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#do you think Superman has Martian manhunter on speed dial
maanae · 3 years
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The Court: Origins
Guess who wrote that instead of searching for an appart ? .-.
But kinda like it and I mean there's Hawkgirl so it can't be that bad (yes it's from the animated JL. I mean it's the best girl from that carton. Best. Girl.)
-
Ladybug and Chat Noir meet heros : Wonder Woman is the First (working in Paris ?) and she introduces them to the rest. Because they need help and decent backing. (shinanigans and awkwardiness are totally here, they're fans ok?) But it's a firm 'no' to any direct intervention from foreign heroes who doesn't manage his emotions (akumatized Superman... brr). But they need help. They send Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl. (Wonder Woman would have come, with her own ties with the Miraculous and all, but she's already the ambassador of her people so can't.) Immediately, there are results. Crazy the efficacity of training right? (Master Fu gets an earful along the way, heroes don't like this Gardian way of his)
Ladybug is still his apprentice but she has back-up so she doesn't drown and she trains Chat Noir in secret from Fu. Because y'know, they're p a r t n e r s! (Hawkgirl called bullshit on the inequality between the two and Martian Manhunter said it was a good idea so). Ladybug and Chat Noir totally plan to rope Nino in it too. The Turtle always have more Gardian-vibe than the rest because Protection and Nino is Nino so he's trustworthy. (He could be Grand Gardian in the future but Ladybug is a martyr if anything else and she doesn't want to overburden him. She works on that. (And Chat Noir works on the "self-sacrificing" bit of his personality. Hawkgirl called bullshit on that too)).
They don't know each other's identity but when Chat Noir flirts and Ladybug complains they know it's more for fun than anything else. Sure, they have a tiny tiny crush on each other but they're heroes (teenage heroes) after all, they need the comic relief please.
Marinette and Adrian are more busy than ever and it's hard sometimes but they're not drowning and it's better than what could have been without the Justice League so they manage. Sure, Marinette doesn't design as much as before and Adrian runs on three hours of sleep tops but they manage! Sure they're in high school now but they're in seconde and it can be a lot of work but it's also the year the most laid back of high school so. They can do it.
With help, comes suspects. Did you think Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl were here only as supports? They're might be not as detective-oriented as Batman but they have their own way to have answers. They're still heroes, even if they're not detectives. Chat Noir isn't happy when his father made it on the List and is a serious suspect. And he's not happy when Ladybug supports this theory with her own evidence either. And sure his suspects are believable too but he overlooks Gabriel completely and Ladybug is not impressed with him (Lila comes back at the same time and Marinette is not impressed with Adrien either.) Maybe their argument and all the yelling gave away their identities a little too quickly. Oups.
They ignore each other for two good weeks, in class like in battle, before Hawkgirl forces them to talk. (Communication is important kids). It's not a fun conversation. They somewhat forgive each other even if it's strain in the first weeks. But they work on it (because frienships too need work) and they come to it at least! And sure Hawkmoth landed some good hits during that time but they always win, good relationship or not. They're professionnals guys.
And maybe they become so close they're often taken for a couple. Except she gives him advices about Kagami and he's pushing her in Luka's arms. They're often saying they're more like siblings if ask. At some point Adrien is all but officially adopted by the Dupain-Cheng. (The Lahiffe tried but hey, a whole bakery. They can't hold a candle to that.) It was a happy few months despite the stress and the akumas and amoks. Even with Lila. (because the class isn't full of idiots, yes they find Lila great and yes her war with Marinette and Adrien is weird but they're friends either way. They just... don't go out at the same time with them. They take turns. They think of something to make it work. Because being friends with a whole class is cute but not realistic.)
And then there is a conversation who strucks odd to Adrien. Not even a conversation, just an off-hand comment. Barely a "make sure Duusu obey correctly next time". Just a few seconds. Adrien wouldn't have think of anything if he didn't exactly knew who was Duusu. Oups x2. He took it pretty bad. Poor Chat.
Their plan is simple - in theory (well, more or less, it's still Ladybug we speak of). A sort of "breaking & entering" with thief!Marinette and complice!Adrian. Martian Manhunter in invisibility mode scoots the hallways before the two and Hawkgirl is at the end of the formation, ready for all he can throw at them. Of course it comes crashing down. La faute à pas de chance like we say in French - they come during the Night of Hawkmoth (the one random night in the week where Hawkmoth akumatises someone from a nightmare - look, he needs to sleep to). So when Adrian lets Ladyfox enter, the illusions doesn't fool the high-security systems and he prepares. Time for Scarlet Moth to shine!
