Anger is Another Aspect of-

A thought I had of an OC-insert into Young Justice, this is just what I've written don't know if I'll continue writing it, but I wrote a lot and thought might as well.

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Work Text:

Cruel, and mad laughter rang through the air.

“A new ice age is upon us! Rejoice you foolish plebeians, for I will send you into an icy end with ease!”

“I think not, Minister Blizzard.”

Wonder Woman’s lasso ripped the ice gun from the robed man's hand as he growled, an icy frost escaping his mouth as the animated ice puppets around him shifted with him, “Wonder Woman! Come to stop the inevitable, I see. Foolish woman! Can’t you see I am simply returning the world to a purer beginning, to its true beginning!”

She flipped over and smashed one of his mobile ice creations, he frowned, “There seems to be some kind of fallacy in your thinking. How can you hope to bring a new age when your weapon is in the hands of your adversary!”

The man let out a laugh, “Come now, an old dog is not so foolish as to not learn new tricks!”

He tapped the ice formed beast below him and the thing opened its maws as a blue light, he laughed madly as a beam of energy escaped it. The sky turned gray and the ground was covered in fog and mist, “Don’t fret, princess! Soon enough you will-”

Unfortunately nothing else escaped the man, as Wonder Woman proceeded to decimate his army of ice sculptures, and from behind another ripped through the beast he was standing on.

The man yelled in shock as he toppled to the ground and looking up he glared at the green giantess before him, she gave a jaunty wave, “A bit of an icy reception for your guests don’t you think Minister Blizzard,” she sent a round house behind her and completely destroyed the charging bull ice construct, “Don’t tell me icebreakers weren’t a part of the curriculum when taking a government position,” Minister growled as he jumped to his feet and pulled out another ice gun, smaller with less heft behind it’s beams, but quicker to shoot, she dodged and jumped forward leaving a crack on the icy ground.

His eyes widened and she kneed him in the stomach, he let out a gargled choking sound as he wheezed and suddenly fell to the ground in a thump, “wouldn’t want to give foreign dignitaries the cold shoulder by mistake!”

She laughed and he groaned, no one knew if it was from the pain of her hits, or the pain of having to hear those puns.

A mystery for the ages, really.

Wonder Woman shook her head as she tied the man up, “I don’t know where you picked up the need for such language.”

The girl laughed, throwing her head back in unrestrained joy as she waved at the newly emerging civilians, “Thank you!”

“No problem!”

Wonder Woman chuckled as she led the man to the authorities, “Well I suppose this was a good warm-up, are you ready?”

The green skinned giantess turned back from the crowd after waving them goodbye, tilting her head a shy expression that Diana reminisced looked exactly like the thirteen year old from three years ago, “Well, you can’t wait for forever… and tomorrow is never guaranteed so, yeah, I guess I am.”

“Very well, then let’s get going.”

A two finger salute and a wink to the still gathered crowd, “Aye, Aye your majesty!”

She tensed her legs and they both jumped and then they were gone, the only evidence left was a small crack from where the green giantesses legs stood.

Washington D.C.

July 4, 14:00 EDT

“Oh wow! Look, it's Wonder Woman!”

A crowd of onlookers turned from the superheroes already gathered, and looked on in awe, it’s no surprise really, Wonder Woman did give off the aura of something just wow. The green haired girl beside her waved at the gathered crowd cheerily, and they clamored even more.

“It’s Titaness!”

“It's like a meetup of the founders, think we’ll get to see Superman?”

“Hey why isn’t Wonder Girl here?”

The pair walked forward without pause, though Titaness felt her grin turn a bit wooden, Wonder Woman placed a hand on her arm. Looking down to the clear, firm blue eyes of her teacher, “Don’t let their words make you falter, you are no replacement.”

Rubbing the back of her neck, “Aw jeez your majesty, you sure know how to make a girl blush!”

Patting her arm she nodded to her, Titaness grinned before stepping forward and greeting the others, “It’s good to see you again your majesty, Aqualad.”

The blonde man gave a steady smile and a heavy pat on her arm, “At ease little lady, no need for formalities, though they are appreciated.”

She laughed, and nodded in easy acceptance, the teen next to him nodded at her with a small serious smile, “It is good to see you again Titaness, haven’t fallen into unknown depths again have you?”

Her smile widened and she smacked his back, a lot gentler than you’d expect, “Oh jeez, I’ll never live that down, I swear I do actually know how to swim!”

“I see that we are not the last here?”

Wonder Woman nodded to the other mentors as they let their mentee’s speak to one another, she had a teasing smile on her face, Green Arrow let out a chortle and Aquaman a bark of laughter, Batman simply nodded back.

“Aw man! I knew we'd be the last ones here!”

“Kid! Fastest people on earth and yet time keeps beating you!”

The red head let out a grumble, “Time is just a man made construct.” As he joined the others, Titaness ruffled his hair, but it seemed that excitement of the occasion made his customary grumbles fall into easy laughter.

“Come on then.” The stern voice of Batman brought the teens to attention easily, and they followed, the red ropes kept tourists and onlookers back as they walked to their destination. The voices of fans clamored in awe and excitement, the only girl of the teens let out a chuff of amusement.

Robin looked up at her curiously, she waved him off, “Apparently the semantics of heroic naming conventions are difficult to understand for everyone… Why do you call yourself Speedy? Is it for your draw speed?”

The other redhead, a much more dour and angry version, just huffed.

The teen laughed, Green Arrow grinned and leaned over his mentee’s shoulder, “He’s just a bit tongue tied Titaness.” she nodded and looked on ahead another, likely only barely held back as her lips quivered in a grin, the blonde man looked to the red head, “You ready for the inner sanctum?”

He smirked, “Born that way.”

Aqualad looked around with serious eyes, and a warm if stern smile spread, turning up his cheeks, “I’m glad we are all here.”

Kid Flash grinned, “Have all five of us sidekicks ever been together at the same place, and the same time?”

“ Don’t call us sidekicks.” Speedy bit it out like the word itself disgusted him, Titaness rolled her eyes and nodded with a smile at a little girl with pretty pink and purple beads in her hair waved, “Oh calm down edge lord, there’s no reason to get your overly expensive panties in a twist.”

“Shut up Titaness.”

“Nah,” she smirked as she drew out the word, and Speedy grit his teeth, before she turned to the red headed speedster, “and yeah it’s a pretty big occasion Kid, after all today is the day.”

He grinned, but turned to the red head a little shyly, “Sorry, it’s the first time I've been to the hall, I’m a bit overwhelmed.”

Robin frowned, “Freeze was underwhelmed, you’re overwhelmed why is nobody just whelmed.”

Titaness choked and looked at him as if she was in pain, “Please don’t butcher the english language anymore than it already is, learning this tongue literally makes people dumber don’t add to the fire.”

He cackled and she shook her head and looked away as if she realized her grave mistake, he would likely never stop.

They entered the hall and looked up.

“Oh. Maybe that’s why.”

A whistle escaped the girl as she looked up, “Jeez… that’s intimidating alright, nothing like a big helping of expectations and legacy to live up to to help digestion in the morning.”

She mumbled it under her breath as she followed after them, pulling out her phone to snap a photo. They were greeted by Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado.

“Robin, Speedy, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Titaness. Welcome,” the alien and android turn and the rest follow after, “You now have full access to the gym, the fully stocked galley and of course the library."

"Make yourselves at home." Flash smiled and spread out his arms in a there you have it, now go at it gesture.

While Robin, Kid Flash and Aqualad sit at the proffered seats, Titaness wanders away looking at the available material, raising a brow to the glass where tourists peered in. Some of them noticed her stare and waved excitedly and she waved back with a charming close eyed smile before turning her attention again to the books.

Unfortunately the peace was once again broken, “That’s it! You promised us a real look inside, not a glorified backstage pass.

She couldn’t help but sigh, still she turned and crossed her arms, jutting out her hip as she stared at the scene that was to come, Aquaman answered steady and deep, “It’s a first step, you’ve been granted access few others get.”

“Oh really?!”

The teen gestured at the peering tourists with their guileless smiles, “Who cares what side of the glass we’re on!”

Green Arrow stepped forward, “Roy you need to be patient.”

Speedy narrowed his eyes, “What I need is respect.”

He turned to the rest, “They’re treating us like kids, worse like sidekicks. We deserve better than this.”

The trio of teens looked to one another before they turned to the girl who had taken to leaning on the wall with an unconcerned expression, Speedy grit his teeth, “Are you kidding, you’re playing their game. Why?! Today was supposed to be the day, step one in becoming full fledged members of the league.”

Kid Flash looked on in confusion turning to his fellows, “Well sure… but isn’t step one a tour of the HQ?”

“Except the hall isn’t the league's real HQ,” leaning off her wall she bent her head in interest, eyes shining with curiosity, “I bet they never told you. It's just a false front for tourists and a pitstop for catching zeta beam teleporters to the real thing.”

The archer explained gesturing to the sky, “An orbiting satellite called the Watchtower.”

“Well I’ll be… the damn online conspirators were right…”

She made an impressed sound, and Speedy frowned and turned away, the league members looked at Speedy in shock, Batman looked disapprovingly at Green Arrow, “I know, I know, but I thought we could make an exception?”

Batman’s stare hardened even further, a thing that really shows how much the man could break expectations since most did not think it possible, Green Arrow's mustache went downturn, “Or... maybe not.”

Aquaman stepped forward a disapproving frown on his face, “You’re not helping your case son, stand down or-”

“Or what you’ll send me to my room?! And I’m not your son, I’m not even his,” gesturing at Green Arrow and sending him a dirty look the older man looked honestly hurt, “I thought I was his partner,” looking away he pulled down his cap and gripped it tight, “not anymore.”

He looked at the trio with a bitter expression, “Guess they’re right about you three, you’re not ready.”

Ignoring Titaness he passed her stomping off, and Titaness couldn’t help, but let out a huff of amusement.

He paused and turned to look at her with the dirtiest glare he could manage through his domino mask, “And you, what are you? Nothing more than a pity project, a charity case that Wonder Woman took on because she felt guilty she failed to save you. If there is anything I can agree on with them” he jutted a thumb at the gathered leaguers, and sidekicks who all had varying expressions of disapproval, anger, or confusion, “It’s keeping you on the out, you’re just a time bomb waiting to happen. You have no business being here.”

“You dare-”

Wonder Woman’s voice was raised, but Titanesses voice cut in, using all of her extra height and off putting eyes she stared down at the tiny, tiny teen playing at being a man, and she answered, “Perhaps I am Speedy… but at least I don’t lose myself like a three year old at the first sign that I don’t get my way. Listen to your elders boy , you throw tantrums like this all the time” she gestured around her with a sarcastic smile, teeth bared in a snarling thing less like a smile and more like a wild animals threat, “it’s no wonder people don’t take you seriously… of course it could just be that you look like a Men in Tights extra.”

She leaned back and laughed and daring him to come at her, and he straightened, but in the end simply moved on passed her, “Fuck off.”

“You first.”

She let out a sigh and leaned back against the wall with a disappointed frown on her face, rubbing the back of her neck as she surveyed the others in the room. She gave a close lipped smile, “Guys an expert marksman for a reason he rarely misses a target.”

