AN: So not got much to say about this chapter, not sure who actually reads these anyway to be honest. Either way here is the next chapter, I hope you enjoy it, ended up being much longer than I expected. But still I doubt too many will complain about that.

Thanks for all the support so far, hope you keep enjoying the story and leaving reviews.

Thanks for reading.

Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson or DC.

( - )

(Last Time)

With that said he approached the Zeta Tube, with the computer once again recognising him as Speedy. "That's Red Arrow by the way," he snapped at the machine, "B-Zero-Four. Update." With that done he then stepped into the machine and disappeared in a flash of light.

"What a cunt," Percy said bluntly, folding his arms and ignoring the reprimanding looks he received from several of those around him. "You guys really want that guy, that guy! On the team?"

Artemis snorted with laughter as she heard that, even as Aqualad, Kid Flash and Robin scowled. Whilst Superboy and Miss Martian shared a bemused look.

"You wouldn't understand," Kaldur said with a sigh.

"I'm sure." Percy replied dryly, before he shook his head and looked to the team at large. "Alright enough talk, it looks like we have a new mission. Everyone get ready and meet at the Bioship! You've got five minutes!"

( - )

Chapter 12

( - )

(Happy Harbour High School, later that evening)

'Miss Martian can you mentally link us up, please. I don't want anyone intercepting our communications,' Percy spoke up, directing his thoughts towards his Martian teammate as he, and the rest of their team, plus the new girl, Artemis, and the doctor they were supposed to protect, Doctor Serling Roquette, gathered together in an empty classroom within the local high school.

Suffice to say Percy still wasn't happy about the open nature of the public school, though a part of that might be due to him still having lingering memories of being attacked by monsters at similar schools, on multiple occasions, back in his old world.

Still, it was too late in the day to change the doctor's positon now, especially since she had already started setting up the algorithm she needed to track the Fog.

Plus moving her in the dead of night when you were trying to protect her from an enemy called, the League of Shadows, didn't sound like a particularly smart move.

A ripple of amusement from Miss Martian was the only response Percy received to his internal griping, even as she acquiesced to his mental request. With Miss Martian concentrating for a moment, before, a few seconds later, she connected everyone else's minds. 'Done, everyone is now connected.'

'Ugh,' Artemis, the new girl, mentally groaned, rubbing her forehead as she did so. 'This is weird. Like seriously, how do you deal with having someone else inside your head? I mean, there are some things I'd like to keep private.'

'Like what?' Kid Flash replied snarkily, his lip curling upwards in amusement as he saw her obvious discomfort, 'Is there something that you're trying to hide?'

'Leave her Kid Flash, she is new to this. And, Artemis, relax.' Percy interrupted, his green eyes flicking over to Kid Flash to quell his next taunt before it occurred to him, after which he locked gazes with the newest member of the team. 'This kind of communication is perfect for missions, and Miss Martian doesn't probe our memories or anything like that. Instead she just connects our minds and relays the surface thoughts.'

'Good to know. The last thing I would want, is to know what exists in the dark recesses of the 'Wall-Man's' mind.' Artemis replied, her relief at this information coming through the mental connection as she did so, even as she used the opportunity to aim a dig at Kid Flash, whilst also redirecting the topic of the conversation a bit as she did so.

'Hey!' Wally replied irritably.

'Great, on top of having to work on a prehistoric computer now I have to deal with a load of teens in my head,' Doctor Roquette grumbled, her voice sounding out in all of the surrounding teen's heads as Miss Martian acted as a conduit, transmitting everyone's surface thoughts to the others, though in some cases, i.e. Wally, she had to filter some of what he was thinking.

Sending the blonde haired, blue eyed woman a dry look. Percy had to restrain himself from responding acerbically, after all he was aware enough to know that it was best not to antagonise the person they were trying to work with, and protect, or at least if you can help it.

Kid Flash however, seemed to be less aware of the situation, because, after taking a bite of his recently unwrapped chocolate bar he replied. 'Lady do you always complain to those that are trying to protect you?'

Ignoring this comment, Percy loosened his sword in his scabbard, even as he began to survey the floor plan of the school he had rolled out on the desk in front of him. His sharp eyes darting over the blueprint as he began to think of the best defensive strategy he could, based off the information he had available to him.

Including, about both the school, and what little Artemis, Robin, and Roquette had been able to tell him about the League of Shadows. Which honestly hadn't been much, other than that they relied on stealth, and were basically modern day ninjas, who excelled in assassination, infiltration, sabotage, espionage and the like.

Noticeably, as Percy did this, both Aqualad and Robin moved forwards so they could peer over Percy's shoulder at the plans. Both of them no doubt coming up with their own strategies, strategies that they would both likely voice the moment Percy announced his, if they didn't like what they heard.

Artemis however, sat off to one side on another desk, one which was next to Roquette. The blonde more interested in the conversation between Kid Flash and Roquette than in what the others were doing at the moment. 'Pot, Kettle, have you two met?'

'I don't want to hear any lip from the one that drove Red Arrow from the team,' Kid Flash shot back acidly, broadcasting his thoughts to the rest of the team as he looked away from the doctor, and instead to the blonde archer.

'That is so not my fault! If anything it is Red Arrow's for being a moron, and seriously is that really the name he chose to distinguish himself from Green Arrow?' Artemis scoffed irritably, her lip curving upwards and her satisfaction oozing through the mental connection as her sardonic comment provoked the desired response from the speedster.

Feeling her satisfaction Kid Flash visibly swelled up, his own irritation starting to leak through the connection now, in response to Artemis's own growing amusement.

Before he could reply though, Doctor Roquette visibly gritted her teeth, before gesturing at the computer. 'Fate of the world at stake! Is any of this ringing a bell with you neophytes?'

'Right, Roquette stop exaggerating, it's not helping, your technology is cool, but not that cool. Artemis stop baiting Kid Flash. Kid Flash stop allowing yourself to be baited. On top of that, all of you shut up, and let Roquette get back to work!' Percy final spoke up, M'gann helpfully magnifying his own voice in the rest of the team, and Roquette's, heads as he did so.

Everyone in the room, except M'gann, clutched their heads and stopped talking at that, all of them looking to Percy as he finally stood up fully and stopped looking at the map.

'Was that really necessary?' Aqualad asked, rubbing his temple, even as Kid Flash and Artemis looked away from one another, and Roquette glowered at Percy for a moment, before quickly getting back to work the moment his eyes, which for a single moment glowed a phosphorescent green, locked with her own.

'Yes.' Percy replied bluntly, before he gestured for the rest of them to gather round. "Now everyone gather up, I have a plan.'

In response to this, everyone moved forwards so they were now surrounding the table with the plan on it. Save of course for M'gann who remained floating in the air, her legs crossed and eyes closed as she focused on using her telepathy to not only keep the mental connection going, but to also sweep the school and surrounding area for any mental activity. An imperfect, but still useful way of keeping watch.

'Right to begin with, Artemis and Robin, you two are to sweep the halls of the school. Keeping moving, and make sure to watch out for anything that looks suspicious.' Percy began, looking to the two in question for a moment. 'Our foes will obviously be stealthy, and probably far more skilled in their craft than we will be. That said the two of you, either due to your training, or your natural abilities, are the most likely to spot if anything is amiss, and so would be the most useful to have patrolling the corridors.'

