Happy Easter! I had an extra chapter for the first time in a long time, so I thought I'd give y'all an Easter present. It's a little short, but it's really just a bridge to the next few chapters. Anyway, hope you like it, please review.

"Bruno Manheim was one of the founders of the Light. Intergang has been linked to them from the beginning. Apokolips is the Light's partner, that's why Manheim faked his death and left his son in charge of the family business, because the Light needed one of their members to act as an agent to their partner, to make sure that they weren't going to get double crossed and to keep up their good relations. It all makes sense, I mean, look at this," Mallory explained, gesturing to the evidence she, Roy, and Dick had put together the night before. "We have to follow up on this, go to the GLs, maybe poke around space and see what we come up with."

Captain Atom was nodding slowly. "It's a good theory," he said slowly, and Mallory took the complement and ran with it.

"Great, so the team can put together a squad. We can take the Bioship, just OGs, or maybe Blue can come too, he might be useful. It shouldn't take–"

"Woah, slow down," Canary interrupted firmly. "The team isn't going anywhere. You aren't going to investigate this."

The pyrokinetic stared at the small group of Leaguers, for a brief moment at a loss for words. Unfortunately for them, she found them in a hurry. "You can't be serious," she protested angrily. "This is the biggest lead we've ever had, this could hit the trafficking right in the heart, put an end to all off world shipments, cripple the rings based here on Earth. We can't just ignore this."

"And we're not going to," Clark assured her gently. "But the team is done, as of now."

"But…" Mallory started, but her mentor shook his head.

"This is clearly out of the team's lane, Inferno. Space would already be a nonstarter, but Apokolips? There's no way we're going to let you anywhere near that planet, or any of its agents. It's far too dangerous."

"Fine," the redhead agreed, barely missing a beat. "Then put me back on the League and I'll come with." She was already planning what to bring with her when Wonder Woman's voice stopped her thoughts in their tracks.

"No."

It was such a simple word, but it sent a shock through her just the same. "What?" They couldn't deny her a seat in the League. It was hers to begin with, she'd been one of them, she had an open invitation to come back. Or, at least, she'd never been told otherwise.

The Amazon didn't waver, though She shook her head and repeated, "No, you will not rejoin the League." Kaldur, Clark, and Dina looked just as surprised as Mallory, but Wonder Woman didn't even seem to notice as she explained herself. "You cannot bounce between the League and the team whenever it suits your own agendas or preferences. You made your choice, and have since threatened several times to quit to get around orders. You are one of the original members of the team, Mallory, your actions, what we tolerate with you, sends a message to the younger members of the team. As of now, you are either in or out, and when you show a true commitment to the team, then your invitation to the League will be reinstated and you may accept it at any time, when you are truly ready to make that commitment." Her words were like a slap to the face, and Mallory couldn't think of a single thing to say to counter her, because it was the truth. After a long, awkward silence, Diana sighed and picked up where they'd left off. "The League will put together a squad to investigate, we will take the javelin. It shouldn't take more than a week to make the arrangements, two at the most. We'll call a meeting for later today to get volunteers. Thank you, Inferno, you and Nightwing and Red Arrow did well."

She rose without another word, but Mallory felt frozen in place. The other Leaguers exchanged a look, Diana shook her head at the door where the Amazon had disappeared, and she and Nate left. Clark and Kaldur stayed behind, though, letting an awkward beat pass before Kaldur sighed. "I am sure she did not mean it in a negative way," he offered, looking at his former teammate.

She huffed, trying to shake off the sting. "Oh, sure, it's a compliment any way you look at it," she replied sarcastically. She thought she did a good job covering the lump in her throat, but one look at the men and she knew she hadn't fooled them. She rolled her eyes, determined to move past her own embarrassment. "So, either of you going to volunteer?"

Kaldur shook his head. "I believe my abilities would be of more use here on Earth."

She nodded. "Yeah, probably. You?"

Her former mentor tilted his head, considering for a moment before answering. "Yes, I'll go with them. We've gone against Darkseid and his people before. If he is behind all this, they're going to need help. A lot of it."

