My next training session was even more gruelling than usual.

It appeared that my outing earlier that morning caused my mentor to be a little more than irritable during our late training. I considered this ill-mannered mood had something to do with either a) the lack of sleep which he would neither let himself or I catch up on and b) it appeared that ordering him to leave Jay's lair was the final straw in a series of defying him at every turn leaving Nightwing a vicious and cranky mentor and me well, in pain.

"Flip."

I inhaled, bent my knees in preparation, tested my weight between the two chords that tied me to the roof – an aid for height and that I didn't break my neck – and using what was left of my energy flung my body backwards, sailing through the air turning my body over once, twice and –

"Shit." Over rotated the third and face planting into the sand. I pulled myself onto my hands and knees but no further. My limbs shook from over exertion and sweat made my clothes and hair cling to my body. I was beyond spent.

"Again." Nightwing's voice cut through the air like a whip.

"We've been at this for hours," I huffed. The real words I wanted to use at this stage was 'I can't' or 'Please I beg you' or even 'no, piss off'. But I wouldn't give him the satisfaction by using any of those.

"And you'll keep doing it for hours until you get it right."

"I don't understand the mood you're in," I panted, hauling myself to my feet, bracing my hands on my knees and attempted to breathe deeply. "This morning was a success! We got the information – "

"No, you got the information!" He spat back, I'd never seen him lose his temper in front of the others, maybe I brought out the worst in him but right now he looked more pissed than I'd ever seen him. "You don't get it! We're supposed to work as a team to apprehend any information valuable to this mission!"

"You don't seem to get it either! With you in that room he wouldn't have told us anything!"

"You don't know that!"

"Yes I do! I worked as his partner for nearly six months, I know how he thinks, that's why I was planning to go alone in the first place!"

"It was six on one! We could have forced the information out of him!"

"The guy was trained by Slade, you and I both know he's well able to take a beating and we didn't have the time."

"We could have bribed him!"

"Money for his life? He would have never – "

"I could have convinced – "

"No!" I screamed. "I was the only one who could convince him. He didn't trust any of you!"

It was that moment he finally snapped. "Oh I'm sure he didn't trust us! I suppose sex is the best way to convince any guy of trust – "

Before I'd even thought it through I pulled my fist back and forward with more force than I ever thought I could muster. The punch landed cleanly on his mouth, his head snapped back, his lip splitting on his own teeth. He was cut off completely by my outburst, slowly he raised a finger to the already swelling skin, blood came off on his hand.

I was shaking in fury, I was so angry that I could barely register anything but the fact that he'd just about called me a whore to my face, so angry that I didn't even pause to celebrate that I'd landed my first ever clean hit on him.

"First," I said in such a low monotone I could barely hear it over the pounding in my head. "I did not sleep with him, I simply agreed to a few terms over arranging getting into the meeting and second, so what if I had? If that was the only way to get this information, get out of whatever shit I've been landed in than I would have done it without even batting an eyelid. This isn't just some Justice League protocol we're dealing with, this is Sadira's life. And I will do anything, fuck anyone to protect it."

With that I stormed out of my training session for the second time in two days.

It took me three hours to cool off, once reaching my room I slammed and locked both entries. Even knowing that I upset Sadira didn't stop me. I then turned the stereo up full blast and took a shower, a cold one. I scrubbed off the sweat and what felt like the crap I had to deal with that day from my skin. When the fury subsided I started to shiver. I turned up the heat before getting into my pyjamas and crawling into bed it was only half-five yet technically I'd be awake for fifteen hours, I'd sleep for a while. So, with the thumping bass of my blared music drowning out the residents of H.Q. I drifted off to sleep haunted not because of the accusations my mentor had made to me but that deep down his words had actually stung.

I woke at four am and watched the minutes go by until half five, deliberating.

Finally with a sigh I pulled myself out of bed at a minute before my alarm was set to go off. My temper was in check so instead of sulking which I had planned the night before to do I slipped into fresh training gear, tied up my hair, brushed my teeth and strolled downstairs, taking my time. I didn't want to be early for my own personal funeral. Bracing myself, I pushed through the heavy swing doors to the Cinadome.

I was more than a little surprised at who I found standing in the centre.

"Hey Em!" Cassie called, Conner standing alongside her. He yawned loudly as I approached.

"Guys if you know what's good for you," I spoke quickly after scanning the Dome for any more bodies. "Scram. Nightwing will be here any second and he won't be in a good mood. We… um… sort of had a fight yesterday – "

"And you punched him," Cassie finished for me.

I paled. "Um… yeah kind of."

"Awesome," Superboy laughed – I repeat – outright laughed and held out his hand. I shook it cautiously wondering why they weren't about to kill me for hurting their friend.

"I thought so…" I said slowly, testing the waters. "Didn't think you would too though."

"Are you kidding?" Cassie said, her eyes actually lit up at the thought. "Nightwing never gets beaten up, we barely ever get a decent hit on him and you come along after three weeks and he's bleeding! He needed to be taken down a few pegs."

I shrugged. "Is that what you're here for then? To congratulate me?"

"That… and to take over your training today. Nightwing had to go back to Gotham for Batman."

"Or to hide in the Batcave in shame," Conner winked at me. I frowned.

"Hold on, you two my mentors now?"

"Nah, just sub-ins for today. The general will be back with you tomorrow morning."