Artemis nodded at that, seeing the wisdom in what Percy was saying. With Robin nodding a moment later, though noticeably he opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, only to be silenced when Percy raised a hand in his direction. Which in turn made him scowl, even if he grudgingly kept his opinion to himself for the moment.

'Miss Martian meanwhile will stay here with me. I will act as the last defence, Miss Martin meanwhile will keep the mental communication network active, and will routinely scan the surrounding area for unfamiliar mental activity.' Percy continued, wanting to outline his plan first before he took comments. 'As for Kid Flash, Aqualad and Superboy, the three of you will be heading out to locate the Fog, with the extent and range of your powers, and your technical knowhow, Kid Flash, and Roquette's virus to destroy the Fog, you will be best suited to deal with the weapon and those using it.'

'Good idea,' Aqualad agreed, interrupting as he looked to Roquette. 'Though, the virus won't be much help to us if we can't locate the weapon. Do you have a way to track it doctor?'

Seeing this Percy had to retain a sigh of irritation at being interrupted, especially since he was literally about to cover that very topic too.

'First thing first, it is not a weapon it is science, brilliant science.' Roquette replied tartly, though she did noticeably smirk as she complimented her own work, before continuing on, her tone turning sarcastic now. 'And of course I can track it, but I would have to go online to do so, which would basically be like me putting up a sign above my head saying; ASSSASSINATE ME, in neon lights.'

Once again Percy restrained his sudden desire to roll his eyes at the woman's ego, she sure was proud with her own dangerous invention wasn't she?

'Enough,' Percy said, his gaze flickering from Aqualad to Roquette. 'Our whole purpose here is to protect you so you can track and then destroy the Fog. So long as we are here, you'll be safe. That said, Aqualad, Kid Flash and Superboy, once the doctor goes online you are too head out to track it down. Together you'll be Team B, and Kid Flash, you'll be the one in charge."

Roquette looked somewhat mollified at that, her feelings coming through the link as she looked up at the stern, resolute Percy. Taking comfort in his solid, seemingly immoveable presence as she did so.

The rest of the group however reacted with shock to his words. All of them looking at him in surprise. None more so than Aqualad, Kid Flash and Robin.

"Wait, I'm in charge of Team B?" Kid Flash asked, so surprised that he spoke vocally this time.

'Yeah, him?!' Robin asked his eyes wide.

'I must admit, I too am slightly confused by this decision.' Aqualad added in his own thoughts, his befuddlement and slight annoyance bleeding into his words as he spoke. Clearly the Atlantean didn't appreciate having his positon as leader of Team B usurped.

'I'm trying out a new formation, and am giving Kid Flash some responsibility to see how he does.' Percy replied abruptly, his gaze moving over to the others until it came to rest on Kid Flash. 'Don't disappoint. Take the mission and the duty you've been given seriously.'

'R-right.' Kid Flash nodded, his eyes still slightly wide.

'Does this seem like a mistake to anyone else?' Artemis asked glibly.

'Artemis,' Percy replied, his gaze fixing on her for a second. The two of them locking eyes for a few moments, before she nodded and looked away. 'Right so everyone move out, you have your positons. Artemis and Robin start patrolling the halls. Roquette go online and start tracking the Fog. Kid Flash, you take Aqualad and Superboy and track down the Fog and then, using the doctor's virus, destroy it! Remember to remain in contact, Kid Flash you'll need to use the Bioship's communication system.'

'I've tracked the Fog down, it's heading towards Philadelphia.' Roquette suddenly spoke up, her hands flying across a keyboard as she put up a map of the city on the screen. 'I'd assume the target is Star Labs!'

'Right, good. I take it you all know what you've got to do!?' Percy asked, looking around at the assembled team.

Everyone nodded in response to that, or verbally agreed in one way or another, even if it was grudging in some cases, after which most of them then left the room. All save Robin, who stubbornly remained behind, and M'gann and Roquette who continued as they were.

'Problem, Robin?' Percy asked, even as M'gann once again closed her eyes and continued to scan the surrounding area with her telepathic powers, and Roquette continued to track the Fog, transmitting her findings to Kid Flash and his team as they headed for the Bioship. Which M'gann had already psychically reconfigured for them to operate whilst Percy was outlining the plan. Her own unfiltered access to his surface thoughts allowing her to predict his requests, without him even needing to ask.

'Yes,' Robin replied, a slight frown on his face as he looked around the room and saw the others were all busy, which meant that he had Percy's full attention. 'I have a few issues.'

'You have five minutes.' Percy replied without a moments paused, unsheathing his sword and resting it on a desk as he did so.

Robin scowled at that comment, but didn't verbally protest. "Why did you make Kid Flash the leader of Team B?"

"Because he has potential, he has a sharp mind, and when he isn't spewing bullshit, can use these traits to react and adapt in an instant. With a bit more toughening up, and a lot of maturing, he could be a good leader in the future." Percy replied verbally, leaning back against the desk as he surveyed Robin carefully. "Why, do you have an issue with me giving Kid Flash a chance?"

"No, it's just, why him? Why not me?" Robin replied, his tone faltering slightly now, and his brow furrowing in both confusion and anger.

"It's not personal," Percy replied after a few moments of contemplation, his eyes narrowing in thought for a moment, before he shrugged. "Honestly, I think you need to grow up a bit, and lose the attitude, more so than Kid Flash or any of the others. At the moment you are letting your ego get the best of you, and it is interfering with the team's cohesion. As soon as you start to work on these flaws, I will start thinking about giving you a go in a leadership position, to see how you do."

"You're calling me arrogant? You?" Robin asked, his tone filled with annoyance.

"Yes, me." Percy nodded, completely unperturbed by his tone. "Unlike you I don't brag, nor do I try to force my own superiority on people. Am I confident though? Yes, yes I am. I know exactly what I can do, and I know how dangerous it can be. Do I allow that confidence to go to my head though? No, no I do not."

Robin scowled as he heard that, but didn't reply.

"Look, Robin. I am giving you a chance here, put your ego to one side and start working with the team. Stop trying to take control, and instead learn from them, just as they learn from you. When you start doing that, then I will give you the same chance I have given Aqualad and Kid Flash." Percy continued, his tone softening slightly now as he looked down at the much younger kid. He was being harsh, he knew that. At the same time though, he also knew that if left unchecked, Robin's attitude could get himself, or more importantly, others, killed.

"Fine." Robin said after a few moments. "I think about it, and will try to do as you say."

"Good, that's all I ask." Percy nodded, watching the boy's face and posture closely as he did so. "Now head out and start patrolling. Let's call this a new start shall we, for both of us. We are teammates after all, and as such we should be working together, and not against one another!"

With that said Percy extended his hand, offering the younger boy a metaphorical olive branch.

"Ok, a new start." Robin said slowly, taking Percy's hand briefly, before he released it and then turned and left the room.

Watching as the door shut, Percy didn't even turn when he heard a voice speak up behind him.

"He still doesn't trust you, you know that don't you?" M'gann said suddenly, speaking out loud, even as she remained stationary, her eyes closed, and her legs crossed.

"Yes, I don't need telepathy to tell that much." Percy replied dryly, not even looking at M'gann as he continued to stare at the doorway Robin had just left through. "At the same time though I am giving him a chance. It's necessary, as if this team is to work, then we all need to work together."

