New chapter! And I'm not dead! IT'S A CHRISTMAS...NEW YEARS...EARLY NEW YEARS MIRACLE! :D
But seriously, I'm sorry I've been gone for so long. This semester at my college was nothing you'd believe. Three out of five classes I was worried I was going to fail and was constantly trying to keep up with tests and essays for three high level English classes, there was a gun threat at my school that made it difficult to feel safe and focused on my work, and the "Campfire" that happened around here caused our school to be shut down for nearly three weeks!
I couldn't do homework! AND we had to cram all these assignments and portfolios's in two weeks!
To sum it up, this semester was trying, stressful, and the worst I've evert had….
BUT I PASSED EVERYTHING! THANK SATAN! (Or whatever deity you worship in your worst times). XD
I'm happy that now finally after all the crazy balancing of school and holidays that things have settled down, I was able to find the motivation and energy to get this out. I'm sorry this isn't as long as what I usually write and part of it has already ben shown to you all in my "preview" chapter to give you a taste, but I'm actually sick right now on my fourth day in a row and needed to get rest, so at the moment this was all I could get out.
I'd hoped to keep this in only two parts, but it looks like I may be doing this mission on three, slightly shorter parts than my usual writing. Just to get things moving.
And since christmas has come, I also got a new laptop! I'm hoping to be going through all of my old chapters and rewriting a few things and reworking things since some of my last chapters are….not my best. I want to clean this place up if I plan on continuing, so I'll try to update as much as I can on that end.
So until then, please enjoy what little I have written, and enjoy the rest of your free time and holidays for the new year. X3
-Star City
August 5th, 2010 7:59 PM PDT-
"He's late."
A cool summer night drifted in Star City as the few sparkles of stars tried to make their way into the sky against the fluorescent lights of the landscape. It was the usual scenery Winter would see whether looking out her window at home, walking in the streets as a civilian, or when staring quietly atop a roof just like this, but recently she was beginning to wish the sky she'd been so used to looking at would change if only a little. Perhaps to look like the sky in Happy Harbor; orbs of gas glistening like diamonds that could be seen by just looking upwards rather than squinting her own like she was now.
It would make waiting far more enjoyable at least. She could stare at more than a blanket of darkness above her and a half filled moon that looked so lonely. Unfortunately, Samantha wasn't a God, so she'd have to make due with what she had that night as she waited silently.
She wouldn't have to wait long if somebody wasn't taking his sweet time.
"It's been fifteen minutes since I asked him to meet me. He should know by now how much I hate tardiness." Winter muttered, arms folded over her chest as a soft breeze tickled her face and pushed the ends of her side ponytail enough to let them flicker playfully in the air. "Roy, you're going to get on my bad side again if you are late by another second." The ice use huffed, foot tapping on the ground to display her aggravation.
"Good thing I'm here."
A male voice she knew all too well ringing in the air, Winter rolled her eyes at the response; a typical one Roy liked to use at the best moments to mess with her since they'd known one another. Not even turning back to look at her companion, Winter stared at the expansive city in front of her. "Took you long enough. I expected since you went solo you'd be able to find more time to be punctual."
"Some stuff got in the way. No rest for us heroes, right?" Roy spoke, the sound of boots thumping against the roof pavement, only stopping as the taller figure of Roy stood beside the heroine.
Winter felt her lips fall into an unamused frown.
"It sounds like you didn't change much since going solo. You're still as laid back as ever about our meet ups." Winter retorted back in a matter of fact tone, staring up at the moon above them.
Roy just chuckled amusingly back, making Winter feel the hairs on her back stand on end at the strange attitude the archer was displaying. No quip? Joke? Jab at her for being so uptight? That wasn't like Roy at all.
"If you're going to go on one of those old lectures of yours, you could at least look at me."
Oh, there it was. She just had to wait a bit longer.
Huffing at the joke made towards her, Winter turned to Roy, ready to give the archer a piece of her mind. "Roy Harper, don't make me push you off this-"
Only to feel her words cut off so seamlessly in her throat at the sight before her.
The figure of Roy Harper she was so used to seeing was not beside her on this particular moonlit night. Stature still towering over her as ever, Roy stood beside Winter now wearing a uniform far contrasting from his old appearance. The red, yellow, and black of Green' Arrows' old sidekick was no more. The simpler design now stripped away, Roy Harper now appeared in a uniform of black and red chest armor that clung to his more toned form; something Winter was honestly not used to seeing. Black leg armor and combat boots covered his lower half, adding to the sudden shift of loose clothing to a more defensive approach. Added with black gloves and familiar domino mask covering his face, the archer's weapon was neatly collapsed and strapped to his back along with his quiver, finishing the entire ensemble off with a smirk Winter swore was showing due to the silence she'd suddenly opted for.
Ice blue eyes blinked for a moment, having to be sure she wasn't being tricked by the moonlight raining down from above them. She heard Roy's voice from beside her, but the person next to her did not look anything like Speedy.
"You...changed your outfit." Samantha said, words falling from her lips in an almost questionable tone that she hadn't meant it to sound like. Her eyes were still slightly widened, scanning the archer up and down like he'd sudden' change back if she kept looking hard enough.
"Yeah," Roy replied back with a nod, turning his head to look out at the city beyond their vantage point. "A lot of things changed. Thought the outfit needed an update too." Head titling back to look at the ice user, Roy strangely reached to rub the back of his neck, almost nervously so. "What? You don't like it?"
"What?" The heroine asked, brow raised at the question being posed to her. "I-I don't know. It's...It's..."
Why was she having so much trouble just answering such a simple question? And to Roy of all people? It was not hard to give someone an honest opinion about what they were wearing. She did it all the time with Wally or Robin. They called it "brutal honesty" whenever she used it. Why was this any different?
Maybe it was because it was such a different change from what she was used to seeing Roy wear? She had seen him wear the same uniform for years until just now. The change probably just surprised her. It wasn't like the outfit was bad or anything. Far from it, actually.
The outfit itself looked well made. Far more stranger than the loose cloth ranger-esque suit Roy used to wear. Durable enough that it would protect Roy from any encounter he found himself in. The dashes of black and red made for a more mature and darker tone than what the symbol of Speedy used to represent, but it wasn't a bad change. It showed a growth somewhat overall, like Roy was melting away the younger version of himself and growing into a more confident and responsible role. It suited him given the events that transpired for the past month and the growth they both had to endure. From being children to adults in the blink of an eye.
Speaking of growing...
