stupid stuff like that but- we never took it as far as you did." I pause, "Well, Conner's gotten pretty bad, but no one's gotten hurt because of it." I pause again, "Correction again, no one's gotten shot because of it. I have definitely gotten bruises when Conner's done something stupid."
Robin Two could only stare at me. I stare back at him, oddly enough seeing… myself.
"I've also endangered the team by not being prepared and inexperience from the others." I tell him. Just- don't do it again." I wasn't sure what else to say here, but I hoped he understood from the lecture that I'm sure he's gotten from both Kaldur and Bat Man.
"O-Okay." he nods. When I didn't say anything else, he shuffled to the door.
A week after that, we didn't go on any more missions. At least, not until Rocket recovered from her injury a bit more. I helped Beta with a mission they went on, but it was more of me just teleporting them where they wanted to go and being standby for when they wanted to leave.
Nothing too exciting.
Robin Two and me didn't talk either. We trained a bit- but no one talked to him. He didn't try to talk to the others either. It was kind of… sad.
At one point, something changed. I had been sent to fetch Robin Two for a team meeting. He was up on the top of the cave, staring out to the sea.
Cautiously moving up from behind him I clear my throat to state my presence to him. "We're meeting up." I tell him.
"Oh… yeah, of course. Be right there." His voice sounded dull.
Pausing at his tone, I stood at the entrance for a few seconds too long.
He seemed upset.
Good. He is a little brat.
I wonder why he is.
No. Don't you dare. Don't try and comfort this little piece of-
Ari!
I cannot be the only one who thinks this kid deserves a little tough love, right? I mean, did you see what he did?
He is just a kid…
...Ohmygosh, fine.
With that, I move towards him again. "You okay?" I ask.
"What?" He jumps when I startle him, "Oh y-yeah. Of course."
"You sure?" I kneel down a bit to look at him, "You haven't said much lately. And you are up here all alone."
Blinking once, then twice, he averts his gaze. Opening and closing his mouth, he suddenly mutters, "It isn't like anyone wants to talk to me anyway."
"You did kind of make everyone mad." I shrug.
"They acted that way before then."
"...What?" I frown.
Shoulders tense and eyebrows bunched together he says, "Rocket getting hurt was my fault, I know. I'll take the blame for that and everyone can be mad at me but- but they acted this way before that happened. Since I got here everyone has avoided me. No one wants to talk to me."
I find myself sitting next to him, eyes wide
"Sometimes I feel that people don't see me for me." He explains.
"...I don't follow." I admit.
"I- No, nothing. Forget it. It is nothing." He huffs heavily. It sounds broken and lost.
I can't just seem to leave him alone though. "No." I insist. "Tell me. I won't understand unless you tell me."
Looking at me he hesitates, but after some time he starts to explain.
"When they see me all they see is, well, the boy wonder. Which is fine. I want to be Robin. I always looked up to him. To be him is a- it's an honor. But-" He grits his teeth. "They don't see me as a hero- they see me as Dick Grayson and when I'm not him, they get disappointed. I'm just a replacement for him. You even call me Robin two."
Well now I feel like a jerk. Bad brain. Bad Arinna brain.
"I'm sorry.' I frown, "I didn't- it was hard to just accept you as Robin." I admit sadly.
"I get that." he sighs, "But- I want to be seen as me. Not as him. But that is all people want me to be. The team. Gotham… I can't find a break."
I almost laughed at how nostalgic this conversation felt, "You know, Dick told me about a similar problem he was having a little while ago." I say to him, "It was the main reason he left."
"What would make him feel like a replacement?"
"With Bat Man." I tell him. "Gotham looked at him like he was the next one. He didn't like that. He wanted to be something else."
There was a long pause between us, "So he left because-?"
"He went to figure out who he was after Robin. He didn't want the costume defining him." I explain. "Same way you feel."
He straightened, startled, "I... "
"You definitely are not Dick Grayson." Ari tells him. "You are nothing like him."
"Is that a good or bad thing?" He mumbles.
"It is a normal thing. I'm sorry I made you feel worse about that." I tell him. "It was wrong of me. But I know you are Dick. It would be like if someone tried to compare me to Bat Man. I am definitely not Bat Man."