'And yet you do not trust him, nor do you really trust the rest of the team.' M'gann thought back, excluding the others from the loop now as she instead spoke directly to Percy with her mind.

'I trust you M'gann, or at least more than most.' Percy replied, knowing as he did that she was drawing on his surface thoughts and emotions to infer this conclusion. This much he knew because M'gann was making it quite obvious what she was doing through their connection, just as she was relaying the very same information from the others back to him. 'And that's because you earned it, just as I hope I've earned your trust.'

'You have.' M'gann replied, her carefully. 'Though just as you have your secrets about your past and origins that you don't want to share, so too do I.'

'I am aware, and I can respect that.' Percy nodded, finally looking away from the doorway now. 'And when you are ready to tell me, if you ever want too that is, I will listen without judgement.'

'Thanks, and when you are ready to share, I will do the same.' M'gann replied easily, a slight smile spreading across her face, both of them finding some semblance of comfort in this understanding.

Percy nodded at that, but said no more on the issue, with their minds connected he didn't really need too. 'Continue to sweep the school for intruders, and relay Robin and Artemis's positons and experiences whilst you do so.'

'Will do, though from this distance and with this many people I can only relay their surface thoughts and emotions. Going any deeper and drawing on what they are seeing right now, will be much harder.' M'gann replied, with Percy nodding at that admission, after which she then cut off their private conversation and opened the communication loop up to the other three in the school. 'Wait I have someone, no, I can feel several presences on the outskirts of the school's grounds, but their minds are all partially shielded. I am struggling to lock in on them.'

'Shit already! Ok, well you heard Miss Martian, Robin, Artemis be on the lookout. Miss Martian try and isolate their positons.' Percy ordered, grabbing up his sword now, before he strode over to the desk, behind which Roquette continued to work feverishly. He hadn't expected that the assassins would have the forethought to try and block M'gann's telepathy, after all he didn't think they would know of her presence here, nor did he how one would go about doing it.

( - )

(Outside of the school)

Moving through the surrounding trees with ease, Cheshire, a high level operative in the League of Shadows, prowled closer to the building her target was being kept in. Her every move was silent as she crept through the undergrowth, her dark green outfit blending in perfectly with the surrounding foliage, with the only parts of her getup that stood out, being the pale, white, porcelain Cheshire Cat mask she was wearing, and the sliver chain she had looped around her neck.

Choosing her footing carefully, Cheshire kept her eyes only on the goal, trusting in her fellow operatives to do the same as they closed in on their target. With all three of them having been assigned the mission to kill Doctor Serling Roquette, who, according to their information network, was currently tracking the Fog from somewhere inside this local high school.

Cheshire had to hold back a scoff at that thought. Honestly, a high school? She couldn't think of a worse place to try to hide the doctor, already she had spotted well over a dozen ways to get inside. It was embarrassing for these 'heroes' really, as any fool could see that the school was a poor choice to defend the doctor.

Still she was not one to begrudge someone gift wrapping her target for her.

Originally she had come into this mission very cautious, especially after her master had relayed some of the information about the League's newest hero, Riptide. With her master having even brought in some allies to ensure the success of the mission due to this new hero's presence, and due to the presence of other heroes who could get in the way, like the Martian and the Superboy.

Now however she couldn't help but feel disappointed. She had gotten herself so worked up over the possibility of challenging such a foe, that this sudden anti-climax was a real buzzkill.

Creeping forward a bit more, and scaling the perimeter fence without a word, a slight smirk spread across Cheshire's lips as she spotted one of the heroes that had been assigned to defend Roquette. It was a female archer, one with long blonde hair, tanned skin, grey eyes and a green outfit. A female, teenaged Green Arrow, really?

Focusing closer on the archer, Cheshire's smirk widened behind her mask. Chuckling softly to herself, she shook her head for a moment, before throwing herself off the fence and onto the wall of the school. Her every move measured and purposeful as she quickly, and silently, climbed the wall and made it onto the roof. Her form blending in with the shadows as she then slipped through a rooftop vent and into the school itself.

At almost the exact same time, two other figures also leapt over the perimeter fence and infiltrated the school from the west and east.

One them was a tall, athletically built man who was wearing a skin-tight, purple full body suit, and a purple full face mask with golden eye pieces. To finish up his ensemble, the man also had a black spider emblem displayed across his chest, a silver chain looped around his neck, and a pair of dull, grey bracers on both wrists.

The other man meanwhile, was a tall, muscular Caucasian man, with light brown eyes and grey hair. The most noticeable thing about this man was the large, metallic hook he had for a right hand. On top of that his torso was also wrapped up in bandages, with him having a dark green jacket over the top of the bandages, and a silver chain around his neck.

These two, like Cheshire, were also League of Shadow's assassins, and like Cheshire they had been sent to the school for a reason. To kill Doctor Serling Roquette, and, if possible, to deal with some of the more pesky junior Justice League heroes, or at least hose that would not be useful to the League, or their allies.

( - )

(With Artemis)

'Robin, Artemis we have company. Pull back to the room we're keeping Roquette in, stay together and watch out for the shadows.' M'gann's voice rang out in the heads of Team A.

Hearing the Martian's voice, Artemis winced, pulling out and unfolding her compound bow as she did so, and nocking an arrow as she quickly retreated inside the school. Her grey eyes narrowed as she scanned the shadowy hallway.

This wasn't right, Roquette had literally only gone online ten or so minutes ago. It wasn't possible for the League to have not only found her already, but to have gotten operatives to the area as fast as they had too. Not to a place as small, obscure and out of the way as Happy Harbour.

Something about this situation was wrong. The Shadows couldn't possibly have found them already, or infiltrated the school yet, not unless they had already known the doctor's general location before she went online. Which in turn would bring into question where they got that information to start with?

Not that she didn't trust M'gann and her abilities though. No, from what she had seen so far the Martian was pretty powerful. On top of that she had been nothing but pleasant to Artemis so far, more so than the rest of the team.

Though, that being said Robin, Superboy and Aqualad had all been reasonable enough, though they had been a little standoffish too. Not in a callous or cruel way, but more unconsciously maintaining a certain distance. Personally Artemis suspected that that would change the more she got to know them.

Riptide too had been a little distant. Sure he had initially greeted her quite amiably, but since then he had taken on a somewhat sterner attitude, and not just to Artemis, but to the team in general.

With him, Artemis wasn't sure whether he had adopted this attitude whilst leading the team on a mission, as several of the members of the team did come across a bit unruly, or whether this was just his natural demeanour. Again only time would tell when it came to defining her relationship with the older teen.

But honestly, she'd only known them all for a couple of hours and was already on her fist mission with them. It was all moving very fast, and it definitely had her off-guard.

That being said she had only needed that long to get a good read on the last member of the team, Kid Flash. Which is to say she found him rude, abrasive and annoying, not her kind of person at all.

The fact that Riptide had given him a chance at a leading role, even after his attitude towards her before, did not quite sit right with her. Again, she didn't know Riptide or the team well, but already she could tell that Kid Flash didn't have the right temperament for a leader. He certainly didn't have the same presence, and natural authority that Riptide seemed to embody. Though again, she didn't know the older teen well enough yet to come to any proper conclusions on his leadership abilities, yet.

