It's been too long, I know. I'm sorry. Just bear with me.
9.
It was a few more weeks before the team was put through their first training simulation. During their down time, they spent the hours roaming the halls of the Cave, exploring hidden crevices and becoming familiar with their new home. Wally and Dick versed each other in video games in the living room; M'gann tried her hand at baking in the kitchen, and Wally ate everything she cooked; Superboy mostly stayed locked up in his room, only to be coaxed out by gentle prompts from M'gann when she wanted everyone to play a board game together, but that usually ended up in disaster (everyone made a mental note never to play Monopoly with each other ever again); Kaldur spent most of his time reading or training on his own. Artemis liked to do that, too. Sometimes she would run into him in the training room, and she'd wait patiently in the entrance until he was done and she could have her turn. He always nodded kindly at her on his way out, and she always smiled back.
On the weekends, when they were let out of the mountain, Artemis met up with her very few friends from her old school, with M'gann tagging along in the guise of Megan. Artemis suffered through shopping trips for 'Earth clothes', dodged personal questions about her home life and her family, and tried hard to keep a smile on her face when M'gann asked her to bake something with her. The other team members usually went home for the weekends – Wally to his parents' house, usually with Dick in tow, Kaldur to visit Atlantis and the friends he'd only mentioned once or twice (Artemis thought their names might've been Tula and Garth), and Superboy . . . well, no one was sure of what Superboy got up to during his time alone. When M'gann wasn't trying to bond with Artemis, she was trying to bond with him, making determined, desperate attempts to get him to open up and talk more. It was evident in the weeks that followed that she'd developed a little crush on him, but nobody ever said anything, even though sometimes M'gann asked Artemis for advice that she had no idea how to give. Wally was blissfully oblivious, flirting with M'gann every chance he got. It made Conner clench his fists and Artemis roll her eyes.
The team developed a tentative and teetering friendship. Most of the time they all managed to get along, but there was always the occasional outburst from Artemis towards Wally, who took every opportunity he could to annoy her. Superboy would blow up at random sometimes over the smallest things, eliciting tears from M'gann that he immediately felt sorry for. Robin would pull pranks on the others, resulting in very angry shouting matches that usually caused an intervention from Black Canary or Red Tornado. If there was ever anything that was causing strain among the teammates, they were forced into group therapy with Black Canary, who sat there patiently while the team members aired their grievances to each other.
It wasn't easy, but they were getting used to it. Somewhat. They squabbled like roommates did, and when one of them was angry, they usually poured it into more training.
In between all of this, their school lessons started. There never seemed to be a tight schedule for their academics – Red Tornado would come over the intercom at random times and tell them to report to the school room where they were to be taught. Special instructors had been hired by the League to come in and teach them, but sometimes, the team was taught by interchanging members of the League. Captain Atom for history (of America, but also of the Justice League), the Flash for science and math (which Wally was always ecstatic about), Green Arrow for English. When the League members taught them, the team was always happy to participate in lessons and eager to please; when the hired teachers came in, there was always a lot more falling asleep in class.
After the six teenagers had been living in not-quite-harmony in Mount Justice for a month, Batman announced their first training simulation.
"Finally!" Kid Flash pumped his fists in the air as the team members all met in the Cave for instructions. "It's about time we got to see some action!"
"You realize we're not actually going out into the field, right?" Robin asked his best friend with a grin, and Wally's face fell.
"We're not?"
Artemis couldn't help it. She prodded him. "Oh my God, do you ever pay attention? To anything? It's a training exercise, you idiot."
He glared at her and decided, wisely, to ignore her. He turned his attention instead to Batman, who stood in front of the computer before them.
"Come on, Batsy; it's been a month. I'd say it's high time we're ready to take on the big guns," Kid Flash prompted with a grin. Batman gave no sign of having heard him. His expression was always the same.
"When and if you are ready to take on a real mission is for the League to decide," he said in his usual dark voice. Kid Flash opened his mouth to protest, but Robin elbowed him in the side to shut him up.
Black Canary sauntered into the room, taking up a post beside Batman. She glanced down the line of assembled sidekicks, her gaze landing on Artemis last.
"Over the next few weeks, you will be put through several different training exercises and simulations," she started to explain. "During each one, you will each take turns assuming leadership of the team. This way, you all have a fair shot of proving yourself a worthy leader. At the end of the final training exercise, you will all vote on a permanent leader. Whoever you pick will be your leader for the rest of your existence as a team."
They all nodded. Black Canary had explained this to them already – and Artemis had been itching to prove herself for weeks. She wanted to be leader so badly it almost hurt.
"Got it, cool," Kid Flash said, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. "So what's our first exercise? Something dangerous, right?"
"Something we think – we hope – you're capable of handling together as a unit," Batman said, shutting off the computer. He turned and started walking out of the main room. "Follow me."