"Obviously." He nods.
"But, that doesn't mean I can't do my own share of good. Bat Man can't teleport like I can. Can't make shields. Just like how Dick probably wouldn't ever steal a car."
"Still angry about that?"
"I'll let it slip for now." I sigh heavily, "Point is, I don't want you to be Dick. I want you to be uh- whatever your name is."
"Jason."
"..." I almost fell over at how straightforward he was about that. "Wha- and you just tell me?" I gasp. "Isn't Bat Man against you doing that?"
"Yeah, but Dick did it." Robin Two- or Jason, says.
"Oh…" I nod, "Well, okay. Jason. You are a guy who really isn't afraid to get down and dirty to get the job done. Dick wasn't like that. He was always… hesitant. He doubted himself and his ability to lead a lot. You don't do that. You believe in your actions 100 percent. Whether that is a good thing or not I can't tell ya."
Robin nods a few times, "I… Sorry." he says, "I grew up doing that."
"Stealing cars?"
He flinches and nods, "It is how I survived. My-" he cuts himself off, "Never mind, forget it."
"No." I take his arm, "It is okay." I promise him, "You can trust me."
"I… When Batman asked me to be Robin, I was thought it was my chance to make a real difference. To be something better than my parents. They- they weren't the best people. My Mom didn't know I was there. She loved drugs more than me, and my dad was just some- bad guy. A stupid criminal who didn't know what he had." Jason says darkly. "I never want to become like them, or to be thought of like them just because they were my parents."
I understood that feeling more than I could bare.
"So- Bat Man found me. I was trying to steal the tires off his Bat Mobile."
"...Did you not realize it was his car?"
"It is the Bat Mobile. It has bat wings on the back- everyone knew it was his." he snorts.
"And you just tried to take them? And I thought you were gutsy before." I shake my head. He snorts a little.
"Yeah well- he thought so too. I don't know what he saw in me exactly but he took my in. I knew how to fight a little already and he taught me. I thought it was a blessing. Maybe my- this might sound stupid- my destiny.'
"...Maybe it is." I smile. "But um- listen, we've both been in the wrong here. Let's start over." I straighten and hold out my hand. "Hi. I'm Arinna. I'm your squad leader with a weird mental disorder and might say weird things from time to time, but I really care about my squad and team."
Blinking once, he slowly smiled and took my hand. "I'm Jason. I'm the new Robin, and I take that with pride. I want to help the world and stop bad guys, but I sometime get a little… aggressive, as people have told me. I hope I can be friends with the people on this team. Nice to meet you."
Grinning I give his hand a good shake. "Alright, Robin. Should we go meet the others?"
"Yeah." getting to our feet, we start towards the entrance. At one point in the halls he looked at me and said. "You're super smart Arinna." He chuckled.
I felt a burst of pride well up in my chest, "Really?" I gush, "You think so?"
"Yeah." he smiles, "Makes me wonder why you are called the dumb one on the team…"
"What?!" I roared. "Who calls me the dumb one?! Was it Conner!? I'm gonna beat him up!" I run into the meeting room. "Conner you piece of crap!" I tackle him. "Don't call me dumb!"
"What the- I didn't! Get off of me!" he roars.
There we go! I hope you all like how I wrote Jason. I haven't seen much of him in comics and shows honestly- so this is the first time I've ever tried to write about him. I hope I am getting his character right. From what I can tell he is very similar to Dick in the fact that he does stand for justice and is very serious about it.
He is just a lot more aggressive and willing to get down and dirty for it. I've also seen the Killing Joke movie which focuses on him and thought it was super sad. I wonder if that is what happened to him in the Young Justice universe 0.0
Hopefully they go into his story more in season three. STILL SUPER EXCITED FOR THAT BY THE WAY! :D
Anyway yeah. Arinna is gonna try her best to treat him as more than just Dick's replacement and he is gonna try and no go off the rails and be crazy :) Let's see how that works out :D Poor Rocket, at least the injury wasn't that bad.
ANYWAY! I hope you liked this chapter!
Preview for the next chapter:
Arinna tries bonding with her squad and forces Wally to try and get to know Jason and not just blindly judge him. Warning though... Someone might die in the next chapter.