'Alright, pulling back,' Artemis replied to M'gann, pushing back her discomfort at this psychic communication thing, as she instead entered the school, her bow drawn, and her body low to the ground as she gilded through the hallways. 'I don't like this though, how are they already here?'

'You're not the only one concerned. They must have been in the area the moment she went online, which in turn means they must have already been aware of her general location.' Riptide's voice rang out in her head, voicing Artemis's own concerns now. 'I don't think it is due to a member of the team though, or a traitor on our side. Instead I suspect that the League tracked Red Arrow when he rescued her.'

'You think it was Roy's fault?' Robin's voice piped up now.

'I'm not saying he did it on purpose, I am merely coming to a logical conclusion based on the facts.' Riptide replied simply. 'For now though we don't have time to ponder, both of you pull back and be on guard. The enemy is moving far faster than I thought, as such we'll need to adapt the plan to deal with them. There are three of them at present, M'gann can't quite lock onto their minds though as something is interfering with her telepathy, so be careful.'

'Got it,' Artemis replied swiftly, her eyes narrowing as she continued down the hallway. Before a few moments later, she suddenly twisted and released her arrow, the shaft hurtling through the air and into a nearby shadowy hallway, only for it to be batted away with a spark of metal on metal.

'Wait, I've found one of the intruders, I'm moving to engage.' Artemis reported in, her grey eyes narrowing as she saw a large, heavily built man with a hook for a hand disentangle himself from out of the shadows. Another arrow, this one with an explosive attached to the tip, already nocked and ready to be launched.

'Be careful, if it looks like you're in trouble retreat.' Percy replied a few moments later.

Artemis grit her teeth at that, before smiling. He trusted her to deal with the situation on her own, that was good at least.

With that in mind she unleashed the arrow, and then rolled to the side, dodging the man's hook as it suddenly hurtled through the space she had just filled, the chain rattling behind it, extending from the man's right stump as it did so.

Hitting the floor, Artemis rolled to her feet in moment. With her not even blinking as the man leapt out of the way of her arrow, letting it explode a few feet away, even as he brought his free arm up to protect himself from flying shrapnel that erupted forth from the explosion

Seeing this, and taking advantage of it. Artemis once again nocked an arrow and released it. With this arrow once again exploding, only this time it was smaller, and in mid-air, as this ended up releasing a tangle of metal wire to entangle the man, even as she darted forwards to engage the now snarling assassin in combat. Her every movement measured and perfect, and her muscles tensing as she rushed forward to take him down as quickly, and as efficiently, as possible.

( - )

(With Robin)

Dashing down the school's dimly lit corridors, his staff extended and in his hand, Robin continued to fight with his masked assailant. Both of them flipping acrobatically through the air, leaping off of walls and lockers, as they clashed back and forth.

Already Robin's breathing had become heavier, and his brow was caked in sweat. This foe he faced, the assassin, Black Spider, he was beyond anyone that he had faced before, or at least by himself.

Most of the time the villains he fought were untrained, they were either common thugs, or powered individuals, or used gadgets. Either way none of them had the training and skill Robin had, which in turn allowed him to turn the tables on them when they fought, especially once he started using his own gadgets and quick witted ingenuity.

Black Spider though was different. He was a martial artist with a frightening level of skill and experience. On top of that he was also a full grown man, one at the peak of his physical fitness, and thus had all the strength, and stamina that that entailed.

Now Robin was no slouch, he trained every day for several hours and did fitness exercise both when he woke up and before he went to bed. But despite that he was only thirteen, and as such could only build up so much muscle. On top of which he only had four years of experience and training, whilst Black Spider probably had a couple of decade's worth.

Either way he was in trouble, and had been ever since the assassin had leapt out of the shadows just minutes ago, stopping Robin before he could go and assist the new girl, Artemis, with her foe.

"So I'm curious, are you getting tired yet?" Robin asked the silent assassin as he barrelled into a nearby classroom, rolling over one of the desks, before he twisted around and kicked it, sending the desk up into the air, and towards the oncoming killer. He needed to distract the killer, or at least long enough for him escape.

Black Spider however didn't reply, instead he just rolled under the flying desk, and then leapt up, his foot pushing soundlessly off of another desk as he shot towards Robin.

Seeing this Robin spun round, his clock whipping behind him as a distraction, even as he palmed three bird-a-rangs, all of which he hurled at Black Spider. Only for the masked killer, to avoid all three as he twisted in mid-air with almost supernatural ease. After which he once again engaged Robin, his fists, palms and knife hand strikes shooting out with startling speed, forcing Robin to retreat. His staff whirling round in his hands as he tried to fend the larger man off, with only partial success.

"I'll take that as a no." Robin grunted as he backed off, his arms aching from defending against Black Spider, and his ribs throbbing with pain after the larger man had managed to get a kick through his defences. He suspected at least two of his ribs were cracked.

In response Black Spider lunged forward again, his every movement controlled as he weaved in between Robin's strikes, before he caught the staff in a tight grasp, and then yanked it forward.

"Gah!" Robin cursed as he felt himself pulled forwards, only for him to twist and let go of his staff as Black Spider lunged forward, his elbow moving like a club as the Boy Wonder only just avoided it. Only for Black Spider to twist around, the staff spinning in his hand as he brought it to bare on Robin.

"Damn it!" Robin spat as he narrowly avoided a strike from his own staff, the tip of which left a red scrape along the side of his face, even as he rolled over another desk. His hand already going for his utility belt as he then threw three smoke pelts down.

Almost at once the room was filled with swirling grey smoke, just the cover Robin needed, as he used the smokescreen to his advantage, as he silently flipped over the desk and then slid out of the classroom. Making it to his feet in the same move, after which he then sprinted off down the corridor. Black Spider was too tough an opponent for him at the moment, if he were older, and had more experience then maybe, but right here and now, he was at least big enough to admit when he was outmatched.

'One of the assassins is Black Spider, he's a master martial artist. I tried to take him on, but he overwhelmed me.' Robin thought to the others as he darted down another corridor, sticking to the shadows now, as he continued on through the school. Once again heading in Artemis's location, hoping as he did so, that he would be able to lure Black Spider away form Roquette.

'Fall back for now, don't commit to a losing battle.' Riptide replied quickly, 'Artemis what is your situation?'

'Not sure who the guy I'm fighting is, but I'm winning. I've got him on the run, heading down the humanities corridor.' Artemis replied quickly.

'Robin can you intercept. Your best bet now would be to assist Artemis in taking out her assassin, then both of you ganging up on Black Spider.' Riptide cut in.

'On it, I will move to intercept. What about the last one?' Robin replied.

'I've managed to get a lock on her, just like the other two now. The third assassin is heading towards where we're keeping Roquette. I've got the one your chasing too Artemis, and your assassin Robin, he's following your trail.' M'gann's voice suddenly sounded out, her frustration evident to the others. 'I can't tell you much more than that though, something about the three of them is blocking my telepathy.'

'It's fine Miss Martian, just do the best you can. Robin move to intercept Artemis's assassin, both of you then deal with Black Spider. I will deal with the third before she can get to Roquette.' Riptide said decisively.

'Right.' Robin nodded, trusting in Riptide for now as he changed his path and started sprinting for the humanities corridor, thanking Batman's training all the while, as the Dark Knight had always insisted he memorised the layout of any building he planned to operate in.

