A Lark's Rising

by StoryLover23

Summary:

Naomi's life is picture-perfect. As the ward of Bruce Wayne, she has everything she could ask for. But she finds true happiness protecting Gotham as Lark, alongside Batman and Robin, but don't think for a moment she's just a sidekick. Joining forces with other teen heroes shouldn't be that hard, right? Enter the ghosts of Naomi's past, and her life will never be the same. Cross-posted on ff.net

Chapter 1: 1.0 - Independence Day

Notes:

I own nothing you recognize.

This is currently posted on ff.net as well, and once I have caught up posting the chapters here (up to Chapter 9), there won't be a posting schedule, since I write when inspiration hits :')

Location: Wayne Manor, Gotham City
Date: Sunday, July 04, 2010
Time: 0830 EDT

"Wakey, wakey!"

The lump under the covers groaned and turned over as Richard "Dick" Grayson burst into the room.

"C'mon, Mimi!" the raven-haired teen exclaimed, knowing the hated nickname would get a rise out of his sister.

True to form, Naomi Hong Williamson sat up and shot Dick a Batglare beneath her tangled mess of dark hair.

"You know Bruce will be more likely to let you 'graduate' if you prove you can work well with others," he pointed out as he jumped onto her bed.

Naomi snorted. "Yeah, says the man who claims he works best alone."

"But he has us," Dick grinned.

"And we have him," she finished with a smile. "Now, get out! I need to get dressed."

Dick did a backflip off the bed before practically skipping out of her room. Naomi shook her head with a slight chuckle as she stretched and finally climbed out from under the covers.

In the years since his family's murder, Naomi had seen the drastic change in Dick's demeanor. When he had first been taken in by Bruce, he had been quiet, withdrawn, and difficult to cheer up. Now, though, Naomi found he was her source of pick-me-ups whenever she was feeling down, and she couldn't be more grateful.

After brushing her hair and fixing the part so it was off-center, Naomi went through her morning routine before dressing in a plain light gray dress and padding barefooted over the carpeted hallways as she made her way downstairs.

"Morning," she greeted when she entered the kitchen. Bruce returned her smile as she walked around the kitchen island to sit at her usual spot, ruffling Dick's hair as she passed behind him. He swatted her hand away from his bed-head, but it was half-hearted, since he had long ago learned to just accept it.

"Good morning, Miss Naomi," Alfred said from the stove. "The usual?" She nodded with a smile and the faithful butler began cracking eggs.

While Bruce read the newspaper and sipped his morning coffee, Dick was on his phone, his eyes narrowed in concentration, and Naomi assumed he was playing a game.

After she poured herself a glass of apple juice, Naomi pulled out one of the many books she had stashed around the manor for her to read when she didn't feel like trekking back to her room for the old-fashioned entertainment.

"You know, you can probably find that online," Dick said, glancing up from his phone with a raised eyebrow, only to scowl as something happened on the screen.

"Yeah, but there's nothing quite like a good 'ol fashioned book," she shrugged. "Isn't that right, Alfred?"

"Quite true, Miss Naomi," Alfred answered as he placed a plate in front of Naomi. She produced a nifty little book stand to allow her to read hands-free while she ate, and the rest of breakfast passed in companionable silence.

Once Dick had finished his meal, he jumped to his feet and took off.

"Where are you headed in such a hurry?" Bruce called after him.

"Today's the day!" Dick shouted over his shoulder. "Come on!"

Bruce glanced at his watch before looking at Naomi. "How'd you get him to stop mentioning it every other minute for the past week?"

"I made a deal with him," she smirked. "He couldn't say anything until after breakfast July fourth or I wouldn't get him the game he's been dying for since it was announced."

"What a great sister," Bruce chuckled.

Naomi shrugged innocently. "I try," she said sweetly. She gulped down the rest of her apple juice before getting to her feet. "See you down there."

After thanking Alfred for another delicious meal, she headed for the closest entrance to the Batcave, which happened to be behind a full-sized portrait of the late Thomas and Martha Wayne. Naomi placed her hand on a spot to the left of the ornate frame and a horizontal green light the width of her hand appeared from the wall, scanning her print.

"Authorization confirmed," the automated voice chimed before the portrait swung open to reveal a gap in the wall and a fireman's pole running down the center. Naomi reached out and grabbed the pole, which lit up softly under her hold. She stepped into the shaft and began a steady decent courtesy of the biosensors in the pole. Lights embedded in the rock wall lit up as she passed, her short hair tickling her jaw as the strands fluttered softly in the brisk wind like feathers.

Deeper and deeper into the stone foundation beneath the manor Naomi traveled until she finally reached the Batcave, so cleverly named by Dick when he became Robin. This entrance to the cave was only one of many, and Naomi's feet touched down on the cold, smooth stone. As she walked down the steps, she could hear bats chittering softly in the distance and dripping water was amplified by the large, cavernous space.

"Finally!" Dick called as Naomi came down the steps, running her fingers through her hair to untangle the silky strands.

"Relax," she said, rolling her eyes. "We have a few hours before we're scheduled to meet up with everyone."

"I can't relax!" he exclaimed before beginning a punching sequence on the punching bag in front of him. "I'm so ready!"

"Patience, Dick," Bruce said from the top of the stairs.

"Hey, I tried to tell him," Naomi shrugged as she walked quickly to the changing rooms, regretting not at least wearing shoes.

She reappeared a few moments later dressed in work-out leggings, comfortable sneakers, and a black oversized Gotham U hoodie. As she walked along the catwalk, Naomi used bobby pins to secure her hair out of her face.

"Come on," she said to Dick, walking over to the control panel that regulated the training simulator. "Let's work some of that energy out of you."

She found the last fight setting programmed for Dick and set up the system.

"Beginning sequence in three...two..one," the automated voice counted down before holographic men appeared in the large space cleared for practice.

Naomi watched as Dick worked through the level, his blue eyes intense with concentration. When the simulation ended (with Dick's victory), she reset the program. "Wanna get some eskrima work in?" she asked.

"Okay," he nodded. "Toss them to me, will you?"

She walked over to Dick's uniform station and grabbed the eskrima sticks from their display. Once she returned to the simulator, she tossed the black carbon fiber sticks his way. He grinned in thanks as he caught them, and Naomi started the training simulator again.

Once Dick successfully defeated the holographic combatants, Naomi powered down the simulator and stepped onto the training mat.

"Wanna go, one on one?" she asked.

"You bet," Dick smirked, tossing aside his eskrimas. "I'll get you back for the last match!"

"I'd like to see you try," Naomi taunted playfully. "Now, come on, less talking, more fighting!"

Bruce glanced away from the Batcomputer to watch his two wards. Naomi was much more fluid in her moves than Dick, making it appear as though she was dancing, which probably had to do with her years trained in classical ballet. The younger teen's strength in fighting lay with his adeptness in adding gymnastic elements into his fighting style, thanks to his circus background.

Given their shared small forms, they were light on their feet and lightning-fast, giving them a speed advantage over their usually much larger and thus slower foes.

As had been the case since Dick started training to become Robin, Naomi had the upper hand in terms of years of experience. Not only was she older by almost three years and been Lark longer than Dick had been Robin, she was also a naturally fast learner, especially in terms of bodily mechanics. If she worked on a new move, she could have it perfected in a matter of hours. She was also good about helping Dick if he was having trouble with a particular move and Bruce wasn't available to monitor or spar, which was more often than not.

The two siblings battled it out on the training mat, Naomi getting the upper hand the majority of the time. Dick was good-natured about it though, seeing every loss as a chance to learn and improve his own skills.

After Dick checked the clock for the millionth time since arriving in the Batcave, Naomi rolled her eyes and dropped her fighting stance. "Just get changed," she said. "I know you want to."

"You know me so well!" Dick grinned as he took off for the dressing room. He appeared in record time in his Robin uniform, sans his domino mask. "All yours!" he said as he skidded to a stop in front of her.

"Oh, I guess I'm getting dressed now," Naomi joked sarcastically, walking toward the changing rooms again.

"Hurry up!" he yelled after her. "It's already 11:40!"

"I'm hurrying, I'm hurrying!"

Naomi shook her head fondly as she closed the door behind her and stripped. She removed the pins from her hair and took a quick shower to remove the layer of sweat that had built up during their spars before drying and getting dressed.

Her uniform had recently gotten an upgrade, the first step, Batman had told her, to graduating to a new persona. Previously, her uniform had not been all that dissimilar from Robin's, just in dark shades of gray, green, and purple instead of black, red, and yellow.

Now, Lark's uniform consisted of a dark, dark gray full-body suit with thick dark green stripes running down the outside of her legs with thinner dark green lines along her arms and torso. Her no-heeled boots and gloves—each of which hit mid-shin and mid-forearm respectively—were matching dark green, and the inner lining of her dark gray cape was dark purple, which corresponded with her trusty utility belt, her domino mask, and the stylized L that was emblazoned above her heart.

Naomi zipped up the front of her uniform as she stepped out of the dressing room, her domino mask hanging from her utility belt. Once she had fastened her cape to her uniform, she shook her head a few times to get her hair to part in the center, which was her way of changing her hair enough to distinguish between Naomi and Lark, much like Dick with his slicked back hair and Robin with his cowlicks.

"Just in time," Batman said from beside the Batmobile, Robin already bouncing on the balls of his feet in anticipation. "Mister Freeze was just spotted, heading toward Midtown."

Placing her domino mask over her eyes, Lark smirked. "Freeze is gonna regret ruining Dickie-bird's big day."

"I'm ready to kick some ice villain butt!" Robin declared, punching the palm of his hand with a smirk.

"Front seat's all yours today, Robbie," Lark said as she hopped into the backseat.

"Sweet!"

Batman climbed behind the wheel and the top of the Batmobile slid shut with a quiet, familiar hiss.

They sped off through the dark tunnels lit by small lights embedded in the stone until they reached the tunnel that led to their desired exit point. Batman expertly maneuvered through the daytime traffic until they came to their destination: Gotham City Park.

The trio hopped out of the Batmobile when they came to a stop. In the distance, Lark could hear people screaming and the sound of Mister Freeze's cold gun firing. "You know what to do," Batman said before taking off.

"Sure do, B-man," Robin grinned before he and Lark ran in the opposite direction.

The two birds reached Mister Freeze as he droned, "My family has other plans," before sliding down an ice ramp to reach the ground. In the bright summer sun, two birdarangs glinted as they sailed through the air, the red disk cracking Mister Freeze's protective glass helmet and the sleek dark purple crescent knocking Mister Freeze's infamous cold gun, causing it to miss the intended target: a young couple in the process of fleeing from the villain.

"Batman," the cold villain said. "I was wondering when..." He trailed off when Robin's signature cackle echoed through the now-empty park. A second later, a dark gray cape fluttered through the air as its wearer flipped over the villain, slapping two exploding birdarangs onto his back as she did. Robin followed, landing on Mister Freeze's glass dome, furthering the spider web cracking.

Once Robin had landed beside Lark, the older bird pressed the detonator. The small explosions, not enough to penetrate the cold suit, instead sent Mister Freeze teetering forward until he finally lost his balance and landed on his face.

Robin threw two more of his disks at the dome, causing the fractures to grow on the surface. Mister Freeze growled.

"Oh, the Wonder Brats," he sneered, pushing himself to his feet. "The Bat sent you to drag me off to prison?" he asked rhetorically. "Frankly, I'm underwhelmed."

"Great, but we're kinda in a hurry here," Robin said over Mister Freeze's shoulder, clearly exasperated.

"Kids," Mister Freeze said dryly. "Always in such a rush."

"Look, the villain thinks he's the center of attention," Lark scoffed.

"We weren't talking to you," Robin sing-sang, waiting impatiently for the boss.

Mister Freeze turned around, in time to see Batman leap into the air and pull back his fist, aimed right for the already-damaged dome that protected him from the outside environment.

"No!" he cried out as the glass finally shattered. He gasped and clawed at his face.

"Lark," Batman addressed.

"On it," she replied. She scooped up the cold gun and pointed it at Mister Freeze's head. "Hold still, Freeze," she deadpanned. "This won't hurt you a bit." She pulled the trigger, encasing his head in ice first, then the rest of his body, the cold cocoon doing what his suit usually did.

Batman glanced down at Lark, his brow furrowed slightly as he watched her and Robin begin to disassemble the freeze gun. When he'd prompted her to ice Freeze, he had been thinking about using ice pellets, not the gun itself. What's more, it had been her job to keep Freeze on ice in the past, and she hadn't even considered using the cold gun then. So why now, especially since she knew about his absolute abhorrence to the weapon?

"Way to put him on ice," Robin snickered once the gun had been disassembled. They could hear police sirens approach, and he took a step toward the Batmobile but was stopped when Lark grabbed his arm.

"You know the drill, Bird Brain," she chuckled. Robin grumbled but stayed put, tapping his foot impatiently.

"Finally!" he exclaimed when Commissioner James Gordon stepped out of his car. Batman went to speak with Gordon and Robin nearly skipped to the Batmobile, Lark on his tail. Once their conversation was over, Batman left Mister Freeze to the police and the Dark Knight joined his protégés.

Robin whooped as the top of the Batmobile slid shut. Lark chuckled and even Batman's lip twitched upward in amusement.

"ETA to Washington, D.C.: 1355," Lark announced from the backseat after consulting the small but powerful computer stored in her glove. Robin didn't respond, but she could see him practically vibrating with excitement in the front seat.

As they crossed into Washington, D.C., Lark tossed Robin an energy bar. "Here, Dickie-bird," she smirked. "You used up so much energy bouncing in your seat."

Robin rolled his eyes but accepted the bar nonetheless. Batman came to a stop and the two birds got their first look at the Hall of Justice.

"We walk from here," Batman said, stepping out of the Batmobile. Robin and Lark followed, and once the top had closed, he programmed it to return to the Batcave. It sped off, passenger-less, and the bat and his little colony of two walked toward the Hall.

They stopped on the green across the way from the reflection pool that was spread before the Hall. From there, Lark could see people milling about, either waiting for entrance, or more likely, because they knew something big was happening.

"Why am I not surprised to see Batman got here first?" a new, jovial voice behind them said. Lark turned to see Green Arrow and Speedy approach, and her polite Lark-smile turned into a much brighter Naomi-smile.

Naomi Hong Williamson had developed a very comfortable friendship with Roy Harper over the years. He was one of the few who knew who Batman, Lark, and Robin were, though Naomi knew Bruce wasn't all too thrilled. But given how often Bruce Wayne and Oliver Queen's circles crossed, it really was only a matter of time before Oliver and Roy, and eventually Dinah Lance—the second Black Canary—discovered the truth.

According to Oliver and Dinah, Roy had always been a bit standoffish and guarded, which they believed was the result of his years in the foster system of Star City before he caught the attention of Oliver Queen when he showed an adeptness to the bow that impressed the young hero.

They had both been pleasantly surprised, then, when he had accepted Naomi fairly readily after they first met at a gala Bruce and Oliver had been attending in 2007. They were both relative outcasts when it came to high-society social events, since both came from modest backgrounds before being introduced to the world of the one percent, and had bonded over that fact, if slowly and a little awkwardly.

In many ways, Roy was closer to Naomi than he was to Dick, Wally, and Kaldur'ahm, whom he had met when Aquaman and Green Arrow teamed up in Star City. While Dick had also been tragically orphaned, his transition into a happy household had been rather quick, whereas the older teens had experienced loneliness and hardships (though Naomi's were mostly psychological) that Dick just couldn't begin to understand.

Speedy, who had been antsy the whole trip, felt himself relax when his eyes landed on his best friend. He noticed the way her smile turned more sincere and he couldn't help but respond in kind, his indifferent mask breaking as he approached Lark and Robin.

The younger bird greeted the redheaded archer brightly, holding his hand up for a high-five, which the older teen slapped with a grin before turning to Lark.

"Hey, L," he said, pulling the smaller teen into a bear hug.

"Can't...breathe..." Lark gasped, even as she returned the hug. He released her just as Aquaman and his protégé appeared.

Lark knew all about Aqualad, of course. He had been with Aquaman for the past two years, but never around Gotham, and given King Orin of Atlantis had no ties with Bruce Wayne the businessman, they hadn't met as civilians.

"Greetings," Aquaman smiled as he reached them. "This is Aqualad," he introduced. "This is Batman, Lark, and Robin; and Green Arrow and Speedy."

"It is an honor to meet you all," Aqualad said, and Lark smiled a little as he started to bow at the waist but quickly straightened when he remembered he was on the surface world.

"Nice to meet you," Lark said, offering him a small bow in return.

He seemed relieved to know his attempted greeting wasn't completely foreign and Lark's reminiscent smile of her first home turned into a reassuring one for Aqualad.

She was reminded of her own upbringing, where bows were standard greeting in Gotham's Chinatown, which she had called home until her adoption by the affluent Williamsons brought her to Gotham's upper class.

"Hi!" Robin chirped, and Aqualad turned away from Lark to face the younger bird. "We've heard a lot about you!"

Aqualad raised a questioning eyebrow. "You have?"

"Get used to it," Speedy chuckled. "They're bats, through and through. There's nothing they don't know about everybody."

"What can I say?" Robin shrugged. "It's our superpower." Lark nudged Robin's foot with her own and he sent her a knowing smirk, which she responded to with a glare, which Robin understood as her demanding, Really? Superpower?

In response, he just shrugged, as if to say, What? Knowing everything about everyone is a superpower.

Aqualad glanced uncertainly between the two, understanding there was a silent conversation being had but not knowing how he should interpret their exchanged glances. Speedy noticed the look on the Atlantean's face and chuckled again.

"You'll get used to it," he said. "They've worked together so long, it's like they have a psychic connection. I've found it's best not to try to understand the dynamic between those two."

"Ah," the blond teen responded simply, though he still looked uncertain.

Batman checked the time with the clock in his cowl. "Flash and Kid Flash are running behind," he stated.

Lark snorted and Robin voiced for her, "Oh, the irony."

"I'm sure they'll understand if we start without them," Speedy said as he slipped into hero-mode again, sounding just as anxious as Robin had looked in the Batmobile.

Batman placed a hand on Lark's and Robin's shoulders. "Today is the day," he said.

"Welcome to the Hall of Justice," Green Arrow introduced.

"Headquarters of the Justice League," Aquaman added.

From behind the septet, Flash and Kid Flash finally arrived.

"Aw, man!" the younger speedster exclaimed as he and his mentor skidded to a stop. "I knew we'd be the last ones here," he scowled, crossing his arms over his chest.

Lark reached up and ruffled his hair. "No worries, Kid," she grinned. "We wouldn't start without you, despite what some might want," she said, giving Speedy a pointed look, who shrugged and muttered, "What? They were late."

"Aw, you're wonderful, babe."

Wally West was Dick Grayson's best friend. As a result, he knew their secret identity and was always at the manor. While she wouldn't have called Wally her best friend, he had certainly become a dear one over the years, considering just how often he was around.

She knew from Dick that Wally had a thing for flirting with any girl he deemed pretty, and Naomi had certainly experienced that firsthand the very first time they met. Naomi and Dick had been quick to shut that down, Naomi because she thought he was too immature and Dick because she was his sister and was protective of her, regardless of the fact she was older than him. Now, it was mutually understood that any flirting was fun and harmless. That still didn't keep it from ruffling Dick's feathers.

"Dude," Robin scowled.

"Relax, Rob," Lark said, rolling her eyes and slinging an arm around his shoulders. "You know you'll always be my number one."

Kid Flash and Speedy laughed as Robin grumbled and shoved Lark off him, and Aqualad looked on amused, though he was still trying to understand the dynamic between the four of his fellow sidekicks.

"Now, come on!" Speedy exclaimed. "We've waited long enough."

Robin and Kid Flash whooped, high fiving before rushing ahead.

"Can't let the kids have all the fun," Lark said, rolling her eyes before hurrying after the two.

Aqualad watched as Lark and Speedy started to shove each other good-naturedly as they followed after the two youngest teens. Perhaps this team thing would be more fun than he expected.

The heroes and their young protégés set off for the Hall of Justice, the mentors hanging back slightly from the teens as they laughed and joked, walking down the path roped off from the clamoring crowd.

"Is that Batman?"

"Ohmygosh, Lark and Robin are here!"

"I see Flash and Flash Jr.!"

"His name's Speedy! Duh!"

"No, Speedy's Green Arrow's sidekick!"

"Well, that makes no sense."

Lark snorted when she heard that one and Speedy shoved her with a scowl. She only shrugged; that had been the first thing out of her mouth when he had told her his hero name.

"Ready to see the inner sanctum?" Green Arrow asked the young archer, ignoring the loud voices around them.

"Born that way," Speedy responded with a proud smirk.

"I am glad we are all here," Aqualad said, looking around at his fellow protégés.

"Have all five sidekicks ever been in the same place at the same time?" Kid Flash asked, excitement evident in his tone.

"Don't call us sidekicks," Speedy said sharply, and even Lark was a little taken back at his tone. "Not after today."

"Sorry," the speedster said sheepishly, glancing back at the older redhead. "First time at the Hall," he explained. "I'm a little overwhelmed."

Robin turned to Kid Flash. "You're overwhelmed, Freeze was underwhelmed. Why isn't anyone ever just whelmed?" he asked, exasperated.

Lark tilted her head in thought. "I think because 'whelm' doesn't mean what you would think it would mean if you remove 'over' and 'under.'"

"Well, it should," Robin said with a shrug. "It's a good word."

Everyone went silent as they entered the Hall of Justice, the feeling of being in a museum washing over them. Standing imperiously over them were massive bronze statues of the original seven members of the Justice League.

"Oh," Robin said softly, gazing up at the statues with wide eyes. "Maybe that's why."

They reached the doors marked Authorized Personnel Only, and it opened to reveal the Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado.

Martian Manhunter stepped forward. "Lark, Robin, Speedy, Aqualad, Kid Flash, welcome," he addressed in his deep, even tone. He turned and everyone followed, Robin and Kid Flash bumping fists as they did. Behind them, the doors closed with a soft hiss.

"You now have unlimited access to the gym, our fully-stocked galley, and of course, our library," the Martian said as they entered said library, which was really only impressive if one was looking for books talking about the flora and fauna of a distant planet or the exact scientific reason zeta-beaming worked.

"Make yourselves at home," Flash invited with a grin, spreading his arms wide. Immediately, Robin and Kid Flash flopped into chairs, with Aqualad slower to take a seat. Speedy remained standing while Lark approached Robin.

"Need a seat, L?" Kid Flash asked. When she raised an eyebrow, he winked and patted his lap.

Lark rolled her eyes while Robin scowled and reached across the way to punch Kid Flash in the arm.

"Dude!" the speedster whined, rubbing his arm. "She knows I'm joking!"

"You should relax, Robbie," Lark said as with a flick of her cape, she perched on the back of Robin's chair, her feet resting on one of the armrests. "You and Kid both know that if he ever takes it too far, I can kick his ass, no problem."

Kid Flash rolled his eyes, but said to Robin, "See?"

"A quick debrief to discuss the coincidence of four ice villains attacking on the same day," Batman said in a low tone, addressing the gathered Leaguers. "We shouldn't be long," he added, glancing at the teens.

A camera dropped from a hole in the ceiling and began scanning and reciting each League member's name and identification code. Once everyone was accounted for, the door marked Justice League Members Only slid open.

"That's it?" Speedy suddenly demanded, glaring at the League members. Everyone turned to him. "You promised us a real look inside, not a glorified backstage pass."

"It's a first step," Aquaman reasoned. "You've been granted access few others get."

"Oh, really?" Speedy asked sarcastically, throwing his arm up to gesture to the viewing room above them, which hosted a number of people and flashing cameras. "Who cares what side of the glass we're on?"

Lark followed Speedy's outstretched hand and frowned fractionally. She had to admit, she wasn't expecting to be photographed like some zoo animal. The whites of her mask narrowed slightly as she turned her head to Batman again.

"Roy, you just need to be patient," Green Arrow said, stepping forward.

"What I need is respect," Speedy said, glaring at his mentor. He turned to the others. "They're treating us like kids." He paused. "Worse. Like sidekicks!" He spat the word like it left a bad taste in his mouth. "We deserve better than this."

Lark exchanged glances with Robin, then Kid Flash and Aqualad, before they all looked at Speedy. He felt his heart drop when he noticed the uncertain expression on Lark's face. He had thought of all people, she would see his side and understand that what their mentors were doing to them was wrong.

"You're kidding, right?" he said, his eyes widening slightly. "You're playing their game? Why?" Disbelief colored his tone. "Today was supposed to be the day, step one in becoming full-fledged members of the League."

"Of course," Lark spoke up, hoping to calm the redhead's temper before it got out of control, "but this is step one: touring League headquarters."

"Except the Hall isn't the League's real H.Q.!" Speedy declared.

Lark's eyes widened and she turned to Batman. His face remained stoic and she scoffed; of course he wouldn't tell her or Robin. He was Batman, after all.

"I bet they never told you it's just a false front for tourists and a pit stop for catching zeta-beam teleport tubes to the real thing: an orbiting satellite called the Watchtower," Speedy continued, paying no heed to the surprise around him.

Green Arrow turned to Batman, who crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes slightly.

"I know, I know," the Emerald Archer said, shrugging, "but I thought maybe we could make an exception?"

Batman's eyes narrowed further and the small, helpless kind of smile that had started to form on Green Arrow's face fell. "Or not," he muttered.

"You are not helping your case here, son," Aquaman said, stepping forward in an attempt to settle the situation before arrows started flying. "Stand down, or—"

"Or what?" Speedy demanded, glaring at the Atlantean. "You'll send me to my room?" he asked sarcastically. "And I'm not your son! I'm not even his," he added in a quieter voice, turning to Green Arrow. "I thought I was his partner," he said, his voice softening further. "But not anymore." With one last glare at the heroes, he took off his hat and threw it angrily on the ground.

Lark sat in shock. Sure, she wanted to be known for being more than just Batman's sidekick, but she still respected his decision to hold off until he was sure she was ready. After all, he was older, wiser. He was more experienced and more knowledgeable. He had her best interests in mind...right?

Speedy straightened his shoulders and walked toward the exit. "Guess they're right about your four," he said darkly as he stalked past them. "You're not ready."

Lark was at a complete loss of words, leaving her to only stare at her best friend's retreating back. She slumped slightly at the biting words, and Robin noticed with a frown. He knew Roy's outbursts were often more bark than bite, but he had never aimed such venom at his friends before, let alone Naomi.

She knew he was just angry and would need time to cool off, but it still didn't stop the hurt knowing someone she looked up to was looking down on them in return, and with such contempt. Lark only hoped she would be able to reach out before any permanent damage was done to their friendship.

In fact, she was half tempted to hurry after him and explain her side, but before she could decide what to do, an alarm started blaring and Superman's image appeared on the big monitor against the back wall of the library.

"Superman to Justice League," he said as the League members gathered beneath the giant screen. "There's been an explosion at Project Cadmus. It's on fire."

"I've had my suspicions about Cadmus," Batman said. "This may present the perfect opportunity to in—"

Before he could finish, another voice interrupted, sounding much more urgent. "Zatara to Justice League! The sorcerer Wotan is using the Amulet of Aten to blot out the sun! Requesting full League response."

"Superman?" Batman asked, glancing at the Man of Steel.

"It's a small fire," he responded. "Local authorities have it under control."

"Then Cadmus can wait," Batman declared, though he didn't sound pleased. He pressed a button on the panel in front of him and said, "All Leaguers rendezvous at Zatara's coordinates. Batman out."

The other teens stood and Lark hoped off the back of Robin's chair, walking with the others as they approached the League.

Batman hung back as the other Leaguers filed into the transporter. "Stay put," he said when Lark and Robin reached him.

"What?!" Robin exclaimed.

"Why?" Lark demanded.

"This is a League mission," Aquaman said, standing to Batman's right.

"You're not trained," Flash added from the Dark Knight's other side.

"Since when?" Kid Flash snapped.

"I meant," the older speedster said, trying to back himself out of the hole he dug, "you're not trained to work as part of this team." He emphasized his point by gesturing between himself, Batman, and Aquaman.

"There will be other missions," the Atlantean king assured, "when you're ready."

"But for now," Batman finished in his this-is-final voice, "stay put."

The Justice League walked through the open door, Red Tornado going last. He paused a moment, looking at the teens, before turning away and letting the doors close behind him.

Kid Flash scoffed. "When we're ready?" he quoted. "How are we ever supposed to be ready when they treat us like...like..."

"Like sidekicks," Lark finished bitterly, glaring at the floor so intensely if she had heat vision she would have burned straight through the rug.

"Exactly!" Kid Flash exclaimed.

Aqualad looked conflicted. "My mentor, my king," he said. "I thought he trusted me."

"Trust?" Kid Flash barked out a laugh. "They don't even trust us with the basics! They've got a secret H.Q. in space!"

"What else aren't they telling us?" Aqualad asked softly.

"Knowing Batman, probably a lot," Lark muttered angrily.

"I have a better question," Robin sighed. "Why didn't we leave with Speedy?"

Lark found herself asking the same question, and she felt so conflicted. The calmer, more rational side argued Batman must have done what he did to protect her and Robin, while the hormonal teenage side of her hated Batman for keeping secrets from her and Robin, because if he couldn't trust his own wards, who the hell could he trust?

"What is Project Cadmus?" Aqualad asked eventually, snapping Lark out of her internal back-and-forth.

"Don't know..." Robin said slowly, dragging his gaze to the computer as a smirk crossed his lips. "But we can find out." Turning to Lark, he asked, "Think it's the same?"

"Only one way to find out," she smirked back, and Robin was glad to see that for the moment, Roy's harsh words were no longer rolling around in her head.

Together, their fingers flew across the keys. While Lark wasn't nearly the hacker Robin was, she knew her way around Bruce's systems, and if they were lucky...

"Acess denied," came the automated voice a few moments later.

Robin cackled at the challenge. "Wanna bet?" he asked the machine. He and Lark renewed their efforts with even faster fingers, and soon, the computer announced, "Access granted."

"Whoa," Kid Flash breathed. "How did you do that?" he asked in awe.

"Same system as the Batcave," Robin said victoriously.

"Because of course Batman wouldn't trust anyone else to build the League's system," Lark said, rolling her eyes.

"All right, Project Cadmus..." Robin muttered as he began perusing the files.

"There!" Lark pointed. "It says it's a genetics lab, here in D.C.," she read from the screen.

"That's all there is," the younger bird said with a frown after he had looked through the thin electronic file. "But if Batman's suspicious—"

"Maybe it's something that needs to be investigated," Lark finished as she straightened, her expression determined; like hell they were just sidekicks.

"Solve their case before they do," Aqualad voiced. "It would be poetic justice," he reasoned.

"Hey," Robin said with a small laugh, "they're all about justice."

"But they said stay put," the Atlantean sighed, looking conflicted.

"For the blotting out the sun mission," Robin wheedled. "Not this."

"Wait," Kid Flash interrupted. "Are you going to Cadmus?"

"Obviously," Lark said with a smirk.

"Babe, I think I love you," the speedster said with a dreamy smile. "If you're going, I'm definitely going."

"Dude, that's my sister," Robin grumbled, elbowing Kid Flash hard in the ribs.

"Ow!" he exclaimed. "And not technically!"

"Technicality!"

"Oh, shush, you two," Lark said, rolling her eyes and pinching their sides.

Aqualad cleared his throat, bringing the focus back to the task at hand. "Just like that, we're a team on a mission?" he asked skeptically.

"We didn't come for a playdate," Robin said, his eyebrows furrowed and his lips set determinedly.

The gilled teen bowed his head slightly before his eyes narrowed and the corner of his lip pulled up.

Lark smirked; he was in.

"So, how are we getting to Project Cadmus?" Kid Flash asked as they snuck out the back door of the Hall of Justice.

"We don't have access to Zeta-Tubes," Lark mused. "And we can't call any of the Bat vehicles without alerting Batman of what we're doing." She tapped her wrist, activating her miniature computer. A holographic screen appeared, and she began scrolling through the files they had found on Cadmus.

"It doesn't look like it's that far away," Robin observed, standing next to her and looking at the small screen.

Aqualad sighed. "Well, then we had better start walking."

When they finally arrived, Lark could see firefighters combating the flames in the distance. She could hear people shouting for help as smoke continued to billow out from behind them.

Something exploded on the second floor, causing two men to fall from the window. Kid Flash appeared on the side of the building in a flash and managed to grab the scientists and place them on the roof before he lost his footing.

Below him, the chief exclaimed, "It's what's-his-name...Flash Boy!"

Lark couldn't hear Kid Flash's response, but she had a feeling he wasn't happy about being misnamed...again.

She raced forward, Robin and Aqualad on her heels. For a moment, they simply observed Kid Flash hanging from the windowsill.

"So-o smooth," Robin snickered. He shared a glance with Lark before they took off, the lark a step ahead of the robin.

She used the steps at the back of the fire engine to launch herself onto the truck's roof. While Robin used his grapple to swing himself onto the windowsill Kid Flash hung from, Lark dashed lightly up the ramp of the fireman's extendible bucket, shooting her own graple gun as she did. It latched onto the side of the building and Lark gracefully sailed over the head of the fireman in the bucket.

Robin smirked at her as she hopped down from the window. "Beat ya," he taunted.

"Maybe I just didn't want to haul Flash Boy into the room," she countered with a shrug.

"Aw, that wounds me," Kid Flash pouted, clutching his heart for dramatic effect.

Lark rolled her eyes. "Just start looking through the files," she chuckled. "Robin—"

"On it!" he grinned, already hooking himself up to a computer. Lark pulled out her tiny flashlight and began walking around the room, looking at the writing on the whiteboards and the items pinned to the cork boards, looking for anything that might be of interest or worthy of bringing back to Batman.

A minute later, Aqualad appeared in the window, looking less than pleased. "Appreciate the help," he said dryly, shooting a small glare at the other three as he landed in the room.

"You handled it," Robin shrugged, glancing over his shoulder. "Besides," he added, turning back to the computer, "we're here to investigate. Poetic justice, remember?"

Lark glanced up in time to see Aqualad walk out the door and down the hall. "Guess he's not interested in paperwork," she said she followed, grabbing Kid Flash and Robin by the upper arms as she did.

"There was something in the—" Aqualad started to say as they joined him at the end of the hall.

"Elevators should be locked down," Kid Flash informed.

Robin pushed past them and went to stand in front of the elevator. "This is wrong," he frowned. He tapped his wrist, his own holographic computer screen blinking into existence. "Thought so," he muttered once he had finished his scans.

Lark's eyes widened as she read over Robin's shoulder. "But that's a—"

"Yep," Robin nodded, popping the p for emphasis.

"It doesn't belong—"

"You said it."

Behind them, Kid Flash and Aqualad shared a look before the former cleared his throat and said, "Care to fill in the rest of the class?"

"This is a high-speed express elevator," Lark explained, turning to them.

"Which doesn't belong in a two-story building," Robin finished.

"Neither does what I saw," Aqualad said. He stepped forward and pried open the elevator doors with a grunt. When he glanced down, his eyes widened when he saw how deep the elevator shaft went.

Robin knelt by the edge. "And that's why they need an express elevator." He stood and shot his grapple gun at the ceiling and proceeded to rappel himself downward, Lark following his lead. Aqualad and Kid Flash, left with no (easy) way down, each grabbed a line and slid down.

At Sub-Level 26, Lark grunted as she felt the cord come to an abrupt stop.

"I'm at the end of my rope," Robin announced for the both of them. He swung himself until he was perched on the ledge rimming the wall, and Aqualad, who had jumped on his cable, followed suit. Lark reached out for Robin's grapple gun and released her hold on her grapple, letting Kid Flash pass her on the line.

Robin tapped his wrist and the screen appeared again. "Bypassing security..." he muttered as he typed away at the tiny holographic keyboard. Beside him, Aqualad helped Kid Flash onto the ledge.

Lark, who had un-suctioned her grapple from the ceiling and was hanging from Robin's grapple line, made a face at the five cartoonish faces of Robin scowling somewhat grotesquely back at them. "Ugh, why'd you have to use that face?" she asked as the cable from her grapple came reeling back.

"What's wrong with my face?" Robin asked, not tearing his eyes from what he was doing even as he raised an eyebrow at Lark.

"Nothing," the older teen pacified. "As long as it never makes that expression," she finished with a snicker.

Robin rolled his eyes before exclaiming, "There!" once all five faces were green. "Go!"

"Or that one!" Lark added, as the faces were now grinning grotesquely.

"Whatever!" Robin called as Aqualad rolled his eyes, only slightly annoyed, before opening the elevator doors once more. The three boys stepped into the hall and Lark swung herself on Robin's grapple line, unhooking the cable as she leapt for the hallway.

"Welcome to Project Cadmus," Robin said, sounding almost in awe once Lark was on her feet and she had passed him his grapple gun.

Before any of them could get a good look, Kid Flash took off down the hall.

"Kid, wait!" Aqualad hissed after him. Kid Flash cried out suddenly and skidded to a stop when he came to the T at the end of the hallway, and a second later, Lark saw why.

Giant creatures marched along, their footsteps shaking the ground. Lark, Robin, and Aqualad approached more cautiously than Kid Flash, and when they reached the intersection, Kid Flash crossed the path to join them. They stood before the creatures—which were about the size of elephants but looked more gorilla-ish in nature—in plain sight, but the animals seemed to not care about their presence.

One eventually looked over at them and roared, and Lark noticed a smaller creature perched on its back, between its shoulder blades. The smaller creature's little devil horns glowed red, but nothing seemed to change.

"No," Aqualad said slowly. "Nothing odd going on here." Lark watched the strange parade stomp past, until they finally disappeared down the hall.

"Let's not go that way," Lark stated, staring after the creatures and pointing a finger in their direction for unnecessary emphasis.

"Agreed," Robin said before taking off in the opposite direction, the others following after him.

They passed several empty hallways before reaching the end. A massive automated door blocked their path, and Robin quickly hacked into the controls to let them pass.

"Okay," he said as the door slid open and he got his first view of what lay beyond, "I'm officially whelmed."

Stacked to the ceiling in row after row were glass tubes containing what appeared to be bioluminescent creatures.

"This is how they hide this massive underground facility from the world," Kid Flash deduced, sounding impressed as the four started to venture further into the room. "The real Cadmus isn't on the grid. It generates its own power with these...things," he said.

On closer inspection, Lark saw he was right. The top and bottom of each tube was metal, and electrical sparks kept arching off the insect-like creatures, which were then drawn to the metal plating.

"Must be what they're bred for," Lark muttered.

"Even the name is a clue," Aqualad pointed out. "The Cadmus of myth created a new race by sowing dragon's teeth into the earth."

"And this Cadmus creates new life, too," Robin hypothesized. "Let's find out why," he said, walking to a small computer and hooking himself in. "They call them Genomorphs," he read once he was tapped in. "Whoa! Look at the stats on these things—super strength, telepathy, razor claws," he listed. "These things are living weapons!"

"They're engineering an army," Kid Flash concluded grimly. "But for who?"

"Wait, there's something else," Lark noticed, stepping next to Robin, who moved aside to let her look. "Project K-r," she read once the page had loaded. Aqualad and Kid Flash moved closer as well so they could read the screen. After a few failed attempts to get into the file, she handed the reins over to Robin again.

When he saw what he was dealing with, he groaned, "Ugh, the file's triple-encrypted. I can't—"

"Don't move!" a voice suddenly commanded.

Lark whirled around and saw a man dressed in blue with gold armor, along with five small gray creatures, coming toward them. "Wait," the man said, stopping short. "Lark, Robin? Aqualad and Kid Flash?"

"At least he got your name right," Robin snickered quietly.

"Less taunting, more hacking," Lark requested softly as she stepped in front of him to block him from the new-comer's gaze. Turning her attention back to the blue-garbed man, she frowned. "Wait, I recognize you," she stalled.

"You're Guardian," Aqualad nodded. "A hero."

"I do my best," Guardian said, and Lark couldn't tell if he was being modest or if he was gloating.

"Then what are you doing here?" Kid Flash demanded angrily.

"I'm chief of security," Guardian informed them. "You're trespassing, but we can call the Justice League, figure this out."

"You think the League's gonna approve of you breeding weapons?" the speedster asked loudly.

"Weapons?" Guardian asked, sounding genuinely confused. "What are you—" The thing perched on his shoulder turned its head to face him and its little horns glowed. Lark narrowed her eyes at the thing; weren't those things telepathic?

"What have I—Ugh." Guardian shook his head as if to clear it. "My head," he muttered. He looked up again and the creature's horns stopped glowing. "Take them down, hard!" he suddenly ordered. "No mercy!" Immediately, the creatures at his side sprang toward the teens.

Lark quickly dropped a smoke bomb, thick fog erupting from the broken dark purple casing. She stood in front of Robin, ready to defend him while he finished downloading the files, and pulled out her little-used secondary weapon—a collapsible jō staff in matching purple.

She knocked aside the first genomorph that leapt their way and swept the second off its feet before Robin tapped her shoulder, letting her know he was done. Lark collapsed her staff and after snapping it into the holster on her thigh, they reached for their grapples and Robin zipped away.

She wasn't as lucky as Robin, though. One of the gray creatures managed to leap onto her arm, its razer-sharp claws piercing through her uniform and digging into her flesh. Lark cried out in pain and surprise, letting go of her grapple as she did. She managed to land safely, but was distracted with the genomorph still clinging onto her.

It snapped its little mouth as it strained to get a piece of her face. Lark reached for a smoke pellet, managing to set it off in the face of the genomorph. It gagged and hissed as the dark smoke enveloped it, and it retracted its claws to scramble away. It hissed at her as it landed, and Lark glared right back at the tiny creature.

It launched itself at her face and Lark quickly pulled back her fist to punch the thing. Another leapt at her chest and knocked her back with a surprising amount of force. She raised her arm, catching the creature in the throat, before it could take a bite from her neck. It continued to snap viciously at her face and Lark, unable to reach for her staff, settled for raising a hand to slap it away.

A large shadow in the shape of a hand materialized and mirrored her motion, sending the creature flying across the room and crashing into the wall.

Oops, she thought to herself as she quickly pulled her hand to her chest, the shadowy hand disappearing. She glanced around to see if anyone else had noticed, but Aqualad and Kid Flash were too busy with their own genomorphs to have paid attention to Lark's battle.

When no further genomorph popped out to attack, Lark straightened and seeing the others finished, took off with them, heading in the direction in which she had seen Robin disappear.

Kid Flash raced ahead of them, and in the distance, Lark could hear him snap angrily, "Way to be a team player, Rob!" over the blaring alarms.

Robin glanced up and saw he was without his partner. "I thought you were right behind me," he said when Lark approached.

"I wasn't so lucky," she said, moving her arm subtly so her cape fell in front of her shoulder. Robin's eyes caught the torn fabric on her arm, though, and he reached forward and grabbed her arm.

"You're bleeding!" he exclaimed in surprise, examining her wounds.

"I'm fine," she said firmly, extracting her arm from Robin's prodding fingers. "They're shallow, and besides, I've had worse."

Before Robin could argue further, the elevator doors slid open and Lark brushed past Robin to enter, her partner and Kid Flash joining her a moment later. They turned to see Aqualad dashing down the hall, the creatures hot on his heels. The Atlantean ducked into a forward roll and popped to his feet in the elevator. Lark jabbed the "close" button frantically, and the doors slid shut just in time.

Robin kept trying to catch Lark's eyes so he could bug her about her arm, but she stubbornly stared straight ahead, keeping her arm hidden from view. The raven-haired teen was about to open his mouth to insist he have a look, but Aqualad noticed something that made everyone forget about Lark's injured arm.

"We're heading down?" he asked, and Lark glanced up to watch the floor numbers increase, indicating they were traveling deeper into the ground.

"Why are we going down?" she questioned her partner.

"Dude, out is up," Kid Flash said, pointedly jabbing his finger at the ceiling.

"Excuse me?" Robin asked, not at all thrown by the two angry looks sent his way by Kid Flash and Aqualad. "Project K-r, it's down on Sub-Level 52. L, I thought you were interested!"

"Sure," she said. "But not enough to investigate by ourselves!" she added quickly when the two angry glares were sent her way. "I thought you downloaded all the files on K-r!"

"I did, but there are some things I wanted to see for myself!"

"This is out of control," Aqualad muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Perhaps...perhaps we should contact the League," he said slowly, as though unsure of his companions' reactions.

Just then, the elevator dinged, signifying their stop. The doors opened to reveal a very strange-looking antechamber. The walls and floors were red, and the walls seemed to be housing pods for...something.

"Too late," Lark muttered.

Once it became apparent there was no immediate threat, Robin dashed forward.

"We are already here," Kid Flash reasoned before running after Robin. Aqualad turned to Lark, who just shrugged and hurried after the two. Aqualad sighed but was left with no choice but to follow.

They reached a fork in the hallway and they crouched behind an outcropping.

"Which way?" Aqualad asked Robin dryly.

"Yeah," Robin said, exasperated. "Bizarre-looking hallway one or bizarre-looking hallway two?"

Before any of them could answer, a voice called, "Halt!" A tall, thin figure stepped forward from bizarre-looking hallway one, and when it came into the light, Lark saw his skin was bluish-gray and he had two horns curving out from his forehead. His eyes and horns started glowing, and cylindrical metal bins flew after them.

"Great, a telekinetic," she grumbled, then winced as the bins exploded against the wall behind them. Robin threw a birdarang at him, but the creature only stopped it with his mind. Kid Flash started running down bizarre-looking hallway two, leaving the others to follow. Behind them, something else exploded, but they kept running.

Lark rounded the corner to find Kid Flash propping open a heavy metal door that was labeled Project Kr. "Hurry!" he yelled.

Lark followed Robin, and Aqualad kicked the object out of the way once he was inside, causing the doors to slam shut.

Robin was already at the controls. "I've disabled the doors," he informed once he was done. "We're safe."

"We're trapped," Aqualad corrected with a frown.

"For now," Lark said.

"You doubt my hacking abilities?" Robin questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Never," she assured with a small grin before becoming serious again. "But it's only a matter of time before they get those doors open, whether by brute force or by overriding your hack."

"Uh, guys?" Kid Flash called from further in the room. "You'll want to see this." He pressed a button on a control panel Lark hadn't noticed before, and lights flickered on.

"Whoa," Robin breathed.

Standing before them was an occupied cryotube. The glass front bore the letters K and r, and beyond that, Lark saw a teenage Superman garbed in white with a red S that looked exactly like the Man of Steel's own shield. Behind him, each in its own little bubble, were three of the same small creatures Lark had spotted perched on the shoulder of Guardian and on the backs of the giant lumbering creatures. Their eyes were closed, but Lark didn't think they were sleeping.

She was the first to move, slowly walking closer to the cryotube. "K...r..." she muttered softly to herself.

"The atomic symbol for Krypton," Kid Flash said from behind her. He turned back to Robin and Aqualad, who still stood behind the controls. "Clone?" he wondered out loud.

"Robin, hack," the older teen instructed as Lark turned away from the Superman look-alike to rejoin her partner at the controls.

"Oh, right, right," the young bird said, shaking his head as if to clear it. He hooked up his computer to the controls and got to work. "Weapon designated Superboy, a clone force-grown in...sixteen weeks?!" he exclaimed in disbelief.

"Using Superman's DNA," Lark muttered with a frown as she read over his shoulder.

"DNA stolen from Superman," Aqualad corrected, and Lark had a feeling he was right.

"No way the big guy knows about this," Kid Flash said.

"Solar suit allows him to absorb yellow sun radiation twenty-four-seven," Robin continued to read.

"And these creatures?" Aqualad asked, pointing at the three small beings above the Superboy's head.

"Genomorph g-nomes," Lark declared, her eyes scanning the page. "It says they're telepathic, 'providing a superior education unrivaled by any school system in the world,'" she quoted in a snooty tone. "Ugh, they make it sound like a boarding school instead of..."

"A force-fed education," Robin finished for her with a scoff.

"And we can guess what else," Kid Flash said grimly. "They're making a slave out of, well, Superman's son."

"Now we contact the League," Aqualad said in a tone that left no room for discussion. He touched his belt buckle, which started to glow, and Kid Flash checked his earpiece. Lark held a finger to her own comm unit and winced when all she got was feedback.

"No signal," Robin sighed, having checked his holo-computer.

"We're in too deep," Kid Flash said. "Literally." He looked at Superboy again. "This is wrong," he frowned.

"We can't leave him like this," Robin nodded.

After a pause, Aqualad said, "Set him free."

"Wait," Lark said suddenly, a hand on Robin's wrist stilling his movement. "Is that a good idea?"

"Lark," Kid Flash said, somewhat in shock. "He's a prisoner."

"A brainwashed prisoner," she differentiated. "Cadmus is obviously not our friend, and if they're the only source of information for this Superboy, he might perceive us as a threat. He has Superman's DNA, for God's sake! We sure as hell couldn't take Superman down by ourselves, especially if said Superman has no qualms about taking lethal action."

"She has a good point," Robin admitted, suddenly looking uncertain.

Aqualad hesitated before saying firmly, "We will just have to hope we can convince him otherwise." Turning to Robin, he said, "Do it."

The young hacker still deferred to Lark, who seemed to remain unconvinced releasing Superboy was the best course of action. Aqualad didn't back down, though, and after a moment, she relented. She removed her hand from Robin's wrist and nodded. He set to work on the controls, and a moment later, a loud hiss emitted from the cryotube as the walls of Superboy's cage slid out of view.

Lark froze, waiting nervously for him to make the first move. Her gaze jumped to his hands, which were the first to test their new freedom. His eyes suddenly flashed open, and Lark had just enough time to register—unhelpfully—that his blue eyes were a few shades darker than Superman's before he suddenly threw himself at Aqualad.

They went tumbling and when the dust finally settled, Superboy had the upper hand. He got in a few hits before Lark thrust her hands out, a little desperate, and was rewarded with a shadowy whip that materialized to wrap itself around Superboy's neck. She planted her feet and pulled back, hard, in an attempt to throw the clone off the Atlantean. Robin and Kid Flash hurried forward, each grabbing an arm as they tried to restrain him.

"Whoa!" Kid Flash exclaimed. "Hold up, Supey!"

"We're on your side," Robin insisted.

"Come on, come on, come on," Lark muttered to herself, struggling to keep from sliding across the floor as Superboy strained against her.

The clone punched away the speedster, sending the redhead sailing into a glass case, where he groaned softly before falling unconscious.

A second whip curled around Superboy's wrist to replace Kid Flash as Robin ground out, "I don't want to do this," as he pulled out a circular blade from his belt and pressed the button on it. A gas was released, and it temporarily choked Superboy. He reeled back with the help of Lark's two shadow whips, and Aqualad took the opening to kick the clone solidly in the chest. Lark leapt out of the way as Superboy went flying back into the controls at the center of the room, where he lay still for a moment.

When he got to his feet, Robin and Lark each shot their stun guns, four cables launching out and landing in Superboy's chest and back. He roared in pain, but that only seemed to momentarily shock him. He reached behind him to yank out the probes lodged in his back.

"Whoa!" Lark yelled in surprise as her feet left the ground and she went flying toward Superboy's back. She groaned as she slammed into the solid wall of muscle before literally bouncing off and crashing into the damaged control station.

She quickly scrambled out of the way as she clone took a step back, grabbing the cables from Robin's gun and giving them a sharp tug, and like Lark, the young bird's feet left the floor. Superboy caught Robin by the head and slammed him into the floor. He placed a foot on the prone teen's chest and started to step down.

"Hey!" Lark growled. "Get away from my partner!" She grabbed a broken metal pole as she rushed the clone and swung it at his head, which only managed to bend the pole at a sharp angle. With a glare, Superboy turned and grabbed Lark by the throat. Her eyes widened as she felt him start to close his fist, and her feet lashed out as they left the ground once again. In a matter of seconds, black dots began to dance in front of her eyes.

"Enough!" Aqualad roared, leaping forward and drawing Superboy's attention away from the weakened Lark. It worked, and Lark crumpled to the ground.

She alternated between coughing harshly and sucking in air like a vacuum, but it was too late. She felt herself go limp as her eyes rolled back in her head, and just like that, she was out.

Notes:

Thank you so much for reading! I'm still new to the AO3 tagging system, so if you have any tips/ideas/suggestions on how I should tag/what tags I should use for this story, that would be really appreciated! Also greatly appreciated is any feedback, whether here or on ff.net :)

Chapter 2: 2.0 - Fireworks

Notes:

Introduction of a new original villain for Lark!

Location: ---
Date: Monday, July 05, 2010
Time: 1149 local

Beep-beep. Beep-beep.

A regal-looking woman in a sharp pant suit glanced at her phone, a slight frown gracing her soft features.

{Excuse me, love,} she sighed, addressing her husband. {My board is being summoned.}

She stood and after buttoning her suit jacket, walked toward the hidden entrance in her husband's office, the carpet muffling the purposeful click-clack of her heels. An invisible scan verified her identity before it allowed her into the secret room where she could conduct the true business behind her husband's enterprise.

Once the door had slid shut behind her, the room darkened and eight screens lowered from the ceiling, all but one glowing pale blue with white silhouettes in the center.

The last screen showed a middle-aged man with brown hair graying at the temples pulled away from his face in a low ponytail. He adjusted his dark-framed glasses nervously as he waited to be addressed.

"Doctor Desmond," L-1's deep voice spoke up, "you require an audience with the Light?"