He doesn't go to the confrontation this coward - he knows they will kick his ass with their training and help of the Justice League. Nah, he creates several really destructive akumas. Y'know. Criminals and the such he carefully avoided before. Trumps cards! Mayura joins not long after. It's a massacre. They need help. Big help. Big like all the box. (And Not the Justice League because maybe Scarlet Moth isn't at his limit and they can't risk it.)
So they recruit. Rena Rouge, Carapace, Hornet (Queen Bee 2.0), Ryuko, Viperion, Bunnyx, and sometimes random people whom the kwamis sense they have a greater affinity than the other persons in their class. It's still bad. They die - a lot. All of them, except Bunnyx. The number of times she jumped from her Burrow to protect a fellow hero is... frightening. Sometimes she made them exchange their miraculous, to better suit their affinities and needs. It lasts three days.
They win! Somewhat. They're... not broken, almost, mourning their innocence and deeply hurt. But they're alive and Paris is standing and Hawkmoth and Mayura are not - yet - winners so. They take what they can.
Ladybug and Chat Noir don't take back the Miraculous from those who want to fight with them. Some people can't be heroes, can't have the mental for it. Others are desesperate to stop this. And others still are born for it - like them. Hawkgirl and Martian Manhunter agreed to train them - they're not in their best mindset either (they didn't see so much destruction since their last world-ending event, it's not an everyday occurrence even for them) but they're adults, professionals. The kids need them so they help, of course. The Court is born, with new heroes and new names. Too many has been compromised during the battle to keep their old, and... they are not the same as before either. Dame Chance (Ladybug - Marinette), Cat Sìth (Cat - Adrian), Alya (Tiger - Tigris), Nino (Turtle - Shield), Chloé (Bee - Hornet), Kagami (Dragon - Kinryu), Luka (Snake - Ouroboros), Alix (Bunny - Bunnyx), Nathaniel (Fox - Renart), Allegra (Rooster - Mélodie), Bridgette (Ox - Niú), Claude (Horse - Kid Mime) and Alan (Dog - Gavroche).
From here, it's hell. Hawkmoth and Mayura send akumas and sentimonsters at a frenetic pace, sometimes switching with a Scarlet Moth Situation (not too otfen because it costs a great deal of energy but at least one on three days). Life in Paris is impossible, the city is lock down, the civilians need to stay home for their security and the heroes all but stop to live. They move in the QG Hawkgirl and Martian Manhunter set up at the beginning and scheme. Identities don't matter (and that's an interesting conversation), sleeping, eating, all of that is pushed aside. They can't deal with distractions. That's also a interesting conversation. (Look, some of them don't lose their priorities. Sleep and food are not distractions. But go say that to Marinette, hah.) But nevertheless, their lifes are put on hold for their hunt (and training. the new heroes need it.) No need to say, they're on a fine line from madness.
It lasts two weeks (an eternity) before they attack. The battle is horrible - like all battles - and the Court is spread across all Paris to protect it from the akumas and sentimonsters. Against Hawkmoth and Mayura, it's only Dame Chance, Cat Sìth, Ouroboros, Kinryu and Martian Manhunter.
They win. Finally. And they sleep the month after that, because trauma (very much so), adrenaline and - just - their bodies shut down. Especially Marinette and Adrian.
-
Now, the Box is used as almost full capacity. Nino has the Turtle. So Fu is like 'cool, Marinette is ready!' Hence Marinette is Grand Guardian at 16 (joy. so much.) and as first decision names Adrian and Nino Guardians with her. Fu isn't too please. She doesn't give a flying fuck.
After Hawkmoth Alya, Nathaniel, Bridgette and Claude gave back their miraculous (they were heroes when needed but it isn't a life they want).
The next two years are a lot of juggling between training, learning, apprenticeship and heroing but nowhere near the intensity of their first two years.
Because the Court is still active. Even without Hawkmoth and Mayura (by the way Nooroo and Duusu are absolutely being pampered in the box), they remained active, help the police and all. Especially with the new risk of attacks from terrorists (they couldn't prevent the bombs, only help afterwards and that was... hard. Definitely more so than Hawkmoth because the Cure can't revive these victims. There wasn't any Miraculous involved - only plain, old, ugly humanity).
Btw the Justice League is on speed dial in case they need help for a magical/miraculous/world-ending event and because they're allies now but they're not part of it.