( - )

(With Percy)

'"Miss Martian, keep the doctor safe. Use your telepathy to create a shield around her if you can." Percy ordered as he took his positon in the centre of the room, his back to Roquette as he instead faced the door. His sea green eyes closed as he began to spread his senses through the moisture in the air, a task which was much more difficult to achieve indoors, than it was outdoors when one was more likely to be closer to nature, and sources of water.

"Are you sure?" M'gann asked, a look of concern flashing across her face as Percy took a fighting stance.

Percy didn't reply to that, instead he just narrowed his eyes and waited. Already he could feel the final assassin approaching the room, she was in the roof up above, artfully using the metal struts which held up the roof tiles to skilfully make her way into the room.

"You might as well come out, I know you're there!" Percy called out, his eyes flicking up to ceiling now, pausing for all of a moment, before he swung his sword through the air, gathering moisture along the edge as he did so, before he released a crescent shaped blade of water. One which slashed straight through the roof tiles up above.

With a loud crashing sound, and the shattering of plasterboard, the final assassin fell through the roof, along with a shower of debris. The lithe newcomer announcing her arrival with a shower of shuriken as she twisted in mid-air, her mane of thick, shaggy black hair flicking through the air as she landed on the ground in a crouch, her right hand already extended, a black bladed sword unfolding in the same motion, and already at the ready.

Slashing his Drakon bone blade through the air, Percy nonchalantly deflected several of the shuriken even as he darted forwards, rapidly closing in on the assassin. Both of them clashing as black steel blade, met bone, the two of them battling ferociously, their blades little more than blurs to the casual observer.

With Percy's eyes glowing dangerously in the gloom of the room as he slowly but surely advanced, his blade a blur as he swung it around to block the female assassins every thrust, riposte and slash, his every movement measured and efficient as he continuously advanced, pushing the lithe woman back with every step.

As for the assassin, she was completely on the defensive, her own, quite clear, prodigious skill with a sword pushed to the limits as she found herself being overwhelmed in both strength, speed and talent. With her only being able to keep up due to her own hard trained reflexes and flexibility.

"Wow you are good." The assassin cooed, dancing back now and breaking off combat as she back stepped, eyeing Percy carefully for a moment. Before, her eyes flicked down to her blade, only for them to marginally widen behind her mask as she saw the numerous notches on the previously flawless blade's edges. "Hmm, it's Riptide, isn't it?"

"Yes, though I don't believe I've had the pleasure...?" Percy replied amiably, swinging his sword through the air before he once again set himself in a ready stance, his body angled as his right leg was slightly forward, and his left leg back and at an angle. The tip of his blade raised, and aimed at the assassin's cat like mask.

"The name's Cheshire, and I've heard about you Riptide. You should be proud, you've only been around for a few months and you've already made some big waves in the criminal underworld." The now named Cheshire replied softly, her voice easy-going and sensual as she straightened up, and began to move, her hips sashaying almost hypnotically as she did so.

"Oh really." Percy replied dryly, his green eyes fixed on the assassin, even as M'gann relayed Artemis and Robin's thought to him, the both of them having met up now. With Artemis's assassin having been put out of commission already. Which meant that they now had to deal with the remaining one, Black Spider. Which in turn meant having to chase him off through the school's dark, empty corridors.

"Oh yes," Cheshire practically purred, before suddenly, and without a warning, she darted forward.

Percy though reacted in an instant, his blade raising as he slapped aside her thrust, and then smashed his clenched fist into her abdomen. Only for his punch to miss as she twisted away at the last second, falling to the floor, as she caught herself on her hands, and swept her leg around for a sweeping kick to the back of his knees.

Jumping back at this, Percy unclenched his free hand, drawing on the blood in the human assassin's body, even as he parried her next two blows. His second parry shattering her blade, only for her to react without a thought as she leapt up and landed a double kick in his gut, staggering him, even as she pushed off of him and threw herself back. A pair of long, silver Sais appearing in her hands as she then back flipped and landed back on the floor a few metres away, once again in a cat like, crouched positon.

Narrowing his eyes, and catching his breath, his blade still up and at the ready. A frown soon spread across Percy's face as, after a couple of seconds of intense concentration, he realised he couldn't control her blood.

"What's the matter handsome, struggling to perform?" Cheshire asked silkily, pushing herself on to her feet once more and back stepping as she watched Percy's expression carefully.

"You're naturally blocking my ability to control your blood somehow…" Percy muttered, his eyes narrowing as he watched the assassin carefully. Maybe she wasn't as human as he first thought, after all he had had a similar struggle with Superboy, and with the chemically altered Desmond.

"Well I wouldn't say naturally." Cheshire purred, spinning her Sais in her hand now. "Though I have to say when our spy told us about your abilities, it caused quite a stir. I mean, controlling water is one thing, but controlling blood too. Well that is something else entirely!"

Percy tensed up as he heard that, his eyes narrowing.

She was trying to put him off-guard and distract him, he knew that much. She was flaunting this existence of a spy, and her apparent knowledge about what he could do, in order to throw him off so that he would leave an opening she could then exploit.

It wouldn't work.

'Miss Martian?' Percy thought, even as he watch Cheshire start to prowl forwards.

'On it, the proximity makes it easier to find her mind and break into it, though she is still somehow shielding herself from my telepathy.' M'gann replied before suddenly she winced and relayed a single image to him, and a name. All she could tease out as Cheshire's mental protections, held up, despite M'gann battering on them with all her psychic might.

"Klarion?" Percy said softly, his eyes narrowing as he watched Cheshire's posture stiffen.

"Oh my," Cheshire whispered somewhat thrown by Percy's statement, her head shifting as she looked over in M'gann's direction for a moment, her gloved hand unconsciously moving to her silver necklace for a moment. "Obviously he underestimated the Martian."

Percy's gaze locked onto the silver necklace for a moment, before he raised his hand.

Seeing this Cheshire reacted in an instant, her Sais spinning her hands as she suddenly darted forwards.

She was too slow though, as moments later the sprinklers overheard exploded and water suddenly rained down on the entire classroom. The water noticeably hitting M'gann's dome like shield of telekinetic energy and running down it, avoiding Roquette and her computer entirely.

"Shit." Cheshire cursed quietly, breaking off her charge as she instead flung herself to the side, and just in time too as two crescent like blades of water smashed into the space she had just been, tearing through the floor and furniture with ease.

Twirling his sword through the air, Percy used it to form and release two more blades of water. Even as he used his free hand to manipulate more of the falling water, creating half a dozen shimmering spears of water, which moments later froze, and became spears of incredibly condensed ice. Spears which he then sent hurtling towards Cheshire.

Dancing back, Cheshire leapt off a nearby table, twisting in mid-air as she avoided two of the spears.

After which, the moment her foot landed on the ground, she shifted her body again, only this time she used her Sais to block two more. Though unfortunately the momentum of the spears, caused one of her Sais to fly out of her hand as she deflected it.

The final two spears however managed to clip her, one of them striking her in the shoulder as she moved to dodge, flinging herself towards where her other Sai was. The glancing strike drawing blood as it cut through her top, and into the flesh and muscle beneath. The final spear meanwhile hit her in the side, scrapping along her side, once again drawing blood but nothing more as she just about dodged it.