The trio of teens wince, and the leaguers' expressions were stern and unchanged, though her teacher looked at her with endlessly compassionate eyes. Titaness shifted and walked in closer to the group, they’ll likely talk about this-

The alarms went off, the large screen showed the chiseled expression of Superman, “Superman to Justice League there’s been an explosion at Project Cadmus, it’s on fire.” "I've had my suspicions about Cadmus." Batman stated, "This may present the perfect opportunity to-"

Another alert blared and Zatara appeared on the screen. "Zatara to Justice League. Wotan is using the Amulet of Aten to block out the sun, requesting a full League response."

Batman looks at Superman, "Superman?"

"It's a small fire, local authorities have it under control." Superman replied.

"Then Cadmus can wait." Batman said before he pressed a button on a large keyboard, "All Leaguers rendezvous at Zatara's location. Batman out." The caped crusader turned to the teens all walked up to them, "Stay put."

"What why?" Robin spoke up.

"This is a League mission." Martian Manhunter stated.

"You're not trained." Flash added.

"Since when?!" Kid Flash asked.

Titaness shifted in annoyance looking at Diana in question, the woman tilted her head, and the student just let out a breath, blowing a curl out of her face. Then a grin that promised nothing good crossed her face and Diana catching it sent a stern stare that dissolved into a look of acceptance. She turned to follow the other leaguers who were leaving to deal with the sun blotting situation before turning, “Don’t be foolish, and don’t cause undue damage.”

The other teens looked between them curiously as Wonder Woman turned back to the zeta beam transport, the door shut behind her.

Titaness huffed and grinned white teeth stark against green skin, “What was that about- no never mind, when we’re ready! When are we ever supposed to be ready if we keep getting sidelined for the big stuff!” Kid Flash threw his hands into the air in frustration.

Aqualad looked deeply disappointed and shocked, “My mentor, my king, I thought he trusted me.”

“Trust! They don’t even trust us with the basics! They have a secret HQ in space !”

A heavy hand fell on both their shoulders, they looked up one angry and disappointed, the other disappointed and betrayed, “It isn’t fair that is true, and should they have had more trust in us, they should have. Still, don’t say that our mentors don’t trust us, it's likely more a manner of compartmentalization… or something.”

Kid Flash shrugged off her hand, “We can handle it… could have.”

Aqualad removed her hand and Titaness twisted her lips in a frown, “Yes, we likely could have… and this brings up the question of what else they are keeping from us?”

They all fell silent, until Aqualad finally broke it, “What is Project Cadmus?” he looked at the boy wonder and Titaness grinned in anticipation, Robin frowned, “I don’t know…” and he grinned, a grin that promised all types of trouble, “but I can find out.”

Walking to the computer Titaness shifted again to lean in, her chest pushing out in a sort of alluring way without her meaning to, “So are we gonna go rogue?”

Robin let out a laugh, Kid Flash's eyes kept drifting between both points of interest and Aqualad huffed out a sound of amusement. Titaness took one finger and turned the red head face firmly to the screen, she could feel his skin burn with embarrassment.

“A genetics lab huh… and here in D.C. too, whoever built it this close to the Hall is one ballsy hijo de puta.” She raised a brow to Robin; he shrugged and grinned.

“What~... us, go rogue? Hardly… it’d be more like… doing teachers homework early, besides if Batman's suspicious we should investigate it’d be the right thing to do.”

Leaning back Titaness raised a brow, pushing up her chest in an almost unconscious motion as she crossed her arms and jutting out her hip, “Solve it before they do, it would be poetic justice.”

Tearing his eyes away, Robin grinned at Aqualad, “Hey they’re all about justice.”

She laughed, still Aqualad sighed, “But, they told us to stay put.”

“Yeah, for the blotting the sun out mission, not this.” Robin countered.

Kid Flash nearly vibrated out of his boots, “Wait! Are you going to Cadmus, cuz if you’re going then I’m going!”

Aqualad looked at the duo of smiling hellions ready to go, “Just like that, we’re a team on a mission?”

Robin smirked, “We didn’t come for a playdate.”

A heavy hand slapped his back and he actually stumbled, looking to the only female of the group he was confronted with an unstoppable grin, “Come on, why not, it’s not like it’ll hurt to step out of line, stretch out our wings… besides I basically got the go ahead, and as long as nobody dies on this little escapade we’ll come out of it better than golden.”

Aqualad smirked.

The rest cheered and they were in motion.

The sky was a tapestry of the setting sun's hand, it was painted in decadent mauves and zingy oranges with hints of pink, the only line disturbing the view was that of smoke cutting through it from a burning building.

“HELP!”

“GET US DOWN!”

Two scientists shouted from a window and then an explosion shook the building and threw them out, yells escaped them…

“FLASH BOY!” Firemen pointed shouting the name with his chest, Kid Flash grumbled as he was pulled in by Robin who laughed at his plight, “Kid Flash, why is that so hard for everybody?!”

Aqualad helped the two scientists to the ground and met them in the room, “Appreciate the help.”

Robin grinned, face lit up with the computer screen, “You handled besides we’re here to investigate, poetic justice remember? Where is she?”

Aqualad opened his mouth to answer, but was beaten to it, “I’m here, don’t worry about me.” She stepped in carefully as she bent her head to fit in through the door, frowning as she went, “I am not used to recon… So anything yet?”

She wandered in further as Robin made a sound, Aqualad wandered out of the room and Kid Flash looked over files with blinding speed. Robin frowned and Kid Flash ran out slowly, Titaness followed with an easy gait, “Nada?”

Robin shook his head, “Nothing interesting.”

Looking down the hall Aqualad stood still, before looking to his team, “There was something in the elevator, something strange, inhuman.”

Kid Flash’s brows furrowed as he frowned, “Elevators should be locked down.”

Slinking closer Robin frowned, “This is wrong…” looking at the hologram from his wrist computer, “thought so this is a high-speed express elevator, it has no business being in a two story building.”

“Neither does what I saw.”

“If you don’t build up,” she dug her fingers into the metal with ease and pulled it apart with not even a grunt, “you build down, jeez that’s a long way down.”

Robin looked over the edge, “That’s why they need an express elevator.” shooting a line, he jumped down, Kid Flash and Aqualad slid down, and Titaness jumped with ease from ledge to ledge only stopping once Robin’s line ended.

“Bypassing security… now.”

She forced open the doors again and gestured at them to go in, once all were inside Kid Flash decided that now was the perfect time to run off. Aqualad reached for him too late grabbing onto air, “Wait! Kid-”

Fortunately he didn’t get too far, unfortunately he rushed onto a scene parading monsters, they gawked at the huge beasts, Titaness shifted and flexed her fists, but stayed her hand.

“No~... nothing going on here.” Aqualads sarcastic and shocked reaction nearly made her giggle, but she watched as the beasts ignored them and once they turned the corner all of them let out a breath they seemed to hold without thinking. They shook themselves out of their stupor and started down the halls, coming upon a steel door which Robin hacked into, they opened with little more than a sound of resistance.

“Ok, I’m officially whelmed.”

Wincing Titaness couldn’t help, but agree. The room was filled to the brim with more curious creatures held in glass spheres like lightning bugs that actually produced lightning. It was beautiful in a way, but mainly it was off putting.

"This is how they hide this massive underground facility from the world." Kid Flash states walking further than the rest, "The real Cadmus is off the grid, it generates its own power with these things." He looked at the creatures, "Must be what they're bred for."

"Even the name is a clue." Aqualad figured it out, "The Cadmus of myth created a new race by sowing dragon's teeth to the ground."

"And this Cadmus creates new life too." Robin added walking up to a control panel, "Let's find out why." He pulled a USB from his glove and plugged it in.

“If it weren’t like some Frankentstein thing it might actually be pretty cool to see, but if Jurassic Park taught me anything man playing at god never ends well… especially if it’s hidden hundreds of feet underground.”

Kid Flash nodded and Aqualad looked confused, Robin finally came up with something he deemed good enough to share with the class, “Got something, they call them genomorphs, woah… look at the stats on these things. Super strength, telepathy, razor claws… these are living weapons.” He winced and looked at Titaness who let out a snarl, “Estos bastardos…”

Her eyes glowed an eerie yellow, Aqualad placed a calming hand on her arm as Kid Flash shifted in vague discomfort at her volatile reaction, “So they're building an army, but for who and for what?”

“Wait there’s something else, Project Kr… ugh it’s triple encrypted I can’t-”

“DON’T MOVE!” a man with a golden helmet shouted he was followed into the room by a squadron of genomorphs with gnarly claws and a small one took up space on his shoulder, narrowing her eyes at it, “Robin, which of these beings has the telepathic abilities…”

The boy twisted a frown as he looked at the scene before him with Aqualad and Kid Flash speaking to the newly identified Guardian. She tensed, her legs shifting as she bent them, the sounds of tapping behind her barely there, “The small ones, like the one on his shoulder.”

“Then he must be getting controlled-”

As soon as she finished her thought the scene broke into motion, “Take them down, no mercy !”

The genomorphs charged and though she felt bad about it she attacked as well, Robin stood from his crouched position and dropped some smoke bombs. She listened and dodged a swipe of claws and back handed another that leapt from behind, she noticed the shadow of her team moving to the exit and finished her fight quickly as she followed after them.

She ran beside them almost tempted to pick up the others and simply jump out of the place, but-

“Rob! What are you doing! Out is up, remember?!”

“I didn’t forget, but Project Kr is down in sub-level 52.”

Kid Flash’s eyes widened in annoyance, “Dude!”

“This is getting out of hand… perhaps we should contact the Justice League.”

They fell silent, Titaness looked them over, “I already did.”

“What!”

“When!”

Both Kid Flash and Robin asked with some sense of betrayal in their tone, she frowned and held up a small device, “A pager?” Robin looked vaguely offended and she couldn’t help, but grin.

“What can I say, Wonder Woman is a sucker for the classics. It’s modified, of course, but I sent a message to her as soon as we started going down that if I didn’t contact within a reasonable time, someone should come and get us. With that said let’s continue down, because if the leaguers have to wait to actually go in and investigate, anything of interest will likely have been cleaned up.”

She finished this as the doors to the elevator opened, she paused before turning back, “Of course if you don’t want to… we can go back?”

She looked them over with a sort of shy expression that most of them hadn’t seen very often, all three looked to one another and then nodded.

“Then we continue,” Aqualad answered firmly, and Titaness grinned, “but, if things go too far we have to pull back.”

“Of course!”

She jumped in excitement, and followed after Robin, Kid Flash grumbled and followed a step behind, “Like it hasn’t already gone tits up…”

They arrived at a split and the choices were well… not that appealing either way.

“Creepy meat hallway one, or creepy meat hallway two?” Kid Flash’s deadpan delivery was not expected, but it was welcome, Aqualad hummed, Titaness raised a brow and Robin looked at something on his wrist computer.

“HALT!”

Another genomorph, this one was different though, more humanoid than the others, not only in its ability to actually speak, but also dressed in a lab coat. He raised his hand up, his eyes and horns glowed red, and telekinetically lifted two barrels, throwing them at the group catching them with ease, “Robin!”

The boy pulled out a batarang and threw it to the barrels as they flew back at the genomorph.

The decision was made and they ran down the hall opposite of the creature.

The sounds of pursuers were heard and Titaness grunted as she picked up both Aqualad and Robin, Kid Flash had run ahead and yelled to her as the door he had found was closing. Tossing in the others she jumped in after them just barely making it, she sighed and made to move her arms when she heard the sound of something ripping.

“Aw man~!”

She pulled her arm out and pouted at the corner of it stuck in between the metal doors, “My cool factor has gone down by like 50%, how am I going to survive you guys?!”

