#TwistOfFate
After a few days, the museum was finally open. For some, the curiosity to know a little more about the historical artifacts and what else was in store in front of everything, for the citizens of Metropolis, was a glimpse of moments beyond their comprehension and how much they might see many things out of the ordinary. Slowly, there was a lot to take in, but it was almost a sign that things could be different in every possible way.
And for the Super Hero Girls, different was something they were used to. Accompanied by Johnny's parents, Kate and Tom, Diana, Kara, Zee, Jessica, Barbara, Karen, were gathered, alongside their great friend, while Johnny was amazed at all the possible ways he could enjoy the possibilities before everything. The boy, accompanied by his friends and by his girlfriend, Zee Zatara, Johnny let appear, around the happiness on his face, how things, at last, seemed to be working out before everything.
"I can't believe that the museum has been closed these past few days. What exhibit this special is drawing so much attention that they're closing the place down? It doesn't make much sense, right?" Johnny giggled, to the point of drawing the attention of the girls around him, while the boy crossed his arms, to the point of feeling his body a little nervous. - "It's just been a while since I've been around here, being quite honest."
"Well, they claimed that this exhibit, this new artifact that was found, would make everyone so dumbfounded that no one will be able to imagine what human beings might be missing in their discoveries." Zee started to talk, with the magician making it very clear the interest he was taking in the curiosity of what might be the new attraction of the museum they were now stepping into. - "They said it is from millennia ago, from the time of Babylon."
"I thought they had no way of finding any more historical artifacts after all these centuries. All the historical material they could find has already been found and yet, I feel it has some errors and inconsistencies in the face of what mankind has discovered lately." Diana spoke, trying to put what historical knowledge she had to the test, while the group looked on nervously. Johnny then just giggled.
"Once Diana, always Diana."
"What exactly are you talking about?" Kara asked, in a way that Johnny looked at his friends in an unbelievable way.
"It's just that I've gotten used to it at home. There are times when Diana tries to prove the historical value of certain objects and tries to help with chores in her own way, sometimes messing things up, sometimes trying to solve things differently. In the last task we had to do, which was to help with dinner, she took things a little too far." Laughing a little at the situation, Diana looked at Johnny, a little confused.
"What's so funny? I don't exaggerate that much when I'm helping or highlighting some historical detail around you, Johnny."
"What about the last time my parents asked you to help with dinner and you got the equivalent of a medieval banquet?" Johnny crossed his arms, nervously.
"It's just that where I came from, we used to serve banquets as a kind of tribute to family, in a kind of different way."
"The only thing missing was the use of all the meat in the fridge for dinner." The two then began to giggle at the scene, until Zee approached her boyfriend, nervous about the conversation.
"Do you deal with this all day?"
"I enjoy Diana's company in the house. She can be funny, responsible, even if she exaggerates in some things, she always thinks about the welfare of others and is always trying to help my parents to be happy in some points, whether it is helping with cleaning, food, even preparing things out of the ordinary. Being honest, even being roommates and having our differences, we manage to agree on some things and enjoy our coexistence so to speak."
"My words are the same as our friend's. I told them all that I consider you as part of my family, but so much of what I've lived with changes since I arrived in this city has made me open my eyes to other very good things around and I am grateful to have found people like you." Diana was saying, recalling all that she had experienced so far since her arrival in Metropolis. Slowly, it was more than clear how things seemed to be a little optimistic in the face of recent events, but in the end, normalcy seemed to be returning to the lives of our intrepid heroes. Stepping away from the group, Kate saw her son holding Zee's hands, seeing how happy Johnny seemed to be with who he claimed was the girl of his dreams. Tom then approached his wife, to the point where a smile came over his face.
"It has been a long time since our son has been happy. New friends, a girlfriend on which Johnny has so much in common. And on top of that, the good changes that have come in our lives. You know, they are wanting to consider the possibility of a raise at work."
"Interesting. Seeing Johnny like this, made me remember our old times. The first time we met, our first date, there are really things that we don't forget in some moments. But I am surprised to see how different things are. Our son's girlfriend is simply the daughter of one great magician called Giovanni, did you know that? It's amazing how things work out at some points in certain people's lives. In an unexpected way, I feel like things are working out really well."
"Have you thought in where will be our next date, Zee?" Johnny asked, making the girl giggle at the scene.
"We can do that in my house. I think the view from the balcony gives a great view of the city as a whole."
"Or maybe we could go to a theater, see a play. The Phantom of the Opera?"
