[29th January 2011]
[Mount Justice, Happy Harbour, Rhode Island, United States of America]
Black Canary hit hard and fast, and without my magic, gear, or suit to cheat with that had left me getting the loser buzzer after fighting defensively for a few minutes in our spar. Sore too I found rubbing my shoulder and drinking from a bottle of water as Connor engaged in a spar with Donna Troy; thankfully we were watching it on the screen as both could use their powers more freely. As evidenced by the faint rumble as she slammed him off the wall of the area I suspected had been setup for Superman and Wonder Woman to spar in.
Not that he was complaining, rare enough he could 'let loose' so to speak, and the amazon girl was just about in his weight-class and a much more skilled fighter. Cassandra was enjoying the fight, even if her mother had looked more bewildered than anything else as she had lunch with what was effectively our 'support staff' in the shape of some former teacher named Snapper Carr, and some students from Happy Harbour school. Wannabe superheroes at that in the big fella Mal Duncan and his girlfriend apparently, and I wasn't sure what Carr had done but he'd apparently been here before.
Then fired for something, probably after it was shut down, but now he was getting something close to training in case there was another 'Joker' scenario. Even if the pale faced monster was now deceased, the Forever Idiots had already made an appearance, and murder robots, so at least security was a thing in this place now. It made the place feel alive, the numbers and sounds of activity...and faint shudder of the mountain itself as Connor punched back t M'gann's ooh's and ahh's. Girl was just a few chants, and her cheerleader uniform, from being his official supporter it seemed like to me; Artemis's 'gifting' her memory with me and her about what Superboy's kissin' lips were like. I'd be happier if I had it inflicted upon me as well.
"Tired of getting your ass kicked by girls already Skulls?" Artemis asked strolling over towards me after her spar with the Boy Winder, hand gesturing for a bottle of water. She caught it easily in the air as I grabbed a spare one and threw to her as she came towards me "Oh, is this my reward for trashing you earlier?"
"Let's go with that, to the victor the spoils an' all that oh mighty warrior"
"Archer to be exact" she retorted resting back against the wall beside where I sat, white towel around her shoulders contrasting with the black tank-top and sweatpants she wore. I avoided ogling, impressive a sight as it was when she rested back to drink from the water bottle, hormones aside; wouldn't be polite or professional after all. Honestly it must run in the family as her mother and sister did the exact same bullshit with me during their training sessions. So I gave a snort of amusement back in return, turning my gaze across the training area to where Gemma and Zatanna were now getting the run down on some basic fighting techniques. Apparently mine and her Uncle's 'fighting dirty' teachings earning me an irritated look from Canary if I had to guess from Gemma's hand gesture and stabbing motions.
"Why's Canary's glaring at us?"
I sighed "Yah, No, at me if I had to guess. Probably something about telling Gemma things to do if she couldn't run an' the most important thing is her life and things like that...ah, and always double tap looks like. Damn, that girl and her Uncle just love getting me in trouble"
"You do that enough yourself already Skulls, no need for others to help with it" she grinned back at me swatting at my head with her free hand "...and what are you teaching them?"
"Things a Constantine needs to stay alive, even if she's a Master's technically. Hence asking for the lessons from the awesome martial artists one our team, like you, and Canary, and everyone else not squishy wizards"
It certainly filled out some of my requirements for physical training this week, and killed that other bird with the same stone for Gemma and Cassandra. At least they were excited about coming here, with our limitations to only protected facilities training with the Justice League's protégées was one big perk. Sadly this earned me a frown and a thwack on the back of the head from the blonde archer "No teaching villain stuff Skulls! Bad Evil Wizard, Bad!...hmmm, and aren't very squishy in alot of fights either you big fat liar"
"It's called wearing armour, you do it too you know, and yeah sure I've a few spells that toughen me up, but Gemma ain't got those yet, neither does Z for that matter, so better some hand to hand tips than nothing"
"Hmm, hmm, maybe true. I beat you up re~al easy only a little while ago without all your little tricks now didn't I?"
"Oh Gods, are going to rub this in my face all day?"
