Chapter 4: Mismatching Pieces of a Whole

"What?"

The heroes were annoyed— angry even; everyone except Batman, who took the initiative to ask, "How and why?"

The Flash sped to them, ignoring the fact that he clearly interrupted something important. "The chief said it was found near the back door of the museum, dirty but not damaged. They couldn't pinpoint how it got there or why and the time it got there. It just did," he explained with confusion and finality.

Icon felt his anger flare. "Are you saying that, after everything that Gardener, Rocket and I went through, those thieves just, went back and left the painting there?"

"They probably didn't take it to wherever they're hiding the first place you know?" at his comment, Batman elbowed the speedster, hard enough to make him tumble to his side.

"That strengthens our guess then," Black Canary said. "All we need to do is to find a connection between this thieves and the Light."

"Think they're another one of those Cadmus clones?" the Flash asked, "'Cause I can go ahead and take a look as Bart later when my shift starts."

Black Canary nodded. "That would be wonderful." She turned to look at the other heroes. "It's late. We should all rest. Tomorrow would be another day."

Gilotina knew she was easily provoked, provided they knew exactly how. That was why she was usually the one who threw fits; wreaking items her hands could hold. And when she was flaring, there was no stopping the damage she was about to bring.

She was the polar opposite of Lashina. The ravenette had a patience same to the Lord. She would always use her mind before letting her body lose. Even if every single one of the Furies are already steaming from anger (except Gem— the girl never really had emotions to begin with), Lashina would idly be there and be level headed for them.

So, imagine her surprise when the door slammed open and Lashina walked in with a pissed off look.

Gilotina knew she should stay silent, but seeing Lashina angry was very rare (this was the only time she had seen the ravennette angry), so she decided to grab the opportunity. She waited until Lashina walked past the couch she was currently relaxing on and chimed, "Look who woke up on the wrong side of the bed." She nearly flinched when Lashina glared at her, but shrugged it off and waited for the latter to speak.

Lashina averted her glare and started pacing as an attempt to calm herself down. "They returned the painting we stole," she icily explained.

Gilotina turned to Lashina and scoffed. "Told you it's a waste of energy," she said angrily, and Gilotina and Gem, who was sitting across the blonde, stayed quiet.

"We should have just killed them. That would have showed them how we Furies really are." Lashina uttered as she sat down in between the blonde and Gem.

Gilotina laughed. "This is gold. They really hit a nerve."

"In case you didn't notice, that was exploiting our abilities for their leisure. We are more than play things— we are Furies," Lashina pressed angrily, her tone ascending higher with every word.

Lashina watched as Gilotina process what she said. She turned to see the other Fury and as expected, Gem stayed silent as she continued to read the tablet. However, the ravenette knew (hoped, rather) that she was just as pissed as her.

She took a deep breath and exhaled through her nose. "Also, we might have another 'test run' today," she informed. "I guess it may be to face another bunch of heroes.

The sound of shattering echoed through the room and Lashina turned to stare emotionlessly to Gilotina. But she was surprise to see the blonde staring in another direction with a surprised look as well. She followed the blonde's gaze and saw Gem, her hand was pierced with shards of glass, and the tablet was on the ground in pieces mixed with crimson blood dripping from her hand.

Lashina and Gilotina watched as Gem stood up and walked to the kitchen. Gilotina then broke the silence by asking, "We're basically prancing around this world, fighting heroes— for what, exactly?"

"It would seem so." By now Lashina had her arms crossed as she watched Gem mopped the ground. Her eyes trailed on the red stains left behind by Gem's blood as she went deep in her thoughts. "But the reason for this shenanigan they have for us is beyond me. They aren't exactly open to us."

"I don't understand what the Lord sees in them," Gilotina commented out of nowhere. "They're like a bunch of spoiled, rich people. We could better than they can." She crossed her arms as annoyance clouded her face. "Can't we just get this 'valuable thing' our Lord needs from them?"

"I think so too," Lashina agreed, inwardly cringing because they had agreed (for once). "But we are in no position to ask nor could we rush the mission. Disobeying the Light is disobeying our Lord and we might be banished like—"

"Do not say her name."

Lashina quickly shut her mouth.

Gilotina sighed and pinched the nose of her bridge. "So, any details, concrete details, about this new test run we need to know about."

As Lashina talked to Gilotina about the possible test run, Gem, just was finished cleaning up, and hurriedly went to her room. The two warriors did not seem to notice her as they engrossed deeply in their talk; or ignored her absence. And for either of that— Gem was somewhat thankful.

The Watchtower

October 19; 13:23

Dr. Fate stared at the Martian as the latter was kneeling down, heaving to catch his breath. They had been exploring his mind to find anything relative to the vision he saw and sadly, they only reached dead ends. This made the sorcerer frown. "Perhaps it is best for us to see other psychic that can help you. Your niece for example," he suggested.

J'onn looked up while wiping the sweat off his forehead. "I'd rather not involve M'gann in this," he said standing up. "She is still recovering from what happened to Kaldur."

Dr. Fate was silent, but he understood. "Well then, would you like me to recommend a few psychics? Or would rather prefer if you find one yourself?"

"I would appreciate if you would recommend psychics. I would also try to find a few ones myself. Thank you." J'onn received a nod of acknowledgement and Dr. Fate's eyes began to light up. "I apologize but I have other duties to attend to. I would be back shortly." With that, Dr. Fate walked into his portal, leaving the alien alone. The alien stared blankly above him, deep in his thought that he did not noticed the Flash and his niece walk in.