"Yes," the good doctor said, a little fearfully. "Very sorry to disturb you at this late hour—"

"Working hours, for some," the woman interrupted dryly. It was the first time Desmond had heard the screen labeled L-3 speak, and he noted she spoke with a moderate accent, which he was fairly certain was East Asian. The second thing he took note of was her thinly veiled frustration, and he shivered a little at the tone.

"Just make your report," L-4 cut in.

"Of course!" Doctor Desmond exclaimed. He cleared his throat and began his story. "Well, we had a small fire here at Project Cadmus. The origin of the incident is still unclear," he admitted, "but it seems to have attracted some...unwanted attention.

"Four sidekicks—Lark, Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad—breached security," he explained. "They found and released the weapon, the Superboy. Of course, the clone is under our telepathic control," he reassured hastily, "and, as ordered, turned against his would-be liberators. The four are contained and we don't believe the League knows they're here."

After a pause, Doctor Desmond asked uncertainly, "Uh...what should I do with them?"

"Clone them," L-4 said immediately.

"All but the girl," L-3 spoke up firmly. "If I discover there is a duplicate," she added with a growl, "I cannot ensure your safety or the safety of those closest to you."

Doctor Desmond swallowed nervously at the dark edge in her voice but nodded.

"The substitutes will serve the Light, and only the Light," L-1 continued.

"And the originals?" Doctor Desmond asked, though he got the feeling he already knew the answer.

"Dispose of all but the girl," L-3 said again. "I expect there to be only one when you're through."

"May I ask why?" Doctor Desmond questioned hesitantly.

"You may," she drawled. "But that does not guarantee my answer." The doctor swallowed again at the menacing tone in the woman's voice, and he nodded quickly in understanding. "Good," she said. "Leave no trace."

A smirk crossed Doctor Desmond's face; that, he could certainly do.

Halfway around the world, the well-dressed woman in the dark room began plotting her next move. That next move, which had been primed years before, was an important one, and while highly risky, also promised to be very high reward.

She swept back into her husband's office and said simply, {It's time.}

---

Location: Project Cadmus, Washington, D.C.
Date: Monday, July 05, 2010
Time: 0001 EDT

{Time runs short. You must awaken. You must awaken now!}

Lark's eyes snapped open and it took her a moment to remember where she was. She was reminded when her entire body began to ache and she groaned softly as she took stock her main injuries: an uncomfortable, warm tingling sensation enveloping her throat courtesy of the Superboy's fist and a slight burning in her upper arm where the genomorph had dug its claws into her.

Forcing the pain to the back of her mind, Lark glanced around to gain her bearings. She was prone like a starfish, her wrists and ankles shackled to the back of the box in which she was suspended, and upon closer inspection, she saw it was similar to Superboy's own pod. Glancing her left, she saw Robin, who was in an identical casing as hers.

She blinked her eyes to clear the fuzziness from her vision and saw Superboy standing in front of them, his brows furrowed as he observed them.

"What?" Lark heard Kid Flash snap beyond Robin. "Wha-what do you want?" Superboy remained silent. "Quit staring," the speedster demanded. "You're creeping me out."

"Uh, K.F.," Robin said, "how about we not tick off the guy who can fry us with a look."

"We only sought to help you," Aqualad spoke up, his voice the most distant from Lark.

"Yeah," Kid Flash said angrily. "We free you, and you turn on us! How's that for grat—"

"Kid," Lark cut in sharply, "if you don't shut your mouth, I swear—"

She was in turn interrupted by Aqualad. "I believe our new friend was not in full control of his actions," he said evenly, sparing Lark and Kid Flash a disgruntled look the best he could from his pod before returning his full attention to the clone.

"Wha-what if I...what if I wasn't?" Superboy said finally, his voice a little rough from lack of use.

"He can talk?" Kid Flash exclaimed, clearly surprised.

"Yes, he can," Superboy snapped, clenching his hands into fists and glaring at Kid Flash.

Lark couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Duh," she said. "The Boy Scout can, why shouldn't he be able to?"

"Not like I said 'it,'" the speedster said defensively.

"The genomorphs taught you telepathically," Aqualad prompted, turning Superboy's attention away from the bumbling Kid Flash.

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

"But have you ever seen them in person?" Lark asked softly.

"Have they ever actually let you see the sky? Or the sun?" Robin added.

"Images are implanted in my mind," Superboy explained. "But, no," he admitted slowly, glancing down with a slight frown. "I have not seen them."

"Do you know what you are, who you are?" Aqualad asked.

"I am the Superboy," he replied immediately, staring up at them confidently, "a genomorph, a clone from the DNA of the Superman, created to replace him should he perish, to destroy him should he turn from the light."

His response sounded rehearsed, and Lark found herself wondering how many times that mantra had been shoved down his throat. The prospect was terrifying, of course, and one of the reasons she had been skeptical to release Superboy in the first place, but now that he was awake and she was able to look into his eyes, she could only feel sorry for him. His entire existence was built on a lie, and he was about to be thrust, quite rudely, into reality.

"To be like Superman is a worthy aspiration," Aqualad replied levelly, snapping Lark out of her thoughts. "But like Superman, you deserve a life of your own. Beyond that solar suit, beyond your pod. Beyond Cadmus."

"I live because of Cadmus!" Superboy defended angrily, glaring at Aqualad. "It is my home!"

"Your home is a pod," Lark said patiently. "And that pod is a prison," she corrected after a beat. She searched imploringly for Superboy's gaze, and when he finally met her stare, he seemed to deflate a little.

"We can show you the sun," Robin promised.

"Uh, pretty sure it's after midnight," Kid Flash corrected unhelpfully. "But we can show you the moon!" he added quickly.

"We can show you, introduce you, to Superman," Aqualad finished, and Lark read the look in Superboy's eyes; they had him.

Suddenly, a voice called out, "No, they can't!"

Lark's gaze snapped to the voice and she saw three figures enter the room: Guardian and two people, a man and a woman, in lab coats. All three had a little genomorph on their shoulder.

"They'll be otherwise occupied." It was the man in the middle who spoke, somewhat savagely. He turned to the woman on his left. "Activate the cloning process," he commanded.

"Pass!" Robin called as Lark barked out a laugh to hide the sudden uneasiness that bubbled in her stomach at the prospect of being cloned. "Batcave's crowded enough."

"And get the weapon back in its pod!" the man shouted at Guardian, ignoring Robin completely.

"Hey, how come he gets to call Supey an 'it'?" Kid Flash asked out loud as Guardian marched up behind Superboy.

"Not the priority, Kid," Lark snapped, more harshly than she intended, her heartbeat loud and fast in her ears.

The blue-garbed head of security placed a hand on the clone's shoulder, and Superboy glanced briefly at Lark, then Aqualad.

"Help us," the Atlantean appealed to the clone softly.

Guardian started to pull Superboy backward, but he shrugged off the man's hand and refused to move.

"Don't start thinking now!" the man in the lab coat exclaimed, sounding exasperated. As he passed Superboy and Guardian, the genomorph perched on his shoulder leapt off and landed lightly on Superboy's. Its horns started to glow, and Lark felt her stomach sink at the implication of those damn glowing horns.

"See, you're not a real boy," the man explained in a patronizing way, facing Superboy. "You're a weapon, and you belong to me! Well, to Cadmus," he admitted, sounding annoyed at the fact, but he quickly added, "Same thing. Now get back to your pod!"

Obediently, Superboy turned and started walking toward the door. Lark was left to stare desperately after him before he disappeared from sight.

After a nod from the man, the woman started pressing buttons on the controls off to the side. Nothing happened in Lark's pod, but she startled when her companions began to scream in pain. Her eyes widened and her heart clenched.

"What are you doing to them?!" she demanded, starting to strain against her restraints in vain, the pain of her injuries forgotten. "Stop it! Stop!"

The man looked completely unfazed by her screeching curses or the others' pained cries, but Lark noticed the woman at the controls flinch as she stared resolutely at the panel in front of her.

"How can you be okay with this?" Lark yelled at the woman, hoping she would come to her senses and stop whatever it was that was happening to her brother and their companions. The woman shut her eyes, but the little genomorph on her shoulder seemed to sense her wavering. Its horns glowed, and the conflict in her knitted eyebrows eased.

Rage began to boil in Lark's blood. Her lip twitched upward in a snarl as black began to creep into her vision. She glared venomously at the man in charge, with his smug smirk and stupid ponytail. Her fists clenched and the lights flickered.

The man's eyes widened in surprise as he looked frantically for the source. His mouth then dropped in shock when he realized that the shadows that had previously lay flat and still around the cavernous space were starting to twitch and pulse.

He rushed to the controls and shoved aside the woman. He slammed his hand down on the controls and two arms shot out from the bottom of Lark's pod, four probes springing out of each. They dug themselves into her chest and suddenly, Lark was only aware of the pain.

The shadows stilled and became inanimate once more, and the woman looked around nervously. "What was that?" she asked timidly.

"That, Doctor Spence," Doctor Mark Desmond said with a growing smirk, "is enough reason to disobey orders." He watched greedily as blood began to fill the glass globe beneath Lark's pod, and continued, "Clone them all, then dispose of the boys. The Light can have the clone of the girl while we study the original."

Normally, he wouldn't dare double-cross his employers, but L-3 had been so interested in keeping the girl a unique specimen. Like a child, what Mark Desmond couldn't have, he wanted the most. He could usually keep his impulses under control, but this girl...there was something special about this girl, and he wanted to know exactly what it was.

He stared on as the children screamed and writhed in pain. A vicious gleam glossed over the dark eyes of Doctor Desmond as he stared up at Lark, his gaze that of a man eyeing some prize catch. Had Lark been aware of the eyes that settled on her, she would have shuddered. Instead, her sole focus was the pain that had become her whole world.

After what felt like a century, the probes suddenly left her flesh and Lark peeled her eyes open (when had they closed?) to see Superboy at the end of the room, the door over his head. She sighed in relief and began working on the cuffs around her wrist, wincing at the aftershocks that caused an occasional spasm through her body.

Desmond, Spence, and Guardian rushed forward to stop Superboy's advance. "I told you to get back to your—" Desmond was cut off when he was shoved aside, quite easily on Superboy's part.

"Don't give me orders," Superboy said lowly, glaring down at Desmond. Then he turned to the pods.

"You here to help us or fry us?" Kid Flash challenged, glaring at Superboy, and Lark was too busy trying to keep her hand steady as she picked the locks around her wrists to scold the speedster for unnecessarily antagonizing the person who had just saved them from being cloned and disposed like yesterday's garbage.

Superboy narrowed his eyes in concentration, almost as if he was testing to see if he had the ability to fry them. He finally relaxed and said, "Huh. I don't seem to have heat vision, so I suppose helping is my only option."

There was a hiss as Lark's pod opened and she dropped to the ground a moment before Robin, taking a shaky breath as her knees gave out. She slowly pushed herself to her feet, combing her fingers through her hair to unstick it from her sweaty skin.

"Ahh, finally!" Robin exclaimed, rubbing his wrists. "Lucky Batman isn't here. He'd have our heads for taking so long!"

"Seriously?" Kid Flash deadpanned from above them.

"Not the priority," Lark groaned again, rotating her injured arm gingerly to test her range of motion.

"That's what you're worried about?" the speedster went on. "The whole League will have our heads after tonight!" he yelled.

Lark pressed a button on the controls, causing the probes to disappear and the cases to open for Kid Flash and Aqualad.

"Free Aqualad," Robin told Superboy. "I'll get Kid Mouth."

"Don't you give me orders either," Superboy said sharply, glaring at the Boy Wonder.

"Hey, we can discuss this later," Lark said sharply, stepping between the two. "Right now, let's focus on getting out of here, preferably alive and un-cloned." Superboy didn't say anything but he jumped to Aqualad's side all the same. He easily ripped off the cuffs and caught the Atlantean as he slumped forward.

Once Robin had freed Kid Flash, the five dashed for the gaping hole created by Superboy when he had ripped out the giant mechanical door.

"You-you'll never get out of here!" Desmond called behind them, still on the floor. "I'll have you back in pods before morning!"

Lark shook her head and tsked. "Don't make promises you can't keep," she said, maybe a little condescendingly, as she looked down at him from the gaping doorway.

"This guy is not whelmed, not whelmed at all," Robin said, reaching into his utility belt and throwing four exploding disks at the globes beneath each of their holding cells, globes Lark realized contained their blood.

"What is it with you and this 'whelmed' thing?" Kid Flash asked.

"You better get used to it," Lark said with a little chuckle as she took off down the hall, Robin and Kid Flash right behind her. "I get the feeling this is the beginning of a trend." From the depths of the room, she heard explosions and crashes, and she knew Cadmus wouldn't be getting their DNA any time soon.

"We are still forty-two levels below ground," Aqualad pointed out as they ran through the strange-looking halls. "But if we can make it to the elevator..."

He trailed off as their path became blocked by the same type of large genomorphs from before. Behind them, the bulbous things attached to the walls began glowing red, and a moment later, their skins burst to reveal more of the small genomorphs.

Aqualad, Lark, Robin, and Kid Flash started weaving their way through the large genomorphs. They were clear of the giant creatures when Lark heard Superboy yelling and felt the floor rumble.

"Superboy!" Aqualad yelled. "The goal is escape, not to bury ourselves here!"

"You want escape?!" Superboy roared. He single-handedly took down the elephant-sized genomorphs, finishing them off by picking up one of the fallen and hurling it at the last two standing creatures.

They finally reached the elevator bank and Aqualad pried open the doors again. Lark glanced up and felt dismayed at the number of floors they had to climb.

Kid Flash began hopping the narrow ledges that lined the elevator shaft, and Lark, having lost her grapple gun, wrapped her arm around Robin's shoulder as he rappelled them upward. Superboy grabbed Aqualad just as the large genomorphs began to approach, and he leapt into the air to fly. But several seconds later, they slowed as gravity started to take hold.

"I-I'm falling," Superboy called in disbelief.

In a flash, a birdarang sailed through the air and landed with a shink! into the elevator shaft's wall. Aqualad managed to grab onto the sleek dark purple projectile, holding his and Superboy's weight.

"Superman can fly," the clone muttered. "Why can't I fly?"

"Dunno," Kid Flash shrugged as he, Lark, and Robin dropped onto the little ledge that ringed the walls. "But it looks like you can leap tall buildings in a single bound. Still cool," he added quickly.

Aqualad managed to yank the purple birdarang out of the wall before dropping onto the ledge with the rest of the young heroes and he passed it to Lark.

"Thanks," she said. He gave her a small smile in response.

"Guys, this'll have to be our exit!" Robin warned. Lark glanced up and saw an elevator was on its way down. Quickly, Superboy busted the doors and they stumbled into a (thankfully) normal-looking hallway, just in time.

Their good luck ran out almost immediately, as genomorphs appeared in front of them. They quickly took the left hall and began running.

"Go left! Left!" Superboy suddenly called from the front of the pack and everyone followed blindly. "Right!" he instructed next.

"Great directions, Supey!" Kid Flash exclaimed angrily as they skidded to a stop at the dead end. "You trying to get us re-podded?"

"No. I-I don't understand," Superboy said, his eyes wide in surprise.

"Don't apologize!" Robin exclaimed gleefully from beside Lark. "This is perfect!"

Lark followed his gaze and grinned: the air vents. She had long ago learned how to travel through air vents silently, and since then, Batman had designated her to air vent duty.

Robin shot his grapple at the vent and gave the cord a tug, causing the metal cover to pop off. Superboy helped each of them in, Robin first, then Aqualad, and Kid Flash. Lark smiled in thanks as she was helped up and Superboy gave her a small one in return.

With a little maneuvering, Lark let Superboy pass in front of her before leaning out of the vent. Using the grapple gun Robin had passed off, she used it to snag the vent cover and pull it flush in its original position, making sure to cover their tracks.

Confident it would hold, Lark hurried to join the others.

"Ah, at this rate, we'll never get out," Kid Flash grumbled after they had crawled several hundred feet.

"Shh!" Superboy said quickly. "Listen," he whispered.

"Keep going," Lark hissed from the rear. "We'll just get caught if we stop."

"This way," Robin motioned, and the five started off again.

They crawled for several more yards before Robin signaled for them to stop. He checked that the coast was clear, then opened the vent cover and dropped down. He fiddled with his computer as the others joined him in the empty hallway. After a moment, he glanced over his shoulder with a grin. "I hacked the motion sensors!" he declared, sounding quite pleased with himself.

"Sweet," Kid Flash grinned.

"There are still plenty of them between us and out," Lark pointed out with a raised eyebrow.

"But I've finally got room to move!" he declared. The speedster pulled his goggles over his eyes and then burst through the door leading to a stairwell and raced up the stairs. He met the smaller genomorphs first and easily plowed through them, leaving the way open for Aqualad, Lark, Robin, and Superboy.

"More behind us!" Robin warned after consulting his holo-computer. Superboy let the others pass before stopping and stomping his foot on the top step of the staircase. It crumbled, taking the genomorphs with it.

They finally made it to the top of the stairs, and Kid Flash raced ahead again. Alarms were blaring once more and red lights pulsed, and Lark knew before she saw the speedster sprawled on the floor that their way had been blocked.

"We're cut off from the street," Aqualad proclaimed, coming up behind Kid Flash.

"Thanks," the redhead said sarcastically, rubbing his forehead. "My head hadn't noticed."

Superboy stepped forward and tried punching through the doors, but that didn't even put a dent in them. Aqualad hurried toward him to help, but to no avail.

"Can't hack fast enough," Robin huffed, his fingers flying across his holographic keyboard.

Behind them, the larger genomorphs appeared. "This way!" Lark called, kicking open a door to her right. Everyone hurried through.

However, before they got very far, they were stopped by Guardian and a whole troop of genomorphs of all sizes.

Lark glared at the so-called hero, pulling out several birdarangs as she did, getting ready for a fight.

The next thing she knew, though, she was waking up with a killer headache on the ground beside Aqualad, Robin, and Kid Flash, wondering how the hell she had gotten there. Superboy stood above them, facing the tall, slender genomorph they had seen in the bizarre-looking hallway. Lark got to her feet unsteadily, though her eyes narrowed as she prepared herself for whatever came next.

"Guardian?" Aqualad asked hesitantly, turning to the helmeted man when he winced and rubbed his forehead.

"Go," he said, his eyes narrowing. "I'll deal with Desmond." A certain bitterness colored his tone.

"I think not." Guardian and the genomorphs turned at the new voice, and Desmond came into view. He glared at all of them, the fire in his eyes intense. "Project Blockbuster will give me the power to restore order to Cadmus," he declared with a growl, lifting a test tube filled with light blue liquid. Before any of them could react, he threw back his head and swallowed the thing in one gulp.

Lark watched, horrified, as Desmond fell to his knees and then began to expand, shredding his shirt and lab coat to ribbons. His eyes became black and red, and his skin began to peel away from his flesh, revealing a new blue skin underneath.

The Blockbuster monster straightened with a roar, and everyone waited, watching as he scanned them.

"Everyone back!" Guardian called, facing Blockbuster and throwing his arm to the side to keep any of the teens from rushing forward. Guardian launched himself at the monster, but he was easily swatted away like an annoying insect.

Superboy leapt at Blockbuster and got in a solid punch but was as easily knocked down as Guardian. After several more punches, Superboy jumped in the air and Blockbuster met him halfway, sending the two of them through the ceiling.

"Okay," Robin said as they gathered under the hole. "That's one way to bust through the ceiling."

"You think Lab Coat planned that?" Kid Flash asked, reaching up to grab Robin's utility belt as the young bird rappelled himself upward.

"I doubt he is planning anything anymore," Aqualad said gravely.

"Mind giving me a lift?" Lark asked, and he nodded before wrapping an arm around her waist and jumping them through the hole. She caught sight of the battle between Superboy and Blockbuster while they were airborne, and as soon as their feet touched the ground, she yelled, "Get down!" She tackled Aqualad to the ground as Superboy got tossed their way, and they watched as he sailed over their heads.

"Thanks," Aqualad said, a little surprised that Lark had been able to get them down in time.

"No worries," she said with a small smile, jumping to her feet first and then helping Aqualad stand as Robin and Kid Flash rushed to Superboy's side.

Blockbuster roared at the gathered young heroes as they stood ready to fight. Lark waited in anticipation, getting the sense Blockbuster would make the first move, and making the first move was always a no-no.

Her hunch proved correct as Blockbuster charged them. Kid Flash raced ahead and slid between Blockbuster's legs, who turned in confusion when the yellow blur disappeared from his line of sight. When he turned to the front again, he got a face-full of Kryptonian-Atlantean fists.

The force of the combined punches sent Blockbuster reeling back, and Kid Flash provided the (literal) bump necessary to knock Blockbuster completely onto his back.

"Learned that one in kindergarten," he smirked as he stood from his kneeling position.

Robin flipped over the speedster's head as Lark used her partner's grapple to swing above everyone, and both birds launched their birdarangs at the monstrous blue figure as he lay prone on his back, only for him to knock them aside easily.

Superboy rushed up to Blockbuster, which seemed to enrage him, and he leapt to his feet, grabbing the clone before he could react. Blockbuster rushed at a pillar, slamming Superboy against it. It dented under the force and sent spiderweb fractures throughout the structure.

Superboy managed a few punches of his own before getting hit by Blockbuster again, but before the former Doctor Desmond could get in a second hit, a water whip appeared and coiled around his arm. Aqualad let Blockbuster carry him forward, kneeing him in the face as he passed.

The whip morphed into a mace as Aqualad prepared a second assault, but Blockbuster grabbed the spiked weapon and tossed the Atlantean away.

As the battle raged on, Lark joined Robin and raised her wrist. "Computer," she commanded, "scan the building's structure."

"Scanning initiated," the computer replied, and the lark and the robin watched as their surroundings were translated into a smaller, digital form.

As they waited for the rendering to be complete, the foundation shook as Blockbuster sent another young hero into a column.

"Of course!" Robin realized as the computer finished its scan. "K.F., get over here!" he yelled.

"The entire building's structure weakens every time Blockbuster takes out, or even damages, one of these columns," Lark explained once Kid Flash joined them.

"If we can speed the process along, we might be able to bring the building down on top of Blockbuster," Robin said.

"That means any column that appears on this scan needs to be taken down," Lark said. "By any means necessary." Just as she said that, another column lit up red, indicating the damage done to the support.

"Got it?" Robin asked.

"Got it," Kid Flash confirmed before speeding off.

"You tell Aqualad and Superboy," Lark said to Robin. "I'll set the explosives."

"On it," he said before they split.

After double-checking her map, Lark pulled out every explosive birdarang she and Robin had on them. She activated the purple and red explosives to go off on her command and began throwing them at the columns that weren't being taken care of by the others.

She finished as Robin completed drawing a large white X in the middle of the room and Aqualad used his water-bearers to pour water onto the mark. Kid Flash sped through the puddle that had formed, Blockbuster on his tail.

Before the blue creature could reach Kid Flash, who had stopped over the X, Superboy came out from the wings and punched Blockbuster, the surprise attack knocking him down. The speedster side-stepped out of the way and out of the water as Blockbuster crashed to the ground, and Aqualad, activating his eel tattoos, placed his hands in the water and sent an electric current through it.

Blockbuster roared as the electricity reached him, but Lark was already on the move, Robin yelling for the others to follow as he fell into step with Lark.

"Detonating now!" she warned, pressing the button on the holographic screen emanating from her wrist. She ducked her head as she picked up the pace, flinching a little every time a large chunk of building crashed around them.

"We're not going to make it!" Kid Flash called out in alarm, and Lark spared a glance with Robin, who nodded once.

Lark threw up her hands, palms up, and a black shifting shield materialized around their rag-tag team, bringing everyone to a halt. She grunted as rubble piled on top of the protective bubble, her knees buckling under the weight as she struggled to maintain the shield. Beside her, Robin looked on worriedly, unsure how he could help his sister.

Eventually, the debris settled and with great effort, Lark expanded the bubble, throwing off the large chunks of Cadmus and letting the pale moonlight wash over them.

Once certain they were in the clear, Lark finally collapsed, her limbs shaking from the exertion. Robin immediately knelt beside her, his hands fluttering around her shoulders as he tried to figure out the best way to support her, physically or otherwise. "You good?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm good," she sighed, accepting his help as she got unsteadily to her feet. She pushed her hair out of her face, and the part of her mind that wasn't taken over by exhaustion or pain wondered grumpily why she didn't pin it back to keep it off her face.

"L, what was that?" Kid Flash gaped, pulling her sluggishly from her thoughts. "Since when could you do that?!"

"They're a...recent development," Lark said after sharing another look with Robin. "Bats wanted to keep it under wraps until we got a full understanding of my...abilities. You know how he is."

"Sweet!" the speedster grinned, and Lark chuckled tiredly at his enthusiasm.

"We...did it," Aqualad said, breathing heavily and looking at the other teens, Lark's sudden powers clearly not the most prevalent thought on his mind.

"Was there ever any doubt?" Robin joked, a grin stretched across his and Kid Flash's faces. They high-fived only to immediately wince in pain, and Lark shook her head but smiled amusedly anyway.

Superboy was the first of them to leave their little circle and Lark's eyes followed him as he walked to Blockbuster, who was crushed beneath a slab of the building and was unconscious for the moment.

"See?" Kid Flash said, appearing behind the clone. Superboy turned and the speedster pointed up. "The moon," he clarified. Lark turned to the sky and saw a black dot begin to grow on the glowing surface of the full moon. "Oh. And Superman," he added. "Do we keep our promises or what?"

Behind Superman, the other members of the Justice League came into view, and Lark winced. This is not going to be pretty, she thought grimly as she shared an uncertain look with Robin.

The Man of Steel landed in front of the five teenagers as the rest of the League formed a perimeter around them, and Superboy stepped forward. Superman's eyes narrowed as the clone approached, but he lifted the flap of cloth that covered the red S on his chest. Superman looked confused for a moment but then his mouth gaped slightly in surprise. He quickly smoothed his features into a stern glare.

"Is that what I think it is?" Batman asked quietly from behind Superman. Lark winced again, her mentor's anger carefully masked but very obvious to her and Robin.

They shared an uneasy glance before Kid Flash stepped forward and said from behind his hand, "He doesn't like being called an 'it.'"

"I'm Superman's clone," Superboy spoke up, his voice clear and unhesitant. Behind Superman, the other Leaguers glanced at each other, shocked and confused.

The whites of Batman's mask narrowed. "Start talking," he commanded quietly.

The five teens glanced at each other. Lark opened her mouth to start explaining to Batman why they had disobeyed orders, but before she could get a word out, Aqualad stepped forward. She glanced at him but closed her mouth and let him speak. He recounted their unsponsored mission into Cadmus, from leaving the Hall of Justice to the spontaneous demolition of the building.

Silence hung in the air once Aqualad finished speaking, and Batman simply stared at them for a moment before he turned his back completely to them. He instructed the two Green Lanterns, the two Hawks, and Captain Atom to take Blockbuster to a holding cell for the time being before stepping away from the teens altogether.

The remaining members of the Justice League broke into two groups. Lark saw Superman approach out of the corner of her eye and she moved away from Superboy to give the clone and the Man of Steel some privacy and the others followed suit.

"So, how much trouble are we in?" Kid Flash worried quietly.

"Well, considering we disobeyed Batman's direct order, I wouldn't be surprised if he took away our masks," Lark muttered. Robin's eyes widened and he gulped nervously.

"But that surely won't fall on us," the speedster laughed uncertainly, gesturing between himself and Aqualad.

Lark scowled in his direction. "Do you really think he couldn't convince Flash and Aquaman to bench you guys too?"

"Yeah, we're not going down alone," Robin hissed in agreement.

The Dark Knight finally approached them, the other Leaguers behind him, and Kid Flash breathed a quiet sigh of relief to no longer be on the end of not one, but two Batglares.

"Cadmus will be investigated," Batman informed them. "All fifty-two levels. But let's make one thing clear—"

"You should have called," Flash interrupted, appearing behind Batman.

The Bat spared the brightly dressed hero a disgruntled glare before turning back to the teens. "End results aside, we are not happy. You hacked Justice League systems, disobeyed direct orders, and endangered lives. You will not be doing this again," he ended severely.

"I am sorry." Aqualad spoke up for the first time since he had brought the older heroes up to speed on their little adventure, and Lark was a little surprised it was the soft-spoken, rules-following Atlantean who was speaking on their behalf once more. "But we will."

"Aqualad, stand down," the king of Atlantis commanded.

"Apologies, my King, but no," the young Atlantean said. "We did good work here tonight. The work you trained us to do. Together, on our own, we forged something powerful," he continued. "Important."

"If this is about your treatment at the Hall, the four of you—"

Kid Flash cut off his mentor as he angrily corrected, "The five of us. And it's not."

"Batman, we're ready to use what you taught us," Robin said softly, stepping forward. "Or why teach us at all?"

"Give us a chance to prove to you we can be more than just your sidekicks," Lark said. "There's good work we could be doing."

"Why let them tell us what to do?" Superboy said suddenly, glaring at his feet. "It's simple," he said, stepping forward boldly. "Get on board or get out of the way." He glared at Batman, and the others followed his lead, though probably less venomously.

For a long moment, an uneasy tension began to fill the space between them and the League, a space that seemed to get longer and heavier each passing second. Batman narrowed his eyes, and finally gave a small nod of his head.

Lark gave a quiet sigh of relief; he would think about it.

Notes:

I hope I piqued your interest with the new villain! I definitely plan to include more original scenes regarding Lark and the new villain, so stay tuned for that :)

Chapter 3: 2.1 - Stopover

Notes:

So this is the first chapter that contains content from the corresponding comic series. Chapters that take place during episodes will be marked with full numbers, while those that take place during the comics will be in decimals.

Location: Project Cadmus, Washington, D.C.
Date: Monday, July 05, 2010
Time: 0051 EDT

"Give me three days," Batman said finally.

"Three days isn't too long," Kid Flash said with a little shrug, though the other boys didn't look so convinced.

Superboy turned on his heel and stalked away, and Robin said, "Uh, guys?"

Kid Flash followed Robin's line of sight and grinned. "Hey, Supey, how 'bout you come home with me?" Superboy just shrugged, and the speedster's grin widened. "Cool! Let's go!"

The Justice League began going their separate ways, and Lark followed Batman and Robin to the Batmobile, which Batman had called sometime during their little conference. Robin climbed in the back and Lark collapsed in the front seat.

The ride back to Gotham was tense, and Lark noticed Batman didn't unclench until they reached the Batcave.

Alfred was waiting for them as Batman pulled to a stop, and as the top of the Batmobile slid open, he said, "Miss Naomi, Master Dick alerted me to your injury." She threw a dirty look over her shoulder to Dick.

"I'm fine," she said, and took a step forward, only for her knees to buckle as the adrenaline finally left her system.

"Whoa, Nomi, you okay?" Dick asked, wrapping her arm around his shoulder as he helped her to the medical station.

"Yeah, just...overtaxed myself, I guess," Naomi said as Alfred helped her onto the medical cot.

"Did you use your powers?" Bruce asked sharply, his eyes narrowing.

"No one saw but Kid, Aqualad, and Superboy!" Naomi exclaimed.

He still looked extremely displeased, but he swept away, and Dick and Naomi shared an uneasy look. It looked like it was the silent treatment for them.

"All right, then," Alfred said brightly, distracting the two from Bruce's obvious disappointment. "Master Dick, you get washed up and changed and then off to bed for you. Miss Naomi, do you wish to get washed up as well before I start your I.V. and tend to your wounds?"

"Yes, please," Naomi said immediately. "I need a shower, desperately."

"Very well. Do you feel steady enough on your feet?"

"Yeah."

Naomi got to her feet gingerly before walking up the steps to the showers. She unzipped the front of her suit, wincing a little as the fabric tugged at the ragged edges on her arm. She washed up quickly before pulling a large T-shirt over her head and stepping into comfortable lounge pants.

Alfred and Dick were waiting in the medical bay and she sat on one of the beds, rolling up the sleeve of her shirt as she did.

"Dick, what are you still doing up?" Naomi asked to distract herself as Alfred began cleaning the gashes.

"Wanted to see how you were doing," Dick said, standing on Naomi's other side.

"Dick, that's sweet, but I swear, I'm fine," she said, glancing away from watching Alfred bind her arm to look at her little brother. "You, on the other hand, look ready to drop; go to bed."

"Fine." He rolled his eyes but gave Naomi a quick hug before waving to Alfred and heading upstairs.

Alfred hummed quietly as he settled Naomi in the cot so he could get her set up for the I.V. She watched intently as he stuck her with the needle, and she leaned back against the thin pillows as she felt the cool solution enter her vein.

The butler agreed to get Naomi her laptop so she could do something while she waited for her fluids to be replenished, and she passed the time watching YouTube videos.

Alfred returned shortly to find Naomi dozing off, and he gently roused her from her light slumber. "Miss Naomi," he said softly, "do you wish to retire to bed?"

She shifted a little, wincing as it tugged on the I.V. line, but nodded. Alfred quickly removed the needle and placed a cotton ball over the crook of her elbow, wrapping it tightly. He helped Naomi to her feet and then escorted her to her room, though she argued the whole time, saying she didn't really need his help and that she was feeling much better. All that, of course, fell on deaf ears.

Once she was safely in bed, Alfred bid her good night before turning off the overhead light. Naomi waited a beat to make sure Alfred didn't stick his head back into her room before chuckling softly and saying, "You can come out now, creep."

Dick peeked his head out from behind the curtains where he had been waiting and he grinned as Naomi turned on her bedside lamp. She shook her head as he hurried over to the bed and hopped on without a second thought.

"What are you doing here?" she asked as he leaned against the pillows that were propped up neatly against the headboard. "You should be in bed."

"Sure, Mom," he said, rolling his eyes. "Just wanted to check up on you."

"Dick, that's sweet, but completely unnecessary," Naomi said even as she let Dick lean his head against her shoulder, and she knew better by now that he wouldn't stop worrying for several days. When he had come to the Manor, he had quickly accepted Naomi as his new sister, and even though she was older and more than capable of taking care of herself, he had become protective of her.

In the field, Robin knew not to hover, but as soon as the masks were off, he would check and double-check and triple-check if she was okay. It was much appreciated, and Naomi loved how much he cared, especially considering how unloved she had felt after her mother had abandoned her at the age of six.

Sometimes, though, he went a little overboard...

"It's a scratch, nothing else," she went on. "Alfred didn't even have to stitch me up."

"I'm more worried about...the other thing," Dick said. "You've never felt that fatigued in the field before."

"I've never used my powers to that extent before," Naomi pointed out. "I'll just have to work on it more."

Dick just hummed in response, and Naomi didn't have the heart to kick him out. Instead, she turned off her bedside light and settled in for the night, and Dick grinned at the silent invitation to stay. The bed was big enough for them to sleep comfortably side by side, and Dick shifted so he was on the other half of the mattress.

Naomi shook her head fondly as she watched Dick get comfortable, as though he was in his own bed. He curled on his side, facing her, and Naomi lay on her back, staring up at the canopy above her mattress. Dick's breathing quickly slowed and evened, indicating he was fast alseep.

She chuckled and was about to join him in dreamland when her phone vibrated, signifying a new text message. She rolled onto her side and reached for her phone. Swiping the text notification on the screen, she opened the messaging app and frowned when she saw the text was from an unknown number. Clicking on the new text chain, though, she couldn't help but smile when she read the message.

Glad you're not dead...I'm still pissed though

Naomi's fingers hesitated over the keyboard as she pondered how to respond. It was obvious Roy was texting from a burner, plus he was still mad at her, as was evident in his text, so it seemed unlikely he would even see her reply.

Still, though, she wanted him to know she had seen his text, so she typed out: Glad you're not too pissed to check up on me. Will I be hearing from you soon?

She sighed and locked her phone before placing it back on her bedside table. She settled into bed, her eyes sliding closed as exhaustion finally washed over her.

---

Location: Wayne Manor, Gotham City
Date: Monday, July 05, 2010
Time: 0846 EDT

Naomi was awakened when she rolled over her arm in her sleep. She tried to shut out the morning, but the dull throb proved too distracting and she finally admitted defeat. She sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes first then running her hand through her hair, untangling what she could with her fingers and doing her best to flatten the locks that had gotten curled and crimped during the night.

Glancing to her side, she saw Dick was gone, which didn't surprise her. He had always been more of an early bird than her, despite their often-late hours, something Naomi had always been a little jealous of.

She checked her phone, knowing she wouldn't have a response from Roy but still hoping to find the unknown number on her screen. She sighed when she saw no notification from him before finally settling her feet on the floor and shuffling into her attached bathroom to get ready for the day.

While she was brushing her teeth, a voiced called, "'Omi?"

"In the bathroom!" she called through a mouthful of foam.

Dick, still in his pajamas and looking glum, walked through her room to lean against the doorframe of the bathroom. "Bruce left for the office early," he said.

"Still not talking to us, I take it," Naomi sighed once she had spit out the toothpaste foam.

"Looks like."

She hummed in frustration as she tossed out the cotton ball that Alfred had put in the crook of her arm. Dick remained silently leaning against the doorframe while Naomi washed her face. Once done with that, she said, "Well, if he's gone already, I guess it's safe to go downstairs."

They arrived in the kitchen as Alfred was washing the last of Bruce's plates, and Naomi smiled sheepishly as she and Dick sat at the kitchen island.

"Sorry," she said as Alfred set about preparing their breakfast.

"No worries, Miss Naomi," Alfred assured with a smile. "I understand completely."

Dick continued to stare glumly at the island counter while Naomi toyed with the fork laid out next to her plate. They sat in silence, the only sound filling the large kitchen the sound of Alfred making pancakes and frying bacon.

Once Alfred had served their hotcakes and bacon, he stood in front of them as they fixed their plates: Dick with a gallon of maple syrup and Naomi with a bucket of dark chocolate chips and fresh berries.

The loyal butler sighed as he watched the two wards begin eating solemnly, and said, "Chin up, young masters. Master Bruce will come around."

"Has he ever been this pissed at us?" Naomi asked before spearing a strawberry and a large piece of chocolate-smeared pancake and shoving it in her mouth.

"I don't think so," Dick mumbled through a mouthful of syrup-soaked pancake.

Throughout breakfast, Naomi's gaze shifted to her cell phone, which was laid out on the kitchen island a few inches from her plate. Reading the look on his sister's face, Dick sighed.

"Has Roy still not reached out?"

"Well, he texted last night to let me know he was glad we weren't dead, but nothing else," she sighed as she passed Dick her phone, looking a little upset, not that he could blame her. As close as Roy was to Dick, he was even closer to Naomi, and she had never been on the receiving end of such a tantrum from Roy before.

He couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow, though, when he read the text again. "You liar," he grinned.

"What are you talking about?" Naomi asked, genuinely confused, which made Dick laugh harder.

"Roy wasn't glad we weren't dead; he was glad you weren't dead!"

Naomi rolled her eyes as she snatched her phone back from Dick. "It's an implied 'we,'" she said.

"Yeah, right," he snickered.

"Whatever, Bird Brain."

Their mirth was short lived as Dick thought back to the unknown number that Roy had used. The older teen had never been so mad as to feel the need to reach out with a burner phone, which led Dick to believe that Roy had packed a bag and left Oliver's place. Judging from Naomi's expression, that was her fear too.

"I hope he's okay," she mumbled around a mouthful of food, making Alfred give her a displeased side-glance.

"Does Ollie know where he's staying?"

"No, he texted earlier to let me know that none of the sensors on any of his safe houses have been tripped."

"Maybe you should give him another couple of days to cool off," Dick suggested. "I know that's now what you want to hear," he added quickly when Naomi frowned at him, "but it just seems he might have gone off the grid for a reason."

"I guess you're right," she sighed, though she was clearly unhappy with the recommendation.

The rest of breakfast was eaten in silence, and after Alfred cleared the island of their dishes, Dick and Naomi looked at each other and said simultaneously, "Gym."

"Arm, Miss Naomi," Alfred called from the sink.

"Nooooo!" Naomi wailed at the reminder and her head dropped to the granite island. "Damn Cadmus," she grumbled. Glancing back at Alfred, she said, "Can I at least work on my core or lower body?"

Alfred contemplated the request for a moment before nodding and said, "I don't see why not. But," he added quickly when Naomi cheered, "I expect you to let me check on your arm when you're done."

"Okay!" Naomi said, already halfway out the kitchen. She met Dick in the gym, and while he began warming up on the mats, she headed to the treadmill.

For the rest of the day, they worked on their own, though Dick would occasionally call Naomi to ask her questions about a particular move or stance. They were able to forget the previous day and Bruce's silent treatment for the most part, enjoying each other's company and taking turns blasting music to work out to.

Lunch came and went, then dinner, and finally patrol (in Dick's case, anyway; Alfred sternly told Naomi she couldn't go out until her arm had started to scab) before Batman finally made contact.

"Turn in early, Robin," he said gruffly. "It's a slow night. I'll finish up."

There was a beat of silence on the line before Robin confirmed he had heard Batman, and Naomi was waiting for him when he came zooming into the Batcave.

"I can't believe this," Dick grumbled as he angrily set the kickstand.

She sighed heavily and squeezed his shoulder briefly as he passed her on his way to the showers. "When you're done," she called after him as he trudged toward the catwalk, "come to the media room. Alfred said he would make popcorn."

That earned her a small smile from Dick, who nodded before picking up his pace.

---

Location: Wayne Manor, Gotham City
Date: Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Time: 0923 EDT

Naomi woke with a start when her phone started ringing. She sat up immediately and checked the caller I.D., hoping to see Roy's name or even an unknown number if it meant he was on the other end, alive and well. When the name of a different eighteen-year-old friend flashed on the screen, she sighed and slumped against her pillows again, already well on her way to drifting off to sleep.

"Hello," she mumbled sleepily into the phone.

"Mimi!"

She groaned. "I hate that nickname," she muttered.

"I figured it would wake you up," James Scott replied cheekily.

"Ugh, you and Dick," Naomi groaned, rolling her eyes.

"Aw, you know me and Dickie," he said. "We always were on the same page."

James was the only son of David and Lisa Scott, fellow Gotham socialites. Naomi had first met James when she was six, at her first gala with Arthur and Irene Williamson. The other children had looked down their noses at her, calling her names behind her back and commenting on her "low birth." James had swept in, her knight in shining armor, and a friendship had been born.

"When did you get in?" she asked.

James had graduated from Gotham Academy, and as a graduation gift, he and his friends had been given money to go spend a couple weeks in New York City.

"Late last night," he said.

"You have to tell me about it!" Naomi exclaimed, finally getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom.

"You know, I was gonna call Sage after this and see if she could meet up so I could give her the trinkets I bought while in New York," he said. "Wanna just all get together?"

"Yeah!" Naomi said through a mouthful of toothpaste. She quickly spit out the foam and said, "Yeah, sounds like fun."

"No plans with Bruce or Dick?"

Naomi rolled her eyes. It was Tuesday, so Bruce would be at the office, even if he wasn't still mad, and knowing Dick, he would probably be angsty and moody until Batman gave them an answer on their teen team.

"No plans," she confirmed. "I'm free all day, so whatever time works best for you and Sage."

"Sounds like a plan," he said, and Naomi could hear the grin in his voice. "I'll call back when I get word from her."

"Sounds good! See ya in a bit!"

Once finished with her morning bathroom routine, she got dressed in denim shorts, a black Beatles band shirt tucked into the waist with sleeves long enough to hide her bandages, and her trusty black Converse. She headed down to the kitchen to confirm Bruce already gone to the office and found Dick at the kitchen island.

"You're up early," Dick said glumly as she entered the kitchen. He perked up a little as he asked, "Did Roy call?"

"No, it was James," she said, shaking her head as she grabbed a glass for orange juice. "We're planning on meeting up with Sage today; not sure exactly when or where, though."

She gave his work-out attire a second glance when Dick's response was just a grunt. "What do you have planned today?" she asked rhetorically.

"Training," he replied shortly, poking at his mostly empty dish.

"What's wrong, Dickie-bird?" she inquired, taking his plate away before he could scratch the surface—Alfred wouldn't be too pleased—and moving around the counter to sit beside him.

"What's taking him so long?" Dick snapped angrily, glaring at the island countertop.

"You know Bruce," Naomi sighed, putting an arm around Dick's shoulders. "He's just blowing off steam until he gets over his embarrassment."

"Yeah, I know," the younger bird grumbled, slumping forward until his chin was resting on the countertop.

"Cheer up, Dickie," Naomi said with a small smile, squeezing his shoulder. "He'll make his decision."

Her phone buzzed with an incoming text message and she leaned away from Dick to see who the sender was. She grinned.

"Sorry I can't stay longer," she said. "Sage just texted."

"I understand," Dick said. "Have fun."

"Thanks." She kissed the top of his head before waving good-bye to Alfred and walking to the large car garage. She grabbed the keys to her car and opened the garage door before starting the engine. Naomi started her driving playlist and hummed along to the song as she pulled out of the garage and made her way down the gravel driveway and to the Wayne Manor gates, which opened at a push of a button.

Given the prestige of the Wayne name, the manor had been built on the cliffside on the coast northeast of Gotham City limits. Most of Gotham's wealthy families lived in the suburb, though none had a view as nice nor resided on as much property as the manor.

The Scott residence was one such home in the neighborhood, which was situated in the hilly terrain leading up to the Manor. It was a short drive to the pristine neighborhood, and she arrived in no time.

"Naomi!"

The girl in question turned at the sound of her name as she stepped out of her car and smiled when she saw her friend.

Sage Burke was a grade younger than Naomi, but how they met was similar to how Naomi met James. The younger teen had pale gold-blonde hair, which grew in soft curls, and green eyes that were her namesake and often accented with the right amount of mascara and eyeliner.

Waiting on the porch for them was James. He was tall and ruggedly handsome, with a strong jaw, playful hazel eyes, and wavy chocolate-brown hair that was always cut in the latest, chicest style. His look was capped off by a slightly crooked nose he got as a result of a fight he got into when he was fourteen.

"Hey, duckies," James grinned as Naomi and Sage hurried up the porch steps.

"Jamie!" Sage greeted brightly, kissing his cheek.

"Long time no see," Naomi said, standing on her tiptoes to ruffle James's hair, this season cut shorter on the sides and slightly longer on top, the layers artfully tousled.

"You're one to talk," Sage snorted as James invited them inside. "The last time we got together, it was to study for finals!"

"Naomi, Sage," Lisa Scott greeted warmly as they walked past the large kitchen. "How have you been?"

"Great," Sage said, leaning against the countertop as James offered them something to drink. "Dad's managing a huge account right now, so he's been suuuuper busy, and Mom just got back from London."

"Oh, yes, I heard her charity was expanding overseas," Lisa nodded, sipping her coffee. "How's that going?"

"Really well, from what she says," Sage said. "She has to fly back in a few weeks to finalize some details, but she's home for the time being."

"How about you, Naomi?" Lisa asked, turning her soft green eyes to the dark-haired girl.

Well, I've been busy prowling the nights with Batman and Robin, protecting Gotham as Lark, though I might soon be joining a group of teen heroes.

Given Lark's secret identity, though, Naomi said none of that. Instead, she smiled lightly and said, "Bruce is busy with the company, of course, but now that it's summer, Dick and I have been hanging around the house."

She reached forward to grab the glass of water that James had set out for her and Lisa frowned when she caught sight of the bandages wrapped around Naomi's upper arm.

"Oh, dear, what happened?"

Naomi followed Lisa's gaze and laughed lightly. "Oh, it's nothing," she assured. "Dick and I were just horsing around, and I caught the short end of the stick."

"Well, I'm glad you have Alfred," Lisa said, looking relieved that the injury wasn't serious. "From what Bruce has said, he used to be a medic, right?"

"Sure," Naomi nodded, using her glass to hide her smirk. Like Alfred was just a medic.

"Well, since it is summer, you have all the time in the world to hang out with someone other than your brother!" Sage grinned. "There's so much we can do!"

"Let's start with the gifts I got you two in New York," James suggested. He kissed his mother on the cheek before heading for the stairs, Naomi and Sage on his heels after they thanked Lisa for the drinks.

Once they reached James' room, Sage immediately flopped on the bed while Naomi sat cross-legged at the end.

"So, meet any cute boys while in the Big Apple?" Sage asked with a mischievous grin.

"You know me," James replied coyly as he returned from his closet with a small bag for each of them. "I never kiss and tell."

"Aw, you gotta give us something!" Sage exclaimed as James sat next to her on the bed. "We're dying to know if there were any guys in New York the ever-so-picky James Scott approved of."

"You can't really blame him," Naomi shrugged. "It's not like many of the boys at the Academy are any good."

James rolled her eyes as he tossed the bags to the girls. "Tell me about it," he groaned. "It also didn't help that there weren't that many willing to come out of the closet."

"With their parents, who can blame them?" Naomi muttered. "Not like it's the twenty-first century or anything," she said sarcastically.

"The New York dating scene was heaven compared to what was available at the Academy," James admitted. "It was soooo nice to make out with a guy who didn't tell me after, 'Just don't tell anyone.'"

His tone was light and joking, but Naomi knew it bothered James more than he wanted to admit.

The trio spent the next few hours chatting, gossiping, and going over the gifts they had received from James. It was nice to be with friends who weren't in the life, Naomi mused as she leaned against James' side. For a little, she could just forget about Batman's Rogues, forget about the death she saw nightly, the blood, the wails, the screams.

Still, she wouldn't give it up for anything. The rush, the high, she got swinging from Gotham's tallest buildings, fighting, bringing justice, being the night, was glorious.

It was dark by the time Naomi left the Scotts. Despite the safe neighborhood and the short distance between James' house and Sage's, Naomi insisted on driving the blonde home. As she pulled out of the Burke's driveway after waving good-bye to Sage, she called Alfred to let him know she was on her way home.

Dick was playing God of War III on the PS3 in the media room when Naomi arrived. She climbed over the back of the leather sofa, a large bowl of Alfred's fresh-popped popcorn in her hand as she settled in to watch.

"I wonder what Diana would say if she saw this game," Naomi mused as she munched on the salty, buttery popcorn.

Dick snorted, pausing the game long enough to grab a handful of the snack. "She would spend the entire game telling us what's factually accurate."

"With this game, it's probably more like what's factually inaccurate," Naomi corrected with a chuckle.

"True," he laughed before resuming his game.

A while later, Alfred stepped into the room. "If the young masters have no more requests, I shall take my leave," he announced.

"G'night!" Dick called, taking a hand off the control to wave over his shoulder.

"Night, Alfred," Naomi smiled.

"Good-night, Miss Naomi, Master Dick," Alfred said before exiting the media room.

Naomi yawned widely as she stood and stretched. "I'm going to turn in, too," she said. "See you tomorrow!" She ruffled Dick's hair after she grabbed the gift bag from James. Once she reached her room, she placed the bag on the cushioned bench at the end of her bed.

After doing her usual night routine, Naomi climbed into bed, falling asleep almost instantly.

---

Location: Wayne Manor, Gotham City
Date: Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Time: 0856 EDT

Naomi groaned a little as her eyes fluttered open. When she glanced at the clock, she scowled at the time. Sure, she was a fairly early riser, but she preferred to stay in bed until ten at the latest if she could help it.

With a sigh, she trudged into her bathroom to get ready for the day. Once she was finished, she headed downstairs, still barefoot and in her pajamas, which consisted of sleeping shorts and a tank top in corresponding Wonder Woman red and gold.

As Naomi passed the home gymnasium, she caught sight of Dick out of the corner of her eye. She poked her head in and found him practicing flip maneuvers on dummies.

"Mornin'," he said when he spotted her, his eyes a little wide in surprise. "You're up early," he commented.

"Don't ask me why," she sighed, rubbing her eyes tiredly. "Let me grab something to eat and I'll join you."

"Okay!" he grinned before stepping back onto the mat again.

Naomi headed down to the kitchen, passing Alfred on his way to do the laundry as she did.

"Ah, good morning, Miss Naomi," he greeted. "I would have thought you would be upstairs, resting."

"That was the plan," she shrugged. "Just woke up and couldn't go back to sleep."

"Perhaps tonight, if there isn't an emergency, you can turn in early, let your body properly recover," Alfred suggested.

"Sounds like a plan," Naomi chuckled.

"I have an overnight oatmeal in the refrigerator for you," the butler added. "Dark chocolate with fresh berries."

"You're the best," she grinned happily. "Thanks a million!" She gave him a quick hug before skipping to the kitchen.

She found the oatmeal in the fridge, just like Alfred said she would, in a cute little Mason jar. "Yum," she hummed happily. She grabbed a spoon and headed back to the gym.

Sticking the spoon in her mouth and keeping a firm grip on the glass Mason jar in one hand, Naomi carefully maneuvered her way to the top of one of the large, cylindrical padded obstacles that served several purposes in training. At the moment, it was her seat as she ate her breakfast and watched Dick train.

Alfred had declared Naomi still not healed enough to spar with Dick, so they repeated their routine from the other day: they worked out separately with Dick occasionally asking for Naomi's input.

She was observing a sequence Dick was working on when he lost his concentration at the last minute, causing him to trip over his feet as he finished.

"Oh my god!" Naomi exclaimed, racing forward. "Are you okay?" she asked as she helped him to his feet.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Dick huffed, letting Naomi lead him to one of the benches in the gym. "It's just…Bruce has been down in the Batcave forever!" he exclaimed after he had taken a gulp of water and taken the sweat towel offered to him by Naomi. "I can't tell if he's working on sanctioning out team or squashing it."

