Just one more year to get through before I start writing about the stuff in season 2. I don't know how you guys will feel about her not being on the team anymore, but I had enough trouble trying to writing season one without just copying and pasting everything that happened in the episodes, and with Mallory being on the League I thought it could give a different perspective on the Reach stuff, especially with the public reactions to the League and the warrants for them. Also, just a warning, it took me a few chapters to catch my stride with this, so sorry if the quality of the stories drop for a chapter or two, but I promise there are better chapters ahead. Anyway, hope you like it, review with your thoughts.
Year 5:
"Inferno, status update," J'onn's voice came insistently over her comm.
"Everything's fine here. I've got the fire out and damage control is getting the last of the civilians to safety," she reported, surveying the little California neighborhood that the forest fire had all but taken out.
"Very well, return to base, you are needed at the watchtower," he said.
Mallory signed off and waved to the firefighters that she'd been working alongside for the last four hours before flying to the nearest zeta tube.
When she appeared in the main room of the watchtower, Superman, Martian Manhunter, and Flash were waiting for her.
"What's up?" she asked, walking over to them. Flash crossed his arms and gave her an amused look, and she glanced down at her costume and pulled off her jacket, brushing some soot off her legs. "You try fighting a fire that size, see how you come out looking," she said with playful defensiveness.
"Well, I don't have to anymore. That's your department. Best decision the League ever made," he replied with a grin.
Mallory rolled her eyes and turned to J'onn. What do you need?" she asked.
"The League is going to be sending a small group to help the Relasias rebuild after the latest border dispute, and we would like you to be part of that team," the Martian explained.
She put a hand on her hip, smiling slightly. "Because my powers will be useful, or because I'm still considered new and you think I need the exposure?" she asked, tilting her head.
"Oh, don't be so difficult, you're not special," Flash said, grinning, and Superman said at the same time, "both."
Mallory nodded and chuckled at the way the Flash looked at the man of steel. "Ok, when are we going?" she asked.
"We don't have all the details yet," Manhunter started, and Mallory cut him off with a nod. "Ok, well, when you figure it out, let me know. I'm going to the cave, I need a shower and some food."
"All right. Black Canary's there now, training the team," Superman told her. She nodded and went back to the zeta tube, setting her coordinates for home.
The second she appeared in the cave, the familiar sounds of training assaulted her, and her spirits lifted even more. She started to just go around the fight and go straight to her room, but she couldn't resist looking at the match. Lagaan and Wren were fighting on one side of the arena, and Peter and Dick were fighting on the other. She wondered briefly how her brother had gotten to the cave since he was still a guest and didn't have access to the zeta tube alone, but she didn't care enough to try to find out. He'd been practically living at the cave since she'd joined the League a month ago, and his dedication was paying off. He was fighting better than she'd ever seen him. Besides, she was more interested in seeing the grudge match between the rookies. She didn't hold anything against Lagaan, but she still didn't like him very much, and a little part of her enjoyed seeing him beat in the arena.
"Inferno, care to join us?" Canary called from the other side of the room. She walked over and stood between her former trainer and Conner.
"How'd the fire go?" Conner asked.
"Fine, didn't take too long," she replied, not taking her eyes off the fights. "Where's Megan and Gar?"
"They went to the sanctuary, there's a potential buyer," he said.
Mallory nodded. A few weeks ago, Gar had decided that he wanted to sell the Logan Animal Sanctuary in Qurac so that it could continue to operate, a decision that the team, old and new alike, had gone out of their way to support. The decision had even spurred Zatanna to go to her old house and look around, though she was still on the fence about what to do about it.
Mallory saw Peter prepare to kick and she winced, mentally telling him not to do it. Of course, he did, and as she predicted, Nightwing easily blocked the kick and swiped his other leg out from under him, ending the match. Dick grinned and held out a hand to help him up.
"You're getting better," he said as they walked off the arena.
"You went easy on me," Peter said, his tone practical and business-like.
Dick shrugged. "Sure, I go easy on everyone. You should see how much I have to hold back with your sister."
Peter snorted and Mallory punched his arm. "Hey!" she said, but her grin was just as wide as the former Boy Wonder's.
"Hey yourself," he replied. He gave her a one armed hug and stood beside her. "Good to see you. You haven't been around the cave in a while. Feels like forever since we've caught up."
Mallory shrugged. "Um, I think you mean you haven't been around here. And it's your own fault we haven't hung out. I still live here, you know where my room is and my League and school schedules, and I'm like fifty percent sure you have us all tagged so you can track us whenever you want."
Dick chuckled and waved a hand in the air. "The tracker's not mine," he said dismissively.
