Chapter 14: A New Friend From the Sea
Happy Harbor
It was a cold but sunny day in Happy Harbor, but that didn't really matter to the Justice League as a few of its members inspected Mount Justice. It was the original base for the justice league before they had the watchtower, but at the moment was not in use. Nonetheless for security reasons they made sure to do a check up on it twice a year to insure it wasn't a compromised space.
The first check up of that year was left to Batman, Flash, Green Arrow, and Red Tornado as well as Aquaman, but he was running late due to royal duties. As they started their check up the three justice league members' protégés, who had accompanied them, were playing together. At the moment they were playing Tag and running around like wild men to tag each other. Though their version of Tag was more unique than most as it included powers, special skills, and the ability to try and trap your prey in order to tag them.
At the moment Roy was it and was running as fast he could to catch Wally, having given up on Dick since he went into hiding. However Wally's super speed up until now made this fleet nigh impossible, but unlike their previous games Roy had a special plan. He kept Wally Distracted by chasing him around a long distance for about five minutes and then when he wasn't paying attention Wally quickly took a long but thin rope and threw it over some of the piping above him. He proceeded to tie a large loop and lay it on the ground then hide in the shadows rope in his hand ready to pull.
It wasn't long before Roy could hear the rushing wind of his in-bound prey making him ready himself to pull the cord. Within seconds Wally had one of his little feet in the large loop without even realizing it and much to his dismay was strung up by his left leg. As he hung upside down poor Wally struggled to get out especially when he saw Roy walk out with a mischievous smile on his face. Desperate to get out of his sticky situation Wally attempted to phase out of the rope's hold. He grunted hard as he tried to make his molecules shake fast enough, he'd been working on it with his uncle for a long time but without much success.
However much to his surprise this time it worked and Wally's foot was free. But unfortunately Wally had forgotten the fact he was hanging in the air and landed with a thud onto the ground. With a groan of pain Wally laid there only to feel a light time and see Roy looked down triumphantly at him. Roy however graciously then held out a helping hand to his friend and helped the little speedster to his feet.
"That wasn't fair." Poor Wally whined as he stood up.
"Hey we let you use your powers, so Dick and I can make traps." Roy reminded his friend of their special terms for their game of Tag.
"Didn't think they'd be that good." Wally grumbled with a pouty face.
"Well maybe you'll learn just because we don't have powers doesn't mean we can take you down." Roy retorted as he helped the seven year old to his feet.
"I guess." Wally grumbled stubbornly.
"Alright Dick olly olly oxen free!" Roy called out loudly knowing it was the only way to get the youngest protégé out of hiding.
The creek of a vent shaft was heard and Dick then dropped down from the roof with his usual mischievous giggle.
"Dick why do you always have ta play every game like it's hide an seek." Wally whined, since it always ended up in him losing.
"Cause is really fun!" Dick said with a happy giggle.
"It sure is for you, now come on let's play another round. Wally you're…" Roy said wanting to start the game before he was interrupted by the Zeta Tube announcement.
"06 Aquaman, new authorization B02 Aqualad!" The Zeta Tube announced.
Immediately after a bright flash Aquaman, clad in his usual orange, black, and gold suit, walked out but with a small boy closely at his side. The boy looked about eight or nine with dark skin, short golden blonde hair, pale green eyes, webbed bare feet and hands, and swirling black tattoos on his arms. He was dressed in a small but tight body suit that was red on top with black lining, navy blue pants, and a gold Aquaman insignia on his belt. The boy seemed very reserved and shy as he was more or less attached to his mentor's leg and he barely looked up.
"Aquaman I see you finally made it." Flash said as he sped into the room.
"I apologize, my kingly duties unfortunately interfered with my obligations to the Justice League. Though as you can see I did not come alone, may I introduce to you my protégé Aqualad or as he is known civilly, Kaldure. Say hello little one, there is no need to be shy, we are amongst fellow heroes." Aquaman said calmly as he ushered the little atlantean boy forward.
"Greetings fellow protégé's it's nice to make your acquaintance." Kaldur said very formally and quietly, barely looking up.
"I'm Speedy but you can call me Roy." Roy greeted in a friendly manner as he extended his yellow gloves hand.
For a moment Kaldur looked nervously at Roy's hand, unsure what to do, till Aquaman put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Shake his hand young one, it's a surface custom, remember." Aquaman said very warmly with a kind smile.
Believing his king, Kaldure took Roy's hand and shook it, though a very reserved expression still was on his face.
"And I'm Kid Flash but everyone calls me Wally!" Wally said in his usual very energetic way.
"An I'm Robin, but my real name's Dick!" Dick practically squealed.
Kaldur immediately became very bashful, not used to such attention from so many people.
"I'm happy to see we have many friendly faces to greet us today. Now how about you little ones run off and play together and leave the adults to finish their duties." Aquaman suggested wanting to be sure he did his fair portion of their task.