She whined at them and Kid Flash was the only one who consoled her, patting her bare arm, “There, there…” Aqualad looked around the room with a severe frown, “We’re trapped.”

Clicking her tongue in dissatisfaction, Robin kicked a wall in anger and Kid Flash flitted around like a hummingbird, she looked over them with worry before something caught her attention. Her eyes widened and then narrowed her eyes glowing in the dim lighting, “Guys, there’s something else in here.”

The boys tensed and looked around and finally their eyes caught onto what she had found and they too felt their eyes widen and jaws drop in shock.

“What the fuck?” Kid Flash's language wasn’t even commented upon as the rest stared at the slumbering boy in shock, he wore a white skin tight suit, with a large red S in the middle. Titaness felt her stomach roil as she covered her mouth, and felt her skin split as she bit her lip hard enough to bleed.

“Diablos…”

Aqualad narrowed his eyes, “Robin hack.”

“Right.”

The two, not doing anything, watched as their friend moved toward the capsule with shaky steps that turned into steady stomps, she seemed to barely hold herself back from cracking the glass with her bare hands. Eyes that seemed so inhuman to others shone with light so compassionate and kind that no one could doubt she was an empathetic being.

Placing a light hand on the glass she let out wavering words, “I-I think I know…” she cleared her throat, “I think I know who he's a clone of, but please enlighten the class Robin old chum.”

He nodded though she couldn’t see it, “W-weapon designation: Superboy, a clone force grown in sixteen weeks,” his voice went high and loud, “from DNA acquired from Superman.” Aqualad frowned, “Stolen.” Robin paused, but nodded.

She pointed at the small genomorphs, “There are more of the tiny ones…”

Kid Flash let out a murmur, “There’s no way the big guy knows about this.”

“Genomorph gnomes, force-feeding him an education.”

She growled, “Let him out. We need to set him free, this is slavery, perhaps not with chains and shackles, but his mind… a weapon out of a thinking, feeling being.”

She turned to the others eyes pleading, Robin looked to the others, Kid Flash had a determined look and finally Aqualad nodded.

“Set him free.”

[...]

The hiss of the capsule opening made her step back, joining at her side Aqualad, Kid Flash and Robin looked on nervously. The clone's eyes stayed closed, she frowned, “Does it say if he’s full… ya know kryptonian?”

She murmured this unsure, Robin looked to her, but she kept her eyes trained on the unmoving body, she was tense.

“I- I can check again, but why-”

The clone was still for a moment and then its hand flexed.

Her eyes widened, her arms snapped out and pushed the boys down, “GET DOWN!”

The superboy’s eyes snapped open and he snarled as he launched himself at her, it all happened so quickly and she was thrown into the ground as he punched her face. She grit her teeth and flipped him over trying to gain a grip on him, “Calm down! We’re trying to help you!”

He snarled and planted a hand underneath him bending and tightening his legs around her torso as he flipped her headfirst into the ground.

A small crater was formed as she fell onto her side groaning, Superboy stood and stepped closer, but was stopped by a water jet to the back making him stumble and snarl as he turned to the standing trio.

Titaness groaned, “Jeez did anybody get the number of what hit me…” shaking her head she stood up and glared, she couldn’t have been out of it for more than a second and yet she focused her vision and was greeted by the sight of her downed teammates. She felt the vein in her neck bulge in anger, and tensed her legs as she jumped forward, “WRAAAAGH!!!”

She sent a kick to his head, and he barely managed to get his hands up, but that didn’t stop the force from throwing him into the side of the room. She looked to her friends and went to check on them first Robin, and then Aqualad, just as she was about to turn to Kid Flash she was hit in the back again.

She stumbled, but turned and sent another kick, barely blocking the responding punch after punch sent at her face, gritting her teeth, “Ya know I’m getting real tired pendejo! Is this anyway to repay people trying to free you! Get your head on straight niño!”

He was strong, but after the third punch she realized he was predictable. Grinning, she waited for the next and pulled him forward, tripping him and then getting him into an arm bar hold, leaning into his ear as he struggled growling at her angrily. She sighed and tried to get her anger in check, “Look muchacho, I need you to calm down and listen, if you got told by somebody, like those tiny genomorphs, to attack us please just wait and listen.”

He tried getting on his knees, but she knocked them out from under him, twisting her legs into his, leaving him with no way to inch up, pushing him into the ground she set his arms into an uncomfortable position making him yell and grunt in pain, “I’m sorry, but I need you to calm… down . ”

He just snared and tried to wiggle, letting out a sigh, “Please… Superboy I need you to understand that we want to free you, you are in grave danger of being stripped of your autonomy and made into a mindless living weapon. Held only to the whims of those who direct you!”

The boy was stilling, she didn’t know if he was actually listening, but she persevered, “That is no way for someone to live, you should get the chance to make your own decisions, to fight if you want to, or to rest if not. Please, listen to my comrades and I’s offer of freedom!”

By the end he had actually settled down, only deeply breathing and she let his arms and shoulders settle into a more comfortable position, she smiled happily maybe she was really getting through to him, “I know it’s scary, we came into what was probably your home and you attacked, but I don’t think it was all you… was it?”

Silence fell over the room and then the boy's voice came through, it was gravelly with disuse, “Wh-what if it wasn’t?”

She let out a truly happy laugh, and he shifted under her in surprise, “I’m sorry… that was an inappropriate reaction wasn’t it… if it wasn’t then there is no real need to apologize, at least not to me, the other guys though…” she looked over her passed out comrades and his head shifted to look, he grunted.

“I’m going to let you up now Superboy… but I’d like for you to not attack me again if you can help it.”

He stilled, but then he nodded and she let out a breath of relief and slowly she got up, pulling him with her as she stood. Stepping back from him, he rubbed his wrists and turned to her with narrowed eyes. When he wasn’t angry as all hell he actually had rather nice blue eyes, she raised her hands and gave a cheeky smile.

He looked up at her with surprised eyes, “You're big.”

She let out a huff and pouted, “That’s not something you say to a lady- AAAAAAAA ARRRRGH!!!”

She was an idiot.

She fell to her knees, eyes unseeing as her arms hung at her side, limp only moving because of involuntary twitches from the electric shock. Smoke curled up from her mouth and Superboy shouted in surprise as he stepped towards her. The doors behind them had been opened in their scuffle, how she hadn’t heard it was anyone’s guess, but she would blame it on being too sucked into trying to talk down Superboy.

She blamed herself as the last thing she saw was those blue eyes lose their shine and turn dull with complacency.

Falling face first into the dirt had never felt so terrible.

In a different room the five heroes are held captive in capsules, all unconscious, while the male trio were held in the normal containment and extraction pods their female fourth member proved to be a bit of a problem.

Superboy looked them over, standing before them silent like a sentinel on watch, though he poured over them all with curiosity and confusion his gaze kept returning to the green woman.

He had information about her, he had information about all of them, but nothing about what the genomes had told him about her really matched. Maybe it was because their focus had simply been on how to best take her down, any hero really if they turn from the Light , but she was a lot… softer than what was portrayed in his learning.

He was confused.

He had heard about the devastation of the Berserker , of how unstable she was and how he had to be careful as she was powered in part by some mystical and unknown being and as a clone of Superman he had a particular weakness to magic.

But…

“You didn’t…” his gravelly voice surprised him, Superboy barely showed it, but he had never spoken to himself before.

Suddenly the other three woke up.

He looked over at them briefly before returning his attention to the girl, he watched with intense, off-putting focus, Kid Flash bared his teeth in anger, “Stop staring! What do you want with her?! You're acting like a creep with your stalker stare!”

Superboy looked over suddenly, off-putting focus zeroed in on the red-head who seemed to not have the good sense to back down, Robin frowned, “Maybe it’s a bad idea to piss off the guy who has heat vision KF.”

The calm voice of Aqualad interrupted any outburst that was about to spill from the red-heads mouth, piercing eyes looking into the clones, “Why did you attack us? We only sought to help you?”

“Yeah! We free you and you turn around and put us in a cage!” Kid Flash’s incensed tone made Aqualad turn and narrow his eyes in warning, “Kid please, be quiet now. I believe our new friend was not in full control of his actions?”

The last of his statements turned into questioning as he turned to the clone, Superboy opened his mouth and turned away from the girl who still had not woken up. Robin was peering at her with a furrow of worry in his brow as he worked at the cuffs, none of the others had really noticed, but he did it was odd.

Definitely not a good sign if they could keep her down for this long.

“What… what if I wasn’t?”

“He can talk?!”

Superboy glared at him, “ He can.” and Kid Flash gave a panicked grin, looking to his companions in slight embarrassment, “What it’s not like I called him an it.”

Aqualad spoke up, "The genomorphs taught you telepathically."

"They taught me much." Superboy replied, "I can read, write. I know the names of things."

"But have you seen them?" Robin asked, "Have they ever actually let you see the sky or sun?"

"Images are implanted in my mind." He replied, "But no I have not seen them… I… she said that I should say sorry for attacking you…” the trio stilled in surprise, Superboy’s attention turned back to the girl and they all turned to look at her, her pod was different, larger, and it was filled with a barely there fog like some kind of gas was being constantly poured into her containment, she had a muzzle and both her arms and legs were encased completely.

“What did they-” Kid Flash was cut off with a stern glare from Aqualad and Robin once again felt the need to hurry with his escape not that he wasn’t before. Superboy looked pensive, confused and annoyed all at once.

“That she required no apology though she took the brunt of my attacks and in the end she smiled at me… she said I was in danger of losing my… myself.” he looked back at her with confused eyes, “why did she do that? If she had not focused on me, if she had simply taken me down you all would no doubt have been able to escape, why did she give up that chance to… to…”

He shook his head and looked to the ground in confusion and annoyance, Aqualad’s eyes were stern, but they radiated empathy, “I cannot say what Titaness was thinking… but she especially would understand your kind of situation…” They fell silent, Superboy was unsatisfied with the response, but he seemed to have nothing else to say on the matter. Aqualad though, had more information he needed and more time was necessary for Robin to break out of his cuffs.

“Do you understand what you are?" Aqualad asks changing the subject.

He switched his gaze from the ground to the Atlantean, "I am the Superboy, a genomorph, a clone made from the DNA of the Superman, to replace him should he perish, destroy him should he turn from the light." He stated.

Robin and KF shared an alarmed look but Aqualad kept calm, "To be like Superman is a worthy aspiration, but like Superman, you need a life of your own beyond that solar suit, beyond your pod, beyond Cadmus."

"I live because of Cadmus, it is my home!" Superboy snapped.

"Your home is a test tube." Robin replied, “We can show you the sun, heck if Titaness has anything to say about it you’ll likely be bundled off onto a cross-country road trip!”

Kid Flash grinned, and glanced worriedly at the still unconscious girl, “I mean it’s probably past midnight by now, but we can show you the moon, the road trip though is probably a guarantee, but she’ll totally respect your choice if you don’t want-”

“Point KF, get to the point.”

“Sorry.”

Aqualad looked at the clone, “We can show you, introduce you to Superman.”

They stared at one another in silence, then the moment was shattered with the metal doors hissing open, in walked two scientists and Guardian.

“No, they can't!" They all looked up to see a scientist with glasses and a ponytail walk in with Guardian and the lady scientist Kid Flash tripped. The three of them had gnomes on their shoulders, "They will be otherwise occupied."