"I believe, Master Dick," Alfred said as he stepped into the room with a fresh load of towels, "that the Batman asked for three days."

"Demanded is more like it," Dick glowered. "And it's been almost two and a half!"

Naomi put a soothing hand on his shoulder as Alfred said, "When Master Bruce says three day, he means three." He gave them a small nod before turning and leaving.

Dick scowled after Alfred while Naomi offered him another bottle of water. "Come on, Dickie-bird," she said. "Let's get lunch."

---

Location: Wayne Manor, Gotham City
Date: Thursday, July 08, 2010
Time: 0715 EDT

"Naomi, get up."

"What the hell?" a sleep-rough voice muttered in confusion. Dark eyes squinted against the suddenly bright room as she sat up to find Bruce's retreating back.

Dick dashed past Bruce and bounced on Naomi's bed in excitement. "It's happening!" he cheered.

"What is happening?"

"The Team!"

"The who?"

Dick rolled his eyes. "Just get up!"

"Fine, fine," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes as she did. Once Dick left, Naomi went about her normal routine, but when it came to deciding on an outfit, Dick stopped by again to tell her what Bruce had told him: civilian clothes, but make sure to wear something she wouldn't normally wear, and also, plain sunglasses.

With that in mind, Naomi walked into her closet. After staring at her clothes for a moment, she decided on fitted jeans, a plain dark purple tank top, and a slim-fit black leather jacket. Finally, she pulled on black boots and hooked plain black sunglasses into the neckline of her top before heading for the Batcave, finger-combing her hair and changing the part as she did.

"So, what's going on?" she asked through a wide yawn, taking the breakfast offered to her by Alfred as she joined Bruce and Dick at the Batcomputer.

"We're doing it!" Dick exclaimed happily. "We're finally becoming a team! You, me, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Superboy!"

"You'll be operating out of Mount Justice," Bruce said as he pulled on his cowl. "And you'll be getting there via Zeta-Tube."

"We're getting our own designations?!" Dick gasped. "Yes!" He raced toward the Batcave's Zeta-Tube and waited for Batman.

"I still can't believe you have a Zeta-Tube in the cave," Naomi asked as she smirked around her spoon.

"It has limited accessibility and the coordinates are only available to certain members of the Justice League," Batman replied immediately, stepping up to the controls. "I have told the other Leaguers what each of your designations will be. Lark, step in."

Having seen Batman use the Zeta-Tube numerous times, Lark stepped into the large cutout in the Batcave wall with ease once she had set aside her breakfast, placing her sunglasses on her nose as she did. He input a few commands and a laser grid appeared, scanning Lark.

"Lark, B-0-1," Batman said in a clear voice, and she gasped as she felt her whole body begin to tingle. In a flash of white light, Lark suddenly disappeared.

When the light died down, she saw she was standing…in another cave. She snorted as she stepped out; leave it to Batman to find another cave for headquarters.

"Recognized: Robin, B-0-2," the Zeta suddenly announced behind Lark, and she turned as Robin appeared.

"Whoo!" he cheered giddily, jumping out of the Zeta-Tube. "That was so cool!"

Lark raised an eyebrow as her partner joined her. "I don't think I've ever seen you this excited or animated," she commented.

"I don't remember every feeling this excited or animated!" Robin agreed, but he cleared his throat and straightened his sunglasses on his nose. "But I'm done. I'm good."

"Recognized: Aqualad, B-0-3; Aquaman, 0-6," the computer announced.

"Just in time," Lark smirked. "Because I think it would blow everyone's minds to see one of the ever-stoic Bats' birds showing emotion," she joked quietly.

When Kid Flash arrived with Flash and Superboy, the young speedster looked around. "I take it Speedy declined the invite," he sighed.

Lark scowled and crossed her arms over her chest. "More like never bothered to respond to the invite," she grumbled.

"Mount Justice," Batman announced once the teens were standing in a line. "This cave was the original secret sanctuary of the Justice League, and we're calling it into service again.

"Since you five are determined to stay together and fight the good fight," Batman continued, "you'll do it on League terms. Red Tornado volunteered to live here and be your supervisor. Black Canary's in charge of training. I will deploy you on missions."

"Real missions?" Robin questioned.

"Yes," Batman responded. "But covert."

"The League will still handle the obvious stuff," Flash put in behind Kid Flash. "There's a reason we have these big targets on our chests." He poked the lightning bolt emblem in the center of his chest with a chuckle.

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

"The six of you will be that team," Batman said.

"Cool," Robin grinned. "Wait." He paused, doing the math in his head. "Six?"

Batman glanced over their shoulders and Lark turned around to see Martian Manhunter enter with another Martian.

"This is the Martian Manhunter's niece," Batman introduced, "Miss Martian."

"Hi," the young Martian said, sounding rather nervous but hiding it well.

"Likin' this gig more every minute," Kid Flash said quietly to Robin with a wink in Lark's direction.

She rolled her eyes. "Watch yourself, Kid Flirt," she said. "Keep this up and you'll have a Bat problem."

Kid Flash chuckled nervously, sending a sheepish smile at the Dark Knight, who continued to stare down at the red-headed teen. Robin sniggered.

"Uh, welcome aboard," the speedster said louder, walking forward to greet Miss Martian. "I'm Kid Flash. That's Robin, Aqualad," he said, vaguely gesturing to Robin and Aqualad in turn.

Robin stepped forward, looking suave with a hand in his pocket, his dark sunglasses giving him an air of mystery, and his free hand raised in some sort of wave. Lark snorted at her brother as Aqualad merely nodded his head.

"It's cool if you forget their names," Kid Flash added.

"I'm honored to be included," Miss Martian smiled. Kid Flash and Robin immediately stepped closer, Aqualad just behind them.

Lark joined the boys. "Pardon the Flirt King," she said, nudging Kid Flash sharply in the ribs as she did. "I'm Lark. It'll be nice to not be the only girl," she added with a smile.

"Hey, Superboy!" Robin called over his shoulder, noticing the clone's absence. "Come meet Miss M." He straightened his shoulders and walked forward.

Lark watched as Miss Martian's white shirt and blue cape were morphed into a plain black shirt. She glanced away shyly. "I like your T-shirt," she said bashfully, glancing back at Superboy.

He looked at her and offered a tiny smile. Robin sidled closer and elbowed him with a devious look on his face and Kid Flash raced around so he was on Superboy's other side. Together the three of them stood facing Miss Martian, each smiling.

Aqualad stood opposite Lark, and he looked at everyone. "Today is the day," he said with a small satisfied smile.

"Superboy," Batman spoke up behind them, "most of us will be leaving. You are not to go anywhere. Just sit tight until Red Tornado returns."

"We will be leaving soon as well to gather M'gann's belongings," Martian Manhunter informed. "I brought her by to familiarize herself with the new living environment first."

"What's the sitch, Batman?" Robin asked as he and Lark followed after him.

"We're headed back to Gotham," he said, walking toward the Zeta-Tube.

Lark looked at Robin. "What else?" she quipped, only half-joking.

"Hey, while we're gone you should pick out a room," Kid Flash told Superboy as he and Flash headed for the Zeta-Tubes as well. "It's gonna beat sleeping upright in a closet the way you do…you know, all Dracula-like."

"Do you think the genomes taught Superboy the classics?" Lark asked Robin. "You know, like all those great animated Disney movies or Sound of Music and stuff like that?"

"If not, it'll be fun to show him," Robin grinned.

"True," Lark nodded. "I think we should start with Harry Potter!"

"I say Star Wars," Robin voiced.

"No worries, Supey!" Kid Flash's voice cut through Lark and Robin's debate on the ultimate classic. "We'll be back before you know it!"

The speedsters vanished in a flash of light and Miss Martian turned to Superboy. "It might not be a bad idea to pick our rooms," she said. "We're the only two from the Team who will actually be living here full time." She took off down the hall. "I think the rooms are back this way!" she called to the clone over her shoulder.

"Have fun, dude," Robin said to Superboy before he followed after the young Martian. To Aqualad, the younger bird chuckled. "He gets to live with her here in the Cave full time? I don't think Kid Flash picked up that little tid-bit. He's gonna be so jealouuuus."

Lark and Aqualad just shook their heads before the Atlantean disappeared into the Zeta-Tube. "You boys," Lark sighed. "You can't leave the poor Martian alone?"

"What?" Robin shrugged just before he vanished in a flash of light. "She's cute," he finished once Lark had stepped into the Batcave.

She rolled her eyes as she took off her sunglasses and hooked them on the collar of her shirt. "Come on, Bird Brain," she said. "We should start ranking the movies Superboy should see."

"And we can do that by carefully watching each and every one and grading them on a very specific scale!" Dick added, skipping past her. "And we can ask Alfred for popcorn!"

With a plan, they dashed up the stairs to the elevator before bounding into the media room, requesting Alfred's popcorn as they passed the butler. They spent the rest of the day binging movies they deemed worthy of adding to The List before finally crashing on the comfortable sofa for the night.

Notes:

I actually have no idea how accurate God of War III is, I just googled games that were new/popular in 2009/2010 and that sounded like something Dick would play.

Chapter 4: 2.2 - Hack and You Shall Find/By Hook or By Web

Notes:

I own nothing you recognize.

Another new villain for Lark (aka an expansion of Lark's own little Rogue's Gallery)!

Location: Infinity Island, Headquarters of the League of Shadows
Date: Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Time: 2322 ECT

"Great One, you are receiving a call."

A small frown graced the face of Rā's al Ghūl. "I was not expecting a call from the Light," he said. "Tell whoever is on the other line that it is late, and they will have to call back tomorrow."

"She says it is quite urgent," the Shadow said hesitantly. "And she also told me to tell you that if you did not pick up, she would not hesitate to storm the island and—"

"All right, that's enough," Rā's cut off tiredly. There was only one woman who had the means to carry out a threat against Infinity Island, and this was one woman whose good side he wished to stay on. He stood and swept out of the room, his emerald green cloak swishing softly after him.

He reached his office and after ensuring the door was locked and the room was secured from prying eyes and ears, raised the clear screen that allowed face-to-face contact with members of the Light.

"Great One." The woman on the other side of the glass offered him a short bow, the jade-tipped gold hair sticks holding her black hair in place glinting in the light as she did. When she straightened, he saw she was wearing her usual jade-green lace domino mask, which was more to obscure her identity rather than hide it completely. Her dark brown eyes sparkled as she smirked.

"Jade Emperor."

The regal figure facing him was one of the most feared people in Asia and had been for the past twenty years. At the age of twenty-five, she had been the youngest person to take on the Jade Emperor mantel and she had thrived in the position, nearly doubling the size of the ancient criminal organization that her family had run since even before Rā's al Ghūl's early days.

As had always been the case with the coveted mantel, whoever bore the title was shrouded in mystery, with only the inner circle—the Yuqi Guwen—privy to the Jade Emperor's identity and plans for the organization. When the need arose, a member of the Yuqi Guwen would play the role of Jade Emperor to protect their real identity.

"Do not greet me as though you did not threaten my island moments ago," Rā's went on stiffly and the woman just laughed as though they had just shared a funny joke. "What do you want that requires a late-night call?"

"A favor, actually."

"You threaten Infinity Island and then have the nerve to demand a favor?!" he snarled.

She just waved off his anger, which only served to infuriate him more, but he did his best to contain the worst of his wrath. "I promise you, Rā's, you have nothing to lose," she said.

"Why does that not reassure me?" he growled.

"My best in your employ, no strings attached."

Rā's' eyes narrowed. "You never make a move unless you think it can benefit you," he stated. "So, what's your endgame?"

"That is none of your concern," Jade Emperor sniffed, but Rā's could tell there was something more to this request than she was letting on.

It was Rā's' turn to smirk. "I will only agree to your request if you tell me why you are willing to let go of your best asset."

"I am not letting him go," she snapped. "He will be on loan, and I expect him to be returned." The ancient man before her remained silent, his eyes challenging. Jade Emperor's nose curled just slightly before she sniffed, "There is a potential asset in play that I would like to bring into the fold, and your people are in a better position to approach her."

After a beat, Rā's nodded. "Very well," he said. "As a matter of fact, there is a mission I am dispatching my Shadows on tomorrow. Have him at Infinity Island by the evening."

Jade Emperor bowed. "Thank you, Great One." Her screen went dark, leaving Rā's to contemplate what she had in mind.

---

"The Great One honors me with his presence."

Rā's al Ghūl's eyebrow quirked just slightly; this was who she was sending? "Well, when you are the child of one so esteemed as the Jade Emperor, certain courtesies are extended," he said to the young man that stepped out of the helicopter.

"I appreciate it nonetheless," he said with a polite bow. "I'm sure there is plenty I can learn by spending time with your esteemed Shadows."

"Let's get started, then."

Rā's turned and headed for the sanctuary, the young man a step behind. They walked through the halls, any Shadow they passed stopping to bow to the Demon's Head before going on their way.

They finally reached their destination and Rā's stepped aside so his guest could enter before him. He bowed again to the older mastermind and stepped inside.

"Master," Sensei bowed as the two seated Shadows scrambled from their seats to follow suit.

"Sensei," Rā's greeted. "You have one more for your mission tomorrow. Make sure he is well prepared."

"Of course, Master."

Rā's glanced around the room before nodding his head once and sweeping out. The Shadows bowed once more before taking their seats again, their newest arrival joining them.

The larger of the two looked down at the young man with a sneer. "You don't look like much," he taunted. "Who're you, anyway? You don't look at all familiar."

"The name's White Tiger," he said, unphased by the hulking figure in front of him.

"Another animal," the hook-handed man grumbled.

Sensei cleared his throat and silence fell. After a beat, he started.

"Our employers are…ending…their relationships with certain corporations they were previously doing business with," he said. "Cutting ties, so to speak, because of the…fiasco with Cadmus."

White Tiger knew all about that; his mother had seemed surprisingly okay with the mess that had resulted, and after a quick but intense study session on the Justice League and their sidekicks, she had informed him he would be working with the League of Shadows until further notice.

"They are being cautious," Sensei continued. "They do not want anything traced back to them. This is the reason we are called into action. We are the solution to the problem." He held up a photograph of their target. "We are the League of Shadows. Do not fail me."

---

Location: Wayne Manor, Gotham City
Date: Friday, July 09, 2010
Time: 0944 EDT

"Hey…hey…heeeeeeyyy…"

"…what?"

"Nomi, how's your arm?"

Naomi slowly peeled open an eye to glare at Dick for poking her awake. "S'fine," she slurred sleepily, her eyes already sliding shut again. "Alfred gave me the all-clear."

"Great!" Dick exclaimed loudly, and Naomi groaned as he began bouncing up and down on her bed in excitement.

"Whaat?" she whined as she buried her head under her pillows. "It's summer and we roam the streets until dawn. Let me sleeeeeep!"

"I found something!"

"Whaaaat?" Her voice was muffled under the pillows and blankets, but she was very clearly not happy with Dick.

"Just come down to the Batcave!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

Dick sat back on his heels with a huff, thinking hard about how to get Naomi out of bed. An idea came to mind and he grinned wickedly, though that was missed by Naomi, and he scrambled out of the room.

When Dick left her room, Naomi peeked out from under her pillow and covers. Finding the coast clear, she sighed happily and closed her eyes again.

Naomi's reprieve was short lived, as a few minutes later, Dick came barging back into her room with one of the squirt bottles Alfred used to water some of the more delicate plants around the manor. He adjusted the nozzle so it went from spraying a mist to squirting a stream of water and got to work.

"Richard John Grayson!" she shrieked as Dick began spraying her with water. She sat up immediately and sent a dark glare his way, which went completely unnoticed as Dick just cackled and nailed Naomi between the eyes.

"Great, now you're up!" Dick said brightly. "Meet me in the Batcave!"

He scampered out of her room before she could retaliate, his laughter carrying after him.

Naomi muttered curses under her breath as she begrudgingly got out of bed and shuffled into her bathroom, running a tired hand through her hair.

She eventually made her way to the Batcave and found Dick in front of the Batcomputer.

"What was so damn important you had to wake me up before noon?" Naomi scowled, throwing herself into a chair beside Dick before pegging him in the side of the head with a grape.

"There's been a string of CEO deaths or disappearances," Dick said, ignoring her and not looking away from the screens.

"Okay, interesting…" Naomi admitted slowly, sitting up to properly read what Dick had pulled up on the many screens.

"And get this," Dick went on excitedly, "they've all had some sort of connection to Cadmus, or at least Cadmus corporate holdings."

"More interesting…"

"And I think I found their next target."

Naomi froze, pursing her lips as she asked hesitantly, "And what do you plan on doing with that information?" though she already had a feeling she knew what he had in mind.

"I'm thinking…a good training opportunity." Dick finally looked away from the computer to smirk at his sister, his blue eyes gleaming.

She gave him a deadpanned look. "You're kidding," she said flatly.

"Nope!" he said, popping the p. "You in?"

Naomi sighed heavily. "If only to keep an eye on you," she grumbled.

"Excellent!" Dick cheered, downloading the information to his and Naomi's watch holo-computers before contacting Aqualad and Kid Flash.

---

Location: Central City, Missouri
Date: Friday, July 09, 2010
Time: 1328 CDT

"So, why am I looking at a picture of…"

"Her name is Gonzalez. Selena Gonzalez," Robin informed the speedster.

"And we care why?" Kid Flash asked. "Other than the fact that she's a hottie?"

"And too old for you," Lark pointed out dryly, raising an eyebrow. "I didn't figure you as being into jail-birds."

"She's here in Central City and being targeted for a hit," Robin said, cutting off Kid Flash's reply. "There's a reason…I just don't know what it is yet, but I think I found something that might be related to her."

"Related how?" Aqualad asked.

"Looking through some of Batman's files I found that there have been a few targets," Robin explained. "Seemingly unrelated, but I've cross-referenced tons of data and I think I found a pattern."

"Looking through?" Kid Flash questioned, raising an eyebrow. "You mean hacked into Batman's files."

Lark scowled at Kid Flash as she subtly looked around the make sure no one had overheard his outburst.

"Anyway…" Robin said slowly, turning back to their small group, "I think this CEO might be next. All of the other 'hits' have been made to look like accidents, random muggings gone wrong, things like that. I figured we could look into this," he finished.

"And what brought this to your attention in the first place?" Aqualad asked.

"I've been looking into Cadmus the last couple of days—corporate holdings, who they do business with and such," Robin explained. "I noticed a few people they've done business with seem to meet with untimely accidents."

"You want us to look into this on a hunch that someone might have put out a hit on the CEO of this company?" Kid Flash asked incredulously. "Cool!" he said sarcastically.

Robin gave him a flat look.

"What about Superboy and Miss Martian?" Aqualad asked curiously.

"We don't want them in trouble before the Team even gets going, do we?" Robin asked. "Besides, if you think about it, we haven't even had a real outing as a team yet."

"Let's do it!" Kid Flash shrugged. "C'mon, Aqualad, this could be fun."

When Robin saw that wasn't enough to persuade Aqualad, he said, "Okay, think of it as a training session, then. We haven't even had one of those as a team yet."

"Then why are Superboy and Miss Martian not here?" Aqualad pushed. "They are part of the Team, are they not?"

"Yeah, but…we've been around longer than they have," Robin wheedled, gesturing between the four of them, "and we haven't even had much interaction with each other. We're always doing our own crime-fighting thing with our own partners. I figured it would be a chance for us to kind of clear the cobwebs before we get into full team mode."

"Cobwebs?" Kid Flash snorted. "You've been hanging out in dark caves way too much," he joked.

"I am not sure about this…" Aqualad said uncertainly.

"I am!" Kid Flash exclaimed. "Count me in! Besides, I think if Rob was able to convince Miss Rule-Following Lark to join us, you can relax a little too!"

"Hey, I'm just here to keep an eye on Robin," Lark finally said, holding her hands in defense. "I think K.F. can attest that I'm the only one who can make him see reason sometimes. If I think this even has a chance of going south, I'm pulling the plug," she said sternly, looking pointedly at Robin.

"Yeah, yeah, pull the plug, got it," Robin waved off, already pulling out his phone to look at the details.

"You think Selena likes younger guys?" Kid Flash asked.

"If she likes guys your age, then maybe she deserves to be a target," Lark snarked, scowling at the redhead.

"How do we know all of these random accidents and muggings are hits put out on people and why do you think they are all related?" Aqualad questioned.

"Who do you think is behind all this?" Kid Flash asked Robin.

"Behind it? Hard to tell," Robin admitted. "Could be Cadmus but none of the evidence points to them. But who do I think was hired to do the job on Selena Gonzalez? The League of Shadows."

"Whoa!" Kid Flash exclaimed. "Really?"

"Yeah," Robin nodded. "I think these 'accidents' were executed by them."

"Nice choice of words, Bird Brain," Lark muttered.

"Seems appropriate," Kid Flash shrugged.

"Wait," Aqualad interrupted. "Who is the 'League of Shadows'?"

Even Lark couldn't stop the dumbfounded look on her face. "What?" Kid Flash asked incredulously. "You've never heard of the League of Shadows? Have you been living in a cave or something?"

"More like underwater," Aqualad replied dryly.

"Oh, yeah…" Kid Flash trailed off.

"The League of Shadows is a deadly organization with their dirty hands stuck in a whole bunch of stuff all over the world," Robin explained.

"Killing is only one commodity they…provide," Lark added darkly.

"Allegedly," Kid Flash pointed out. "Nothing ever seems to get proven against those guys."

"Because they have agents installed all over the world who can act at a moment's notice," Lark said. "And also, they're just that good."

"So just to reiterate," Aqualad said slowly, "you want the four of us to look into what may or may not be a sanctioned assassination attempt on this CEO, carried out by a covert organization called the League of Shadows, without any of our teammates, and without authorization from Batman or the rest of the Justice League?"

"Yeah, pretty much," Robin said bluntly.

"What are we waiting for?" Kid Flash exclaimed brightly.

"You are way too excited about this," Lark said, raising an eyebrow. "And don't you dare say it's because you have a crush on our target. You're too young," she enunciated slowly.

"Okay, okay!" Kid Flash said, holding his hands up in surrender. "I won't say another word!"

Lark obviously didn't look convinced, but she let it go.

"Let's go," Robin said. He stood and dropped a hundred-dollar bill on the table, which was more than enough to cover the cost of lunch for four people.

Lark waved down a cab, and she, Robin, and Kid Flash crammed themselves into the backseat while Aqualad sat in the passenger's seat.

"Where to, kids?" the cab driver asked.

Lark gave the address of Selena Gonzalez's building. When they arrived, she tossed the driver a hundred dollars as she climbed out of the car.

Geez, the man thought. Where'd a girl her age get money like this? He didn't question the generous tip, though, and took off before she could ask for change.

"Now, to download the floor plans," Robin mumbled to himself.

"There's a café inside," Lark said, walking toward the entrance. "It's open to the public."

"That should work," her partner nodded.

"Great!" Kid Flash said happily. "'Cause I'm hungry!"

"But you just ate," Aqualad said, sounding confused.

"Can't help it," the redhead shrugged. "It's a speedster thing."

They proceeded to the café and when Kid Flash reached the cashier with a tray piled high with sandwiches, fruit cups, and pastries, he provided the distraction Robin needed to hack into the cash register's computer and download the files and schematics he needed.

They found a table in the corner and Robin proceeded to send the necessary information to the others' phones.

"Looks pretty standard," Lark said after she had skimmed through the files. "Her company is located on the top four floors, and of course, her office is on the top floor."

"We'll keep an eye on her from the building across the street," Robin said. "But we need a change of clothes first."

---

Location: Central City, Missouri
Date: Friday, July 09, 2010
Time: 1954 CDT

"Why is she still at work?" Kid Flash asked through a mouthful of chips. "Everyone else went home hours ago."

"Could you not chew so loud?" Robin requested, not looking away from the window he was peering through with his binoculars.

"At this point, I wish he could feed with a filter system much like a humpback whale would," Aqualad retorted, looking like he was trying (but failing) to not look disgusted at the speedster's eating habits. "It would not be as nauseating to watch."

"Unfortunately, you get used to it," Lark grumbled, giving Kid Flash a side eyed Batglare.

"Ha, ha," the eater said sarcastically before swallowing. "Very funny."

"Could you just keep it down?" Robin snapped.

"Which one? My voice or my chewing?"

"Both!" Lark hissed, turning her Batglare full force to Kid Flash.

"I can't help it," he whined. "I'm bored. And I need to eat! We've been sitting here for hours. Do you know how hard that is for me to do?" he exclaimed. "She's been in that building all day. All of the employees have gone home, she's all alone. If they were going after her, don't you think they would have done it by now?"

"No," Robin said grimly.

"How do you know that, Einstein?" Kid Flash snapped.

"Because it's happening right now," Lark finished, leaning forward a little from her position beside her partner.

Kid Flash stood from his seated spot on the air conditioning unit and walked to the edge of the roof. "I don't see anything—"

"There," Aqualad interrupted, his eyes focused on the side of the building. "Below the window…movement. We—"

Before Aqualad could finish, Kid Flash disappeared in a yellow blur. Lark exchanged glances with Robin, who nodded and drew out his grapple. Together, they swung off the roof, Robin just ahead of Lark, and they sailed through the air toward Gonzalez's building.

Half-way down, though, Lark cried out in surprise as a mass rammed into her, causing her to go off course. She crashed through a window and went tumbling through cubicles, finally rolling to a stop.

She groaned, wincing a little as she felt the healing wounds on her upper arm pull, and she silently prayed they didn't start bleeding; Alfred would never let her hear the end of it if they were.

Finally, she pushed herself to her feet and turned to face her opponent, a masculine figure dressed in a dark gray one-piece uniform. White stripes similar to tiger stripes decorated the suit, which was complete with a full mask of a tiger's face in matching dark gray and white.

"I don't know who you are, but I won't let you get to Gonzalez," Lark declared, ready to fight.

"The name's White Tiger," the man's garbled voice introduced, and based on his lean form and the pitch of his voice, Lark guessed he was young, maybe a few years older than her. "And that's quite unfortunate," he said. "For you."

Lark threw down a smoke bomb and her eyes widened when a beam of sparkling white light streaked with pale purple cut through the smoke, crashing through a cubicle wall that had been behind Lark before she had dodged out of the way.

She popped out from the maze of cubicles to throw exploding birdarangs, but a wall of white light materialized in front of White Tiger, deflecting the birdarangs and forcing Lark to dodge out of the way as they ricocheted her way. Matching white and purple light glowed from the mask's eyes as he turned his gaze to her.

He raised a hand and a flash appeared from his palm before Lark could turn her head, momentarily blinding her. When she managed to get some of her vision back, it was in time to see White Tiger had popped up in front of her and had drawn back his fist. She managed to fend off his attacks as her vision continued to clear.

"I must say," he said as he backed her toward the wall of windows, "I'm disappointed. I expected more from the great Batman's little sidekick."

Lark growled as she felt her heel run into the wall. "I'm not a sidekick!" she yelled angrily, ducking at the last second, causing White Tiger's fist to connect with the window, which cracked beneath his knuckles.

He snarled and whirled around, opening himself up to Lark's attack. He avoided her first punch aimed at his jaw, but couldn't sidestep her foot, which shot out to kick the inside of his knee, making his leg buckle with a pained grunt.

Lark landed two punches, one after the other, on White Tiger's mask before she brought her knee up into his solar plexus. His breath escaped his lungs as he doubled over and she stepped away from him.

"That's more like it," he laughed, even as his breath escaped his lips in wheezes. Once he had caught his breath, he lifted his head to reveal the mask's eyes were glowing again.

Before Lark could react, White Tiger raised his hand and a larger hand manifested itself around her torso, her arms trapped at her sides. She grunted as he shoved her through another row of cubicles, the only thing keeping her from becoming too banged up the same thing that was forcing her through the weak walls.

She finally came to a stop when she went crashing into a water cooler. The giant hand released her as the jug of water toppled off its holder and crashed down on her. Lark groaned as the half-full jug bounced off her exposed ribs, feeling lucky they didn't crack at the impact.

"As fun as that was," White Tiger said as he walked toward her, "I think my colleagues are almost done with your little friends."

Lark braced herself against the wall as she got to her feet, but it was no use. White Tiger strode toward her and before she knew it, her back was to his chest as his arm hooked around her throat.

"Don't worry," he said as she struggled against his arm. "I don't want to kill you; I just need you unconscious so you don't get in the way."

Lark cursed her foggy brain, knowing that if it weren't for that, she wouldn't be so sluggish against him. As it was, her feet flailed, trying to find any part of his legs to stomp or kick. Black dots began to dance in front of her eyes as she gasped for breath, and before she knew it, she was unconscious, her body going slack against White Tiger.

He slung Lark over his shoulder as he stepped toward the hole they had made when they had crashed through the window. He raised his hand and a solid platform appeared under his feet, which carried him out of the building and to the grass below, where he could see Hook take out Robin as Black Spider approached the brightly dressed speedster.

"Where'd you disappear to?" Hook asked White Tiger as the younger villain landed beside him.

White Tiger let Lark slip off his shoulder as the white platform disappeared from under his feet.

"Figured it would be easier to take her down if she was separated from her partner," he shrugged as Black Spider used his webs to start tying the young heroes together. "And look! It worked."

"Wait, where'd that CEO go?" Hook asked, looking around.

"On it," White Tiger shrugged. He jogged around the side of the building and found Selena Gonzalez stumbling toward the street. "Sorry, Sel," he called. "But you need to come with me." He lifted a hand and a white ribbon shot out and wrapped around Gonzalez's upper body and mouth. "Come, come," he said, turning and rejoining the Shadows.

"Here she is," he said lazily. "Now, let's go!"

---

Location: Central City, Missouri
Date: Friday, July 09, 2010
Time: 2204 CDT

When Lark came to, the first thing she registered was the pounding headache. The next thing she realized was she was upside down, and finally, that she was tied up.

"Great," she mumbled, closing her eyes again against the blood rush.

"Ah, look, she's up," Kid Flash said to her right. "Morning, sunshine," he grinned.

Lark rolled her eyes. "Not now, Kid," she sighed. "God, it feels like my eyes are about to explode," she muttered.

"What happened to 'you'd call Batman if we got in trouble'?" Robin snarked from her other side.

"Oh, don't get me started," Lark snapped, turning her head to glare at him, ignoring the sharp pain at her forehead that resulted from the sudden movement. "I was a little busy dealing with my own Shadow, thank you very much! Besides, you're the one who took it upon himself to protect Gonzalez!" She sighed and closed her eyes briefly before saying calmly, "We need to get out of this."

"Aqualad is still out, I think," Robin said, peering around Lark the best he could to the Atlantean.

Their bindings suddenly grew tighter as Aqualad regained consciousness, tensing as he looked around. "What?" he said groggily. "Where am I?"

"You're awake?" Kid Flash asked. "Good! But we have some bad news and even worse news."

Below them, Selena Gonzalez said weakly, "Please…let me go."

"So, you four junior-grade good guys thought you could stop us?" Black Spider scoffed as he kept Gonzalez trapped between his body and his arm, which was held at her throat.

"Yeah, what were you thinking?" Hook chimed in importantly. "This is Hook, the Black Spider, and White Tiger you got here! We're good at what we do. We're professionals."

"Yeah, professional hit men for the League of Shadows sent to kill an innocent woman!" Kid Flash exclaimed.

White Tiger smirked beneath his mask as he lazily inspected his glove. "If I were you, I'd be more careful about the names you throw around, Speedy."

Kid Flash grumbled angrily under his breath.

"Why are you after her?" Robin asked. "Why is Selena Gonzalez targeted?"

"You're not in any position to ask questions," Black Spider said. "But we are."

"Let's start with an easy one," White Tiger said, pushing off his leaning position against the wall to approach the tied-up heroes. "How did you know we'd be here?"

They remained silent and Hook stepped forward. He shoved his metal hook for a hand in Aqualad's face and said, "He asked you a question."

"Like you, we do not have to answer questions," the Atlantean replied evenly, and Lark was impressed with his cool tone in the face of a trained assassin.

"Yeah, but you're going to," Hook said, "'cause you screwed up and got caught! Face it, you guys never even had a chance against us."

"What? We came here to stop you from hurting her," Robin said. "We did that!"

Hook barked out a laugh. "Are you kidding me?" he asked. "You stopped us, yeah, for like five minutes! You see what's happening here, right? You lost!"

Robin smirked. "You didn't take my utility belt," he said smugly.

"Wait…your what now?" Hook asked dumbly.

"You never took my utility belt away," Robin repeated. "You know, the thing that lets us escape."

"What the hell is he talking about?"

White Tiger groaned and face palmed. "His utility belt, you moron!" he snapped, gesturing to the dark purple belt slung over his shoulder.

"There it is," Lark grumbled. "You just made my list!"

He raised his hand, light ribbons starting to curl out of his palm, but it was too late.

"Now!" Robin yelled as the Black Spider's webbing ripped, letting the young heroes free.

"Dude!" Kid Flash grinned as he sped away. "Have I ever told you I love that belt?"

"What can I say?" Robin cackled, kicking Hook across the jaw. "It's the one accessory that goes with everything!"

"Robin the Fashionista," Lark smirked with her eyes locked on White Tiger. "That'll strike fear in the hearts of Gotham's worst."

"They're free!" Black Spider exclaimed unhelpfully, aiming his webbing at the young heroes.

"Spider, come on!" White Tiger yelled. "We've wasted too much time anyway!"

"So let's put some space between us and them!" Hook said. He aimed his hook-hand at the wall, which crumbled as the hook crashed into it.

Lark took off after White Tiger after sharing a nod with Robin. White Tiger dashed for the door, forgoing the hole created by Hook.

"You have something of mine," Lark growled when she managed to cut him off. "I'd like it back."

"I'm afraid I quite like it," White Tiger shrugged, shifting it on his shoulder so it was slung across his chest like a Girl Scout sash. "It's like your little partner said: it goes with everything." With a flick of his wrist, Lark was blinded once again, enough for him to slip past her and rejoin the Shadows.

Lark growled under her breath as she quickly blinked the spots from her eyes and ran after him. She skidded around the corner in time to see Robin slide under Hook's swing, only to be caught in Black Spider's webbing.

She automatically reached for a birdarang only to curse when she remembered that her trusty utility belt was currently in White Tiger's possession. Before she could duck out of the way, she was shoved across the room by a white hand and pinned against the wall next to Robin.

"I'm getting really sick of you," Lark muttered with a glare.

"Nice of you to join us," Robin quipped as she struggled against the light manifestation holding her against the wall.

"That should take care of them!" Black Spider smirked.

"Then let's get out of here before the other one shows up," White Tiger suggested when he noticed there were only three captive sidekicks.

"Just a sec," Hook requested as he stood in front of the teens. "I want to leave them with a lasting impression."

"Do you have a plan to get us out of here?" Lark asked Robin softly. "Because in case you haven't noticed, I'm short a utility belt."

That was answered for her when the water cooler behind the villain began to shake before exploding all together. The water sloshed past Hook to Aqualad, who appeared in front of Lark, Robin, and Kid Flash. A shield formed in front of them, redirecting the hook and causing it to crash into the ceiling. The rubble forced the Shadows to duck and take cover, distracting them long enough so Aqualad to approach the others without interruption.

"We need to have a plan of attack if we want to save this woman," he said as he cut Robin and Kid Flash free. "One that involves all four of us," he added sternly.

"If you got one, call it!" Kid Flash said.

"Robin, we need a diversion," Aqualad instructed. "Kid Flash, the woman. I'll free Lark."

Robin threw down a smoke bomb, giving Kid Flash cover to zoom in and snatch Gonzalez from the Shadows. Aqualad redirected the water from the cooler to the three Shadows, catching even White Tiger off guard. Lark's eyes widened as the water suddenly became electrified, and she was freed as White Tiger's concentration broke.

"Take Gonzalez and go!" Aqualad yelled over his shoulder. "Get her to safety. She's the one they're after."

"Not gonna happen!" Kid Flash said. "We tried that when we first got here and tangled with these guys! They kicked our cans all the way down the street and back! We're in this together! I'm staying!"

"You guys done being all mushy with each other?" Hook asked sarcastically.

"Look out!" Robin warned before tackling Aqualad out of the way, just as a hook went sailing through the air.

"Thank you," the Atlantean said.

"Incoming!" Lark alerted as she leapt over Robin's back to kick Black Spider in the jaw, causing his webbing to miss its intended target. A beam of white light wrapped itself around her waist and yanked her back.

Lark was pulled against White Tiger's chest, one arm pined behind her back while the other clawed at the arm hooked around her neck.

"Sorry about this," White Tiger said, not sounding sorry at all. "But we don't fail our missions."

"We'll see about that," Lark rasped as the hand behind her back fumbled with the pouches of her utility belt. Finding the one she wanted, she stopped grasping at White Tiger's arm and passed the smoke pellet between hands. She popped the casing and shoved it blindly under White Tiger's chin while finding the release clip on her belt.

Just as she suspected, she managed to get the smoke pellet between his mask and his face. He began coughing and he let go of Lark to fumble with his mask. She took the opening and spun around, raising her elbow to ram it into the side of his head. White Tiger stumbled to the side, finally getting his mask off.

White Tiger chuckled as he straightened. "Clever," he admitted as he put on his mask again, though not before Lark caught a glimpse of his face. She frowned slightly; something about him seemed…familiar. "But I think that's the end of that," he said once his mask was securely over his face again.

A loud explosion rocked the floor and Aqualad suddenly came up next to Lark as she snapped her belt back into place, followed closely by Robin and Kid Flash with Gonzalez.

"This is getting us nowhere!" Robin exclaimed.

"Agreed," Aqualad said. "Perhaps we need to steal away—"

"I'm afraid that's not going to happen," Black Spider said, using his webbing to cover the only exit.

"You guys interfered in something that had nothing to do with you," Hook growled as he shot his hook, "and now you're going to pay for it."

"With your lives!" Black Spider added, aiding the hook's momentum with his webs.

"Uh…that's not good," Kid Flash said plainly as Gonzalez screamed and the hook came within inches of their faces.

"Take her," Aqualad told Kid Flash again. "Find another exit and meet us one floor below."

"But—"

"Go!" Robin interrupted. "We'll meet you down there!"

Aqualad created a mace with his water-bearers and Hulk-smashed the floor, causing him, Robin, and Lark, to fall to the floor below.

They landed as Kid Flash joined them. "I don't understand what's happening," he said. "Who are those people?!"

"Not important right now!" Lark panted.

"We need to find the quickest way out of the building!" Robin said.

"They will not stop coming after Ms. Gonzalez and they will be looking for us outside, easier to pick us off," Aqualad deduced. "We need to go stealth if we want to turn the tables on them and end this."

"What do you have in min—WHOA!" Kid Flash cut himself off when the hook came crashing through the ceiling.

"Disperse," Aqualad said. "Hide and wait for my signal."

They split up just as the Shadow assassins dropped through the ceiling.

"Come out, you snot-nosed kids!" Hook growled.

"The minute you get outside we'll know where you are!" Black Spider called out. "You can hide in here but only for so long."

From across the room, Lark silently agreed with Robin to rendezvous with Aqualad, who had taken refuge in a cubicle that had survived the carnage so far.

"How do you want to approach this?" Robin asked softly once he and Lark were with Aqualad.

"I can take Hook," he said. "But Black Spider and White Tiger are fast and able to strike multiple targets from a distance, Spider with his webbing and Tiger with his…light beams," he said for lack of better words. "Do you think you two and Kid Flash can take them out?"

"On it," Robin nodded

"Give us five seconds, then make your move," Lark said. They split from Aqualad, who counted to five before stepping out and drawing the attention of the three assassins. "Hold," he said, his eel tattoos lighting up.

"Get a load of the human glow stick," Hook drawled.

"End this now," Black Spider said. "Give us the girl!"

"We might even spare you," White Tiger offered.

"That will not happen," Aqualad said.

"What are you going to do?" Black Spider mocked. "I checked this floor. There aren't any water coolers around for you to pull your water tricks with."

"You are correct," Aqualad nodded. "However, we are standing directly over a bathroom."

The floor began to rumble and before Hook could react, he was thrown in the air via a geyser of water.

While Kid Flash and Robin dealt with Black Spider, Lark readied herself for an attack by White Tiger, but none came. She frowned as Black Spider's webbing cuff exploded and she joined the others.

"Dude…nice," Kid Flash panted.

"Where's the girl?" Robin asked.

"And White Tiger," Aqualad added.

"Don't know," Lark sighed. "He must have slipped away in the confusion of the bathroom geyser."

"Then we are not done," the Atlantean said solemnly. "Split up and maintain communications." With no other suggestion, they took off.

A bat through and through, Lark found the highest building in the vicinity and grappled to the top. She surveyed the surrounding area, trying to think like a scared CEO.

Well, I certainly wouldn't stay here, Lark thought. But I wouldn't go home, either. They could be waiting for me there, or even at any known relative or friend. Hotel it is.

Lark pulled up her holo-computer installed in her glove and started a basic search for hotels in the area. Then came the question: what kind of hotel would Gonzalez chose? Given her position and salary, a nicer hotel would make sense. But would that be the obvious choice? If so, then Lark would lean toward a seedier location. But a seedier location also meant a lower chance of having security cameras of any kind, which would leave Gonzalez vulnerable to being snatched away with no trace. The cameras would also be a good way to track her within the establishment, though...

She groaned and rubbed her forehead; she was just going in circles.

The comm-unit crackled in her ear just then, and Robin asked, "You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?"

"Hotels?" Lark clarified, looking around for her partner. She spotted him on the rooftop catty-corner to her and she saw him give her a thumbs-up.

"How do you want to cover them?" he asked.

"I'll take the hotels north of here by five miles, you take the ones south?"

"Sounds good," Robin nodded. "Happy hunting."

Lark rolled her eyes. "Always one with the words," she said.

"I try," Robin smirked before he took off along the rooftops.

She was grateful for the setting sun, as she had felt quite strange being in her Lark uniform in broad daylight. She moved seamlessly with the shadows that started to form on the roofs, making her way toward the hotel closest to the Farano Enterprises' building.

It was nearly midnight by the time Aqualad called them to regroup. In the almost three hours of searching, the four young heroes had communicated off and on, telling the others where they were or where Gonzalez wasn't or where they were headed next.

"We will resume our search tomorrow," Aqualad said. "It might benefit us to meet at the Cave beforehand to get a better idea of who Ms. Gonzalez is. Hopefully, we will get a better idea of where she might have gone."

They agreed to meet at nine the next morning and they split up.

Lark was quiet as she and Robin made their way to the Zeta-Tube. The Batcave was empty, for which Naomi was grateful; she really wasn't in the mood to discuss the mission with Batman.

Alfred was absent as well, and Naomi quickly changed before checking her arm. Thankfully, the scabbing remained mostly intact, with only little bits of newly dried blood dotting her arm. She quickly wiped off the blood and applied antiseptic just in case before finally heading upstairs.

The next morning, they gathered in the Cave, all in civilian clothes, and they talked family and friends, acquaintances, subsidiary holdings that might provide Selena Gonzalez a place to hide. They split up the tasks, agreeing to check in every hour or so, and they set off.

---

Location: Mount Justice, Happy Harbor
Date: Saturday, July 10, 2010
Time: 2212 EDT

"We looked everywhere for her," Lark sighed, rubbing her eyes tiredly as she forced her eyes away from the holographic screen in the middle of the training room-slash-mission room.

"She was pretty scared," Kid Flash pointed out. "She probably just ran and is hiding out somewhere."

"We checked her premises, and those of her family and friends," Aqualad said.

"Yeah, plus every address her company is connected to," Lark added.

"She is nowhere to be found," Aqualad concluded grimly.

"Guys, listen," Robin interrupted, and he unmuted the news report that had been playing in the background.

Beside Cat Grant's face was a picture of Selena Gonzalez's as the anchor said, "Police say it is too early to tell if the disappearance of Farano Enterprises CEO Selena Gonzalez is in any way connected to what happened at their corporate headquarters last night, although it is a good possibility that the two men captured on the premises and allegedly responsible for all the property damage have themselves escaped custody as they were being transported to a maximum holding facility."

"How could I have not seen it?!" Robin suddenly yelled angrily.

"When we were back in that building, Black Spider said, 'The minute you get outside we'll know where you are,'" Aqualad remembered.

"They had others outside," Robin growled.

"They must have been the ones to tell White Tiger to drop back," Lark said.

"They're the League of Shadows!" Robin continued, still sounding furious. "Of course they had others outside! We just never saw them, but they were there!"

"So, you mean Selena is…" Kid Flash trailed off and the room grew silent.

Robin angrily stalked through the holo-screens as Lark sighed heavily and rubbed her forehead. She heard Kid Flash sniffle and she turned to him to see him blinking furiously to keep tears from falling.

Lark placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a slight squeeze. The redhead turned to her and gave her a watery smile.

"I'm good," he assured, though they both knew that was a lie. Lark also knew that Wally wouldn't speak until he wanted to, so she gave him a small smile and looked to Aqualad.

He stood off to the side, his arms crossed tightly across his chest. Lark gave Kid Flash's shoulder one last squeeze before going over to the Atlantean.

"How're you?" she asked him softly, keeping a respectful distance between them. Despite the fact Lark knew pretty much everything there was to know about Aqualad, she didn't know him personally and didn't want to overstep.

"I am okay," he nodded slowly. "It's just…always hard when you cannot save everyone."

"I understand," Lark said. "Gotham isn't exactly known for being…merciful on her citizens."

"It must be difficult," Aqualad said, looking at Lark like he couldn't quite believe her. "You fight in such a dangerous city, yet you never give up hope that what you are doing will have a lasting effect."

"It is kinda hard," she admitted with a small dry chuckle. "But having partners certainly helps. It's very rare all three of us are having bad days at the same time, so if one of us is struggling, we have each other to lean on. Speaking of…"

She glanced down the hall she had seen Robin disappear down, and turning back to Aqualad, she said, "I'd better go check on him. I'll see you later."

Aqualad nodded and she gave him a small smile before jogging down the hall.

She found Robin leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest and his gaze piercing the ground. She remained silent as she joined him against the wall, knowing he was in no mood to talk.

"Gahh, how could I have been so stupid?!" Robin finally snapped at no one in particular.

Lark took that as the go-ahead and slung an arm around Robin's shoulders and hugged him tightly. He protested weakly at first, but finally sighed and leaned into her embrace.

"It's a learning process," she said matter-of-factly. "This is only our second mission, not to mention we had no intelligence prior. You can't expect it to go smoothly, especially against the Shadows of all groups."

"I know," Robin grumbled. "Still frustrating."

"Of course it'll be frustrating," Lark agreed. "But it's in the past; there's nothing we can do to change it, no matter how much we might wish we could."

Her tone took a sad turn, and Robin knew she was thinking about her deceased adopted parents, just as he was thinking about his family when she had mentioned changing the past.

"Come on," she said. "I think there's still some of Penny-One's lemonade in the fridge."

That got Robin to perk up a little and he straightened and hurried down the hall toward the Zetas. Kid Flash and Aqualad were already gone, and Robin and Lark stepped into the Zeta-Tube and appeared in the Batcave a second later.

They made it through the Batcave and the manor without running into Bruce, and they settled in the kitchen around the island, Alfred appearing as if by magic and pouring them each a glass of lemonade.

"Where's Bruce?" Naomi asked Alfred as he replaced the glass pitcher in the refrigerator.

"He said he wished to stay late at Wayne Enterprises and discuss upgrades to the vehicles with Lucius," Alfred informed. "He also said he would be back in time for patrol."

Naomi and Dick shared glances, and though Alfred noticed, he remained silent. He turned and left the kitchen, and Dick began nervously tapping his glass.

"Should we tell him?" he asked, glancing at Naomi.

"I don't know," she winced. "I get the feeling he might already know."

"That's somehow worse," Dick grumbled.

Naomi nodded. "Tell me about it," she muttered.

They met Batman in the Batcave, dressed and ready to go and looking like they were doing their best not to appear nervous.

"We'll talk about it tonight," he said bluntly as he swept to the Batmobile. "Robin, you take Uptown, Lark, Downtown, and I'll cover Midtown."

"Uh, oh," Lark muttered as she and Robin walked to their bikes.

"You said it," was Robin's glum reply.

Patrol was uneventful, which gave Lark and Robin plenty of time to worry about what Bruce's punishment for them would be.

When they arrived back at the Batcave, the two birds waited anxiously as Batman got out of the Batmobile.

"You should have called," he said as soon as his feet were on the ground. "The Justice League might have been able to save that woman."

"It's my fault," Dick admitted, hanging his head a little. "I thought it would be a good idea to team up before our first official mission, you know, get an idea how each other works."

"And that obviously didn't work," Bruce said bluntly.

Dick winced a little as Bruce turned his steely gaze to Naomi. "I expected better from you," he said. "You've always been the voice of reason, and yet you followed Dick head-first into danger, completely disregarding any consequences!"

"We did what you've been training us to do," Naomi said hotly. "We can't win every mission. We won't save everyone."

"But it's your job," Bruce said sharply, taking a small step forward and gesticulating with his finger for emphasis. "Your job is to save lives, no matter the cost!"

"We did our best!" Naomi exploded with a glare, not realizing the numerous shadows around the Batcave were beginning to quiver in response to her bottled anger. "I know that's not what you want to hear, but sometimes it's just the reality of the situation!"

"Uh, Nomi?" Dick asked nervously, having spotted the shivering shadows.

"It's not like you have a leg to stand on in this conversation, either!" she went on, ignoring Dick and the shadows, which were now starting to slither their way toward her. "How many people have you lost while on patrol or while fighting one of your Rogues?!"

Bruce's eyes hardened, and Dick cowered between them, uncertain if the safest place was beside Naomi or Bruce.

"We'll continue this conversation tomorrow," Bruce finally ground out before he turned on his heel and swept away, his cape snapping behind him.

Naomi let out a loud, mirthless laugh and threw her hands in the air, the shadows mimicking her motion behind her. "Great!" she yelled to the bats. "Another silent treatment coming our way!" The fight left her almost immediately, though, and she sighed heavily and hung her head, her arms dropping to her sides and the shadows returning to their stationary positions.

Dick approached her timidly. She let out a shaky breath and shook her head a little and looked surprised to see Dick still in the Batcave.

"I'm sorry I got you in trouble," he mumbled, staring forlornly at his feet.

"Hey, it's not your fault," Naomi assured with a small smile, wrapping an arm around Dick's shoulder and dragging him with her as she headed toward the changing rooms. "I should have done more, been more proactive, something."

He hugged her tightly when they reached the top of the catwalk. "I'm still sorry," he said before he headed into one of the dressing rooms.

Once Naomi was showered and dressed herself, she headed up to the Manor and went straight to her room; she was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to sleep.

She rolled her eyes when she entered her room to find Dick sitting on top of her bed. "Dick, go to bed," she said, trudging to her bed and collapsing onto the mattress, maneuvering under the covers.

"Just wanted to say, 'I'm sorry' again," he said, and Naomi reached up to flick the side of his head.

"Stop apologizing," she scolded, her eyes already sliding shut. "If you promise to drop it, you can stay. If not, get out," she added, not unkindly.

"Consider it dropped," Dick grinned before his expression turned uncertain. "What happened back there?" he asked softly.

Naomi's eyes, which had closed, slowly peeled open again. She knew what he was talking about, and honestly, she wasn't certain either. She had never had a temper, especially when she was Lark, and that was one thing for which Batman had always praised her.

But these past few months…she had just felt herself become moodier. Maybe it was just puberty finally hitting and making her hormones go wild, but for some reason, Naomi didn't think it was that simple.

"I don't know," she muttered, turning on her back and rubbing her eyes tiredly. "Do you ever have days where you just feel…frustrated for no reason?"

"No," Dick shrugged, and Naomi chuckled.

"Must be an age thing," she joked before turning solemn again. "I should apologize tomorrow, shouldn't I." It wasn't a question, but Dick nodded all the same. "All right," Naomi nodded with a sigh, her eyes already dropping closed again.

"Good night, Nomi," Dick murmured as he watched his sister's face relax as sleep took hold.

"G'nigh," she mumbled back. "You can stay," she added in a slur, and Dick smiled before settled in on the other side of Naomi's bed.

Down in the Batcave, Bruce sat in his chair, his elbows braced on the rollie chair's armrests and his fingers laced beneath his chin. Naomi's words rolled around in his head as he stared up at the dark computer screen.

What she said wasn't entirely not true, but that wasn't what made Bruce brood. It was the way she had said it, the look in her eyes, the expression on her face, the way the shadows had shivered all throughout the Batcave.

He had noticed a change in her behavior the past few months, though it had been so subtle he hadn't even thought about it until now. But on patrol, she was becoming increasingly reckless and out of control, often sending their adversaries to the hospital before police holding. In training, she had been going harder and longer, often not stopping for hours.

This, though…this had been new: the outburst, the shadows, the poorly concealed fury in her eyes.

He woke the computer and opened the files on Naomi's powers. Since their manifestation, they had compiled everything they could about her powers and abilities, hoping to get an idea where they had come from.

Now, though, Bruce created a new encrypted file and tucked it deep within the data on her powers, titling it Hong, Naomi – ORIGIN. Within it, he added everything he knew about Naomi—her birth certificate, the small news clipping about the abandoned girl in Chinatown, her adoption papers, the Williamsons' obituaries, the documents naming her his ward.