"I'm trying to avoid things that are musical at the moment, even more so one that I've followed over and over again." Zee spoke up, to the point of making Johnny give another laugh at the whole thing. - "But seriously, I do enjoy your company a bit."
"A little?" Johnny asked, approaching Zee, making the girl laugh at the situation.
"Okay, maybe too much. I just keep thinking how there are certain things I can be surprised about. Besides your gifts on the piano and everything else in our encounters, I wonder how much there are certain curiosities I'd like to point out sometimes." Zee talked, on which the girl looked at Johnny, which made him cross his arms, half irritated. - "Aren't you going to say anything?"
"Being honest, I'm just willing to enjoy the exposure. But I might surprise you a little. I can play a piano as part of our date." The two grew closer, to the point where they exchanged glances, while the girls were at other exhibits. - "You want to know how much I've been thinking to kiss you, ever since we came in this museum?"
"You already did that when we met yesterday. You really miss my presence a lot when you're alone." The two began to laugh, to the point where they exchanged glances again, with a small smile around their faces. - "But the feeling is mutual. You think of many things and I think of others. However, I think the fact that we are spending time together is opening our horizons." The couple continued to exchange glances, as Kate looked on, moved by what she saw at that point. - "Do you want to take the lead or do I do it myself?"
"Wait a minute, Zee. We still have all the time in the world."
"Truth be told, I'm kind of suspicious." Tom began to speak, drawing Kate's attention at that point. - "I know they've been together for a while now, but have you never stopped to think about the possibility that their relationship is more physical than usual?"
"You're talking..." Tom nodded, causing Kate to put her hands to her face, irritated. - "Tom, let's not ask that question, at least not in that way! You wanting to think that the relationship might be too physical is one thing, but wanting to ask our son a question like that, let's be a little careful, don't you think?"
"It turns out that they've been together quite a while. Our son no longer hides his emotions near his girlfriend and we have to be wary of the possibility that their relationship has become much more intimate than normal." Tom spoke, trying to understand his son at that moment, but Kate started to look, a little suspicious. In parallel, hidden behind one of the walls, Diana, Kara, Barbara, Jessica and Karen watched the scene between Johnny and Zee, nervously.
"This flirting these two are doing looks like it's going to go on for quite a while. If not, it's going to be the whole exhibit, is that exactly what we want to see." Kara spoke up, to the point where she was contrite about agreeing to the idea of wanting to see the exhibit at the museum, but getting annoyed. - "These two have already admitted that they like each other, and yet the looks seem to be making me nervous."
"It's a typical romantic movie scene! They look at each other, being in a relationship and showing love in other ways!"
"I'm listening to their conversation with my super hearing and it sounds like they are talking about the possibility of another date tonight." Kara spoke, after Karen showed her emotions at everything, while slowly, Mary Bromfield, Dinah Drake, Helena Bertinelli and Renée Montoya approached the Super Hero Girls, catching the attention of their friends.
"Are we missing something?" Dinah asked, to the point of making the girls get into position and return to normal.
"Not at all. It just so happens that-"
Before Diana could say anything, the lights went on all around, where the Egyptian exhibition hall began to open, to the point of drawing attention before everything. With that, Johnny, his parents, his friends, went towards the Egyptian exhibition hall and looked at a pedestal, covered by a curtain, being surprised by everything. With that, the owner of the museum approached the pedestal, drawing the attention of everyone around.
"Throughout history, events have occurred that have changed everything around us in ways we can't even imagine. Over the centuries, evolution has become a primary step for certain things and events to take place around us." The museum owner spoke, in a way that seemed to be piquing the curiosity of everyone around the place. - "But now, after all this time, a rarity, from the times from the Ancient Babylon was found. Something that was held by many to be a unique relic. Giving the bearer immeasurable power."
"I wonder what he's talking about?" Johnny asked, trying to understand what the mysterious artifact might be.
"It's probably something overdone in the middle of everything." Zee talked, making clear her opinion that it wouldn't be a big deal.
"We are facing an unexpected past. Taking everything to a new level. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you..." Removing the curtain, everyone around looked at a golden helmet that left everyone surprised. - "The Helmet of Nabu."
Everyone around began to applaud, but Kate looked on, in shock at what had happened, almost as if something was affecting her at the image she had with her. Johnny watched the scene, fascinated by what he saw, alongside his friends, while Zee kept her arms crossed at everything, as if in doubt.