So yes they're heroes but they're teenagers too. Marinette and Luka date one year before they break up and remain friends (and maybe she has a little something with Kagami at one point. maybe), Adrien discovers preferring guys, Nino and Alya are still as in love as ever. They grow up, they graduate high school. Some stay in Paris, others go discover the world.
Alya made a name for herself with the Ladyblog and has a brilliant carrier ahead of her, already thinking of doing something similar to Lois Lane : war reporter, then specialising herself in heroics. She wants to be the best and knows damn well what she needs to do for that (Lila be damned). Chloé flourishes in New York, attempting business and politics degrees (nobody else see Chloe as Mayor of Gotham? I think it would suit her - a broken city needing her help and power. pretty much her). Luka makes soundtracks for movies and makes a name for himself ; in the same sector, Allegra joins the National Orchestra of France. Nino chooses a degree in the cinema, DJing in the weekend. Adrian works with Sabine and Tom, training to inherit, one day, the bakery - Gabriel crumbled with his father and he has no intention to ever build it back. Kagami trains for the Olympics. Alix goes for a degree in archeology - following her family and her miraculous. The comic series relating the aventures of the Court by Nathaniel and Mark is a huge success, assuring their own place in the world. Allan go to Japan for a degree in languages. Bridgette and Marinette goes to China to visit their family (they're totally cousins) and for their respective studies in communication and fashion.
Paris is heartbroken and very concerned when Dame Chance and Cat Sìth disapear but the Ladyblog remains active so they can explain that they're young, they want to learn to live in this world and they need to attends some Miraculous matters - but of course if Paris or the France or even the world need their help one day, they'd come back.
At 23, Marinette, Adrian, Nino and Alix take a gap year and go to Tibet. Because they're not civilians despite their somewhat inactivity and their Court is cool but they very much need to think about the future, the after them. So they need to rebuild the Order.
Oh. The League/The Untitled/a great bad. Coucou. (book 2?)
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fireintheflames · 2 years
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OOH OOH OOH for the salty asks: 4, 27, 44 and 51 please?
4. Worst decision for [x]’s “new direction”?
I'm gonna go with Maxwell Lord becoming a Wonder Woman villain here.
Am I a fan of Max becoming a villain at all? No, but other people could explain why that's an issue itself much more eloquently than I can. And comic book characters hell-turn all the time, so not inherently a bad concept for a morally grey character to go in.
But he does not make sense as a Wonder Woman villain! They pretty much have no history (up until she kills him)! Max has so many heroes he was actually friends with before he went bad, and any one of them would make for a compelling foil. Booster Gold would be a good option, but honestly, I think he'd be really interesting as a Martian Manhunter villain. There's history, both have mind powers, both act as surrogate parents for superhero teams, lot's of potential there! Could go for a sort of dark mirror approach, lot's a questions about the morality of their powers, what constitutes "the greater good", the betrayal of someone you thought you could trust implicitly, it could have been great!
27. What comic book trope do you hate the most?
I forgive a lot for rule-of-cool purposes (looking at you, combat high heels), but I really hate what would be what good old TVtropes would refer to as "Superman Stays Out of Gotham". Basically, I hate the concept that super heroes don't ask eachother for help when something is outside of their scope, especially when said super hero is a member of some established team. I recognize it's one of the standards of the industry because otherwise solo books are a lot harder to justify, but it just makes me yell at the page, "You have Superman on speed dial, you idiot, time to call him!"! It can be handled well, but not a fan.
44. I used to like a lot of Batman's rouges, but not so much anymore. Especially Joker, big fan when I was a kid. I think the combined darker/edgier direction and over use sort of killed it for me. He's not even funny anymore.
In an inverse, I used to hate Guy Gardner, but now I love him! Sometimes reading comics helps!
51. Who’s the most misunderstood character?
I'd say Ted Kord. A lot of people seem to see him as either "funny Batman" or "Spider-man ripoff", when he really isn't either of those things. He's a man of layers! You peel back one aspect of the character, and find another one underneath!
In the funny Batman boxes:
1. Is he rich?
Yes, sometimes.
But it's shown that a lot of Ted's money came from him earning it, as opposed to inheriting it. He is an active CEO, and when he isn't (because he gets a bit caught up in the whole "superheroes" thing and stops paying attention to the business), the company tends to flounder! He does the majority of Kord Industries R&D work himself! Whenever he is shown to shift into "CEO" mode, Kord Industries rises from the ashes and does very well! Up until he decides to put on tights again.