Landing on the floor in a sprawl, Cheshire didn't have long to recover from her wounds, as Percy was on her in moments. His movements far faster than before thanks to the still falling water, as he lunged forward, the water around him lashing out, aiding him as it harried his opponent like some sentient beast.

"So this Klarion's protections are limited." Percy chuckled, keeping calm as he battled Cheshire back, boxing her into a corner, manipulating the falling water around him as he did so.

This was his first time facing someone wielding Sais, and he had to say it was a pain. The blades were like two stiletto daggers, only with curved guards which could be used to trap other weapons. They were interesting, but not too fun to fight against, especially since their lightweight design, and yet long and thin blades made them ideal for rapid slashes and strikes.

"Spoilers." Cheshire hissed back, her voice lacking the previous lilting, mocking tone from before, as she instead sounded as harried as she looked.

"It's a good thing I like spoilers then isn't it!" Percy replied, sweeping his sword around as he completely avoided, as opposed to deflected, a twin set of slashes, and instead smashed the spiked hilt of his sword into her gut. A spray of blood erupting from her mouth and dribbling down from under her mask, even as the bone spikes on the hilt gouged into her firm, muscled abdomen.

Falling back, Cheshire used the momentum to do a backwards roll, which ended with her back on her feet a metre or so away from Percy now, her body slightly hunched over, and her breathing harsh, blood and spittle still dripping out from under her mask.

Moving forwards, his feet splashing through the puddles that were now forming on the ground as the water continued to rain down all around him, Percy's eyes practically glowed as he advanced on his quarry. His every movement making his opponent back step, right up until her back hit the wall.

This Cheshire, she was skilled, Percy was sure of that. But she was also specialised, she was an assassin, and thus was used to quick, rapid fire, fast paced flurries of combat, not prolonged fights. On top of that, she was also probably used to having the element of surprise when she took out her target, or their guards. She was also probably used to her quarry not fighting back, and certainly not being as skill as her too.

Which meant that all in all, she wasn't a warrior, nor was she a soldier. She was skilled yes, but she relied more on stealth, guile and agility than raw talent, instinct and fighting prowess. On top of that she was only human, a mortal, with seemingly no extraordinary powers. Which meant that when she was up against a Demigod, an engine of warfare and death, she was severely lacking, even with the mystical protection she had somehow acquired.

"You won't take me alive, hero, I can promise you that! So what will you do, will you break your code and cause my death, just to take me down?" Cheshire sneered, her previous amusement completely absent. Her tone instead holding only anger, and a slight bit of fear as she gripped her Sais tightly and sank into a slightly shaky fighting stance.

"And what would you know of my code?" Percy replied in amusement, his sword raising into the air as he took another step forward, several more spears of ice forming in the air around him.

Cheshire stiffened as she heard Percy's tone of voice, and saw his glowing, phosphorescent green eyes locking unerringly on her.

'Riptide.' M'gann's concerned voice rang out in his mind. 'Just because you can finish her, doesn't mean you should. It would be better for her to be interrogated, and then stand trial for her crimes. That way her victims, and those affected by her crimes can gets the peace and closure they deserve.

'Don't worry Miss Martian, I have no intention of killing her. Not right now, not until I find out just who her spy is, if there even is one.' Percy replied easily, not too concerned with her recriminatory tone. His own code was quite grey and morally ambiguous, but he wasn't a cold blooded killer.

Cheshire's masked face shifted back and forth between the still floating Martian, safe behind her telekinetic shield, which even now was visible as water continued to fall on it before noticeably sliding off of it and pooling on the floor, and Percy.

A moment later Cheshire then darted forward, sliding to the side as she attempted to get past Percy, and run for a nearby window.

"Oh no you don't!" Percy snapped, the water around her shooting up, as tendrils began forming, snaking around her limbs as they did so.

At almost the exact same time the door to the classroom exploded open. Black Spider, Artemis and Robin all entering. With Black Spider in the lead as he leapt into the room, rolled over a nearby desk and then lunged for Roquette. A slightly battered looking Artemis running into the room after him, her bow drawn as she aimed for his back. A more roughed up looking Robin coming in after her, seemingly unarmed, but clearly pissed off.

"Shit." Percy cursed, releasing his sword and allowing it to land on the ground with a splash, even as he thrust his right hand in Black Spider's direction, sending the ice spears around him at the martial arts specialist, even as he closed in on M'gann's telekinetic shield. His other hand meanwhile, moving out towards Cheshire as he split his attention, still controlling the tendrils as he tried to incapacitate her if possible, and kill her if necessary.

From there, time seemed to slow, as the ice spears exploded across the room with frightening speed. All three of them striking the surprised Black Spider in mid-air, the force of the spears knocking him out of the air, even as they ripped through his body. Blood spraying out of his chest as he hit the floor with a loud, wet thump.

"Robin check on him," Percy ordered without missing a beat, already looking away now as he instead turned to Cheshire, his left hand clenching into a fist. It would seem, that it might be necessary to break some of her limbs in order to stop her from running.

In response to this order Robin just nodded and headed over to the now badly wounded Black Spider.

Artemis however twisted around and fired an arrow at Cheshire. Only instead of helping to capture the woman, the arrow instead exploded in mid-air, the concussive shockwaves from the explosion tearing apart Percy's tendrils of water, even as it sent Cheshire crashing to the floor.

"Shit, sorry!" Artemis shouted, nocking another arrow, even as Cheshire leapt towards the window and crashed through it. Artemis's arrow missing by inches as it hit the window frame, cracking the wood as it sank an inch or so into it.

Percy narrowed his eyes at this exchange, through the feedback loop M'gann had set up, between himself and the rest of the team, he could feel Artemis's whirling emotions. As such he could sense both her guilt over what she had just done, and strangely, her relief too. From that Percy was able to infer, her accident, wasn't so much an accident, as it was a purposeful ploy and deception.

"Robin, leave Black Spider, I will try and clot his wounds myself in a moment. Instead get after Cheshire, you're probably the fastest and most agile one here, and with her injuries you should be able to catch her." Percy ordered his brow furrowing as he swept past Artemis and over to the smashed window.

"It's too late." Robin said bitterly, standing up from Black Spider's now still corpse. "He's dead."

Percy spared the younger boy a glance as he heard that, feeling the swirling emotions of shock, anger, relief and confusion within the boy as he did so.

"Not exactly my intention, but unfortunately he caught me off-guard. Still there is no sense crying over the death of an assassin, even if it was an accidental one. For now keep your mind on the mission, we can deal with the fallout later." Percy said loudly, looking to Robin now, even as he pulled Artemis's arrow out of the window frame.

"R-right." Robin nodded, looking down at his shaking bloodstained hands for a moment, before he clenched them into fists and gave Percy a resolute nod.

"Good," Percy smiled tightly, even as he raised his left hand and created a bow out of water, his eyes narrowing as he solidified the water and then used Artemis's arrow as he drew the bow. Sighting down the arrow, his senses flaring as he focused in on Cheshire's bloody wounds, her protections might shield her from his blood manipulation, but it didn't change the fact that she, like most mortals, animal and human alike, were just fleshy sacks of water.

With that in mind he released the arrow, his watery bow having a lot more force to it than even Artemis's compound bow as he tailor made the bow to his enhanced strength, in order to maximise its power. A handy trick the Titaness of the Moon, Selene, had taught him down in Tartarus.