He turned to the woman, "Activate the cloning process." The woman walked towards a panel.

"Pass! Batcave's crowded enough." Robin stated.

The scientist turned to Guardian, "And get the weapon back in its pod!"

"Hey, how come he gets to call him an 'it'?" Kid asked.

Guardian put a hand on the clone's shoulder but he shrugged it off. With furrowed brows and an ever steady voice Aqualad pleaded his case one last time, “Help us.”

Desmond walked up from behind Superboy "Don't start thinking now." The Gnome hopped off the scientist's shoulder and onto Superboy.

"See, you're not a real boy. You're a weapon and you belong to me! Well to Cadmus, same thing. Now get back to your pod!" He ordered and without a word Superboy turned around and walked away.

The woman tapped or typed something into the panel and from the pods emerged some rather nasty looking devices that crackled with energy as they stabbed into the chests of the young heroes. For the first time in a worrying while a twitch was seen from the girl, she convulsed, but no sound could be heard from her pod unlike the others who yelled in pain.

"Where's dubbilex?" Desmond asked and the humanoid Genomorph from before walked up behind him, startling him, "Lurking around as usual. Get the G-Gnomes downloading their memories then delete the source material."

Just when things seemed to be coming to an end, with the heroes losing, the doors to the room were ripped off and in white Superboy stood. The trio of malicious menaces turned in shock, the ponytailed scientists stepped forward, “I told you to get back to your pod!”

They were all thrown aside, looking down in anger at the spectacle wearing man he growled out a response, “ Don’t give me orders.”

He stopped before the pods and looked them over Kid Flash stared back undaunted, “Are you here to help or what?”

Narrowing his eyes he stayed silent for a moment before an honest to goodness smirk appeared on his face, “Since I seem to possess no heat vision, it appears that helping is my only option.”

Kid Flash let out a surprised huff, “When did you have time to grow a sense of humor…”

Just then Robin finished picking the locks of his restraints and he hopped down rubbing his wrists, “Lucky Batman wasn’t actually here-”

Then he heard a screech of steel being ripped apart and turned, standing up from her restraints an eerily glowing Titaness had managed to somehow rip her steel covered hands from their splayed position. Her eyes glowed in a terribly inhuman way that made the hair on the back of Robin's neck stand, but he paid it no mind as he turned to the panel and pressed on some keys.

Almost immediately the pods opened and for Titaness her pod seemed to have the fog sucked out of hers as she brought down her other arm. Her eyes still glowed insistently, but Robin ignored it for now, “You free Aqualad, I’ve got Kid Mouth.”

Superby was once again distracted, but snapped his head and glared at the boy, “Don’t you give me orders either.”

Still he jumped to Aqualads pod and helped him down, a smile rose to his face, “Thank you.” Superboy's stoic expression was back as he nodded and set him down. There was a cracking and then shattering sound behind him.

Superboy set the other down and went to help the girl, her eyes had returned to normal and she looked a little out of it, pupils blown and eyes hazy, but she seemed to be recovering quickly. She pressed steel covered hands to the backboard of the pod and separated her steel covered feet from their position.

She looked at the boy before her who stared at her with unflinching focus and tilted her head, her eyes smiled as they pulled into crescent moons, proffering her hands he reached and crushed steel.

Nodding in thanks she reached to her mouth and crushed the muzzle as she removed it, “Jeez! These fucking putos, who told them that this is how you treat a lady, rude bastards,” she reached ripped off the steel encasing her legs with ease and hopped to the ground, “I see your calling the shots again. So what are you gonna do?”

He raised a brow, and she looked over him imploringly, finally he nodded, “I want my freedom.”

She smirked, and reached into the many pockets of her suit, “I can help with that,” she tossed a sucker at him and he looked at it in confusion,“here then happy birthday.”, she grinned and walked passed him patting his shoulder, “Today is basically the day your born and there’s not a better way to celebrate that then with copious amounts of ass-kicking, probably getting chewed out by the League, and maybe stopping at a shitty Denny’s for a night cap!”

She cheered and the trio looked at her with grins as they nodded, “Well then let’s go!”

“Please we were just waiting for you!”

“Yeah have you gotten even slower?”

Flipping off the pair, she tilted her head and Aqualad huffed out a sound of amusement as he started jogging out the exit, “You did take a rather long time.”

Squawking in indignation she followed, “I was literally being fed a copious amount of knockout gas! Y’all had it easy!”

Superboy looked at the place where he had been created and housed, where he had learned for one last time and then he turned. Hand gripping onto the sweet the other had given him he unwrapped it and stuck it into his mouth.

Eyes widened in surprise at the sweetness and sourness.

He kept the wrapper to remember.

They were running down the halls, Superboy leading them. The exit was so close they could taste it, Robin turned to Titaness with a raised brow, “A lollipop?”

She grinned, “What don't you keep sweets for the kiddies in that utility belt of yours?”

He huffed out a laugh, “Of course I do, just wondering why you gave him one.”

Jutting his chin to the boy leading them, she couldn’t help, but grin, “Well… life is both sweet and sour…” she took on that cryptic and airy tone sounding much wiser than she was and he hummed, “Also I didn’t have any cake to celebrate with thought it’d be nice to give the guy a nice gift on his birthday.”

They turned and met a dead end, Kid Flash panicked and anxious, “Nice job, you led us to nowhere!”

Superboy looked confused, but Robin shouted in glee, “Not nowhere, come on!”

He climbed up on Titaness’s shoulders, she looked at the vent in worry, “I don’t think I’m gonna fit in there.”

He cackled, “You will, everyone always does!”

She grumbled, but helped the rest up before following.

“I hacked the motion sensors.” They hopped out of the vents and Titaness grumbled as she pulled herself out, blowing a strand of hair from her face, “Fan-fucking-tastic. Are we almost out yet or what?”

It was a tight fit, but the boy wonder was right, she had managed to fit. She ran after them, Kid Flash doing what he did best and running ahead taking out Genomorphs that were on the stairwell. She grinned mischievously and picked up both Aqualad and Robin, “Oh not again!”

She laughed and jumped up the staircases easily, Superboy followed after her, she set them down after a while to join Kid Flash and though Aqualad nodded in thanks Robin had a sour look, Superboy destroyed the staircase behind them.

“Stop doing that!”

“Aw~ come on birdy~! Y’all are the perfect carrying size, plus it’s quicker!”

She laughed quietly as they exited the stairwell into sub-level 1, their eyes widened in shock at the closing metal door and though Kid Flash tried to slow down enough he still hit the wall with some speed. Superboy, Aqualad and Titaness tried to hit away at it and Robin tried to hack, releasing an inhuman growl Titaness manages to hit the door one more time before the genomorphs arrive. The young heroes turn to face them, but most fall immediately into a forced sleep.

Superboy looked at them in shock, and Titaness grunted as she fell to her knees, “Your mind tricks won’t work on me.”

The humanoid genomorph looked at her impassively and turned from her back to Superboy, she made to stand and attack, but a heavy weight fell on her making her stumble to her knees. They left cracks on the ground from the pressure she was under, grunting in pain she grit her teeth as she kept staring at the genomorph, “Don’t you ignore me puto, stay out of his head!”

She managed to get her feet under her and was about to attack when she felt arms go around her waist. She looked down with bared teeth and glowing eyes before they widened and then softened in confusion and surprise, “Why?”

She sounded scared, confused, and a bit betrayed, Suerboy shook his head, “He said I could go, that he would help.” He looked at her imploringly, and she stared back silently, “I chose freedom.”

Then she heard the boys behind her stir, “I fucking hate mind whammies…” Kid Flash’s distinct whining was a damn comfort.

She snapped her head to them and laughed in relief as they sat up, “You guys are alright!”

Guardian shook his head and then put a hand to it in shock, “It feels like a fog is lifting…”

The others stood up and Aqualad looked at Guardian unsurely, “Guardian?” the man finally seemed to get his bearings together and looked at them seriously, “Go. I’ll deal with Desmond.”

“I think not.”

The genomorphs parted to show the man Desmond held a glass vial full of glowing liquid, “Project Blockbuster will give me the power to restore order to Cadmus.” he downed the thing in a rather dramatic fashion and the young heroes watched in disgust and shock as his body morphed the sound of ripping tendons and skin, the sound of bones bending and breaking and reforming were not pleasant sounds.

“God did no one ever teach him that drugs are bad for you.”

“KF I don’t think a guy like that went through Just Say No, he's a bit before our time.”

Aqualad sighed, “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but is now the time to banter.”

Titaness laughed, slapping his back, “Aw~ if you're scared, stay behind me, I’ll protect you!”

Guardian though broke the chain of comradery, by holding up a hand, “Go! I’ll take care of it!” He charged, but was easily defeated by the monstrous form of what once was Desmond, who backhanded him into the wall and then roared. Superboy went next, and both went flying through the ceiling.

“Baby of the team and he’s already jumping in before his elders, such a rude guy!”

She picked them up again and jumped, “DAMMIT! I have a grappling hook for a reason!”

She laughed at Robin.

It was surprisingly a pretty fast fight, well after they actually got a plan together and that took some time to do, so after getting thrown around a bit they did come up with something. Some distraction with Robin providing explosions to the big lugs face, Aqualad slicking the ground sending water streams at his chest and Kid Flash tripping him up and the final blow a dual punch from Superboy and Titaness which made everyone not equipped with some invulnerability wince and flex their jaw in simpatico.

Hell they even kept the building standing.

Titaness dragged out the unconscious blockbuster Desmond behind her.

Not a bad turn out all things considered, as they walked out they breathed the fresh air above ground. Fists on her hips she looked to the sky, Kid Flash gestured at the moon wincing a bit as his ribs were especially tender, “Hey look at that! Do we keep our promises or what! The moon, the sky, some stars… some air pollution but you know that’s just a part of living!”

She shook her head and Superboy looked up in something like awe, childish wonder peering at the sky carefully as if to memorize it. Robin and Kid Flash grinned at one another and high fived, Aqualad had a quiet look on his face and Titaness just looked them over with a giddy smile.

“Oh shit.” Kid Flash broke the tender moment as he looked to the sky, and they all turned and who could it be on the horizon, but the Justice League.

“I mean… we managed to not destroy any buildings so they can’t be too mad… right?”

“Yeah…” Kid Flash gave a nervous grin, and then smacked Superboys chest wincing and shaking out the pain in his hand, “and hey, look there’s Superman!”

Superman was indeed there descending from the sky, his cape flaring in the air in a rather dramatic way, his eyes widened at the white suited Superboy, “Is that what I think it is?” The Dark Knight was the one who broke the stare off between the hopeful Superboy and stunned Superman. The rest of the Justice League were also quiet as they took in the scene before them a lot with disapproving or stoic eyes.

“He is not an it, Batman.” She glared, before her expression turned once again into a cheery and excited smile, a heavy hand landed on the boy and he stumbled, eyes widening as he turned to look at her in question, “This is… well he can introduce himself!”

He nodded and looked at Superman, “I’m Superman’s clone.”

The whole league to one another in worry, fair, and the Dark Knight took a heavy step forward more imposing than ever the kids straightened their shoulders, “Start talking.”

And they did.

After detailing everything that had happened, what they saw, and what they did, the main members of the League separated and discussed. Titaness sighed and sat on the unconscious body of blockbuster Desmond, Robin snorted as he sat on the edge of the sidewalk with Kid Flash only Aqualad and Superboy stayed standing.