"I can't believe what I'm seeing now." Johnny spoke, about to call surprise before his eyes, but at this, watching Zee, the boy was confused. - "Now what?"
"I don't think it's the original one. That's all." The magician said, to the point of making Diana nervous.
"Are you sure? It sounds authentic to me."
"It's amazing. It's a relic from Ancient Babylon, completely intact! How can the exhibit be any better than that?"
"The legends about the Helmet of Nabu claim many things. With the ability to give its wearer, mystical powers, according to the ancient stories and tales of the past. This is the helmet that was held by many, as the statement of who ruled Babylon in the beginning of time. One of the first rulers, Nabu, king of a very advanced empire. To the point of commanding over distant lands and hidden kingdoms far away from scorching sands." The museum owner continued to speak, but Kate just stood nervously, perplexed to see the helmet before her eyes. Johnny then placed one of his hands near his mother, confused.
"Is everything okay, Mom?"
"Sure. I was just surprised to see that they managed to find a relic that was totally intact in the face of it all." The boy looked on, half confused in the face of it all, while slowly, Johnny remained curious.
"Why do I get the impression I've seen that helmet somewhere before?"
"You don't know. That relic they say is from the times, years before in a time where the Justice Society of America existed as one of the greatest hero teams ever. I'm surprised to see that you're not able to recognize the object in front of you, Johnny." Karen spoke up, explaining the situation a bit, and at that, the girl looked at her friends, a bit calmly. - "It's just that I did some history research a while back and found old photos from the time the team still existed."
"The Justice Society of America? I thought they were just legends."
"On the contrary, Johnny. They existed, a long time ago." Johnny and Karen exchanged glances, while the rest of the group stood fascinated at the sight they now had.
Kate felt that there was something very wrong to be seeing such a relic, as if something was attacking her mind in an abnormal way, without wanting to admit it to those around, but she kept calm, without drawing too much attention to herself. Slowly, hiding her insecurities amidst what could go right or not, Kate knew she couldn't let uncertainty take over her body right now.
At home, it was clear how much something was very wrong in her mind. Kate thought and at the same time made her emotions clear at all costs. In the basement, looking at the book she was holding in her hands, with some old photos, the woman knew how many unexpected things were arising before everything. But at the same time, her fears were clear, to the point of making clear the uncertainty about what might come in the future.
Returning home, Johnny, Diana and Zee seemed to be quite surprised about everything. Slowly asking themselves how an intact relic could be found, it was clear how firm things were about everything. The Amazon then entered the house, with a smile on her face and as such, she touched every piece of furniture in the place, surprised at everything.
"Hello, people!" Zee looked a little confused, while slowly, Johnny gave a laugh, surprising the magician at that point.
"It's a funny business. Diana likes to help so much that she makes a point of greeting even those who aren't human."
"Really you have a great roommate."
"After today, I'm in need of a bath. Anyone want something from up here?" The two giggled, to the point of drawing the couple's attention.
"No need, Diana." In silence, Zee and Johnny moved toward the couch in the living room, to the point where a smile broke out on their faces. Slowly, the two began to kiss, while the boy held his hands around his girlfriend's hair. - "I guess you really are a box of surprises, Zee."
"You've wanted to do this since we left the museum. But don't you think you are risking too much?
"At times like this, for someone you love, it's so worth it." Johnny placed one of his fingers before one of the buttons on his girlfriend's blouse, bringing a smile to his face. - "I love you so much, Zee. You have no idea how I feel."
"I think I have an idea." Moving closer to the boy, Zee gave a smile, thinking to herself about the crazy things they would do for each other. Slowly, she unbuttoned part of her blouse, leaving part of her bra exposed before Johnny's eyes now. - "Now who's doing something crazy? Me or you?"
"Zee, you really like to surprise me." Kissing her neck, Johnny began to smile, to the point of causing shivers to run around Zee's body at that point, while she was reluctant to say what she would like, but held herself back before anything else. - "Don't you think you should accomplish the rest of the task?" In a seductive way, the girl giggled, to the point of being surprised by it all.
"Diana is upstairs. Do you really think she won't hear us?"
"Well... we have to take our chances at times." The two then, began kissing, until they heard a noise in the basement stairwell and slowly, they realized that something was wrong. - "Put the buttons back."
Slowly, Zee buttoned her blouse again and with that, the two of them turned on the TV, beginning to watch one of her dad, Giovanni's, shows in the midst of everything. Slowly, Kate looked at the two of them, noticing how different time seemed to be in the midst of everything.