Eyes drifted from Roy's new outfit to his now unconcealed arms, the clearly tough training Roy was going through showing well in his muscles. What used to be somewhat fit and toned muscular power was now defined not only by the mature essence the outfit was giving off, but also the work Roy was putting himself through with his solo career. It clearly showed from the bulging muscle tone that framed his arms and legs, conveying an image of strength and power; something Winter honestly did not associate with Roy all that much since knowing one him.
All of this placed in front of her, seeing Roy look like this was...
"Different." Winter said, turning her head to stare back at the city. Her face feeling warmer than it had before and strangely embarrassed, the ice user glued her gaze to the lights sparkling below and took a tiny side step away from Roy to build more space between them. "It's different, that's all. I suppose I was just more used to seeing you look more...conservative. It's a bit unsettling, but I'll get used to it. You don't look much like the Speedy I remember seeing a few weeks ago after all."
"That's because I'm not anymore." Roy answered the heroine, hand falling back to his side. "Speedy's done. Call me Red Arrow."
"Red Arrow?" Winter repeated. "Couldn't come up with anything more creative?" She asked somewhat playfully.
"Not all of us can come up with words and names on the spot like you can. I beat you wouldn't have been able to come up with anything better." Roy said, smirking a little at the banter going back and forth between them.
"Don't play a game you know you can't win, Roy. Oh, excuse me. Red Arrow." Winter said with a roll of her eyes. Warmth in her chest growing at the calm the two heroes were sharing together and the strange feeling of embarrassment dying out like embers, the ice user sighed calmly. "How is your solo work going by the way?"
"Good," Red Arrow simply answered. "Fighting guys on the streets, drug and arms dealers alike. Far more action than I ever got to work being a sidekick." He added bitterly, kicking a small pebble with his foot off the roof. "Heard you guys aren't having any boring days either. Wally called again. Talked about you guys taking down some robot on your last mission."
"Ugh, again?" Face scrunching in irritation, Winter rested a hand on her head to relax a headache starting to form. "I've told Wally that despite it being nice to tell people our exploits, we need to keep a low profile. How hard is it for him to just keep his mouth shut about confidential missions?"
"You know you're talking about Wally, right?" Red Arrow asked jokingly, making Winter look back at the archer in the corner of her eye. Smirking, Roy shrugged his shoulders and winked. "I'm not one to spill details. I'll make sure to keep it on the down low."
"At least you're trustworthy. I'm going to have to have another talk with Wally when we meet up again." Winter muttered softly, taking her attention away from the city to an item strapped to her person. "But, speaking of our last mission, I called you out here concerning it."
The casual atmosphere disappearing as soon as Red Arrow heard the tone shift in the ice user beside him, the archer turned to look over to the heroine. "Something come up? You didn't get hurt did you?"
"What? No. None of us were hurt, though we did run into some complications. But that's besides the point." Winter explained, pushing aside the sudden concern Red Arrow had for her. "It might have something to do with you, but I couldn't be sure?"
Red Arrow rose a brow at suddenly being the center of attention. "Me?"
"I said might." Winter iterated, arms folded over her chest. "This is going to sound extremely stupid to ask you considering your stance I'm sure you have, but were you in Gotham at any time this week?"
"Gotham? No, not this week. Not these past few months actually." Red Arrow answered, still looking a bit confused by the question. "What makes you think I was there?"
Hearing the million dollar question from the archer, Winter reached on her person and pulled out the green bodied arrow from the team's previous mission. Still intact with not a single cut nor bruise on its' frame, the pure white maiden placed it in the hands of the blood red archer.
"This." Winter answered while watching the hero inspect the projectile. "When we were fighting a robot created by Dr. Ivo, we were outmatched for a time and Kid Flash almost got crushed in half if it wasn't for this being shot at the Amazo." Moving a strand behind her ear, Winter continued. "Most of the team assumes it was you given the League denied helping us at all when we questioned them; plus it didn't match Green Arrow's projectiles."
Eyes beneath his mask scouring the arrow for any clues or details, Red Arrow commented thoughtfully. "So you decided to call me out here to ask if it was me?"
"Please," Winter said, scoffing at the very question. "You should know me better than that. I've seen the way you make your arrows, Roy. This one is amateur at best." Winter explained, finger pointing to the projectile. "The arrowhead is far duller than the ones you make. Plus the body is green. Before any of this even happened I always remember you saying you'd never have green arrows like your mentor because it would cause you two to mix up inventory at times."
A small ghost of a chuckle leaving him, Red Arrow, closely gazed at the arrow's body, only to twirl it in his fingertips and look back at Winter with a confident smirk. "Good eye. I didn't expect you to be the only one to catch it. Robin didn't realize anything?"
"I think he was just too excited to realize. And not all of us know how you make your weapons as well as I do. But that's why I came by. As much as I knew it was too good to be true, I had to ask before I brought it up with the team." Winter said, reaching her hand out to Red Arrow to take the projectile back.
"Well you got your answer form the source." Handing the arrow back into Winter's hands, the archer frowned. "You sure it's not the League just trying to pull one over you all?"
Winter felt a small ping of dread tap her heart at the question. Even still as time passed and the had changed, Roy was still holding onto his skepticism and anger with the League. She understood his pain greatly and felt the same sting herself, but as time wen ton she'd learned to move past it and grow from it. Her relationship with the League was still somewhat strained, but the trust was slowly rebuilding itself day by day. But Roy...
He's grown in some ways. Mentally and physically, but his heart's still the same.
"I'm sure, Roy." Winter reassured her old friend, placing the arrow back on her person. "We asked and the League was genuinely surprised. Green Arrow even showed us his own arrows. They didn't match."
The archer scoffed. "Doesn't mean he can't just use different arrows."
Winter hummed a soft sigh, trying to ease the slight ping of irritation running through her at Roy's comment. "You've become a lot more cynical since you left."
"Not cynical. I'm just more willing to question things rather than take them at face value." Red Arrow retorted, head turning ever so slightly as eyes narrowed behind his domino mask at the ice user. "I thought you would too after everything."
"I..." Feeling herself sighing, Winter looked out at the glowing city of Star City and felt her body, or perhaps her heart grow a little heavy as her sentence trailed off. Brain trying to put together some kind of response back that would continue the conversation, Winter felt her gaze drop to the streets below. "Roy, let's not. Please? I don't want this to turn into something that..."
She didn't really want to finish that sentence. She honestly wasn't sure if she had the energy to continue speaking considering the subject matter.