She grinned, eyes half lidded, “What I’m not gonna sit on the ground, I’m a motherfucking lady Robin~.”

He pressed a hand to his chest and bowed his head, his voice taking on a snooty tone, “Oh, of course my lady, wouldn’t want your heavenly ass to sit on the dirty peasant ground.”

She laughed lightly, crossing her leg and leaning back her nose in the air, “My ass is heavenly… thank you peasant, carry on!”

Bowing his head he winced and groaned, “Ooh shouldn’t have moved like that.”

Aqualad tried to keep a stern face and he mostly succeeded, but he let an amused smile briefly take over before it was pushed down again by his serious expression. Superboy watched the scene with curious and absorbing eyes, and Kid Flash just poked at the mutated man with his foot.

“You guys really knocked him out.”

“That is what happens when two hard hitters hit hard.” she deadpanned and he looked at her with betrayal, “That was terrible.”

“It’s past midnight you can’t expect me to have all the good lines past my bedtime!”

He shook his head in disappointment and she threw her hands into the air in exasperation, turning to the approaching figure, she gestured at the red head, “Can you believe this guy! Come up with your own lines, ginger cakes!”

Kid Flash flipped her off discreetly, but straightened up at the big blues approach, Titaness stood from her relaxed position looking at the man with questioning eyes wondering what he would do now. Superman looked at Superboy who looked at him with hopeful, pretty blue eyes and then Superman looked away.

It hurt her, even though she wasn’t the one getting rejected, the Man of Steel sighed, “We'll figure something out for you, the League will I mean. For now-" He hesitated before continuing, "I uh-better make sure they get that Blockbuster monster squared away." He quickly said before flying away.

Superboy looked to the ground with a bitter expression, and hand squeezed his forearm gently looking up to Titaness’s eyes he expected pity, but all he saw was a bitter understanding, and empathy.

"Cadmus will be investigated." Batman caught their attention. They all turned to see him walking towards them with Aquaman and Flash, "All 52 levels but let me make one thing clear-"

"You should've called." Flash interrupts, gaining an annoyed glare from Batman.

The Bat turned his gaze back to them, "End results aside we are not happy." He stated sternly, "You hacked Justice League systems, disobeyed direct orders, and endangered lives. You will not do this again." He ordered with his Bat-glare.

"I am sorry," Aqualad began, "but we will." He stated.

"Aqualad stand down." Aquaman orders his protege.

"Apologies my king but no." The teen replied, "We did good work tonight, the work you trained us to do. Together on our own, we forged something powerful, important."

Flash was the next to speak, "If this about your treatment at the hall the four of you-"

"The five of us." Kid Flash cut in, "And it's not."

Robin looked to his mentor, "Batman, we're ready to use what you taught us, or why teach us at all?"

“Trust is a two way street.” she looked at the league imploringly, looked at Batman firmly, “We do trust you, you likely believe you have our best interests and make the best decisions, but you need to trust us to make those decisions ourselves. Trust that we managed to actually learn something from you old timers, if you don’t then….” She shrugged and finished with a cheeky grin.

Wonder Woman let out a breath of amusement, but her expression didn’t change and neither did Batman’s.

"Why let them tell us what to do?" Superboy suddenly said before stepping forward, "It's simple, get on board or get out of the way."

Titaness laughed and patted his back, and joined him standing beside him with a confident smile, the rest of the boys followed their lead and stood up to and against their mentors. Backs firm and straight and chins jutting out in stubbornness.

“Check inside the walls… I felt something angry in them, don’t know what but ya know, better safe than sorry.”

Wonder Woman nodded and turned to Batman who had a firm hand on Robin's shoulder, he nodded and grunted before he turned away. Titaness shifted in place and Wonder Woman paused before looking back, “You have something to ask.”

She nodded, “What- uh… what’ll happen with Superboy, is- does he have somewhere to stay or someone to take him in, because Superman doesn’t seem all that… happy about him.”

She looked at her stern faced, before smiling, “He will have somewhere to stay, Kid Flash has offered him a place in his home temporarily until the League can provide him a more permanent home.”

The girl let out a breath and her shoulders softened and relaxed, a small smile spread on her face, “That’s- that’s good.”

Warm hands landed on her arms and Wonder Woman stared at her with a proud gaze that made the tips of her ears burn, “You did well Titaness… and I am glad you have been able to not only get along with all these young heroes, but also that you helped young Superboy.”

Looking down in embarrassed happiness, “Aw jeez… There's no need for praise. I just did what any decent person would’ve. Besides Superboy wanted to come along so that was easy enough to handle and the others are real nice people so it was fun to work with them!”

She covered her face and Wonder Woman giggled, Titaness whined.

July 6, 12:00 CDT

Wally West aka Kid Flash, would say he’s a pretty decent guy, handsome, funny, smart and also a superhero.

He was the whole package.

So why, when he went out of his way to do a good deed did he have to suffer like this, this early in the morning. He had woken up to an empty room, sitting up from the sleeping bag on the ground. He looked around for the clone of Superman aka Superboy and shrugged it off. The guy probably went to the bathroom or to eat breakfast, so stretching out and yawning he stumbled to his feet. Cracking his neck he rubbed a hand through his hair and tried to blink the sleep away, his stomach grumbled and roiled.

“I need to eat…” he looked down at himself and his lack of pants, “should probably put on actual clothes though…”

Grumbling in exasperation and headed to the closet, at first he didn’t notice anything amiss he was still half asleep, but when he reached in and touched something that was not clothes he looked up and into the luminescent blue eyes of Superboy.

Well…

He would deny that he sounded like a little girl, but his mother would ask if he had heard the screeching cries of a cat and he would look away red and mumbling. Superboy would eat unbothered by all of this, but for now…

“WHAT THE FUCK- I mean what the fuck dude?!” lowering his voice from a shout to an annoyed whisper, hand clutching his chest, he looked up at the guy with wide eyes, Superboy blinked face unchanged, “Why are you in my closet dude!?! I literally gave you my- you know what… nevermind can you move I need to get some pants.”

Superboy moved out of the way and Wally reached in and slid on some sweats.

His stomach growled.

Sighing he waved at the already awake Superboy, “Come on man, I need to eat and so do you.”

Superboy nodded and followed silently.

They were laying on the couch just watching t.v. when there was a knock on the door, Mary West sighed and went to open the door, “No mom, I’ll get the door… where did my adorable son go.”

“Huh?” Wally said distractedly as he refused to take his eyes off the t.v. she rolled her eyes and shook her head. Opening the door an aborted yell called to attention the boys, Wally already there as Superboy barreled to the hall.

“Sorry! Sorry… I’ll uh…”

Standing at the door was none other than Titaness, she had an embarrassed smile and hands up in a show of good faith, “I must‘ve been a bit of a shock, I just came over to uh… invite the boys out.”

The woman looked up at her in shock before suddenly returning to her senses and looking out of her house to see if anyone noticed the giant of a girl. No one was around, but that didn’t reassure her at all, “Come in, come in.”

The girl nodded and softened her eyes, hunching and bending her head down to fit into the house once she passed the door she straightened up. Nodding to Wally he grinned in delight before his eyes widened and he looked down yelping at his state of dress, “Shit!”

“Language!” his mother yelled after the already gone boy and shook her head, before looking at the girl who had turned to the boy and waved with a smile. She started a conversation with him and actually managed to pull some words from the intense boy so Mary looked her over with careful eyes.

She had seen her on t.v. before, this time she was dressed in normal clothes of course a lot more conservative than she had been expecting since the girl always seemed a bit… loose on t.v. but right now she was wearing a pair of circular sunglasses, orange tan corduroy pants, white t-shirt tucked in loose and worn, likely old and a jean jacket over top. She seemed normal, cheery and personable enough to even get a conversation out of the boy she had taken in for the night.

“Where will you be taking them?”

Mary stepped forward interrupting the girl, but she didn’t seem annoyed as she turned to the woman, “I got tasked with delivering this,” she flashed a credit card to the woman, “to Superboy, he needs clothes and other things, plus he needs to go out and about ya know. Kids need to stretch their legs, umm… I was planning to ask Kid where he usually goes to buy his things and start there?”

She tilted her head in question, Mary was sure if she could see the girls eyes they would be questioning and shy.

“Oh.” the girl shifted in discomfort waiting for her answer and well, she couldn’t leave the girl waiting. She had been perfectly polite and charming, “I see, do you need a ride?”

She smiled brightly, but shook her head, “Nah ma’am I got my own ride, thank you kindly though-”

“I’m back!”

Mary looked at her son disapprovingly, “No running in the house.”

He deflated and the girl chuckled, “Aw man ma, do you gotta embarrass me in front of the babes?!”

“Kid I didn’t know you saw Supey like that should I leave you two alone on this expedition?”

Wally burned red, and shook his head vigorously and Superboy just looked at the crowd with mildly confused eyes, “I’m a babe?”

They all turned to him, Wally slack jawed, Mary covering her mouth to stop her giggles and finally Titaness grinned widely, throwing an arm over his shoulders, patting his chest before sweetly saying, “Oh darling, you absolutely are.” Superboy blinked and looked at her and then puffed his chest out in pride like he had been paid the best compliment.

“I’m a babe.”

“Of course you buy your clothes at JCPenny.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that you snob!”

“There isn’t, you're right, but you do dress like it which is a damn shame.”

She bowed her head conceding the point before jabbing him again with her disapproval with his style, he pouted, “What’s wrong with the way I dress, it’s comfortable.”

She sighed, “Nah, I’m just pulling your leg. You dress fine, just you also dress like you're hiding everything which is, as I said a damn shame, you got legs for days red, and half decent arms.” she looked at the shirt in her hands with a contemplative frown before putting it back on the rack. Wally though looked at her with red cheeks, she hadn’t sounded flirty, but the statement sounded flirty, but she sounded like she was just saying something obvious. Honestly he had no idea how to act, normally he would be flirting or joking with her like he would when he was in uniform, but now in the mall of his hometown where he buys his civilian clothes he had no idea what to do.

It was embarrassing.

Titaness had grabbed a couple of sizes of pants and shirts and handed them to Superboy who was wearing an overly tight white shirt and loose jeans and tight hoodie, she smiled apologetically, “Sorry about the sizing issue I kind of guessed at your… everything which is why we’re here let’s have you try this on.” she herded him to the dressing rooms the red-head following behind kind of bored and already on his phone, “I chose a variety of textures and fabric types so you can choose what feels the best along with different sizes so you can see what fits best after you get your sizes and fabric preference in order everything will be easier.”

“Do I have to do this?”

Superboy had a frown on his face, the edge of his mouth twitching as he looked around in wariness, and she paused, “Well… if you're tired of being here once you get your sizes sorted we can always order online and have it delivered? Do you not like being out or is it the store that you don’t like?”

She looked at him softly with no judgment simply waiting for his answer, and he took a breath and looked around taking a moment to actually think it over. He feels the stares of the people milling about the store prick at him, some were discreet and some were too blatant and both were damn annoying. Still, while a lot of them looked at him, most were looking at his companion, she brought attention to her like a flame brought the attention of hundreds of insects all wandering too close for comfort and getting burned because of it.

“Don’t like it here… but I want to see… things.”

She nodded, “Okay then… let’s get you measured and squared away and we can head out alright. Is there anywhere in particular you wanna go to or can Wally and I take you out?” The red-head looked up briefly, mumbling out an agreement before returning to his phone, she shook her head in exasperation rolling her eyes behind her sunglasses, “Pendejo niño, pay attention what if I had made you agree to sell your soul to the devil.”