"My king may I not come with you to help you complete your tasks?" Kaldur asked nervously, a little afraid to be left with the boys he didn't know.
"No, my young protégé, it is a task left only to the league members, I'm afraid. Besides little one you have many new friends to meet and play with, I'm sure they'd love it if you joined them." Aquaman encouraged, aware his little protégé got very nervous and shy on land.
"Yay come play wid us please!" Dick squealed as he ran up to Kaldur and pulled down on his arm.
Kaldur looked down at the very little boy pulling on his arms and immediately was comforted by his sweet baby blue eyes that reminded him of home. So he decided to take his kings advice and put aside his shyness to play with his new hopefully friends.
"As you wish my king." Kaldur said agreeably.
"Good lad, now if you need anything come find me. The other league members as well as myself will be very nearby." Aquaman said with a very gentle rub of Kaldur's slightly damp blonde hair.
"Follow me Aquaman I'll show you where you're in charge of checking." Flash motioned, full confident the other boys would welcome Kaldur in with open arms.
As the adults left the boys just kinda stood there quietly for a moment, Kaldur feeling too shy to speak. However the silence was quickly broken by Dick and his friendly nature.
"Yous from Atlantis right, whas it like!?" Dick asked excitedly.
"Yes I am, and it's a beautiful and mystical city with wonders beyond compare or description." Kaldur finally answered, always happy to talk about his beloved homeland.
"Wow it sounds beautiful! You talks so much like a grown up Kaldur!" Dick said in his charming little boy honesty.
"Oh thank you Dick, we Atlanteans value the mastery of our language as well as several others to maximize communication." Kaldur explained already feeling more comfortable around Dick.
"Wow you have tattoos too, that's so cool!" Wally chimed in randomly but excitedly, noticing the black swirling lines on Kaldur's arms.
"Wally!" Roy reprimanded, knowing it wasn't polite to point out those kinds of things.
"It's alright Roy, they are very special and important to me. They allow me to use my magic and power over water." Kaldur explained a smile finally spreading across his whole face as he felt liked by the other boys.
"Magic? I know you atlanteans have special powers but I'm sure it's actually based on science and atlantean biology." Wally said, his very intelligent side coming out as he much like his uncle did not believe in magic.
"Wally!" Roy bellowed, embarrassed by his pseudo brother's insensitive comments.
"Really, you knows magic! Show us show us!" Dick cheered, ignoring Wally's comment, as he bounced up and down happily.
Feeling less shy Kaldur took out his water bearer handles and made his tattoos glow blue making two small water blades of water appear in his hand.
"Wow, that's so cool!" Dick squealed excitedly.
"How do you do that?! Do you have some sort of control over the molecular structure of water or is it some sort of water magnetism in your handles?! Your tattoos must contain some sort of phosphorus element that activates when you use your abilities." Wally asked astounded, displaying he was smarter than the average seven year old, though insisting this could all be explained by the laws of science.
"It's simply atlantean magic, a very basic spell actually. But that's not all I can do, I can also do this!" Kaldur said as he then glowed with electricity.
Immediately all three boys were stupefied by the atlantean's abilities, each wishing they could do the same. All the while Kaldur finally released a careless and joyful smile, feeling accepted by this band of brothers he'd just met.
"Now since I've shown you traditional atlantean customs, how about you show me surface customs like maybe some traditional children's games." Kaldur bardered, being quite fascinated by surface customs and traditions.
"Oh I think we can do that, in fact why don't we start with…" Roy gladly started to suggest before he was interrupted.
"Hide n' seek!" Dick squealed.
"No!" Roy and Wally bellowed knowing all too well how that would go.
"Awe bu we never play dat!" Dick whined with a pouty face.
"Because we always spend hours trying to find you and waste half the day." Wally explained.
"What is hide and seek?" Kaldur asked curiously.
"It's a game where everyone hides in different places and one person is it and goes to find them. Dick always wants to play it because he can almost never be found." Roy explained to Kaldur.
"Well I might be able to find him, we have a very similar children's game in Atlantis and I was a very good seeker. I'd be very interested to see if being on land would make it easier or harder for me." Kaldur offered.
"Well if you think you can find the little squirt and you're willing to be it, then let's play." Roy declared.
"Yay, let's play!" Dick squealed excitedly.
"We are so going to regret this." Wally grumbled as he rubbed his face.
Two hours later
"What did I tell you all! I told you all this would end like this!" Wally whined loudly.
"I guess I overestimated my abilities compared to those of Dick." Kaldur said, feeling slightly embarrassed.
"Believe me, no amount of assumed skill will find this kid if he doesn't want to be found. Alright Dick, olly olly oxen free!" Roy said in an exhaustive manner.
Despite the ringing of the shout no sound of any kind came back in response.
"Dick I said olly olly oxen free!" Roy shouted one more time.
However this time all that came out was an high pitched, mischievous, indistinguishable, and echoing giggle in response.