"Shouldn't you be in that show too?"
"Well, my dad likes to have his assistants around, but on the other hand, he also likes to do the shows on his own." Zee giggled at the scene, until Kate started coughing, drawing the couple's attention.
"Where were you guys?"
"Sweet Justice. After the visit, I thought I'd better go over there, enjoy some of the ice cream that was on sale today." Johnny spoke up, giving a laugh, to the point of making clear his conviction before everything. - "And what are you doing in the basement?"
"Just remembering a few little things from the past before doing the day's chores. Don't you guys have anything to do today?"
"Our schedule is clear, so we are enjoying our time off as best we can." Zee then got up from the couch and in that way, the girl looked at Kate, seeing the stairs.
"I'm going to see if Diana needs help with anything up here. I'll be back in a little while." Johnny was then left alone, while Kate looked at her son. With a calmness around his body, the boy looked at the TV, to the point of being surprised by the shows it was playing, until he noticed his mother's suspicious look at that point.
"Okay. Ask me."
"Ask what?"
"I know you're thinking of asking something like this, so go ahead. Ask me if I'm having sex with my girlfriend." Johnny crossed his arms, annoyed at what he was doubting.
"Well, are you?"
"Sometimes. All these times, we've been taking cautions. The truth is, I love that girl. We became good friends when I got here, but it's like I feel connected in a way I can't even believe." He spoke, withholding some truths so as not to drive his mother crazy with his intimate points.
"The people you love, you never forget. But it's good to see that you're taking care of your relationships." Johnny put his hands to his face, totally annoyed.
"Just don't tell Zee anything, because otherwise she'll want to rip my skin off with everything if she finds out I'm telling some things that shouldn't be said."
"Don't worry about it. By the way, how is this relationship between you two? Where have you gone since your first date?"
"Well, our first date was a dinner on Zee's house. Then we walked the streets, went to the movies, watched a show, to be honest, she was thinking about going to the opera today." He spoke, withholding some of the details about his dates, having to hide the fact about being a hero. - "Actually, we are identical in many things."
"In the relationships that you are both having, security is always needed. It's not because of all this that I'm going to stop caring in my role as a mom. There are many things of which you cannot understand. When a woman loves someone equally..."
"Here it comes." Johnny spoke, more nervous than imagined.
"These relationships that you two have, you must be very cautious. Truth be told, our first meeting was not that great."
"You and my father? What happened?"
"Well, we went to an ice cream parlor that we had near where we lived. It was a great date, to be honest. But all of this sex stuff...
"Mom!" Johnny put his hands around his face, trying to hide the irritation he felt around his body.
"I'm just saying that if you're going to have that conversation, let it be with a relative. But the point really is that in a relationship, both parties need to be in agreement about what should be done. You love Zee Zatara, Johnny, you do things you like together, even going to the opera, even I'm amazed."
"Everyone has their favorite hobby, right? And I'm learning to improve my taste in music."
"How elegant."
Johnny spoke, knowing full well how much there were many things he wouldn't tell his mother at that point, but that was because being a hero demanded too much of what he could plan for. Gradually, he prepared himself for many things. Suddenly, hearing someone knocking on the door, Johnny opened the door, and was surprised to see Artemis Crock standing outside.
"Mrs. Crock! What are you doing here?"
"I came here to talk to your parents, Johnny. It has to do with classes."
"My father is working, but my mother is here, if you want to talk to her." Johnny then led Artemis into the living room, leaving Kate surprised by what had happened. - "Mom, this is my literature teacher, Artemis Crock. Artemis, this is-"
"Kate Young. It's a pleasure to be able to meet you." Artemis spoke, before Johnny could finish his introductions. - "As I told Johnny, I'm here to talk to him about the situation from your son at school."
"Is he doing something wrong?" Kate asked, trying to understand the situation.
"On the contrary. His grades are getting better every day. I'm here for another reason, Kate. It turns out that on some days this week, your son has been coming late to certain classes. Mr. Chapin would like to know if there's something that's been making you get late to certain classes." The boy's mind seemed to have become paralyzed, however, Johnny began to think of a good excuse.
"It's just that I'm having some commitments. I volunteer for some things on days of the week. One of these days that I missed, I was helping Jess and Renee at the animal shelter, another day, I said that I was going to help Zee some tricks for her next show on the park. I'm kind of, her assistent, to be honest. On another, I was with Kara, trying to help her contain tickets for a show. It turns out that a good part of my delays are also due to the fact that the bus I take to get to school takes a long time to arrive on the stop."
