A/N: I own nothing you recognize.
So this is the first chapter that contains content from the corresponding comic series. As you will see, chapters that follow scenes from episodes will be in full numbers, while those that follow scenes from the comic series will be in decimals. Though the formatting for chapter titles doesn't allow for certain characters, so the official chapter title will be included in the chapters now.
Update (May 2023): so I changed Fireworks a little! It's not super major, and it doesn't change the trajectory of the story, but I think it gives a little more insight to the changes Lark is experiencing, and also I realized it didn't make sense that she would be electrocuted if Desmond wasn't originally planning on taking her DNA. Anyway, it's not necessary to reread, but if you are interested in seeing the new scene, it's the scene where Desmond is collecting their DNA.
(Also sorry, this will be going in the A/N for the chapters I have posted, just in case someone is in the middle of reading the posted chapters *sheepish smile*)
2.1 - Stopover
Location: Project Cadmus, Washington, D.C.
Date: Monday, July 05, 2010
Time: 0051 EDT
"Give me three days," Batman said finally.
"Three days isn't too long," Kid Flash said with a little shrug, though the other boys didn't look so convinced.
Superboy turned on his heel and stalked away, and Robin said, "Uh, guys?"
Kid Flash followed Robin's line of sight and grinned. "Hey, Supey, how 'bout you come home with me?" Superboy just shrugged, and the speedster's grin widened. "Cool! Let's go!"
The Justice League began going their separate ways, and Lark followed Batman and Robin to the Batmobile, which Batman had called sometime during their little conference. Robin climbed in the back and Lark collapsed in the front seat.
The ride back to Gotham was tense, and Lark noticed Batman didn't unclench until they reached the Batcave.
Alfred was waiting for them as Batman pulled to a stop, and as the top of the Batmobile slid open, he said, "Miss Naomi, Master Dick alerted me to your injury." She threw a dirty look over her shoulder to Dick.
"I'm fine," she said, and took a step forward, only for her knees to buckle as the adrenaline finally left her system.
"Whoa, Nomi, you okay?" Dick asked, wrapping her arm around his shoulder as he helped her to the medical station.
"Yeah, just...overtaxed myself, I guess," Naomi said as Alfred helped her onto the medical cot.
"Did you use your powers?" Bruce asked sharply, his eyes narrowing.
"No one saw but Kid, Aqualad, and Superboy!" Naomi exclaimed.
He still looked extremely displeased, but he swept away, and Dick and Naomi shared an uneasy look. It looked like it was the silent treatment for them.
"All right, then," Alfred said brightly, distracting the two from Bruce's obvious disappointment. "Master Dick, you get washed up and changed and then off to bed for you. Miss Naomi, do you wish to get washed up as well before I start your I.V. and tend to your wounds?"
"Yes, please," Naomi said immediately. "I need a shower, desperately."
"Very well. Do you feel steady enough on your feet?"
"Yeah."
Naomi got to her feet gingerly before walking up the steps to the showers. She unzipped the front of her suit, wincing a little as the fabric tugged at the ragged edges on her arm. She washed up quickly before pulling a large T-shirt over her head and stepping into comfortable lounge pants.
Alfred and Dick were waiting in the medical bay and she sat on one of the beds, rolling up the sleeve of her shirt as she did.
"Dick, what are you still doing up?" Naomi asked to distract herself as Alfred began cleaning the gashes.
"Wanted to see how you were doing," Dick said, standing on Naomi's other side.
"Dick, that's sweet, but I swear, I'm fine," she said, glancing away from watching Alfred bind her arm to look at her little brother. "You, on the other hand, look ready to drop; go to bed."
"Fine." He rolled his eyes but gave Naomi a quick hug before waving to Alfred and heading upstairs.
Alfred hummed quietly as he settled Naomi in the cot so he could get her set up for the I.V. She watched intently as he stuck her with the needle, and she leaned back against the thin pillows as she felt the cool solution enter her vein.
The butler agreed to get Naomi her laptop so she could do something while she waited for her fluids to be replenished, and she passed the time watching YouTube videos.
Alfred returned shortly to find Naomi dozing off, and he gently roused her from her light slumber. "Miss Naomi," he said softly, "do you wish to retire to bed?"