A moment later the arrow exploded forth from the bow, the solid arrow cleaving through the air with more ease than ever, as the slight film of water on it streamlined it, and cut down on air resistance.

( - )

(With Cheshire, a few moments earlier)

About three hundred feet away the fleeing, yet still injured, Cheshire, continued through the woods steadily, her breathing calming down the more distance she put between herself and her implacable foe, Riptide.

This entire operation had been a disaster. Not only had her two associates proven themselves completely useless, but they had underestimated the junior Justice League too. Klarion the Witch Boys, magic necklaces might have shielded their minds and bodies from the Martian and Riptide's powers, but they had not taken into account the breadth of the newcomer's abilities, nor his skill.

Yes, they had underestimated the situation. Or rather her masters had, she, in her own opinion, had performed admirably considering the situation. She had even managed to get away too, unlike the other two.

Though, Cheshire, had to admit she had been aided in this achievement by the green archer, as much as she hated to acknowledge this fact.

Still all that mattered was she was free and clear, now she could report to the League of Shadows about the mission's failure.

A grimace passed across her face at that thought. Reporting back her failure, was not an experience that she was going to enjoy.

It was as she was thinking this, that her honed senses picked up on something approaching.

Acting on instinct Cheshire threw herself to the ground, holding back a cry of pain as the wounds to her shoulder and side throbbed. And it was fortunate that she did so, as literally the same moment she moved a green arrow shot passed, nicking the side of her face a bit did so, gouging a cut into her mask, even as it knocked it off her face.

Revealing as it did so, her dark, obsidian coloured eyes, tanned, olive coloured skin, and thick, lustrous black hair, all of which complemented her regal, and hauntingly beautiful facial features. Though at the moment she was not looking particularly beautiful, as her face was currently caked in sweat, and she had rapidly drying blood trailing down from her lips.

Rolling to her feet, Cheshire unconsciously brought a hand to her face, marvelling at how close she had just been to being killed, and by the green archer too! As that thought hit her, a sudden emptiness filled her stomach, the hollowness gnawing at her heart for a moment, before she was distracted by the barely audible sound of rapidly approaching footsteps.

She was being pursued, and they were looking to finish her off, just like they had Black Spider. It was as that realisation hit her, that she regained her senses, pushing down her anger and hurt for the moment, as she instead turned and scrambled away. Sprinting off through the forest, one hand clutching her bloody side as she fled the area as fast as she could.

( - )

(Back at the school, a few moments earlier)

"Now get after her, she has some information that could be useful!" Percy ordered as he dispersed his bow, looking to Robin now, who in response gave Percy a tight nod, before he leapt out of the broken window and chased after Cheshire. The Boy Wonder's own injuries slowing him down, but not by much as he vanished from sight.

Nodding as he saw this, Percy then turned away from the window, shutting the water off by freezing it in the pipes with just a thought. Ignoring as he did so, how both Roquette and M'gann were watching him, as he instead locked gazes with Artemis.

"So Artemis, do you want to tell me what that was back there?" He asked, walking past the still green archer now as he scooped up his sword and sheathed it.

"It was an accident, I reacted on instinct! I didn't mean to get in the way!" Artemis replied quickly, her tone seemingly earnest as she twisted around to watch Percy.

"Well that's a lie right there." Percy replied bluntly, making eye contact with Artemis as he did so, and not missing her slight flinch.

"What! What are you say?! What are you accusing me of?!" Artemis snapped angrily, looking between both Percy and M'gann now as she did so.

"Did you know, that when a person lies their heartbeat tends to get faster?" Percy replied, his response catching her somewhat off guard, even as he leant back against a desk and watched her carefully. "And considering I can feel the blood flowing through your body, do you really think I can't tell when a person is being dishonest?"

"We've just been in a fight, of course my heart is racing!" Artemis snapped, a scowl on her face now, even as she clenched her bow tighter. "You know, I expected this from Kid Flash, and maybe even Robin and Aqualad, they feel I'm an intruder and don't trust me yet, but I didn't expect it from you, the team leader!"

Percy smiled in response to that, the girl had fire that much was obvious. "True, that could also be the reason behind why your heart is beating so fast. But it doesn't explain your emotions, such as how you felt both relief and guilt when you engineered Cheshire's escape."

Artemis flinched as if struck as she heard that. "So what you're an empath now?"

"No, I have no psychic abilities what so ever. But our minds are connected, the entire teams, and Miss Martian is not just acting as a conduit to relay everyone's thoughts, she is also relaying their surface emotions to me too. At my specific request of course." Percy replied with a shrug, after all it was something he had specifically asked the Martian girl to do.

Artemis's face paled a little at that, though Percy could also see her swelling up in indignation too, her grey eyes flicking from him to the floating Martian.

"Oh don't blame Miss Martian, I was the one that requested this off her." Percy continued speaking, cutting Artemis off before she could blow up and start hurling accusations around. "And it wasn't so I could spy on you all either. I did it for a tactical reason. People often lie, or understate things if asked directly, and since I need to know the condition of the entire team in order to effectively manage them, I needed to think of a way around this. As such I've been using their emotions in this mission, as a test run of sorts, to analyse how you all handle the fights, and whether you need assistance, and your current states of mind, and I have to say it is effective thus far."

"Why didn't you tell anyone about that part? You just said M'gann was relaying surface thoughts." Artemis asked, her eyes fixed on Percy to the exclusion of all else.

"And that's exactly what she's been doing, only she's passing along your surface feelings as well. As for why I didn't tell you. Well it was a test run, I didn't want to mess it up by having you all try to control or hide your emotions. Beside we're a getting a bit off topic here, don't you think?" Percy replied, not at all perturbed about how what he had done might be considered an invasion of privacy, after all a person emotions were also clear to see on their faces, and in their eyes, as well as their minds. They were always on the surface with most people, and as such were probably far less private than a person's inner thoughts.

Artemis frowned at the change in topic, but still nodded none the less. Her emotions once again switching from angry to guilty as she met Percy's piercing green eyes.

"I take it you did what you did before on purpose?" Percy asked quietly, keeping his voice low so neither Roquette nor M'gann could hear exactly what they were saying.

Artemis nodded at that, her guilt intensifying.

"Did you do it to hurt the team?" Percy continued, his tone steady and controlled.

Artemis shook her head in the negative.

"Did you do it because you knew Cheshire on a personal level then?" Percy queried next.

Artemis hesitated at this point, before slowly nodding.

"Ok, so to finish are you a threat to the team, or to innocent people?" Percy asked once more, his gaze boring into Artemis.

"No, I don't want to hurt anyone, it's just…, I…, well…" Artemis trailed off, struggling to put into words what she wanted to say.

"Ok then, we'll say no more on this issue for the moment then. So long as you don't mean the team harm, and your secrets don't endanger anyone, feel free to keep them to yourself." Percy said, his gaze softening slightly now. He could respect loyalty, even if it got in the way sometimes.

"What? That's it?" Artemis asked in shock.

"You're entitled to your secrets Artemis, we all are. If you want to share them then great, I will listen without judgement, but if you want to hold off on sharing, or keep them to yourself, then that's fine too." Percy said, reiterating what he had previously made clear to M'gann before. As team leader he would happily listen to people's problem and help them however he could. But as a person, one who very much liked his own privacy, he would not force them to tell him their secrets.