Taking in some air as his voice clicked in his throat to start another response, the archer sighed and let his words disappear before they too were voiced, exhaling through his nose and turning his attention away from Winter, looking down at the same city below them.
"Sorry." Roy spoke, his voice having lost the edge from his previous comments.
Winter's ice blue eyes flickered to the corner of her eyes, peeking at the archer beside her. "No, it's-"
"It's not okay," Roy spoke, cutting her off. He turned to look back to her face to face, with Winter hesitantly turning herself to stare back at the archer who's expression was stiff, yet trying to find a way to break through some kind of turmoil within himself. "You shouldn't be apologizing to me for my own actions. Not now...and certainly not back then either."
Lips parting mere inches to try and speak, Winter closed them into a thin line at Roy's confession, silently motioning for the archer to continue with any other thoughts he wanted to voice.
Seeing the signal, Roy for a moment looked away from Winter, his hands at his sides squeezing into tight fists before losing the power and grip he'd built up. Patiently waiting a response, Roy seemed to find the strength he was looking for and turned back to her, and spoke up.
"That day at the Hall of Justice, what I said about my anger, about being done with the League, what I said about being betrayed by my own mentor who I thought was like a father to me and taught me everything I know today...I meant what I said." Roy began, his voice hardened with the edge of bitterness known to those who felt betrayed by those close. "I won't apologize to the people who I've been looking up to my entire life for lying to my face for the past three years. Pretending that I had some kind of chance if I followed whatever order they gave me without a second thought. Not when they'd already decided in advance I'd always be some sidekick."
Anger almost radiating off of Roy's body at his short speech, the archer exhaled through his teeth and tried to calm his nerves. Reaching up to his face, the archer grazed his fingers against his domino mask he wore, grabbing it by the edge as he began to peel it off his face.
"I won't apologize to them, but I have to apologize to you, Sam. Face to face, just like you said. I owe you that much." Roy continued, removing his mask to show the sculpted face of a conflicted and betrayed man.
"Roy." Winter spoke, unable to find any others words to speak as the honest feelings of the archer began to pour out in front of her. The vulnerability of the archer momentarily being peeled off him like the mask he once wore, the ice user did nothing else but stare, ice blue staring into ocean blue.
A wistful chuckle escaping his throat, the unmasked hero smiled back at the speechless heroine, only for it to return to the frown he'd been showing for most of the conversation.
"The way I lashed back at you that day; it's always been in the back of mind ever since then. It was uncalled for to push you in the spotlight like I did, using things we've spoken privately about to fuel my own agenda." Roy spoke, his voice somewhat on edge as he seemed to have trouble continuing his thoughts. Hands closing into tight fists at his side, the archer powered through whatever issue he seemed to be going through, and spoke once more. "Whatever differences the both of us have with the League or how we work going forward as heroes, there's no excuse for dragging you into my problems, or treating you the same way either."
Taking a long breath after speaking, Roy exhaled and loosened the grip of his hands, freeing the domino mask that had been grasped in his right. Bare eyes shifting to stare at the mask that shifted around in his loose grip, Roy wistfully gazed at the cloth that held his identity.
"You didn't have to all those years back, but after we met and got used to one another, you're the one who took the first step to try and be friends and get along. To stick together and be there for each other when we didn't think there was anyone else in this weird life we share."
"I like to think it's still possible." Winter commented quietly, sounding hopeful as the ice user watched Roy through his quiet contemplative apology.
"Is it really?" Tearing his gaze away from the mask on his hands, Roy turned back to Winter, features falling as waves fo regret began to churn in the archer's eyes. "After the way I treated you, Robin, Kid and Aqualad? Ditching you guys to fend for yourselves after what happened at the hall and working on my own?"
Seemingly unable to look back at the heroine in front of him, the archer instead craned his neck to look out at the glow of the city's lights.
"I had my reasons...but that doesn't excuse the way I've been treating someone I'm supposed to call a friend. It's a mystery to me why you even thought to give me a chance to fix things between us. Or why the others keep coming to me and trying to join the, on a team. They should hate me."
A small smile forming at Roy's question, the ice user followed the sights of the red head beside her to watch the twinkling lights of the city around them, the sounds of car engines and the city life echoing like the sparks of a newly lit fire. Taking in the city's nighttime appearance for a second more to let Roy's words sink into her system, Winter spoke back to her companion.
"Isn't it obvious?"
Lifting his head at the questioning tone, Roy turned his head to look over at Winter.
Combing a strand of her white hair with her fingers behind her ear, Winter gave a confident smile as her gaze shifted to look at the archer in the corner of her eye.
"I said it before, didn't I?" Winter asked with brow raised in a confident gesture. "I don't waste my time on things that don't deserve my attention, Roy." Seeing the archer silently stare back at her, the manipulator of ice turned back to her city as her features fell into a thoughtful state. "As much as I hate the comparison, I do share that trait with my father. We both aren't willing to sacrifice energy on things we don't believe will benefit us or come out in our favor. It's wasteful of our time and energy."
Arms crossed over her chest as she stood in a contemplative state, Winter's right hand squeezed a little tighter around her left arm, the fabric of her uniform sleeve clinging beneath her fingertips. "You're...one of the first friends I've ever had. Both as a hero and just a person. It's thanks to you I've had the opportunity to learn about so many things that seemed so out of reach when I got my powers and I've become friends with people who I never thought I'd ever associate with." Feeling her lips curl into a smile, Winter turned to Roy who watched from beside her. "Making sure the friendship that helped to accomplish that for me stays intact? It's nothing close to a waste of time. It can take as much time as it needs."
"Samantha..." Roy muttered softly.
"As long as you had realized your mistakes, I would have forgiven you; which is why the others talk to you still. They know you're a good person deep down, just like I do. Thankfully you understood what you did wrong and proved it by saying you were sorry. And not in a rude or sarcastic way like your usual tone with me. I could tell. You were genuine, Roy. And Robin, Kid Flash and Aqualad know you're just as important to them as you…." Feeling her cheeks begin to redden at the very heartfelt speech she was giving, Winter stared back at the city. "Y-You know what I'm getting at. I don't think I need to say any more."
His own cheeks lighting up a bit with a faint dust of blush and suddenly feeling the urge to not look at Winter in the eye, Roy hastily reached for his domino mask and placed it back on as he spoke. "Well...I thought I'd try to. After the change and everything, things started to slowly become clearer to me. About what I wanted and what I needed."