She shifted a little, wincing as it tugged on the I.V. line, but nodded. Alfred quickly removed the needle and placed a cotton ball over the crook of her elbow, wrapping it tightly. He helped Naomi to her feet and then escorted her to her room, though she argued the whole time, saying she didn't really need his help and that she was feeling much better. All that, of course, fell on deaf ears.
Once she was safely in bed, Alfred bid her good night before turning off the overhead light. Naomi waited a beat to make sure Alfred didn't stick his head back into her room before chuckling softly and saying, "You can come out now, creep."
Dick peeked his head out from behind the curtains where he had been waiting and he grinned as Naomi turned on her bedside lamp. She shook her head as he hurried over to the bed and hopped on without a second thought.
"What are you doing here?" she asked as he leaned against the pillows that were propped up neatly against the headboard. "You should be in bed."
"Sure, Mom," he said, rolling his eyes. "Just wanted to check up on you."
"Dick, that's sweet, but completely unnecessary," Naomi said even as she let Dick lean his head against her shoulder, and she knew better by now that he wouldn't stop worrying for several days. When he had come to the Manor, he had quickly accepted Naomi as his new sister, and even though she was older and more than capable of taking care of herself, he had become protective of her.
In the field, Robin knew not to hover, but as soon as the masks were off, he would check and double-check and triple-check if she was okay. It was much appreciated, and Naomi loved how much he cared, especially considering how unloved she had felt after her mother had abandoned her at the age of six.
Sometimes, though, he went a little overboard...
"It's a scratch, nothing else," she went on. "Alfred didn't even have to stitch me up."
"I'm more worried about...the other thing," Dick said. "You've never felt that fatigued in the field before."
"I've never used my powers to that extent before," Naomi pointed out. "I'll just have to work on it more."
Dick just hummed in response, and Naomi didn't have the heart to kick him out. Instead, she turned off her bedside light and settled in for the night, and Dick grinned at the silent invitation to stay. The bed was big enough for them to sleep comfortably side by side, and Dick shifted so he was on the other half of the mattress.
Naomi shook her head fondly as she watched Dick get comfortable, as though he was in his own bed. He curled on his side, facing her, and Naomi lay on her back, staring up at the canopy above her mattress. Dick's breathing quickly slowed and evened, indicating he was fast alseep.
She chuckled and was about to join him in dreamland when her phone vibrated, signifying a new text message. She rolled onto her side and reached for her phone. Swiping the text notification on the screen, she opened the messaging app and frowned when she saw the text was from an unknown number. Clicking on the new text chain, though, she couldn't help but smile when she read the message.
Glad you're not dead...I'm still pissed though
Naomi's fingers hesitated over the keyboard as she pondered how to respond. It was obvious Roy was texting from a burner, plus he was still mad at her, as was evident in his text, so it seemed unlikely he would even see her reply.
Still, though, she wanted him to know she had seen his text, so she typed out: Glad you're not too pissed to check up on me. Will I be hearing from you soon?
She sighed and locked her phone before placing it back on her bedside table. She settled into bed, her eyes sliding closed as exhaustion finally washed over her.
Location: Wayne Manor, Gotham City
Date: Monday, July 05, 2010
Time: 0846 EDT
Naomi was awakened when she rolled over her arm in her sleep. She tried to shut out the morning, but the dull throb proved too distracting and she finally admitted defeat. She sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes first then running her hand through her hair, untangling what she could with her fingers and doing her best to flatten the locks that had gotten curled and crimped during the night.
Glancing to her side, she saw Dick was gone, which didn't surprise her. He had always been more of an early bird than her, despite their often-late hours, something Naomi had always been a little jealous of.
She checked her phone, knowing she wouldn't have a response from Roy but still hoping to find the unknown number on her screen. She sighed when she saw no notification from him before finally settling her feet on the floor and shuffling into her attached bathroom to get ready for the day.
While she was brushing her teeth, a voiced called, "'Omi?"
"In the bathroom!" she called through a mouthful of foam.
Dick, still in his pajamas and looking glum, walked through her room to lean against the doorframe of the bathroom. "Bruce left for the office early," he said.
"Still not talking to us, I take it," Naomi sighed once she had spit out the toothpaste foam.
"Looks like."
She hummed in frustration as she tossed out the cotton ball that Alfred had put in the crook of her arm. Dick remained silently leaning against the doorframe while Naomi washed her face. Once done with that, she said, "Well, if he's gone already, I guess it's safe to go downstairs."