A perfect, heroic answer, just like always, but his eyes didn't have their usual shine. Kaldur noticed it, too. He gave her a look, and she nodded. "Uh, you going back to Metropolis?" she asked, looking at Clark. "Share a tube?"

He nodded. "Yeah, all right." They walked out of the meeting room in silence, but they'd barely taken two steps into the hallway when he said, "there's something I need to talk to you about. While I'm gone–"

She nodded, not needing to hear his request. "Yeah, of course. You know you don't even need to ask."

He smiled a little, the corners of his mouth pulling up, but it didn't reach the tiredness in his eyes. She stopped before they stepped out onto the Bridge, making his pause, too. "Clark, are you…ok?" She'd never seen him look so dull.

"Fine," he replied easily, and she narrowed her eyes, considering him for a moment.

"You know," she said thoughtfully, "when Alex found out what I do in my free time, he started to see a pattern with me, that whenever he asked if I was ok, I would say I was fine out of habit." Clark sighed, knowing where she was going, but she continued, "now, that word isn't allowed. I'm still trying to break the habit, but it feels better actually telling someone the truth. You want to try it?" He shook his head, and she added, "keeping in mind that I do have my ways of getting to the truth if I need to."

He rolled his eyes. "You spend too much time with Lois." She didn't deny it, and he sighed heavily, a weariness in it that didn't sound like it came from a man who could move planets. "How much longer is this going to go on?" he asked. "How much more corruption are we going to uncover? Every time this gets bigger, it just means more that we can't do. And these articles the League was forced to agree to, we're just the UN's dogs on a leash of our own making. Constantly having to defend our decisions, always aware of how our actions will be twisted." He shook his head. "If the world didn't still need us, need the reminder of what we symbolize, I'd quit." He tilted his head, putting on a weak smile. "How was that?"

She let out a breath, not quite a huff, but her mind going in a different direction. "Why don't you?"

Confusion crossed his face. "What?"

"Quit," she clarified, keeping her voice low in case anyone was nearby. "Clark, you've served the world for a very long time, you've saved it more times than anyone can remember, than most people even know. If anyone deserves a retirement, a chance to have time with their family, it's you."

He shook his head. "You know I can't just quit. Not now, with everything you just brought to our attention, and the world–"

"The world will always have some sort of crisis," she interrupted. "You know that. The world has other heroes that will fight for it. Metropolis has other heroes that will fight for it. You've already shown us that you can hold the world in your hands, you don't have to carry the burden alone anymore. You don't have to be Superman."

He leaned his head back, then looked back at her, a sad look on his face. "You know that's not how this works."

"Why not?" she asked, genuinely curious. "You, Bats, Wonder Woman, you guys started this, you made the rules on being heroes. Why can't you make the rules on leaving, too?" When he didn't answer after a moment, she sighed. "Or, if you don't feel comfortable committing to leaving, then maybe just think about taking a break. That would give you a fresh perspective, give you time to think about what you want to do."

He nodded slowly. "Maybe," he said slowly. "After the space mission. I'll think about it, anyway."

She nodded. "Good." She chuckled and added, "do me a favor though? Don't tell Diana that I was the one who talked you into it. I wouldn't want her to think that I'm spreading my bad habits to other Leaguers."

He laughed. "Don't worry, she won't hear it from me." He nodded up to the cameras lining the hallway. "I can't guarantee that she won't hear it from you, though."

She winced, shooting a quick glance at the hidden camera, and Clark laughed again and started walking, leaving her hurrying after him. "Wait! You know how to delete that right?"

"Of course."

"Then let's do it!"

His grin spread wider, his eyes lighting up with amusement. "Now, that wouldn't be right. I can't let my reputation get tarnished because of you."

She rolled her eyes, pretending to be annoyed, but in truth, her spirits were rising by the second. It was nice to be spending quality time with Clark, it had been a while since they'd made the time, but she was also moving past her irritation at being blocked from the space mission, and now she was just happy that there was a space mission. They were actually going to follow up on the lead. This could be the beginning of the end of their entire history with the Light, and everything that had spiraled off of that. Yes, she decided, this had been a good day.

I'd love some reviews for Easter!