"Changing your clothes did that much for you? Hmm, it really is as some say. The clothes do make the man." Winter joked lightly, chuckling beneath her breath to lighten the awkward tension that was in the air.
"I don't think that's how that saying goes." Roy answered back, smirking a bit as the energy Roy seemed to lose in his voice began to slowly return.
"Are you trying to pick another fight with me?" Winter asked, mild irritation showing on her face as she stared at the archer, though her tone was more relaxed than what showed on her face.
"Yeah, yeah. Sorry." Roy answered, rubbing the back of his tense neck. The smirk he once wore shifting into a small smile, Roy looked back at Winter. "So...am I off that thin ice of yours?"
Taking a moment to pretend to contemplate the question, Winter shrugged and began checking her nails in a bored fashion. "For now, I suppose. I still understand your apprehension to joining the team and your issues with the League, but I better not see you turn on the team just because who we're affiliated with, understood? Or walk around with that high and mighty attitude just because you're solo now." Winter warned, shaking her head as she reached into her uniform's pouch and pulled out her phone. Checking the time and seeing it was getting late, the ice user put the device away and began heading towards the roof entrance behind them. "You were already hot-headed enough as a sidekick. I can only imagine how prideful you are now doing everything on your own as a hero."
Turning to watch Winter walk away, Roy scoffed. "I've been doing fine on my own so far. Doesn't that count?"
Winter had to suppress the urge to roll her eyes too hard.
"Just remember if you ever need help you can ask for it." Winter spoke, grabbing the door knob and twisting it open. Taking a step forward into the stairwell and about ready to close the door, the ice user froze and turned to pop her head out around the door to look back at Roy. "The team and I aren't going anywhere. So, at some point if you can swallow that pride of yours to come ask for our assistance, I'm sure as second in command I can convince the team to help you when you're in a bind."
Eyebrow raising at her answer, Roy shook his head as a smirk was painted across his face. "I take back what I said about you deserving being a team leader. Sounds like somebody is more prideful than me."
Feeling suddenly thrust into the spotlight at the archer's words and sarcasm returning in full force, Winter gritted her teeth as heat rose to her cheeks. "I-I...How dare you! If you really feel that way, as second in command of my team, I rescind my previous statement of helping you. Don't come crying to me if you need our help, Speedy." Whether regardless of her thoughts on it being childish or not, Winter stuck her tongue out at Red Arrow in a mocking gesture, before turning her cheek to the archer and slamming the door shut behind her.
Chuckling a little at the sounds of Winter's muttering still ringing out in the air among the sounds of the city, Red Arrow stared at the spot where the ice user had left for a few seconds later before heading towards the edge of the roof and pulled out his own equipment to leave the rendezvous point.
Notching an arrow and pointing it towards his desired target, the archer smiled genuinely at realizing his body felt a bit lighter than it had been before the two friends talked.
"I'll come back, Sam. Don't worry about that."
Letting go of his weapon, the red arrow cut through the chill of the night and Roy jumped for the roof, feeling lighter than he had in weeks.
"Welcome home, mistress. How was your patrol of the city?"
Lightly tapping the tip of her uniform's boot on the white tile of her home's entryway, Samantha smiled at the sight of butler and cherished family member, Reginald greet her from the top of the stairs. "Just perfect. Thankfully no fools on town decided to loot any stores or make trouble for me. A quiet night all around."
"Wonderful. And you're little meeting with young Mr. Harper? Did that go as planned?" The butler inquired, walking down the stairs to head over to the teen who began to stretch her tired limbs.
"We've reconciled," Samantha answered favorably, only for her smile to turn downwards into an irritated frown. "But he still seems to have the smart idea of poking fun at me. Honestly, I don't know whether he likes being in hot water with me or if he just enjoys torturing me."
Chuckling at the teen's tone, Reginald stepped off the final step of the staircase and walked up to Samantha, patting the white-haired heroine on the head. "I'm sure it's just his way of being friendly with you. Friends like to make mischief with one another to show how they care. Or appreciate someone."
Her irritation slowly simmering down at the soft pats on her head by her butler, Samantha released a heavy sigh from her chest and combed strands of her hair back into place. "Well I wish he'd find a better way to show his appreciation." Leaving the side of Reginald to step further into the large Freya mansion, Samantha peeked her head inside the living room to the right of her, taking in the lights of the stained glass lamps illuminating the velvet gray fabric of the couches sitting inside, smooth oak coffee tables, and mesmerizing pure white carpet rug displayed with designs of dark colored flowers.
"Miss? Is something wrong?" Reginald asked, noticing the girl was searching the living room for something.
"I thought father would be down here," Samantha replied, taking her eyes off the living room to turn to Reginald. "It's late after all. He's usually done with his genetics work at this time."
"Your father uncovered some new information regarding his research. He's been working the grindstone in the lab for hours now. I expect he won't be coming out of there for at least another three hours." Reginald surmised, tilting his head to look towards the center hallway that eventually lead to said lab.
"Oh." Her hopes somewhat dashed at the idea of seeing her father, Samantha gave a slight shrug of her shoulders. "Well...It's understandable. Studying the genetic code of a human being isn't simple work. I'll just have to visit him another time so I don't bother him."
"Actually," Reginald spoke, making Samantha look curiously to the butler. "Your father asked me to tell you to come to his lab once you returned from patrol."
Eyes widening a bit with a look of surprise added by Reginald's words, Samantha's lips parted in slight shock before she composed herself and spoke up. "Father...he asked for me?"
"Yes. Said he'd like you to see him right away if I recall for your medicine." Reginald added, watching as the young Freya member looked over to the hallway leading to the master's lab.
She mentally sighed. How could she forget?
"I better not keep him waiting than. Thank you for telling me, Reginald." Smiling back to the butler and giving a slight wave of her hand, the ice user headed out of the entrance way and disappeared down the hall, the tapping of her boots accompanying her on her way.
"With the world what it is today, science can do nothing but continue forward with the amounts of potential out there."
The sounds of machines running and the smells of a different array of chemicals drowned the small laboratory of Nikolai Freya as the lab was basked in fluorescent light on the ceiling, the light illuminating the metallic shine of the floor beneath her feet. Sitting in a small chair in front of her father's work desk that was occupied by the very man in question, Samantha quietly inspected her father as he typed away at his computer set up in front of him, the screen reflecting mathematical problems and formulas her own mind couldn't seem to keep up with. While she would have like to ask what her father was working on, she wasn't stupid.