They arrived in the kitchen as Alfred was washing the last of Bruce's plates, and Naomi smiled sheepishly as she and Dick sat at the kitchen island.
"Sorry," she said as Alfred set about preparing their breakfast.
"No worries, Miss Naomi," Alfred assured with a smile. "I understand completely."
Dick continued to stare glumly at the island counter while Naomi toyed with the fork laid out next to her plate. They sat in silence, the only sound filling the large kitchen the sound of Alfred making pancakes and frying bacon.
Once Alfred had served their hotcakes and bacon, he stood in front of them as they fixed their plates: Dick with a gallon of maple syrup and Naomi with a bucket of dark chocolate chips and fresh berries.
The loyal butler sighed as he watched the two wards begin eating solemnly, and said, "Chin up, young masters. Master Bruce will come around."
"Has he ever been this pissed at us?" Naomi asked before spearing a strawberry and a large piece of chocolate-smeared pancake and shoving it in her mouth.
"I don't think so," Dick mumbled through a mouthful of syrup-soaked pancake.
Throughout breakfast, Naomi's gaze shifted to her cell phone, which was laid out on the kitchen island a few inches from her plate. Reading the look on his sister's face, Dick sighed.
"Has Roy still not reached out?"
"Well, he texted last night to let me know he was glad we weren't dead, but nothing else," she sighed as she passed Dick her phone, looking a little upset, not that he could blame her. As close as Roy was to Dick, he was even closer to Naomi, and she had never been on the receiving end of such a tantrum from Roy before.
He couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow, though, when he read the text again. "You liar," he grinned.
"What are you talking about?" Naomi asked, genuinely confused, which made Dick laugh harder.
"Roy wasn't glad we weren't dead; he was glad you weren't dead!"
Naomi rolled her eyes as she snatched her phone back from Dick. "It's an implied 'we,'" she said.
"Yeah, right," he snickered.
"Whatever, Bird Brain."
Their mirth was short lived as Dick thought back to the unknown number that Roy had used. The older teen had never been so mad as to feel the need to reach out with a burner phone, which led Dick to believe that Roy had packed a bag and left Oliver's place. Judging from Naomi's expression, that was her fear too.
"I hope he's okay," she mumbled around a mouthful of food, making Alfred give her a displeased side-glance.
"Does Ollie know where he's staying?"
"No, he texted earlier to let me know that none of the sensors on any of his safe houses have been tripped."
"Maybe you should give him another couple of days to cool off," Dick suggested. "I know that's now what you want to hear," he added quickly when Naomi frowned at him, "but it just seems he might have gone off the grid for a reason."
"I guess you're right," she sighed, though she was clearly unhappy with the recommendation.
The rest of breakfast was eaten in silence, and after Alfred cleared the island of their dishes, Dick and Naomi looked at each other and said simultaneously, "Gym."
"Arm, Miss Naomi," Alfred called from the sink.
"Nooooo!" Naomi wailed at the reminder and her head dropped to the granite island. "Damn Cadmus," she grumbled. Glancing back at Alfred, she said, "Can I at least work on my core or lower body?"
Alfred contemplated the request for a moment before nodding and said, "I don't see why not. But," he added quickly when Naomi cheered, "I expect you to let me check on your arm when you're done."
"Okay!" Naomi said, already halfway out the kitchen. She met Dick in the gym, and while he began warming up on the mats, she headed to the treadmill.
For the rest of the day, they worked on their own, though Dick would occasionally call Naomi to ask her questions about a particular move or stance. They were able to forget the previous day and Bruce's silent treatment for the most part, enjoying each other's company and taking turns blasting music to work out to.
Lunch came and went, then dinner, and finally patrol (in Dick's case, anyway; Alfred sternly told Naomi she couldn't go out until her arm had started to scab) before Batman finally made contact.
"Turn in early, Robin," he said gruffly. "It's a slow night. I'll finish up."
There was a beat of silence on the line before Robin confirmed he had heard Batman, and Naomi was waiting for him when he came zooming into the Batcave.
"I can't believe this," Dick grumbled as he angrily set the kickstand.
She sighed heavily and squeezed his shoulder briefly as he passed her on his way to the showers. "When you're done," she called after him as he trudged toward the catwalk, "come to the media room. Alfred said he would make popcorn."
That earned her a small smile from Dick, who nodded before picking up his pace.