Also unlike Bruce, Ted spends by far the majority of his time as a superhero broke! He doesn't have a safety net to fall back on, so when his gadgets and equipment get wrecked or used up that's it until he can get some funding.
2. Does he have cool gadgets?
Yes, but also no.
Ted has the Bug (which is like all the Bat-vehicles rolled into one), a small handful of tracker drones he hardly uses, and a strobe-light/air cannon pistol. He will have the occasional 1-off gadget, but distinctly no utility belt of handy beetle themed items. His costume is notably lacking in pockets to carry them as well.
For other people, though, Ted can crank out gadgets galore. He's made gear for Booster Gold, Guy Gardner, Fire, and the Birds of Prey, as well as the JLI and Extreme Justice HQs. He just doesn't seem to keep any for himself.
3. Are his parents dead?
His mom is, of a medical issue unrelated to superheros/crime/Ted. He misses her greatly.
His dad is not. He misses him very little. They really don't get along.
4. Is he smart?
Absolutely, but he really only seems to be able to focus on 1 or 2 things at a time. Unlike Batman, Ted is much more specialized in what he applies his knowledge to. He fits better into the role of "tactician", "hacker", "tech support", or "mission control" than "detective". He also relies on people underestimating him, so tends to do his best work when not observed. Many a day has been saved by Ted getting into an alien ship's vents, finding the engine bay, fiddling a bit, and leaving.
5. Is he funny?
Unarguably yes. But it's shown that a lot of it is a cover for how out of his depth and terrified he is. He is a delightfully chubby man in a bug costume fighting gods. He's allowed to cope however he needs to.
In the Spider-man ripoff boxes:
1. Is he a Spider-man ripoff?
Technically yes, originally. But he has evolved beyond those humble beginnings, and aside from a tendency to hang upside down when not entirely appropriate really doesn't have that much in common with Peter Parker, though parallels exist.
2. Does he have a dead uncle, whose death motivated him into super-heroing?
Yes, but by being evil. His uncle wanted to take over the world using an army of robots he had Ted help him build, Ted asked the previous Blue Beetle Dan Garrett to help him stop him. Dan and Ted's uncle were killed in the confrontation, and Dan asked Ted to take up the mantle of the Blue Beetle.
3. So is it a "great power=great responsibility" type of situation?
Actually, it's the inverse. Ted was handed the responsibility, and that is the source of his power. He is the Blue Beetle because Dan Garrett asked him to be. Does he have any super powers? No. But he doesn't need them, because a man he cared about entrusted the job to him. Ted tried to quit a few times throughout the comics, but always ends up circling back when people are in trouble.
Plus, he's an adrenaline junkie. Which helps when running around in spandex.
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Text
Wherever the Winds Take You: Chapter 6
Project Cadmus
July 5
1:21
Each of the younger heroes did their best to help explain the events that had unfolded that evening. With Aqualad providing the most structured explanations, Robin butting in some less-than-crucial-but-still-cool details, Kid Flash adding sound effects and the odd rambling, and Zephyr making sure the latter two didn’t veer the story too far off course.
Once the adolescents finally finished their story, most of the League proceeded to leave as they weren’t needed. A few of Leaguers took Desmond away to be locked up, flying away as the Green Lanterns used their rings to carry him. Batman, Flash, Aquaman, and Red Tornado were left huddled off to one side; undoubtedly discussing what they were going to do with their kids. But on the other side of the crater, their proteges stood in much a similar huddle, save of course for the inclusion of an extra member.
“So we’re all totally grounded, right?” Kid Flash snorted.
“What do you mean?” Zephyr asked.
“Well…what about all of us?” Robin asked, gesturing to the circle. “I mean, I know the mission wasn’t exactly perfect but…I mean, we did some good, right?”
“We imploded a building, almost got cloned, and our meer presence led to a lead scientist mutating himself…” Kid Flash pointed.
“But we did make quite a good team.” Aqualad debated, frowning and lifting his finger to his chin in thought. “And even the Justice League’s first mission was not without its faults.”
“Besides, we gotta get Supey some field-training somehow.” Robin smirked. At this, the clone merely raised an eyebrow.
“Wait, are you guys suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?” Kid Flash asked, seeming almost puppy-ish with his look of both hesitance and excitement.
“What? What are you suggesting?” Zephyr frowned, looking around at her comrades.
“Zeph’,” Robin said, “what if we made this, our own team, a long-term thing?”
The girl blinked for a moment, looked to Aqualad, and then back to the others. “There’s no way the League will approve.”