Recalling how different things had been, on one of these days, Johnny was fighting with Jess and Renée, transformed into Atlas, Green Lantern and Question against Giganta, Star Sapphire and Catwoman in the middle of a dealership, with the trio trying to steal a new convertible on display. Using his powers, Johnny began to immobilize the trio of villains, however, things seemed to have come to an unexpected head.
When he was with Zee, the couple had faced Livewire and Icestreak, in a battle of couples around the city, with both sides evenly matched in the face of it all. Slowly, it was more than clear the boundaries had been established, however, the heroes and villains seemed to be finding themselves in a certain slip in the face of it all. Near the park, the couples seemed to be using everything they had to defeat each other, at least, in Johnny's memory, it was a half-truth.
With Kara, things were quite different. In the middle of the city center, she and Johnny began to face Starro in a fight that seemed totally impossible, until at the last minute, the two combined their attacks, in such a way that Starro was split into several pieces, with the little starfishes that emerged flying to the sky, vowing to return, while little by little, taking advantage of the situation, without their costumes after the fight, Kara and Johnny went to the ticket selling place of the Malevolent Maniacs' show and with the fact that there was nobody there, due to the fact that everybody had fled in the middle of the fight, the duo of heroes took the opportunity to buy two tickets.
For Johnny, that was the truth that the boy could elaborate, because if he told what really happened, he would make it more than clear how the secret of being a hero, alongside his friends, would end up going all wrong, even more so because of the fact that things could get out of control. Artemis, on the other hand, even knowing the secret of the Super Hero Girls, knew very well how difficult things were and that she understood the difficulty in maintaining a double life. Sighing, she looked at Johnny and Kate, confidently.
"Well, then that justifies the delays you've been experiencing. You seem to be trying to get too much done each day."
"It's not that. Usually when I'm volunteering for something, it's to help other people.
"He always had this drive to help others, even more so in difficult situations."
"I'm just here, because Mr. Chapin would like to make sure you can make it to school without any delays."
"You won't have any trouble at all, Mrs. Crock. Have no doubt about it!"
Without Johnny realizing it, the look on Kate's face made it clear that she was a little suspicious about everything she had heard, but she needed to at least have a chance to see how normal things could become again. On the other hand, Johnny felt in his skin a little more of the effects of his double life, as a student and as a hero, but at the same time, he made it clear how much he didn't intend to give up.
The next day, at Metropolis High, Johnny approached his locker, to the point of looking at everything that was inside: books, backpack, pens, everything that could be imagined in an emergency situation for classes and that this time, he didn't intend not even to make a single slip. On the other hand, Zee approached her boyfriend, to the point of feeling a certain surprise at everything that had happened.
"Your mother told me that Artemis was in the house. What happened?"
"She was given the unfortunate task of going over there, at Mr. Chapin's request, to find out why I was being late for some classes the last few days. I had to say that I was volunteering for some things and was in a commitment to some friends to justify it all." Johnny spoke, almost as if he was putting his emotions to the test near the girl he loved. - But things started to get complicated for me. And where are the rest of the girls?"
"Diana is on her way. She insisted on coming here, running, as part of her training. Kara is still having some traffic problems, while Jessica is finishing up some appointments at the animal shelter. Karen and Barbara are working on a small project together, so I think it's going to be just the two of us." Seeing the Birds of Prey approaching, alongside Mary Bromfield, surprise came over the couple's faces in an unusual way. - "Well, forget what I said now."
"Apparently, your friends haven't arrived yet, have they?" Dinah said, in a way that things seemed to be out of control now.
"We've been told that Mrs. Crock went to your house yesterday, Johnny. Something's wrong?" Mary asked and in the process, Johnny began to cross his arms, confidently.
"Not at all. Artemis went over there to talk to my mom and find out why I'm being late in some classes. I already explained this to her and said that I have some commitments in the middle of the week, so I haven't had time to get to certain classes."
"Sometimes I used to go through that at my old school. I would always try to be early, but something would happen that would make me late." Helena said, to the point of surprising the girls.
"Each of us has our own commitments, that I agree with. But at least we strive to do what we can." Johnny began to speak, to the point of making his opinion clear before everything.
"I would continue this conversation at a leisurely pace, but I have to get to the art room in a few minutes. I suggest you be ready." Mary then left the halls, leaving Johnny, Zee, Dinah, Helena and Renée near the stairs. The group then sat on the stairs, exchanging glances in an unusual way.