Location: Wayne Manor, Gotham City
Date: Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Time: 0923 EDT
Naomi woke with a start when her phone started ringing. She sat up immediately and checked the caller I.D., hoping to see Roy's name or even an unknown number if it meant he was on the other end, alive and well. When the name of a different eighteen-year-old friend flashed on the screen, she sighed and slumped against her pillows again, already well on her way to drifting off to sleep.
"Hello," she mumbled sleepily into the phone.
"Mimi!"
She groaned. "I hate that nickname," she muttered.
"I figured it would wake you up," James Scott replied cheekily.
"Ugh, you and Dick," Naomi groaned, rolling her eyes.
"Aw, you know me and Dickie," he said. "We always were on the same page."
James was the only son of David and Lisa Scott, fellow Gotham socialites. Naomi had first met James when she was six, at her first gala with Arthur and Irene Williamson. The other children had looked down their noses at her, calling her names behind her back and commenting on her "low birth." James had swept in, her knight in shining armor, and a friendship had been born.
"When did you get in?" she asked.
James had graduated from Gotham Academy, and as a graduation gift, he and his friends had been given money to go spend a couple weeks in New York City.
"Late last night," he said.
"You have to tell me about it!" Naomi exclaimed, finally getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom.
"You know, I was gonna call Sage after this and see if she could meet up so I could give her the trinkets I bought while in New York," he said. "Wanna just all get together?"
"Yeah!" Naomi said through a mouthful of toothpaste. She quickly spit out the foam and said, "Yeah, sounds like fun."
"No plans with Bruce or Dick?"
Naomi rolled her eyes. It was Tuesday, so Bruce would be at the office, even if he wasn't still mad, and knowing Dick, he would probably be angsty and moody until Batman gave them an answer on their teen team.
"No plans," she confirmed. "I'm free all day, so whatever time works best for you and Sage."
"Sounds like a plan," he said, and Naomi could hear the grin in his voice. "I'll call back when I get word from her."
"Sounds good! See ya in a bit!"
Once finished with her morning bathroom routine, she got dressed in denim shorts, a black Beatles band shirt tucked into the waist with sleeves long enough to hide her bandages, and her trusty black Converse. She headed down to the kitchen to confirm Bruce already gone to the office and found Dick at the kitchen island.
"You're up early," Dick said glumly as she entered the kitchen. He perked up a little as he asked, "Did Roy call?"
"No, it was James," she said, shaking her head as she grabbed a glass for orange juice. "We're planning on meeting up with Sage today; not sure exactly when or where, though."
She gave his work-out attire a second glance when Dick's response was just a grunt. "What do you have planned today?" she asked rhetorically.
"Training," he replied shortly, poking at his mostly empty dish.
"What's wrong, Dickie-bird?" she inquired, taking his plate away before he could scratch the surface—Alfred wouldn't be too pleased—and moving around the counter to sit beside him.
"What's taking him so long?" Dick snapped angrily, glaring at the island countertop.
"You know Bruce," Naomi sighed, putting an arm around Dick's shoulders. "He's just blowing off steam until he gets over his embarrassment."
"Yeah, I know," the younger bird grumbled, slumping forward until his chin was resting on the countertop.
"Cheer up, Dickie," Naomi said with a small smile, squeezing his shoulder. "He'll make his decision."
Her phone buzzed with an incoming text message and she leaned away from Dick to see who the sender was. She grinned.
"Sorry I can't stay longer," she said. "Sage just texted."
"I understand," Dick said. "Have fun."
"Thanks." She kissed the top of his head before waving good-bye to Alfred and walking to the large car garage. She grabbed the keys to her car and opened the garage door before starting the engine. Naomi started her driving playlist and hummed along to the song as she pulled out of the garage and made her way down the gravel driveway and to the Wayne Manor gates, which opened at a push of a button.
Given the prestige of the Wayne name, the manor had been built on the cliffside on the coast northeast of Gotham City limits. Most of Gotham's wealthy families lived in the suburb, though none had a view as nice nor resided on as much property as the manor.
The Scott residence was one such home in the neighborhood, which was situated in the hilly terrain leading up to the Manor. It was a short drive to the pristine neighborhood, and she arrived in no time.
"Naomi!"
The girl in question turned at the sound of her name as she stepped out of her car and smiled when she saw her friend.
Sage Burke was a grade younger than Naomi, but how they met was similar to how Naomi met James. The younger teen had pale gold-blonde hair, which grew in soft curls, and green eyes that were her namesake and often accented with the right amount of mascara and eyeliner.