I stared at their smiling faces and couldn't help but return them.

"Alright then," I laughed, actually laughed. It was about time I had some fun.

I learned in the next few hours that training to be a young superhero had its perks. Especially when your teachers were as easy going as Superboy and Wonder Girl. After stretches we simply tested how accurate my absorption powers were. I would borrow a small amount of Superboy's and we had weight lifting competitions all the while laughing and messing with each other. I began to notice a different side to Conner. In the group he's quiet, polite and only interjects in the conversation if he has to. With Cassie, he's far more upbeat and vibrant. It was almost as if she brings his character into focus, something that was strangely nice to see. I even found myself noting his reactions around her to give her my full analysis later. There was definitely feelings for her in him too. I could see it.

When it came to sparring though I realised something I wish I hadn't. I had to hold back, not use any of my powers. Even with their added strength and Cassie's flight, it was far too easy to get in close and absorb their powers, knocking them out. Something inside me grew agitated that I wasn't bettering myself this way. After I'd taken Cassie's power and flung Conner across the dirt for the seventh time we decided to call it a day.

"Man Fray," no wonder you got a hit on Nightwing, Cassie's tone seemed awe-struck. "You're awesome!"

"He's training you well," Conner added in agreement.

I shrugged off their compliments though that thought had never struck me. Through the pain, loose tempers and make-out sessions I'd never really thought about whether or not Nightwing was training me to be a great fighter. I guess today maybe proved that he was.

Damn… was that his plan all along?

After a shower and fresh clothes I took a detour on my way to the consult via the west wing. I'd never been there before but on reaching it I was grateful to find had the exact same layout as the east. I went on to find the easiest, fastest route to the elevator and waited. I was standing less than five minutes when I heard familiar footsteps. Nightwing appeared so deep in thought that he nearly walked straight past me.

"You could just apologise you know," my voice brought him crashing back to reality. He jumped, looking as though he was about to beat the shit out of me before recognition dawned. "Not fun being snuck up on is it?"

"I don't intentionally sneak up on people…" I gave him a doubtful look. "Much. How long were you standing there?"

"Not long." I fell in step beside him as we walked towards the elevator.

"How was your training yesterday?" I could literally feel the strain his voice took on in attempt to make polite conversation.

"Fine," I shrugged. "I don't hurt at all today, it's an odd feeling."

"Good odd?"

"It should be…"

"What do you mean?"

It was my turn to feel strained as I tried to get the words out. "Training with them… it was fun. I should have liked it."

"But you didn't."

"No…" I sighed. "I didn't progress, and I hate that. I guess what I'm trying to say is that… as a big of a pain in the ass you are… uh – how's your face?"

I couldn't go through with the full complement, during the midst of my awkward speech he'd turned to look at me and I got an eyeful of his bruised, split lip. He touched it gingerly.

"Fine." His response was brisk. We had just stopped in front of the elevator. We both reached for the up button and our hands brushed, heat sparked from beneath my skin. He pulled his hand back and with an internal sigh I pressed the button.

Jeesh… get a grip… I thought sourly both at him and myself.

There was an awkward silence as the lift rose. It had six stories to go when it broke.

"Look… Fraya I'm… I jumped to the wrong conclusion yesterday. I was angry – not used to being given orders and then Jackdaw not to mention – "

"Are you," I cut over his babbling, unable to conceal the slow smile spreading across my face. "Apologising to me?"

He cleared his throat and stared at the unmoving doors ahead of us. "I guess."

The elevator bell rang and the doors slid open. I stepped in, unable to shake the stupid grin on my face. When Nightwing didn't move though I did frown.

"Aren't you coming?" I asked.

"Nah," he said turning for the door that led to the stairs. "Too much tension when you share an elevator."

I was about to ask him what he meant when the doors slid shut. I shrugged chocking it up to him being slightly unhinged and pressed the ground floor button.

I stepped back, waiting to be raised the final four floors. It only made it one when the bell dinged once more. I waited, expecting to see one of the others heading to the consult too. What I didn't expect to see was Nightwing charging towards me so fast that before I could even ask what was wrong he'd already collided into me. His left arm catching me before I could fall and crushing me to him. His right hand slid into my hair and pulled our mouths together. I froze, shocked by the sudden onslaught but within seconds I was reacting, sliding my hands up around his shoulders and into his hair. The strands were as soft as silk. As he clung tighter to me our mouths opened, I gasped in his breath, his taste and scent took over my senses, citrus and a sort of metallic. My stomach flip-flopped, not sure whether it was because of the elevator rising or the fact that I've never experienced a kiss like this.

I didn't register the elevator bell tolling, hell I probably wouldn't have registered an earthquake in that state. Nightwing did however and broke away, untangling himself from me and stepping back just in time for the doors to open. Vixen stood there staring in at us. It took a hell of a lot to blush bright scarlet and cringe back into the corner.

"Good, there you are." She spoke sternly, not appearing to notice our dishevelled hair and bruised lips, I wondered vaguely if I'd just made my mentors split lip a lot worse… Nightwing was panting slightly, probably from sprinting up that first flight of stairs to catch me and not getting enough oxygen, well, afterwards. It was only then that I took in her form properly. There was a reason she wasn't paying that close attention to us, something bigger, much, much bigger was on her mind.

"Martian Manhunter is here."