"So it seems like things are getting a little bit off track. The fact that we're balancing our lives as heroes might be starting to get a little difficult in light of all that's going on. Johnny talked again, to the point of letting his opinion show.
"What do you stay doing on some days anyway?"
"Well, Johnny is helping me as a volunteer in the pet shelter, along with Jessica." Renée talked, to the point of highlighting one of the boy's commitments at that moment.
"There are still some things I do with Kara, the training with Diana, and other out of the ordinary situations. Being honest, a part of me is relieved that my parents don't know about these powers." Johnny spoke again, crossing his arms. - "If they knew that the son they love so much is actually a superhero with a tendency to have angry impulses at times, it would make it a little tricky to do something like that."
"I agree. Being honest, many of us have certain secrets that we can't let other people know." Renée said, to the point of making clear, in an indirect way, some of her opinions in all this. Being a girl who had a crush on other girls, it was hard for her to have a chance to be honest with the ones she loved. But at the same time, being a heroine was complicated for Renée, because she needed to be, in her parents' view, the perfect girl and the perfect daughter that her parents adored so much. - "I have no way of understanding what might happen regarding the secrets we hide."
"I understand that very well. I still have to maintain the farce that Laurel Lance and Dinah Drake are two completely different people. Even in the face of everything that's been going on, it's like I feel like I'm walking headlong into something I can't understand." Laurel Lance was the Princess of Darkness, a rockstar who had more followers, fans and other things than normal, but deep down, she would like a chance to be a normal girl, without the price of fame following her at all costs. - "The feeling I have is that at some point, everything will go wrong and I won't even know about it."
"So we are all in the same boat. We have our secrets and we can't be honest with certain people we like and live with." Johnny spoke, identifying with the Birds of Prey at that moment. Zee, on the other hand, was quiet to the point of making a certain difference, which made the group look at the magician, confused.
"What? My dad knows that I have powers and that I am a heroine. At least, because he understands a little magic, I can be honest with him all the time. But what I'm going to say now, is that at some point, some of you are going to have to speak the truth to the one you love if you want to protect those around you." Zee spoke up, making the girl more confident than imagined. - "You just have to be very careful what happens. And I'm getting late for the next class."
Johnny, Dinah, Helena and Renée began to exchange glances, knowing full well how different things could be at times. With a certain calmness around their bodies, the quartet felt that they could feel a bit connected at times, which made it clear how much their secrets needed to be kept, in a way that did not put what they had to keep hidden at risk.
In the hallways, Helena started to walk towards her locker and with that, grabbed some notebooks, putting them in her backpack and so on, started to look at some drawings she was doing of her friends, to the point of making it clear how much she seemed to have a certain ability, besides her voice and gifts for music. As she began to walk down the halls, suddenly, a foot was placed in front of her, knocking her to the ground, with Jason and Leslie clapping their hands and giggling at the scene.
"You know, for a girl like you, you have some surprises that we can't even predict." Jason spoke, to the point of getting Helena's attention at that moment.
"What do you guys want? Don't you think you need a new hobby other than picking on me?"
"Please, Helena. What do you think we're doing? We're just fooling around a little." Leslie began to speak, causing Helena to hold the backpack in her hands and in the process, let uncertainty take over. - "What are you hiding?"
"Nothing important." Out of nowhere, Leslie took the backpack from her hands and with that, the girl started looking through her notebooks, seeing the drawings Helena was doing. The first being of her friends, to the point that she was surprised about everything. - "Looks like our lucky girl knows how to draw people."
"Let go of my notebooks!"
"Leslie, you're taking this too far!" Jason spoke up, showing that for the first time in ages, he was not agreeing with the pranks.
"Please, Jason, don't you really think this is all harmless? Are we just seeing what Helena is hiding?" Noticing a heart drawn on one of the drawings, Jason began to notice more drawings around. One of them being of Johnny, which caught the boy's attention. - "This one is interesting."
"I draw what I see. That's all."
"If I didn't know you, Helena, I would say you have a crush on Johnny. But since I don't know you..." Leslie then began to use one of her hands around the leaves, catching Helena's attention. - "Just think what it would be like if one of these drawings was destroyed. It would be a shame to see a talent wasted. Who would believe that a girl like you would have a crush on Johnny Young? He's just not the kind of person a girl would want to have a date with!"