"Computer," he said, "begin a search on Hong-comma-Marion."

"Searching…"

Bruce sat back as the computer began to run the search on Naomi's birth mother in the background, returning to his previous position with his elbows propped on the arms of the chair and his fingers laced beneath his chin.

By all appearances, Naomi was one hundred percent human. Nothing unusual had ever popped up on any of her physicals or medical checkups, not even after her powers had developed. There was no indication she had been subject to a freak accident like Barry Allen, or that she had been some sort of science experiment like the Superboy. So just where did her powers come from?

Perhaps if he did some digging on her birth parents, something from their past would answer his questions, or at least point him in the right direction to find the answers.

It was nearing dawn by the time the computer finished its search, and Alfred nudged Bruce awake.

"A late night, sir?" he asked dryly, a silver tray with a small capful of mouthwash and a large mug of hot black coffee balanced in his hand.

"Something like that," Bruce sighed as he rubbed his eyes and took the mouthwash.

"A search on Miss Naomi's mother?" Alfred's eyebrows rose to his hairline. "Whatever for, sir?"

After spitting out the mouthwash, he said, "She's changing, Alfred. By now, it's more than just her powers. It's something more."

"And you think digging into her past might shed some light on these…changes?"

"I never questioned her powers!" he exclaimed, scowling in frustration at himself for not being more suspicious at the time.

"Yes, you did," he contradicted simply.

Bruce spared Alfred a glance and amended, "I didn't question her powers enough."

"So just what are you hoping to find, sir?" Alfred asked as Bruce began to sort through the data the computer had compiled.

He got silence in response, and Alfred knew that meant Bruce wasn't even sure.

"It's all here," Bruce muttered after skimming through all the files.

"You don't look pleased by that, sir," Alfred noted.

"It's perfect. Too perfect."

"What, sir?"

"Marion Hong's life. There's no record of who Naomi's father is, but that's the only blip in the data. Every bit of information on Marion Hong is perfectly curated to make her seem like your average Chinese immigrant."

"What's to say she wasn't just that?" Alfred countered.

"Because what average Chinese immigrant would abandon their daughter at the age of six."

"Well, to play devil's advocate, you can't know under what circumstances Naomi was abandoned."

"Yet take their nine-year-old son," Bruce finished, sounding almost stunned at the news. Naomi rarely talked about her life with the Williamsons, and never talked about her childhood in Chinatown. So much of her life before the Williamsons was an unknown that Bruce hadn't even realized she had an older brother.

There were very few mentions of said brother, Aidan Hong, just his birth certificate and hospital records for a respiratory infection that had been brief but intense. After that, nothing.

"Well, I must admit, that does seem a bit suspicious," Alfred said slowly, his own eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"This is it, Alfred," Bruce said, sounding at least a little please. "If I can pull on this thread, perhaps I can unravel this whole mystery."

"What if there was a reason for what Mrs. Hong did?" Alfred spoke up, the furrow now portraying his worry. "What if there's a secret that is best left in the past?"

"I'll be the judge of that."

The old butler sighed, clearly in disagreement with the younger man, but said nothing. At this point, Alfred knew better than to try to come between Bruce and one of his—and he meant it in the nicest way possible—obsessions.

"Very well, sir," he said. "Shall you be eating breakfast down here, then?"

Bruce just grunted in response and Alfred took that as a yes. Shaking his head a little behind his employer's back, the faithful butler turned and started up the stairs, leaving Bruce alone with his thoughts.

Chapter 5: 3.0 - Welcome to Happy Harbor

Notes:

I own nothing you recognize.

Location: Star City, California
Date: Saturday, July 17, 2010
Time: 2316 PDT

"You again!"

Lark exchanged glances with Robin, Aqualad, and Kid Flash before the former three raced after the latter in the direction of the commotion.

"I'm startin' to get insulted Green Arrow's not messin' up my operations personally!" the ringleader yelled. Lark recognized him as Brick, a common foe of Green Arrow's. He was pointing his laser gun in the air, and Lark followed the trajectory to find Speedy, minus the hat, perched on the catwalks that crisscrossed above the docks.

Brick fired a few shots, all of which Speedy gracefully dodged. The archer finally strung another arrow and it landed in the muzzle of the gun. It exploded, taking the gun and most of Brick's shirt with it.

The white-haired man growled. "Do you know what I pay for a suit in my size?!" he snarled, glaring up at Speedy. Turning to his men, he said, "Scorch the earth, boys."

"That's our cue," Lark murmured, and she and the others took off.

Kid Flash raced ahead and disarmed two of the henchmen by grabbing their guns and knocking them in the heads with them. Robin's cackled carried in the night air as he sailed ahead on his grapple, throwing two disks which knocked the guns out of the hands of two more goons.

Lark dropped between the disarmed men and gave them a dazzling smile before punching one across the jaw and elbowing the second in the nose. They staggered back, clutching their faces and groaning as Aqualad used his water-bearers to knock them into the back of the truck.

Brick began ripping up chunks of earth and hurling them at Speedy. The redhead dodged the first and jumped out of the way of the second, only for Aqualad to appear between two shipping crates in front of Speedy and slice the rock in half wth a water sword. Speedy released a gas arrow at Brick, which struck him in the middle of his chest before he began coughing.

"The cave is perfect," Aqualad said to the young archer. "It has everything the Team will need."

"We're the covert mission guys," Lark said as she and Robin dropped in behind them.

"You know, all that cool spy stuff," Robin added with a grin.

"And wait 'til you see Superboy and Miss Martian," Kid Flash said brightly, racing up the side of the stack of crates to stand with them. "But I saw her first!"

Below them, Brick yelled in anger and chucked another hunk of rock their way. Everyone minus Aqualad scattered, the Atlantean holding his ground and smashing the boulder to pieces with a water mace.

Three more arrows embedded themselves into Brick's bare chest, each exploding one after the other, but it didn't seem to do any good. He laughed tauntingly up at them. "Tell Arrow he shouldn't send children to do a hero's job," he sneered.

Lark rolled her eyes. "When will everyone stop underestimating us?" she asked her partner rhetorically. He only shrugged, a scowl on his face.

Speedy strung another arrow and Brick spread his arms wide. "Go ahead," he invited with a confident smirk.

The archer released the bow string and the arrow sailed through the air to land in the center of Brick's chest. For a second, nothing happened, but then something red expanded from the arrowhead casing, quickly covering Brick in the substance and rendering him immobile.

"High-density polyurethane foam," Kid Flash identified as he rejoined Speedy on top of the shipping crates. "Nice."

The older redhead didn't respond, just turned on his heel and walked away from the scene below.

"So, Speedy," Robin said from his spot leaning against a metal crate, "you in?"

"Pass," Speedy said darkly, glaring slightly at the raven-haired teen. "I'm done letting Arrow and the League tell me what to do," he snapped, his tone becoming progressively harsher with every word. "I don't need a babysitter or a clubhouse to hang out with the other kids. Your junior Justice League is a joke, something to keep you busy and in your place," he snarled. "I don't want any part of it," he growled as he walked between two crates and effectively disappearing.

Lark scowled after him. "Someone's cheery," she grumbled. She was no stranger to Speedy's moodier side, but she didn't think she'd ever seen him this moody.

"Come on," Aqualad sighed. "It's late, and we could all use a good night's sleep."

"You comin', L?" Robin asked when he noticed his partner hadn't moved.

"Yeah, yeah," she nodded, looking like she was coming out of her thoughts. "I'll meet you back at the Batcave."

"Where are you going?" Robin called after her as she took off in the opposite direction.

"To talk to a certain red-headed archer," she growled.

Robin whistled as he and Kid Flash shared a look. "He'd better watch out," Kid Flash joked.

"Why?" Aqualad inquired curiously as the trio walked to the Zeta-Tube that was located a few blocks inland of the Star City docks.

"It's no secret Roy can be...as fiery as his red hair," Robin started, "but I think Lark and Black Canary are the only two women who can knock some sense into him."

"Ah," the Atlantean said, though he would be the first to admit, from what he'd seen of Lark so far, she didn't seem the type to be able to go up against the hot-headed archer. But, looks were often deceiving, and Robin and Kid Flash had known her longer, so he decided to take their word for it.

Across town, a lithe figure scaled the fire escape with ease as she made her way to the safehouse she figured Roy would use. Unlike the hidden safehouses Green Arrow had around the city that were fully stocked with extra uniforms, equipment, and some that were even designed for sleeping, Roy's shabby apartment was rented under his own dime and didn't have any of the bells and whistles that Green Arrow's had.

Her hunches turned out to be correct as she peered into the grimy window to see Speedy digging around the refrigerator.

As quiet as a cat, Lark entered the small apartment. She remained standing by the window as Roy continued looking around the tiny kitchen.

He finally spotted her when he turned toward the equally small living room, a box of cereal in one hand and a carton of milk in the other. He blinked but then continued toward the crouch, which Lark took as her go-ahead to approach him.

He flopped down heavily on the lumpy sofa and tossed his feet up on the coffee table, mask long gone. Lark remained standing and silent.

After several mouthfuls of dry cereal, followed by a couple long pulls of cold milk, Roy finally broke the silence. "Just spit it out, already. I know you're dying to."

"You're a real ass sometimes, you know that?"

Roy snorted. "Just because I don't want to join your little daycare club?" he asked snidely.

Lark ripped off her mask and glared at her friend. "Look, I appreciate the text after the Cadmus incident, and I understand why you might not have responded right away. But I gave you a few days to cool off before reaching out again, but you ignored me completely!" she snapped. "A simple, 'Hey, I'm not dead' text would have sufficed!"

"No, it wouldn't," Roy muttered, already feeling bad for vanishing for a few days.

"You're right, it wouldn't!" Naomi agreed angrily. "I get you feel too old to be babied, but that doesn't mean you're too old for your friends!" The fight left her in a rush, though, as her gaze settled on the floor and she added softly, "Unless you are, and all we are to you are annoyances."

"Well that's just bullshit," he waved off.

"Then act like it!" she yelled. "If we're your friends, give us the courtesy of letting us know you're alive! Roy, you're one of my best friends and not hearing from you...not knowing if you were okay..." She sucked in a deep breath and when no other words came to her, settled on glaring at him again.

For the first time, Roy saw up close what his sudden absence had done to his closest friend and his heart clenched. He set down the cereal box and got to his feet, going to her immediately. He pulled Naomi to his chest in a tight hug, his chin resting on the crown of her dark head.

She stubbornly refused to return Roy's hug, instead standing stiff as a board with her nose pressed uncomfortably against his sternum. "I'm still mad at you," she mumbled into his chest, and he couldn't help but chuckle.

"I completely understand, and I expect nothing less," he said with a small smile. His expression turned serious as he assured softly, "You could never be an annoyance, to me or anyone else."

"So you promise to reply to my texts?" she asked as she leaned back slightly from Roy's embrace so she could look at his face. He nodded his head in agreement as he dropped his arms from around her, then held up his right hand in the Boy Scout salute, making Naomi snort in amusement as she imagined a young, short-tempered Roy Harper hanging around a bunch of young, do-gooder Clark Kents.

"If you don't," she warned, her expression morphing into a scowl, "I will hunt you down and drag you out of whatever hole you're hiding in, and if I'm feeling particularly moody, I'll bring Dinah too!"

Roy couldn't help the shudder that passed through his body as he imagined two very pissed off heroines coming for his throat. Naomi smirked triumphantly and he nodded, saying again, "I promise I'll respond to your messages as soon as I'm able."

"Does that mean you'll start using your old phone again, or should I expect more unknown numbers texting me at all hours of the night?"

"I'll dig up my old phone and charge it."

"You better," she grinned.

Roy gazed down at Naomi, a solemn expression on his face. "I am sorry," he murmured, reaching out to tuck a wayward strand of hair behind her ear.

"For disappearing on us?" she asked with a quirked eyebrow as he quickly dropped his hand. "Or for making me worry?"

"Both," he said with a small chuckle. He opened his mouth to say something else but was cut off when Naomi's cell phone suddenly buzzed.

You track down Roy yet?

"Is that Dick?" Roy asked, finally stepping back from Naomi when he realized they were still practically chest to chest. She nodded in response. "You'd better get going then; it's almost three in the morning in Gotham."

Glancing at the time on her phone, she saw he was right and suddenly yawned at just the thought of the late hour. "Sleep does sound very attractive right now," she admitted with a chuckle. "You promise you'll keep in touch?"

"I swear," Roy reassured, and after giving Naomi one last hug, she slipped out the window and made her way to the nearest Zeta-Tube.

---

Location: Mount Justice, Happy Harbor
Date: Sunday, July 18, 2010
Time: 1116 EDT

"Recognized: Lark, B-0-1; Robin, B-0-2; Kid Flash, B-0-4."

"Did you ask him?" Robin asked immediately, racing ahead of Lark to join Aqualad, Superboy, and Miss Martian in the middle of the room, where several holographic screens were pulled up. Everyone was dressed in civvies, and only Lark and Robin continued to protect their identities with black-lensed sunglasses.

"What did he say?" Kid Flash asked imploringly as he joined them.

"He's arriving now," Aqualad informed once Lark had completed the circle of young heroes.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Kid Flash exclaimed. He took off, and the others followed after him.

Lark finally caught up with Kid Flash in time to see a portion of the ceiling suddenly lower, letting in the late morning sun and the smell of sea water. They walked up the grassy incline just as Red Tornado's signature red tornado appeared, and they stopped to greet him.

"Red Tornado!" the speedster called, waving his hand.

"Greetings," Red Tornado said, landing in front of the Team. "Is there a reason you intercept me outside the Cave?" he asked.

"We were hoping you maybe had a mission for us," Lark said on behalf of their group.

"Mission assignments are the Batman's responsibility," the red robot reminded.

"But it's been over a week," Robin said with a frown, "and nothing—"

"You'll be tested soon enough," he interrupted, holding up his hand. "For the time being, simply enjoy each other's company."

"This team is not a social club," Aqualad pointed out, firmly but respectfully.

"No," Red Tornado agreed, "but I am told social interaction is an important team-building experience. Perhaps you can keep busy by familiarizing yourself with the Cave," he suggested, walking past them before they could respond.

"Keep busy," Kid Flash grumbled.

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

"Oh, I'll find out!" Miss Martian whispered excitedly. She turned to Red Tornado's retreating back as he walked through the scanner. The Martian sighed after a beat. "I'm sorry," she said, looking at the ground. "I forgot he's a machine, inorganic. I cannot read his mind."

"Nice try though," Kid Flash said as he walked up to her. "So, uh, you know what I'm thinkin' right now?" he asked flirtatiously.

"We all know what you're thinkin' now," Robin snapped, shoving his elbow into Kid Flash's side as Lark clamped her eyes shut and cried out, "My brain! I need bleach!"

"Hey, now," the speedster scowled while Robin snickered and high-fived Lark.

"And now, we tour the clubhouse," Aqualad sighed, not sounding happy about it at all.

"Well, Superboy and I live here," Miss Martian said hesitantly. "We can play tour guides," she suggested, glancing behind her at Superboy.

"Don't look at me," Superboy said dryly.

"We won't," Kid Flash promised lightly. "Besides," he added, turning to Miss Martian, "a private tour sounds much more fun."

"Sh-she never said private!" Robin stuttered, though he leaned toward Kid Flash as though to keep his voice down.

"Oh, brother," Lark muttered, rolling her eyes.

"Team building," Aqualad stepped in. "We'll all go."

Miss Martian started walking back into the Cave and Kid Flash turned to follow. Robin reached forward and yanked him back.

The Martian took them through the Cave, showing them the work-out room, the section of bedrooms, the library, and more. "The Cave is actually the entire mountain," she concluded as they walked in the direction of the kitchen and training room.

"It was hollowed out and reinforced by Superman and Green Lantern in the early days of the League," Kid Flash casually added. Lark rolled her eyes at his attempt to impress the Martian.

"Then why abandon it for the Hall of Justice?" Superboy asked.

"The Cave's secret location was compromised," Aqualad informed.

"So, they traded it in for a tourist trap?" he asked dryly. "Yeah," he scoffed. "That makes sense."

"It's a…false front for the public," Lark explained, recalling Red Arrow's phrasing from Independence Day. "The real H.Q.'s location is so secret, even we didn't learn about it until recently," she said, gesturing between herself, Robin, Aqualad, and Kid Flash. Superboy just grunted and crossed his arms over his chest.

"If villains know of the Cave, we must be on constant alert," Miss Martian declared, raising a pointed hand to emphasize her point.

Robin stepped forward and took her hand comfortingly in his. "The bad guys know we know they know about this place," he said, placing his other hand on top of hers. "So they'd never think to look here."

Kid Flash narrowed his eyes and stepped forward, putting a hand on top of Robin's. "Uh, he means we're hiding in plain sight," he translated as Miss Martian pulled her hand away. Robin glared at Kid Flash.

"Ah," Miss Martian said slowly, scratching her head. "That's much clearer."

Lark rolled her eyes (these boys were going to make her dislocate her eyeballs, the number of times they made her roll them) and helped extract Miss Martian from Kid Flash's grasp. "What these two idiots mean is," she said as she looped arms with the Martian and began walking away, "the bad guys won't think to look for us here, so we don't have to worry about them."

"Oh!" The green-skinned girl's eyes brightened in understanding. "That makes much more sense!" Lark smiled at her, then threw a smirk at the two boys, who glared at her.

Robin opened his mouth to say something else but was cut off when Superboy sniffed the air and said, "I smell smoke."

Miss Martian gasped. "My cookies!" she exclaimed and then flew off in the direction of the kitchen.

Lark shared a glance with the boys before they followed after the Martian. When they arrived, she saw Miss Martian levitating a baking tray with nine hockey pucks out of the oven. Everyone gathered around the kitchen island.

"I was trying to make Grammy Jones's recipe from episode seventeen of—" She quickly cut herself off and laughed nervously. "Never mind," she said quickly.

"I bet they'd have tasted great," Robin assured her. "He doesn't seem to mind," he added snidely with a glance at Kid Flash, who was already crunching on one and had another in his hand.

Kid Flash glanced around. "I have a serious metabolism," he said through a mouthful of cookie.

"I'll make more?" Miss Martian offered hesitantly.

"It was sweet of you to make any," Aqualad said kindly.

"Thanks, Aqualad," she said gratefully.

"We're off duty," the Atlantean said. "Call me Kaldur'ahm." He paused. "Actually, my friends call me Kaldur."

"I'm Wally," the speedster said immediately, swallowing the cookie. "See? I already trust you with my secret I.D." He leaned across the island toward Miss Martian with a smile. "Unlike Mr. and Ms. Dark Glasses over here," he added, jerking his head in Robin and Lark's direction. "Batman's forbidden the Girl and Boy Wonder from telling anyone their real names."

Twin scowls were sent Wally's way, but he just grinned and shoved another cookie in his mouth.

"Mine's no secret," the Martian said brightly. "It's M'gann M'orzz. But you can call me Megan. It's an Earth name, and I'm on Earth now." She sounded as though she still couldn't quite believe it.

Lark saw Superboy straighten from his leaning position against one of the kitchen's counters and stalk away. She sighed a little sadly; with their talk of real names, he must have been feeling left out, since he lacked a given name. Or rather, his given name was Superboy.

Suddenly, he grunted and whirled around, looking both disgusted and terrified.

"Get out of my head!" he yelled, glaring darkly at M'gann. Everyone turned to the girl in question.

{What's wrong?} Lark's eyes widened as M'gann's voice rang clear in her head. {I-I don't understand,} the Martian said as Robin, Wally, and Kaldur winced in pain. {Everyone on Mars communicates telepathically,} she explained.

"M'gann, stop," Kaldur said firmly. "Things are different on Earth. Here, your powers are an extreme invasion of privacy."

"Besides," Wally said, leaning toward M'gann, "Cadmus's creepy little psychic G-Gnomes left a bad taste in his brain."

"I-I didn't mean to—"

Superboy cut off M'gann's attempted apology. "Just stay out," he said harshly, and he stormed out of the kitchen.

There was a heavy pause, which M'gann was the first to break. "Hello, Megan!" she exclaimed, hitting her forehead with the palm of her hand. "I know what we can do!" She took off, leaving the others to follow. Lark and Robin shared a glance as they passed Superboy, but before the older bird could address the clone, M'gann flew back down the hall, a little hesitantly.

Leaving the two to talk, Lark and Robin joined Kaldur and Wally further down the hall.

"Where'd M'gann go?" Wally asked, standing on his tiptoes to look over the already-shorter-than-him birds as though they were hiding M'gann behind their backs.

Lark rolled her eyes and put her hand on Wally's face, giving him a light shove. "She went to talk to Superboy," she said.

Robin snickered when Wally pouted, though Lark elbowed him in the ribs to keep him quiet. A minute later, M'gann came flying down the hall again, her expression much happier, Superboy trudging along behind her.

Once they had all entered the large industrial-sized elevator which would take them down to the hanger deck, Lark hung back to stand beside Superboy, who had taken refuge in the corner. He glanced down at her and her eyes slid up to meet his blue gaze. He couldn't see her eyes behind her dark sunglasses (Add X-ray vision to the list of Superman powers I'm missing, he grumbled to himself), but he felt the weight of her stare and quickly looked away.

Lark was slower to turn her attention away from the clone, but she could see the conflict linger on his profile. She pursed her lips just slightly but hoped the visible uncertainty was an indication that Superboy felt bad about his actions and would be open to reconciliation.

When the elevator doors opened, M'gann stepped out and said proudly, "It's my Martian Bio-Ship." The Team followed her onto the landing deck and Lark saw a large red egg-shaped ship with two black horizontal lines circling the center.

"Cute," Wally said graciously. "Not aerodynamic, but cute."

"It's at rest, silly," M'gann giggled. "I'll wake it." She passed her hand once through the air in front of the ship and Lark watched in awe as it transformed before their eyes.

"Now that's a ship," Lark said, crossing her arms over her chest with an impressed smirk once it had fully transformed.

M'gann waved her hand again and it turned so they could enter. The back seemed to melt off to become a ramp for them to walk up.

"Well, are you coming?" M'gann asked, turning to look at them. Lark was the first to walk forward. She glanced back and saw the four boys follow more hesitantly, all with the same look of trepidation on their faces.

"Boys like to pretend to be all macho," Lark pseudo-whispered to M'gann, "but really, they're just big scaredy-cats." The Martian giggled again and Lark threw a smirk over her shoulder to the boys, who scowled at her.

They entered a circular chamber, and the back wall quickly disappeared to reveal another portion that ended in a rounded point. A circular mound was centered in the back, and five chairs around the perimeter of the ship materialized, along with the captain's chair and controls at the back, right in front of them.

"Strap in for launch," M'gann said, sounding slightly nervous as she stepped up to the captain's chair. Robin and Wally immediately went for the chairs that were on either side of M'gann. As Robin sat, the chair turned so he was facing front and he was strapped in by two belts that formed an X across his chest.

"Whoa," he breathed, and across the way, Wally grinned, "Cool." Kaldur took the chair at the head, and Lark sat to his left and Superboy took the chair to the Atlantean's right.

Once everyone was safely strapped into their seats, M'gann called, "Red Tornado, please open the bay doors." In front of them, the large steel doors slid open, and the Bio-Ship lifted off the landing pad and shot forward.

"Incredible!" Robin exclaimed as they moved smoothly over the water.

Wally sighed wistfully. "She sure is," he said. Lark tore her gaze away from the glistening ocean below them to raise an eyebrow at the smitten teen. When M'gann turned to look at him, he stammered, "I-I mean the ship, which, like all ships, is a 'she'."

"Fast with his feet, no-ot so much with his mouth," Robin commented, sharing a smirk with Lark.

"Dude!" Wally hissed. Lark chuckled lightly and returned to staring out the panoramic window.

Her attention was drawn back into the ship when Kaldur cleared his throat lightly. She glanced his way and when she met his gaze, she knew it was to get her attention. His eyes slid to Superboy, and Lark figured Kaldur had noticed her hang back with the clone in the elevator. She gave a slight nod when he looked her way again.

Kaldur started, saying softly to Superboy, "We may not have psychic powers, but we can guess what you're thinking. Your reaction garnered a different response than you were expecting, and now you don't know how to move forward."

"Believe me, we've all been in that position," Lark spoke up with a gentle smile. "I bet you're feeling a little conflicted, because you feel like you're in the right, but you see how your words negatively affected someone else. It's okay to feel validated in how you feel, and also feel bad about the other person's feelings."

"An apology goes a long way," Kaldur added. "All you have to say is 'sorry.'" He offered the clone a small smile and the black-haired teen stared forward, looking to be in deep thought.

"He'll come around," Lark heard Robin whisper to M'gann.

"He doesn't seem to like me very much," M'gann whispered back, sounding despondent.

"You guys remember he has super-hearing, right?" Wally stage-whispered behind his hand, shooting a look at Superboy. Robin and M'gann glanced at the back of Superboy's head, but he resolutely kept his gaze forward.

"Hey," Robin said to M'gann, hoping to break the tension that had started to fill the ship, "how 'bout showing us a little Martian shape-shifting?"

M'gann gave a small smile and stood, and all eyes went to her as her outfit—black flats, pale pink knee-high socks, a dark pink skirt with matching cardigan, and a pale pink top—morphed into Robin's uniform, complete with mask and raven-black hair. She glanced at Wally, spun, and when she stopped, she was dressed in Kid Flash's uniform. While the uniforms were impeccable replicas, the figure beneath both betrayed the falsehood, with breasts and a feminine slope to the hips.

"Is it wrong that I think I'm hot?" Wally sighed, gazing at the female Kid Flash.

Choosing to ignore Wally's comment, Robin said, "Impressive," giving M'gann a little applause as she morphed back to her usual form. "But you know you're not exactly gonna fool anyone with those."

"Mimicking boys is a lot harder," M'gann admitted, sounding sheepish. "But girls are much easier!" she added brightly, turning to Lark before shifting into the dark-haired teen's identical twin, from the stylized L on the left of her chest to the kunais and jō staff on her thighs. Lark's eyes widened behind her sunglasses; it was one thing to see oneself in the mirror or in a picture, but it was an entirely different thing to see oneself in the flesh.

"Wow," Lark finally managed. "That's…handy." She wondered briefly if M'gann's shape-shifting ability meant she would also inherit that individual's powers.

"And your clothes?" Kaldur asked as M'gann returned to her original form once more.

"They're organic, like the ship," M'gann explained. "They respond to my mental commands."

Superboy turned back to the front with a dark glower. "As long as they're the only ones," he muttered.

"Can you do that ghosting-through-walls thing that Manhunter does?" Wally asked quickly when he saw M'gann wilt slightly.

"Density shifting?" M'gann clarified, turning to Wally. "No," she sighed. "I-it's a very advanced technique."

Robin leaned forward in his chair and shot Wally a wicked grin. "Flash can vibrate his molecules right through a wall," he started with a laugh. "When he tries," he continued, gesturing to Wally, "bloody nose."

"Dude!" Wally exclaimed with a glare.

"Here's something I can do!" M'gann said brightly. "Camouflage mode." Lark glanced out the window and saw that the bright red Bio-Ship had seemingly disappeared on the outside.

"Red Tornado to Miss Martian," came the robot's disembodied voice suddenly. "An emergency alert has been triggered at the Happy Harbor Power Plant. I suggest you investigate, covertly." Lark shared a look with the others. "I am sending coordinates."

"Received," M'gann informed a moment later. "Adjusting course."

Robin scoffed. "Tornado's keeping us busy again," he grumbled.

"Well, a simple fire led you to Superboy," M'gann pointed out optimistically. "We should find out what caused the alert."

The clone glanced to the side, his sensitive ears picking up the sounds outside the ship that were inaudible to the others. "I think I know the cause," he said, and Lark followed his line of sight.

"And it's heading right toward us," Lark warned, already bracing herself for the inevitable impact of the large tornado that was merrily twisting their way.

Before M'gann could maneuver the ship, it got sucked into the high velocity winds. Lark grunted as the ship began going in circles, following the path of the airstreams. M'gann finally got the Bio-Ship under control and steered them toward the ground, the tornado continuing on its merry way as everyone groaned in pain. The Martian opened a hole in the bottom of the ship as everyone stood, and one by one, they dropped down to the asphalt.

Lark heard the workers screaming as they fled the building and saw the tornado dancing along behind it.

"Let's go investigate," Robin whispered to Lark, but she hesitated. Batman was always telling them the importance of your partners knowing where you were at all times, and given how long he, Lark, and Robin had been together, it was easy to split off during missions.

But this team was new, and Lark wasn't sure if splitting up at the moment was a good idea, especially after what happened with Selena Gonzalez. Robin didn't notice her hang back, though, and he dashed ahead.

"Robin, are tornados common to New England?"

Lark winced at Kaldur's question, or rather, who the question was directed at, and he caught her eye. "Where's Robin?" he asked her.

"Uh…"

His question was answered when his tell-tale laugh echoed through the air, and Kaldur turned in the direction of the building.

"But he was just here," M'gann said, looking confused.

"It's a Bat thing," Wally shrugged. "You'll get used to it."

Explosions rocked the building, the windows shattering at the impact. Lark's eyes widened. "Robin!" she yelled in alarm, taking off for her partner and the others following behind her.

Lark skidded to a stop when she saw their opponent blast Robin into the wall next to her. She raced to his side, Superboy coming in closely behind her.

"Who's your new friend?" Superboy asked as Lark helped Robin sit up.

"Didn't catch his name, but he plays kinda rough," he groaned and Superboy took off.

"My apologies," the giant red-and-black robot said, clearly not sorry at all. "You may address me as Mister Twister."

"Another tornado-themed robot?" Lark asked as Robin got to his feet. "What're the odds?" she muttered.

Mister Twister closed his hands into fists and pointed them at the floor before slowly lifting them. Two tornados sprung up in front of him, and Superboy charged straight toward them. Mister Twister lowered his eyes and lifted his hand. One of the twisters caught Superboy and spun him around a few times before releasing him and slamming him into a wall.

Lark glanced at the others as they joined her and Robin. Wally pulled on his goggles and Robin straightened from Lark's supportive hold. The speedster took off running and did a handspring, landing a kick in the center of Mister Twister's chest before he was blown away. Kaldur and M'gann rushed him together, but the android easily blew them back. Kaldur slammed into a column and M'gann hit a railing.

"I was prepared to be challenged by a superhero," Mister Twister boomed. "I was not, however," he continued, "expecting children."

Subtly, Lark reached behind her back to pull out her birdarangs, and glancing to her side, she saw Robin do the same.

"We're not children!" Robin yelled angrily as he and Lark threw their birdarangs.

Robin's first disk slid under just as Mister Twister began his tornados, and it exploded beneath the robot, causing the tornados to be scattered and allowing the remaining disk and Lark's birdarang to lodge itself in the android's chest.

"Objectively, you are," Mister Twister said as he flicked the birdarangs out of his chest, which exploded harmlessly behind him. "Have you no adult supervision?" he asked in mock concern. "I find your presence here quite disturbing."

"Well, we hate to see you disturbed!" Robin called back. Superboy, Kaldur, and M'gann were up again and standing around the two birds. "Let's see if you're more turbed once we kick your can!"

M'gann reached forward and above Mister Twister, a tube exploded, momentarily paralyzing him with the pressurized air. Superboy took that time to leap forward, but Mister Twister just raised his hands and blasted the clone back, causing him to crash into M'gann in midair.

Lark, Kaldur, and Robin ducked out of the way of their sailing teammates and continued. All three were caught in three more of Mister Twister's tornados, but the winds suddenly died when the robot was shoved sideways by a mysterious force. Lark braced herself for the impact of her fall, but instead, her shadow appeared larger and darker than it should have beneath her, cushioning the blow. She glanced up in time to see a dark object in the shape of a fist retreat from Mister Twister's side before it melted into the wall again.

"Nice shot," Robin groaned off to her side. "You couldn't have made a cushion for us too?"

"Sorry," Lark said sheepishly as she helped Robin, then Kaldur, to their feet. "That must have been reflexive. I'm not used to using my powers in the field yet."

"No worries," Kaldur assured with a pained wince.

Once everyone was steady on their feet, they rushed to the large doorway they had seen Mister Twister exit, and Lark watched as Wally was suddenly thrown their way.

"I got you, Wally!" M'gann called. The dust cleared to reveal Wally was floating a couple inches off the ground.

"Thanks," Wally said a little breathlessly once he was back on his feet, looking like he was regretting eating the burnt cookies after getting tossed around like a rag doll.

"I would have thought you had all learned your limitations by now," Mister Twister said as they stood to face him again.

"What do you want?" Kaldur demanded, stepping forward with narrowed eyes.

"Isn't it obvious?" Mister Twister called, rising in the air. "I'm waiting for a real hero," he goaded.

"Read his mind," Kaldur told M'gann. "Find a weakness."

"I thought I wasn't supposed to do that!" M'gann replied helplessly.

"It's okay with the bad guys!" Robin snapped with a glare.

M'gann closed her eyes. "Nothing. I'm getting nothing!" she exclaimed desperately. Suddenly, she gasped and said, "Hello, Megan! Mister Twister is Red Tornado is disguise!" Lark furrowed her brow. "He's inorganic, an android," M'gann explained. "And how many androids do you know that can generate tornados?"

"If that's Red Tornado," Lark started skeptically, "then it's Red Tornado on steroids."

"He is the one who sent us here," Kaldur argued weakly.

"After saying we'd be tested soon enough," Robin said slowly, putting the pieces together. "This is his test, something to keep us busy!" he exclaimed angrily.

"Speedy called it," Wally griped. "We're a joke." Kaldur punched his palm as his pale green eyes darkened thunderously, and the redhead finished, "This game, so over."

"Guys, I don't think that's Tornado," Lark tried to persuade. "His tornados are red, for one thing," she pointed out. "But secondly, his creator could have easily made another android to have the same abilities."

"Come on, Lark," Robin said, his voice unusually sharp toward his partner. "You don't really believe that, do you?"

Lark's eyes narrowed a little. "Yes, I really do," she insisted. "What's your problem, Rob?" she asked incredulously when the raven-haired teen just scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"Just never thought I'd see the day when you got the wool pulled over your eyes," he snapped, turning his back to her and marching toward Mister Twister.

Kaldur, Wally, and Superboy followed after Robin, the first two a little uncertain how to address the unusual tension between the two birds.

"We know who you are and what you want!" Robin yelled up at the android.

"So let's end this," Kaldur said with narrowed eyes.

"Consider it ended," Mister Twister said, and Lark knew if he had a face, he'd be smirking.

The android raised his arms in the air and two tornados erupted from them. Dark clouds started to form in the previously blue sky, and the wind picked up.

"An impressive show," Kaldur called, "but we will not indulge you! We will not engage!"

Lightning crackled in the sky, causing the hairs on the back of Lark's neck to rise.

"Uh, can Red Tornado do that?" Wally asked nervously.

"No, he can't," Lark snapped.

"You think I'm Tornado?" Mister Twister asked, sounding amused. "Ironic."

Lightning struck in front of them and everyone was thrown back.

For a moment, Lark blacked out. When she roused again, she heard Mister Twister say, "Fine then. I won't deny you children have power. But playing hide-and-seek with you would not help me achieve my objectives, so stay concealed. If you confront me again, I will show no mercy."

Hide-and-seek? Lark's muddled mind questioned as the evil robot flew away, taking the disagreeable weather with him. Concealed?

Slowly, everyone sat up.

"What happened?" Wally asked groggily.

"I placed the Bio-Ship between us," M'gann explained, glancing at the others nervously.

Superboy stood from the trench he had created and angrily punched a boulder to bits. "And that's supposed to make it right?!" he demanded with a glare. "You tricked us into thinking Twister was Red Tornado," he said, stalking toward M'gann as Lark, Wally, and Kaldur stood.

"And who fell for it?" Lark shot back, raising a challenging eyebrow at the clone. Superboy growled and stalked up to Lark, but she held her ground and didn't bat an eye at his proximity. When he failed to get the response he was hoping for (though he honestly wasn't even sure what that was), his eyes slid back to M'gann.

"M'gann did not intentionally mislead us," Kaldur spoke up, quickly stepping forward to keep Superboy from looming over the prone Martian.

"I-it was a rookie mistake," Robin defended weakly, turning to Superboy. "We shouldn't have listened." Lark scoffed at that, and if it had been anyone else, Robin would have given his best Batglare. Instead, he winced slightly behind his dark sunglasses, because he should have known better than to let his emotions cloud his judgement.

"You are pretty inexperienced," Wally said slowly. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and glanced at the ground. "Hit the showers," he said finally. "We'll take it from here."

"Stay out of our way," Superboy growled as he passed, glaring down at M'gann, who was still kneeling in the grass. He, Wally, and Robin hurried away.

"I was just trying to be part of the Team," M'gann said weakly.

"To be honest," Kaldur said softly, "I'm not sure we really have a team."

Lark shook her head as she glared after the others before sighing heavily and reaching down to help M'gann to her feet. "Aren't you going to join the boys?" the Martian asked weakly.

"Nah," Lark said with a small smile. "We only ever move with a plan. Robin should know better."

"I see," M'gann said as they climbed onto the Bio-Ship. Once they were seated, she said, "Maybe we should call Red Tornado and ask him to help us." Lark pursed her lips but nodded.

Their babysitter picked up immediately. "What has happened?" he inquired.

"We ran into the cause that triggered the emergency alert," Lark said as she stood beside M'gann. "A robot, calling himself Mister Twister. Guess what his powers are," she said rhetorically.

"And the rest of your Team?" Red Tornado asked.

"They ran ahead," Lark sighed. "Thought it was you in disguise."

"The Team really needs your help," M'gann said, a little desperately.

"If I intervened, it would not be to help," Red Tornado informed. "Still, it is an odd coincidence that this Twister shares my elemental abilities and my immunity to telepathy."

"Immunity to telepathy..." Lark repeated slowly, a thought coming to her. "Thanks, Tornado!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening behind her sunglasses. "We'll call back soon!" She waved her hand, ending the call with the red robot.

Turning to M'gann, the bird said excitedly, "If Twister is immune to telepathy—"

"Hello, Megan!" the Martian gasped. "That must mean there isn't a human inside the machine!"

Lark nodded slowly. "And if this android has the same abilities as Red Tornado, there's a chance it was created by the same person. If that's the case…"

"What if the creator wanted to draw out Red Tornado?" M'gann finished.

"That would make sense," the young bat nodded. "I mean, why attack Happy Harbor? It's just a quiet little coastal town."

"So we need a plan of attack," the Martian said, looking expectantly at Lark.

She thought for a moment. Finally, a slow smile crossed her lips. "If it's Red Tornado he wants, it's Red Tornado he'll get."

After explaining her idea to M'gann, they moved the Bio-Ship closer to the docks, where Mister Twister was fighting Superboy, Kaldur, Robin, and Wally.

{Listen to me,} M'gann said once she was in range of the others. {All of you.}

"What did we tell you?" Superboy roared up at the sky.

{I know!} M'gann exclaimed. {And I know I messed up, but now I'm very clear on what we need to do. Lark and I have come up with a plan. Please, trust us.}

After going through the plan with the rest of the Team, M'gann parked the Bio-Ship and she and Lark hopped off.

"We're not too far from the docks," the Martian said to Lark. "Are you going to be okay walking there?"

"Yeah, I'll make it in time," she replied with a smile. "See you there!"

M'gann smiled back and flew off, and Lark took off in a quick sprint, thankful not for the first time for all the cardio workouts she got running across rooftops in Gotham.

She arrived at the docks just as Red Tornado appeared. Lark remained crouched behind an overturned boat and waited for her cue.

"Hit the showers, boys," Red Tornado said as he landed in front of the Team. "I was hoping you could handle this. Clearly, you cannot."

"But we've got a plan now!" Robin exclaimed.

"The subject is not up for debate," Red Tornado said. The boys turned and walked away, Robin, Superboy, and Wally joining Lark in her hiding spot while Kaldur slipped into the water.

"I was beginning to believe you'd never show," Lark heard Mister Twister say.

"I am here now," Red Tornado said. After throwing a couple tornados back and forth, he said, "We are evenly matched, Twister."

"No, Tornado, we are not." Mister Twister sent arcs of electricity toward Red Tornado, who managed to dodge it until the bolt hit a boat's gas tank, causing it to explode. Red Tornado was thrown back and landed with a thud, and Mister Twister approached.

"Remain still, Robot," Mister Twister commanded as he stood over Red Tornado. He lifted his hand and five wires dropped from the tips of his fingers and attached themselves to Red Tornado. "The reprogramming won't take long."

Suddenly, Red Tornado lifted his hand and ripped out the wires. "Longer than you might think." His head had morphed into M'gann's, and Mister Twister stumbled back in surprise.

"No," he said, not wanting to believe it. M'gann raised her hand and blasted Mister Twister off his feet with her telekinesis. Behind him, a tornado appeared and tossed Mister Twister behind M'gann. The wind died down, revealing Wally.

Superboy instantly took advantage of Mister Twister's unstableness. He landed a few punches and then put his fist through the android's chest twice. With a final blow, Superboy released him and Mister Twister disappeared under the water.

A moment later, Mister Twister was thrown in the air again and he crashed onto the dock.

M'gann rose into the air and lifted the android, using her telekinesis to rip off his remaining arm. From behind her, Robin ran forward, throwing his exploding disks. They exploded in Mister Twister's chest and M'gann released him.

He fell with a thud and lifted himself so he was kneeling. Everyone stood before him, and Lark drew her grapple gun and fired it at the chest plate. Once the suction had stuck soundly, she gave the cord a sharp tug, causing the panel to pop off. It revealed a man sitting at controls, and he fell forward with a grunt.

"Foul," he said weakly. "I-I call foul."

M'gann stepped forward and then glanced to her side. She levitated a boulder and raised it above her head.

"M'gann, no!" Kaldur yelled in horror, rushing forward, but Lark placed a hand on his chest. M'gann lowered the boulder on the man.

Once Robin had gotten over his shock, he stormed up to the Martian and yelled, "Don't know how things are done on Mars, but on Earth, we don't execute our captives!" Rounding on his partner, he added angrily, "And you! Letting her crush him like a bug? Did you know she was going to do that?!"

Lark rolled her eyes. "C'mon, Robbie," she said. "Don't you trust me?" She nodded at M'gann, who shared the dark-haired girl's smirk as she lifted the large rock to reveal the broken parts…of an android. Where a flesh-and-blood man had been presumed to be was instead metal joints and sparking wires.

"That's why I couldn't read his mind," M'gann said.

"We realized no amount of metal in the world would have been able to shield a mind from M'gann's telepathic abilities," Lark explained, wishing she had her phone to capture Robin's priceless expression. "Which meant there was no human operating Mister Twister."

Wally stepped forward and picked up an eye. "Cool," he grinned. "Souvenir."

"We should have had more faith in you two," Kaldur said.

"Yeah," Wally agreed. "You rocked this mission. Get it? Rocked?"

"Ignore him," Robin told M'gann. "We're all just turbed you're on the Team."

M'gann gave a small laugh. "Thanks. Me too."

That night, they debriefed in the mission room. They had gathered the pieces of the robots, and they were now on a platform that had risen from the center of the practice ring.

"It was clearly designed to sabotage or destroy you," Kaldur said to Red Tornado.

"I'm leaning toward sabotage," Lark said, sounding deep in thought.

"What makes you say that?" Kaldur asked curiously.

"Based on what this android said," she said. "It was talking about a reprogramming. And since he was the 'bad guy,' I assume the reprogramming wouldn't have been good for R.T."

"Agreed," the metal hero said.

"Is that why you wouldn't help us?" M'gann asked.

"No," he said simply. "This was your battle. I do not believe it is my role to solve your problems for you. Nor should you solve mine for me."

"But, if you're in danger…" M'gann said slowly.

"Consider this matter closed," Red Tornado interrupted. He turned and walked away before any of them could argue.

"Batman, Aquaman, and Flash, they'd have jumped right in to fix things," Wally said sourly, watching Red Tornado's retreating figure.

"Guess if we're gonna have a babysitter, a heartless machine is exactly what we need," Robin muttered.

"Dude!" Wally exclaimed.

"Harsh," Lark scolded, raising an eyebrow at her brother.

"And inaccurate," Red Tornado informed. "I have a heart: carbon-steel alloy." He turned back to them. "I also have excellent hearing."

Robin gave a nervous chuckle as Wally winced on his behalf. "Right. Sorry," he said sheepishly. "I'll, uh, strive to be more accurate."

"And more respectful," Lark added pointedly. Red Tornado turned and walked away again.

"Speedy was so wrong," Wally grinned to Robin, Lark, and Kaldur as they walked down the hall that led to the kitchen and living room.

"This team thing," Robin continued.

"Might just work out," Kaldur finished with his own small smile.

Chapter 6: 3.1 - What's the Story/Fears

Notes:

I thought the comic with the Team camping trip was really cute, but the general Team response to Superboy's confusion bugged me, so basically Lark is responding as me.

Location: Mount Justice, Happy Harbor
Date: Sunday, July 18, 2010
Time: 2123 EDT

"Speedy was wrong," Wally grinned to Robin, Lark, and Kaldur as they walked down the hall that led to the kitchen and living room.

"This team thing," Robin continued.

"Might just work out," Kaldur finished with his own small smile.

"Which means: Team bonding time!" Lark declared. "Movie night?"

"Ooh, I'll get The List!" Robin exclaimed.

"And I'll start the microwave popcorn!" Wally chimed in. Both took off for the Cave's kitchen.

"List?" Kaldur asked once it was just him and Lark.

"Yeah," she nodded. "Rob and I started a list of the top movies we think Superboy should watch. Although..." She paused and tilted her head slightly as she stared at him, clearly deep in thought. Kaldur shifted a little under her intense, sunglassed gaze, but she looked away just as quickly as she had turned to him and finished, "you and M'gann might actually not know some of these movies, too."

"Movies?" M'gann asked, and Lark turned to see her and Superboy approach them. "Are we having a movie night?"

Lark nodded and smiled as M'gann grew visibly excited at the prospect.

"Ooh, with popcorn and sodas and chips and other snacks?" she asked with a wide grin.

"Knowing Wally, most definitely," Lark laughed. "Come on, before he eats himself into a coma."

"I didn't know that was possible," Superboy muttered and Lark snickered. He glanced her way and a flicker of a smile crossed his lips.

They arrived in the kitchen to see Wally a blur as he prepared bowls of various snacks, stacking boxes and bags of different candies and sweets, and in the microwave, the sound of popping corn could be heard.

Robin headed to the attached lounge area, perching on the back of the sofa while he consulted the holographic list he and Lark had compiled and added to over the previous ten days.

"We have plenty to choose from!" he said brightly, turning around to face the rest of the Team. "Superboy, any preferences?"

The black-haired teen shrugged as he sat on the large couch, and Robin scowled lightly at him as he had to hop out of the way.

"Anyone else?" Robin asked, glancing around at the rest of the Team.

"Ooh, how about a happy one? Like a musical!" M'gann requested as she floated the bowls and snacks to the large table in the middle of the sofas and chairs.

"No," Superboy said bluntly. "No singing."

"What's wrong with a little song and dance?" Lark questioned as she took a couple bowls of popcorn into the living room. She placed them on the round table in the center before dropping gracefully into the plush armchair beside Robin's.

"There's dancing, too?" Superboy asked dryly and Lark laughed.

"It's kinda a staple," she grinned.

"How about action?" Wally suggested as he zipped in from the kitchen and sprawled out on the loveseat across from Lark. "Action movies can have happy endings."

"Okay, what are you requesting?" Robin asked, turning to his best friend.

"How about...Fast and Furious!"

"No!" Lark said immediately while Robin groaned.

"Dude, you suggest those movies every time we get together!" Robin exclaimed.

"Not my fault they have my favorite speed in their title!"

"That doesn't even make sense," Lark said, clearly exasperated.

"Can we just start one?" Superboy called over the noise.

"Yes, yes," Lark nodded. "Someone call out a random number."

"Sixteen!" M'gann said.

From there, Robin pulled up the movie listed at number sixteen and after dimming the lights, started it up.

Everyone settled in for the impromptu movie night. M'gann sat hesitantly on the same sofa as Superboy while Kaldur took the remaining open seat, the comfiest armchair angled between the loveseat and large sofa.

After the first movie was finished, they agreed on another, and then another after that. Over the course of the evening, blankets and extra pillows were procured and shared among the teens, and eventually, everyone drifted to sleep in their seats.

Kaldur woke briefly in the middle of the night, and across the way he spotted Lark sleeping like a cat in her chair. He chuckled a little when he noticed both she and Robin had swapped their sunglasses for their masks, most likely to provide a more comfortable sleeping position while still protecting their identities.

As he settled into his own chair again, he wondered briefly if he would ever be privy to the identities of Batman and his protégés before his thoughts returned to Atlantis, or more specifically, one person in Atlantis.

---

Location: Wayne Manor, Gotham City
Date: Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Time: 2134 EDT

Bee-beep! Bee-beep!

Naomi exchanged a curious glance with Dick as she raised her hand to accept the call from the Team comm-unit.

"Wally has invited us camping!" M'gann said brightly.

Dick snickered, causing Naomi to roll her eyes at him. "Wally did, huh?" she said to M'gann.

"Yes!" the Martian said, oblivious to the obvious joy Dick was getting out of that little fact. "Are you interested?"

"Are you kidding?" Dick spoke up. "Of course! We'll head right over!"

"Great!" M'gann cheered. "See you in a few minutes!"

Naomi chuckled once she hung up with M'gann, while Dick's snickers grew into full-on cackles. "This is too good!" he gasped through his mirth.

"This is a little mean," Naomi corrected as Dick shut down Mario Kart and then jumped to his feet.

"I can't wait to see the look on his face!" he continued, skipping up to his room, Naomi following behind him.

Figuring she wouldn't be able to talk Dick into playing nice, Naomi just sighed and walked into her room, where she exchanged her summer dress for her standard Lark civilian-wear: dark jeans, a solid dark colored tank top, and her black leather jacket. She hooked her sunglasses into the collar of her shirt while she stumbled into the hall, still pulling on her boots.

As soon as Dick saw her, he took off for the Batcave. "Wait up!" she called after him, breaking into a sprint once her boots were on. She caught up as Dick reached the Batcave entrance in the game room: an old-school Pac-Man game pushed up against the wall.

Dick placed his hand flat against the side of the machine, which lit up under his palm. "Authorization recognized," the voice said as the game slid to reveal a circular elevator. He and Naomi stepped on and the metal gate slid in front of the entrance as they began to lower.

Dick bounced on his toes in anticipation, while Naomi ran her fingers through her hair to adjust the part.

When they reached Mount Justice, M'gann was eagerly waiting for them in the mission room with Superboy and Kaldur.

"Yay, we're all here!" M'gann said happily before flying down the hall. They finally caught up with her in the kitchen, just as Wally sped in, his arms full of camping necessities.

"—just the two of us?" he finished as he skidded to a stop, his face falling when he saw the others.

Robin smirked. "We're going to need a lot more stuff than that if we're gonna go camping!" he said.

"I hope you don't mind," M'gann said to Wally. "I invited all the others to join in the fun with the s'mores!"

"Oh...of course," Wally said, doing his best to not look too disappointed.

"Why don't we take this and you can meet us outside?" Robin suggested, reaching forward to take some of the supplies from Wally's hands.

"Right..."

"I'll help you, Wall," Lark offered. As she stepped forward, she jabbed her elbow in Robin's ribs.

"Ow," he muttered, sending her a glare, which she responded to with a raised eyebrow and a mouthed, Be nice!

When Lark and Wally found the others, a fire had been started, the tents had been set up, and M'gann and Kaldur were sitting on lawn chairs while Robin and Superboy sat on logs around the fire.

"Ah, finally!" Robin grinned, jumping to his feet to get some of the supplies from the speedster and his sister. "Hey, Supes, catch!" He tossed the clone the bag of marshmallows as Wally and Lark began passing out sticks for roasting.

"What do we do with this?" Kaldur asked as Lark handed him a skewer.

"You put a marshmallow on the end and then stick it in the fire," Lark explained. "You can roast it as long as you like."

Kaldur continued to give her a questioning look and she chuckled. "Here, I'll show you," she offered. "Rob, toss me the bag, will ya?"

Without looking back, Robin threw the bag of marshmallows over his shoulder and Lark easily caught it one-handed. She grabbed one of the giant fluffy blobs of sugar and stuck it on the pointy end of the skewer and held out the bag for Kaldur, who followed her lead.

"Now, come on," she said, grabbing his wrist and pulling him after her as she headed for the campfire.

He hesitated as they got close, and Lark glanced back. "You don't have to get too close," she assured, remembering that Atlantean physiology was susceptible to heat. Kaldur nodded slowly and then stopped short of the fire's warm glow.

Lark continued forward a few steps and sat on the grass. "Now you just stick the marshmallow in the flames," she said, glancing over her shoulder at Kaldur. "You can roast it lightly, like Wally does."

"Hey, it's not my fault the fire's too slow!" Wally exclaimed, his mouth already stuffed with a s'more and three more marshmallows ready to go on his roasting stick.

"Or, you can like it completely charred, like a barbarian," Lark said, raising an eyebrow in Robin's direction, who was just pulling his blackened, smoldering marshmallow from the fire.