Waiting on the porch for them was James. He was tall and ruggedly handsome, with a strong jaw, playful hazel eyes, and wavy chocolate-brown hair that was always cut in the latest, chicest style. His look was capped off by a slightly crooked nose he got as a result of a fight he got into when he was fourteen.
"Hey, duckies," James grinned as Naomi and Sage hurried up the porch steps.
"Jamie!" Sage greeted brightly, kissing his cheek.
"Long time no see," Naomi said, standing on her tiptoes to ruffle James's hair, this season cut shorter on the sides and slightly longer on top, the layers artfully tousled.
"You're one to talk," Sage snorted as James invited them inside. "The last time we got together, it was to study for finals!"
"Naomi, Sage," Lisa Scott greeted warmly as they walked past the large kitchen. "How have you been?"
"Great," Sage said, leaning against the countertop as James offered them something to drink. "Dad's managing a huge account right now, so he's been suuuuper busy, and Mom just got back from London."
"Oh, yes, I heard her charity was expanding overseas," Lisa nodded, sipping her coffee. "How's that going?"
"Really well, from what she says," Sage said. "She has to fly back in a few weeks to finalize some details, but she's home for the time being."
"How about you, Naomi?" Lisa asked, turning her soft green eyes to the dark-haired girl.
Well, I've been busy prowling the nights with Batman and Robin, protecting Gotham as Lark, though I might soon be joining a group of teen heroes.
Given Lark's secret identity, though, Naomi said none of that. Instead, she smiled lightly and said, "Bruce is busy with the company, of course, but now that it's summer, Dick and I have been hanging around the house."
She reached forward to grab the glass of water that James had set out for her and Lisa frowned when she caught sight of the bandages wrapped around Naomi's upper arm.
"Oh, dear, what happened?"
Naomi followed Lisa's gaze and laughed lightly. "Oh, it's nothing," she assured. "Dick and I were just horsing around, and I caught the short end of the stick."
"Well, I'm glad you have Alfred," Lisa said, looking relieved that the injury wasn't serious. "From what Bruce has said, he used to be a medic, right?"
"Sure," Naomi nodded, using her glass to hide her smirk. Like Alfred was just a medic.
"Well, since it is summer, you have all the time in the world to hang out with someone other than your brother!" Sage grinned. "There's so much we can do!"
"Let's start with the gifts I got you two in New York," James suggested. He kissed his mother on the cheek before heading for the stairs, Naomi and Sage on his heels after they thanked Lisa for the drinks.
Once they reached James' room, Sage immediately flopped on the bed while Naomi sat cross-legged at the end.
"So, meet any cute boys while in the Big Apple?" Sage asked with a mischievous grin.
"You know me," James replied coyly as he returned from his closet with a small bag for each of them. "I never kiss and tell."
"Aw, you gotta give us something!" Sage exclaimed as James sat next to her on the bed. "We're dying to know if there were any guys in New York the ever-so-picky James Scott approved of."
"You can't really blame him," Naomi shrugged. "It's not like many of the boys at the Academy are any good."
James rolled her eyes as he tossed the bags to the girls. "Tell me about it," he groaned. "It also didn't help that there weren't that many willing to come out of the closet."
"With their parents, who can blame them?" Naomi muttered. "Not like it's the twenty-first century or anything," she said sarcastically.
"The New York dating scene was heaven compared to what was available at the Academy," James admitted. "It was soooo nice to make out with a guy who didn't tell me after, 'Just don't tell anyone.'"
His tone was light and joking, but Naomi knew it bothered James more than he wanted to admit.
The trio spent the next few hours chatting, gossiping, and going over the gifts they had received from James. It was nice to be with friends who weren't in the life, Naomi mused as she leaned against James' side. For a little, she could just forget about Batman's Rogues, forget about the death she saw nightly, the blood, the wails, the screams.
Still, she wouldn't give it up for anything. The rush, the high, she got swinging from Gotham's tallest buildings, fighting, bringing justice, being the night, was glorious.
It was dark by the time Naomi left the Scotts. Despite the safe neighborhood and the short distance between James' house and Sage's, Naomi insisted on driving the blonde home. As she pulled out of the Burke's driveway after waving good-bye to Sage, she called Alfred to let him know she was on her way home.