"I like you, Les, but you're overreacting!" Jason then put his hands on his notebook, as the two began to argue. Jason, in an unexpected way, was pushed to the ground by Leslie, on which his girlfriend seemed to be making it clear how much concern she was feeling around her body.
"We agree on many things, but one disagreement, seems to be quite out of the ordinary for you, Jason." Leslie spoke, to the point of letting her conviction take over. - "I intended to leave the drawings intact, but it seems you're forcing my hand now." Out of nowhere, another hand grasped Leslie's hands, at which Johnny appeared behind the girl, taking the notebooks back.
"Here, Helena." Returning the notebooks back to his friend, Johnny began to look at Leslie and Jason, to the point where he felt a certain uncertainty, almost turning repulsion around his body. - "I didn't think you were going to cross the line."
"Just for the record, I didn't agree on her taking her notebooks now, Johnny. I even tried to stop Leslie from tearing up the sheets." Jason spoke, to the point of making it clear how much there could be a lot wrong so far.
"So there's still hope for you, Jason." Reluctantly, Leslie and Jason left the scene, to the point where Johnny knelt down next to Helena. In the process, Johnny sat down next to Helena, looking to his friend. - "It's kind of hard, isn't it?"
"They insisted on picking on me. It's like they don't want to leave from my back and even with my attempts, Leslie and Jason insist on picking on me all day long."
"It'll be fine, Helena. These two don't have a subject, so they want to keep bothering others to prove their superiority." Sitting near each other, Helena and Johnny exchanged glances. - "Truth be told, even Jason has good qualities, despite his attitudes. He just needs a little push to realize that."
"Your optimism surprises me sometimes, you know?" Helena was saying, sighing with a certain amount of worry in the midst of it all. There was no way to even be certain of the problems, things seemed to be intense. - "If I tell you something, do you promise not to tell anyone?"
"Sure. I know how to keep secrets."
"Do you know the significance that the name Bertinelli holds in Gotham?" Johnny shaked his head, denying it. - "It's because of that name that I've had some trouble."
"What do you mean?"
"I... I've been bullied too." Helena spoke, to the point that it surprised Johnny at that moment. - "My father is Frank Bertinelli. Head of a Gotham Mafia family. To tell you the truth, at my old school I was doing pretty well at first. When news started to come out about the charges my father would face, things started to change. I had friends, classmates who liked me. But when it started to come out that there would be arrests, my classmates started to show their true faces."
"And what happened?"
"They started out as insults, because of the hatred people had for criminals, and the fact that I was the daughter of a mobster complicated everything. Then the bullies started picking on me. There were some pushing me to the locker, others knocking me to the ground, even the girls made my life difficult at the school I studied at in Gotham. Then came the assaults, they doing things unexpected, every single day, there were times I would come home with bruises on my body."
"And why didn't you say anything?"
"How could I, considering my father's reputation? He would do something even worse. My only solution, even if I reported it to the principal, was silence. Because on one side, even those at the top looked down on the name Bertinelli. It was the insults, the pranks, the aggressions, all for almost a whole year." Suddenly, Helena began to fall into tears, recalling everything that had happened in her life. - "You wouldn't know what it is to suffer in silence. You've dealt with it, but in my case, it was much worse. There were times that no one would sit next to me in the cafeteria." Helena was putting her emotions to the test, which symbolized a certain limit in the face of everything. - "I held out for a lot. Almost a year. And I still felt isolated. But there was one day that everything changed. I was in the cafeteria again, and when I went to look, Laurel and Renée sat next to me. I met them on what seemed like a rough day."
"They say it's good to have friends you can count on."
"True. Laurel and Renée were the first people who accepted me as if I were really their friend. The two didn't care about my father's reputation, my problems, nothing. They both accepted me because I was myself. After that, I went back to normal. When something happened, we were always close to each other. If one suffered, the others were there to defend a friend. Renée and Laurel were helping me, finding a way to get away from all the people who picked on me, and things went back to normal. I had friends, even though I didn't report this situation, measures were implemented and the other students started to understand that there was no way they could follow the same steps. Then it came the mid-year transference. The three of us moved to Metropolis to have a fresh start. I moved to this city to live with my mother, who seeks distance from the actions committed by my father, and the rest is history."
"It's hard. At my old school, I learned to deal with them in an unexpected way. But Jason stirs something in me, because it seems like he tries to be a good person, but at the same time, he insists on the old tricks."