“Why do you need their permission?” Superboy asked, the shadow of a frown between his eyebrows.
“He has a point.” KF said, motioning to the clone. “They keep secrets from us, treat us like kids, and never give us a chance to prove ourselves. So…if they don’t want us a part of their team, why not start our own?”
“Wow, that’s probably the most articulate thing you’ve said tonight.” Robin chuckled, earning an elbow in the ribs. This caused Robin to keel over slightly in pain, his ribs obviously still damaged from their escape.
Zephyr bit her lip, fiddled with a strand of her hair, and turned back to Aqualad who caught her gaze.
“Do you really think this is a good idea?” The air-manipulating girl asked, her eyes emanating seriousness even through her mask.
Aqualad nodded. “I do. However, we can’t be a united front without you. We hold our best chances if we are all in this: together.”
The girl took a deep breath, then looked to Superboy. The boys quickly followed suit, peering at the dark-haired clone.
Superboy stared back for a long moment, then shrugged.
Zephyr sighed, then gave the boys a small smile. “Alright then, let the revolution resume.”
Seemingly finished with the conversation, Superboy turned his attention back to a small group off to the side of the crater. Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman, and where the young clone was intensely focused; Superman.
Sensing Superboy’s gaze, Martian Manhunter placed a hand on Superman’s shoulder. After several moments of getting mentally lectured by his two friends and comrades, Superman cautiously walked over to his clone. Anxious to see what the Kryptonian superhero would say, the four proteges listened in closely.
“We’ll figure something out for you-the League will, I mean.” Superman said, sounding as if he would rather be anywhere but with the boy in front of him. “For now I…better make sure they get that Blockbuster-creature squared away.”
And with that, the ‘Blue Boy Scout’ flew off.
Looking to one another for a moment, Zephyr was the quickest of the group of four to react. Quickly floating over to the boy, she went to place her hand on his shoulder. For a moment however, she hesitated; wondering if the boy would be alright with her touching him. But when she realized he had not flinched or moved away when she reached out, she went for it and gently touched his upper bicep.
“This is a surprise to him.” The girl said with her best consoling voice. “Give him some time, but for now…you have us. You know, with our new team. If you’ll have us.”
Superboy didn’t respond, but the look he gave Zephyr made her feel that she was heard.
Their interaction was cut short by the other remaining League members, the group’s mentors, walking up. Each of the younger heroes looked straight into their mentor’s eyes, not once daring to break the eye contact.
“Cadmus will be investigated.” Batman explained. “All 52 levels of it, but let’s make one thing clear-””You should have called!”
Flash’s interruption earned him an icy glare from the Bat.
“End results aside, we are not happy.” Batman continued. “You hacked Justice League systems, disobeyed direct orders, and endangered lives. You will not be doing this again.”
“I’m sorry,” Aqualad cut in, “but we will.”
“Aqualad!” Aquaman man exclaimed. “Stand down!”
The younger Atlantean saluted respectfully, “Apologies my King, but no. We did good work here tonight, the work you trained us to do. Together, on our own, we forged something powerful, important.”
Flash cut in yet again, “If this is about your treatment at the Hall, the four of you-“
“The five of us.” Zephyr corrected, her hand still on Superboy’s shoulder.
“And it’s not.” Kid Flash added.
“Batman,” Robin pleaded to his mentor, “we’re ready to use what you’ve taught us. Or why teach us at all?”
“Why let them tell us what to do?” Superboy asked, stepping forward. “It’s simple: get on board, or get out of the way.”
With the intense, fiery gazes of five teenagers. The League members, especially Batman, were cornered.
“Give me three days.”
The area around the group fell still and silent, nobody moving as minds worked quickly. The children, analyzing the deal they were potentially signing up for. The adults, wondering how this was all going to play out.
Until Kid Flash spoke up.
“Three days isn’t so long.”
The tension broke, shoulders dropping and everyone going back to feeling like they could breathe again. The armistice had been signed.
“Uh, guys…” Robin muttered, and motioned to one Superboy who had found himself in the back, looking down at the ground, obviously very uncomfortable and feeling out-of-place.
“Hey Supey, how ‘bout you come home with me?” Kid Flash piped up.
“Will your folks be okay with a house guest?” Robin asked.
“Sure, the more the merrier. Besides,” the ginger looked around at the group, “A confidential Batcave, the ocean, and a packed farm in a foreign country don’t really make for great real estate for someone trying to integrate into society.”