She was smart enough to know when it was and was not okay to bother her father.
This was one of those times.
"There are dangers out there. Far more greater than what I am sure the citizens of any country a decade ago would have expected. Now that we know there are people and things out there that we as humans now can't fight against, we have to use whatever we have at our disposal to be sure we as a species aren't overshadowed by those foreign to us."
With nothing much to stare at but the sterile white surroundings of the walls around her and the objects ranging from bookcases filled with memoirs and medical information, lab tables covered with medical tools and equipment ranging from medical scales and examination utensils, Samantha moved her sights from her father finishing what appeared to be some kind of report on his computer to a flat screen television hung up on the wall opposite of where she and her father were.
The television screen flashed to show the sight of a small plush office room, the kind that mirrored the image of those of intellectuals and people of higher status. Two leather chairs faced one another in the small, yet comfortable setting of a doctor's office, the sight of bookcases lined in the back and a desk off to the side peeking out in the frame behind one younger male figure who was dressed in a well tailored business suit. Appearing to be the host of the conversation as their face was facing the camera and audience's view, their sights were set on the person sitting opposite of them as they moved a hand to address their guest worth further discussion.
"Foreign as in aliens? Are you saying that we should be using science as a weapon, Dr. Freya? And using it agains those not from Earth?"
Hearing her own last name, Samantha watched intently as the camera's point of view shifted from the host to their guest across from them, their own body sitting relaxed in the chair across from the host.
Dressed in black slacks and a well tailored business shirt, the Nikolai Freya in the interview wore a pristine and clean white lab coat while his own appearance was cleaned up and just as professional as his outfit. His black hair with faint specks of gray gelled and combed back for a stunningly vibrant and prideful look, any signs of aging were minimal as his face was clean shaven and glowing in the camera's view, added by the glowing charisma that exuded out of his brown eyes and the joking smile her gleamed at the host.
"Heavens, no. That would be an ill use of power beyond most normal people's comprehension. Humanity has already made grave mistakes with weaponizing science, as clearly shown in inventions like nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. And I have no dark intentions towards any beings who aren't from our little orb we call home."
"Samantha, turn this way."
Twisting her body around to face the very same man she'd seen on the screen, only this time his attire being that of a lab coat and a far cold and focused look than his interviewed counterpart, Samantha's focus stayed on her father before it shifted to an object he always held in his hands during these regular intervals together.
A syringe.
"You know the drill. Arm out, wrist facing upwards. I need to find an open vein." Nikolai spoke in a calculated tone, watching Samantha to do just as he'd asked.
"Yes, father."
With a second of hesitation passing through her system, Samantha slowly but surely relinquished her arm as she reached out her right appendage and turned her arm to show her father her wrist, her eyes shifting from her wrist, to her father, and straight to the sharp needle that was held within a controlled hand only doctors possessed.
"Hold still."
As much as she didn't want to, the daughter of Nikolai did not even move a single inch.
Just as instructed.
"What I propose as that we as humans need to focus our efforts in medicine with the help of science to enhance ourselves as a species, rather than relying on technology."
Samantha felt the familiar, yet foreign sting of the needle pass through her skin, a cold feeling running through her arm like the chill of ice. Yet unlike ice and how it melted and disappeared, the feeling of the metal beneath the layer of skin in her arm, could be felt always, never wavering. Like the lingering touch of someone you cared about, but more invasive and foul. As if it burned you every second it stayed and made you want to curl into yourself.
No matter how many times she'd gotten these shots, the feeling never seemed to become normal. No matter how many times Samantha tried to rationalize the seemingly childish fear of needles or their touch, the fear clutched her senses and mind just as the needles' sting did to her skin.
"We have to be willing to make...to endure sacrifices whenever they come between us and success. Whether it's minor or heavy in scale, it's the outcome in the end that drives us as humans to do better. That isn't something technology can do, but only we as humans can."
"Other arm now."
Rubbing her right wrist, Samantha took a deep breath and nodded before doing the same with the opposite arm.
"Yes, father."
"Which is why your research in DNA and the genetics of human beings is such a hot topic in the medical field, Dr. Freya. It touches upon ideas that many would consider somewhat vague and odd, along with working in extreme areas of the human body that many would voice to be disturbing."
Feeling the slick slide of the syringe pull out of her left wrist, Samantha felt a shiver run down her spine as her father placed another bandage on the small spot where blood was beginning to pour out. Rubbing it gently, the brunette looked up to watch her father inspect the syringe in his gloved hand, expertly removing the old needle to replace it with another and remove the small vial of her blood he'd extracted from her.
More samples for testing.
"Please explain further."
Tightening the new needle carefully onto the syringe, Nikolai Freya then moved his chair closer to his lab table and pulled a small jar of an unknown blue liquid and pressed the needle deep within it. Pulling the syringe back, slowly but surely Samantha watched as the unknown concoction began to fill the medical tool in her father's grasp.
Now that she saw it...
"Is that your new formula, father?"
Hearing his daughter speak up with her question, Nikolai's eyes for a moment left the syringe in his hand to stare at his daughter, but just for a split second before it went back to his work. "Yes. The previous was beginning to lose effect. I've made a stronger dose now, which should do what I expect of it when it comes to keeping your powers stable and controlled."
"Some doctors in the medical community have tried to debunk your research as fanatical or the ideas of an idealistic man of an old generation. Despite your success, many doctors claim that your ideas instead are trying to disband humanity rather than stabilize it as a whole."
'How is that?'
Lightly tapping the syringe to be sure no liquid was in fear of leaking out of the tool, Nikolai turned his chair to face his daughter again and stared at her with an expectant look.
"The spine next. Remove your shirt."
"Yes, father."
"Well, your research is asking for doctors to meddle in our own genetic code. Are you not worried that using science to change and enhance the pieces of ourselves that make us who we individually are will undoubtedly no longer make us human?"
The cold steel of the syringe's needle stabbing into her skin, Samantha bit her lip and slightly craned her neck up to stare at the screen of the television to her left, the interviewers question catching her attention.
Really, it was a question she heard a lot being the daughter of a doctor like her father.
Using science and medicine to enhance humanity. It was a understandable goal and wish after all. Medicines basic purpose was to use chemicals mixed together to enhance a human's immune system, even if temporary. Even medication was made to help other cases and treat patients with problems and blocks in their life that their own body could not handle.
What her father was proposing was not all too farfetched.
It made sense to some; including the copy of her father on the television screen.