"Thanks." Artemis said in relief, nodding now, and visibly calming down as she let out a deep breath.

"That said if you ever purposefully fuck up like you just did, again! Then the next time, we'll be having much harsher words! I can respect personal loyalty to a friend, but great harm can come from putting that loyalty ahead of the mission and the good of the many!" Percy continued, his tone turning harder now, and a dark gleam appearing in his eyes for a moment, as he thought on memories from long ago, and of a very similar warning the Goddess Athena had once given him. "Are we clear?"

Artemis stood straighter as she heard that, meeting Percy's gaze resolutely for a moment, before nodding. "I understand, and I promise, I will earn the trust you've put in me!"

"That's all I ask." Percy nodded, patting her lightly on the shoulder as he did so, before he turned away, even as Robin chose that moment to leap back through the broken window, a Cheshire cat mask in hand.

"She got away." Robin said dourly, meeting Percy's gaze as he did so. "Sorry, I wasn't fast enough."

"It's no matter, what's important is that we've fulfilled the mission." Percy replied with a slight smile. "Besides you and Artemis captured the other assassin didn't you?"

Robin nodded at that, perking up slightly when Percy didn't get angry with him, like he probably suspected he would.

"Good, then you and Artemis go secure the other assassin and bring him back here." Percy nodded, looking between the two now as they both nodded, before turning and heading out of the room.

'Roquette and news on Team B?' Percy then asked, mentally this time, as his voice rang out in all four of their heads.

'They reported in a few minutes ago, they have stopped the Fog in Philadelphia. They're heading back now. I would have told you earlier, but you looked… busy.' M'gann replied, from where she was sitting beside Roquette.

'That's brilliant!' Robin's voice answered back.

'Does this mean I'm safe now?' Roquette asked the group at large.

'Probably, the Shadows don't have a reason to kill you anymore. Still we'll let Batman decide what should be done.' Artemis replied, her own exultation in her first, successful mission coming through in her internal voice.

'Did the League of Shadows succeed in stealing anything from Star Labs before they were stopped?' Percy asked, looking to Roquette and M'gann now, both of whom were within hearing distance of the communicator.

'Unfortunately yes, they managed to access the mainframe and steal a lot of information from the servers before Team B stopped them. They didn't get everything, but they got enough.' M'gann replied, her tone a bit more sombre this time.

'It's fine, the important thing is we've stopped them. We can deal with the fallout from this later.' Percy replied, nodding his head as he did so. 'For now call Team B back to the base. 'And Robin, can you contact Batman, we'll need a pick up for the assassin we've caught, and a body bag for Black Spider.'

Percy could feel Robin's discomfort as he heard that, but even so the kid replied in the affirmative. 'I'll get on it. I'll tell him everything that happened, and how you didn't mean to kill him.'

'Don't worry about it, I'll deal with Batman personally. For now we'll head back to base, deposit the doctor and the assassins with the league, and we can debrief once there.'

'Right.' Robin nodded.

'Kid Flash is on route.' M'gann tagged on.

'You know this Hook guy is pretty heavy!' Artemis added in her own comment.

'Also well done to everyone, this was a difficult mission but we pulled it off!' Percy finished, a slight smile spreading across his lips now as he saw Miss Martian open her eyes and remove the telekinetic dome that covered herself and the doctor. A smile spreading across her face as she did so, her enthusiasm for yet another successful mission clear to see.

( - )

(Back at Mount Justice, sometime later)

"Oh yeah, we took down the League of Shadows," Wally laughed, bumping fists with Robin as he did so, even as he clapped both Superboy and Kaldur on the shoulder. "We totally crushed it!"

"Hell yeah!" Robin grinned, clasping hands with both Kaldur and Superboy too, even as he showed the speedster Cheshire's mask. "Oh, and I picked up a souvenir for you too!"

"Sweet!" Wally grinned taking the mask and checking it out as he did so, his finger absentmindedly tracing the gouge in the cheek. "And how was the new girl?"

"She did well!" Robin nodded, a slight smile on his face as he looked over to where Artemis was standing with M'gann, both of them chatting animatedly about something. The two of them looking far closer than they had been at the start of the mission. "What about you? How was leading Team B?"

"He did well." Kaldur spoke up now. "He focused on the mission, and because of this, the three of us we managed to quickly, and efficiently, neutralise the Fog and capture the one operating it."

"Aww thanks man, but like you say, it was totally a team effort!" Wally grinned, his cheeks reddening as he scratched the back of his head.

"What about you? Did you and Percy work well together?" Superboy spoke up, a slight frown on his face as he, like the rest of the team, knew that there was a bit of tension between the oldest and youngest member of the team.

"Well yeah, I would say we worked together well." Robin said after a few moments, a slight smile on his face. "We had a chat and we've come to an understanding of sorts."

Kaldur, Wally and Superboy looked at one another in surprise at that, before smiling.

"Sweet, it's about time you two started getting on!" Wally grinned, slapping Robin on the arm as he did so.

"Yes, for the team to work we all need to be able to get on, and work together." Kaldur nodded, a smile on his face as the last area of contention in the team had been now smooth over.

"Well I wouldn't say we're friends or anything, but I will at least admit he was the best choice for leader." Robin nodded, folding his arms as he thought about their mysterious team leader. Still a bit uncertain as to what to think of him yet. He was still intensely curious about his abilities and origins, and still didn't like how ruthless he could be. But he could at least acknowledge that the older teen had both skill, power and good leadership instincts, he was the right choice for the leader.

Or for the moment at least.

Once Robin had a bit more experience, and had gotten older and stronger, then Percy might soon find his positon usurped.

"Speaking of our illustrious leader," Wally began, looking over to where Percy was stood off to one side, deep in conversation with Batman, Martian Manhunter. Black Canary and Red Tornado. "Is it true he killed the assassin, Black Spider?"

"Yeah," Robin nodded, before after a pause he shrugged. "I don't think it was intentional though. He acted on instinct to protect the doctor, it was probably just as much Artemis and my fault for not stopping Black Spider before he got to the room, as it was Percy's.

"Accidents do unfortunately happen in our line of work." Kaldur nodded, his tone filled with understanding. "This why it's best not to dwell on what you can't change."

Robin nodded at that, even as he looked over to where Percy was still talking with Batman. Both of them standing opposite to one another, talking, like equals.

( - )

AN: So what do you all think? I hope you enjoyed the chapter and leave a review. As I said up top this chapter ended up being longer than I plan, twice as long in fact. However it needed to be in order to fit in all the actions, plotting, development and such. Including a few slightly more subtle things going on, which will become important later. I hope some people picked up on these.

Other than that I hope you all enjoyed reading and leave a review. For the Americans out there, happy independence day from over the pond, I hope you all had/ have a good day over there, or wherever you are.

Thanks a lot for reading. The next story I'll be updating will be either my Percy Jackson/ Avatar the Last Airbender story (Carry on My Wayward Son), my Tokyo Ghoul/ Avengers story (the Reverent), my Percy Jackson/ Game of Thrones story (the Last King), or my Percy Jackson/ Fairy Tail story (God of Fairies). Stay tuned to find out.

Other than that, thanks for reading and I'll catch you later.

Greed720.