“This is true…” Aqualad nodded. “But nonetheless, if either of you find yourselves in any need of assistance-“
“It’s only three days.” Kid Flash handwaved. “What could go wrong?”
“Famous last words, KF.” Zephyr smirked.
“Then it’s a really good thing I have you guys on speed-dial then, Zeph’.” The speedster winked. “Anyways, we better get going so I can give the run down to Mom and Dad. You ready Supey?” Superboy nodded.
“C’mon guys, I’ll drop the two of you off.” Flash said, waving the two boys over. Before the three of them left however, Zephyr felt a pressure on her cheek and looked to see Kid Flash smirking beside her.
“Until next time madam.” The ginger smirked.
Zephyr giggled, but lightly slapped his shoulder as she rolled her eyes. “Get out of here, Dragueur.”
“Love you too.” The ginger yelled back as he ran off. “Bye guys, see you in three days.”
“Superboy!” Zephyr called after the clone, causing him to turn around and face her. “If Kid Mouth gives you any trouble, you have my permission to hit him a little.”
“She doesn’t mean that.” Kid Flash explained hurriedly, just as they disappeared.
“I should be taking my leave as well.” Aqualad said, catching the other remaining two protégé’s attentions. “You’ll pardon me for not kissing either of you however.”
“Somehow I think we’ll survive without.” Robin smirked, giving a two-fingered salute in goodbye.
“We’ll see you in three days.” Zephyr smiled, giving the boy a quick hug which he happily returned.
“Knowing this circle, I suspect before that.” Aqualad replied. “But I look forward to it nonetheless.”
Smiling at each other, Aqualad began to walk towards his mentor, he and the young air-manipulator holding each other’s hands until they grew too far apart.
Once the Atlantean duo had disappeared as well, the two remaining teens looked to one another. Zephyr was a little surprised to see that Robin was smirking slightly. “Que?” She asked, tilting her head.
“Oh, nothing…” Robin replied, smirk only growing before he seemingly changed the subject. “Good thing you’re on summer break, isn’t it, like, dawn your time?”
“Unfortunately.” Zephyr sighed as she pulled down her hood to let her brown locks flow freely. “But it’s not like this is a great bedtime for you either.”
“Please, have you met my mentor?” Robin joked, motioning to Batman. “‘Dark knight’? More like ‘Eternal night’.”
Giggling again, Zephyr patted the boy affectionately on the head. “Well, still, get home and get some sleep Bird Boy.”
“You too, Airhead.”
This time, the girl’s laughter was fully forced and fake. “Wow, haven’t heard that one before.”
As the two heroes split off to reunite with their own mentors, Zephyr looked up expectantly at hers. Red Tornado, however, made no motion to do anything for a long, pregnant, moment.
“You disobeyed orders.” The robot finally stated, causing the girl in front of him to look down at the ground.
“I know.”
“You broke Justice League protocol, and our rule about going into battles without at least informing either Black Canary or myself.”
“To be fair, that wasn’t exactly just my fault.”
“You could have seriously injured civilians, Cadmus workers, or yourselves.”
“…yes.”
Another moment of silence.
And then a large, metal hand found its way to Zephyr’s shoulder and the young girl looked up at her mentor.
“But you did good work, saved an innocent life from slavery and brainwashing, and formed a somewhat capable team that has potential to grow.”
Zephyr’s lips pulled into a smile as her ears practically perked up.
“Does that mean I’m not grounded?”
“I don’t see the logic behind disciplining you, as I believe you are capable of knowing that the way you acted wasn’t-as some may say-‘thinking smart’. So you face no such ‘grounding’ from me.”
Zephyr sighed in relief.
“However,” Red Tornado interrupted his mentor’s mental celebration, “Dinah still reserves the right to discipline you as she sees fit.”
This news sent a kick of anxiety straight into the French girl’s stomach.
“Oh…Merde.”
“Indeed.” Red Tornado nodded. “Anyhow, you may worry about that tomorrow. You are injured, your brain waves are irregular, and your blood pressure is slightly higher than average; you need sleep. I will escort you to the nearest zeta-tube.”
“Oh thank goodness.” Zephyr sighed as she summoned Winds to carry her into flight, Red Tornado forming his signature tornado around his bottom half as to do the same. “My bones feel like they’re on fire, I definitely bruised my ribs.”
“That would explain your lagged inhaling.”
“Are you seriously still scanning my organs? While we’re talking?”