"I'm sorry, come again?" Mallory said.
"Not important. So, how's League life?" he said quickly.
Mallory gave him a sde eye. "Um, fine, just a sec." She turned to Conner and hissed, "Do I have a tracker in me?"
Conner squinted slightly. "Nope, you're good. It's probably just in your suit somewhere."
She shook her head. "Very reassuring."
They both looked at Dick, who was trying to contain his smile. "Well, would you look at that. Wren's doing great, isn't she?" he said, his attempt to change the subject too obvious. Mallory rolled her eyes and looked back at the fight. Lagaan was holding his own, but Wren's moves were more calculated, and the force behind them was pretty hard for just a sparring session.
"Hey, I know she doesn't like him, but is there something going on with her?" she asked.
Dick shrugged, his face turning serious. "She's having some problems with Batman, but she'll be fine."
"Already? They've only been with him a couple of months," Conner pointed out.
Dick shook his head. "Really, it's fine. They'll figure it out soon."
"You didn't," Peter said. Dick grinned and pushed the younger boy gently. "Hey, that was different, believe me. She'll be fine, she just needs to let off some steam. That's why I put her with Lagaan."
Mallory chuckled. "Aww, you're still giving him a hard time?" she asked.
Dick shrugged. "Well, I have to give someone a hard time, and Wally's not here anymore, two of the new team are my legal siblings and they don't mind ganging up on me, Peter's not on the team, and Gar's got too much protection, so he's it by process of elimination."
Conner snorted. "Fine by me," he muttered.
Mallory hid her smile as Wren finally stopped playing around and slammed the Atlantean on the ground, unnecessarily pinning him on his stomach.
"Ok, Wren and Nightwing are the winners, let him up," Canary said. Wren got up and walked towards the group without looking back, and Lagaan got to his feet and followed, grumbling about the loss. "I guess that's enough for today. I won't be here tomorrow, but I trust that Nightwing won't let your time go to waste," she said, looking to the team's leader for confirmation. He nodded and she turned to Mallory. "I'll see you later at the League meeting," she said.
"Yeah, I'll be there," Mallory replied. Canary nodded and went to the zeta tube. "So, where's the Boy Wonder?" Mallory asked.
Wren shrugged. "He had something to do. Which, actually, I do too." She turned to Dick and asked, "Is it ok if I head out?"
He shrugged. "Sure, let me know if you need a hand with anything," he replied.
She was halfway across the room before he finished his sentence. "It's not that kind of thing, but thanks," she called back, and the zeta tube took her away the next second.
Mallory looked at Lagaan. "So, what's up with you?" she asked.
He shrugged. "You know what's up with me. You hang out here too much, you know that? You're not even on the team anymore, but you're always here."
Mallory rolled her eyes. "I live here," she said for what felt like the millionth time since she'd joined the League. She looked between the boys and added, "Why does everyone seem to forget about that?"
Conner shrugged. "Probably 'cause you're only here on the weekends," he pointed out bordly.
Mallory nodded. "Yeah, that makes sense."
"Ok, well, I'm going to Atlantis, I have a class this afternoon," Lagaan said, going to the zeta tube. When he was gone, Mallory took a step backwards.
"Ima go get in the shower, I don't have long before the meeting," she said.
"Hey, uh, wait a minute," Peter said.
Mallory rejoined the group, tilting her head at her brother. "What's up?" she asked.
"Well, I've been wanting to talk to you about something, all of you, but I don't see you much anymore," he said.
Mallory crossed her arms. "Ok, what is it?" she asked.
"Well, you said that I could join the team if I took some time to think about it, and I did, and now I think I'm ready," he said.
Mallory exchanged a glance with Conner and Dick. "Ok, I didn't quite say that. I said I'd start taking you on patrol to work yourself in. I can't just put anyone I want on the team."
Peter rolled his eyes. "Sure you can. And if you can't, Nightwing can," he said, looking up at the leader expectantly.
"Yeah, Buddy, you know you have a spot waiting for you. But Mal has a point. You need some field experience before you jump into missions with us. You know our track record."
Peter laughed. "Yeah, ok. So I can start coming on patrol with you?" he repeated, looking between the three of them.
Conner shook his head. "Sorry, kid, but don't expect me to take you. The people I fight tend to be a little-alien." Peter immediately changed his gaze so it landed on Mallory and Dick, and they chuckled.
"Yes, I said I would," Mallory said, and Dick said, "Of course, I've been wanting to for years." The nine year old grinned and Malllory ruffled his hair.
"Ok, can I go now?" she asked.
"Yeah, sure," her brother replied.
"I'll take you home," Nightwing offered.