He just grunted, and she threw her hands into the air and pulled Superboy to the dressing room.

Hot topic was not the place either of them had expected Superboy to be comfortable in.

Don’t get them wrong, after wandering the mall in search of something to catch the boys attention they were kind of glad he actually found something. It’s just well… neither of them ever frequented the place, “I mean I’ve been here before for like some band tee’s and the one time I needed silly string to attack Rob with but uh…”

The girl shrugged as they waited at the entrance as Superboy looked over everything with an intensity and focus that burned with interest, “I mean out of all the stores this is probably the most creative looking, it probably is interesting to be in. Plus not a lot of people are inside and it has dim lights so it’s not overwhelming.”

Still they both shrugged at one another as Superboy picked up another leather cuff with even bigger spikes and skulls on it.

“Three giant Cinnabon for the ginger, one for the babe and for me a cinnamon pretzel.” Wally booed at her, “Ugh you have no taste.”

She shrugged, “I’m not gonna take it back.”

Superboy looked at his food with fierce focus, and then finally took a bite, Wally looked over at him as he tore his snack apart, “So?”

The blue eyed boy nodded, “‘S good.”

“Right!”

Mount Justice

July 8, 8:04 EDT

“Yo!”

A cheery voice rang out through the mountain. The rest of the team had gathered; they fell into a relaxed line to wait as Batman stood before them intimidatingly behind him stood Black Canary, Wonder Woman, Red Tornado, Shazam, and Hawkman. The Flash stood beside his side-kick and Aquaman beside his, Green Lantern floated around glowing and refurbishing.

"This cave was the original secret sanctuary for the Justice League." Batman walked down the lined up team, "We're calling it into service again since you five are determined to stay together and fight the good fight you'll do it on League terms." He turned to face them, "Red Tornado volunteered to live here and be your supervisor, Black Canary's in charge of training, I will deploy you on missions."

Robin looked to his mentor imploringly, “Real missions?”

"The League will still handle the obvious stuff." Flash added, "There's a reason we still have these big targets on our chest." he pointed to his logo.

"But Cadmus proves the bad guys are getting smarter." Aquaman stated, "Batman needs a team that can operate on the sly."

"The six of you will be that team." The Dark Knight states.

"Cool." Robin smiled before frowning in confusion, "Wait, six?"

Batman looked over their heads and they turned around to see Martian Manhunter walk alongside a younger martian female. "This is Martian Manhunter's niece, Miss Martian." Batman introduces.

"Hi." The girl gave a short wave.

"Liking this gig more every minute." KF whispered to Robin before stepping forward, "Welcome, I'm Kid Flash. They're Robin, Aqualad but it's cool if you forget their names."

Titaness shook her head, and smacked the back of his head, gently, “Calm the havoc that are your hormones Kid, nice to meet ya Miss! I’m Titaness. It's nice to see another cool green lady around, hope we get along!” She held out a hand, the red head smiled kindly shaking it, the rest of the team followed her lead. Robin looked back at Superboy who hung back, “Come and introduce yourself Superboy!”

He joined them and Miss Martian looked at the boy shyly, her shirt morphed to black, “I like your shirt.”

He smiled.

Titaness grinned and looked over her new team with glee, Aqualad smiled, “Today is the day.”

She rocked to the tips of her toes and threw her arms into the air, “HELL YEAH IT IS!” and cheered.

[...]

Mount Justice

July 10, 10:00 EDT

“You want to live at the mountain?” Wonder Woman aka Diana Prince when out of uniform, questioned her ward, Titaness aka Mona Morales looked at her nervously shifting in anxiety, she had her hands hidden behind her back, but looked straight forward and nodded.

They were both in pj’s but the air around them had lost its comforting vibe.

“Why?”

“Umm… honestly, I was thinking about how little socialization both Miss Martian and Superboy would get if no one was there to actually force them to go out, along with neither of them having anyone to ask about any questions regarding you know being… Earth people?”

Looking annoyed at her inability to come up with a better term Mona frowns, Diana looked to her ward with concerned eyes, “Mona… you know you don’t have to do that. The League is perfectly able to handle any questions the two may have, and Miss Martian has her uncle around to ask if she wants to ask any personal questions.”

Mona looks at her with a wry smile, “I know your majesty-”, “Diana.”, “sorry, Miss Diana… I trust the league, I do, but you guys are also busy… a lot, you guys are good with macro stuff, but the micro takes someone being there… who isn’t an android, no offense to Red Tornado ‘f course.”

Diana still looked at her with concern, but also the creeping sight of pride made Mona turn away and pour herself some breakfast, “Plus… I actually want to! It’ll be fun, like living with new friends. I think it’ll be nice to have people my own age to talk to, with Cassie off to Paradise for the summer and Vanessa… still recovering, well… I mean I won’t be gone all the time and I’ll still be ready to go on any mission with you whenever but-”

Diana raised her hand and Mona fell silent, suddenly the princess smiled and nodded, “Alright. If you're sure and you aren’t doing this because of some duty then I will allow it.”

Looking at her wide eyed and awed, she squealed and jumped up going around the table to hug the woman, “THANK YOU! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Oh, this will be so awesome!”

She giggled and continued speaking rapidly as she ate and Diana looked at her with pride and happiness, she was glad Mona was so happy and eager. Listening to her plans and hopes for the move made her resolve firm as she sent a text to Etta to clear her schedule for the afternoon.

She chuckled at her response.

Miss Martian was so excited to be living on Earth!

She flitted around her room as she fixed everything to peak perfection, she spun around and surveyed her space. She couldn’t help, but giggle in happiness as she let herself float to her bed. It was like a dream being here, winning Uncle J’onn’s competition, getting the chance to be his sidekick, but best of all it was the ability to travel to earth.

She hadn’t seen much, but it was shaping up to be just great!

Laying on her bed in silence she felt the creeping silence of no minds around her, she thinks if there was one thing that she had to complain or feel homesick about it would be how quiet it was unless she reached out. The mountain especially was awfully silent, with only Red Tornado and Superboy around it was… lonely.

Rolling onto her belly she curled a pillow to her face, as she giggled at the thought of the handsome boy, he was silent and reticent, but he wasn’t mean at all.

Then she felt it.

If she had hair on her skin it would stand on end, she had felt this once before so she knew not to panic, but it was still off putting. She jumped off her bed and floated out of her room, and there she heard her.

Titaness.

She was… a contradiction.

Once M'gann had touched her, god she didn’t want to even get close to her, but she had to because it would be rude, and mean, and cruel and Uncle J’onn wouldn’t lie about this , she got it. It was like that aura of anger, rage, violence and cruelty was just a thin gossamer blanket covering a gooey soft center underneath. She was just as kind, and cheerful as her uncle had told her she would be, it was only a brief feeling of her, but M’gann held onto that impression.

She would make a new friend.

She knew they would get along splendidly!

“That’s the last of it… thank you again Miss Diana.”

Diana nodded and gripped her shoulder firmly, but warmly, “I am happy for you Mona, I want you to have fun, but be responsible and try not to blow up the mountain.”, “I left the oven on once…”, “You don’t have to take on so much, you have nothing to prove , do not let Speedy’s tantrum and hurtful words make it seem to you that you are not a hero. You are a good hero, kind and strong and you are no Berserker, no monster, and no charity case, I believe and trust you…”

Mona fell silent and a teasing grin fell away, she was looking down hair hiding her face, Diana lifted her chin and swept away the girl's curls, “You are my student, my ward, and my gift, though your journey to me was harsh and cruel I will always be on your side. You are a hero and you have nothing to prove.”

She looked at the girl seriously and Mona, her face was burning and she wanted to cry, but tears refused to fall and she just smiled. Diana's eyes went all soft, and sad, because Mona’s eyes were happy, grateful and embarrassed but… they also showed disbelief.

Mona had bid her mentor goodbye and turned to walk back to her room when she was met by her newest teammate Miss Martian. She was a bombshell really, kind eyes and pretty red hair and she meant red, Mona liked red not as much as she used to, but still a lot more than other colors. Too bad wearing it nowadays made her look like a walking, talking Christmas ad.

“Hey there Miss! I just finished moving in, sorry about not warning you or Supey, hope you don’t find me too unbearable to live with.”

“M’GANN M’ORZZ!”

Flinching back with a confused smile, Mona tilted her head questioning why the martian girl was yelling out what seemed to be her name. The red headed alien went all wide eyed and embarrassed as she let herself touch the ground and covered her face, “Uh… ‘kay, I’m Mona Morales… hey we both have M&M names!”

She laughed joyously as she pulled the embarrassed girl's hands down gently, her hands were tiny and a paler green than hers, M’gann peered up at her with her pretty wide eyes, “I- Yes! I mean yes we do, how wonderful! Is it alright if I call you Mona?”

She nodded excitedly, “Of course, do you want me to call you M’gann?”

The martian girl nodded, before shyly looking at the ground, “Actually I chose myself a human name… Megan Morse, if- can you call me Megan?”

Mona looked at her seriously and nodded, “Of course! Whatever you want Megan!”

The martian giggled in glee not once letting go of the others hands and Mona felt her ears burn at the prolonged contact. It was nice, the skinship between friends was really nice, she had never had friends her own age before she hoped she could measure up and get along with her well.

Mount Justice

July 11, 5:45 EDT

She had a routine.

Back when she had first gotten her powers it was… overwhelming. All her emotions had been out of whack, all those feelings people keep under wraps coming to the forefront along with a hefty dose of some pretty heavy hitter power. She was in essence exactly what he had intended her to be.

An avatar for destruction and violence.

Not the calculating kind, but the unstoppable force kind.

Lucky for her it wasn’t the first nor would it be the last time Wonder Woman had gone up against something with god-like power.

After that she was taken to Paradise where she needed to learn control.

She was isolated on one of the archipelagos islands, and she learned what needed to be done so she could ever interact with another person again. She learned to take the anger and rage that was begging to be released and use it to not murder and destroy, most of the time and that control was earned through meditation and reminders that she was not just destructive force meant to break anything she touched.

She learned how to whittle, bake, cook, garden, blow glass… she was terrible at blowing glass.

She sat before the ocean's waves and took in a breath and let it out, letting the world around her wash over her. She felt everything and then she felt within, there was a constant discomfort, a constant need to stifle and hold back.

Sitting paying attention to her breath, her body, her mind, the twitches her fingers made and even when her mind wandered. It was all a necessary part of being mindful, of keeping control, she was in control .

When she opened her eyes the sun was just past the horizon.

She stood and her half-lidded eyes looked over the ocean to the beautiful sunrise and she let out a sigh of contentment before unrolling her mat. Yoga was a fantastic way to warm-up and keep herself from being stiff, plus it was just as good at keeping her calm and curbing any of the more volatile emotions in check while letting her move around in a routine kind of way.

Finishing up the sun salutation she breathed in and let it out, she finally was brought to full awareness again. She felt a familiar stare at her back and she turned,“What’s up?”

She didn't move from her spot as she let the day’s breeze flow over her, her smile was smaller, more relaxed, but no less happy, Superboy walked over to her, his eyes were tired and he had an even more severe frown on his face than usual.

“The sky.”

“Ha-ha… but really are you alright you have an even deeper valley between your brows than usual.”

She poked said valley gently, and Superboy looked crossed eyed at the appendage before frowning at her and smacking her hand away. She let out a chuckle and held her hands up in surrender, he shifted in discomfort as he sat next to her.