And with that, the two air-manipulators were off, flying through the air in the direction of the next zeta-tube station. They flew in silence, Zephyr too tired to instigate conversation as the adrenaline in her system began to dissipate.
“Your heartbeat is decreasing even more.” Red Tornado stated. “Are you light-headed?”
“Just tired, I believe this is an adrenaline crash.” Zephyr explained. Red Tornado did not respond. “I’m curious Red, you’ve never scanned my vitals this vigorously before. Did you get an update you’re anxious to show off?”
There was a moment of silence in which the duo landed at the zeta-tube. Stopping, the younger of the two looked up at her elder, awaiting his response
“When we arrived back to the Hall of Justice to see that the four of you had disappeared, then heard that there had been a number of explosions at Cadmus, all of us became concerned that something had happened.” Red Tornado explained. “When we arrived at the scene to witness that the building had imploded, most likely with you inside…”
Slowly peeling off her mask, Lina looked up at her mentor with her azure gaze. A small, comforting smile adorning her face as she lifted a pale hand to touch Red Tornado’s cool metal arm.
“Don’t get all soft on me now Mon grand.” The girl said. “I am alright, all in one piece, nothing to be worried about. I’m a big, strong superhero thanks to you, remember? I can handle myself. And although I am sorry for making you worry, you must admit you had it coming. I mean…lying to me? Really?”
“It is Justice League policy not to tell anyone about the Watchtower.” Red Tornado explained, causing Lina to drop her hand in order to cross her arms.
“A policy that broke the mentor-protege trust between five groups of people today.” Lina countered. “I understand why you did not tell me, however we need to be more open with one another. That’s part of this whole ‘growing to understand people’ ordeal, non? So…can we make a deal? No more dangerous rebelling for me, if you promise not to ever lie to me again.”
Another moment, then the robot nodded.
“I believe that is a fair and logical proposition.”
Smiling, the small girl gave her mentor a quick hug to close the deal before pulling away and putting her mask back on.
“Good, I’m glad we have that settled. I really don’t like being mad at you.”
“Although I do not feel, I would not describe the…reaction your anger elicits as ‘pleasant’.”
Zephyr giggled. “Yes Mr. Robot. I’ll see you later, yes?”
“Yes, possibly tomorrow evening or the following day. But ensure that you get many hours of sleep until then.”
“Yes sir.” Zephyr nodded, before stepping into the zeta-tube. “You try to take it easy as well.”
“Recognized: Zephyr, B04.”
The zeta-tube let out in a location Lina knew all too well by now. A cobblestone building, an old and abandoned storage space on an empty plot of land owned by an anonymous organization.
This particular zeta-tube was installed when Zephyr officially became a hero, as the closest one apart from it was in Paris: a half-hour trip away on foot that wasn’t overly efficient. Lina would forever be grateful for the League and Star Labs for installing it, as it was such a short trip to and from her home.
The empty field of overgrown grass that surrounded the building was also familiar to Lina, it’s Earthy scent coating the cool breeze. Lina extended her hand, feeling the calm gust of wind rush through her fingers. The soft murmuring it voiced wasn’t clear enough to hear, but it acted as a kind of relaxing white noise to the girl who listened.  To match the beauty of the terrain, the early morning sky stretched over the field like a tent in a way, the dark blues of the West mixing with the brilliant orange and pinks that barely broke over the horizon.
Overall, the entire scenery was peaceful. Especially compared to Lina’s past few hours.
Taking one last deep breath to sink in the feeling, Lina summoned her Winds and pushed off the ground. It was only a five minute flight before she came across her destination, a small two-story house in the heart of a fenced-in plot of land. The plot wasn’t too large, but enough for two fair-sized fields and a satisfactory-sized barn not too far behind the house. The house itself was welcoming, the off-white exterior accented by the dark roof and paneling, a chimney on top that was billowing smoke, and lots of windows to let in the light, most of which were decorated by windowsill planters. The front door, possibly one of Lina’s favorite material things about the property, was painted a bright, sunshiny yellow that seemed to call out to people to enter it.
Lina, spotting the living room window where she could just make out the sight of a brunette boy sitting on a couch, angled her flight towards it and pushed open the glass. The Winds gave Lina one last push before she landed soundly on the hardwood floors of her living room.
Lifting her hands above her head, she showed off a giant smile and tipped her chin up.
“Ta-da!”
“A double backflip would have been better.”
Peeling off her mask, Lina sent a bitter look to the boy sitting on the couch in front of her. Leo had hardly looked up from his book at his sister’s entrance before promptly going back to his page.