"Ok, let me go get my stuff," Peter replied, running towards the living room.
Mallory paused and waited for her brother to get out of the room before saying, "hey, as long as you're going over there, can you do me a favor?"
He shrugged. "Sure, what?"
"Just let my parents know that we've agreed to start taking Peter out, no big deal. Thanks!" she said quickly, turning to go to her room.
"Hey, you're not sticking me with that!" Dick called after her.
"You're sticking to that? Great, let me know what they say," Mallory called from the doorway.
Dick turned to Conner, grabbing one of his arms in half serious desperation. "I'll give you a week off training and four pizza runs off if you'll take him home instead," he said urgently.
Conner shook his head. "Sorry, no," he said, a small smile coming to his face. Mallory grinned at the look on Dick's face as Peter came back into the training room, and she hurried the rest of the way to her room to clean up, glad that the task of telling her parents was no longer her concern. It was nice to have so many practically-family members around. That was one thing she wouldn't be able to use the League members for.
That afternoon, Mallory was sitting around the oval table in full costume listening to the rest of the League talk about the current assignments going out and what would be coming up soon. This part of the League she found kind of ineffective and, to say it plainly, stupid. She understood that with the Justice League taking in more and more members, they would have to keep their identities secret from the newcomers, but things got done a lot faster and with less complication when the team would talk about their business in pajamas over snacks and a movie. She glanced at Zatanna, sitting across from her and Raquel for no real reason other than Flash assigned the seats, and rolled her eyes. Zatanna smiled a little, shaking her head slightly. Megan's link was another thing Mallory missed. The League didn't even use Jonn's link to communicate. It had taken some getting used to, going on missions without the constant chatter to keep her company.
"So, we're agreed that the group going to the Relasias will be Hawk Woman, Captain Atom, Icon, Captain Marvel, and Inferno. Is there anything else we need to discuss?" Batman asked.
There was a pause as everyone looked around expectantly, then Hal leaned forward in his seat and said, "well, I guess I'm up. The Corp is calling John and me back to Oa, there's been some friction between the other lantern corps, and some of the more seasoned Greens are being called in to try to sort things out."
"How long will you be gone?" Hawk Woman asked, looking between the two Green Lanterns. They shrugged, and John said, "There's no telling. It could be a few days, or it could be a few weeks. We'll keep the League posted on our progress." Some of the Leaguers nodded, and Batman let another pause hover around the table, then he said, "Well, if that's the last order of business, then the meeting's adjourned."
Everyone pushed away from the table at the same time and grouped up to use the zeta tube. "You going to the cave?" Zatanna asked, coming to stand with Mallory and Raquel.
"Yeah, I told Peter I would start taking him on patrol, so I guess I should take him out once before I'm gone on a two day foreign outreach project," she replied.
"How come you're going? They put me on monitor duty," Raquel complained.
Mallory shrugged. "They're just giving the newbies the jobs they don't want to do. Flash is getting really good at it."
Zatanna chuckled. "Of course it's him. You know, there is a mind wiping spell I recently read about. If we wanted, I could rewrite the League, make us the leaders.''
The other girls chuckled, but before they could answer, Superman was behind them, one hand on Mallory's shoulder. "Don't get any ideas, now," he warned lightheartedly.
Mallory rolled her eyes. "Why do you always have to be listening?" she asked, half serious.
Clark shrugged. "Just lucky, I guess. Can I talk to you?"
Mallory nodded and walked to the kitchen with her former mentor. "What's up?" she asked.
"Nothing, really, Lois just wanted to know if you and Conner are going to come over next weekend. She's going to be celebrating, she wrote an article for the League's foreign outreach with the Relasias, and the newest Justice League member being a part of it, and she's expecting it to be a huge success. I read it, it's very good. Especially the exclusive interview with Inferno."
Mallory crossed her arms, a smile tugging at her lips. "But the public doesn't even know about that yet. How, exactly, does your wife already have a career-boosting article written about it?"
Clark shrugged. "I never ask about her sources," he said.
"Right. Well, as a rival reporter who could just as easily have the story, you might be interested to know that neither Mallory Johnson or Inferno have talked to her in two weeks, which is before I even knew that I was going to this thing, so she didn't interview me."
He chuckled and led her back to the main room, where most of the others had already left. "Oh, relax, she does it to me all the time. Believe me, it's better than actually having to sit through an interview with her."
She shook her head. "Ok. Well, tell her that Conner and I'll be there to help her celebrate," she said.
Clark grinned, typing his coordinates into the zeta tube. "Great. I'll see you then," he said as the light sucked him away.
Mallory put her own coordinates in, chuckling as she muttered, "sure, you do that."