"How do you like your marshmallows?" Kaldur asked curiously.

"Somewhere in the middle," she shrugged as she methodically turned her marshmallow. After a few minutes, once her marshmallow had reached the desired doneness, she pulled it out of the flames and held it up for Kaldur to see.

"Now for the fun part," Lark grinned, reaching for the graham crackers and chocolate. "I love dark chocolate, so that's my chocolate of choice for s'mores," she explained. "But you can also get creative! You can use Reese's peanut butter cups, or Andes mint chocolates, or really, whatever chocolate you like."

She proceeded to place a large square of dark chocolate on one graham cracker, then placed the hot marshmallow on top, before finishing it off with the last graham cracker.

"And you're done!" She held up her s'more with a grin before taking a large bite.

"L, stop hogging the chocolate!" Robin whined, and Lark rolled her eyes and threw the bag at his face. Of course, he caught it before it could hit his nose, but he still stuck his tongue out at her.

"Anyway," she said, turning back to Kaldur, "wanna try?"

The Atlantean nodded and held out his marshmallow. His distance from the flames, though, prevented him from reaching the fire. Lark chuckled and grabbed his wrist and pulled him forward enough so that the marshmallow actually reached the blaze.

Kaldur let out a little exclamation of surprise as he was yanked closer to her back. His right arm was now over her right shoulder as she continued to hold his wrist, and his chest was hovering over her back. She didn't seemed fazed or at all aware of Kaldur's predicament, but the Atlantean gulped nervously at the sudden proximity.

Wally and Robin caught the uncertain look in Kaldur's pale green eyes and the relaxed expression on Lark's face, and they shared an amused grin. Lark, as always, seemed completely unaware of the effect she tended to have on people.

Kaldur sighed in relief when his marshmallow finally showed signs of browning. He waited a few more moments before jerking back abruptly, causing Lark to glance over her shoulder questioningly at him.

"Um, I think it's done," he said. "Thank you for showing me."

"Of course," she smiled. "Who knows? Maybe you could show s'mores to a special someone back in Atlantis."

"Yes," Kaldur nodded, a soft smile crossing his lips as he began thinking about Tula.

He rejoined M'gann in a lawn chair a safe distance from the fire as Lark settled on the ground, her back against the log on which Superboy sat.

"This was a great idea, don't you think Wally?" Robin asked from across the fire from Lark as he roasted another marshmallow. "Camping in the great outdoors!"

"I don't remember inviting you," Wally grumbled around a mouthful of s'mores. "Besides, I didn't say anything about camping. I said a campfire. Big difference between just a campfire and the whole camping thing. I don't like camping...outside..." He glanced over his shoulder at M'gann. "Unless, of course, I'm camping with that special someone."

"Dude, kinda bordering on creepy," Robin muttered to Wally.

"Well, I think all of us camping is a wonderful idea!" M'gann said brightly, her eyes wide as she held a marshmallow in one hand and a stick with a s'more on the end in the other.

"She doesn't seem to think so," the speedster smirked back at Robin.

"She's probably on a sugar overload," Robin shrugged off and Lark gave a bemused, if slightly worried, smile as M'gann shoved another s'more in her mouth before levitating another stick full of marshmallows to the flames.

"Thanks to Wally, I get to try s'mores for the first time!" M'gann said, her mouth still full of the sweet treat.

"What can I say?" Wally said with a grin. "I'm a sweetie! Ha! Get it? 'Cause s'mores are sweet?"

"Wally, even the campfire got that," Lark deadpanned, biting into a square of dark chocolate.

"So, this is what you do when you go camping?" Superboy asked from behind Lark. "Sleep in these flimsy things called 'tents' and sit around the fire?"

"Yeah, that's pretty much about it so if you feel like heading home, I can sit out here with Miss M...alone," Wally tried.

Robin snickered. "You're about as subtle as a train wreck, you know that?"

"You're not going to catch any fish unless you go fishing, dude," the redhead retorted. Lark glanced up at Kaldur, who looked uncomfortable at the metaphor. She cleared her throat and Wally winced. "Sorry," he said. "No offense."

It didn't seem to make Kaldur feel any better, but Robin cut in and said, "No, usually you sit around the campfire and tell stories."

"Oh!" M'gann said, turning to the Atlantean. "I would love to hear your story, Kaldur! Could you tell us how you became Aqualad?"

"I was thinking more of a ghost story type of thing, but I guess...whatever," Robin shrugged. Lark silently thanked whatever higher being there might be that they skipped the scary stories. Dick, Wally, and Roy teased her all the time about being scared of ghost stories and scary movies when she fought some of the most terrifying villains as Lark, but something about it being in her imagination made spooky stories so much worse.

"Oh," Kaldur said, sounding a little surprised. "I suppose I could do that if you do not think it will be too boring."

"Not at all!" M'gann assured. "I would love to hear it!"

Kaldur cleared his throat and began: how he started his mandatory military service at age twelve, the transfer to the Conservatory of Sorcery in the capital of Poseidonis, the two years he spent there before an attack on Poseidonis which nearly saw the end of Aquaman, the intervention of Kaldur and his friend and fellow student Garth to aid their king with no thought to their own safety, how they were nearly killed at the hands of Ocean-Master before Aquaman was able to gather strength and defeat the ocean villain. The great burden on Aquaman's shoulders by being a king and leader underwater and a hero to many on the surface world, the inspiration of Lark and Robin and Speedy as apprentices to the heroes Batman and Green Arrow and the offer to Kaldur and Garth to become his protégés.

"Both Garth and I seriously considered the king's offer," Kaldur said. "Garth ultimately chose to continue his studies with Queen Mera at the Conservatory of Sorcery. For me, however, the chance to visit the surface world was a dream come true." A slightly wistful look came over his face. "So, at the age of fourteen, I became Aqualad. I miss my friends, of course, but the chance to work with my mentor and king was an opportunity I could not pass up. I like to think the work I am doing makes a difference."

Lark smiled at him. "It is," she confirmed. "It may not be obvious all the time, but it is."

Kaldur bowed his head a little in gratitude and finished, "The rest of the story you know. Aquaman brought Aqualad to the surface world...and now I am here with you."

"Wow," the green-skinned girl said in awe. "So you wanted to be Aqualad?"

"Yes," he confirmed. "The opportunity arose. I could think of no other path."

Looking over his shoulder at the Martian, Wally smirked. "Yeah?" he asked. "If you think he wanted to be Aqualad so bad, let me tell you about how I got started."

Lark and Robin shared a look over the fire and a sigh; every single time Kid Flash revealed his secret identity, he always told the story of how Kid Flash got his start. It was funny at first, but now it was just so predictable: the accident that turned Jay Garrick into the first Flash, young fanboy Barry Allen who recreated that accident, and then young nephew Wally West who discovered his uncle's secret.

"Does this sound confusing to anyone else?" Superboy asked after only a few minutes into Wally's story.

"Just let me finish and you will be confused no more, Supey!" Wally exclaimed. "So, having seen his journal just like he saw the previous Flash's, I try to re-create the experiment with my own chemistry set. And what do you know? I was able to do it!"

"The experiment actually worked?" Kaldur asked curiously.

Lark and Robin snorted as Wally said hesitantly, "Well...not at first, actually."

He went on for another few minutes finally reaching the end. "The Flash was beyond ecstatic! He couldn't contain his excitement!"

Lark rolled her eyes; Barry Allen had definitely not been overjoyed at Wally's new-found speed.

"It was the greatest day in the history of the world! Why, you ask?"

"Just for the record, we didn't," Robin retorted with a smirk.

"That's the day the world got Kid Flash!" Wally finished, ignoring Robin completely. He looked smug as he finished. "You. Are. Welcome," he smirked.

"Yeah, we're all thrilled you're so speed-capable," Robin snarked.

"What's the matter? Jealous?" Wally taunted.

"Sheeyeah, right!" Robin cackled. "Jealous of you?"

"Can you tell us about how you got started, Robin?" M'gann asked, and Lark wasn't sure if it was to break up the ego contest or because she was genuinely curious. Perhaps it was a little of both.

Wally burst out laughing before Robin could even open his mouth and the raven-haired teen scowled at him. Turning to M'gann, Wally mimed Batman's pointy-eared cowl and said, "Are you kidding me? Bats won't even let him tell you his real name!"

"Is that the same for you, Lark?" M'gann asked, looking at the girl in question.

Before she could reply, Wally laughed again and said, "You bet! I mean, you'll probably get a better origin story out of Supey over here!"

"But you already told me his story," M'gann reminded. "Didn't you? You said that the four of you rescued him from Cadmus."

"Yeah, we did," Wally agreed.

"Yes," Kaldur confirmed. "Chronologically, Superboy is only sixteen weeks old."

"And you have no memory of things before being rescued?" M'gann asked the clone hesitantly.

"I have some memories...from the G-Gnome," Superboy corrected. He stared into the fire and Lark stared at his profile, his expression distant. "It would teach me about the world outside while I was in the containment pod."

"So, you can remember things?" the Martian asked. "When you were in the containment pod, they would feed you information and you could remember it, right?"

"I guess so," he shrugged.

"Well, if you can remember what they taught you, you must've been thinking about things as they fed you information," she continued to prod. "What did you think about?"

Superboy was silent for a moment, and a humorless smile made his lip quirk slightly. "When I was in the containment pod," he said slowly, "I was fed...information. I really didn't start thinking for myself until after I got out."

M'gann looked at him intently. "Well, what kind of things do you think about now?"

This time, the silence from Superboy was longer and heavier, and Lark remembered what he had said to them when he stood outside their pods: his sole reason for existence, his sole purpose of being, was to be the only thing protecting the world from an unstoppable, an unbeatable force. The Man of Steel, the Big Blue Boy Scout, the Last Kryptonian. Superman.

"The one thing that's always on my mind," he said slowly, "...is...destroying Superman."

Silence settled over the campesite as Superboy stood and turned his back to the group. Lark saw Wally's green eyes go wide as Kaldur and M'gann looked on in shock. Robin remained unmoving, and Lark wondered what he was seeing.

"Rob," Wally said nervously. When he got no response from his best friend, he tried again. "Robin!" he yelled. "Did you hear what he said?!"

"Huh? What?" Robin asked faintly.

"Did you hear what Superboy said?!" Wally exclaimed.

"Wallace, take it down a notch," Lark hissed, scowling at the redhead. "To him, it's like you're screaming in his ear, and he doesn't need a reminder of what I'm sure he hated to admit out loud," she finished in a barely audible whisper.

"But he just said he wants to take down Superman!" Wally yelled.

Lark rolled her eyes and huffed at the speedster before turning to Superboy, who was clenching and unclenching his fists. She could see the way his muscles tensed, and she got to her feet before slowly approaching him.

"Are you serious?" M'gann asked quietly. "Superboy?"

"It's how I feel," he snapped. "Sometimes..." He sighed heavily and glanced over his shoulder. "What if that's why I was created?" he whispered. "What if that was the only reason I was created?"

"That's not possible!" M'gann said stubbornly.

"Yeah!" Wally agreed enthusiastically, quickly changing his tune. "Look at all the good stuff you've done so far!"

"What would be the possible reasoning behind this thinking?" Kaldur asked calmly.

"I just feel..." Superboy sighed harshly. "I don't know what I feel," he admitted. "Sometimes...thoughts happen."

"Those would be silly thoughts!" M'gann said brightly. "You should put them out of your head!"

Lark found herself scowling at M'gann's words, though she didn't turn around to face her or the others. She thought it was terribly naïve of the Martian to believe one could simply put thoughts out of one's head.

"Superboy," Lark said softly, reaching out and placing a tentative hand on his shoulder. "We don't think any less of you because of what you think."

"L, I hate to say it, but he has a valid point," Robin spoke up as Lark retracted her hand and then returned to her spot around the fire, though she kept her gaze on Superboy's back. "We really don't know anything about what they did to him yet."

"We know he's one of the good guys," Wally argued. "And we know he's part of this team!"

"In my world," Kaldur said, "actions speak louder than words. Superboy has proven his intentions with actions."

"Yeah!" Wally said brightly, speeding up to Superboy's side and handing him a s'more. "You put those thoughts outta your head, Supey! Here, have another s'more."

Superboy took the treat from Wally. "Thanks...everyone," he said slowly.

Lark stared at him for a moment longer, making a mental note to speak to Superboy once everyone was asleep. She could tell that the Team's insistence to simply forget those thoughts was eating at him, and it didn't really sit well with her either.

"Hey, what's with you?" Wally asked Robin as he rejoined the raven-haired teen, raising an eyebrow. "Not like you to zone out like that."

"I guess Superboy isn't the only one lost in thought tonight," Robin said, his voice still sounding distant, and Lark realized with all the talk of origin stories, Dick must've been remembering his own.

She groaned quietly to herself as her own memories came flooding back, uninvited.

Growing up with her mother and older brother in Gotham's Chinatown, only to be abandoned at the age of six.

Feeling unloved and unwanted even after being adopted by Arthur and Irene Williamson, who were kind and caring and gave her everything she wanted except for actual love and affection.

Having her world come crashing down again when she came home to find her new parents murdered in their home at the age of eight.

Then were was a man, the man of Gotham City: Bruce Wayne, the billionaire with a reputation, who swooped in and gave the girl her third home in eight short years. A kindly butler with a pleasant accent who gave her a room, who cooked the meals, kept the house, and did the chores. Because Bruce Wayne was never around.

And then learning Bruce's secret. That Gotham's White Knight by day was also the city's Dark Knight by night. How he had taken her under his wing in more ways than one, giving her the means to execute justice on the man who was responsible for the Williamsons' deaths, who while always busy with their own things, had taken her in and given her a home.

The pride and sense of right that had swelled in her chest as she watched that man be carted away, the man she had helped take down, and how she wanted to feel like that always.

The birth of Lark. The arrival of Dick. The expansion of her new family.

Wally's loud, "Three hundred?!" broke through Lark's thoughts, and she realized M'gann had started her own origin tale.

"Yes," M'gann replied as Wally leaned in close.

"Are they all hot girls like you?"

Lark's nose wrinkled in distaste while Robin smirked and drawled, "Wow. You are a class act."

"Dude!" Wally whispered, looking over his shoulder. "Three hundred girls that look like her? That's a planet I want to visit!"

"Well, half of my cousins are males," M'gann said slowly, "but yes, most Martians look very similar...mostly green, like myself," she added quickly, "and Uncle J'onn. But there are others with...differences.

"There are also Martians that are red and white," she explained, glancing at them nervously. "Some on my planet do not see the whites as equals.

"My parents were both green," she went on, "and I was raised in what you would call a 'liberal' type of environment. My family...I...had no issue with white Martians, but others were not as tolerant. And the treatment of the white Martians were especially horrible." M'gann looked sad, almost haunted, and Lark wondered what she had seen, witnessed, perhaps experienced?

"How did you happen to come to Earth?" Kaldur asked lightly, pulling a marshmallow off his roasting stick as he did.

M'gann went on to explain about the broadcasts the Martians had seen of the Martian Manhunter fighting for justice on Earth, how his return to Mars was partly because he had seen his fellow heroes take on protégés and he decided to introduce a young Martian hero to Earth. J'onn set up a contest to determine who he would bring to Earth with him, and M'gann, having fallen in love with Earth from all the broadcasts, was determined to be the winner.

"And I won!" she cheered. "The whole competition!" She spread her arms wide as she recalled the victory. "I was coming to Earth! This was the most exciting time of my life! Now I am here with all of you, and I am part of the Team! I truly love it!"

"We are happy you're here with us as well, M'gann," Kaldur smiled kindly.

"You can say that again!" Wally said brightly.

Robin stood and stretched, and Lark yawned widely. "Well, I don't know about you guys," he said, "but I think I've had one s'mores too many. I'm going to hit the old sleeping bag."

"Yes!" M'gann agreed. "This has been such a wonderful evening, but I am excited to sleep in a tent!"

"I'm right behind you!" Wally said immediately.

"Yeah, but you're sleeping in this tent, right over here," Robin smirked, grabbing Wally's arm before he could hurry after M'gann.

"Lark?" M'gann asked the dark-haired teen as she began gathering supplies.

"I'll be right there," she said with a small smile. "I just want to tidy up some." In truth, she wanted to speak to Superboy but noticed that Kaldur had hung back too, so she decided to stall.

"Okay!" the Martian said brightly before ducking into the blue tent.

When Lark returned from putting the supplies back in the Cave, she found Superboy, alone, still standing by the fire, staring blankly into the dying flames.

"Superboy?" she asked softly as she approached him.

He inhaled sharply like she had startled him from a dream and he raised his head to look at her, his blue eyes intense, but she didn't falter as she stepped closer to him.

"I know M'gann said to just put those thoughts out of your head," she continued in the same soft tone, "but I wanted you to know that no one expects you to brush off what happened to you so easily."

"But it's supposed to be easy, right?" he asked quietly.

Lark gave a dry chuckle that made Superboy turn to her in confusion. "No," she said with a small smile. "It's not easy to forget our origins, to forget what brought us to this point."

"But why not?" Superboy asked stubbornly.

"Because it reminds us where we started, it reminds us the reason we do what we do," Lark explained patiently. "It reminds us that there is still goodness around us, even when the world seems the darkest."

Superboy snorted. "That's easy for you to say," he grumbled. "You always knew you were supposed to be the good guy."

"But you thought you were the good guy, didn't you?" Lark countered softly. "In your mind, you saved the world. You were the hero. Just because the villain you were fighting turned out to be fake doesn't make you a fake."

He remained silent, but Lark could tell he was thinking about what she had said. She gave his shoulder a slight squeeze and him a slight smile before saying, "I'm planning on sleeping out here tonight; not often I get to lay under the stars. Just letting you know."

She turned toward the tents and grabbed one of the sleeping bags before returning to the fire. She unfurled the sleeping bag and lay on top of it on her back, hands clasped over her stomach, staring up at the stars through the trees. Lark heard Superboy shuffle about a few minutes later and heard another sleeping bag being unrolled. She didn't turn to look at him, but she smiled a little; hopefully, this was a steppingstone on Superboy's way to feeling like he truly belonged here.

Chapter 7: 4.0 - Drop-Zone

Notes:

I own nothing you recognize.

Location: Over the Caribbean Sea
Date: Thursday, July 22, 2010
Time: 2008 ECT

The six young heroes sat in silence as they flew over the Caribbean Sea. Miss Martian was at the captain's chair, as usual, and while Robin had taken the chair at the head of the ship, Lark sat in the back, behind Superboy.

She had wanted to talk to the clone about their little camping trip behind Mount Justice, to gauge where his thinking was now, but hadn't had the time; Gotham had required a couple late nights, which had inevitably led to sleeping until noon. And perhaps tonight was just going to be another all-nighter.

"We're approaching Santa Prisca," Miss Martian said finally. On the window before them, a holograph appeared, giving them stats of the island. Lark glanced at Robin and furrowed her brow when she saw the same little smile on his lips that had appeared when Batman had given them the assignment.

"Isla Santa Prisca," Batman had announced. An image of said landmass appeared on the screen. "The island nation is the primary source of a dangerous and illegal neo-steroid, a strength-enhancing drug sold under the street name Venom."

"Bane," Lark muttered distastefully.

"Yes," the Dark Knight nodded before changing the picture to show images of a factory and its stats. "Infrared heat signatures indicate his factory is still operating at full capacity, but all shipments of Venom have inexplicably cut off." He turned to them.

"That's where the Team comes in," he explained. "This is a covert recon mission only. Observe and report. If the Justice League needs to intervene, it will." Batman turned back to the screens, and another aerial view of the island popped up.

"The plan requires two drop zones." Two large red dots, marked A and B, appeared.

"So, who's in charge?" Robin asked, trying to be nonchalant, but Lark noticed he couldn't keep the anticipation out of his voice.

Batman and Red Tornado glanced at each other before turning back to the teens. "Work that out between you," the masked hero said. Robin nodded, but a smile crossed his lips all the same.

"Drop-zone A in thirty," Miss Martian said quietly, and Robin straightened in his seat but then frowned when he felt a pair of eyes on him. Turning, he caught Lark's gaze. He scowled at her before quickly turning away.

Lark sighed as Aqualad stood from his seat, the events that immediately preceded their departure for Santa Prisca flashing in front of her eyes.

Before they were scheduled to leave, Lark pulled Robin aside.

"What's up?" he asked curiously.

Lark was silent for a moment and she raked her fingers through her hair in frustration as she tried to figure out the best way to word what was on her mind. Finally, she dropped her hand and said, "You know you don't have to prove yourself, right?"

"What do you mean?" Robin asked, his head tilted slightly in confusion.

"I just mean..." She sighed and took his hand. "No one expects you to be leader right away," she explained, putting her hands on his shoulders and giving them a light squeeze. "Maybe you should let someone else step up, until you're ready."

Robin glared at his sister and shrugged off her hands roughly. "Oh, you mean someone like you?" he snapped. "Are you just here to tell me you think you should be leader over me?"

Lark huffed and rolled her eyes. "If you think that, you really are bird-brained," she scowled. "I don't want to be leader any more than Batman does!"

"What does Batman have to do with this?!" Robin exclaimed. "Did he put you up to this?" he suddenly demanded. "Does he think I can't lead the Team?"

"Argh, just shut up for a minute, Rob!" Lark said, clearly exasperated, but Robin was too angry to notice. "This is coming from me and me alone," she said. "I just think..."

"What?" Robin yelled. "Spit it out!"

"You're too young and immature to lead!" Lark shouted back. Robin's expression turned to shock as her words hit him and she sighed heavily as she calmed her breathing. "Look," she said softly, "you are amazing at what you do. You are a great hero and are on the path to becoming an amazing one in the future. But right now, you're only thirteen. In the missions we've had, you've disappeared, leaving the rest of the Team in the dark about what your plan was."

Robin opened his mouth to snap that she did that too during their unsanctioned mission to protect Selena Gonzalez, but she quickly added, "Not that I'm not guilty of doing that too. But I recognized the problem and made an effort to correct it. You haven't done either and a leader cannot leave his Team in the dark."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Robin snapped before turning on his heel and storming toward the hanger. Lark sighed and stared after her brother, wondering how she could have broached the subject better.

"Ready," Aqualad said, snapping Lark once again from her thoughts.

"Putting Bio-Ship in camouflage mode," Miss Martian informed before opening a hole in the bottom of the ship through which Aqualad entered the water below.

A few moments later, Aqualad's soft voice carried through the Bio-Ship. "Heat and motion sensors are patched," he informed. "Data is now on a continuous loop. Move in."

"Drop-zone B," Miss Martian said once they were over their designated location. Everyone stood, and Miss Martian created cables for Lark, Robin, and Kid Flash to hook onto.

"Lark?" Miss Martian said when the older bird failed to take the cable.

"Huh?"

"What's got you so distracted?" Kid Flash asked, and Robin glanced over, (vaguely) concerned despite their earlier argument.

"Nothing." She brushed off the speedster's concern with a small smile as she reached forward to take the line and hook it onto her utility belt.

Kid Flash didn't look convinced, not that Lark could blame him. He knew her and Robin pretty well, and he knew how in sync they usually were, so for there to be a chilliness in the Bio-Ship that originated from them, something must have been up.

She shook her head a little to clear her thoughts as Kid Flash attached his clip and pressed the lightning bolt symbol at the center of his chest. His bright yellow and red uniform turned to black and dark gray.

"How cool is this?" he asked, turning to Miss Martian and Lark.

"Very impressive," the Martian humored.

"Consider it Batman-approved," Lark chuckled when Kid Flash turned inquiringly to her.

Miss Martian one-upped the speedster, though, when she closed her eyes in concentration, changing her blue skirt and white top into a black one piece similar to Lark's with a red X across her chest and a dark blue hooded cape.

"Uh, that works too," Kid Flash said once Miss Martian was done. "Hey, Supey," he called to the clone, "not too late to put on the new stealth tech."

"No capes, no tights," Superboy grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. "No offense."

"Don't knock it 'til you try it," Lark smirked, flicking her own cape dramatically for emphasis.

"It totally works for you," Miss Martian sighed, spacing out and gazing at the clone. "In that...you can totally do good work in those clothes!" she added quickly when she realized what she had said out loud. Superboy stared at her blankly for a second before turning away, and when he caught Lark's gaze, she just chuckled a little. Miss Martian quickly pulled the hood over her head and went into camouflage mode, hiding the blush she couldn't keep off her cheeks.

Miss Martian opened a hole in the bottom of the Bio-Ship for them to drop through, and she flew down with Lark, Robin, and Kid Flash following closely behind on their cables. Lark glanced up once she was on the ground and quickly jumped out of the way, the others following her example. A moment later, Superboy landed with a thump that shook the ground beneath their feet.

He stood from the shallow crater he had formed. "Knew I didn't need a line," he said with a satisfied smirk.

"And yet, creating a seismic event may not have helped much with covert," Robin snapped from his spot at the base of a tree.

"We'll definitely have to work on your stealth skills," Lark commented dryly, leveling Superboy with a displeased look.

"Aqualad, Drop-zone B is go," Miss Martian informed Aqualad over the noise.

"Head for the factory," he responded. "I'll track your GPS and rendezvous ASAP."

"Roger," Robin said. Lark glanced at her partner and saw he pulled up a map of the island. Once everyone had confirmed their knowledge of their endpoint, he closed the holograph and they began their journey into the jungle.

After passing a waterfall and climbing up a short ledge, Superboy suddenly froze. "Did you hear that?" he asked no one in particular.

Lark shook her head, along with everyone else. "Uh, no," Kid Flash voiced for them all. "Wait, is that a super-hearing thing?"

"You do have great ears," Miss Martian told Superboy in the same dreamy tone she had used back on the Bio-Ship.

"Okay, Rob," Kid Flash said. "Now what?" He turned back to find Robin had disappeared. "Man, I hate it when he does that," he grumbled with a huff. Lark sighed and shook her head before pulling up her holographic map. Robin's red GPS dot appeared on the screen.

She took a step after him but stopped when Aqualad called over the comms, "Lark, Superboy, Kid, switch to infrared. See if you're being tracked." Kid Flash pulled his goggles over his eyes and Superboy began scanning the area. Lark switched her mask from night-mode to infrared.

"Got a squad of armed bozos incoming," the speedster informed.

"Two squads," Superboy corrected.

Lark looked between the two groups and added, "It looks like they'll reach each other before they find us."

Suddenly, gunshots echoed through the otherwise quiet jungle.

"No super-hearing required now," Kid Flash quipped.

"Swing wide, steer clear," Aqualad commanded.

"Y-yeah, just as soon as I find Rob," the speedster said, already taking a step foward.

"No!" Lark whispered sharply, lunging forward and managing to grab the redhead's arm before he could speed off. "No offense, but you don't exactly have stealth in the bag," she said. "I'll go and regroup with you."

"I'll only be a moment," he assured with a grin. "No need to worry about me, babe." After a wink, he took off and Lark cursed under her breath.

Sure enough, a moment later, the young heroes heard Kid Flash say, "Huh? Oof!" She shook her head as the tell-tale signs of a tumble down a hill followed closely.

The gunshots stopped and Lark took off through the trees, Miss Martian and Superboy following behind her.

"So much for stealthy," she caught Kid Flash mumble.

Immediately, both sides started firing again and Lark jumped into action. Two red-cloaked gunmen turned her way and with a flick of her wrist, two birdarangs sailed through the air to land in the barrel of their guns, causing them to drop their firearms.

Now that they were divested of their long-range weapons, Lark rushed them. Both men looked only slightly terrified by the charging bat, whose face was darkened with a frustrated scowl.

She was on them in a flash, ducking a punch to get under the Kobra goon's defense, jabbing him three times in quick succession in the solar plexus. He groaned and stumbled to the side, and while the second Kobra let his eyes follow his crony, Lark took the distraction to clock him across the jaw.

He reeled back in surprise but raised his fists quickly. Lark easily blocked his first few punches before ducking below a swing and sliding around him. Before the goon could turn around completely, she dropped into a crouch to sweep his feet from under him. He landed with a thud on the forest floor, his breath escaping in a rush. A birdarang landed beside his head and immediately, murky green smoke was released from the casing. The Kobra coughed and attempted to get away from the knock-out gas, but Lark planted a foot on his chest to keep him in place and after a moment, he stopped struggling against her.

Something came barreling behind her, knocking Lark to the ground, a heavy weight settling on top of her. With a grunt, she twisted enough to see her assailant: one of Bane's men. His arms were like vices around her, and he sneered down at the prone teen.

{Ah, I see Batman's little bird decided to pay Santa Prisca a visit,} he said in Spanish. {I wonder what fun we could have.}

Lark couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow as she replied, {I think you're forgetting the snake that's currently nesting on your turf.} It was enough of a distraction for her to snap her head the side, her skull connecting with the man's nose. He howled in pain and spat curses at her as he released his iron grip around her to clutch his bleeding nose.

As his weight shifted, Lark's leg lashed out and came in contact with his knee. Now completely free of the extra body weight, Lark sprang to her feet before quickly and swiftly knocking out the goon, who was still whimpering on the ground, one hand on his nose and the other on his knee.

She stood ready for another adversary when a shadow passed over two men. She glanced up, though she already suspected who was in the trees. Robin dropped from the foliage, landing behind the two goons.

"What is wrong with you guys?" he demanded angrily as he kicked one away. "Remember covert?" He threw an upper jab at the other and then turned to face the Team. "Why didn't you follow my lead, vanish into the jungle?"

"That's what you were doing?" Kid Flash exclaimed as he swung a punch. "Way to fill us in! We're not mind readers, you know," he pointed out. Behind him, Miss Martian took out three red-garbed figures with her telekinesis. "Er, I'm not, anyway," he amended.

"You told me I could only read the bad guys' minds," Miss Martian reminded as she turned to them, confusion written all over her face.

Lark rubbed her forehead as Robin rounded on her. "This is all your fault!" he accused, glaring furiously at her.

She gave him a look that clearly read I-can't-believe-you're-blaming-me-for-this-but-please-go-on-tell-me-how-I'm-responsible-for-this-mess.

"If you had helped me scout, we might have been back to the Team before Kid Stealth had a chance to screw up this covert op!"

"Hey!" Kid Flash snapped. "Don't drag me into this!"

"We're only in this because of you!"

"Oh, Christ," Lark muttered, exasperation dripping from her voice as she scrubbed her face roughly with her hands as a way to keep herself from lashing out. Dropping her hands, her frown settled on Robin. She didn't say anything further, but Robin found himself slumping just slightly under her gaze, which, while unreadable to others, was clear to him: she was disappointed in him.

She took a deep breath and opened her mouth to say something further, but she stopped and pulled out a birdarang when she caught sight of another red figure running on higher ground behind Robin. Lark drew back her arm to throw it, but before she could, Aqualad appeared from the trees in front of the fleeing Kobra. The Atlantean calmly placed a hand on the red-cloaked man's chest before his eel tattoos glowed. The man let out a strangled scream as electricity coursed through his body before he dropped like a fly.

Silence settled over them as Aqualad observed them from the higher ground. He took in Robin's tense posture, Lark's frown, Kid Flash's angry glare, and Miss Martian's and Superboy's slightly uncertain expression.

With a heavy sigh, Aqualad jumped down to their level, coming to a stop between Lark and Robin.

"We should restrain these men while they are unconscious," he said, looking between the Team.

The older bird moved first, grabbing a red-clad figure by his hooded cloak and dragging him over to a tree. The others followed her lead, and soon, they had the Kobra cultists tied to one tree and Bane's men tied to another.

"I recognize these uniforms," Robin said as he crouched beside Lark in front of the unconscious hooded men. "They belong to the Cult of the Kobra."

"I am certain Batman would have mentioned it if he knew a dangerous extremist was running Santa Prisca's Venom operation," Aqualad said.

"You're right," Lark nodded. "That's because there has been no chatter anywhere on the dark net about Kobra moving in on Bane's turf."

"Agreed," Robin said. "And since there's clearly no love lost between the cultists and those goons, Kobra clearly managed to sneak in and toss them out. That's why normal supply lines have been cut off," he finished, sounding pleased with himself.

"We get it," Kid Flash said. "Kobra wants super cultists. Mystery solved. Radio Bats and we'll be home in time—"

"These cultists aren't on Venom," Lark interrupted, standing from her kneeling position. "I mean, look. They're not bulked out or anything."

"Kobra's hoarding the stuff!" Robin exclaimed. "We don't leave," he proclaimed. "Not until I know why."

"Until you know why?" Kid Flash challenged, leaning down so his face was in Robin's.

"This team needs a leader," Robin snapped. Lark groaned under her breath as she moved away from the two arguing teens.

"And it's you?" the redhead asked sarcastically. "Dude, you're a thirteen-year-old kid who ducked out on us without a word!"

Robin laughed loudly in his face. "And you're a mature fifteen? You blew our cover first chance we got!"

Lark pinched the bridge of her nose. {God, you two are acting like children,} she mumbled to herself and Superboy was startled to realize he understood what she had said; what was that, Mandarin?

Aqualad glanced down at the dark-haired teen. Her eyes were trained on Robin and Kid Flash, her expression almost...disheartened.

"Has something happened between you and Robin?" he asked Lark softly. Her eyes snapped to him, looking like he had brought her out of her thoughts.

"What makes you ask that?" she asked, her gaze returning to her partner.

"There has been a certain...chilliness between you two since we left for this mission," Aqualad said.

Lark sighed and finally nodded. "I told him what I thought about our leader situation. He wasn't happy with me."

"I take it he wishes to lead," Aqualad stated and Lark nodded glumly again, her hair swishing against her jaw. "But you do not believe he is ready." She nodded once more.

"He's my brother and I love him, but he's only thirteen," she said. "He might be more mature than your average thirteen-year-old, but still, he's thirteen."

"I understand," the Atlantean assured, and he could tell Lark was relieved at least one person saw it from her point of view. "Have you considered the roll of leader yourself?" he asked, head tilted slightly. "You seem to be the type of person who could command attention."

Lark's lip twitched downward in a frown, just slightly, as she rolled Aqualad's words around in her head. She thought of Batman as family, like they were blood, but she saw what the life did to him, saw the walls he put up and the masks behind which he hid. She didn't want that kind of future for herself, but she couldn't pretend there wasn't something inside her that was a reflection of the Dark Knight. One of those similarities: the ability to lead, but not because she inspired those following her into action; rather, she had a commanding presence that demanded she be listened to, despite her small stature.

"What about you?" she countered lightly, making Aqualad think he just imagined her displeased expression. "You seem more even-tempered than me. I think you'd make a great leader."

"Perhaps," Aqualad said, but Lark could tell he didn't quite believe it.

Lark's ear twitched when she heard voices and she held up her hand to silence Aqualad before he could say another word. She brought her finger to her lips before inching her way toward the voices, tilting her head to listen in.

{Look at them argue!} one of the goons muttered in Spanish. {Free yourself and take them while they're distracted!}

{Quiet!} the white-faced man, who Lark immediately recognized as Bane, commanded. {For now, I play along. They'll give me what I need.}

The two finished speaking and Lark was brought back to the Team when she heard Kid Flash say loudly to Robin, "Yeah? You don't even have superpowers!"

"Neither does Batman!" Robin yelled back.

"Dude, you're not Batman," Kid Flash reminded.

"Dude," the young bird parroted, "closest thing we've got."

Bane chuckled and Lark approached him first. "Such clever niños," he said. "But you only know half the story. Let me show you the rest," he persuaded, "get you into the factory via my secret entrance."

Miss Martian knelt in front of him, her eyes glowing as she read his mind. "There is an entrance," she confirmed, "but he's also hiding something." Her eyes glowed again as she delved deeper.

"Uh, uh, uh, chica," Bane said in a chiding tone. "Bane is not that easy."

"Ugh," Miss Martian said, pulling away from Bane's mind. "He's mentally reciting fútbol scores en español," she grumbled. "This could take a while," she said, turning to the Team.

"It's not complicated," Bane smiled. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

Lark marched away from Bane, the others following. Once they were a safe distance away, she muttered, "I don't trust him as far as I can throw him."

"He has knowledge of the island that could help us," Miss Martian pointed out.

"There's nothing he could know about this island that the Batcomputer doesn't know already," Lark hissed, glaring at Bane suspiciously. "It's not like Batman's never been here before."

"We do not have a choice," Aqualad said firmly. "We go along with Bane...for now." Lark's eyes remained narrowed, but she nodded once in understanding.

She pulled a kunai knife from its sheath at her thigh and knelt beside Bane to cut his ties. The man next to him leered at her and she punched him without a second thought or glance. He cried out in pain as her fist connected with his jaw.

{Why, you little bit—!} he exclaimed in Spanish.

She turned on him in a flash, the whites of her mask narrowed into slits as she gave him a Batglare. {Finish that sentence,} she growled. {I dare you.}

The man gulped and held his tongue. Satisfied she wouldn't get any more trouble from him, she returned to cutting Bane loose.

Once his bonds were loosened, Lark gave him a warning glare before she stood and turned on her heel, her dark cape snapping behind her. She might not have been nearly as tall as Batman, or as physically strong, but those on the Team who weren't familiar with her were certainly impressed such a small teenager was able to intimidate men much larger than herself so well.

"Vamanos," Bane said with a grin, and he took off into the trees. Lark, refusing to stand anywhere near him, let the others file in front of her, and she and Superboy took up the rear.

Superboy cast glances at Lark as they hiked through the trees, and finally she sighed and turned to the clone. "If you're going to say something, spit it out," she said, though not unkindly.

A small smirk crossed his lips as he said, "I don't think I've ever seen a grown man so scared of a teenaged girl before." A dark look clouded his eyes as he muttered, "Well...you know what I mean."

"Perk of being a Bat," Lark said lightly, politely overlooking Superboy's obvious fury at himself for the slip of the tongue. "I've been training in the art of intimidation of years now."

"How long is that?" Superboy asked curiously.

This time, the dark cloud passed over Lark's face. "Since I was eight."

"Eight?" the clone repeated, clearly shocked. "You've been doing this for half your life?"

"How'd you know I was sixteen?" Lark muttered, and though Superboy heard it, he figured she hadn't really meant for him to hear. In a louder voice, she said with a nod, "Yeah, I guess it has been that long."

"Why?" he asked simply, but the question was a heavy one, and he knew it.

"Most powered individuals become heroes because they fell they have a duty to use their abilities for good," she explained after thinking for a moment. "But the thing that makes a normal human being like me or Robin or Batman become heroes is usually not so...altruistic."

"Then why do you do it?"

"Tragedy."

Not able to come up with a good response, Superboy remained quiet, and they returned to walking through the humid jungle in silence.

After hiking for several miles, they finally reached a cliff that overlooked the factory. Bane stopped there and let the Team step forward. Robin lifted binoculars to his eyes and Lark pulled her own pair out of her utility belt.

"Look at all that product," Robin muttered, watching as a Kobra cultist drove a forklift with three more armed Kobras walking beside it.

"This doesn't make any sense," Lark said, her eyebrows furrowed. "The buy's going down, but the amount of product obviously isn't decreasing."

"If Kobra's not selling to the usual suspects, then—"

"We need to identify the buyer," Aqualad finished for Robin.

"Just what I was thinking," Kid Flash said, placing his goggles on his head.

"Yeah," Robin said with false brightness. "You're the thinker."

"Sarcasm?" the speedster questioned. "Dude. A real leader would focus on getting answers."

"Enough," Lark said sternly. "This isn't helping us."

Robin shot her a glare before stalking off, leaving Lark sighing after him as Kid Flash glanced between them uncertainly.

Bane grunted behind them as he lifted a boulder that was blocking an entrance in the side of a hill, drawing everyone's attention to him. He tossed it aside and said, "Answers are this way."

He entered the tunnel and Kid Flash scoffed. "So now El Luchador is our leader." Robin gave him a shove and followed Bane, the others filing in after them.

They eventually reached a metal door, and Bane touched his thumb to a small button. The door beeped and then slid open for them. They walked down a short hallway before reaching another door.

Bane opened it slowly and peeked inside. Robin ducked forward and stuck his head through as well, looking around. "All clear," he whispered, and he dashed forward.

"Robin!" Lark hissed, lunging forward to seize him by the cape, but she was too late.

By the time they entered the main floor, Robin had already disappeared. "Has that little fool already been caught?" Bane questioned, looking at the Team.

"No," Aqualad said with a sigh. "He just does that."

"Perhaps I should go after him," Lark muttered to the Atlantean. Thinking about the dynamic between the two, he nodded, figuring perhaps Lark would have a better chance to convince Robin to start participating as part of the Team.

Lark took off immediately, knowing exactly where Robin was going. She joined him as he was alleviating a knocked-out Kobra of his chair. The younger bird proceeded to sit in the newly vacated chair and set to work on the computer.

"What are you doing here?" he snapped, sparing Lark the briefest glance over his shoulder as she joined him.

"You know exactly why I'm here," Lark said softly, her tone making it evident she wasn't looking for a fight. She sat in the chair beside Robin. "You disappeared, for the second time this mission."

"What about you?" Robin countered harshly, not looking away from what he was doing on the computer.

"I told Aqualad where I was going," she explained in the same soft tone, her eyes never leaving his face.

"Oh, so now I need a babysitter?"

"Rob—"

Lark was cut off when Kid Flash came speeding into the room, coming to a halt behind them. "What've you got?" the speedster asked.

"Chemical formulas," Robin answered, and Lark's eyes finally went to the computer screen on which Robin was working. "I'm guessing it involves Venom, but..." He trailed off, uncertain of his findings."

Kid Flash took a large bite from his energy bar as he leaned between Robin and Lark. "This one's Venom," he agreed through a mouthful of food as Robin enlarged the image of Venom's chemical bond. A second bond appeared beside the first and Lark gasped, leaning in closer to see.

"Oh my God," she said. "Is that—"

"The Blockbuster formula from Cadmus," Kid Flash finished with a grave nod. With the next few keystrokes, the chemical bonds on the screen merged and rearranged itself into a hybrid bond. Other stats appeared on the screen, and Lark wasn't sure if they were purely hypothetical, or if they were the results of a successful test.

"Mixed correctly, Kobra's new juice is three times stronger than Venom...and permanent," the redhead continued.

"But how the hell did Kobra get his hands on this Blockbuster formula?" Lark asked, mostly rhetorically, but an answer was already starting to form in her head.

Robin voiced her answer out loud as he glanced between her and Kid Flash. "Our mystery buyer must also be Kobra's supplier!"

Lark nodded as she continued to study the screen. "They used the Cult to combine the two chemicals, creating a Blockbuster-Venom super formula," she realized before she and Robin got to their feet.

"Robin to Aqualad," the raven-haired boy said as he pressed his comm-piece. "We got..." Lark winced a little as all she got was feedback on her end. "...static."

"Come on, we need to regroup," Lark said, taking a step toward the door.

"Not until I download everything I can!" Robin argued, pulling out the cable in his glove and hooking himself up to the computer.

"One step ahead of you." He turned and saw that the monitor next to his had been unlocked. The home screen appeared identical tho the one he had been using, but when he turned back to Lark, he saw she had a USB in her hand. When she had started the downloading process, he wasn't sure.

"Now, let's go."

Robin scowled but ran to the door anyway. He barreled past Lark, Kid Flash on his heels, leaving the older bird to sigh before hurrying after them.

Gunshots suddenly echoed in the warehouse, followed closely by a loud crash, and the three young heroes skidded to a stop on one of the catwalks that crisscrossed high above the ground.

Below them, Bane had engaged several of the Kobra cultists, while a giant creature that Lark could only surmise was the result of the Super Venom formula landed in front of Aqualad and Superboy. Miss Martian was nowhere in sight, and Lark hoped she was safely camouflaged and not in danger.

Kid Flash immediately took off to join the two powerhouses of their Team, but Robin paused, the villainess Shimmer catching his eye outside. He smirked and vanished without a word. Lark grumbled under her breath but followed Kid Flash, knowing there was no talking Robin out of what he had planned.

She swung from the catwalk on her grapple gun and barreled feet-first into a red-cloaked goon, knocking him and the cultist behind him down like dominoes. She hit the ground running, ignoring the gunshots behind her and instead focusing on the three Kobras that had started running in her direction.

Lark pulled out her crescent-shaped birdarangs and in a flash, they landed in the barrels of the guns. They quickly tossed them aside before suddenly being thrown backward by an invisible force, and Lark guessed it was Miss Martian.

Those three dispatched, Lark made her way toward Aqualad, but not before another Kobra ran toward her. The young bat made quick work of her, feinting to the left before taking the opening to knock the Kobra out with a solid punch on the right. More gunshots rang out and she and Aqualad took refuge between two large vats just as two more Kobras came forward, but Kid Flash zipped past them and kicked them away. Three more appeared on the catwalk above, and the redhead ducked out of the way of the bullets.

Lark threw several smoke bombs in the air and the Kobras stopped shooting as they began coughing. She jumped into action, using her grapple to swing up to the catwalk. She landed behind the three Kobras, who were completely unaware of the silent bird creeping up to them.

Cupping her hands, she clapped them on the ears of the Kobra in the middle. He gasped at the uncomfortable pressure that was forced onto his eardrums, and Lark took that time to disarm him. Swinging the gun, the butt came across the second Kobra's jaw and he dropped with a cry of pain.

Whirling around, she found herself looking down the barrel of the last Kobra's gun. The trigger was pulled, and below them, Kid Flash yelled out Lark's name in alarm, his emerald-green eyes wide in horror.

He needn't have worried, though, because even though Lark hadn't been able to move fast enough to dodge out of the way, a shimmering black wall had materialized in front of her, stopping the bullets in their path and causing them to drop harmlessly to the catwalk. The Kobra's eyes were wide in surprise, and Lark quickly knocked her out before rejoining Aqualad on the ground, the Kobras' discarded weapons in her arms.

"Holy shit!" Kid Flash exclaimed as he sped over to them. "I thought you were a goner for sure!"

Lark rolled her eyes, glad they were covered by a mask to hide her own shock at what had just happened. "Thanks for the vote of confidence," she said before adding, "Now, care to help me with these?" She passed a gun each to the two young heroes, and one was easily crushed with Atlantean strength and the other disassembled in the blink of an eye by the speedster. The last Lark handled herself, and it was expertly dismantled before the pieces were tossed away.

"Miss Martian," Aqualad called out, "radio is jammed! Link us up!"

{Everyone online?} the Martian's voice asked in Lark's head.

{Yeah,} came Superboy's grumbled response.

{You know it, beautiful,} Kid Flash grinned.

{Not now, Kid,} Lark said dryly, giving him a Batglare Lite.

{Good,} Aqualad said, ignoring the two beside him. {We need to regroup.}

{Busy now,} Robin said, and Lark's eyes narrowed.

{Robin, now!} Aqualad commanded, and Lark was pleasantly surprised to see Robin finally came into view a moment later. {Strategic retreat,} he instructed once Robin joined them. {Kid, clear a path.}

Kid Flash ran forward and the five Kobras shooting at the Team were knocked down. Everyone took off after him. They headed for the door from which they had entered, and once they reached the metal door that led to the tunnel, Superboy closed it behind them. They didn't pause before sprinting toward the exit, and a loud crash echoed behind them.

"Superboy, the support beams!" Aqualad called over his shoulder. The clone hung back and let the Team pass before punching the wooden posts that helped keep the tunnel from caving in. Instantly, there was a rumbling as the dirt and rocks began to collapse behind them.

Finally, Aqualad called a halt and Lark skidded to a stop. She pulled out a super-powered glow stick from her utility belt and cracked it, bathing the dark tunnel in red light. She sighed heavily and leaned forward, bracing her hands on her knees as her hair formed a short curtain around her face. If it weren't for her extensive training with Batman, she would have been extremely winded; as it was, she was a little short of breath, which she chalked up to the run and the extra adrenaline that coursed through her veins.

"How could my first mission as leader go so wrong?" Robin inquired, sounding perplexed. Lark frowned at her partner and opened her mouth to say something, but Aqualad beat her to the punch.

"You do have more experience than most of us," he said, keeping his eyes steady on Robin as the younger bird's eyes flashed to his partner, "but perhaps that is exactly what has left you unprepared. Fighting alongside Batman and Lark, your role is defined. The three of you do not need to talk.

"But this team is new," Aqualad continued, "and a leader must be clear, explicit. He cannot vanish and expect others to play parts of an unknown plan."

"Oh, so I'm supposed to hold everyone's hand?" Robin snapped, whirling around to face them, but he sighed and seemed to deflate a little. "Ah, who am I kidding?" he mumbled. He looked up at Aqualad. "You should lead us, Kaldur," he said. "You're the only one who can."

"Please!" Kid Flash scoffed. "I can run circles—"

"Kid," Lark cut across tiredly. He caught her masked gaze and she quirked an eyebrow, challenging him to continue.

"Come on," Robin said quietly to the redhead. "You know he's the only one. We all do."

"Hello, Megan!" Miss Martian said. "It's so obvious!"

"Could have told ya," Superboy said gruffly, crossing his arms over his chest, but Lark caught a small smile cross his lips.

She didn't say anything, but she nodded and gave Aqualad a warm smile. She glanced to her side and stared at Kid Flash. He finally shrugged and grinned. "Okay," he said.

Aqualad walked foward to Robin and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then I accept the burden until you are ready to lift it from my shoulders," he said.

The young bird glanced over Aqualad's shoulder to his partner. "You really don't want to lead?" he asked curiously. He had assumed she had just said that to appease him because she knew how furious he had been at her.

"I really don't want to lead," she repeated with a small smile. "It's all yours when you're ready."

"You were born to lead this Team," Aqualad agreed. "Maybe not now, but soon." Lark saw Robin's lip curl in the corner, and he nodded.

"All right," their newly appointed leader said, stepping back to address the Team again. "Our first priority is preventing that shipment from leaving this island."

"Funny," Robin said, crossing his arms and smirking. "I had the same thought." Lark rolled her eyes and gave Robin a little shove as they stepped forward to complete the circle. Robin scowled at his partner but finally cracked a tiny smile, which she reciprocated happily.

"We need to know exactly what we're facing," Superboy started.

"We found something," Lark spoke up, gesturing between herself, Robin, and Kid Flash.

"Venom and Blockbuster, combined to form a Super Venom," the younger bird explained.

Kid Flash nodded. "And it's three times as strong, and appears to be permanent," he added.

"And we saw Sportsmaster," Miss Martian said. "He certainly seemed friendly with the Kobra members."

"Sportsmaster should be our priority," Lark said, glancing to Aqualad for approval. "We can't let him leave the island with this new Venom."

"Then Superboy and Miss Martian, your job will be to keep Sportsmaster grounded," Aqualad nodded. "Lark, Robin, and Kid Flash will keep the Kobras off you. I will keep Mammoth busy."

"Mammoth, huh?" Lark asked as they took off down the tunnel again. "Catchy." Aqualad just chuckled.

"Sportsmaster's the supplier-slash-buyer," Robin reiterated as they raced through the tunnel. "But it still doesn't track," he huffed. "He doesn't have the juice to acquire the Blockbuster formula, or to get Kobra to do his dirty work."

"And neither of them has the chops to bond Blockbuster with Venom," Kid Flash added. "That took some major nerd-age."

"They must have a common benefactor," Lark frowned. "But who? And why?"

"I believe the expression is 'tip of the iceberg,'" Aqualad said, coming to a sudden halt at the tunnel entrance.

Lark peered around Aqualad and saw Bane standing before them, something clutched in his hand. He let it drop to the ground, which was already littered with empty vials. Lark looked up at Bane again, and by his buffed muscles, she could only assume he had just injected himself with his original Venom formula.

"Halt, niños," Bane commanded with a devilish smile. "I'm feeling...explosive." Lark heard a faint beeping and she glanced up to find multiple bombs rigged to the last set of support beams.

"Aren't you a hoot," Lark commented dryly, glaring venomously at Bane.

"You betrayed us," Aqualad said, his eyes wide in surprise. "Why?"

"I want my factory back," Bane said with a shrug.

{Kid,} Aqualad's voice whispered in their heads, {you'll need a running start.} Lark made a point to step forward as if to charge Bane as a cover for Kid Flash as he slipped into the shadows, and Aqualad caught her by the upper arm to keep up the appearance of holding her back.

"So, I forced you into a situation where you would either take down my enemies or die trying," Bane continued blabbing. "If the latter, the Justice League would certainly have come to avenge their sidekicks."

"We're not sidekicks," Robin muttered angrily.

"And when the smoke cleared," Bane persisted, "Santa Prisca would be mind once more. Blowing the tunnel with you inside," he said, lifting his hand to reveal the trigger that would activate the bombs, "should have the same effect."

He lowered his thumb as if to press the trigger, but nothing happened. His eyes widened in surprise when the bombs failed to detonate and he stared disbelievingly at his empty hand.

"With what?" Kid Flash called from behind him. Bane turned and found the speedster leaning casually against a tree. "This trigger thingy?"

Bane yelled in anger and swung his fist, but his yell of outrage quickly became one of surprise as he was thrown back and then hefted into the air by Miss Martian. Lark stepped forward with the others.

"Finally," Superboy said with a smirk, standing next to the Martian. "Drop him." She released her telekinetic hold on Bane and he fell to the Earth, right toward Superboy's waiting fist. Once he was tied up again, the Team hurried down to the factory.

Once they got closer to the clearing, Kid Flash sped ahead and knocked out a handful of the Kobras before they knew what had hit them.