Dick was playing God of War III on the PS3 in the media room when Naomi arrived. She climbed over the back of the leather sofa, a large bowl of Alfred's fresh-popped popcorn in her hand as she settled in to watch.
"I wonder what Diana would say if she saw this game," Naomi mused as she munched on the salty, buttery popcorn.
Dick snorted, pausing the game long enough to grab a handful of the snack. "She would spend the entire game telling us what's factually accurate."
"With this game, it's probably more like what's factually inaccurate," Naomi corrected with a chuckle.
"True," he laughed before resuming his game.
A while later, Alfred stepped into the room. "If the young masters have no more requests, I shall take my leave," he announced.
"G'night!" Dick called, taking a hand off the control to wave over his shoulder.
"Night, Alfred," Naomi smiled.
"Good-night, Miss Naomi, Master Dick," Alfred said before exiting the media room.
Naomi yawned widely as she stood and stretched. "I'm going to turn in, too," she said. "See you tomorrow!" She ruffled Dick's hair after she grabbed the gift bag from James. Once she reached her room, she placed the bag on the cushioned bench at the end of her bed.
After doing her usual night routine, Naomi climbed into bed, falling asleep almost instantly.
Location: Wayne Manor, Gotham City
Date: Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Time: 0856 EDT
Naomi groaned a little as her eyes fluttered open. When she glanced at the clock, she scowled at the time. It was early; too early for her. Sure, she was a fairly early riser, but she considered any time before ten way too soon to rise.
With a sigh, she trudged into her bathroom to get ready for the day. Once she was finished, she headed downstairs, still barefoot and in her pajamas, which consisted of sleeping shorts and a tank top in corresponding Wonder Woman red and gold.
As Naomi passed the home gymnasium, she caught sight of Dick out of the corner of her eye. She poked her head in and found him practicing flip maneuvers on dummies.
"Mornin'," he said when he spotted her, his eyes a little wide in surprise. "You're up early," he commented.
"Don't ask me why," she sighed, rubbing her eyes tiredly. "Let me grab something to eat and I'll join you."
"Okay!" he grinned before stepping back onto the mat again.
Naomi headed down to the kitchen, passing Alfred on his way to do the laundry as she did.
"Ah, good morning, Miss Naomi," he greeted. "I would have thought you would be upstairs, resting."
"That was the plan," she shrugged. "Just woke up and couldn't go back to sleep."
"Perhaps tonight, if there isn't an emergency, you can turn in early, let your body properly recover," Alfred suggested.
"Sounds like a plan," Naomi chuckled.
"I have an overnight oatmeal in the refrigerator for you," the butler added. "Dark chocolate with fresh berries."
"You're the best," she grinned happily. "Thanks a million!" She gave him a quick hug before skipping to the kitchen.
She found the oatmeal in the fridge, just like Alfred said she would, in a cute little Mason jar. "Yum," she hummed happily. She grabbed a spoon and headed back to the gym.
Sticking the spoon in her mouth and keeping a firm grip on the glass Mason jar in one hand, Naomi carefully maneuvered her way to the top of one of the large, cylindrical padded obstacles that served several purposes in training. At the moment, it was her seat as she ate her breakfast and watched Dick train.
Alfred had declared Naomi still not healed enough to spar with Dick, so they repeated their routine from the other day: they worked out separately with Dick occasionally asking for Naomi's input.
She was observing a sequence Dick was working on when he lost his concentration at the last minute, causing him to trip over his feet as he finished.
"Oh my god!" Naomi exclaimed, racing forward. "Are you okay?" she asked as she helped him to his feet.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Dick huffed, letting Naomi lead him to one of the benches in the gym. "It's just…Bruce has been down in the Batcave forever!" he exclaimed after he had taken a gulp of water and taken the sweat towel offered to him by Naomi. "I can't tell if he's working on sanctioning out team or squashing it."
"I believe, Master Dick," Alfred said as he stepped into the room with a fresh load of towels, "that the Batman asked for three days."
"Demanded is more like it," Dick glowered. "And it's been almost two and a half!"
Naomi put a soothing hand on his shoulder as Alfred said, "When Master Bruce says three day, he means three." He gave them a small nod before turning and leaving.
Dick scowled after Alfred while Naomi offered him another bottle of water. "Come on, Dickie-bird," she said. "Let's get lunch."
Location: Wayne Manor, Gotham City
Date: Thursday, July 08, 2010
Time: 0715 EDT
"Naomi, get up."