"Uh-huh, trashed you good and proper as Gemma put it. Going to have to put you through your paces later to fix that now aren't I?" she teased back and I just rolled my eyes.
"This is because I beat you the last time?"
"Lucky shot Skulls, lucky shot, MY win was a solid victory from start to finish. And you shall cook me a fine meal in celebration of my glorious victory!"
"You know, we're going to spar again later and I am going to use my magic and trash you and your glorified stick launcher just to let you know"
She gave an amused snorted "Heh. Well, then you'll just have to come up with a reward for your, imaginary, victory then won't you, oh terrifying all conquering skull wizard! Oh woe is me!"
"Hmph" I huffed back standing up and taking another drink after a glance at the electronic clock on the wall "...and what does her majesty want for this feast of hers? Since I think I shall be cooking there now, at least before M'gann decides she wants to bake too and I'm somewhat later than I'd planned...said...I'd start"
"You'll be a great housewife someday Skulls, good to see!"
"Har-de-har-har" I muttered as she pushed off the wall and followed along beside me "Now what'ca want O Mighty One? Before others get ahead of you in choice in this long, tiring, walk to the kitchen"
"Hmmm...well since you're not buying me dinner..."
"Unless you want to order takeaway and go 'Hey can I get some Pizzas for Justice League? No Kyrptonite topping please''" I mused back "...since I'm not really allowed out of this mountain prison right so I..."
"...do anything stupid. Yes, you've mentioned" she finished for me with a grin elbowing me in the side as I rolled my eyes at the interpretation. It wasn't how I'd have put it after all "...and Flash has done that before...collection anyway, Kid Flash and Robin were joking about it. Seemed he had Martin Manhunter do it on a mission, or something like that"
I blinked as the image came to my mind of M'gann's uncle up on the Watchtower, big fancy alien tech screens, urgent missions and then contacting a small town pizzeria for a calzone or something, stat! Certainly fit with my current estimation of the Justice League amusingly, disturbingly, after all. Still I couldn't keep my mouth shut about the other issue of course, muttering as much to myself as Artemis in response "I wouldn't put it like that!"
"No, you wouldn't, super secret agent things -stupidity- wasn't it? Hmm? Also I desire curry! Nice and Hot like me of course"
"You are lucky that you are both nice enough, and hot enough, to get away with that remark" I replied as best I could in a deadpan tone while very much not showing embarrassment. Victory to me it seemed as she coughed, skin flushing in a blush, and then giving me a playful-but-awkward punch in the shoulder. I wasn't blind, but how to proceed next was...confusing, and far more awkward than I'd like, as my logic said it was a bad idea with inter-team and work, while another part of mind, most of it really, very much had another view "...now Hot Stuff, get the chicken and vegetables from the fridge over there while I get set up and do my magic"
Cooking a large meal for the Team, or part of the Team more-so; as once the Battle Royale between Super-folk ended I expected M'gann to descend here to try reclaim her domain from the little old interloper that I was, was entertaining. It was relaxing also I found, and it got me out of the cleaning part which I hated so win-win and it helped build team bonds and stuff like that. Artemis disappeared off to shower after depositing my requested ingredients, a prestidigitation spell and washing my hands sufficing for now for cleanliness and not feeling crappy and sweaty after sparring.
"So what'ca cookin or ya..."
"Too late, already asked to make curry. Boss Artemis has spoken..." I replied without looking as Wallace, or right now Kid Stomach, appeared on the other side of the partition between kitchen and sitting room "...so..."
"Boo!BooIsay!" then blurred again disappearing from my sight like his mentor so often did, though without the red blur of his mentor or his own yellow thanks to being in civilian garb "Megancayoumakemea..."
"...I...hmm...okay"
"KF?" another voice interrupted my thoughts, glancing up revealing the sunglasses and, expensive probably, tracksuit clad Boy Wonder strolling passed towards the living room before pausing after noticing me "Oh that's why, thought KF was raiding the fridge...again"
I shrugged "Oh he appeared and then vanished, off to convince M'gann of menu selection. Fight over?"