"Take the shipment!" Lark heard Lord Kobra yell at Sportsmaster as she jumped into action. She disarmed two Kobras with her birdarangs and dodged another one's wild swing. While the Kobra was doubled over by his momentum, Lark vaulted over him and kicked another in the chest, sending him stumbling back into a third.

"Souvenir." Lark glanced up to see Kid Flash holding a Kobra mask with a proud smirk. Behind him stood Lord Kobra and Shimmer. A bolo suddenly wrapped itself around the slender villainess and she staggered back a few steps in surprise.

Lark appeared behind her and tapped her shoulder. Shimmer did her best to whirl around with her upper body still wrapped up, and Lark smirked and said, "Good night," before drawing back her fist and knocking her unconscious.

Two strong arms suddenly wrapped around her chest, trapping her arms by her side. She was yanked away from Shimmer and Robin, her captor easily lifting her off her feet. Lark grunted and threw her head back, which resulted in the unmistakeable sound of breaking cartilage. The Kobra's grip loosened in surprise and he took a step back with a cry of pain, allowing Lark to break free completely. He continued to wail about his broken nose, and Lark rolled her eyes and turned her back to him.

"I know you hate getting your hands dirty," she heard Robin remark as he got into a fighting stance in front of the cult leader.

"True," Lord Kobra admitted, narrowing his eyes before dropping his robe. "But sometimes even a god must stoop to conquer."

Lark's attention was drawn from the ego factory and the bird as she ducked under a swing by a Kobra. She kicked him back and then stepped on his thigh to bring her knee to his chin. As he fell back, Lark backflipped away and landed soundly on the balls of her feet. As another rushed forward, Lark stayed low and charged him, catching his solar plexus with her shoulder and then tackling him to the ground, where she quickly knocked him out with a punch.

Jumping to her feet, she stood ready for another attack but found all the Kobras down, except for one.

"I am plagued by mosquitos."

Lark's eyes narrowed when she saw Robin was flat on his back with Lord Kobra standing over him, stepping down on his chest.

"Good," Robin grunted. "'Cause this mosquito's mighty concerted over your pain!"

She smirked proudly when Robin managed to throw off Lord Kobra's foot and she squeezed his shoulder briefly when he joined her and the rest of the Team to face the pale-skinned man.

Lord Kobra stared at each of them, weighing his chances. Finally, his lip twitched and he said, "Another time, then," before backing into the trees. Robin hurried forward and parted the ferns through which he had disappeared but turned away with a scowl.

When he returned to the Team, he looked at Aqualad with a smile. "Well, we picked the right guy to lead," he said. He walked up to their leader and then said deviously, "Automatically making you the right guy to explain this mess to Batman!" He turned to the burning factory and threw open his arms before doubling over with laughter.

Lark rolled her eyes at her partner's glee and gave Aqualad a reassuring smile. "Don't listen to Bird Brain," she said. "You did good."

"Thank you for your vote of confidence," Aqualad said, looking relieved to have at least one bat on his side.

"Now, come on, leader," she smirked. "Time to face the Bat."

Aqualad groaned quietly as the Bio-Ship appeared overhead. It settled gently on the ground in front of them and once the ramp lowered, they entered.

---

Location: Mount Justice, Happy Harbor
Date: Friday, July 23, 2010
Time: 1001 EDT

"A simple recon mission, observe and report." Batman didn't sound happy. The six members of the Team had been summoned to the mission room as soon as they reached Mount Justice and found a glowering Batman standing there, waiting for them.

"You'll receive a written evaluation detailing your many mistakes," he said sharply, walking down the line in front of them. He turned once he got to the end of the line. "Until then," he started, "good job."

Lark had been looking at her feet, but when she heard Batman say Good job in a surprisingly soft tone, she snapped her head up to look at him.

"No battle plan survives first contact with the enemy," Batman explained. "How you adjust to the unforeseen is what determines success," he said, turning to walk away. "And how you choose who leads determines character."

Once he had disappeared, Lark breathed a sigh of relief and then let out a shaky laugh. "We survived our first mission," she said.

"And the wrath of Batman," Wally added, looking equally relieved.

"That was nothing," Lark and Robin said together, and they glanced at each other briefly before turning back at the Team.

"You should have seen Bats the first time we snuck out to patrol the city by ourselves!" Robin grinned.

Lark groaned. "Ugh, don't remind me," she said, though a small laugh escaped her lips anyway. "Talk about a silent Batcave."

Wally yawned widely just then. "Man, I could use some sleep."

"That is a good idea," Kaldur nodded. "We have all been awake for hours, now."

"Don't need to tell me twice!" Wally said. "See you guys later!" He zipped to the Zeta-Tube and waved as he disappeared.

Lark hung back and Robin glanced over his shoulder when he realized she wasn't with him. "L?" he called.

"I'll be right there," she said, deciding she was at the Cave and might as well approach Superboy. "There's something I want to take care of first."

Robin nodded, a little confused, but stepped into the Zeta all the same. Lark gave Kaldur a small wave before jogging after Superboy and M'gann.

She caught up with them in the hallway, presumably on their way to their bedrooms. M'gann looked surprised to see the dark-haired teen, but Superboy merely looked curious as to why she was there.

Lark offered M'gann a small smile before turning to Superboy. "Can I talk to you for a sec?" she requested.

Superboy shrugged and nodded. Lark gave M'gan another small smile as she and the clone began walking in the opposite direction, and the Martian returned the smile, though it was a little tense as the green-skinned girl wondered what was so important it couldn't wait until they saw each other next time. Or, at least that's what she told herself. She was not tense because she was jealous of Lark's ease around Superboy, and Superboy's apparent ease around Lark.

Once she was sure M'gann was out of earshot, Lark stopped and said to Superboy, "I just wanted to talk to you about the other night, when we all went camping."

Superboy tensed at the mention of that night, the night he had admitted he always thought about defeating Superman.

"Nothing bad, I promise," Lark said quietly with a soft smile, noticing the slightly distressed look in Superboy's eyes. "I just wanted you to know that I'm always here if you feel like talking about…anything, really," she said. "I obviously know nothing about what you went through, and are going through, but I've been told I'm a good listener, so if you ever wanted a nonjudgmental ear, I'm here for you."

That put him at ease, at least fractionally, and he managed a tiny smile. "Thanks," he said slowly, and a little unsurely, and Lark smiled back. She put a comforting hand on Superboy's upper arm and gave it a brief squeeze before heading toward the Zeta-Tube.

When Naomi appeared in the Batcave, she found Dick waiting for her, already de-masked. He was spinning in a chair idly but stopped when the Zeta announced Lark's arrival. They stared at each other for a moment before Dick said, "I'm sorry for how I acted."

Naomi nodded as she approached him. "I just…it felt like you were doubting my ability to lead," he continued. "But I see now what you meant, about me not being ready."

"I'm glad," Naomi said, relief clear in her voice as she pulled up a chair next to him. "I do believe you will make a fantastic leader, but just not yet."

Dick nodded and stared at his fingers, which were clasped in his lap. Naomi reached over and grasped both his hands in hers, and when he glanced up at her, she smiled gently and said, "I love you and believe in you, always."

He returned the smile, squeezing Naomi's hands slightly. "Always."

Notes:

This is one of my favorite chapters so far. I dunno, I'm just having such a great time writing Lark and Robin's sibling dynamic, as well as diving more into Lark's character.

Chapter 8: 5.0 - Schooled

Notes:

I own nothing you recognize.

Location: Wayne Manor, Gotham City
Date: Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Time: 0548 EDT

Naomi startled awake. She blinked slowly as she tried to remember what had awakened her, but nothing came to mind. She turned on her bedside lamp and squinted as the light flickered on, and through sleep-bleary eyes, she looked at the clock on her bedside table. It was early; too damn early. Maybe she could get a couple more hours of sleep.

Unfortunately, after only a few minutes, she turned on the lamp again with a frustrated huff, sleep evading her. Naomi rolled out of bed and padded into her bathroom, where she brushed her teeth, washed her face, and tied back the hair that was long enough into a tiny ponytail.

She checked her notifications as she headed downstairs and saw a text from Roy telling her he was still alive and okay as of three am Eastern time. She couldn't help but smile a little at Roy's attempt to keep her up-to-date on his well-being and sent him a quick response before pocketing her phone.

She walked downstairs still in her sleepwear of an oversized Green Lantern t-shirt and sleeping shorts. When she arrived in the kitchen, Bruce was sipping his coffee and reading the morning newspaper as Alfred washed Bruce's dishes.

"You're up mighty early," Alfred commented as Naomi greeted Bruce as she passed him.

"Don't ask me why," she groaned, laying her cheek on the cool granite island top. "I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep."

"Well then, breakfast for the young mistress!" Alfred declared, drying the last plate and turning to the refrigerator.

"Just fruit, Alfred, is fine," Naomi sighed, sitting up and rubbing her eyes tiredly. Turning to Bruce, she asked, "What are you doing up so early?"

"I need to visit the Metropolis branch of Wayne Enterprises," he explained, closing his newspaper. "The Metropolis board wants to expand one of the factories, but there's a report that it would negatively impact the watershed and some members want to push it through anyway."

Naomi smiled a little. Bruce Wayne's overall image was as a playboy living the easy life, but what the public often wasn't aware of was the fact he took the company and his position on the board of directors very seriously, and he also understood that from his position of money and influence, he had a responsibility to use his power for good.

In many ways, Naomi thought of Bruce Wayne as just as much a hero as Batman, and just like Batman, the public would never know the real him.

Bruce stood and waved good-bye to Naomi before heading to the front door, where Alfred had pulled the car around after serving Naomi her dish of fresh berries. A thought occurred to her just then and she quickly dropped her fork and hurried after Bruce, catching him before he got in the car.

"Bruce, wait!" she called as she hurried down the front steps, having remembered the couple conversations she had had with Superboy about his implanted memories. There had been a few quick exchanges, but he hadn't said much. What Naomi had been able to gather, though, was that a lot of Superboy's frustration had to do with a certain Man of Steel.

Bruce nodded at Alfred, letting him know he could wait in the car while he turned to face Naomi.

"If you're in Metropolis, can you talk to Clark?"

Bruce's eyes widened just slightly in surprise at the request and nodded. "I was planning on meeting with him, but why do you want me to?"

"Because I think he's handling the Superboy situation all wrong," Naomi said bluntly. "I've talked to him, Bruce, and I've gotten to understand him a little more from the small amount he's been willing to share."

"He's opened up to you?" he asked her, admittedly impressed. From the few interactions he had had with the clone, he expected it to be months before a productive conversation could be had.

"He just needed to understand that there was someone willing to listen to him without prejudice, without judging what he thought he had been experiencing," Naomi explained. "I mean, this is a hormonal teenage boy we're talking about. More specifically, a hormonal teenage boy who was just told a month ago that his whole world was a lie."

She sighed, her eyes becoming distant as she recalled the expression on Superboy's face when he had first opened up to the Team, the look of absolute dejection and fear for what had been going through his head.

"He's lost, Bruce," Naomi went on, "and the Team and Tornado and Dinah can only do so much for him. He needs someone who has his abilities to guide him, like Dick and I have you, like Wally has Barry, et cetera, et cetera."

He nodded, a small smile coming to his lips. He had been thinking along the same lines, though given how much more time Naomi had spent around Superboy, he was glad he was on the right track.

"I will keep that in mind when I meet with Clark," Bruce said. Naomi smiled in thanks before hugging him and wishing him luck on his meeting. She stuck her head in the backseat to say good-bye to Alfred and then headed inside.

She finished her fruit breakfast before letting out a wide yawn. Not feeling like trudging all the way back to her top-floor bedroom, Naomi headed for the second-floor family room, which was smaller and more intimate than the larger great room on the ground floor that was used for formal events, like charity balls or company dinners.

When Naomi woke up again, it was because her little brother was flicking bits of paper at her. "Dick," she muttered, and he stuck his tongue out at her, understanding she wasn't saying his name.

"What are you doing down here, anyway?" he asked, leaning back in the couch across from where Naomi had slept.

"I woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep so I came down here," she shrugged, sitting up and pushing off the blanket that Alfred must have draped over her shoulders. "What time is it?"

"A little after ten," Dick said. "Dinah called; said our first training session is today at one. And Wally said he was heading to the Cave early."

Naomi raised an eyebrow and an amused smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "He told you he was going to the Cave?"

Dick cackled and shrugged. "He let it slip. Didn't think I heard."

"And you wanna head over there and bug him?" she guessed.

"You know me so well!" he grinned. "See you down in the Batcave!"

Naomi rolled her eyes and stood before hurrying after Dick as he opened one of the entrances to the Batcave. Once below the manor, they headed up to the changing rooms, each stepping into a small bathroom and emerging as Lark and Robin.

"Reocognized: Robin, B-0-2; Lark, B-0-1."

The two birds stepped out of the Zeta-Tube and finding the mission room empty, headed to the combined kitchen-living room where they found M'gann working on what appeared to be a cookie batter. Wally chatted her ear off and Kaldur leaned casually against the counter, watching with mild amusement. Like Lark and Robin, everyone was dressed in uniform, ready for whatever might come their way.

Robin cleared his throat, causing the speedster to look up and then groan under his breath. "Hey, Rob," he grumbled. He looked slightly less peeved as he greeted Lark, who smiled apologetically at him.

"Hey, Wally!" Robin said brightly, ignoring the stink eye being directed at him and walking further into the kitchen to sling an arm around his best friend's shoulder.

"Robin, Lark!" M'gann greeted happily. "You're just in time; I'm about to put the cookies in the oven!"

"Ooh, count me in," Robin grinned while Lark gave a smile of thanks to the Martian and hopped onto the counter beside Kaldur.

"How long has this been going on?" she whispered with a lifted eyebrow, glancing between Wally and Robin as they attempted to get the poor Martian's attention.

"Since he arrived," Kaldur replied quietly. "It has been...awkward, to say the least."

"I don't doubt it," Lark said with a little laugh. "I think the poor girl has had enough." She clapped her hands loudly, drawing everyone's attention before jumping down from the counter. "Let's check the holo-computer, see what games are programmed," she suggested.

{Thank you,} M'gann's relieved voice whispered across her brain, and Lark smiled back with a little nod.

"Race ya!" Robin exclaimed, shoving past Wally as he started sprinting down the hall.

Wally barked out a laugh before disappearing in a yellow blur.

"Come on, M'gann," Lark said, putting a hand on the Martian's shoulder. "Let's see what games we can beat the boys at."

"That does sound more interesting than waiting for the cookies to bake," M'gann admitted with a grin. She set down the bowl of batter and flew after Robin and Wally.

Lark and Kaldur followed at a slower pace than the others, the latter sparing glances at the former. In the month the Team had been formed, Kaldur had gotten a better sense of the two birds.

From a distance, they had appeared aloof and untouchable, almost like they were simply myths. But getting to know them, they were just teenagers, like him. Lark was definitely a little more serious and mature than her partner, and something about her made her seem wise beyond her years. All the same, she was kind and a good friend, and appeared to have developed a bit of a soft spot for Superboy.

"Look, we found air hockey!" Wally exclaimed when the others joined him and Robin. "Dibs!" he called.

"Dibs!" Robin echoed and he took up the other side of the table.

Despite Robin's lightning-fast reflexes, Wally's ability to tap into the Speed Force proved to be the winning edge, and he quickly won three of the five games played against the young bird.

"How about giving someone else the chance the get their butt kicked?" the speedster taunted after the final win. The younger teen grumbled but stepped aside.

"I will try," Kaldur spoke up, and he took Robin's place at the air hockey table.

After a few moments, a tweet! came from the hologram as Wally scored a point against Kaldur. All while casually eating a banana.

"Recognized: Superboy, B-0-4." Lark turned and watched as the clone stalked into the room, clearly unhappy, though she saw M'gann beam.

"Hi, Superboy," the Martian said brightly as he marched through the holographic table, causing it to disappear altogether. "How was Metropolis?" she asked. Her smile fell when Superboy didn't respond.

Lark sighed and shook her head a little; she understood Clark's desire for distance, or at least she could guess it had something to do with Clark's never-ending goody-two-shoesness that led him not wanting Superboy to feel like he was growing up in the shadow of the Man of Steel. She hoped Bruce could talk some sense into him.

Behind them, a throat cleared. Lark turned to see Black Canary walk in with Martian Manhunter.

"Ready for training, everyone?" the blonde heroine asked.

"Black Canary," M'gann greeted. "Uncle J'onn!" she exclaimed. She flew forward and wrapped her arms around the older Martian.

"M'gann, I was in the neighborhood, so I thought I'd see how you were adjusting," Martian Manhunter said.

"A few bumps, but I'm learning," M'gann replied.

"That is all I can ask," he said with a small smile.

Lark glanced out of the corner of her eye and saw Superboy marching away. "Stick around," Black Canary called, having caught his attempted escape as well. "Class is in session." The clone stopped walking and turned around but remained at a distance.

Black Canary stood in the middle of the large ring in the center of the training room-slash-mission room, and it lit up under her feet. "I consider it an honor to be your teacher," she said, turning so she was facing the Team, her back to Superboy.

"I'll throw a lot at you," she continued, reaching up to shrug off her short blue jacket. "Everything I learned from my own mentor..." Black Canary grunted as she lifted her left shoulder. "And my own bruises," she added with a wry smile.

"What happened?" M'gann asked in concern as the older hero briefly touched the bandage wrapped around her bicep.

"The job," she replied shortly before getting back to business. "Now, combat is about controlling the conflict, putting the battle on your terms. You should always be acting, never reacting." She gazed at the Team. "I'll need a sparring partner."

Lark and Robin shared a few nudges, trying to get the other to go up, but Wally beat them to it when his hand shot in the air, accompanied by an enthusiastic, "Right here!" as he strode forward so he was standing in front of Black Canary. He finished his banana and said, "After this"—he paused and tossed the banana peel away, imitating the sound of a basket being made as he did—"I'll show you my moves."

Lark saw Black Canary's eyebrows lift slightly, but the corner of her mouth curled up in a smirk and she nodded, narrowing her eyes in concentration.

She moved immediately, throwing a punch at Wally, which he blocked easily. But pulling out of the punch, Black Canary ducked and swung her foot around, knocking the speedster on his back. He landed with a thud on the holographic floor, and a circle appeared around his torso with a tag that read, Kid Flash Status: FAIL.

Wally groaned. "Hurts so good," he huffed out.

"Good block," Black Canary complimented, reaching down to help Wally to his feet. "But did anyone see what he did wrong?"

"Ooh, ooh!" Robin called, bouncing on his toes and raising his hand like he was in school. "He hit on teacher and got served?" Lark bit her lip to keep her snickers from spilling out, though she did hold her hand palm-side up at her hip for Robin to slap.

"Dudes!" Wally exclaimed, his eyes widening, sounding mortified.

Black Canary ignored the exchange and looked hard at the Team. "He allowed me to dictate the terms of—"

"Oh, please," Superboy scoffed, cutting off Black Canary. She glanced back at him, who remained at a distance with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. "With my powers, the battle's always on my terms," he said. "I'm a living weapon, and this is a waste of my time," he finished, glaring hard at their trainer.

Lark winced when he said living weapon. In her few short conversations with Superboy, she had certainly done her best to let him know that the Team and the Justice League didn't think of him like that anymore, and while she knew it would take more than just a handful of (rather one-sided) talks to help him come to terms with what happened to him, it was also obvious that it was going to take longer than she anticipated.

Black Canary's eyes narrowed. "Prove it," she challenged softly, meeting Superboy's heated glare. He walked up to her and Wally backed away nervously. They stood facing each other before giving slight nods of their heads and they took ready positions.

Superboy threw first with a grunt. Black Canary moved out of the way and grabbed the clone's outstretched arm with both hands. Using his forward momentum, she easily tossed him, and he landed with a heavy thud on his back.

Lark winced again, worried about what might be going through Superboy's head. Robin didn't seem to share her worry, though, as he pointed a finger at Superboy and laughed. Kaldur gently nudged him, and Robin quickly covered his mouth with both hands.

Superboy stood with a growl.

"You're angry," Black Canary observed. "Good, but don't react. Channel that anger into—" She was cut off as Superboy ran at her with a frustrated yell. As he reached her, Black Canary sprang into the air and flipped over his head, landing lightly behind him. Superboy whirled around, but her leg was already sweeping under his feet, and he fell again. Robin snickered and was again silenced, though this time by Lark, who pinched his ear, turning his snicker into a yelp of pain.

"That's it!" Superboy yelled angrily, ignoring Black Canary's offered hand as he sat up and then got to his feet. "I'm done."

"Training is mandatory," Black Canary reminded patiently, placing a hand on his shoulder to stop his retreat. Superboy threw off her hand and turned to glare at her.

They were interrupted when Batman's image appeared on a holographic screen.

"Batman to Cave," he addressed. Everyone quickly stepped forward. "Five hours ago, a new menace attacked Green Arrow and Black Canary."

Lark glanced at said heroine as the older blonde's bandaged arm unconsciously twitched at the mention of the source of her injury.

"The attacker was capable of studying, then duplicating, the powers and abilities of its opponents," Batman continued as another image appeared at the top left corner of the screen. It showed a very human-looking android as it battled various members of the League. "Arrow called in reinforcements, which nearly proved disastrous, as our foe gained more and more power with each new combatant."

"Whoa," Wally said quietly. "One guy with the powers of the entire League?" he asked in disbelief.

"In the end, it took eight Leaguers four hours to defeat and dismantle the Amazo android," Batman finished.

"An android?" Lark and Robin asked immediately. "W-who made it? T.O. Morrow?" the younger bird finished.

"Good guess, Robin," Batman said with a slight nod of approval for his youngest partner. Superboy glanced away sharply at the praise, his fists clenching at his side. "But Red Tornado doesn't think so," the Dark Knight finished.

"The technology bears the signature of Professor Ivo," Martian Manhunter informed.

"Ivo?" Lark balked, her eyes going wide.

"But Ivo's dead," Kaldur said, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"So we all thought," Black Canary said grimly, turning to glance at the Atlantean and the bird over her shoulder. "Or hoped."

"To make certain this threat is permanently neutralized," Batman continued, "we're sending two trucks carrying the android's parts to two separate S.T.A.R. Lab facilities in Boston and New York for immediate evaluation."

A new screen appeared to the right of Batman, which showed a map with a bright red dot and dashed lines pointing in the direction of the two cities in question. "Every precaution is being taken," he said. "We'll have four additional decoy trucks to create confusion in case Ivo, or anyone, tries to recover the remains. You will split into undercover teams to safeguard the two real trucks."

"Yes!" Wally exclaimed happily. "Road trip!"

"So now we take out your trash?" Superboy demanded, scowling darkly at Batman.

"You have something better to do?" Batman countered, unfazed by Superboy's glare.

"Coordinates received," Kaldur announced, glancing over at Superboy and noticing Lark was frowning slightly at the clone as well.

"Good," Batman said. "Motorcycles have been provided and are waiting in the hanger, and a change of clothes are in the dressing rooms. Lark, I need to speak to you. Privately."

Lark's gaze snapped to Batman in surprise before she shared brief uncertain glances with the other members of the Team.

"On our way," Kaldur spoke up, and everyone quickly turned on their heels to leave Batman and his oldest bird to themselves.

Batman took an uncharacteristic beat before he addressed his clearly confused and now wary young partner. "You won't be on this mission, Lark," he said, getting straight to the point.

"What?!" she yelled. "Why?"

"On the off-chance the Amazo android gets reactivated, the last thing we need is it gaining your powers, especially when we don't even have a handle on what you're capable of."

Lark quirked a disbelieving eyebrow. "So that means you're not even confident we can guard those parts."

"It's just a precaution."

She scowled at Batman, ready to fight back, but a thought occurred to her. "That means you're worried Ivo or someone else might have the trucks followed."

"It's just a precaution," Batman said again, and Lark rolled her eyes.

"Sure, whatever you say," she muttered.

"Go change and meet up with the others in the hanger," he sighed. "You'll ride with the Team to your destination and then split with them from there. Aqualad knows to wait for you."

"Fine," Lark huffed before turning on her heel and marching away.

She was surprised to find M'gann still in the female dressing room, looking uncertainly at the outfit laid out for her.

"Are these clothes comfortable?" she asked as soon as Lark entered.

Lark chuckled and answered in the affirmative. "They're fitted so you don't have to worry about feeling dragged down, and they're not so tight you feel restricted."

"Ahh."

"Were you waiting all this time to ask that question?" Lark asked as she unsnapped her cape and unhooked her utility belt and thigh holsters, one which housed a couple kunai knives and the other which held her collapsible jō staff.

"Yes," M'gann admitted sheepishly as she morphed her white top and navy blue skirt into her usual black body suit before putting on the clothes. "I didn't really see the point in putting them on if I could just morph my clothes into exact replicas."

"Well," Lark said as she set aside her belt and holsters, "you can't beat nice supple leather." M'gann chuckled in response. Lark pulled off her boots so she could step into her bike pants and shrug the jacket over her uniform, both of which were a matching dark gray with dark green racing stripes up the legs and arms.

The Martian grinned as she finished zipping up her jacket. "You're right!" she said happily as Lark pulled on her boots again. "I can totally do good work in these!"

"Glad you approve." Lark couldn't help but smile at M'gann's chipper attitude. She had long outgrown her girlish, happy-go-lucky attitude and optimistic outlook on life, but she could definitely appreciate it when she saw it in someone else, and M'gann certainly had both those attributes in spades.

"What did Batman want to see you about?" she asked curiously as they began making their way toward the hanger.

"He was just informing me of my part in the mission," Lark said. Before M'gann could ask her what that meant, they entered the hanger, where the boys were waiting.

Sure enough, there were six motorcycles lined up waiting for them, each designed and painted for their rider. Lark spotted her own bike between Robin's and Wally's which was sleek and designed for speed, with a lightweight but sturdy frame and tires perfect for gripping rain-wet streets.

Unlike Robin's bright red R-Cycle, Lark's motorcycle (which she refused to name, much to Dick's and Wally's disappointment) was dark matte gray with contrasting glossy dark green lines along the length. A matching helmet sat on the dark purple leather seat, which Lark placed on her head after throwing her leg over the bike.

The screen between the purple handlebars lit up as Lark started the engine. An overview of their trip appeared before giving a closer view of their current location in Happy Harbor.

"Is everyone clear on our destination?" Kaldur asked. When he got confirmation from the Team, he led the way down the hanger ramp and through the exit that led up to the grassy far side of the mountain.

The trip to Litchfield County was about two and a half hours, during which time Lark remained mostly silent. Wally flirted with M'gann, who attempted to deflect by addressing the others. If Lark wasn't the type to suffer from second-hand embarrassment, she might have found the whole thing amusing; Robin certainly did.

As it was, she couldn't help but chew on the inside of her cheek as they drove, worry gnawing at her gut even though she knew she wouldn't be joining the others on the next part of their journey. The job certainly seemed easy enough, but it just didn't feel right. If this really was Ivo's work, he was a genius who always proved to be a worthy adversary for Batman and the Justice League. Wouldn't he have some sort of contingency if his robots and androids were ever compromised?

They reached their destination to find the League waiting for them. Aqualad pulled up behind a clump of trees and bushes and cut the engine, the others following his lead. Lark took off her helmet and hung it from one of the handlebars.

"What's got you so rattled?" Robin asked, stepping next to Lark as she set her kickstand. "You hardly said a word the whole ride over."

"Oh, it's nothing," she waved off, though even she clearly didn't believe what she said.

He rolled his eyes. "Now I know something's up," he said. "You know how to lie better than that!"

Lark laughed a little, though behind her domino mask, her dark eyes were troubled. "It's this whole thing," she admitted privately to Robin and Batman as the latter joined them. "If this really is Ivo, wouldn't he have a way to keep an eye on his android? I mean, B, you have trackers in all of the vehicles. It makes sense a robotics expert would do the same, right?"

Batman seemed to ponder what Lark said. "Very well," he said. "Robin, keep an eye out and report if you have any trouble."

"Just me?" the young bird asked, turning to Lark. "You're not joining us?" he asked.

"You're missing out on the fun?" Kid Flash asked from behind them, and Robin and Lark turned to see the Team had gathered around them.

Lark threw a look over her shoulder at Batman, and he sighed. "I have another assignment for Lark. I'm confident the five of you can carry out this mission without her."

There was an undeniable chilliness between the bat and the bird, and the Team was unsure what to do. Robin cleared his throat and Batman nodded once before turning on his heel and joining the other Justice League members.

The Team followed as six trucks bearing the S.T.A.R. Labs logo pulled up and parked around the large crater in the middle of the field, which was already surrounded by the League members who had been free to meet.

Lark peered into the ditch and got a good look at Amazo for the first time. He had the skin of a Caucasian man, his red hair styled in a buzzcut with a sharp widow's peak. Given the size of his torso and legs, Lark imagined he was quite tall, perhaps the same height as Martian Manhunter, if not a little taller.

Once Batman directed the Leaguers to help the S.T.A.R. Lab technicians gather the Amazo parts, he called the Team to him, though Lark hung back. After a few minutes, Batman rejoined Lark and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm still pissed," she muttered.

Batman's lip quirked upward just slightly, and he nodded. "I know. I'll make it up to you."

He went to work overseeing the collection of all the parts. Once confident nothing remained of Amazo in the field, the lab techs packed up the pieces and loaded them onto the respective trucks. The drivers gave the okay, and Batman nodded his head in confirmation. Lark watched, only a little forlornly, as her teammates revved their engines and took off after their assigned trucks.

Flash, Green Arrow, Captain Atom, and Red Tornado all took off, going their separate ways. Before Superman could follow after them, Batman stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

"I told you," he said, "we need to talk."

Superman glanced between Batman and Lark, and when the younger bird gave no indication that she would help him out of his predicament, he sighed. "Give me an hour. I'll meet you at Bibbo's."

Batman's hand tightened on Superman's shoulder, not enough to hurt him, of course, but enough to hold the Man of Steel's attention. "I expect you to be there," he said darkly.

"Don't worry, Bruce," Superman grunted. "I'll be there." He stepped out from under Batman's grip and took off.

"Can I go?" Lark asked as she and Batman watched Superman zoom off.

"No," Batman said simply, but when Lark glanced up at her mentor, she saw the corner of his lip twitching in an attempt to stop chuckling. He cleared his throat and said, "Get your bike; the Batwing is nearby."

The flight north was short enough that Batman decided to fly straight to Metropolis instead of stopping off in Gotham. He called Alfred to let him know of his plans, and the kind butler agreed to drive Bruce's car to the Metropolis branch of Wayne Enterprises, where Naomi would then fly herself and Alfred back to the Batcave.

By the time they had landed, it was already just past nine, which was fine with Bruce; he was certain Clark would arrive late to piss off the usually punctual Bat, so showing up after him would just be amusing.

"Make sure he reads this, would ya?" Naomi requested as Bruce finished tying the dark royal blue silk tie that completed his sharp black suit. She held up a folded letter, which he had noticed she had been working on the entire flight.

"I won't leave until he does," Bruce chuckled as they walked down the ramp of the Batwing, where Alfred was waiting with the car keys. He put an arm around Naomi's shoulder in a side hug, thanked Alfred, and then headed down toward the street.

Naomi and Alfred watched his car pull out from the underground parking, and she wore a slight scowl as her dark eyes followed the sleek black car.

"Something the matter, Miss Naomi?" Alfred asked as he gently escorted her back to the Batwing.

"He pulled me off the mission," she muttered. "He told the others it was because he had another assignment for me."

"But you don't believe him." It was a statement, not a question, and Naomi nodded. "If I know Master Bruce—and I think I know him quite well—he wouldn't have said he had another job for you if that wasn't the truth."

"I s'pose."

She paused at the bottom of the ramp, staring out at the Metropolis skyline. Behind her, Alfred chuckled. "If you wish to eavesdrop on Master Bruce's conversation with Mr. Kent, I can manage the Batwing just fine on my own."

"Eavesdropping is such an ugly word," Naomi said, glancing over her shoulder with a quirked eyebrow, though she did grin a moment later. "Thanks, Alfred."

---

Location: Metropolis, Connecticut
Date: Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Time: 2110 EDT

Clark Kent sighed as he checked his watch for the umpteenth time since he had been seated at Bibbo's Diner. The Dark Knight had agreed to meet at nine, so Clark arrived seven minutes late to make Bruce wait. Joke was on him though; he was the one being forced to wait. What was more, Clark knew it was a play by Bruce, since he was never late unless it was part of his façade as playboy Bruce Wayne. And now, apparently, it was a power move by Batman to play mind games with his opponent.

The reporter grumbled as he reflected on the day. Bruce had seemed unusually adamant about meeting, and Clark wondered what he could have done to warrant that kind of attention.

There had been the incident on the bridge that morning...

Superman grunted as he felt the bridge shift slightly on his shoulders, and he knew there was only one person who could have landed so harshly as to cause the shock waves. He quickly finished using his heat vision to reinforce the steel braces before flying out from under the bridge to lift the school bus, which was precariously close to falling into the river below.

"I had that," the clone said as he approached.

"I didn't want to take the chance," Superman replied evenly. "As it is, your landing could have destabilized the entire bridge," he reprimanded.

"It didn't," was the weak argument.

"But it could have," the Man of Steel frowned. "We don't yet know the limits of your powers."

The clone—Superboy—glanced away uncertainly as he said hesitantly, "Well, maybe you could, you know, help me figure that out."

It was Superman's turn to glance away uncomfortably before saying stiffly, "Batman's got that covered."

"Yeah, I know, but —"

He was cut off when the caped hero turned away, putting a finger to his ear to accept the League call. "What's attacking?" he finally asked. After a pause he said, "No, I'm definitely available," missing the hurt and then the anger in the young hero's eyes.

After receiving the coordinates and confirming he was on his way, he looked back at the clone. "Sorry, Super...boy," the Kryptonian said hesitantly. "Duty calls."

He didn't wait for a response before he took off, leaving Superboy to glare after him.

Superman became aware he had an audience only when the Dark Knight called. "Already got the alert, Bruce," he said.

"I know, Clark," the billionaire said as he watched the red cape flutter away, "but we need to talk."

Superboy didn't respond, which he knew Bruce hated, but he also had a hunch he knew what the Bat wanted to talk to him about, and he just wasn't ready for that conversation.

Ah...the Superboy. Right...

Clark sighed and rubbed his forehead, dreading the upcoming conversation. The little bell above the door signaled someone's entrance, and he glanced up only to scowl when he saw Bruce Wayne stroll in casually, an easy smile on his lips as he greeted the hostess before letting her know he was meeting someone.

The easy smile didn't disappear when he met Clark's narrowed blue eyes, and that frustrated the Kryptonian even further.

"We agreed nine," he said shortly as Bruce slid into the seat across from him.

"And what time did you arrive?" he countered with a smirk.

Clark was prevented from responding when Bibbo himself approached them to take their order.

"Apple pie," he said stiffly.

"The devil's food," Bruce requested with that same easy smile.

As Bibbo walked away from their booth, Clark rounded on Bruce. "Care to tell me what I'm doing here?" he demanded, hoping his hunch was wrong.

"You know exactly why you're here," Bruce said bluntly, his pleasant demeanor dropping immediately. "The boy needs you."

"No," Clark disagreed immediately, his eyebrows furrowed. "He needs...you. He needs Red." Glancing away, he sighed. "I'm just a constant reminder of what he's not."

Bruce quirked an eyebrow. "Sorry, Clark, but you're dead wrong," he said. He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. It was Clark's turn to raise an eyebrow as he reached for the note.

Unfolding it, Clark sighed when he realized who had written it, and Bruce said, "Read it. She put a lot of thought into it."

Smallville, it started,

Look, I get it. I had doubts about letting him out, too. But he's NOT a weapon. Not anymore. He's a good kid with a good heart. He WANTS to be a hero, and the Team, Canary, and Batman are doing our best to be there for him and teach him what he needs to know. But we're not cutting it. Why? Because he wants YOU to be there for him, to show him the ropes. You're the only one in the world —hell, in the UNIVERSE —that shares his powerset, and he could learn a hell of a lot more from you than he could ever hope to learn from any combination of us.

You OF ALL PEOPLE should know what it's like to not understand their powers, to not know what their place in the world is because they're different. Like it or not, he's here to stay, and he needs you. I won't go so far as to say he's your son or you're his father—unlike some people *throws knowing look at Bruce*—but you sure as hell are SOMETHING to him, so be the adult and STEP UP.

The last two words were in big bold letters and underlined about half a dozen times for emphasis. To top it off, Naomi had signed the note by drawing a simple but very effective angry scowling face.

"You didn't put her up to this, did you," Clark stated, knowing Naomi well enough to know she would speak her mind if she felt strongly enough about the topic. Bruce shook his head in confirmation.

"Everything you just read is straight from the horse's mouth."

"Did you read this?"

Bruce scoffed. "I'm not the blockhead she's trying to get through to." He sighed and his expression turned serious again. "Look, I know he...troubles you," he said, "but he's here. You have to get over the how and why." Clark turned away again, and Bruce said solemnly, "Trust me on this. This boy needs his father.

"I'm not his father," Clark said sharply, though he did appreciate now that Naomi hadn't tried to convince him he had any obligation toward the clone other than as a mentor. He glared at Bruce as he got to his feet, Naomi's note crumpling in his fist.

To Bibbo, he said shortly, "I'll take that pie to go," as he placed his hat on his head before marching to the register at the front of the diner. When the hostess informed him that the gentleman in the black suit had already covered the tab, Clark shot Bruce another dirty look before sparing a smile for the hostess and standing aside to wait for his pie.

Bruce sat back in the booth and frowned; at least he could tell Naomi he had delivered her message. He smiled in thanks as his dessert was delivered and he pulled out his phone to let Naomi know how his meeting with Clark had gone.

He was surprised when instead of a response via text, Naomi showed up in person, sliding into Clark's recently vacated seat still in her motorcycle leather and her hair parted off center.

When a waitress stopped by to take Naomi's order, she said happily, "Ooh, I'll have what he's having," gesturing to Bruce's devil's food cake. "And a glass of milk!" She smiled in thanks before turning serious.

"I was kinda listening in," she admitted, though she didn't sound very sheepish.

Bruce chuckled, having expected that to be her answer. "Since you obviously heard the entire conversation, you know what Clark's response was," he said.

"Do you think I could knock some sense into him?" Naomi asked as she stole a piece of Bruce's chocolate cake. "You know, in person?"

"I think he got the idea in your note," he said, knocking aside her fork as she tried to sneak another bite. "On the bright side, it seems he held onto it, so maybe he'll mull it over."

"I s'pose," she shrugged. "It is kinda fun to see the great Man of Steel cower before a tiny human though," she grinned.

Bruce's eyebrow quirked as Naomi's cake and milk were brought to her. "I hope you're referring to yourself, Lois, or Mrs. Kent," he said. "We're the same height!"

"You know what I mean," she said, rolling her eyes. "'Tiny human' in the sense that we're so much weaker than him. But also, yes, me, Lois or Ma Kent."

It was true; Superman did not cower before any man, but three women could bring him to his knees if need be. Lois was on the list because Clark and Superman had a soft spot for the savvy reporter, and anyone who knew him as Clark knew he was a momma's boy through and through.

Naomi had made the list soon after she became Lark. Batman hadn't informed her of the secret identities of any member of the Justice League, but when Superman first learned of Lark, he had glared at Batman and accused him to recruiting a child to fight in his crusade. Lark had scowled and popped out of the shadows where she had been hiding, declaring it had been her choice to bring justice to the man who had killed her adopted parents.

Superman had put two and two together immediately, and had still argued gently that "Little girls should have a chance to have a normal life," and "Naomi, don't you think now that the man has been brought to justice, it's time to hang up the mask?"

Her shock that Superman knew her identity kept her from retorting, but it had kept her up for several nights, knowing that he knew who she was, but she had no idea who he was. So, when she finally couldn't take it any longer, she had marched down to the Batcave and demanded to know Superman's secret identity.

Batman hadn't replied with a name, instead pulling up a chair beside him at the massive computer and letting her get to work. She had been beyond pleased with herself when she had presented her findings to Bruce, having narrowed down the search to three men. He had smirked proudly at her and then told her to get into the Batwing; they had a Superman to track down.

"I'd say give him a few days to sleep on it before you go knocking his door down," Bruce suggested. Naomi gave a half-shrug, half-nod, her mouth too full of her own serving of rich chocolate cake to vocalize her agreement. He chuckled in amusement.

The waitress who had taken Naomi her order sighed dreamily as she watched Bruce Wayne interact with his oldest ward. It wasn't uncommon to spot him in Metropolis, given Gotham was just across the river and there was also a Wayne Enterprises building in the city. It wasn't even his first time at Bibbo's. But she had never been on shift the previous times Bruce Wayne had stopped in, and now she felt as though she could die happy.

Naomi glanced out of the corner of her eye to catch the young blonde waitress staring. She rolled her eyes and scoffed, catching Bruce's attention.

"What?" he asked, confused.

"You've got an admirer," she said, tilting her head subtly in the direction of the waitress. Bruce had no qualms about turning his head completely to get a good look at the person staring. The waitress's eyes widened comically before quickly scurrying away, presumably to get back to work. When she glanced over her shoulder, Bruce lifted his coffee mug slightly and smirked charmingly.

"You're impossible," Naomi said, shaking her head. She quickly shoved the last bite of cake in her mouth before swallowing the last bit of milk and standing. "You ready to go? I'd rather keep my dessert down, thank you very much."

Bruce just chuckled and laid a fifty-dollar bill on the table, even though he had already overpaid for his own serving and Clark's pie. He caught the eye of the waitress once more, prompting Naomi to give him a little shove to get him moving.

When they stepped outside, Bruce guided Naomi to his car—the latest model Mercedes-Benz SLK. He opened the passenger door for her before hurrying around the hood of the car to get behind the wheel. Once he was seated, he turned to find Naomi already looking quizzically at the dark gray compact light-weight case at her feet.

"What do I need my uniform for?" she asked, turning to him with a quirked eyebrow.

"To keep me from being a complete liar," he said, passing her a folded piece of paper, "I need you to look into this for me."

"Ah, so you weren't lying when you told the others you had a separate mission for me," Naomi said dryly, taking the note and unfolding it. In Bruce's neat cursive handwriting was an address in Gotham's business district.

"I'll be driving through Gotham to get home," Bruce said casually, and Naomi understood his meaning.

"Good thing I'm still dressed for a night out," she said as she removed her motorcycle gear to reveal her Lark uniform still on underneath. Once they reached downtown Gotham, she grabbed her cape, domino mask, utility belt, and thigh holsters from the case at her feet, then ruffled her hair to fix the part and nodded at Bruce.

He slowed the car as he turned the corner into an alley and after lowering the passenger window all the way, Lark shot her grapple gun, her small frame fitting easily through the open window. Once safely perched beside one of the gargoyles that decorated the façade of Gotham First National Bank, she watched as Bruce's car disappeared around the corner. A moment later, his voice crackled to life in her earpiece.

"I'm a call away if you run into trouble," he informed.

"Gotcha. I'll keep you updated."

Her destination was only a few blocks away, but given the evening crowd, Lark proceeded slowly, making sure not to draw any attention to herself as she slipped from rooftop to rooftop.

When she reached the building in question, she swung on her grapple to the rooftop across the way in order to give herself a better view of the building front. Pulling out Bruce's note, she double checked her target: the top three floors of the office complex, which were rented by King Industries. Upon further research, Lark discovered King Industries was the western branch of Wang Industries, a successful company owned and run by Junhao Wang, English name Julian.

Despite it being nearly ten in the evening, the offices were fairly crowded, and Lark wondered if perhaps they were working that late in order to communicate with the home offices back in China. Using her holo-computer to dig up the building's floorplan, she plotted her way to what she assumed—and hoped— was the big man's office for when he was in town, figuring he wouldn't be in the building so late, even if he was stateside. She traded the computer for her grapple gun and swung her way to the roof.

She promptly made her way toward the vent and carefully pried the cover off before crawling in and pulling the grate into place behind her. Sticking the suction cup of her grapple to the vertical wall of the shaft, Lark carefully lowered herself down before slowly descending into the air ducts.

After consulting the floorplans once more, Lark began making her way quietly and swiftly toward the desired office. Once she found her destination and confirmed it was dark and empty, she carefully removed the grate and was about to drop to the floor when something made her pause.

A chill passed over her as her feet dangled from the vent, a toe just grazing the shadow of a potted plant by the window. She frowned as she brought her hand to her mask and flicked through the different filters until she found the one she wanted: a new addition that allowed her to see invisible security grids.

She gasped softly in shock. It had paid off; not two inches from where her foot had dangled was a thin red sensor light. Lark took a deep breath; she could wonder how she had thought to check for security measures inside the office later. For now, she had a job to do.

After inspecting the office and the laser grid, Lark sighed. The pattern of the grid was too complex for a non-contortionist to navigate, especially from a starting point of above rather than head-on. She was just mulling over her options when voices on the other side of the office door caught her attention. She scrambled to replace the vent cover just as the door swung open and the overhead light was switched on.

Lark watched as a man placed a stack of files on the desk before he started dusting. Her confusion was answered when a fellow coworker poked her head in the office to ask him why he was cleaning so late.

"I guess you didn't hear; the boss is coming in tomorrow."

As he continued his dusting, Lark frowned. How was it that he was able to enter the office without setting off any alarms? It seemed unlikely he would have been privy to any security measures within the office. So perhaps they were deactivated by an innocuous, everyday action, which would protect against someone sneaking in through the window or dropping in from the air vent. What could it be? The door opening? The lights turning on?

That must be it, she realized as the man left the office and turned off the lights behind him. If someone wanted to break in during the night, any light coming from the boss's office would draw suspicion, so the logical thing to do would be poke around in the dark. But if you left the lights off, the laser grid would remain active, and that would alert security of an intruder.

An idea came to her, and before she could question her sanity, Lark concentrated on the shadow of the potted plant. It shivered for a moment before slinking its way toward her. It coiled around her toe and then slithered over the rest of her body, enveloping her in a shadowy second skin.

"Now what?" Lark muttered to herself, eyes scanning the red laser grid. "I must be crazy!" she exclaimed quietly but before she could second guess herself, she dropped to the floor, her eyes shut tight. She waited for the inevitable sirens, but instead, there was only silence.

Slowly, she peeled open her eyes and saw to her astonishment that she hadn't set off any of the alarms because the lasers had passed right through her, like she wasn't even there. Had she become a shadow?

"Cool," she breathed out with a grin. She only gave herself a quick moment to be amazed at what she had managed before switching to hero mode. Pulling out a flash drive Batman had included in her uniform case, she made her way to the desk. Consulting the scrap of paper Bruce had given her again, she proceeded to download the requested files, which was basically everything.

"Batman to Lark."

The voice in her ear startled her, she hated to admit it, but after over an hour of complete silence, she hadn't been expecting Batman.

"Yeah, I'm here," she whispered. "I'm almost done; the download is at ninety-eight percent."

"Good," he said. "Radio when you're done."

"Gotcha. Hey," she said quickly before he could hang up. "How're the others?" It was half past ten, and Lark hoped the Team had managed to drop off the parts without a problem.

"It's been handled," was Batman's blunt response and Lark quirked an eyebrow.

"Guess it is a good thing I didn't tag along," she said quietly. The flash drive gave a soft beep, signaling it had finished the download, and she relayed that to Batman.

"I'm on my way. I'll pick you up down the block."

Lark pocketed the flash drive and then used the shadows to lift herself back to the air vent in the ceiling. Once she got the cover in place, she made her way to the roof. She emerged just as the Batmobile turned the corner and she raced across the roof to the alley Batman had parked.

She realized a second too late she had stepped off the building before she had gotten her grapple gun out, but before she could panic about the fall, she felt herself go weightless. She floated in the air for a moment before she began to haltingly make her way to the asphalt.

"That's new," Batman commented once Lark had climbed into the Batmobile.

"There's more where that came from, too," she said. Batman raised an eyebrow, and Lark said, "I'll show you when we get to the Batcave."

There was a beep over the Team comm and Batman and Lark shared a look.

"Batman," he answered.

"We have completed our mission with the Amazo Android," Aqualad said.

"Good," Batman said simply. "I'll contact S.T.A.R. and tell them it's ready for pick up. Where are you?"

There was a beat before Aqualad responded, "Gotham."

Batman growled under his breath and Lark wondered if the Team could hear it over the comms. When Robin answered hastily, "There was minimal damage though!" she took that as an answer in the affirmative.

"Send me your location and I'll pass it along," Batman ground out.

"Gotham Academy," Robin replied.

Lark's eyes widened and she saw Batman's fist clench on the steering wheel. "We'll see you guys back at the Cave!" she said quickly before Batman could turn around and head toward their school campus.

The line switched off and Batman shot Lark a side-glare. She rolled her eyes and said, "It's a long drive back to Rhode Island. I would have thought you liked the idea of them stewing for three hours."

Batman just grunted and Lark felt herself get forced back into the seat of the Batmobile as he stepped on the gas pedal. She rolled her eyes.

They arrived at the Batcave at a quarter to eleven. The first thing Batman did when he got to the computer was pull up the tracking device on Robin's R-Cycle. Because of the late hour and the leeway they would have regarding their speed, the estimated time of arrival to the Cave was just after one in the morning.

"Told you they'd have a long drive," Naomi said as she came up behind him.

He just grunted.

"So...here's the flash drive." She held the dark purple drive in front of Bruce's face, which he took with another grunt. "What exactly is it you have on this guy, anyway?" she asked over his shoulder once he began going through the files Lark had stolen.

"There's a connection between him and an underground organization in China."

Naomi raised an eyebrow as she straightened beside Bruce's chair. "Since when did you take an interest in foreign affairs?" she asked.

He just grunted once more and pivoted. "Pull up a chair and open your file. We need to update it."

"Right..." she muttered but did as he said. On one of the smaller satellite screens, Naomi pulled over a keyboard and began searching through the files.

When her powers had first manifested in March, Batman had begun to document and track the development and evolution of them. There wasn't much to track, though, since Naomi had refrained from using them as much as possible. There really hadn't been a need, she felt, in all their scuffles and fights between March and now for her to use them. But now, she found herself in situations that were made a hell of a lot easier with the new powers.

Within the file Batman had compiled on her, there was one file that had a few video clips of Naomi in the Batcave as she practiced manipulating the numerous shadows around her, with varying success. There were medical documents tracking any difference in her physiological and psychological makeup from pre-March and post-March (there weren't). Then there was a simple diary-style document that Bruce had insisted Naomi start writing, in her own words, anything and everything related to her powers: conscious versus unconscious manifestations; emotions she might have felt before, during, or after power usage; physical sensations she may have noticed before, during, or after.

Naomi scrolled through the electronic diary, skimming over her entries. There weren't all that many for the first three months, and what she had written were neat, bulleted, and very straight to the point. As she looked over the entries from July onward, though, she noticed that responses were growing longer and were starting to veer away from simply tracking her physical experience and more toward her mental and emotional states.

She felt her heart rate pick up and she glanced to see if Bruce had noticed. He was busy sorting through the downloaded files to sense the nervous air that had settled around his oldest ward. Naomi quickly closed the electronic document, making a mental note to look over them later and noticing, to her relief, that Bruce had never opened that file.

Bruce finally finished recategorizing all the stolen files and he turned to Naomi, only to find her seat next to him empty. He heard the rhythmic punching of blows landing on a training dummy and glanced over his shoulder to see Naomi still in her uniform and working out. There was a crease between her eyebrows and her jaw was tense.

He opened his mouth to ask her how she was feeling, but a beep from the computer drew his attention away from Naomi. He realized it was an alert from Robin's motorcycle, informing the Batcave that he and the Team were just a few minutes out from Mount Justice. Glancing at the clock, he realized it was a little before one in the morning; he hadn't realized it had taken him so long to go through all the files from King Industries.

He pulled his cowl over his head and stepped away from the computer, sweeping toward the Zeta-Tube. He paused when he passed Naomi, surprised she hadn't noticed the alert.

"Naomi."

She finally looked up and Batman noticed the slightly unfocused glaze over her dark eyes. "What's up?" she asked.

He tossed her a towel and said, "The Team's almost to the Cave. Care to join me?"

"Oh, right." Naomi followed Batman, wiping off the light sheen of sweat on her skin and placing her mask over her eyes.

"Batman to Justice League," the Dark Knight said as he and Lark walked toward the Zeta. "The Team is a few minutes out from the Cave. Those who can meet at the Cave, please do."

Since Batman was hailing the League on the Justice-Leauge-only comms, she didn't hear a response, but she wondered if Superman would be joining them. Lark stepped into the Zeta and appeared in the Cave a moment later, Batman right behind her.

Red Tornado was already waiting for them in the mission room, and after briefly addressing the inhuman Leaguer, Batman pulled up the hologram computer to further track the Team's approach.

Behind them, the Zeta lit up again and the computer announced Black Canary, Green Arrow, and Martian Manhunter. Once they exited the Zeta, Lark kept listening for a certain Kryptonian, but then sighed when it remained dark.

"Just in time," Batman said to the League as on the screen, the trackers on the motorcycles showed the Team had arrived at the Cave.

Lark waited just behind Batman with Red Tornado and Green Arrow flanking the Dark Knight and Black Canary and Martian Manhunter on the Emerald Archer's other side.

The Team filed in, Aqualad in the lead and the others trailing tiredly behind him. They perked up slightly when they saw members of the Justice League standing with Batman.