"Uh no I hate it when he does this." Wally whined even louder
"Does what, what is he doing?" Kaldur asked both confused and concerned.
"Sometimes when Dick is in a particularly playful and mischievous mood, I affectionately call it Imp mode, he likes to ignore your calls and make you search for him until he lets you find him. So let's get going, we can't bore him by stopping, believe me Wally and I tried." Roy explained even more exhaustedly.
Half hour later
Restlessly the trio searched for Dick but to no avail, forcing them to take a sit break in the middle of the floor.
"I propose we never ever play hide and seek again." Wally declared exasperated.
"Agreed!" Roy and Kaldur responded at the same time.
This was how Batman, Red Tornado, Aquaman, Flash, and Green Arrow found their protégés as they entered the room together.
"Uh Roy, why are you all sitting on the floor and..." Flash started to ask before he was interrupted by Batman.
"Where is Dick?" Batman asked very quickly but with importance as he noticed his little boy missing from the group.
"We've been trying to find him, he duped us into playing hide n' seek and he won't come out." Roy explained.
"I'm afraid it is my fault Batman, I have never seen land children's games before so I asked to see Hide and Seek when Dick had suggested it." Kaldur mentioned feeling responsible for their situation.
Batman sighed, knowing he was being too harsh on the little boys who in truth did nothing wrong, and crouched to stroke Kaldur gently on his head.
"It is alright little one, I'm afraid my son can be a little too mischievous at times. I will take care of this." Batman said stoically but yet with a quiet tenderness which made Kaldur smile lightly and feel better.
Then without any words Bruce stood up and with his tall height, being the second tallest in the room besides Superman, reached a fist up to the roof and knocked on the concrete roof in a very specific way. In an instant a shuffling and clanging noise could be heard from above and before they knew it Dick flew through the vents, giggling madly, and straight into his daddy's open arms.
"What the heck we've been calling olly olly oxen free for thirty minutes and now you come out!" Wally grumbled loudly.
"That was not very nice Dick, you can't do that to your friends. It makes playing with you not very fun and can worry people." Batman said with a gentle but parental firm tone.
"I'm sorry daddy." Dick said with droopy puppy dog eyes.
"I'm not the one you need to say sorry to, little bird." Batman said motioning to his son's friends.
Dick looked at friends sadly, feeling guilty about his actions.
"I'm sorry you guys." Dick said very penitently, hating to worry his beloved pseudo brothers.
"It's alright Dick we forgive you." All three boys said in unison, unable to be made at the little bird for very long.
"Good boy, now let's see if you can behave while I'm gone." Bruce said as he set his little boy down on his feet.
"Where you goin daddy?" Dick asked curiously.
"I'm afraid we all have been called out on an urgent mission by the Justice League, little bird." Batman said with a slight sadness, always hating leaving his precious little baby.
"A mission!! Let's go den, we have ta hurry!" Dick squealed excitedly always loving going on missions with his daddy and justice league family.
"I'm afraid this is a grown ups only mission, little bird. You and the other protégés will be staying with Red Tornado while we are gone." Batman clarified.
"What but what if yous in trouble an need help! I wanna help you daddy." Dick asked always nervous when his daddy went solo, he was his only daddy left and nothing scared the little boy more then the thought of losing him.
"We will be fine, now can you be a big boy for daddy and behave for Red Tornado until I get back?" Batman asked as he crouched down and rubbed his little boy's soft hair.
Dick looked down a little depressed but then looked up into his fathers eyes and bravely nodded yes, wanting to prove he was a real big boy.
"Good boy, now I'm serious, behave, all of you for Red Tornado. He may be a robot but that does not give you permission to try and mess around with him." Batman instructed in his Batman tone.
"That especially means you Wally, I don't want to see a single wire messed with on him, understood?" Flash chimed in firmly, aware of his nephew's mischievous desire to play and mess with technology.
"Fine." Wally pouted, wanting to look at and study the robot hero's inside.
"We will return in a few short hours, little ones, so please behave and be good until then." Aquaman said tenderly as he and the rest of the league members turned to leave.
As the mentors walked Green Arrow looked at the three other league members with concern.
"Are you sure it was a good idea to leave them with Red Tornado? I don't know if he is capable of handling our mischievous little protégés, I mean he's a robot for crying out loud!" Green Arrow said as quietly as he could.
"I'm sure he'll be fine, if anything maybe being an emotionless robot is the best thing, he can't fall prey to any little boy charms like anyone else." Flash said, hoping what he was saying wasn't wishful thinking.
"Let's hope." Batman said, though internally nervous to leave his little one in the care of someone he didn't completely know, whether they were part of the league or not.
But putting their concerns and worries aside, the four went through the zeta tubes leaving only the four little boys and Red Tornado in Mount Justice. Then almost in unison the four young protégés turned towards Red Tornado each curious about their robotic babysitter.