"Uncle, are you okay?" M'gann asked worriedly when she saw the older Martian down on the ground.

The Martian stood up quickly. "I am alright, M'gann."

The Flash frowned, like M'gann. "You sure? I mean, you looked pretty trouble since—" he quickly stopped when he felt the older Martian tapped into his mind, as if saying to not say anything anymore.

This action made M'gann frowned. She felt her uncle went into the speedster's mind. He was hiding something from her, and that did not settle well with her. "Uncle, what's going on?"

J'onn smiled; not a happy one, not a sad one, just a simple smile— maybe of reassurance, for her and himself. "I'm just having problems with my psychic abilities, M'gann. Do not fret. It will be over soon," He uttered to her gently.

Even without her telepathy, M'gann knew that J'onn was lying. She wanted to pry, to ask him to open up to her, but she could not. Whatever it was, it was obvious that it was something that her uncle wanted to face alone. So she nodded and opened a new topic.

"We found a lead in San Francisco about some smuggled goods," she explained, fiddling with the edge of her cloak. "We were hoping to get Batman's approval so the Team can deploy."

J'onn nodded. "I will escort you to Batman then."

"Uh yeah, can I say something first?"

Both Martians turned to the Flash, who was scratching his cheek. "Black Canary wants to talk to you, J'onn. She says it's urgent," the speedster explained while giving an expectant look to J'onn. The latter nodded in understanding.

"I will go to her once I escorted my niece then."

"Okie dokie. I'll pass the message."

The Martians watched as he sped out of the room. M'gann then turned to her uncle and said, "You should already go to Black Canary, uncle. I'll be fine on my own."

"No, I insist," the older Martian said as he turned to monitor room's direction. M'gann frowned and silently followed him. During the walk, she tried (slightly and gently) tapping into her uncle's mind, but he put up a strong wall and even if she could easily break through, she feared it would put her uncle in a catatonic state (plus, she respected him; if he did not want her in his mind, then what could she do?)

She finally saw Batman's back when they stopped. The older Martian turned to her. "Stay here," he said, not waiting for her reply. She watched as the older heroes talk and came to them when her uncle motioned her to. She smiled gently at Batman's direction, but dropped it as soon as she felt her uncle started to leave.

"I'll see you around, uncle," she whispered, loud enough for the blonde and the Martian, who turned around slightly. "You as well, M'gann. Be careful."

She waited before turning back to Batman and stated the problem at hand.

"It's that bad, huh?"

Kaldur averted his stare off screen before returning and nodding. "I believe so. However, it may seem possible that I may be overthinking this."

Nightwing leaned back a little before letting a sigh. "Maybe, but we have to consider that it may be true," the ex-protégé of the Dark Knight slightly turned his head away from the screen before continuing, "The last thing I want is for the Team to collapse wordlessly."

He could feel the piercing stare of the Atlantian from the other side of the screen. "So you do think it will happen?"

"Having a founding member die isn't exactly an easy thing to overcome— especially to us."

Silence manifested for a while as both heroes were lost in their thoughts. "You know, I've always prepared myself when the Team would disband." Nightwing started, "You know, may be because of a disagreement, lack of members; stuffs like that and I—" he swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbled heavily, "I never considered that fact we'd disband because of this."

"Dick, it comes with the job."

"I know." Dick encountered with a helpless tone. "But I always assured myself we'd overcome it as a team— I would overcome it." He rested his elbows on his desk and placed his head on his hand. "Kaldur, we've been these heroes for so long, I forgot to be Dick— and I forgot that Kid Flash was Wally; my bestfriend."

Kaldur could only stare and listen at his friend as the latter raised his head to remove his mask and poured out his thoughts. "There was a time Batman wanted me to quit being Robin. I disagreed and it became a full fight between us (1). Years later, he I am, thinking about the same thing." Kaldur frowned at the faraway look Nightwing had on his face. "Have you ever what your life would have been if you chose a different choice back then?"

The Atlantian nearly flinched as memories of Tula flooded his head, and how many nights he had wished he chose to stay with her rather than be Aqualad. "There was never a night I have not thought of that, my friend." He sincerely said.

Dick suddenly found interest in his mask and traced it absent-mindedly, "Me too."

Kaldur once again stared at the wall of his quarters before asking his friend, "What do we do now?"

"We move forward," Dick said, returning his gaze to his friend. "We rebuild again— for Wally." Dick clenched his jaw before adding, "I'll report back next week in the cave."

Kaldur frowned. "Dick, if you do not—"

"I do, Kaldur. Wally wouldn't want me to be like this." A smile that resembled the 13 year old kid Aqualad met suddenly appeared on his lips, "Besides, I feel like Wally will be hunting me for not sharing your burden as leader for the Team."

Kaldur could not help but laughed. "Alright, if you say so. Shall I inform Black Canary about your return?"

Dick nodded. "Please do. I'll tell Batman too. Thank you, Kaldur."

Kaldur gave a genuine smile. "Thank you too, Dick."

Author's Note: Boring again, I know I'm sorry. :'( read and review please.

1.) In the comics, and as most people say.

Yes, the latter part of this chapter is not related to the chapter title... sorry about that.