"I like you, Johnny. More than as a friend. And the worst part? I know that I'll probably never be reciprocated." Helena spoke, managing to surprise Johnny at that moment. - "I know that you're dating Zee Zatara. I could tell that from the looks you were having during the conversation on the stairs."
"Helena, I like you. You are a good friend, always willing to understand other people and help. But what you have suffered, is even understandable. I know how hard it can be." The boy then held out one of his hands, making his opinion clear. - "Even if I'm not with you as a boyfriend, I know you'll find someone to love. Friends, then?"
"Friends."
The two then shook hands, willing to be honest with each other at that point. And at that, Helena and Johnny seemed to be prepared to deal with anything that came their way in the future. Both were equal to each other, but hearing what Helena had been through was something complicated, in Johnny's view, even more so because the anger everyone had for the children of criminals could be seen as the daughter trying to follow in her father's footsteps in the future, but knowing Helena well, things could be quite different.
Alone, Jason took the opportunity to look a little at the computers, which could happen at such times, and at this, seeing the news of the museum exhibit involving the Helmet of Nabu, the boy gave a smile and looked at his girlfriend, Leslie, to the point of bringing a certain surprise before his eyes, to the point of making everything very curious in some parts.
"Hey, Les! What do you think about us "borrowing" an ancient relic from Babylonian times? That helmet might have a little extra money involved for anyone who wants to buy a deal like that." Even in the face of opposing attitudes, Leslie and Jason were together for whatever lay ahead.
"You know, you're kind of hard at times, but a good old trick always impresses me."
The two then seemed to agree on the next crime they were going to commit and at that moment, everything seemed to make sense according to their eyes on the goal, without hesitation, much less giving up under the circumstances.
In the cafeteria, Johnny and Helena were sitting at the same table, while little by little, the boy knew that he needed to keep his friend's secret at all costs, even more so because the past was something completely difficult for Helena at that point. Johnny could feel that he could be equal to her in some parts, but in fact, things had been much lighter with him, but in the case of his friend, hearing the story this way seemed to be something quite unusual. Slowly, Diana, Barbara, Kara, Zee, Jessica, Karen, Renée and Dinah sat down at their table, with the Amazon giving her siblings a confident smile, surprising the group.
"What happened, Diana?" Johnny asked and at that, Zee laughed at the scene, confident about herself.
"No big deal. It's just that Diana talked to Mr. Chapin and she'd like to take a little project forward."
"Since our Saturday dance didn't happen due to the Cheetah problem a long time ago, I managed to convince our principal to let me hold another dance at the school. But it will be something much bigger than imagined."
"Do I feel Valentine's Day vibes?" Zee said, giggling about the question she made now.
"Sort of. It's going to be something for all the students and let's just say I'm wanting to do things in a different way. This dance will be more precisely, in pairs, as the main idea, to celebrate love in the face of everything that could happen."
"Can we wear costumes, by any chance?" Karen asked, making Diana shake her head, agreeing with her question. - "Nice."
"Any attire will be optional and otherwise, there will be many more surprises that I will have in store. If you want to join the committee to help me, be my guests." Everyone at the table raised their hands, willing to help Diana at that moment. - "Then we are decided."
A ball was about to take place. And at last, to have a chance to enjoy every detail with his friends at that moment, even with all the problems around, Johnny seemed to be willing to enjoy every second of the party that would come ahead. In the middle of everything, without realizing it, Klarion, the Witch Boy, was watching each of them through a crystal ball, a little confident about himself at that point.
"Anyway, all paths are crossing for what is to come in the future. And no one will be prepared for what I will bring to this world." Feeling an unusual energy taking over where he was standing, Klarion looked at the ball, seeing that the Helmet of Nabu seemed to be going into resonance, in the museum, drawing his attention at that point. - "But it seems that without the main opposition of the Lords of the Order, at last, things will go according to plan. And in the end, there will only be chaos around Earth."
Klarion's plan would very soon be about to go into motion and no one could be ready for the battle ahead. Nothing made sense now, but with new beginnings, the Super Hero Girls remained willing to face any adversary that might arise in the future, but would they have the strength to confront an agent of the Lords of Chaos? That answer has yet to be revealed.
To be continued...
Author's Note: Ok, folks. This is the part where we start our next story arc. And trust me, you'll be in for a shock for this one. Like I promised, this arc will have Zatanna taking center stage as the protagonist and very soon, we'll have some wham episodes coming forward that will leave all of you, dear readers, surprised with the twists and turns we'll take now, so very soon, we'll be back!
See you all next time, dear readers!