"Troia won, Canary's giving pointers to both now" he answered giving a yawn and hopping up to sit on the tall chairs on the other side of counter "...KF picked a bad time to ask then; Connor changing shirts, distracted Miss M"
"True I'd say that Tr..."
Wards hummed and buzzed ever so faintly. Power surged nearby, washing over me and causing me to freeze in position a moment, then standing straighter to 'listen' or 'feel' a second later as I felt whatever it was. Vanished, then pulsed again...nearby...outside the mountain? In the...
"What?"
"I don't know, someone is casting nearby right this second" I answered Robin's serious toned query calmly, activating my prepared spell and visibly summoning my armour unto me and reaching over and touching the lower level 'alert' button there "...but better safe than sorry I say. Would you alert Red Tornado please, I'm going out to my apprentices in case it's related to our current concerns"
Sure Red Tornado would be monitoring things, but this would at least raise the alert level when someone had decided to start casting...something...within spitting distance of this place. Robin seemingly agreed with me as I flicked off the hobs of the cooker and then moving quickly back out to the training area; thankfully this place had quick and easy shutdowns for such things, probably due to being summoned during cooking was likely a problem of League members. A quick triggering of the illusion spell on the suit hide my visage on the off chance there was no issue beyond my fears, and as I turned the corner I was back in appearance of my 'working clothes' of business suit.
Gemma was immediately alerted by the little tell, and my striding quickly back into the training room, glancing at me and then moving over to where Cassie and Helena sat while Canary turned away from a hurried conversation with Zatanna, hand on her own ear, and towards me. At which point the lights began to flicker...and then go dead with an electronic whine throughout the mountain...before flickering again with the 'emergency' ones kicking in. My hand immediately went 'inside' my suit illusion, fingers reaching around the key-ring-like device attached and hitting the alarm therein.
"Gemma, Cassie, Helena, I do believe it is time for you..." us really, but I stayed silent on that as I tried to calmly announce plans as Canary came over "...to relocate I'm afraid"
"Yes...that might be best..." Black Canary agreed motioning at everyone to calm down but be alert as the room sprang into motion, Zatanna arriving at Canary's side and overriding her just as she stated the Zeta Tubes were likely down. Because of course they were, seemed a stiff breeze knocked them damned things out of commission.
"...can you feel that John! It's really strong and..."
I nodded firmly, she was a better senor than I was judging by the look on her face, and I glanced from her to Black Canary as I gestured at my three responsibilities to come towards me as everyone else armed, or just psyched, themselves up "Yep, but we have other means of extraction. Like my room"
"We're being attacked by...giant mutant lobsters" Black Canary stated in a confused, perhaps resigned, voice hand going to her earpiece. Thankfully Gemma had hustled the other two towards me, and then ahead, as she followed through on what I'd told her for an emergency. Still, best to confirm that and keep everyone calm because some mad lunatic had decided to play magical scientist apparently.
"Okay, still leaving you three, this way to the magic portal of getting you out of here. No need for Zeta Tubes..."
"NO 'ES NOTS!" a powerful voice slurred a portal-door-hole in wall across from where I was standing, magic flushing out and staggering us. Stepping out was a blonde haired woman, bare foot and dressed like she was at the beach with her flowing green coloured quasi-bikini robe-wrap things around her chest and hips, waving a jug or amphora in one hand "HATS! WILE HORE!"
Powerful sorceress...
Stepping through magic defences...
Pointing angrily in my general direction...
My hand had being moving up and in that direction anyway, magic surging within and without me...
"THINK FAST!" I shouted as I unleashed the Acid Arrow directly at the enemy's face without really thinking it through.
"ACID TO THE FACE BITCH!"
A startled scream echoed out and...
POWERFULOHFUCKPOWERITSAGODINTHEFLESHANDOHSHITWERESCREWED
...blondie staggered, righted herself and growled loudly at me as the weight of a Goddess's Power, IN THE HELLS BE DAMNED FLESH focused upon me with a laser focus to my senses...
My mouth was working even as horrified calm consumed me "Welp...I immediately regret this decision"
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