"I understand the concern, but I feel we've already crossed this road ages ago. Being humans with short lifespans, we delved into the mysterious of medicine and created modern ideas to help expand our lifespans years more than what we previously could. Anesthesia, medications, even steroids play some kind of role in therapeutics nowadays and other helpful endeavors for patients whose own bodies cannot burden the strain of some of their weaknesses."
The Nikolai Freya on the screen straightened his tie in a calm manner and cleared his throat before speaking. His back straightened, body poised and hands neatly placed on the arm rests of the plush leather chair he sat in as he got comfortable.
It was the same way he sat in his office chair at home when he began to lecture her. Intent, focused, collected, and feeling more powerful than the person you were facing
It was the stance of a man who was in his element and knew exactly what he wanted to say.
And he spoke without any hesitation.
"My work may sound like a simplistic pipe dream to some doctors, but I assure you it is possible. I find it a better alternative to expending funds to only temporary means. Society has only finite sources to use after all. We must find a stronger alternative to help humanity as a species; and I see no better way than to turn to what we hold untapped inside us all."
The last word of the past Nikolai Freya spoken to the interviewer, Samantha held in a hiss of discomfort as the needle her father had prodded her with was removed from her back, the slide of the metal still not easily ignored or accepted despite the times she'd felt it enter her that late night.
Looks like needles were not getting taken off the fear list tonight.
"I've finished distributing the new formula into your bloodstream. You may have some side effects such as minor dizziness or low stamina as it runs its course, but your powers should stabilize far quicker than usual with this," Her father instructed, taking the medical tool and placing it on his desk. "For now, wait to use your powers until at least ten hours have past. After that, try to use them and report any differences you may be feeling. I'll want to record them for studying purposes to see if this new formula is up to standards."
Nodding her head as Samantha lightly pulled at the fabric of her shirt to adjust back onto her body, she sighed and tried to ignore the shiver of the cold lab going down her spine as she looked back to her expecting father.
"As always father, I'll make sure to report everything I find. I'm not doing any strenuous training tomorrow, so I'll practice little by little to see how increasing my powers effectiveness changed the formula's stabilizing features." Samantha answered, fingers lightly rubbing the soft skin on her wrist that had been poked by the needle her father had grasped.
Thankfully now that one of her less enjoyable chores was taken care of, Samantha finally felt like she could breathe without much worry. Even more so, she could think much clearer as well.
And there was something on her mind.
"Father, may I ask you something?" The young girl asked, watching as her father turned back to his work table and scanned over some of the leftover diagrams and formulas he'd been studying earlier that night.
"Yes? What is it?"
"What you said in that interview. Do you really think-"
"Do you doubt my findings?"
Her question cut off by her father and addressed just as quickly, Samantha couldn't stop her shoulders from stiffening a bit at the questioning tone her father used in his response. She'd need to word herself carefully.
She didn't want to make him angry again.
"N-No, of course not father. I have the upmost respect for your research and know just how hard you've worked to get to where you are today. Your research is sound and admirable. I just was curious." Samantha calmly explained, a small frown overtaking her lips. "I'm...not as smart as you are, so I'm just unsure is all. Finding a way to permanently tap into potential we don't even know about inside us. It sounds amazing, but also hard to think possible."
"There's no reason to doubt it. My research is full proof." Placing his papers down on his desk and combing fingers through his salt and peppered hair, Nikolai Freya let his eyes wander around the contents of his lab, inspecting the disheveled papers on his desk, computer humming and the old cup of coffee sitting on the far edge of the desk.
All there was left to stare at was a photo frame on the far edge of the desk, the photo inside capturing the image of a beautiful dark haired woman who haunted the Freya family.
Grabbing the photo frame and bring in it close to his face, Nikolai let out a heavy sigh and shut his eyes closed. "My work, whether controversial or not, is what saved you years ago when you were at death's door. Your existence is proof of that success. Everyday you breathe life into this world and exhibit these powers you have proves this to be true. That with the right combination of components to strengthen the base building blocks of our genetic code, we as human beings can become more than simplistic creatures. That there is more to us than what we already know, and that there is a way to activate it. Had any of my findings been a pipe dream as some nearsighted people see it...you wouldn't have your powers and be with your mother right now, wouldn't you?"
Her throat constricting like a snake wrapping around her windpipe at the mention of her mother, Samantha's eyes darted up to stare at the back of her father, his body rigid and stiff like a statue.
Frozen in time. Unfeeling. Wasting away in a moment yet still pieced together in another.
It was rare to see him like this. Nikolai Freya, her father, was an animated man. Always doing something with his time whether it be tinkering in his lab or on the phone for business. All the time he moved with purpose and a goal. But frozen like this...
He was losing himself to the past.
Samantha hated seeing her father mad or angry, but seeing him longing over someone who could never return? That made a man with so much conviction break down so easily?
What was it like to lose someone you cared about? Someone you loved? Was it hard? Painful? Was it unbearable knowing you might have had the power to do something and save them?
Did she ever want to know the answer to questions like that?
"Father, I didn't mean to bring up any-"
"Samantha."
Feeling her nerves jolted by the calm but heavy tone of the not the scientist Dr. Freya, but her father Nikolai Freya, Samantha looked expectantly at her father's back, praying she hadn't done something to anger him even more than she had days ago.
"Y-Yes?"
"Go to bed."
Fingers squeezing around the hem of her hero uniform's skirt, Samantha's lips pursed together to hold in the sad frustrations she held deep inside, but nodded nonetheless.
"Yes, father."
-Mount Justice
August 8th, 8:30 EDT-
"I'm so excited for the beach today," M'gann rejoiced, walking alongside Samantha within the cave's debriefing room. "I was worried everyone was going to be busy again with the own things."
"We are absolutely delighted by your idea, M'gann. None of us would have agreed if we weren't." Samantha complimented, lightly nudging her arm with the martian. "A stress free day at the beach sounds like the kind of activity we all needed after everything we've been through."
The martian couldn't stop herself from giggling, trying to cover her mouth before her giggling grew into full blown laughter. "I hope so. There aren't any ocean on Mars, so I can't wait to experience what a real day of fun in the sun is with friends."
Samantha couldn't hold back the understanding smile that came after hearing the excitement from the martian beside her. For as simple as M'ganns' comment was, it held a truth in its simplicity.
With friends. Those words stuck with her the most.
If Samantha could tell herself a month ago that she would have more friends, be doing more than just being stuck at home doing whatever her father tasked her to complete, she would have chalked it up to wishful thinking.