Once they were all positioned in front of the League, Aqualad started the debrief.

"The Amazo Android is in pieces again, safely being analyzed at the two separate S.T.A.R. Labs," he started. "But Ivo escaped, and since he originated the tech, he's arguably more dangerous than the android."

"Capturing the professor will be a League priority," Black Canary informed the Team.

"But we understand your mission encountered...other complications," Martian Manhunter added, crossing his arms across his chest.

Lark noticed the Team glance at Superboy, who in turn glanced in the opposite direction. He caught Lark's gaze, though, and he offered her a tiny nod, which she responded to with a small smile; maybe things were turning around for him.

"Complications come with the job," Batman said, stepping forward. "Your ability to handle them has impressed the League."

"The whole League?" Superboy asked skeptically.

"Given time, yes," Batman said. "Kryptonians, as you know, have very hard heads."

"Boy, do they ever," Lark added quietly with a smirk, and the smallest smile crossed Superboy's lips.

"Of course," the Dark Knight went on, "there's no shame in asking for help. That's why the League exists, because there are some problems even we can't handle individually."

"Please," Robin scoffed. "If we needed help, we'd never get the chance to ask!" He reached into his belt and pulled out a green arrow. "Look familiar?" he demanded.

Lark understood the insinuation, but she frowned a little; that didn't look like Green Arrow's arrow.

"You were following us!" Robin continued as Batman took the arrow from him. "Babysitting! You still don't trust us!"

As Batman passed the arrow to the archer, Lark said to the Team, "I can't vouch for G.A. or the others, but Batman and I weren't anywhere near Gotham Academy all evening."

"We didn't follow you," Green Arrow confirmed as he examined the unfamiliar arrow. He pulled out one of his own from his quiver and held it out for the Team to compare. "See?"

"And that's not your arrow," Robin said slowly, the fight leaving his voice. "But that means—"

"Speedy!" Kid Flash finished for Robin happily.

"He has our backs," Aqualad said, cracking a smile.

Kid Flash sped forward and snatched the arrow from the archer's hand. "Souvenir!" he declared with a grin.

Lark's eyebrows furrowed in thought. As great as it would be to have Roy on the Team, it didn't seem like him to not show his face. Besides, Speedy's arrows had never been green, right?

She looked at Batman and saw him exchange a glance with Green Arrow and she realized: they didn't know whose arrow that was either.

Notes:

Another long chapter, with an original take for an OC in the Amazo fight. I was originally just rewriting the chapter to include instances of Lark's powers in use during the fight, but then I realized that with Batman always being cautious and let's face it, paranoid, he would pull Lark from the mission to keep Amazo from gaining her abilities.

Chapter 9: 6.0 - Infiltrator

Notes:

I own nothing you recognize.

I was originally going to post a chapter that would take place between Episodes 5 and 6, but I couldn't quite write it the way I wanted, so I decided to go ahead and post Infiltrator. There's a chance I'll post the intermediate chapter as a one-shot, but no promises.

This is also one of the longer chapters I've written, mostly because I ended up really expanding the beach scene. For some reason, I really wanted to flesh everything the Team was doing during their beach day. It's nothing vital to the storyline, but I had fun writing it (even if it took me a while).

I have now caught up with the chapters posted over on ff.net, so updates will be waaaaaay slower and will happen simultaneously here and on ff.

*also I changed the date for this episode because the date in the show has it taking place over the weekend, which wouldn't work if it's Wally's first day of school.

Location: Wayne Manor, Gotham City
Date: Monday, August 09, 2010
Time: 0931 EDT

Naomi's eyes snapped open. She blinked a few times at the ornate wrought iron chandelier that hung above her in the family sitting room as the tingling sensation faded from her forehead. A slight throb remained at her temples, though, and she groaned a little as she sat up. She swung her legs around so her feet were enveloped in the plush rug beneath the sofa she had been lying on and cradled her head in her hands while the throb eventually subsided.

She finally looked around and found Dick on the sofa opposite hers, his feet stretched out in front of him and on top of the glossy surface of the dark, heavy coffee table between them. His laptop was open in his lap and his attention was on the screen.

"Morning," Naomi said thickly, rubbing her eyes and stretching the kinks from her back.

Dick looked up from his laptop and grinned. "Morning," he replied, his tone much more chipper than Naomi's. "What were you doing sleeping out here?"

Naomi sighed and flopped against the back of the sofa, her legs curling under her as she spread the blanket she had been using across her lap. "I woke up crazy early and couldn't fall asleep so I came down to have breakfast with Bruce, and then I suddenly couldn't keep my eyes open, so I crashed down here."

Indeed, Naomi had once again chosen to climb only one flight of stairs to get to a comfortable sleeping place instead of trekking all the way up to her bedroom. And Dick had once again found her in the family sitting room on the second floor of the manor when he had been unable to locate her in her room, the kitchen, or the gym.

Naomi yawned and stretched, dropping her head against the back of the sofa. Dick went back to his laptop and Naomi's eyes slid shut again. Their quiet was interrupted when both their Team comm-units beeped with an incoming call.

"Lark? Robin?" M'gann's disembodied voice came.

"We're here," Dick answered for the both of them.

"We were thinking of having a beach day!" the Martian said brightly. "I was calling to see if you two were interested."

"Count us in!" Dick chimed in after Naomi nodded in confirmation. He scrambled from the sofa he had been working on and rushed toward his room.

"We'll be there in a few minutes," Naomi said. "Lark out." She sighed heavily and flopped back onto the couch, rubbing her forehead as she did.

Waking up before dawn for an inexplicable reason and then falling asleep for another few hours had become increasingly normal over the past month. It was getting annoying.

When she met Dick in the Batcave, she was dressed in a dark red modest one-piece bathing suit under a plain gray cotton dress. Dick was wearing navy swimming trunks with a red elastic waistband and a t-shirt, and both had a towel slung over their shoulders and their dark sunglasses on their noses.

They stepped through the Zeta-Tube into an empty mission-slash-training room, so they walked through the hallways until they found M'gann, Superboy, and Kaldur, all in swimwear. The Martian had a boogey board while Superboy carried a cooler casually over his shoulder and Kaldur held a case of bottled water.

"You're here!" M'gann said happily. "Are you ready?"

Lark and Robin glanced at their Teammates, then at themselves. While the birds were still in their coverups and flip-flops, the others were all ready for the water. Kaldur and Superboy were shirtless while M'gann was already showing off her lemon-yellow bikini top and matching boy shorts.

"Uh, we'll be right back," Lark said with a little laugh, and she and Robin took off down the hall toward their Cave bedrooms. Neither bothered to fully enter their rooms, instead standing at the door and simultaneously kicked off their flip-flops and yanked off their coverups. With their towels in hand, they hurried to rejoin the Team.

"Now we're ready," Robin grinned, and they set off. They stepped out of one of the Cave's entrances, the one that led directly onto the beach, and then headed for the shore.

Lark inhaled the fresh sea air deeply, a small content smile stretching across her lips as the light breeze lifted the ends of her hair and made the strands tickle her nose.

"Hello, Megan!" M'gann called, stretching out her arms. "We should hit the beach every day!"

"First, a moment of silence for our absent comrade," Robin said solemnly, placing his fingertips to his forehead.

"Poor Wally," M'gann said, bowing her head.

Poor Wally, indeed; instead of joining the Team on the beach, he was being subjected to the first day of school.

"Moment's over!" Robin declared after a beat, dropping his towel and running for the water.

"Wheeee!" M'gann squealed, running after him and diving in, Superboy following closely behind.

As was the norm, the two oldest members of the Team were slower to join the activities. Lark took her time to spread out her towel on the sand before she began strolling leisurely toward the water.

"Enjoying the downtime?" Kaldur asked as they stopped in the wet sand, letting the waves lap over their feet.

"Definitely," Lark sighed happily, closing her eyes and tilting her head up toward the sun. "We don't go to the beach often, so this is a really nice treat."

True, Wayne Manor was built on a cliff that dropped dramatically and sharply to the ocean, and the property even included a stretch of private beach. But calling it a "beach" was being generous; it was more like a narrow strip of land covered in rocks that were that awkward size of being completely useless: too large to walk on comfortably and too small to be considered sit-able boulders.

Glancing at the Atlantean, Lark asked, "What about you? Were you surprised by 'beach culture' at all?"

He chuckled and nodded as he rubbed the back of his neck. "It was not completely foreign to me, since I had seen it in some movies and television from the surface world, but it was certainly something else entirely to witness it in person."

"C'mon, you two!" Robin hollered from the water. "Are you going to join us or what?"

Lark rolled her eyes and called back, "Impatient much?"

She and Kaldur were now up to their knees in the surf, and she would have been content to stay there for a few more minutes. A shadow loomed large behind her, though, and she whirled around in surprise. The water lifted itself off the beach and Lark turned on Kaldur, his eel tattoos glowing and a rare mischievous look in his eyes.

"Traitor," she had time to gasp with a grin before the water came crashing down on her. It pushed her further from the shore, and when she popped up, her sunglasses were (somehow) still safely perched on her nose, though her hair was now plastered to her face.

She quickly ducked under the water again and when she rose out of the water, her hair was smoothed away from her face. She quirked an eyebrow at Kaldur and was prepared to declare war when a voice suddenly hollered, "Cannonball!"

A shadow passed over them and Lark had enough time to hold her breath and turn her back before Superboy came crashing into the water. She laughed with him once the water had settled, and she could hear Robin hacking up a lung as he tried to cough up all of the seawater he had inhaled.

It was suddenly a water battle, Lark and Superboy versus Kaldur and Robin. A swell of water lifted Superboy up and away while Robin tackled Lark under the waves. When M'gann looked uncertainly between the two teams, they decided she could side with Lark and Superboy and use her telekinesis to help even the field.

They finally declared a truce when Superboy's stomach began to growl. They headed for the shore, splashing each other good-naturedly as they did, and M'gann dashed inside to retrieve supplies for a hotdog lunch.

She used her telekinesis to level the sand, which gave Lark and Robin a nice flat surface on which to set up the little grill. Soon, the coals were hot and everyone got started on grilling their hotdogs.

The young Martian was beyond excited to try new Earth food and her eyes grew wide after she had her first bite. She nodded enthusiastically at Lark and Robin, then at Kaldur and Superboy before taking another large bite. While they weren't as excited to try the new food, the Atlantean and the clone did show their approval of the quick, easy staple of American summers.

Lark tapped out after three, and while the others continued to grill up hotdogs, she stretched out on her towel nearby. She quickly found herself relaxing, the tension in her shoulders seeping into the sand, and despite being out in the open in a relatively new and unfamiliar environment, she felt safe with her brother and new friends so close.

The gentle roar of the waves, the distant calls of the seagulls, the easy chatter of the Team. Lark felt calmer and more well-rested than she had in months, and if it weren't for the fact she wanted to stay conscious enough to flip onto her stomach eventually, she knew without a shadow of a doubt that she could very easily drift off to sleep.

She got about thirty minutes of sunning in before she heard the others start to groan about being full. She heard someone flop onto the sand next to her, and opening one eye, she saw it was Robin.

"You had the right idea," he cried out, dramatically clutching his stomach. "I feel like I'm about to burst!"

Lark just chuckled as she turned onto her stomach again and then propped herself on her elbows to get a lay of the land. Superboy had followed the birds' lead, stretching out on the hot sand, while Kaldur and M'gann sat on their towels just behind him.

"What else is there to do at the beach?" M'gann asked when she realized Lark was awake.

"Beach volleyball!" Robin said immediately and he leapt to his feet. "I think I remember seeing a volleyball in the game closet." He dashed off into the mountain and came back triumphantly a few minutes later, a white volleyball tucked under one arm and a collapsible net under the other.

Kaldur stood to help Robin set up the net, and once the net was taut, Lark asked if he, Superboy, and M'gann were familiar with the rules. Superboy nodded in the affirmative immediately, while the Atlantean and the Martian said they had passing familiarity with the sport from the various broadcasts from the surface world.

Lark and Robin offered to demonstrate the rules with a little one-on-one, and after the two birds had volleyed the ball back and forth a few times to explain the basics, everyone agreed they were ready for a match.

Robin immediately joined Lark on her side of the net, declaring themselves a team. If Wally or Roy had been present, they would have protested vehemently, saying that whenever Lark and Robin were on the same team, they were nearly unbeatable.

But alas, neither redhead was present, so Kaldur, Superboy, and M'gann were more than willing to let the two team up. Superboy thought it was strange that it was Lark who suggested that everyone else play together as a team, but the other two were already agreeing, so he remained silent on the strange arrangement.

Lark tossed the ball to Kaldur, giving his team first serve. He copied the motion he had seen Robin make, and thus began their game of volleyball.

The birds scored the first point, then got scored on, and then gained another. Once the game was tied three to three, Lark and Robin shared a smirk which did not go unmissed by the others. Soon, the game was over in their favor, and M'gann, Kaldur, and Superboy could only gape at how quickly they had been beaten.

"Is that why you let the three of us play as a team?" Superboy asked as Robin whooped and high-fived Lark.

Lark shrugged, maybe a little sheepishly, and nodded with a small laugh. Superboy could only chuckle in response as Robin continued to celebrate.

"That was so fun!" M'gann exclaimed, completely unfazed at the crushing defeat. "Can we play again?"

"Lark and Robin can't be on the same team, though," Superboy said, crossing his arms over his chest with a quirked eyebrow.

"Ooh, we shouldn't play against each other, then," Robin winced, immediately sobering from his cheering. "We get…a little too competitive."

"Seconded," Lark said with a solemn nod. The only time they had ever been on opposite teams had been back in middle school during a school-wide field day. They had ended up playing against each other in dodgeball, and things had gotten…intense. After that incident, it was an unwritten rule within the Gotham Academy system that Naomi Williamson and Dick Grayson were never, under any circumstances, to be allowed to play on opposing teams. It was also conceded that they would be practically unbeatable when they played together, but it was truly the lesser of two evils.

The five of them took turns playing two-on-two, with Lark or Robin serving as referee if the other was playing.

Superboy was the first to tap out, and once he had stretched out on his back in the sand, Robin got a mischievous gleam in his eyes and a playful smirk on his lips. Lark knew immediately what was on his mind, and he quickly filled in Kaldur and M'gann (telepathically, to keep Superboy from overhearing).

That turned out to be unnecessary, because what they were learning about the Boy of Steel was that he was a heavy sleeper. Robin took the lead, with M'gann eagerly following his lead. Kaldur seemed only willing to join in when Lark also started piling on sand.

They not only managed to cover Superboy from foot to neck, but they also succeeded in creating a small mountain of sand over the clone. Lark and Kaldur had to act as the voices of reason when Robin wanted to keep going, but Lark was already worrying about Superboy's ability to free himself from the sandy prison.

"So, do we wake him?" M'gann asked curiously. "Or do we wait for him to wake up naturally?"

Robin answered her by waving them all to back away and then shouting, "HEY, SUPERBOY!" They held their breath and shielded their eyes for the inevitable sand shower.

It turned out, even the might of a super clone was no match for the mountain of sand piled on him. He jerked awake, his eyes flying open and flashing first in concern for Robin's hollering, and then confusion when he was unable to move freely.

He did succeed in dislodging a good amount of the sand, but he was still trapped beneath the majority of the stuff. He wiggled a little more, and another handful of sand shifted. He turned his questioning gaze to Lark and Kaldur, each of whom gave him sheepish smiles while Robin cackled as he moved forward to help dig Superboy out.

The others quickly followed, and before long, Superboy was on his feet again, brushing sand off his skin and shaking the grains out of his boardshorts.

M'gann didn't appear to know where to look: at Superboy or away. She had managed to avert her eyes from Superboy's shirtless chest for most of their beach day, but with nothing else to distract her, she was forced to confront the objectively impressive sight. Every time her eyes flickered to Superboy, M'gann's cheeks would flame and her gaze would dart elsewhere, only to inevitably return to the clone.

The poor, flustered Martian was given a reprieve when Lark and Robin's watches buzzed with an incoming message from Batman: Change and meet back in the mission room.

They relayed the message to the Team, and after some grumbling from Robin about beach day being cut short ("Rob, we've been at the beach for hours."), they gathered their supplies and headed back into the Cave.

After depositing everything in their rightful places, M'gann and Lark headed for the girls' showers. "What do you think Batman wants to show us?" the Martian asked as she stepped under the warm spray.

"Dunno," Lark shrugged while she gathered a couple towels and her uniform to change into after she was done with her own shower, though M'gann couldn't see while she was in the shower stall. Silence stretched between the two, which Lark felt bad about. She knew M'gann was beyond ecstatic to have another female on the Team to teach her the ropes of what it meant to be an Earth girl, but that just wasn't in Lark's DNA.

Naomi Williamson did fine with her friendships, but she tended to keep them at arm's length. Part of that was due to the reality of her night life, but she was a shy and quiet person by nature. It hadn't been helped when she moved into the Williamson estate and into that lifestyle, since she had been relatively isolated and felt alienated whenever she did interact with children her own age.

In general, she was just used to spending her time with a very small circle of people. Her school friends had come into her life slowly and on her terms, so she felt about as comfortable as she could around them as people who weren't Bruce, Dick, or Alfred. And while she had agreed to be on this Team wholeheartedly, it was still more new people than she was used to in one sitting.

Lark sighed and walked into another shower stall. Since she did have a little bit of privacy, she felt comfortable taking off her sunglasses to wash, and she quickly scrubbed the salt from her body and hair before shutting off the water and wrapping a towel around her torso.

M'gann exited first, giving Lark time to towel dry her hair without putting on her mask or sunglasses. Since her hair was short and her hair dried relatively quickly anyway, it didn't take her long to get her hair to a satisfying state of dryness. She made sure her hair was parted down the middle before dressing, placing her mask over her eyes, and exiting the locker room.

When she reached the mission room, Batman and Red Tornado were already gathered with the rest of the Team.

"Now what are we waiting for?" Superboy grumbled. "Lark's here, let's get started."

Lark quirked an eyebrow. "Did I hold up something?" she asked, glancing around the mission room.

"No," Robin assured with a grin. "Supey's just being impatient."

Superboy spared Lark a glance, and while his expression didn't change any, she could see the apology in his blue orbs. She gave him a little smile in response, letting him know there were no hard feelings.

"Recognized: Green Arrow, 0-8; Artemis, B-0-8," the automated voice suddenly announced.

Lark and Robin glanced at each other, a rare glimmer of surprise crossing their expressions before they quickly schooled their features. Batman had told him he was looking into the mysterious archer who had helped out the Team during their mission in Gotham, but hadn't given any indication that he had found anything. But who else would be with Green Arrow, an archer, but the new one that had popped up?

The Zeta-Tube light died down and the Emerald Archer times two stepped out into the Cave. With Green Arrow was a tanned female teenager, in a green mask, pants, and crop top that had a lighter green arrow in the center. Her long, thick blonde hair was pulled away from her face in a high ponytail, and her blue-grey eyes were defiant, challenging.

"Everyone, this is Artemis," Green Arrow announced, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Hi!" the Martian said immediately, flying forward to greet the new archer. "I'm M'gann!"

"Nice to meet you," Artemis said, looking a little off put by the green girl's cheery personality, but like she found M'gann cute, too, like a little sister.

"I am Aqualad," their leader introduced, "and this is Superboy, Lark, and Robin." The clone nodded simply, Lark offered her a small smile, and Robin gave a little salute.

"We are just waiting for the last member of the Team," Batman informed.

"Kid Flash should be here soon…" M'gann said as a slightly awkward silence settled over them.

"Recognized: Kid Flash, B-0-4."

"There he is now!" M'gann said brightly. "I'm sure you two will get along famously."

"The Wall-Man is here!" the speedster declared excitedly as he appeared, decked out in his beach gear, complete with sunglasses and zinc on the nose. "Now let's get this party star—"

In his rush, he tripped over the end of his beach umbrella, causing him to fall forward, his things clattering around him. A beach ball bounced its way over to the Team, and Lark quickly covered her mouth with her hand to hide her amused grin as Batman's eyes narrowed when the ball passed him.

"—ted?"

"The Wall-Man, huh?" Lark glanced at Artemis, who raised an eyebrow and cocked a hip. "Oh, I love the uniform," she mocked. "What exactly are your powers?"

"Uh, who's this?" Wally asked, ignoring her and glancing around to notice everyone was dressed in their uniforms.

"Artemis," the blonde responded confidently. "Your new teammate."

Green Arrow quickly stepped forward. "Uh, she's my new protégé," he explained.

"What happened to your old one?" Wally demanded.

"Recognized: Speedy, B-0-7."

Talk about impeccable timing, Lark thought to herself, an eyebrow lifting slightly as Roy stepped into the Cave, dressed in his new uniform. She had seen it once previously, but it still caught her by surprise. She had grown so used to his Speedy uniform that anything else hadn't quite seemed right. But she couldn't deny it seemed much better suited for stealth, and was also much more fitted than his previous tunic had been. (Not that she was paying attention, of course. It was simply a passing observation.)

Her lips pursed slightly when she took in that his own were set in a tight scowl as he stepped into the Cave and snapped, "Well, for starters, he doesn't go by Speedy anymore. Call me Red Arrow."

"Roy," Green Arrow said, clearly surprised to see the younger archer. "You look—"

"Replaceable," Red Arrow cut in with a glare.

"It's not like that," he argued. "You told me you were going solo."

"So why waste time finding a sub?" the redhead sneered. "Can she even use that bow?" Lark frowned at her friend; what got him in such a mood? He had been in such good spirits the last time she had seen him.

"Yes, she can," Artemis snapped back, stepping forward so she was right in front of him and tilted her head back so she could maintain eye contact. Lark couldn't help but smirk a little when she noticed Roy looked slightly taken aback by the blonde's bold attitude.

"Who are you?" Wally asked loudly.

"I'm his niece," Artemis answered just as Green Arrow responded, "She's my niece."

Lark barely managed to keep her eyebrows from shooting into her hairline while Robin voiced, "Another niece?" That certainly might fool some, but the birds knew better. Something was up.

"But she is not your replacement," Kaldur told Roy, trying to placate him. "We have always wanted you on the Team," he said, taking a step forward, "but we have no quota on archers."

"And if we did, you know who we'd pick," Wally added firmly. Lark elbowed him in the ribs.

"Whatever, Baywatch," Artemis scoffed, ignoring Wally's glare. "I'm here to stay."

"You came to us for a reason," Kaldur spoke up as Roy turned away from Artemis.

"Yeah," he agreed stiffly, "a reason named Dr. Serling Roquette."

Lark tilted her head as the name rang a bell. "The nanorobotics genius and claytronics expert at Royal University?" she finally spoke up.

"The very same," Robin confirmed with a nod once he had consulted his glove's holocomputer. "The one who vanished two weeks ago."

"The one who was abducted two weeks ago," Roy corrected. "By the League of Shadows."

Lark's eyes widened as everything from that night clicked. Beside her, Robin gasped, "Whoa! You want us to rescue her from the Shadows?"

"Hard-core," Wally whispered with a grin, fist-bumping Robin.

"I already rescued her," Roy said, and while Lark's immediate reaction was her stomach dropping to her feet at the thought of one of her closest friends facing the League of Shadow's alone, she also noticed that he couldn't help but sound a little cocky at his success.

"Only one problem," he admitted. "The Shadows had already coerced her into creating a weapon." He held something in his hand and clicked it. Above his fist, images appeared of said project.

"Doc calls it the Fog," he continued, "comprised of millions of microscopic robots: nanotech infiltrators capable of disintegrating anything in their path—concrete, steel—" He paused. "—flesh, bone." Lark couldn't stop the shiver that traveled down her spine at the mental image. "But its true purpose isn't mere destruction. It's theft.

"The infiltrators eat and store raw data from any computer system and deliver the stolen intel to the Shadows, providing them access to weapons, strategic defense, and cutting edge science and tech," the archer finished.

"Perfect for extortion, manipulation, power broking," Artemis concluded with a sigh, sounding bored, or…bitter? "Yeah, sounds like the Shadows."

"Like you know anything about the Shadows," Wally said, looking unimpressed. Artemis glanced over her shoulder at him with a knowing smirk, and he exclaimed, "Who are you?!"

"Roquette's working on a virus to render the Fog inert," Roy cut in.

"But if the Shadows know she can do that…" Robin trailed off.

"They'll target her," he finished with a nod. "Right now, she's off the grid. I stashed her at the local high school's computer lab."

"You left her alone?!" Green Arrow exclaimed.

"She's safe enough for now," Roy responded defensively.

"Then let's you and I keep her that way," he suggested.

"You and me?" the younger archer scoffed in disbelief. "Don't you want to take your new protégé?"

Green Arrow stepped forward, but Batman stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "You brought this to the Team," the blond man sighed, not looking at his former partner. "It's their mission, which means it's hers now, too."

Roy scoffed. "Then my job's done." He walked stiffly to the Zeta-Tubes, though he spared Lark a glance when he felt her worried gaze linger on his retreating back.

The computer said, "Recognized: Speedy—" as he stepped into the Zeta. He snapped, "That's Red Arrow, B-0-7. Update." He held Lark's gaze as the Zeta-Tube whirled to life, and she sighed a little once he disappeared.

"Looks like you have a mission to prepare for," Green Arrow said once the light had died down. To his new partner, he asked, "Are you ready for this?"

Artemis smirked confidently and said, "Born that way."

Wally scoffed and brushed past her on his way to the locker rooms. He came back in a second, dressed for a mission. He continued to stare frostily at Artemis as Batman began discussing the impromptu mission.

Once the mission briefing was over, Lark excused herself. She hurried to her Cave bedroom, and once there, pulled out her phone. She wasn't even sure if Roy was still using the Miami number, but she dialed the last one he had contacted her with and hoped he answered.

She was pleasantly surprised when he answered on the second ring. "Are you out of your mind?!" she yelled before he could say hello. "Going after the League of Shadows by yourself?!"

"I survived, didn't I?" Roy snarked back with a scowl.

"That's beside the point and you know it," Lark snapped. "You could have been captured! You could have been killed!"

"Why is it these days you only reach out to me to yell at me?!"

"Because someone needs to knock some sense into you, and you won't talk to Oliver or Dinah!" Lark huffed out a breath and said, "Christ, Roy, you have been taking more and more risks since Independence Day, and I don't understand why. Are you trying to prove yourself worthy of being a member of the League? Because the best way to do that is to prove you can be a team player, and this lone wolf schtick you've got going isn't helping your case!"

On the other end of the line, Roy opened his mouth, then closed it with a snap. She was right. He had been getting reckless, picking bigger and bigger prey to take down. But how else was he going to prove himself? He didn't think Naomi was right, that being a member of the Junior Justice team would do enough to make his mark. How was he supposed to show the world he could hit with the big guns if his actions were limited to clandestine operations, just one of a bunch of do-gooders?

Before he could formulate an answer that would satisfy Naomi, she cut him off. "Look, I have to go. I guess I'll see you…whenever."

Her tone was bitter and she hung up before he could say anything. With a growl, Roy hurled his phone against the brick wall of the back alley he had ducked into to answer Naomi's call. She probably knew him better than anyone, but it still took him by surprise how quickly she had been able to see through his bravado. He took a deep breath to calm his harsh breathing before picking up the pieces of the destroyed burner phone. He would have to reach out to her, and soon, if he wanted to patch things up.

Red Arrow sighed and disappeared into the shadows.

---

Location: Happy Harbor, Rhode Island
Date: Monday, August 09, 2010
Time: 2159 EDT

That night, the Team traveled to the high school in Miss Martian's Bio-Ship. Lark was quiet the whole trip, wondering if perhaps the White Tiger would be among the Shadows sent to Happy Harbor. It wasn't until Miss Martian gently tapped her shoulder that Lark realized they had landed and that everyone else had stood to depart.

"Lark, Superboy, and Miss Martian," Aqualad addressed as the Team stepped off the Bio-Ship, "stay out here and keep an eye on the perimeter. The rest of us will stand guard around Dr. Roquette."

Lark nodded in understanding and while the Team filed into the school, she took to the roof as Superboy and Miss Martian patrolled the grounds.

{Everyone online?} Miss Martian's disembodied voice came in Lark's head a minute later.

{Ugh,} Artemis grumbled. {This is weird.}

{And distracting,} a new voice snapped, and Lark figured that must be Dr. Serling Roquette. {Coding a distributive algorithm virus on a kiddie computer with less RAM than a wristwatch is hard enough,} she said, her voice rising. {Now I have to hear teen-think in my skull?!}

{Lady, do you always complain when someone tries to help you?} Kid Flash asked, clearly annoyed.

{Pot, kettle,} Artemis sighed. {Have you met?}

{Hey, hey!} Kid Flash snapped. {I do not need attitude from the newbie who drove Red Arrow off the Team,} he threw at her.

{That is so not on me!} Artemis exclaimed hotly.

{He chose to go solo,} Lark reminded. {You really can't blame Artemis.}

{Fate of the world at stake!} Dr. Roquette hollered angrily.

{She started it,} was Kid Flash's juvenile response.

{Real mature,} Lark sighed.

In the computer lab where Dr. Roquette and the rest of the Team were holed up, Kid Flash scowled and stuck his tongue up at the ceiling and Robin snorted and said gleefully, {L, he just stuck his tongue out at you!}

{Dude!} Kid Flash hissed.

{Knock it off, both of you,} Lark said sharply, and Robin and Kid Flash felt the hairs on the back of their necks rise as they imagined the glare she must have been sending their way.

{How 'bout I just help Lark, Miss M, and Superboy patrol the perimeter?} Artemis cut through.

{Good idea,} Aqualad agreed stiffly, and from the emphasis in his tone, Lark believed he would have eventually suggested it.

There was a brief pause before Robin spoke up. {You might want to cut her some slack. It was her arrow that saved your butt against Amazo,} he added smugly.

{What?} Kid Flash floundered. {No, that was Speedy's—I mean, Red Arrow's—arrow, right?} he asked.

{No-ot so much,} Robin snickered.

{Whatever,} the speedster grumbled. {Still not giving her the satisfaction.}

{You know, I can still hear you,} Artemis said loudly, sounding exasperated.

From there, Lark tuned everyone out. It was amusing, but it had its limits. Now, she just wanted to stay focused.

Her concentration was broken, though, when a few minutes later, she heard Artemis practically purr, {Mmm…that boy.}

Lark's eyes widened a little at Artemis's brazenness, while Miss Martian snapped angrily, {He can hear you. We can all hear you!}

{Oh, I know,} Artemis said casually, not sounding at all embarrassed.

Aqualad sighed. {Miss Martian, Dr. Roquette has located the Fog,} he said. {Reconfigure the Bio-Ship so that Lark, Robin, and Superboy can pursue.}

Lark paused her patrolling the roof to say, {I think I should stay behind. With the Shadows behind this, at least one of us Bats should stay, since we have more knowledge than anyone here about the organization.}

Given her position up on the roof, she missed the sharp, if slightly nervous, look Artemis shot her way.

{Very well,} Aqualad said. {Then Robin and Superboy, get ready to leave.}

{Sure thing,} Robin said and a minute later, Lark saw him exit the school and jog toward Superboy, who was already waiting by the Bio-Ship.

Once they had departed, Miss Martian rounded on Artemis. {You embarrassed Superboy,} the Martian griped, and Lark didn't need to glance at the two to know Miss Martian was glaring at Artemis.

{Didn't hear him say that,} the blonde responded coolly.

{Must you challenge everyone?!} Miss Martian exclaimed.

{Where I come from, that's how you survive,} Artemis bit back.

{Guys, focus!} Lark snapped; she had just seen two shadows flip gracefully over the fence lining the school property, one after the other. {I saw something…}

{Lark is right,} Aqualad spoke up. {If we are to keep our promise to Dr. Roquette and keep her safe, we must be vigilant.}

{I'm going in,} Lark informed. She dropped to the ground and entered through a side door. Before she got very far, a figure landed in a crouch in front of her.

"I knew you were the clever one."

"You." Lark's eyes narrowed and she took a fighting stance as White Tiger slowly stood to his full height.

{Me,} he responded with a smirk. {Good to see you again.}

{Wish I could say the same,} she replied, unconsciously switching to Mandarin to match him.

White Tiger wasted no time, launching straight into his attack. Lark was prepared this time, though, anticipating his light projections and throwing up a shield in time to defend against the sparkling beam.

Behind his tiger mask, dark brown eyes widened in shock as both he and Lark were thrown back several feet as the collision of light and dark resulted in an unexpected explosion. The lockers up and down the hallway rattled loudly, and the ceiling and floor where the two forces had met showed signs of cracking.

{What was that?!} Kid Flash exclaimed in alarm.

{Are the Shadows trying to bomb us?} Miss Martian asked worriedly.

{Is everyone all right?} Aqualad called over the concerned voices.

In took Lark a moment to answer in the affirmative through her slight daze. Once she had, she gave a soft groan as she turned onto her side and then pushed herself upright to take in her surroundings. There was a slight ringing in her ears and she felt a little stiff from the explosion, and farther down the hall, she could see White Tiger getting to his feet slowly.

What she couldn't see was his shock and confusion, but she didn't understand how her powers worked anyway, so a surprise explosion didn't faze her nearly as much. Instead, she used his obvious shock to her advantage and drew her batarangs.

White Tiger snapped out of his stupor at the last second, lifting his hand to block the projectiles. A white shield materialized in front of him, but it flickered, unstable, and he was forced to dodge out of the way of the second barrage of batarangs.

Lark pressed her advantage, keeping White Tiger off balance as she pushed forward, forcing him away from the computer room where she had been informed the Team was guarding Roquette. White Tiger accounted for one of the Shadows; now it was just a matter of staying ahead of the second.

White Tiger's confused haze didn't last long. Lark got in a few solid punches and kicks that he managed to block or knock aside, but the blow to the stomach that had him stumbling back and gasping for air brought him back to his senses. He might have had powers, but before they had manifested, he had been trained in combat by the best masters in the world. He knew how to fight.

Lark noticed the change in his demeanor immediately and rolled out of the way of his first offensive attack. As she did, she slipped her staff from its holster and extended it with a snap of her wrist. It was fully extended by the time she was on her feet again, and no sooner had she straightened, White Tiger was on her with a growl, his fingers flexing as he did, causing claws to extend from his gloves.

Her staff twirled with practiced ease, knocking aside and blocking White Tiger's punches and kicks. He was stronger than her, and so each blow she managed to block sent her back a step as well as sending shock waves up her arms. She leapt backward, out of the way of a particularly vicious swipe of his claws and holstered her staff once she had ducked behind a row of lockers.

She was just preparing for White Tiger's next assault when Aqualad's voice suddenly rang in her head. {Lark, M'gann, Kid, Artemis,} his calm voice called, only vaguely twinged with panic, {we are under attack in the computer lab.}

Lark cursed under her breath as she was caught unprepared for White Tiger. She barely managed to dodge out of the way, but his claws grazed her right side, catching the Kevlar weave of her uniform.

{On our way,} Artemis replied immediately.

Lark found herself unable to travel any further, with White Tiger's claw snagged on her uniform. She twisted, trying to untangle herself, while her adversary grasped at her wildly. The sharp metal claws were driven further into the tight weave, and Lark could feel the force of them start to dig into her skin. They went slamming into another set of lockers, which rattled against the combined weight of the two fighters.

{Lark, do you copy?} Aqualad called, having heard nothing from the older bird.

"A little busy at the moment!" Lark ground out loud, too preoccupied to hope she had also informed the Team through the mind-link.

She ducked White Tiger's free fist, which was a feat considering he was still snagged in her uniform. She managed it by spinning out of the way, but at the cost of driving the claws further through her uniform and eventually into her skin. Now that the claws were free of the Kevlar weave, though, White Tiger was finally able to draw back his hand.

Lark drew out her grapple gun and fired it past White Tiger's shoulder. He lunged out of the way, but not before Lark was able to kick him in the solar plexus as she passed. She hit the ground running as he doubled over, wheezing, and she clutched her bleeding ribs as she headed toward the computer lab. She winced a little as she felt something dig further into the wound, and she blindly pulled out a claw that had come loose from White Tiger's glove.

She didn't have time to inspect it, though, and instead stuck it in a pocket in her belt and picked up her pace down the hall. She finally burst into the lab, just as Kid Flash and Miss Martian entered from the door on the other side of the room.

A Shadow whirled around as Lark came skidding to a stop, her hand dropping from her injured side in anticipation of another fight. White Tiger came barreling into the lab just then, and he too prepared for a new fight with Lark as she spun around to face him.

"Maybe a little too interesting," a feminine voice admitted, though she sounded intrigued about what might happen next. Her eyes swept over them once more before she said, "Tiger, let's go!"

White Tiger eyed Lark a moment longer before dropping back. He and his partner—a young black-haired woman dressed in a short green kimono, knee-high black boots, and a grinning white cat mask—dashed out of the room, but not before the green-garbed Shadow dropped a smoke bomb to enable their escape.

Lark coughed and brought her cape up to her nose and mouth, thankful her domino mask at least protected her eyes from the harsh smoke. She turned in time to see Kid Flash barrel into Artemis' arms in an attempt to follow the Shadows, and for a split second, they stared at each other in horror before Kid Flash came to his senses and pushed himself away.

"Gone," he declared unnecessarily.

"They're getting away!" Dr. Roquette exclaimed, glaring around the room. "You're letting them get away!"

"This is all your fault!" Kid Flash accused, ignoring Roquette and rounding on Artemis. "You were on perimeter! How'd those Shadows get in?!"

The speedster and the archer were pulled away from their glaring contest when Miss Martian stepped forward. "That's not really fair," she said hesitantly. "Lark and I were outside, too."

"Outside being distracted by her!" Kid Flash exclaimed. "Besides, I can't be mad at you," he added, glancing over his shoulder at Miss Martian. {You gave me mouth-to-mouth.}

{We heard that!} Lark snapped, along with everyone else.

"Dang it!" Kid Flash yelled out loud.

"I didn't do half as well during my first battle," Miss Martian comforted Artemis as she took a step closer and placed a hand on the archer's shoulder. "And I know you can't have been Green Arrow's sidekick for very long."

Artemis gave the Martian a grateful smile as Aqualad said, "Focus, everyone. The Shadows will be back." He tilted his head slightly and Lark figured Robin had made contact. After a moment, he said, "Rescan for that Fog. Find it. We're moving the doctor."

"Where can we go?" Miss Martian asked.

"Lark, can you look into that?" Aqualad requested. She nodded and raised her arm to access her holo-computer, but winced a little as it pulled at the punctures on her side.

"Lark, are you okay?" Miss Martian asked, noticing her discomfort before she could school her features, and Kid Flash sped to her side.

"I'm fine, I swear," she said, dodging Kid Flash's attempts to play nurse to her wounds. "They're shallow and small and not even bleeding anymore." He opened his mouth to argue but was silenced when Lark sent a scowl his way. He backed off and when no one stepped up to take his place, she went back to searching for a suitable location to hide the doctor.

After a few minutes, Lark announced she had found a place that could work.

"Good," Aqualad said. "Now, we need a plan. I doubt Cheshire and White Tiger are alone."

"Knowing the Shadows, they'll have backup," Lark confirmed, this time not missing the look Artemis shot her way.

"So, we need a diversion," Aqualad suggested.

Lark nodded, her mind spinning as a plan started to formulate in her head. "I have an idea," she said. Aqualad nodded, giving her the go-ahead to lay out her plan. "There's a second location that has computers, which means we can have the real Roquette and a fake Roquette working simultaneously."

"Wait, wait," Dr. Roquette stuttered. "Real?"

Aqualad nodded again, catching on to what Lark was saying. "We throw the Shadows off the scent, give the real Roquette time to work on the virus."

"Again, I ask: real?!" the doctor exclaimed.

"Lark, you will stay with Dr. Roquette," Aqualad went on. "Kid Flash and Artemis will guard Miss Martian." The green-skinned girl immediately shifted, and suddenly there were two Roquettes in the room. The real doctor scrambled backward and sputtered, but the Team continued to ignore her.

"I will create the diversion, bring the fake Dr. Roquette to the Shadows' attention," continued Aqualad. "Once the Shadows are successfully diverted, I will join Lark with the real Dr. Roquette."

The speedster and the archer grumbled when they heard they would be together, but they were silenced by a sharp look from Aqualad. "Are we clear?" he asked rhetorically. When everyone nodded, he said, "Good. Let's move."

Lark scouted ahead, checking for any lingering Shadows. When she announced it looked as though the Shadows had also pulled back to regroup, the Team snuck out of the school and began making their way to the first destination.

They made it to City Hall without any Shadows intercepting them, and once Lark had picked the lock and used Robin's program to turn off any alarm, Aqualad ushered in Kid Flash, Artemis, and the fake Dr. Roquette.

Once the door was clicked shut, Lark turned to Aqualad. "How long before they kill each other?" she asked dryly.

He gave her a wry smile. "Let's keep moving."

While Lark began to sneak Roquette farther down the street toward the Sandbar Internet Café, Aqualad stepped into the middle of the road, making a big show of guarding City Hall on the off chance the Shadows had returned.

With the abundance of caution, it took Lark several long minutes to escort Roquette to safety, but once the doctor was situated at a computer, Lark said through the mind-link, {We're all set.}

{Understood,} Aqualad replied. {Stay alert, everyone.} A few minutes later, he said firmly, {Stop it, both of you.}

{What?} Kid Flash and Artemis demanded at the same time.

{I can hear you glaring,} Aqualad responded wryly before moving behind a tree.

From her position by the window, Lark could just barely make out Aqualad's form. She knew he was saying something out loud, because a moment later, red webbing came down on his head.

{They took the bait,} Lark alerted everyone, straightening just slightly in the hopes of catching a glimpse of Black Spider's partner.

{Who do you see, L?} Kid Flash asked.

Lark winced slightly as she watched Aqualad sail into the side of a van, leaving a large dent and the Atlantean unprepared for the large Shadow that came crashing down on him, knocking the air out of their leader and down for the count.

{Our old buddies Black Spider and Hook,} she answered. {Along with the masked female from the school,} she added as the lithe figure joined her companions.

{They are heading your way, Miss Martian,} Aqualad warned as the Shadows left him.

A moment later, Artemis called, {They're here.}

{All four of them?} Lark asked.

{No,} Kid Flash responded with a grunt. {Just Spidey and Hook.}

She cursed. {Keep an eye out for the other two.}

After a few moments of tense silence, Miss Martian said, {Cheshire is searching for the real Dr. Roquette now and Artemis is in pursuit.}

{Got it,} Lark responded. "Still no Tiger?" she muttered to herself. If their fight was anything to go by, he was pissed about something, and she could only assume it was something she had done. He was a Shadow, though, and he wouldn't leave in the middle of a mission. So where the hell was he?

The sound of a floorboard creaking caused Lark to whirl around, a birdarang in her hand in an instant. Aqualad stepped out of the shadows and Lark sighed in relief.

"Cheshire's on her way, but Miss M and the others haven't seen White Tiger," she informed. "Can you hold down the fort here? I'll scout."

"Of course," he nodded. She gave him a small smile and headed out.

She grappled to the roof of the café they were set up in and scanned the area. Near the van where Aqualad had encountered Black Spider, Lark saw Artemis draw her bow at Cheshire's back. She started toward the pair but paused when a rustle behind her caught her attention. She whirled around, eyes scanning the foliage carefully.

She didn't spot anything out of the ordinary, so she turned back to Artemis and Cheshire. She frowned when she saw they had disappeared from sight, and she sighed.

{Aqualad, I'm going to patrol the area, widen my net. You still good in there?} Lark asked through the mental link, and he responded in the affirmative. With that, she grappled to the ground and began walking the perimeter.

From his perch on a tree limb near the café, White Tiger observed Lark as she ventured further away from the building's entrance. Now that he was out of the fight, he had time to wonder at his strange power outage. What was even stranger, Batman's oldest bird seemed to have a very similar power as his…

With a frown, he glanced at his left glove, noticing for the first time that the dark gray material was stained with blood. Her blood. His gut began to sink as a horrible thought occurred to him and he removed his gloves, hopeful there was enough blood left over to run some tests.

He caught Cheshire's eyes as she slinked toward the back of the café, and he dropped from the tree to join her.

"Where were you?" Cheshire demanded, eyes narrowing behind her mask.

"Around," White Tiger shrugged, unbothered by the scrutiny.

"We'll be discussing this later," she snapped. "For now, we have a mission to complete."

"Whatever you say, boss."

"I believe there's one little hero unaccounted for," Cheshire noted, mentally crossing faces off the growing list of sidekicks.

"She's around. I'm sure she'll be back any minute."

"Then let's prepare a little welcome party, shall we?"

They tucked themselves away into the shadows surrounding the building. They didn't have to wait long for Lark to reappear, coming around the corner as she approached the rear entrance. White Tiger stepped out from behind a tree, stopping Lark in her tracks. She prepared herself for a fight, noting with some relief that his clawed gloves were off, but before she could make a move, something hit her in the crux between her neck and shoulder. She crumbled to the ground, unconscious.

Behind his mask, White Tiger pouted. "Well, you're no fun."

"We're not here to toy with the sidekicks," Cheshire scowled. "I don't know how the Emperor runs his missions, but you're with the League of Shadows now. We don't fool around."

"You're the boss," White Tiger acquiesced with a slight bow and a hint of a sneer, though the latter went unnoticed by Cheshire.

"Let's wrap this up and get back to base," she said with her own slight lip curl. "You take the direct approach, hold the Atlantean's attention." White Tiger simply gave her a mock salute, and she rolled her eyes before marching toward the rear entrance.

The two Shadows slipped in through the back door, and while White Tiger made a show of searching for the doctor, Cheshire found the vents and hopped in.

A thump alerted Aqualad that he and the doctor weren't alone. "We have company," he warned, glancing between Dr. Roquette and the door. Where is Lark? he thought to himself, worry nagging at the edge of his mind before he reminded himself that she was a Bat, and no one was too big an opponent for a Bat.

"Uploading now," Dr. Roquette informed. "And by the way," she added with a glare at Aqualad, "you said you'd protect me!"

"He seems to have done a good enough job up to this point," White Tiger drawled, stepping into the room. "Unfortunately, that ends now."

Aqualad immediately reached for his water-bearers, creating two swords. White Tiger, having regained his light manifestations, copied his motion, and two matching white swords that shimmered with pale purple appeared in his hands.

"Where is Lark?" Aqualad demanded with a growl.

White Tiger raised an eyebrow. "Why?" he asked. "What's she to you?"

"She is a teammate and a friend," the Atlantean replied stiffly.

Behind him, one of the square tiles that made up the ceiling shifted, making Aqualad's ear twitch.

"You are just the distraction!" he realized too late, whirling around and raising his swords.

"Obviously, it worked," White Tiger smirked. Aqualad may have detected Cheshire, but he was too slow to strike down the three darts she shot at his chest.

As Aqualad stumbled back, White Tiger's swords vanished with a lingering shimmer and Cheshire dropped from the ceiling.

"Let's test the limit of your jellyfish immunity, shall we?" she asked gleefully.

As the gilled teen rushed Cheshire sluggishly, White Tiger turned to Dr. Roquette, a jian sword materializing in his hand. "I wouldn't move if I were you," he warned, leveling the blade even with the doctor's sternum. She held up her hands and with prompting from the Shadow's light sword, moved away from the computer.

Behind White Tiger, Aqualad fell with a thud on the floor and Cheshire stood over him triumphantly. "There," she said in a sing-song tone. "Limit tested." Turning to her partner, she raised an eyebrow. "Why haven't you killed her already?"

"Figured you'd like to do the honors," he replied.

Cheshire rolled her eyes. "Always the gentleman," she said with saccharine sweetness as she sashayed over to him and Dr. Roquette.

"Looks like it's time for my appointment, Doctor," Cheshire grinned as she pulled a sai from its sheath, taking White Tiger's place in front of Roquette as he moved to stand behind the doctor.

He stood fast behind Dr. Roquette, keeping her from backing up too far. The doctor's eyes flashed to the computer screen she had been working on, and White Tiger followed her gaze.

"Trouble, Chesh," he warned with a frown.

Cheshire glanced at the screen before turning back to the doctor. "So, you finished the virus," she growled, "eliminating the reason for your elimination."

"Though not the entertainment value," White Tiger pondered, creating a knife and holding it against Dr. Roquette's throat.

Cheshire just hummed and stepped back. "Lucky for you, our orders are clear," she said. "You live to program another day."

"What a shame," White Tiger sighed, the knife disappearing as he stepped around the doctor to join Cheshire. "But I guess you never know when your talents might come in handy again."

Cheshire turned on her heel and she and White Tiger strode out of the café. As soon as they stepped out, four arrows impaled the sidewalk at their feet.

"Ah, I see someone's not finished," Cheshire smirked. To White Tiger, she said, "Meet the others. I have some unfinished business with the archer."

He nodded and took off, only to double back and return to the rear of the café, where he found Lark still unconscious. He studied her for a long minute. He felt like he had been handed a puzzle, but only given a fraction of the pieces. He sighed with a slight shake of his head before disappearing into the night.

Lark came to with a soft groan. Pushing herself to her feet and forcing the building ache to the back of her mind, she realized there were voices coming from around the corner. She grappled to the top of the café and crept to the edge. Peering down, she saw Artemis facing a mask-less Cheshire, whose sharp cat-like eyes, fine jawline, and soft cheekbones were practically identical to Artemis'.

"So, like the Cheshire cat," she was saying to the blonde archer as she dropped a smoke bomb, "I'll just disappear."

Lark dropped to the sidewalk behind the blonde once Cheshire had vanished, and Artemis whirled around with an arrow poised at Lark's heart.

"Oh, it's just you," Artemis sighed in relief, returning the arrow to her quiver. Soft panting came from behind her, and Lark peered over her shoulder to see Aqualad being helped out of the café by Dr. Roquette.

"Lark, Artemis," he addressed as he stopped between them, "where are the Shadows?"

"I was ambushed earlier," Lark admitted with a wince. "I just woke up and saw no one."

"She—I mean, they, uh…they got away," Artemis said, her eyes flashing to Lark just for a second as Kid Flash appeared.

"Oh, from you?" he asked sarcastically as he skidded to a stop next to Lark. Artemis turned away from him. "Oh, big surprise. Notice, we got ours." Miss Martian floated down, levitating Black Spider and Hook, who were tied up and unconscious.

"Hey, Kid," Lark called, noticing Cheshire's mask on the ground. She slipped her toe beneath the mask and flipped it into her hand, where she held it out for the redhead, hoping it would distract him from picking on Artemis; it worked.

"Cool," he grinned as he took it from her. "Souvenir!"

"Her mask?" Aqualad stepped forward and started to pull the darts from his chest. "Did you see her—her face?" he asked as he winced in pain.

"It was dark," Artemis defended immediately, turning her back to everyone.

"It is fine," Aqualad assured. "Robin and Superboy neutralized the Fog, and Dr. Roquette is safe, thanks in no small part to you." Artemis slowly turned to face them again. "Welcome to the Team."

Artemis managed a small smile and Lark, Aqualad, and Miss Martian approached her.

"I've always wanted a sister, and now I have two!" Miss Martian said happily as Aqualad held his hand out for Artemis to shake. "Here on Earth, I mean," she clarified. "I have twelve, back on Mars, but trust me, it's not the same."

"I wouldn't know," Artemis said with a small smile, and Lark had to admit she had a good poker face, but something in her tone made Lark think the blonde wasn't being truthful. "But thanks," she added.

Miss Martian elbowed Kid Flash in the ribs. "Ow," he said, sounding more like he was just making a point and not actually hurt in any way. "Yeah," he said finally in the same tone. "Welcome."

Lark rolled her eyes as he and Artemis shook hands. "Pardon Kid Manners," she said. "The rest of us are glad to have you, making his feelings on the subject irrelevant."

Miss Martian giggled while Artemis smirked. "Words hurt, babe," Kid Flash whined.

"Come on," Lark laughed, ruffling Kid Flash's hair. "Let's go home."

Chapter 10: 6.1 - Rise of the Coalition

Notes:

I own nothing you recognize.

Content warning, I think? There is a scene where Lark is in a fight she cannot win, but nothing explicit.

Location: The Batcave, beneath Wayne Manor
Date: Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Time: 0322 EDT

The trio of Gotham heroes stepped out of the Zeta-Tube, having wrapped up a mission debrief with the Team regarding the safety of Dr. Roquette and the status of the Fog. Robin made a beeline for the changing room, stifling a wide yawn, and Lark trudged more slowly after him, stepping into her designated changing area and ready to call it a night.

She removed her cape, unclasped her utility belt and thigh holsters, and stepped out of her boots. Once her mask was removed and the front zipper of her one-piece uniform unzipped, she peeled it off her arms and then down her legs, kicking aside the bundle of material.

Naomi raised her arms to strip off her sports bra, but a slight sting on her ribs halted her movements. Turning to the full-length mirror, she twisted slightly to get a clear look for the first time at the claw marks White Tiger had left.

They were already clotted, though when she touched her finger to one of the puncture wounds, it came back slightly red as they were aggravated due to her excessive motions. They were shallow, thankfully, though Naomi had a feeling if she had been wearing street clothes, it might have been a different story.