“Why are you doing this?”

She pressed her lips and finally sighed, rubbing a hand through her hair, “Well the sweet and short of it is that it helps me control myself, gets me to think about what’s going through my head rather than just acting on it.”

“You need help in controlling yourself?”

He looked confused and she just nodded, “Yup, gotta be mindful of myself and others. It's what helps me keep my head on straight and all that… you wanna join me tomorrow?”

She asked with a cheeky grin and sparkling eyes, and the boy frowned, “Just sitting and doing nothing… seems like a waste of time.”

She shrugged, “Eh… it might surprise you, will probably help you get to sleep if you meditate for like ten minutes before it.” he twitched and didn’t respond, she let out a chuckle, “Alright then tough guy… how about you and me spar then.”

At that he looked straight at her and smirked, “That I can do.”

M’gann was drawn to the sparring room by the sound of thunderous strikes.

When she arrived she saw a smiling demon with gleaming white teeth and green skin, and a frustrated teen slammed to the ground. He let out a gasp of air as the hit drove out all breath in his lungs, then the giant above him twisted his arm and stepped on his back.

“I win again.”

Superboy snarled, and struggled, but in the end just fell still and grumbled out a concession.

She laughed and pulled him up as the boy rolled his shoulder and glared at her fiercely which made her laugh even harder, “Jeez don’t get your panties in a twist, you’ve only been out and about in the world for like five days man, I‘ve been training in hand to hand for two years by now and my strength is no slouch either! Once you start getting some actual technique behind your strength you’ll be able to beat me… once in a while at least.”

She taunted with a sing-song voice and the teen just snarled and stomped away, looking after him Mona just shook her head and rolled her eyes and then she noticed the newly arrived audience. Happily she skipped over to the smaller green girl, “Megan! You’re up! Are you here to train? I was about to go make some food and wrangle up an angsty teen boy for help, but wanna join me instead?”

She looked at her with unbothered yellow eyes and M’gann looked behind her to where Superboy stomped off, “Are you sure it’s okay to make him so angry? Shouldn’t you go after him?”

Waving her hand, “Oh him, nah, he’s gotta get used to losing, everyone does at one point or another, if he gets angry every time he’ll just be getting people hurt on missions. Besides, we're not just gonna abandon him or anything, just gotta give him some time to cool down… and food will probably help him feel better. Maybe.”

Mount Justice

July 15, 14:00 EDT

“Have either of you gone out of the mountain?”

Superboy had taken to sitting in front of the static filled t.v. and M’gann was currently attempting, under Mona’s careful watch, to make a batch of cookies that didn't burn. M’gann looked at her, “Umm… Well we haven’t been here for very long and after Uncle J’onn let me move in he said I had to be careful and I don’t want to make a fool of myself…”

M’gann shrugged, Superboy was unmoved and Mona sighed, “Alright how about we take a field trip, Happy Harbor is a decent enough place to start low crime and all that, how about it? Wanna go out and look around?”

The martian took to the air in a hop of joy and Superboy looked at her with an annoyed expression, “Pass.”

“Boo. Boring man.” sticking her tongue out she continued to chat excitedly with the martian girl about what they would do and where she’d like to visit, while pulling out her phone to check what actually they had in town to do.

“I’m a little disappointed that Superboy didn’t want to come out! It’s so much fun out here, Earth has so many curious things to do!”

Mona chuckled as she handed over a card and picked up the bag of her spoils, Megan looked completely human. It made her a little envious how easily she could change her appearance to fit in, but it was an old envy and nothing would come of it. The girl in question was looking at one of those fancy drinking birds who was pecking at some colorful water, she was curious it was genuinely adorable.

“Yeah, but hey some people just don’t like being in the crowds and I tend to call a lot of attention which doesn’t help. Sorry about that by the way.”

Mona held up a hand in apology, but Megan shook her head and walked beside her out the store, the clerk watched the giantess and pretty red-head walk out with his mouth agog.

“Oh, don’t be sorry, that's actually pretty fun to experience too!” at Mona’s questioning look Megan smiled up at her, “I’ve always wanted to try a, how do you call it, a milkshake! And pie too! I saw it on an episode- I mean I’ve heard about it from Uncle J’onn!”

Mona blinked at her embarrassed reaction, but simply nodded, “Sure! Pie and Milkshakes are an American classic, come on it’ll be our last stop before going back!”

She gave a bright smile to the other and offered up her arm, Megan blushed, but moved her bags to her other arm and took the other girl's arm and let her lead. It was an odd pair with Megan’s shorter stature being the least awkward difference, it was more a matter of style and perceived impression. Mona was stupidly tall with wild curly hair only barely held back with some hair clips and wearing bootcut jeans and a cropped white shirt and circular glasses. While Megan was the quintessential girl next door, with a preppy style and red hair pushed from her face fully with a headband showing off a freckled face with a kind expression.

They were opposites, but they got along seemingly splendidly.

“Oh! This is delicious!”

“Yeah, right! I mean I’m not even a big fan of pie, but damn… excuse me can I have one to go?” the waitress smiled mildly and nodded as she wrote it down, the two girls swapping their milkshakes whenever they wanted to try the others, “We should totally have a sleepover or something! We can braid each other's hair and shit, it’ll be cool and I can introduce you to my favorite movies and music!”

“That would be wonderful! We can make snacks together. It'll be just like- I mean, it’ll be a blast!”

Mona giggled in excitement, and Megan laughed happily.

“Supey! I brought you pie and a milkshake.”

The boy was still watching the t.v. unmoved and Mona frowned, M’gann had returned to her green skin, “I’ll go set our things down, do you mind if I leave your stuff in your room?”

Mona grinned and waved the question off, “Yeah man, no worries.”

M’gann looked at Superboy in worry, “You should come with us next time Superboy, it was a lot of fun and the people were very kind!”

He didn’t look away from the t.v. and just grunted and she looked sad as she floated off.

Once she was gone Mona punched the guy on the shoulder just hard enough for him to feel it, he glared at her, “What!” he growled out, she jutted out her hip hand on it with an unamused expression, in her other hand was a mystery box, “Don’t be such a rude bastard to her she’s genuinely trying to be your friend the least you can do is give her a verbal response.”

Her voice was steady and calm, chiding, he looked away from her with a frown, that bordered on pout, at least she thought so, sighing in exasperation she presented him the box, “Here. I thought you might need a phone, I also got you some noise canceling headphones and loaded up some white noise playlists. I had heard from Wonder Woman that Superman had trouble controlling his super hearing when he was younger so I thought…” she looked away mouth forming into a pout.

Superboy opened the box with wide eyes, she let out a heavy breath, “I’m sorry, I may have gone a bit too far for your first time sparring… anyway me and Megan will be having a sleepover so sorry about the noise in advance.”

She turned and started walking when finally he answered, “I-... Can you help me… set this up? Please.”

She turned around wide eyed and surprised before a gentle smile bloomed, and Superboy looked away embarrassed and cheeks slightly red, “Yeah, of course I’d love to help.”

Mount Justice

July 18, 9:15 EDT

They had fallen into a sort of harmony, after their day trip and subsequent ‘sleepover’ M'gann and Mona were basically at each other's hip unless Mona was needed by Wonder Woman or training. While Superboy had not become a social butterfly he actually managed to be more verbal, if only a little, enough not to be considered rude.

“Breakfast is served my friends!”

Ever cheery Mona plated the trios omelet and french toast, M’gann thanked her and floated the meal to the table where Superboy sat looking at his phone in deep interest, headphones over his ears which he took off once the meal was set down and put away his phone.

“Thanks.”

Mona gave him a double thumbs up, and M’gann smiled happily as everyone got along.

Their aquatically inclined friend had arrived only an hour and half after they finished breakfast and had been met with the sight of M’gann cheering on a sparring match between the two heavy hitters. Superboy was actually a scary fast learner, fucking smart too, and was getting steadily better in their bouts against each other.

Aqualad had arrived just as the match had turned from Superboy’s favor to Titaness, as she slammed him to the ground, “My win!”

Superboy snarled, and punched the ground, but took the other’s hand when it was offered, Mona patted his forearm in a peacekeeping gesture and Superboy let out a gusty breath from his nose looking away. It was about to be a match between him and M’gann when Aqualad finally interrupted.

“I see that you have not been spending your days idle.” He nodded in greeting, M’gann turned in surprise and glee, Mona waved cherrily, and Superboy nodded coolly. Aqualad took the tall girl's heavy pat in easy stride, “Aqualad! It’s good to see you, my man, been busy these days?”

Aqualad chuckled, “I have been busy, and it’s good to see you all as well. Have you spoken to Red Tornado about any missions?”

M’gann frowned in confusion, “I thought Batman was in charge of delegating missions, and Red Tornado has mainly kept to himself and is currently off the island.”

Mona nodded and pouted, “Yeah the old stiff never wants to join us for sparring, but I was thinking of asking him to join us for a game night, think the guy’d like scrabble.”

“What is scrabble?” M’gann, Mona turned to her and explained before excusing herself to go shower and change.

Aqualad asked Superboy and Miss Martian where their computer was.

Aqualad, Superboy, Titaness and Miss Martian all looked at the holographic computer tracking Red Tornado. She was drying her hair with a towel, “I don’t know why you’re so antsy, it’s unlikely Red Tornado will say anything other than it’s not part of his duty to have a mission ready for us, plus-”

The flash of the Zeta-Tube caught their attention.

RECOGNISED, ROBIN B-01, KID FLASH B-03

The three all looked to the Zeta-Tube as the computer announced their teammate's arrival. The two arrived in their casual clothing. KF wore a yellow shirt under a red overshirt, blue jeans, and white sneakers. Robin wore a green hoodie under a black overshirt with black skinny jeans. The two ran over to their teammates.

Titaness waved with a grin and a towel around her neck, the two waved back before quickly turning their attention to the holograph and Aqualad.

"Did you ask him, what did he say?" KF asked excitedly.

"He is arriving now." Aqualad replied, concealing his own excitement.

They watched the screen, “He's already passed the shoreline." Aqualad answered.

A large ramp lowered open at the base of the mountain. The teens poured out as they saw the League member descend. A red spiral of air allowed the android to fly.

"Red Tornado!" KF waved him down.

Red Tornado landed, "Greetings." The Android landed and looked over the teens. "Is there a reason you have intercepted me outside of the cave?" He asked.

"We hoped you had a mission for us." Aqualad answered.

"Mission assignments are Batman's responsibility." He replied simply.

Robin spoke, "But it's been over a week and nothing-"

Red Tornado raised his hand silencing him, "You'll be tested soon enough. For the time being, simply enjoy each other's company." He stated before walking past them.

"This team is not a social club." Aqualad states.

"No." He agreed before continuing, "But I am told social interaction is an important team-building exercise." He countered, "Perhaps you could keep busy by familiarizing yourselves with the cave?" He walked past them.

"Keep busy." KF scoffed and punched Robin's shoulder.

"Does he think we're falling for this?" Robin asked.

"Oh." Miss M caught their attention, "I'll find out." She states and turns to look at Red Tornado.

The Android passed by the sensor.

RECOGNISED, RED TORNADO 16

The boys watched as she tried to read his mind but to no avail. She sighed, "I'm sorry I forgot he is a machine. Inorganic, I cannot read his mind." The Martian stated shyly.