After all, she was a Freya. Her time was needed for important endeavors that would enrich her academic and social future and place her in a class fitting of her blood.
But here she was spending a Sunday that tended to be filled with lessons on etiquette at social gatherings or being left bored out of her mind at the Freya manor now filled by a social gathering with her newest social circle.
People her age. People her age she wasn't forced to talk to at parties. That weren't just connections to business partners or investors. Who knew the other kind of life she had. The responsibilities, hardships and obstacles she experienced. The bumps and bruises she took to push forward and show the kind of person she really was, rather than what looked best.
And she was absolutely thrilled for it. Anxiously awaiting it even.
It was just another taste of that freedom she'd so rarely gotten, and she wouldn't let it slip through the cracks of indecisiveness.
"It's sad Wally couldn't make it," M'gann responded sadly, heading towards the changing rooms within the base as the two went to their own respective rooms to change into heir swimsuits. "He looked so excited when I suggested it."
"He sure was," Samantha responded, putting her small shoulder bag down on the ground and began fishing out her swimsuit. "But unfortunately for him school is a priority. The beach isn't going anywhere, so he'll have another chance to come with us."
To be perfectly honest, Samantha was a little bit happy Wally was unable to attend their fun get together activity. Not that she would ever truly be happy that one of their own team mates was missing out on some good bonding time.
No, that wasn't the reason at all.
Perhaps happy was the wrong word.
Regardless, his absence meant more of a chance to not hear him making remarks about M'gann in a swimsuit.
Again.
She'd been hearing him non-stop talk about it ever since M'gann pitched the idea and it had infuriated her to no end. But thankfully, the world had seen her suffering and answered her pleas to somehow stop Wally from giving her another torturous earful of what was clearly terrible examples of flirting.
"Looking good, babe."
"Megalicious, did you shape shift a new haircut?"
"You cook a lot of sweets, M'gann. But nothing you bake would be sweeter than you."
Samantha felt a shiver run down her spine just remembering every poor pick up line he tried in the past weeks.
And the worst part was they surely were not even the worst.
"It's a bit better this way. As much fun as Wally is to be with, he really needs to try and apply himself more both on and off the battlefield. Going back to school might just help him more than he knows." Samantha assured her martian ally, staring back at the bareness of her form and began to quickly apply sunscreen before putting on her swim suit piece by piece.
"You really think he'll start working harder?" The martian called from her changing room.
"Of course," Samantha added with solid certainty, tugging on the bottom half of her swimsuit to adjust the clothing on her form. "Applying one's self in academics and chances to improve themselves physically and mentally gives them a sense of purpose and drive, along with focusing the mind on the more important parts in life. Wally will grow from experiencing school again."
At least she thought so. Samantha wanted to think the best of one of her fellow team mates and someone she considered a close friend, however...
She never could account for the level of fooling around and goofing off that Wally showed sometimes.
Plus...most of what she spoke was mostly what she expected of others as it was something she always experienced when it came to school. Not everyone was like her and liked to learn; if Superboy's expressions had shown her during their time out in the city.
The sound of M'gann giggling from the next changing stall over made Samantha emerge from her thoughts, looking up confused.
"What's so funny?" She asked.
"I'm not laughing at you, Samantha. I promise. I just got happy at what you said." The martian answered honestly from the stall beside her. "You guys bicker back and forth a lot, but you really do care about Wally's well being don't you?"
Feeling like her body was heating up with embarrassment at the observation, Samantha lightly gritted her teeth to attempt herself from not quickly snapping back with denial.
"I...Well, of course I do. Someone on the team has to make sure he gets his work done. And since I'm the one who's on his case all the time, I suppose I'll keep doing it until somebody else can do it for me. He's tiring me out out like a child." Samantha replied back, pushing aside the compliment like it was unnecessary as she turned her head away from the wall beside her that stood between her and her martian team mate to stare back at a red faced version of herself.
Frowning at the reflection of a clearly embarrassed version of herself, Samantha this time turned away from her own reflection, the sight of looking at her own face annoying itself.
"I think I'm all ready to go. How about you?" M'gann asked from her dressing room, making Samantha look upward at hearing the girls' voice.
"I think so," Samantha answered, turning to look at herself in the mirror again and frowning at noticing a few small, familiar specks on her skin. Biting her lower lip nervously, Samantha grabbed a t-shirt and shorts she packed with her and put them on, covering her swim suit and skin respectively.
And here I hoped the injection marks wouldn't show.
"I'll just have to keep them covered so nobody asks." She muttered softly to herself, rubbing her arm softly to try and scrub away the tingles of nervous energy that were sparking off her skin.
"Did you say something, Samantha?" M'gann asked, the sound of her changing room door opening and closing making Samantha turn her head back.
"N-No. Just talking to myself. I'm ready to go."
Making sure she had all of her things, Samantha headed back out of the dressing room and found her gaze settled on her martian best friend, now fully decked out in a two piece yellow bikini. Both eye catching yet also simplistic enough to be so "M'gann", Samantha smiled and gave her friend a thumbs up.
"You look great, M'gann. It suits you."
Smiling, the martian joked with a playful spin of her body to show off her outfit to the ice user, only to stop and inspect the other curiously with a smile. "Thanks. What about you? Are you feeling okay just wearing your clothes? Aren't you going swimming with us?"
"Of course," Samantha assured with a nod. "This is a day of relaxation after all. I'm just...a bit self conscious about my body and showing too much skin. Especially since I don't do too well in the sun for too long. With my powers active to hide my real identity, my skin tends to stay pale, which ends up giving me some very awkward tans and sunburns later. I'd rather avoid that fiasco."
Showing herself off in a swimsuit of any kind was truly the last thing on the teen's mind. She already did enough of that at her father's fundraiser gala's. Not to mention that the rest of her make team (albeit one exception) and a particular member was going to be joining them and would get a front row seat at seeing her...
"Aww. But I was looking forward to seeing you in a bathing suit. I wanted to know what kind you were going to wear. Oh well." M'gann relented with a short shrug.
"Don't worry. There's always the next time. Now let's head out. I'm sure the guys are getting hot and bothered just waiting on us to get out there."
Giggling at the playful pun the clothed master of ice spoke, M'gann hopped in step beside her as the two made their way outside to the sunny beach beside the base; ready to get their summer fun on.
"Is this what you do when you get invited to the beach?" Superboy asked, sitting with a leg holding up one of his arms as he looked out at the sandy beach he'd been staying at, his attire now changed into that of black swim trunks lined with white on the edges.