“I bruised my ribs in an imploding building less than an hour ago, cut me some slack.” Lina huffed back in her mother-tongue. “What is with everyone critiquing my landing?”
“Oh? What building?” Leo asked, still not looking up.
“You wouldn’t care, I didn’t do a double backflip to escape it.” Lina walked up to grab Leo’s teacup, taking a long sip of the hot liquid inside.
“Fair enough.” Leo sighed. “How was the tour thing? By the fact that it hasn’t been all over the news I’m assuming the Hall of Justice wasn’t the building that imploded.”
“Not great, it definitely didn’t go according to plan. Speedy quit.” Lina explained, yawning largely as she began to walk up the stairs that lead up to the second floor.
“Roy? That’s upsetting to hear.”
Lina didn’t respond as she began to peel off her uniform.
“Oh, and best not to mention the imploding building and bruised ribs to Calvin. You know how he gets.” The youngest Dubois sibling called out. “Minding he ever decides to come home…”
“Don’t worry, I won’t.” Lina called back. “I remember the broken arm incident last year.” And with that, Lina closed the door to her room behind her, leaning against it and exhaling a deep sigh in the process.
“I should really shower…” Lina muttered to herself, but instead proceeded to lift her body off the wooden door and continue stripping off her uniform. “I’ll just wash my sheets tomorrow.”
After landing her cropped cloak on the floor, and peeling off her gold boots and matching white and gold bodysuit, the cool air that hit her body was both refreshing and mildly uncomfortable. Deciding to just throw on a large t-shirt she’d stolen from Calvin, Lina gave her wounds a quick check in the long mirror beside her dresser.
Along with a few small bumps and bruises was a huge, purple bruise on her left side, a gash that had already scabbed over on her shoulder, some swollen muscle in the area around her right hip, and another large cut running from her thigh to her bellybutton that had mostly scabbed, but not quite. If not for the thick fabric of her uniform, Lina was sure her injuries would have bled through. She was mostly thankful however that the gashes were shallow, as they probably would have led to severe blood loss if the had been any deeper.
Taking some of the disinfectant wipes from the first aid kit on her dresser, Lina decided to sit and clean the gashes. The sweetness of sleep would have to wait a little bit longer.
As she gave the bloody cuts some attention however, her mind began to wander. She thought over the past 24 hours. The lies, Roy quitting, Cadmus, Superboy, the newly founded team, the League’s poor reactions to everything…
Sure, Roy had always been a hothead since day one. And yes, he had admitted to Lina and Kaldur on a separate occasion that he felt that he had outgrown the title of 'Speedy’ and was growing tired of being Ollie’s 'sidekick’…but never would Lina have ever guessed that Roy would just up and quit like he had.
And what about Superboy? The poor kid had essentially just been living for a little under a day and already he’s been exposed to what it feels like to have your mind completely engulfed with rage and bloodlust, made new allies, and been abandoned by a supposed parental figure. He had no experience in the real world outside of his pod, and now he was being thrown into the chaotic and whirlwind life of being a superhero.
And this team that Lina had landed herself a part in. What of it? Sure, she could understand why the boys put their foot down. She was more than happy to jump on the anger-train back at the Hall. But forming their own team? Was that not a little extreme? Lina trusted her friends of course, and with Kaldur’s level-headedness and maturity they were sure to at least have some kind of clear guidance, Lina knew that firsthand. But the whole thing made the butterflies in her  stomach go mad. She only prayed they had all made the right choices today.
But that brought a new train of thought into the girl’s mind. Why had she decided to join the team at all if she was so skeptical about it? It had seemed like the right thing to do, stand alongside her friends. But there had to be something bigger than that if she was willing to risk her mentorship and connection to the Justice League for it. What was her motivation for all of this? Why had she chosen this path?
Throwing out the now-bloody napkins, Lina walked over to her uniform again and unlocked another hidden compartment to take out her cellphone. Opening it, she easily found the number she was looking for and typed out a quick message.
Hey Hothead,
If you need to talk, you know where I live. Just not right now, need sleep. Have a crazy story for you though, so text me back.
-Lina
Ps. I’m sorry again for the name slip earlier today. I know you weren’t really angry, but still.
Once she pressed 'send’ Lina fell onto her bed, and dug herself into the covers. As soon as she closed her eyes, she was gone.
Translations:
‘Dragueur’: a French term meaning ‘flirt’
‘Mon Grand’: a friendly term of endearment meaning ‘big guy’
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