"Nice try though." KF smirked flirtatiously, "So do you know what I'm thinking right now?" He asked moving to face her, M’gann looked confused and a bit uncomfortable as she smiled. Mona picked the redhead by the collar, “Calm your hormones Kid,” she set him down next to Robin who laughed at him Kid Flash huffed in embarrassment the tips of his ears going red, she turned to them hip jutting out at as she placed her hands on her hips looking them down with suspicious eyes, “Y’all should listen to Red Tornado, he’s only doing his job. Besides, we do actually need to get used to each other. Working in a team is a helluva lot different than working in pairs with people older and more experienced than yourself.”

She was already turning back to head into the mountain as she waved at them, Superboy followed after her and M’gann stuck around the other three.

“Maybe he’s right in telling us to socialize and talk to each other, better now than in the heat of battle.” She had a twist to her mouth that spoke of lived experience, but no one saw it.

“What’s up with her? Is being around Supey turning her angst?” Kid Flash looked at the retreating back of the other, M’gann looked at her friend in worry, “Perhaps we are not the only ones who are eager to go on a mission, she is simply better at holding things in than we are.”

Aqualad stated, and Robin and Kid Flash looked at him confused, he shook his head, “It’s nothing…” he sighed, “She is right though, working in a large team such as ours will come with its own growing pains, perhaps a tour would not be remiss?”

He looked to the only resident of the mountain left and M’gann smiled happily and nodded as she floated off the ground, “Alright, I don’t mind showing everyone around! Come on!”

She flew off and the others followed.

“You alright?” Superboy looked at her with worried eyes, and Mona just sighed as she leaned back on the couch of their living room, his headphones were around his neck as he had gone and changed into clean clothes.

“I’m fine… guess I’m a bit more stir-crazy than I’d thought I’d be. Now that everyone’s together it’s really hit me that we’re a, you know, team. We’ll be going on missions by ourselves with no adults to supervise us or guide us, no adults to take over when things get dicey, guess I’m a bit more nervous than I’d like to be…”

She turned her head and smiled with closed eyes, but her smile was strained and her chuckle was weak. Superboy frowned, “Why would you want someone to tell you what to do?”

She sighed, “It’s… I’m not saying I like it all the time, but I guess it takes the pressure off myself ya know, like if I make a bad call that gets someone hurt or worse killed, it’s on me. Not to say I don’t blame myself even when I am being told what to do, it's just… easier, I guess. Less confusing for sure.”

She finished her sentence with an unsatisfying end, Superboy frowned and opened his mouth to ask her to clarify, “That’s kind of everything, oh! My cookies are nearly done!”

“Cookies! Babe, you shouldn't have.” Kid Flash stated flirtily, M’gann giggled in good humor as her timer went off, “I’ve been trying a bunch of recipes. This is a cranberry and white chocolate, this is a chocolate and peanut butter chunk and this one is a classic snickerdoodle!”

“SNICKERDOODLE!” Mona yelped as she flipped over the couch and ran over, she took in a large sniff of the cinnamony sugary goodness, “M’gann, dude.”

She looked at her with puppy eyes and the martian just giggled and gestured to the tray to go ahead, “Try them I think I’ve finally managed to make a good batch!”

Mona nodded seriously and took a bite, she nearly wept, “It’s good. A bit too much cinnamon, but perfectly baked, a bit soft in the middle and breaks apart perfectly. You’ve done it M’gann, you’ve graduated from burning water into making yummy cookies!”

Holding up a hand the martian high fived the girl, the trio of boys looked at them in confusion as they took some after getting the go ahead from the martian, “There is some history there that I’m a little afraid to know about.”

Robin stated as he bit into the chocolate, peanut butter chunk cookie, Aqualad nibbled on the cranberry one and hummed in surprise, Kid Flash was just scarfing them down at an alarming pace.

“She was bad at cooking, now she’s not.” Suerboy popped up and took a snickerdoodle letting Titaness’s subsequent glare run off him like water, he stated it plainly with little inflection other than his normal rumble of a growl he could never quite get rid off even at his calmest.

“A babe like that, she couldn’t be that bad.”

Superboy raised an unimpressed brow, “She was.”

Aqualad turned to the girls, “Thank you, this was a very kind gesture.”

M’gann nodded and smiled, “It’s no problem at all I find the task of baking sweets rather relaxing, your welcome anyway Aqualad!”

“We are off duty." The Atlantean stated, "Call me Kaldur'ahm. Actually, my friends call me Kaldur."

"I'm Wally." KF introduced, "See I already trust you with my secret I.D." He leaned on the island and smiled flirtatiously. "Unlike mister dark glasses over here, Batman's forbidden boy wonder from telling anyone his real name." he states, getting a glare from the youngest of the group.

"Mine's no secret, I'm M'gann M'orzz." She stated, "But you can call me Megan. It's an earth name, and I'm on earth now." She all but gushed.

Superboy turned and put on his headphones, Titaness turned to them, “Y’all know my name, Mona Morales, and Supey is still undecided even though M’gann and I have been pestering, even got him a baby book name, ya know.”

“Don’t want it.”

“You have to have a name! You need it for documentation purposes at least!”

M’gann looked between the two as they fell into a familiar banter, well less a banter and more Mona needling the increasingly annoyed Superboy, “ You don’t need to be in a hurry Superboy! I’m sure that soon enough you’ll find a good name. ”

Superboy clutched his head and snapped to the martian a snarl on his face, she startled back, Mona looked at them all confused, as the others clutched their heads making noises of pain. She went tense and looked around as she clutched at Superboy’s shoulder, “What’s wrong are we under attack- gah!”

When M’gann reached for her friend's mind she yelled in pain and fell to the ground, both green girls winced as they clutched their heads. The boys had managed to shake off the weird feeling of intrusion, Superboy kneeled beside Mona and glared at the martian, who looked at the group with panicked eyes.

“I-I’m sorry-”

“M’gann, you can’t just do that without asking, it's different here than on Mars.” Aqualad shook his head she looked at him in worry before wincing herself and looking at Mona who clutched her head. She took a deep breath, “I’m alright, I’m alright, sorry.” Superboy helped her to her feet before glaring at M’gann, “Stay out of our heads.”

He turned and walked to the living room, M’gann looked down in sadness, a hand appeared before her she looked up and met the yellow gaze of Mona. She had a small smile on her face, “Hey, it was an accident, you didn’t know and you’ve only been on Earth for what a month? Culture shock is a helluva thing, but yeah here on Earth you’ve gotta ask permission… especially for me I have trained specifically to make mental intrusion very difficult.” she gave a rueful chuckle, “One too many times on the other side of mind control if you know what I mean.”

Patting her hand softly, M'gann looked shocked at the revelation, “I’m so sorry! I didn’t- of course you wouldn’t want somebody-” M’gann looked soulfully into her friends eyes, “I’m so sorry someone did such a thing, to deprive another being of their own mind, to perverse such a connection it’s a terrible thing…”

Both girls looked into one another's eyes, M’gann floating a few feet off the ground, the boys looked at the pair with confused eyes, unfortunately the emotional stare off had to be broken, “So… are they gonna kiss or…?”

“Wally I will personally kill you and nobody will find the body.”

M’gann tore her stare away and felt her face burn, and Mona glared at the red-headed speedster with warm ears, he held up his hands in surrender and Robin chuckled nervously as they fell into an awkward silence.

“Hello~ Megan! I know something we can do!”

She flew away rather quickly, Mona frowned and rubbed the back of her neck as the boys followed after the martian. Sighing she followed pausing at the living room, Superboy refused to look at her as he played around with his phone, “I know you can hear me… she didn’t mean any harm and she didn’t know what it meant to you. Please…”

“You know what I went through, what you- you all did to give me my freedom.”

Mona sighed, “I know . Trust me, I do, but this is a new world for her and she’s not used to it so give her the benefit of the doubt that she didn’t want to hurt you, to cross any of your boundaries.”

She placed a hand on his shoulder and looked down at him soulfully, and he looked up, “Superboy…” M’gann appeared from around the corner, she looked a bit shy and a bit ashamed and all too hopeful, “please?”

He looked to her then back to Mona who had changed her stare to sternness, and he let out breath and stood to follow. Mona gave a grin and followed after him, M’gann watched him pass with a smile on her face, she turned to Mona who followed, floating beside her “Thank you.”

Mona waved her hand, “No worries, it’s group activity, it'd be a bummer if he stayed behind.”

“It’s cute.” Wally looked at the egg-shaped… thing with confused eyes and an indulgent smile, M’gann giggled, “Oh she’s at rest silly.” she patted her hand on the ship and it morphed into something more in line with what an airship would look like.

Mona’s eyes sparkled, “That’s so cool!”

M’gann floated into the ship as the doors opened and the ramp touched ground, the others followed hesitantly except for Mona who nearly ran in, but managed to temper her excitement as she practically skipped in.

“Everyone strap in and prepare for liftoff.”

[...]

Robin and Wally sat in chairs opposite of one another, Kaldur took a seat beside Superboy and Mona took one nearest the window as she peered out of it with glee and excitement. M’gann took the pilot's seat in the middle, “Red Tornado please open the bay doors.”

She held her hands in the air and two blue spheres rose from the floor, the doors opened and the ship flew out.

Skimming above the ocean before ascending to the sky, Mona looked on with awe, “Gosh… this is the coolest!”, Robin nodded in agreement as he looked to the ocean below, “Incredible.”

Wally sighed as he looked at M’gann with moony eyes, “Isn’t she?”, she turned to look at him and he startled back as he looked away to the ship in embarrassment, “I mean the ship! Because like all ships they are a she?”

Robin cackled, “Quick on his feet not so much with his mouth.”, Wally looked at him in betrayal, ears and cheeks red, “Dude!”

Mona chuckled, but she was still distracted by the passing world outside.

“How about some martian shapeshifting, do you mind showing us your skills?”

Robin asked easily, Mona snapped out her quiet thoughts as she turned to M’gann who nodded and stood, “Sure, sounds like fun!”

She stood and morphed first into the only other female member, Mona hummed and scratched at her face, “It’s good, but it also makes me want to scratch off my face if that makes any sense?”

Wally looks at her disturbed, “Dude.”

“It’s my face. Mine.” she pouted as the scratching turned to pinching, M’gann giggled nervously.

He shook his head and M’gann then shifted to Robin then Wally as she did a pose, “Is it bad that I find myself smoking hot?”

“A little narcissistic, but not terrible.”

“Very cool M’gann, but it’s not exactly gonna pass as any of us well except Mona, but she seems to have some weird territorial thing with her face-”, “My face!”, “Yeah that.”

Robin waved his hand gesturing to the girl who grumbled and crossed her arms, M’gann looked away in embarrassment, “Boys are kind of difficult.”

Mona raised her hand and Robin sighed, “Yeah, you don’t have to raise your hand.”, “I wanted to be polite, anyway what do you mean by that? Martians don’t exactly look like humans do so why does changing your physique matter if how you look now is so dissimilar. Is it a mentality thing, like you have to mentally think like a guy in order to morph into a dude? ‘Cuz Mr. Jonzz can like morph into a dragon, or is it like a skill thing?”

M’gann hummed, “It’s more of a skill thing, Uncle J’onzz is actually one of the best at quick morphing so he’s not really the standard, more the exception. It takes time for most, while shapeshifting is an innate part of a martian, it’s more of a skill that needs to be worked on…”

Notes:

And That's as Far as I Got. *thumbs up*

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