Throwing down a beach towel beside Superboy, Robin, also changed into a pair of black and red trunks, adjusted his sunglasses as he playfully rose a brow to him. "Waiting for girls to get ready and come over? Kind of normal for girls to get all dressed up, but don't sweat it. Knowing Sam and M'gann they'll be out real soon."
The sound of a heavy object falling into dirt made the two boy's turn their heads as Kaldur hefted over a water cooler towards their spot. Having grabbed the necessary refreshments and set up what appeared to be a grill for them to later cook food, the Atlantean, let out a relaxed sigh as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
"It should not be too much trouble to wait any longer. After all with everything set and this spot confined only for our use by the base, we have the whole day to enjoy our activities without interruption." Kaldur assured Superboy, stepping around the equipment and dusting off sand off his blue swimming trunks.
"Well, besides any criminal activity or getting pinged by Batman. But otherwise, it's smooth sailing for the rest of the day. We can just sit back and feel the aster." Robin added, relaxing his muscles as he fell back onto his towel on the sand, crossing his hands behind his head. "Oh, and make sure when they get here that's you compliment their outfits in some way."
"Why?" Superboy asked, not sure what Robin was getting at.
"Beach etiquette. Plus you want the girls to know they look nice after taking all that time getting ready." The junior detective added, pointing a finger gun at Superboy.
Watching and listening to his team mates calm down any confusions he had about their odd day of "fun in the sun" as Robin had dubbed earlier that day, or adding odd advice in Robin's case, the super clone shrugged and turned his head to overlook the expansive sapphire blue ocean that stretched out as far as his super human eyes could see.
To think only a month ago his only image of the ocean and the beach was that of pictures screened inside his head. Never experiencing the feeling of the ocean breeze through his hair, the smell of the salty ocean in his nostrils, or the warm rays of the sun on his face.
For as boring as it seemed at first just waiting around, Superboy had to admit that is was better than anything he could have expected.
"Got it. So what do we do once they get here?" Superboy asked, not exactly sure where this newest life adventure was going to take him.
"Hey guys! Sorry we took so long!" M'gann called from afar, the martian waving a hand high in the air to get the groups attention as Samantha walked calmly beside her, looking somewhat nervous from the look on her face.
"Speak of the martian and ice princess," Robin quipped, jumping back up to his feet at the sounds of the two female team mates heading to their beach base of operations. "Looking good, Miss M! You don't have to get all dressed up for little ol' us." After saying that, the younger detective in particular stared at the attire of a certain ice witch. "Or in other's cases just staying in street clothes. What's up, Sam? Not up for swimming today?"
The once nervous look on Samantha's face quickly disappearing at the sound of Robin's question, the ice user hummed and softly tugged at the end of her white t-shirt in an attempt to cover whatever skin was showing. "Of course I will. I just decided that it would be better for my skin in my current state to keep clothes on. Besides, it's not like me not showing off a swimsuit ruins any of the fun we'll be partaking in, correct?"
"Correct," Kaldur spoke as he jumped into the conversation. "We're all here to have a good time. It shouldn't matter how we are clothed or decide to enjoy." The Atlantean spoke up, a look of pride and thankfulness showing in his gaze at each team member. "We've done some good work so far as a team, so let us enjoy this down time together as a team."
"Hear hear! Let's have so much we'll never forget it." M'gann added, jumping up and down in her spot with excitement beaming off her face.
"Yeah, sure. Whatever." Superboy spoke up, getting up from his spot on the beach to join the others. Scratching some sand out of his hair, the super clone spotted Samantha watching M'gann move around in anticipation for the group activities to get underway.
The ice user's gaze turning away from M'gann for a moment, her ice blue eyes settled on those of the super's dark blue, the two connecting for a short time as Samantha offered a slightly nervous casual smile to Superboy.
Taking in his female team mates smile, Superboy followed suit with the usual "Superboy nod" as the team called, acknowledging the white-haired heroine in silence as the group chattered on about where they would start first.
"Before we begin anything," Robin spoke up in a sad tone, hoping to get the rest of the team's attention. "Let's us have a moment of silence for our missing comrade who could not make it here today." The sunglasses-masked hero spoke with joking sadness, placing a hand over his heart in silent prayer and hanging his head.
"Poor Wally," M'gann spoke, feeling a bit bad about the current situation. "It's too bad he had to go back to school. He's going to miss out on all the fun."
"M'gann, remember that he needs his education. Besides, the ocean isn't going to go anywhere. If he feels left out, we can dunk a bucket of ocean water on him when he gets back." Samantha assured the martian, resting a hand on her hip as a playful smile crossed her face.
"Oooh, sneaky. We could even make it a prank." Robin suggested, the boy beginning to run his hands together as the metaphorical gears in his head began to turn at the idea his team mate suggested.
"How about for now we all just go and enjoy the beach? As the people on land say, we are burning daylight." Kaldur spoke up, intimating the start of their beach fun as he ran off towards the ocean without the others.
"Hey, wait for me!" M'gann called back, rushing after Kaldur who'd taken a head start towards the sapphire blue waves.
"Oh well. Plan for the prank another time." Robin mused with a shrug. Turning his head to look over at Superboy and Samantha, the younger detective waved them along as he began to run towards the ocean. "C'mon! Last one there is a rotten egg!"
"You don't have to shout. We're coming." Samantha called back to Robin from where she stood, watching her team mates head off towards the great blue in a haste. A smile gracing her features at the calming sight, Samantha turned over to look at Superboy. "You ready to experience your first real day at the beach?"
"I guess. Was I supposed to plan ahead?" Superboy asked.
"No, at least I don't think so. M'gann and Robin have got you covered all day. Trust me." Seeing as Superboy's gaze seemed glued to her for some reason, the ice user felt herself fidget a little in her spot, unsure where her eyes should go and where her limbs should move. "Um...is there something wrong, Superboy? You keep staring at me."
"No. I'm just looking at your outfit."
That was an odd answer.
"My outfit? Oh, okay." Samantha responded, a bit unsure of what Superboy meant.
As the two walked in a strangely awkward silence towards the ocean, the super clone remembered the advice Robin had told him and spoke.
"I like your shirt." Superboy spoke plainly, his usual stoic tone making the compliment seem a bit flat.
A slight bit of shock and confusion running through her system at her the misplaced compliment from Superboy, Samantha replied back in a somewhat confused tone.
"Um...Thanks. It's just a white shirt."