"What the hell?" a sleep-rough voice muttered in confusion. Dark eyes squinted against the suddenly bright room as she sat up to find Bruce's retreating back.
Dick dashed past Bruce and bounced on Naomi's bed in excitement. "It's happening!" he cheered.
"What is happening?"
"The Team!"
"The who?"
Dick rolled his eyes. "Just get up!"
"Fine, fine," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes as she did. Once Dick left, Naomi went about her normal routine, but when it came to deciding on an outfit, Dick stopped by again to tell her what Bruce had told him: civilian clothes, but make sure to wear something she wouldn't normally wear, and also, plain sunglasses.
With that in mind, Naomi walked into her closet. After staring at her clothes for a moment, she decided on fitted jeans, a plain dark purple tank top, and a slim-fit black leather jacket. Finally, she pulled on black boots and hooked plain black sunglasses into the neckline of her top before heading for the Batcave, finger-combing her hair and changing the part as she did.
"So, what's going on?" she asked through a wide yawn, taking the breakfast offered to her by Alfred as she joined Bruce and Dick at the Batcomputer.
"We're doing it!" Dick exclaimed happily. "We're finally becoming a team! You, me, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Superboy!"
"You'll be operating out of Mount Justice," Bruce said as he pulled on his cowl. "And you'll be getting there via Zeta-Tube."
"We're getting our own designations?!" Dick gasped. "Yes!" He raced toward the Batcave's Zeta-Tube and waited for Batman.
"I still can't believe you have a Zeta-Tube in the cave," Naomi asked as she smirked around her spoon.
"It has limited accessibility and the coordinates are only available to certain members of the Justice League," Batman replied immediately, stepping up to the controls. "I have told the other Leaguers what each of your designations will be. Lark, step in."
Having seen Batman use the Zeta-Tube numerous times, Lark stepped into the large cutout in the Batcave wall with ease once she had set aside her breakfast, placing her sunglasses on her nose as she did. He input a few commands and a laser grid appeared, scanning Lark.
"Lark, B-0-1," Batman said in a clear voice, and she gasped as she felt her whole body begin to tingle. In a flash of white light, Lark suddenly disappeared.
When the light died down, she saw she was standing…in another cave. She snorted as she stepped out; leave it to Batman to find another cave for headquarters.
"Recognized: Robin, B-0-2," the Zeta suddenly announced behind Lark, and she turned as Robin appeared.
"Whoo!" he cheered giddily, jumping out of the Zeta-Tube. "That was so cool!"
Lark raised an eyebrow as her partner joined her. "I don't think I've ever seen you this excited or animated," she commented.
"I don't remember every feeling this excited or animated!" Robin agreed, but he cleared his throat and straightened his sunglasses on his nose. "But I'm done. I'm good."
"Recognized: Aqualad, B-0-3; Aquaman, 0-6," the computer announced.
"Just in time," Lark smirked. "Because I think it would blow everyone's minds to see one of the ever-stoic Bats' birds showing emotion," she joked quietly.
When Kid Flash arrived with Flash and Superboy, the young speedster looked around. "I take it Speedy declined the invite," he sighed.
Lark scowled and crossed her arms over her chest. "More like never bothered to respond to the invite," she grumbled.
"Mount Justice," Batman announced once the teens were standing in a line. "This cave was the original secret sanctuary of the Justice League, and we're calling it into service again.
"Since you five are determined to stay together and fight the good fight," Batman continued, "you'll do it on League terms. Red Tornado volunteered to live here and be your supervisor. Black Canary's in charge of training. I will deploy you on missions."
"Real missions?" Robin questioned.
"Yes," Batman responded. "But covert."
"The League will still handle the obvious stuff," Flash put in behind Kid Flash. "There's a reason we have these big targets on our chests." He poked the lightning bolt emblem in the center of his chest with a chuckle.
"But Cadmus proves the bad guys are getting smarter," Aquaman said. "Batman needs a team that can operate on the sly."
"The six of you will be that team," Batman said.
"Cool," Robin grinned. "Wait." He paused, doing the math in his head. "Six?"
Batman glanced over their shoulders and Lark turned around to see Martian Manhunter enter with another Martian.
"This is the Martian Manhunter's niece," Batman introduced, "Miss Martian."
"Hi," the young Martian said, sounding rather nervous but hiding it well.
"Likin' this gig more every minute," Kid Flash said quietly to Robin with a wink in Lark's direction.
She rolled her eyes. "Watch yourself, Kid Flirt," she said. "Keep this up and you'll have a Bat problem."
Kid Flash chuckled nervously, sending a sheepish smile at the Dark Knight, who continued to stare down at the red-headed teen. Robin sniggered.
"Uh, welcome aboard," the speedster said louder, walking forward to greet Miss Martian. "I'm Kid Flash. That's Robin, Aqualad," he said, vaguely gesturing to Robin and Aqualad in turn.
Robin stepped forward, looking suave with a hand in his pocket, his dark sunglasses giving him an air of mystery, and his free hand raised in some sort of wave. Lark snorted at her brother as Aqualad merely nodded his head.
"It's cool if you forget their names," Kid Flash added.
"I'm honored to be included," Miss Martian smiled. Kid Flash and Robin immediately stepped closer, Aqualad just behind them.
Lark joined the boys. "Pardon the Flirt King," she said, nudging Kid Flash sharply in the ribs as she did. "I'm Lark. It'll be nice to not be the only girl," she added with a smile.
"Hey, Superboy!" Robin called over his shoulder, noticing the clone's absence. "Come meet Miss M." He straightened his shoulders and walked forward.
Lark watched as Miss Martian's white shirt and blue cape were morphed into a plain black shirt. She glanced away shyly. "I like your T-shirt," she said bashfully, glancing back at Superboy.
He looked at her and offered a tiny smile. Robin sidled closer and elbowed him with a devious look on his face and Kid Flash raced around so he was on Superboy's other side. Together the three of them stood facing Miss Martian, each smiling.
Aqualad stood opposite Lark, and he looked at everyone. "Today is the day," he said with a small satisfied smile.
"Superboy," Batman spoke up behind them, "most of us will be leaving. You are not to go anywhere. Just sit tight until Red Tornado returns."
"We will be leaving soon as well to gather M'gann's belongings," Martian Manhunter informed. "I brought her by to familiarize herself with the new living environment first."
"What's the sitch, Batman?" Robin asked as he and Lark followed after him.
"We're headed back to Gotham," he said, walking toward the Zeta-Tube.
Lark looked at Robin. "What else?" she quipped, only half-joking.
"Hey, while we're gone you should pick out a room," Kid Flash told Superboy as he and Flash headed for the Zeta-Tubes as well. "It's gonna beat sleeping upright in a closet the way you do…you know, all Dracula-like."
"Do you think the genomes taught Superboy the classics?" Lark asked Robin. "You know, like all those great animated Disney movies or Sound of Music and stuff like that?"
"If not, it'll be fun to show him," Robin grinned.
"True," Lark nodded. "I think we should start with Harry Potter!"
"I say Star Wars," Robin voiced.
"No worries, Supey!" Kid Flash's voice cut through Lark and Robin's debate on the ultimate classic. "We'll be back before you know it!"
The speedsters vanished in a flash of light and Miss Martian turned to Superboy. "It might not be a bad idea to pick our rooms," she said. "We're the only two from the Team who will actually be living here full time." She took off down the hall. "I think the rooms are back this way!" she called to the clone over her shoulder.
"Have fun, dude," Robin said to Superboy before he followed after the young Martian. To Aqualad, the younger bird chuckled. "He gets to live with her here in the Cave full time? I don't think Kid Flash picked up that little tid-bit. He's gonna be so jealouuuus."
Lark and Aqualad just shook their heads before the Atlantean disappeared into the Zeta-Tube. "You boys," Lark sighed. "You can't leave the poor Martian alone?"
"What?" Robin shrugged just before he vanished in a flash of light. "She's cute," he finished once Lark had stepped into the Batcave.
She rolled her eyes as she took off her sunglasses and hooked them on the collar of her shirt. "Come on, Bird Brain," she said. "We should start ranking the movies Superboy should see."
"And we can do that by carefully watching each and every one and grading them on a very specific scale!" Dick added, skipping past her. "And we can ask Alfred for popcorn!"
With a plan, they dashed up the stairs to the elevator before bounding into the media room, requesting Alfred's popcorn as they passed the butler. They spent the rest of the day binging movies they deemed worthy of adding to The List before finally crashing on the comfortable sofa for the night.
A/N: I actually have no idea how accurate God of War III is. I just googled games that were new/popular in 2009/2010 and that sounded like a game Dick would play.