Wondering how anything might have pierced her suit’s special armored weave, she stooped to retrieve the claw that had been left behind from White Tiger’s glove. She carefully removed the claw from her utility belt with a bit of tissue on the off chance there was any physical evidence that could be gleaned from its surface. A cursory glance revealed nothing special, but perhaps there was something a microscope could pick up. Setting it aside, Naomi finally divested herself of her undergarments and stepped under the hot water.

She emerged from the changing room the same time as Dick, and together they carried their dirty uniforms to the laundry basket and set the rest of their accessories on their designated hooks. Dick started heading for the elevator but paused when he saw Naomi wasn’t with him.

Instead, she walked past Bruce—who was seated, as usual, at the Batcomputer—and toward the Science Station.

“What’s that?” Dick asked, his head tilted in confusion.

“A possible lead,” she said as she set the claw beneath the microscope, which then appeared magnified on the large screen in front of her.

Exhaustion forgotten, Dick bounded up the steps to the Science Station to hover over Naomi’s shoulder. Bruce joined them more slowly, coming to a stop on Naomi’s other side. While she observed the claw through the microscope as she slowly began to rotate it, Bruce and Dick watched on the the screen.

“What exactly is this?” Bruce asked once Naomi had done a complete rotation of the claw.

“It’s from White Tiger’s glove,” she said, leaning back in the chair and shifting her attention to the large screen.

“Whoa, how’d you get it?”

“It got caught in my uniform,” she answered without looking at Dick, knowing that as good as her poker face was, the Manor residents always seemed to see straight through her. (Though, to be fair, she could do the same to them.)

Bruce, of course, noticed what Naomi wasn’t saying immediately, and his eyes narrowed slightly. “Where were you injured?”

Naomi rolled her eyes. “It’s no big deal,” she said. “Already checked it out while I was showering. The thing’s obviously not poisoned since I’m fine. No need to worry.”

“Let Alfred be the judge of that,” Bruce said firmly. The butler-medic was there in an instant, and Naomi groaned but hopped onto the table beside the microscope. She lifted her oversized shirt, careful to keep her rather small and unimpressive bust covered, and leaned back slightly to let Alfred examine the four puncture marks on her ribs.

After a quick check, Alfred nodded. “You’re all set, Miss Naomi. They look clean and since you have no trouble moving, they don’t appear to be deep.”

“See?” she snarked, letting her shirt drop and lifting an eyebrow at Bruce.

He held up his hands in surrender, but still said, “You can’t fault me for being cautious.”

Naomi rolled her eyes but huffed and stood from the table. “All that to acquire something of White Tiger’s, and there’s not a hint of anything useful.”

“We know what it’s made of,” Bruce countered. “And it explains why it was able to penetrate the Kevlar weave.”

“Tungsten?” Dick deduced.

“Okay, but we could have figured that out regardless of if we got our hands on it,” Naomi said with another eyeroll.

“Don’t be so negative, Mimi,” Dick said chipperly, grinning widely at her scowl. “You never know what we might find. Fingerprints, maybe?”

“I’ve been careful not to touch it directly,” she nodded. “I guess we could check to see if there’s any trace of something helpful.”

“All of which can be done first thing in the morning,” Alfred interjected when it appeared that all three heroes were about to pounce on the claw. Dick and Naomi didn’t need to be prompted twice to head upstairs, but it took a very stern and pointed look from the butler to get Bruce to budge.

Pleased that all his charges were actually listening for a change, Alfred allowed himself a small, self-indulgent smile before he followed them upstairs.

---

Location: Infinity Island, Headquarters of the League of Shadows
Date: Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Time: 0522 ECT

"Tiger, wake up. We're here."

He was aware; he had never fallen asleep. Too much had been weighing on his mind. But he opened his eyes slowly all the same to find Cheshire staring down at him. She was without her mask and her sharp cat eyes were narrowed.

“You held back,” she muttered accusingly as he got to his feet.

He didn’t give any indication that what she said bothered him, his movements languid as he stretched. He pulled off his own mask to look Cheshire in the eyes as he leaned down and whispered, “And what about you, hmm? There was something going on between you and that blonde archer.”

Cheshire’s poker face was nearly as good as White Tiger’s, but he saw the slight tick in her jaw, and he smirked as he brushed past her.

“This isn’t over,” Cheshire hissed after him, and he just lifted a hand to wave over his shoulder without bothering to look at her.

Sensei was waiting for the four of them—Cheshire, White Tiger, Hook, and Black Spider—and they bowed in greeting before following after him as he wordlessly led them inside the compound. They filed into the mission room, and while Cheshire led the debriefing, White Tiger remained silent.

They were dismissed, and as per usual after missions, they were given relative free rein with their time, allowed to sleep or train or really whatever they wanted. Hook was headed for the kitchen, Black Spider walked in the direction of the living quarters, and Cheshire’s destination was the training hall.

White Tiger made a beeline for the Science Division.

Despite the age of Rā’s al Ghūl, the man was dedicated to understanding the world around him, everything from the arts to magic to science. After all, he wouldn’t have bothered to abduct Doctor Serling Roquette if he had no use for her expertise in nanorobotics.

When he entered the main lab, he waved down a Shadow. “Can I have your absolute discretion?” White Tiger asked in a low voice as soon as the Shadow reached him.

“From the League of Shadows? Of course. From the Great One—”

“Right, of course,” White Tiger muttered under his breath; of course Rā’s al Ghūl would keep tabs on everything that happened on Infinity Island. He huffed out a sigh and held out his glove, the one stained with Lark’s blood. “I need you to run a DNA test on this.”

The Shadow took it, careful not to touch the blood. “And what exactly am I looking for?” she asked.

“I need to know if there’s a familial match.”

“And do you have a comparison sample for me to test?”

In response, White Tiger pulled the other glove out of the belt around his waist. He extended one claw and slashed the pad of his index finger.

The Shadow’s eyes widened at what White Tiger was implying and she quickly scrambled for a test tube to collect his blood. “I’ll get right on this,” she said. “But I make no promises; it might be difficult to extract the blood from this glove.”

“Just do the best you can.”

---

Location: The Batcave, beneath Wayne Manor
Date: Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Time: 1746 EDT

Bee-beep! Bee-beep!

The residents of Wayne Manor stopped what they were doing to turn to the Batcomputer, whose emergency alarm had caught all their attention. Naomi and Dick stepped off the training mat to stand on either side of Bruce at the computer while Alfred stood behind them.

“What triggered it?” Naomi asked.

Among many things the Batcomputer was capable of, flagging suspicious behavior was one. The beauty of the coding also meant it could track not only individual movement but compile those suspicious movements to form a bigger picture. Of course, like all programming, some things were missed and others exaggerated. But it had proven useful before, and Naomi had to admit those were often the most exhilarating busts.

“Looks like a last-minute shipment,” Bruce said as he pulled up the files that the computer had put together. “A cargo ship was rerouted and made an unscheduled stop at a port favored by animal smugglers.”

Naomi’s lip curled in disgust. “Let’s get these bastards,” she all but growled. “When are they due in Gotham?”

“Pulled into port about an hour ago,” Bruce read from the shipping schedule. When she glanced at the clock, she grumbled; they’d have to wait until at least midnight for a bust, because no self-respecting criminal organization moved their contraband in the daytime.

“Do we know who’s behind this?” Dick asked.

“New player to Gotham, it would seem,” Bruce said with his own growl. “An organization called the Coalition of Four.”

Naomi and Dick shared a look, trying to recall all they knew about this Coalition of Four. It turned out, their knowledge was surprisingly lacking.

“A criminal organization in China that dates back centuries,” Bruce filled in for them. “Most active throughout Asia, with a prominent presence in Australia and the west coast of the United States.”

He initiated a deep-search for anything related to this Coalition of Four, and after a few minutes, as results began to pile up, Bruce read out some of the highlights.

The organization dated back centuries, its estimated foundation older than even Rā’s al Ghūl. As its name suggested, it was originally founded by four families, each with their own organizations, who decided they could amass greater power and resources if they banded together. The four heads of the families used to rule together as a council, but it eventually became a power struggle.

As the generations went on, the strength of the individual families began to falter, and finally, in the 1880s, one family declared themselves sole leader of the coalition. The head of the family took on the mantle Jade Emperor, and that title had passed down through the generations.

There was very little on the Jade Emperor as an individual, with no way even to know for sure how long the current leader had had the title. Each emperor was consulted by an inner circle, and there was a hierarchy of enforcers.

Naomi’s eyes widened at the name: Tigers. What was more, the highest-ranked enforcers were dubbed WhiteTigers. She wasn’t the only one who recognized the name.

“White Tiger?!” Dick exclaimed with wide eyes.

“He’s working with the Shadows, though,” Naomi pointed out, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“Coincidence?” Dick asked, though by his tone, he knew what Bruce’s answer was going to be.

“I don’t believe in coincidence.”

“But that would mean the Jade Emperor and Rā’s al Ghūl are working together,” Naomi said, “and since when has Rā’s ever worked with anyone?”

Silence settled over the Batcave as its inhabitants pondered that.

Another thought came to Dick, and he asked, “Wait, so is this their first push on the east coast? Or have we had run-ins with them and not known it?”

“This seems to be their first real push,” Bruce said, skimming over more articles, documents, and files. “They’ve cemented themselves as one of the largest players in the west, so it seems they’ve decided it’s time to try their luck out here.”

“Seems odd they’d wait this long to get in the game here,” Naomi voiced. “There are plenty of triads and gangs with ties to Asia who have flourished all along the east coast for the past century, at least.”

It was an observation that Bruce and Dick had made, as well, but there was only so much any of them could speculate, so they simply nodded and hummed their agreement.

“What do they deal in?” she asked next.

“Arms and drugs, mostly. Prostitution, but with a strict no-minors policy, which makes them not as…popular as some other organizations.”

“Oh, look, they have morals,” Dick muttered sarcastically.

“You said this alert was put out because of an unscheduled stop at an animal smuggling port?” Naomi asked.

“Yes, which is the strange thing,” Bruce admitted, his brow furrowing. “They have no history of animal smuggling or poaching.”

“Maybe they’re expanding?” Dick suggested.

“But why the sudden interest in the trade?” Naomi countered. After a beat, she huffed out, “This whole thing doesn’t make any sense.”

“I agree, the timing is odd, but we’ll give it a look anyway. Maybe one of the smugglers can provide us with answers.”

“Come on, Dickie,” Naomi said, turning away from the computer. “We have hours to kill before we leave for the harbor, and I need to burn off some extra energy.”

“Don’t work yourselves too hard, young masters,” Alfred requested, speaking for the first time since the alert had sounded. “I would hate to see you tire in the field and then have to patch up injuries that could have been avoided entirely.”

“No promises!” the wards called back simultaneously, which just earned a quiet sigh from the butler.

---

They arrived at the docks just after midnight. They weren’t expecting the cargo to still be on the ship, since it was protocol to unload all goods and store them in warehouses if they were not scheduled to be picked up within a couple hours.

“Lark, do a sweep of the port. Robin, head to the main office and check the surveillance video for any unusual activity in the hours since the ship docked. Rendezvous at the warehouse our target cargo was stored in, fifteen minutes.”

The two birds nodded at their assignments and took off while Batman headed for the ship itself.

The docks were unusually quiet. With crime being as bad as it was in Gotham, in addition to harbor patrols and dock security, many crime outfits kept a handful of goons around to protect whatever interests that had. Typically, it was easy to determine who had product coming in because there would be an uptick in that group’s activity. For the most part, though, as long as everyone kept their noses to themselves, the docks were pretty neutral territory.

But as Lark moved along the dock, she ran into the minimum security, both official and not. This Coalition of Four must have offered a pretty penny to keep their rivals and possibly even the police as far from the port as possible.

Lark was just getting ready to radio in and inform her partners there was no unusual activity at the moment when three moving figures caught her attention. She quickly slipped into the shadows, positioning herself so she could get a better look at them as they passed under light.

As they drew closer, her ear twitched at the familiar tones of Mandarin. They were still speaking too lowly for her to hear exactly what they were discussing, but all were male, roughly mid-to-late twenties, and only one of them sounded like a native Mandarin speaker, though Lark could tell the other two spoke it regularly.

When they finally passed by her, she got a clear look at their clothes for the first time. Like any good goon, their outfits were dark, but unlike most dock thugs, it was clear they had been issued a uniform.

They were dressed head to toe in black and if Lark hadn’t known better, she would have thought they were dressed like ninjas. But they were slightly more armored than your average ninja, with thin padding on their torsos and outer thighs.

Each was also armed differently, presumably with their favored weapons: one had a jian strapped to his back, one had two long-bladed knives strapped to his thighs, and one had a whip coiled at his waist.

But several details jumped to the front of her attention as they became illuminated by the flickering exterior warehouse lights.

The first was that each had the outline of a paw print stitched into the left sleeves of their shirts in jade green thread.

The second was that, contrary to first impressions, their black clothes were not plain, but in fact had a very faint stripe design in a lighter hue of black.

And third, their masks covered their foreheads, over their eyes, and down their noses in matching black, and if Lark was not mistaken, they resembled that of a tiger’s face.

The lowest rung of the Coalition of Four’s enforcement body. The Black Tigers.

“Wrapping up in the office now.” Robin’s voice was loud in the otherwise quiet evening, and Lark barely managed to not jump in alarm. “After reviewing the footage, it looks like the crates from The Jungle King were unloaded in Warehouse Ten, and no one suspicious has gone near it since.”

“Understood,” Batman replied. “Make your way there now. I’m on my way. Lark, report.”

Lark held her breath until the three Tigers had turned the corner, and then whispered, “Just spotted our queries. It looks like they’re heading toward Warehouse Ten.”

“Robin and I are on our way. Wait for us on the roof.”

She confirmed his instruction and began to slink her way toward the target building. She reached the warehouse first and grappled to the roof, where she crept around the perimeter to check out the scene below.

There were two large garage doors, each on opposite sides of the building, and two Tigers were stationed at each door. Each wore the same garb as the three Lark had spotted earlier, and each was armed. Tip-toeing her way to the large skylight in the middle of the roof, she peered into the warehouse.

More Tigers loitered below. The majority of their forces were stationed around their cargo, but they were smart and had others patrolling the warehouse floor, always in pairs. After watching for a few minutes, she found the pattern in their rotations, and she made a note of them to share with her partners.

She glanced around, a little surprised it was taking them so long to rendezvous. The comms were still open, and there hadn’t been a warning or any other indication either of them had run into trouble.

Lark wouldn’t have admitted it to anyone, but she was getting a little nervous. She pinched her bottom lip between her teeth as she contemplated her next move. She was grossly outnumbered, so busting the Tigers by herself was absolutely out of the question. But maybe she could gather some more intel.

From her utility belt, she pulled out a small microphone on a long wire and her tiny diamond-tipped glass cutter. There was a suction cup on one end, which she stuck to the glass of the skylight. Setting the diamond tip against the glass, Lark applied gentle pressure and dragged it in a circle around the suction. Once she had cut through the glass, she carefully extracted the perfect circle from the surrounding glass and then dropped the microphone into the hole.

She hooked the cable up to her holocomputer, which would play any audio into her comm, and then slowly lowered the mic until the chatter below began to become discernible. Three Tigers were conversing in low tones in Mandarin, and they seemed to be as bored as Lark was nervous.

{How much longer do we have to wait?} one of the men asked.

{You heard the boss,} his partner, a woman, scolded. {We wait as long as we need to.}

The third Tiger, a male older than both his partners judging by his voice, grunted. {We’re just waiting on the girl, now. Patrols reported just now they’ve managed to subdue the others.}

Lark’s eyes widened. Batman and Robin were down? There were more patrols than Lark had spotted? Was this her fault? Had she not been as vigilant as she should have been? What had she missed?

She took a deep breath to calm her spiraling thoughts. That won’t help them now, she scolded herself firmly. Calm down and think.

She returned her attention to the chatter below, which was almost drowned out by a sudden flurry of activity.

{She’s been spotted! The camera’s picked her up!}

Too late, Lark realized they were talking about her. She yanked back the microphone and unceremoniously shoved it back in her utility belt. She sprang to her feet and spun around, only to find herself face-to-face with three Tigers. Two were dressed in all black, just like the ones Lark had spotted on the ground, but the middle Tiger’s coloring was different. Instead of a black mask and stripes, his were dark red, though the paw print on his left sleeve was done in the same style.

She quickly took up a fighting stance, and the two Black Tigers immediately followed suit. The Red Tiger didn’t budge, simply tilted his head as he studied Lark. After a moment, he nodded his head, and the two Tigers flanking him went on the attack.

Lark dodged a vicious downward swipe of a katana, then ducked into a roll between the two Black Tigers. She popped back to her feet and took off, trying to radio Batman and Robin.

“Does anyone copy? I’m at Warehouse Ten and—”

She yelped when something suddenly snagged her cape, halting her progress to the edge of the building. Someone kicked her feet from under her, and Lark landed on her tailbone. Looking over her shoulder, she saw one of the Black Tigers had caught her cape with his hook sword and was now hauling Lark toward him.

She clawed at the snaps that attached her cape to her uniform, trying desperately to free herself. A sheathed katana came down across her stomach, and Lark grunted, curling reflexively at the blossom of warmth that began to spread. Before she could attempt to detach her cape again, a hand closed around her throat and then lifted her in one smooth movement. It was over almost before Lark even had time to register what happened, and she suddenly found herself pinned to the glass skylight.

She heard the glass begin to fracture beneath the combination of her weight being thrown against it and the force being exerted by the Tiger holding her down. He moved his hand from her throat and was now holding her down by the upper arms, restricting her movements.

{Her belt,} the Red Tiger commanded calmly, and the second Black Tiger managed to unsnap Lark’s utility belt even as she twisted and kicked, trying to dislodge the Tiger above her. She didn’t even have time to panic at her predicament—outmatched and now without her trusty utility belt—before the Red Tiger strode forward, unsheathed his sword, and brought the pommel down, hard…on the glass beside Lark’s head.

The cracking glass gave way, sending Lark tumbling into the warehouse. Before she could right herself mid-fall, she crashed into a shipping crate and she cried out in pain, the sharp edge of the large metal container no doubt leaving its mark along her spine.

The impact did slow her fall somewhat, and she had enough wits about her to grab the edge of a catwalk. Recalling every trapeze lesson Dick had ever taught her, she managed to redirect her falling weight to swing under and then onto the catwalk platform.

She landed with a heavy clang on the catwalk, her arms shaky and vaguely numb from the effort. Lark lay still for a moment, steadying her breathing. Below her, shouts were starting to permeate the haze around her brain, and she used the commotion to drag herself out of her fuzzy brain.

Somewhere in front of her, Lark heard three set of feet land soundly on the catwalk, the vibrations sending buzzy tingles through her limbs. She lifted her head and saw that her friends from the roof had joined her. She ground her teeth and pushed herself to her feet.

In the close quarters of the narrow catwalk, long-ranged weapons would be a burden more than a benefit, so Lark decided against pulling out her jō staff, and she decided to keep her kunais as a last resort. Shaking off the last of the numbness in her arms, she took up a fighting stance.

The first Black Tiger charged. He was fast, faster than the average low-level thug, and Lark only succeeded in blocking the first swipe of his knife before an upper slash caught her by surprise. She barely managed to jerk back, but the tip of the blade still caught the front of her uniform, leaving a gash in the material and a nick on her collarbone.

A knee came up in the middle of her back, catching the bruise from her fall, and she grunted in surprise and pain, twisting around to face the new assailant. The Tiger with the knife came bearing down on her, his blade aimed for her shoulder, and with a little twisting, she caught his knife-wielding wrist while evading a kick in the stomach from the Tiger in front of her.

Dropping low, Lark pulled the Tiger over her shoulder and onto the catwalk. He grunted softly at the impact, and the second Tiger flipped over them to land behind Lark. She whirled around, still crouched low, and when the Tiger brought her leg down toward Lark’s shoulder, the bird braced for the impact and, ignoring the rattle it sent down her arm, stood, her wrist clamped down on the Tiger’s ankle. She flailed in surprise before she landed on her back, the breath escaping her lungs in a rush.

Lark suddenly found herself flat on her back, the back of her head and her tailbone aching again from the impact of her fall. There was a slight strain on her shoulders, and she figured she had been yanked to her back by her cape. She finally managed to unsnap it from her uniform and rolled before the fist could make contact with her nose.

A foot came down on her ribs, though, not hard enough to break or even crack, but certainly enough to bruise. Fingers threaded through her hair and hauled her to her feet. Lark’s arm was twisted behind her back and her head craned back at the position.

{Let’s see what you can do,} the Tiger in front of her said. She tossed something in Lark’s direction, a small pellet, which exploded when it came close to Lark’s face. On instinct, the young hero jerked back, which only exasperated the position her arm was in and she grunted at the strain on her shoulder.

The pellet, it turned out, contained some sort of ink because it blinded Lark’s mask. Her arm was released, and she rubbed at the substance in vain. The blackness faded only the slightest, and before she could try again, she was prodded forward by the tip of a blade.

Lark was led blindly to the warehouse floor. Her vision was still mostly obscured, the black lingering and reducing her world to vague shapes and outlines. She could tell that she was being led to a space clear of shipping crates, and that Tigers were drifting toward her, but she couldn’t tell exactly how big their arena was, nor could she get a definite head count.

The next few minutes were a blur of confusion, pain, and then anger. It boiled hot in the center of her chest, and spread throughout her body, warming her limbs and rendering all the nicks, cuts, and bruises distant memories.

She was being played with, she realized as her vision began to grow dark. She was surrounded on all sides, and no one was fighting her. Blades of all sorts were nipping her skin, somehow piercing her uniform. Punches and kicks were coming from all sides, but they weren’t like the punches and kicks in a bar fight. Instead of heavy and constant, they were quick and sharp. They were targeted, aimed at already-tender spots. This whole thing…it had been orchestrated and ordered from up high.

There was a crack of a whip, and Lark cried out in pain, possibly even screamed, as she went down to one knee. She braced a fist on the cold cement floor, her eyes screwed shut against the flames of pain that radiated from her thigh, where the whip had lashed. Her eyes flew open again when the flat of a sword blade cracked down across her back. The whites of her mask narrowed and her vision went black.

The next thing she knew, Lark was collapsed on the warehouse floor. She blinked sluggishly, scowling when she saw the black inky substance was still mostly obscuring her vision. Somewhere in the distance, she thought she heard her name being called, but the sound was muffled, like she was underwater. She slowly pushed herself into a seated position and then took in her surroundings, trying to make sense how she had gotten there.

Black Tigers were strewn across the floor or leaning against shipping containers, looking stunned and shaken but otherwise unharmed. The long metal containers in her immediate vicinity were no longer lined up in neat rows. Instead, it looked like a powerful force had shoved them across the floor despite the large rubber pads that were supposed to prevent unwanted slipping.

By the time Batman and Robin finally came into view, Lark had pushed herself to her feet. She took a step toward them only for her to stumble as pain like she had never experienced rushed to the front of her awareness.

With a wince, she became aware of just how injured she was as the last of the fog around her brain disappeared. She swayed a little on her feet and Robin reached her in time to brace her before she could collapse.

“Are you okay?” he cried out, the whites of his mask wide as his eyes swept over her body, taking in all the blood and tears in her uniform. “What happened?”

Batman remained stoic as he observed the scene around him. He noticed that the Tigers appeared to have been flung back uniformly, as if struck by the same force simultaneously. The containers, too, bore evidence of a single strike, and as he turned in a slow circle, his eyes widened slightly when he realized Lark was standing in the center of a perfect ring.

Lark moistened her dry mouth the best she could, only to croak out, “I-I don’t know. It’s a-all a bl-blur.”

“Robin, will you be able to access the security footage from the Batcave?”

“Not for the interior cameras,” Robin admitted.

“Then do what you have to in order to download the footage, then meet us at the car.” The young bird nodded. To Lark, Batman asked, “Can you walk.”

Gritting her teeth, she nodded; she refused to be carried out like a damsel in distress. Batman looked skeptical but fell into step beside Lark as she started limping her way out of the warehouse.

The Batmobile was sitting just outside, and Lark wondered when Batman had pulled it around, but she was grateful she didn’t have to trek all the way to the entrance of the docks. The top slid open and she collapsed heavily in the front seat. Robin appeared a moment later, and Batman floored it.

Lark’s eyes drooped as exhaustion washed over her. Every part of her felt fatigued, and when they finally reached the Batcave, it took a great deal of effort for her to move her heavy limbs.

Alfred opened the car door for her, and she mumbled, “I forget the Batmobile has doors.” With his help, Lark swung her legs out of the car, and then leaned heavily on Batman once he had rounded the hood.

“I have called Dr. Thompkins; she should be here presently.”

“Thank you, Alfred.”

“What about you and Rob?” Naomi asked sleepily as she got situated on a cot. “Don’t you two need medical attention?”

“Nowhere near as much as you, Nomi,” Dick said from where he sat on the other cot.

“Alfred? Bruce?”

Leslie Thompkins came down the steps, her medical bag in hand.

“Will you please assess Naomi?” Bruce asked immediately. “The injuries that I can see don’t match her level of fatigue; I’m worried I might have missed something.”

“Of course, Bruce.” Leslie stepped up to Naomi’s cot and drew the curtains around the frame. To the girl, she asked gently, “How are you feeling? Where’s the pain?”

“Everywhere,” Naomi admitted as she started divesting herself of her uniform.

Leslie watched with critical eyes. She clocked every wince and hesitation as Naomi moved and made note of every injury as it was revealed. She made sure to keep her expression neutral, but inside, she was horrified by what she saw. When Naomi was down to her underwear and sports bra, she let out a soft grunt when she tried to peel off the bra.

“Can you get the scissors?” she asked Leslie. “These things are a pain on a good day.”

“Of course, dear.” Leslie ducked out of the curtain and came back a moment later with a pair of heavy-duty scissors, which made quick work of the confining material. She passed Naomi a cloth to cover her chest, and once she nodded, Leslie opened the curtain.

“Oh my god, Nomi!” Dick exclaimed when he saw the bruises that were developing all over her torso and back, and all the little slashes and nicks along her arms and legs.

“Full scan, now,” Bruce ordered, his own eyes widening at the extent of her injuries. “We need to rule out internal bleeding.”

With Leslie’s help, Naomi stretched out on the cot again, and Bruce brought the scanner around. It started at her head and moved down to her toes, the scan appearing on the computer screen above the cot.

While the adults consulted the scan, Dick pulled up a chair next to Naomi’s cot. “How do you feel?” he asked as he took one of her hands.

She huffed out a laugh, which made the pain along her ribs flare up, and she winced slightly. “Just peachy.”

“You look like a bruised peach,” Dick nodded in agreement, which got an eyeroll from Naomi and another painful chuckle.

“The good news,” Leslie announced, “is you show no signs of eternal bleeding.” Dick let out an audible sigh of relief.

“What’s the bad news?” Naomi asked.

“Based on the bruising, I’d say it will be a week at the minimum before you’re fit for duty.”

Naomi pouted, but honestly, she was too exhausted, and everything hurt too much to put up much of a fight; she wasn’t sure how Bruce powered through night after night.

“More good news, though, is all of your wounds are superficial and won’t need more than a disinfection.”

Naomi nodded even as Bruce asked, “What about her thigh?”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot about that,” she muttered, flexing the muscle in question almost as a reflex. It was definitely one of the more painful of the injuries she had sustained, but given how battered and bruised the rest of her body was, it had faded into the background once she had stopped moving.

“Just a welt,” Leslie assured. “An ugly one, but skin wasn’t broken. It looks a little swollen, but that could simply be due to the nature of the weapon.” All eyes turned curiously to Naomi.

“A whip,” she supplied.

The doctor nodded. “Nothing special for that,” she confirmed. “But if it stay this red and inflamed for more than a day or two, give me a call and I’ll drop by.” She got to work disinfecting all of Naomi’s wounds, and silence settled over the Batcave as Alfred started tending to Bruce and Dick, who had indeed fared much better than Naomi.

“Thank you, Leslie,” Naomi said with a small smile once Leslie set aside the bloodied cotton swabs, and the older woman placed a comforting hand on the girl’s shoulder. She pulled the curtain closed around Naomi again so she could put on her sleeping clothes, this time a baggy long-sleeved shirt and thin cotton pants rather than her usual oversized t-shirt.

With nearly every inch of her bandaged or wrapped, Naomi felt unusually self-conscious of her state. She had never been so badly beaten in a fight, and the sight of the bandages felt like an ugly reminder of her defeat.

Bruce thanked the doctor once Leslie drew back the curtains, and Alfred escorted her up to the Manor and then to the front door.

“Can I sleep in my bed tonight?” Naomi asked. “Or am I confined to the cot?”

“How mobile are you?”

She shrugged. “Enough.”

“And your leg?” Bruce glanced at her covered leg and Naomi winced. He nodded and said, “Let me see if I can find a crutch the right height.” When he couldn’t find anything in the Batcave, he gestured for Naomi to wait another minute while he checked the Manor.

Dick settled into the chair beside her cot once more, and she sifted a little from her reclined position. “So I texted Roy,” he said out of nowhere, and Naomi would have shot upright if it hadn’t pained her so much.

“You what?” she exclaimed. “Why?”

“Because I figured you wouldn’t want to worry him,” he shrugged, though his smile turned a little smirkish as he added, “and it seemed like something he’d like to know.”

“Completely unnecessary,” Naomi said, shaking her head. Dick just shrugged and they fell into companionable silence.

Alfred came down a few minutes later with a crutch the correct height for Naomi in hand. With Dick’s help, she carefully dragged her legs over the side of the cot before using the crutch to stand on her feet.

It was slow going, and by the time she, Dick, and Alfred had finally made it to the Manor, Naomi was exhausted and covered in a thin layer of sweat. She had a feeling she was still on her feet only because of the pain meds Leslie had given her before her departure.

The trio reached the stairs and Naomi groaned. “I can’t believe all of the renovations to the Manor over the years never included an elevator.”

“I can help with that.”

Naomi couldn’t whirl around because of her crutch, but her head did swing around, even as she winced at the low dull that started in the muscles in her neck.

Roy was stepping around Bruce, and based on the older man’s expression, the redhead was clearly not obeying orders.

He made sure Naomi was steady on her two feet before handing the crutch to Dick, and then in one smooth motion, Roy had Naomi swept up in his arms and he was starting up the stairs.

“Roy, this is really unnecessary,” she rambled, ignoring Dick’s teasing grin and Alfred’s slightly quirked eyebrow. “I can just sleep downstairs. And you know Dick, he’ll make it some sort of sleepover, with elaborate forts and lots of pillows and blankets and snacks and—”

“I always find I recover the quickest when I get to sleep in my own bed,” Roy said simply. His smile was warm, but the tension around his eyes spoke volumes about his worry, and Naomi sighed and said nothing else as he climbed the two flights of stairs to her room.

Roy pushed open her bedroom door with his toe and crossed her room to her bed. He carefully set her on her feet, and while she sat at the small chaise lounge at the end, the redhead pulled back the covers of her bed.

Dick slipped in and propped the crutch beside Naomi. He leaned against one of the posts that made up the canopy above her bed and grinned as Roy fussed with the pillows. Naomi poked him in the ribs.

Once all the layers on Naomi’s bed had been pulled back, Roy returned to Naomi’s side. He offered her a hand, and with his help, she hobbled over to the bed. She carefully situated herself and then dragged the covers over her legs.

When she looked up again, she saw four sets of eyes on her. “Uh…”

“Would you like anything else, Miss Naomi?” Alfred asked from the doorway.

“My phone and laptop?”

The butler nodded and disappeared down the hall.

“Naomi, it’s late, and I’m sure you’re exhausted,” Bruce said, stepping into her room. He was out of his uniform, but his glower was no less dark. Roy cleared his throat, wilting slightly under the intensity of it.

“Bruce—”

“No.” He cut Naomi off sharply, his narrowed eyes relaxing as they turned worried. “Look, you can have people over tomorrow, after you’ve had a good night’s rest. You were…” He trailed off with a wince that was echoed by Dick. Naomi sighed.

Beaten, is what Bruce was omitting. Beaten up, more specifically. The beating was made crueler when considering it could have been a whole lot worse, because why would they hold back unless it was a statement?

Dick plopped down on Naomi’s bed and wiggled closer. Naomi looped her arm through his and he took that as an invitation to rest his head on her shoulder.

“Dick, I expect you to sleep in your own bed tonight,” Bruce said, his tone firm but his expression soft as he gazed at his two wards. The raven-haired teen nodded against Naomi’s shoulder, his eyes already closed.

Alfred slipped in with Naomi’s phone and laptop, as requested, and Bruce took them from the butler and strode to Naomi’s side. He set them carefully on her bedside table and then leaned down, placing a quick kiss on the top of her head. She startled a little at the unusual show of affection but smiled up at him. He gave her shoulder a brief squeeze before turning and pausing in front of Roy, who had remained at the foot of her bed.

Bruce clamped a hand on Roy’s shoulder. He leveled the young man with a stern look and then jerked his head toward the hallway. Roy gulped but nodded. He paused long enough to pat Naomi’s foot over the blankets and then followed Bruce out of her room.

The door was closed gently, and Roy opened his mouth to speak but Bruce motioned him further down the hall. Once they were a few doors away, Bruce said, “I appreciate you being here for Naomi, but next time, please wait until morning to stop by.”

“I would think you’d want Naomi to have all the support she could get.”

“Of course I do,” Bruce huffed. “But it’s late, and this is a family matter. I don’t need or want people thinking they can drop by unannounced at all hours.”

“Dick invited me.”

“Then I’ll have a talk with Dick,” Bruce said, meeting Roy’s scowl levelly. “In the meantime, it’s late,” he repeated. “You’d better get going.”

Roy glared at Bruce for a beat longer before turning on his heel and marching down the stairs.

“You were a little harsh, don’t you think?”

Bruce turned to find Dick standing behind him. “How’s your sister?” he asked.

“Sleeping now,” Dick said, rolling his eyes at Bruce’s evasiveness. “About Roy—”

“I wish you had let me know he was coming over,” Bruce interrupted. “I’m glad he was here for Naomi, but couldn’t it have waited until morning?”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Dick nodded, though both he and Bruce knew that was a lie. Bruce sighed and shook his head a little.

“Get some sleep, Dick,” the older man said. “We’ll discuss everything in the morning.”

Dick wondered what constituted everything, but he just nodded again and headed for his room.

---

Location: Wayne Manor, Gotham City
Date: Thursday, August 12, 2010
Time: 1054 EDT

When Naomi finally came down to the kitchen, she found not only Bruce, Alfred, and Dick, but Roy also seated at the island.

As soon as the archer saw her, he jumped to his feet before Bruce or Dick could budge and hurried to her side. “How are you feeling?” he asked solemnly, his dark azure eyes even more serious than usual.

“About as well as can be expected,” Naomi said with a small smile as he helped her hobble to the island. She eyed the tall stool and jerked her head in the direction of the breakfast nook, which was usually utilized for homework more so than eating.

Once everyone had resituated themselves in the sunny corner, Alfred went about fixing Naomi’s breakfast while Bruce got down to business.

“We need to discuss what happened last night.”

“Oh, honestly, Master Bruce,” Alfred sighed from the stove. “Doesn’t the young mistress deserve a nice, peaceful breakfast before delving into the dreadfulness of last night’s events?”

“It’s okay, Alfred,” Naomi called. “I’d rather get this over with.”

The look Alfred gave her made it clear he was unhappy with her decision, but he turned back to the stove and Naomi turned back to Bruce.

“The thing that’s been bothering me is the fact they were toying with me.” All eyes snapped to Naomi. “What?”

“Toying with you?” Dick parroted.

“What do you mean?” Bruce frowned.

She sighed and rubbed her forehead. “I’ve fought my share of bad guys. And I could just tell that all the Tigers last night were holding back; they weren’t fighting at one hundred percent.”

“But why?” Roy asked.

“I have no idea.”

“Uh, I think I know…”

Now, all eyes turned to Dick, who was staring wide-eyed at the screen of his laptop. Wordlessly, he turned the machine around so it faced the rest of the table occupants.

The screen was split in two. One side was a webpage for the Gotham Insider, the feature video paused but the caption read Rare Lark Spotting! The other half of the screen was the front page of The Gotham Gazette’s website, whose headline read Is There More to Gotham’s Lark Than Meets the Eye?

The accompanying picture of Vicki Vale’s front-page story looked to be a still from a security video, and Naomi recognized the warehouse.

“I thought you said you couldn’t find any footage from the warehouse interior,” Bruce said sharply to Dick.

“There wasn’t,” Dick insisted, his expression now a mix of worry and unease. “When I checked the warehouse office, the cameras had been cut!”

“It was a set up,” Naomi said numbly, having now scanned the Gazette’s report. It explained that the footage had been received by every major news outlet in Gotham, both television and print, in the wee hours of the morning, and it showed the fight between an unidentified gang and Batman’s sidekick Lark. The kicker was how the fight ended: with the gang members flying backward by a mysterious shadowy dome that had exploded outward with Lark at the center.

“But to what end?” Dick asked as he took back his laptop. Naomi tried to keep it in front of her, but her arms felt like lead so he was able to easily snatch it back.

“Who are these guys?”

“The foot soldiers are Tigers,” Naomi said. “They fight for an organization called the Coalition of Four.”

Roy tilted his head. “We’ve had run-ins with them. I thought they only operated on the west coast.”

“It seems they’re expanding.”

“But why?” They seemed to always return to why: why the sudden expansion, why the specific interest in Gotham, why target Lark, why toy with her, why cut the cameras only to turn around to leak footage. It was driving Naomi up a wall.

Roy, who was seated next to Naomi, turned fully in his chair to face her. His arm was draped over the back of her chair, and his fingers had started to idly play with the ends of her dark hair. Naomi was so absorbed in questions she didn’t notice, and the action seemed so second-nature to Roy that he didn’t notice either.

But Dick and Bruce certainly did. The former seemed giddy at the prospect, because even though Naomi was his sister and as her brother, he was supposed to hate any potential boyfriend, Roy was his friend too and he really liked the guy. The latter watched with slightly pursed lips, trying to figure out how he felt about the dynamic between the two young heroes. Bruce respected Roy as a hero, but he wasn’t the biggest fan of his quick temper.

Naomi sat forward as Alfred placed her breakfast in front of her. Her hair slipped from Roy’s fingers, but he kept his arm across the back of her chair. She ate in silence as Dick and Bruce poured over the news, and Roy kept sneaking worried glances her way.

She barely managed to finish her meal before letting out a big yawn. Alfred whisked her plate away with a stern, “Head upstairs, Miss Naomi. You need your rest.” She wanted to argue, but she knew he was right; her limbs felt rubbery and absolutely useless.

Before she could move a muscle, Roy pushed back from the table and swept her up in his arms. She meant to protest, to insist she could make her way upstairs herself, but she just sighed and rested her head on Roy’s shoulder.

Bruce grumbled a little at the sight but Dick just grinned brightly.

Roy settled Naomi into her bed, and she sleepily thanked him as she burrowed in the blankets. He smiled softly at her peaceful expression, and he gently brushed a lock of hair off her cheek. The tip of his finger lingered at her temple, but he jerked his hand back like she had burned him when her bedroom door creaked open again.

Dick came in with Naomi’s crutch, which had been left in the kitchen. When he saw his friend’s red cheeks, he smirked.

“Not doing anything untoward with my unconscious sister, are you?” he joked, quirking an eyebrow.

“Shut up,” Roy grumbled, but there wasn’t any heat in his voice.

“Just be glad it was me and not Bruce or Alfred,” Dick grinned as he leaned the crutch at the foot of Naomi’s bed. “You would have been banned from the premises until she turned twenty-five.”

“The public sure doesn’t appreciate how protective Bruce is of Naomi,” Roy chuckled.

Dick rolled his eyes. “Please, Alfred would ban you until Naomi turned twenty-five. Bruce would just go a few rounds with you in the boxing ring.” Roy winced, which made Dick cackle.

Naomi stirred under her covers, and she winced slightly in her sleep as her movement bothered her thigh. Dick and Roy froze and stared wide-eyed at the sleeping teen, hoping they hadn’t woken her. She settled back into slumber, and they sighed quietly in relief.

Dick waved Roy toward the door, and they tiptoed out of her room. They walked in companionable silence down the stairs, and when they reached the foyer, Bruce was waiting for them.

He nodded at Roy and placed a hand on the redhead’s shoulder, squeezing briefly before dropping his hand again. “I appreciate you coming over,” he said gruffly. “I know it means a lot to Naomi.”

“Of course,” Roy said solemnly. “I know I hurt her when I stormed out of the Hall, and the silence afterward, so I only hope this makes up for it.”

Bruce nodded once, then turned toward his office. Roy and Dick shared a look, and the latter shrugged. “That was effusive for Bruce,” he said. “He likes you.”

“Tell that to his face,” Roy muttered, but he felt warmth bloom in his chest at the prospect. He glanced at his watch and sighed. “I guess I’d better go. I’ll catch you soon?”

“If you come around more often, definitely.”

“I’ll make a better effort to be here for you and Naomi.”

Roy had said that before, directly to Naomi, but Dick could see the sincerity in his friend’s eyes and knew he would definitely be keeping his promise this time around.

Notes:

I think this is the longest original chapter I've ever written. It's been a labor of love, but I'm pretty proud of how it turned out. It sets up a lot of Naomi's future, so look out for that.

Thank you so much to everyone who has interacted with my story. Let me know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns!

Until next time.

Chapter 11: 6.2 - Recovery

Notes:

I have never been injured to the extent Naomi has, so I have no idea how bruises that extensive would heal, how long it would take, what color they would turn, how long she would feel pain, so take her healing process with her injuries with a grain of salt.

I also don't know if anyone is questioning if I am the same rainshadow22142 that is posting this story over on ff.net, since I posted here significantly later, but to prove it's the same author I'll post this chapter (Recovery) here on ao3 a couple days before I post over on ff.net.

As always, thank you to everyone who has interacted with this story. Naomi has been in my head and heart for almost ten years now, and it's been so fulfilling to share her with the world, even if it has taken be many years, and will continue to be a labor of love as I continue writing Season 1 and beyond.

Location: Wayne Manor, Gotham City
Date: Friday, August 13, 2010
Time: 0934 EDT

Bruce tensed when he heard the patter of feet approach the kitchen and he quickly scrambled to gather up the numerous Gotham-area newspapers that were spread out in front of him. He paused, though, as he realized a) Naomi wasn't an early riser if she could help it, and b) she was still injured and wasn't moving as quickly as the footsteps that rounded the corner.

“You’re not at the office,” Dick stated as he entered the kitchen and spotted Bruce.

“I wanted to be around today if Naomi needed anything.”

Dick’s gaze landed on the newspapers that were in a half-pile beside Bruce’s breakfast plate. “I’ve been keeping tabs of the comments online,” he said grimly.

Bruce sighed heavily and flipped through the pages half-heartedly. “Given the vitriol by the professional writers, I can only imagine how bad it is online,” he said as he rubbed his forehead.

“Do you think we should tell her?” Dick asked worriedly.

The silence stretched on as Bruce considered his answer. He didn’t want to be dishonest, but he also didn’t want to subject Naomi to the harsh comments sooner than necessary.

“No,” Bruce said finally. “We can’t keep her from seeing these things on her own, but I don’t think we need to tell her sooner than necessary. Let her heal up without outside distractions.”

Dick pursed his lips but nodded in understanding. Bruce was keeping his fingers crossed that Naomi would spend the next few days in bed and away from the internet, which would hopefully be enough time for the trolls online to grow bored and move onto their next target.

Naomi didn’t come down to the kitchen until almost eleven, and by then, Bruce had carefully put away all of that day’s newspapers. She found them in the breakfast nook, which she appreciated, even if it was odd to see Bruce still at the Manor so late in the day.

She was still very banged up from the dock incident. Her torso and back were ugly shades of purple and blue, and her arms and legs were infuriatingly itchy with all the scabbing that had started. Naomi had spent most of the previous day sleeping, and her body still felt like lead.

“How are you feeling, Nomi?” Dick asked, taking her crutch and setting it aside. She smiled tiredly as Alfred started on her breakfast.

“I’m okay,” she said, leaning back gingerly and wincing a little as her bruises flared. “Well,” she amended when Bruce and Dick raised an eyebrow at her reaction, “you know. As okay as I can be.”

They continued to watch her with eagle eyes as she tried to find a comfortable sitting position. She huffed at them and rolled her eyes but finally settled into her chair.

“How did you sleep?” Bruce asked.

Naomi tried to shrug, but with the bruising on her torso, it looked more like a twitch of her shoulder. “Okay, I guess,” she said. “I don’t think I moved around too much, since I don’t remember waking up in the middle of the night.” She leaned her head against the back of the chair. “I feel alert and awake, but my body doesn’t seem to be getting the memo.”

“Your body is recovering from a…well, an ordeal,” he replied, and Naomi rolled her eyes at him. He and Dick had been dancing around the subject, going out of their way to avoid words like trauma, beat or beaten or beating, and even incident had fallen out of use.

“I imagine you’ll be fatigued for the next few days,” Bruce finished.

“I can’t wait until I feel like myself again,” Naomi sighed, closing her eyes. Alfred placed a plate of pancakes in front of her a few minutes later, and she thanked him before starting the slow process of eating.

Dick glanced at his phone and smirked. He excused himself and disappeared, only to return a minute later with Naomi’s phone in hand. He passed it to her and then typed out a quick message. A moment later, her phone buzzed.

She rolled her eyes in an attempt to keep her cheeks from reddening too much. “Seriously?” she asked. “What are you, a matchmaker now?”

Bruce’s eyes narrowed slightly, earning a cackle from Dick. “What? Can’t I help my two friends communicate?”

“Whatever, Bird Brain,” Naomi grumbled but swiped her thumb across the phone screen all the same.

How’d you sleep?

She couldn’t help the little quirk of her lip as she scoffed. Of course that was his first question, she thought even as she replied, Well enough.

Are you up for visitors?

Naomi smiled, despite the hawk-eyed gazes of Bruce and Dick. Yeah, come over!

Roy sent a smiley face and an ETA, and Naomi set aside her phone. “So, Roy’s coming over.”

Bruce just grunted and Dick grinned widely. Naomi rolled her eyes are them and eased away from the table. Dick was up in a flash, retrieving her crutch and helping Naomi to her feet.

“Can I get you anything?” Dick asked as Naomi pointed him in the direction of the second-floor family room.

“My laptop,” she said once she settled into the comfortable and well-loved sofa. “Oh, and my books!”

“Which one?”

“The stack in my room, on the coffee table.”

Dick rolled his eyes but nodded and disappeared. He appeared a few minutes later, laden with Naomi’s things. She had already made a nest for herself, leaning against the arm of the sofa with her legs stretched out along the length of it. She was surrounded by pillows of all shapes and sizes and cozily enrobed with blankets. She had managed to drag the coffee table closer to her, so it was in easy reach, and Dick set her items on the shiny wooden surface.

“Thanks,” she said with a smile, and she was pleased to see Dick plop down on the couch opposite hers with his own electronics.

Their quiet time was interrupted when Alfred rapped his knuckles on the open double doors of the family room. “Mister Harper, young masters.”

“Thanks, Alfred!” Dick said as he raised his hand in greeting.

Naomi smiled at the redhead, struggling a little in her nest to sit up straighter. Roy sat on her couch, gently moving her legs so he could sit on the cushion closest to her. That wasn’t particularly strange; Naomi liked to stretch out, and sometimes depending on the seating situation, friends were forced to make their own room.

Roy returned Naomi’s legs to their stretched-out position, which also wasn’t uncommon. Normally, though, whenever Roy draped Naomi’s legs over his lap, he would rest one arm over the back of the sofa and the other on the sofa’s arm.

This time, one arm went over the back of the couch, as usual, but his other hand rested on her shin. His touch was light, like he was aware her limbs were still a little tender from all the cuts and knicks. But the warmth of his palm seeped through the blankets and Naomi could swear she could feel it spread through her limbs and nestle in her chest.

Roy resolutely held Dick’s gaze as he started up a conversation with the younger teen, but Naomi could see the pink creeping up his neck and tinting his ears. She smiled a little and turned her attention to her little brother.

---

Location: Wayne Manor, Gotham City
Date: Sunday, August 15, 201 0
Time: 1026 EDT

Naomi had managed to wake up earlier than the previous days, and she was pleased she wasn't feeling as tired as she had before. She had managed to talk Bruce and Alfred (and Dick) that walking on the treadmill would do her some good.

She couldn’t describe the feeling of being active again, even in such a minimal capacity. She had been dying to do something over the past few days, not just sitting around feeling exhausted even though she hadn’t done anything.

All that being said, she was mad at herself for not even making it thirty minutes on the treadmill. She had tapped out just sixteen minutes after starting and was now lying flat on her back on a thick yoga mat. She was faintly, annoyingly, out of breath, and her legs felt like noodles.

Beside her head, her phone started buzzing with incoming text messages. She dragged herself upright and began scrolling though the messages.

“Hey, Dick, I think we’re being summoned.”

He dropped from the rings and plopped beside her. She passed him her phone so he could see the screen as messages rolled in.

The texts were from their combined friend group, which consisted of the people in Gotham Academy that were, in Naomi and Dick’s opinion, the only enjoyable kids of Gotham’s elite: Aaron and Logan Wood, Sage Burke, Andi Byron, and Barbara Gordon. Olivia Wood and James Scott, both of whom had graduated that spring, were notably absent from this particular text chain.

“They’re making plans to meet up today,” Dick read as his eyes skimmed all the messages. He pulled out his own phone, and Naomi peaked over his shoulder.

“Hey, wait!” she said, snatching the phone out of his hands before he could send his message. “Don’t say I’m sick! I’m fine!”

“Naomi, you were…you know…”

She rolled her eyes and erased his text from the composition box. On her own phone, she typed: Dick and I are in!

He groaned beside her. “You’re not in any condition to hang out.”

“I can handle a chill hang out sesh at…Andi’s,” she said after double-checking whose house had been selected to host.

“You move like a geriatric grandmother, and you look like you haven’t slept in days.”

Naomi knew he spoke the truth; her torso and back were still bruised. They had certainly faded slightly over the past three days, but given the extent of the bruising originally, that wasn’t saying much. She still moved slowly due to the constant dull pain, and the mark left by the whip was still present enough to make the thigh it crossed tender.

All of that near-constant buzz of pain had made it difficult for Naomi to sleep the last four nights, as well, which had led to lots of napping from her throughout the days following her beating. Even now, she could tell she was a few hours away from dozing away on the closest soft surface she could find.

But she was stubborn and wanted to get out of the house desperately. “We can tell them I’m getting over something but am completely non-contagious!”

“Bruce, Alfred!” The two men paused in the doorway as Dick waved at them to join the teens. “Tell Naomi she can’t go out today!”

She rolled her eyes and quickly corrected, “Just out with friends! They’re making plans to meet at Andi’s. It’ll be completely calm!”

The two men studied Naomi, and she clasped her hands in front of her. “Please, I am begging you. I need to get out of this house and do something! I can practically feel myself losing muscle mass.”

That earned her two raised eyebrows from Bruce and Alfred, but the butler finally said, “I don’t see the problem with that plan.”

“Alfred!” Dick whined.

“Thank you!” Naomi exclaimed.

Dick turned to Bruce, who was still studying Naomi apprehensively. “I think that’ll be fine,” he said eventually, and Naomi stuck her tongue out childishly at Dick while he slumped against the wall.

“Naomi,” Bruce continued, “I’ve talked to Hal.”

She quirked an eyebrow. “About what?”

“Training.”

“Training?”

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while now,” he went on. “And I think it’s time you learn how to use your powers to their full extent.” At Naomi’s wide-eyed stare, he said hesitantly, “I know I have been…apprehensive about your powers, but if…it might have made a difference…”

Bruce was never at a loss for words, but as he warily eyed Naomi’s exposed arms and legs, she realized he was thinking that if she had better understanding of her powers, it might have been second nature to use them, which might have saved her a lot of pain and bruises when she faced the Tigers.

“Yeah, okay,” she nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

“I’ll let him know and we can set a schedule.”

Naomi began to gather her things when Dick suddenly put a hand on her shoulder. “Hey, wait,” he said. “You can’t go out.”

She rolled her eyes. “We’ve already determined everyone else thinks it’s fine, so why—”

“No, I mean—look.” He shook his head and pointed at her arms, which for the first time in days were bare, exposing all the little cuts. “What do we say about those?”

“Oh, right.” She frowned. She had grown so used to seeing them that they no longer felt like such a big deal. But she realized Dick was right; there was no way they could explain away her injuries this time.

“I’ll reach out to Zatara,” Bruce offered. “He should be able to place a glamour spell on a piece of jewelry for you.”

“Can he do it in the next thirty minutes?” Naomi asked hopefully.

Bruce chuckled. “No promises, but I’ll contact him now.” He nodded at them and then exited the gym, most likely to the Batcave so he could hail the magician directly.

Naomi pursed her lips as she stared at her limbs. “Well, I’m always cold anyway…”

“You’re still going?!” Dick exclaimed.

“Yes!” She sounded exasperated. “Dick, I am sick and tired of being a lump. Do you realize this is the longest I’ve gone without moving in years?” He opened his mouth but Naomi plowed on. “Think about it! We are the most active people in Gotham. How would you feel if you had to sit on your ass for days because it hurt to even breath? This little thing I can handle.”

Dick could only nod, feeling thoroughly admonished. Naomi reached out and squeezed his hand. “I am so appreciative of how much you care,” she said softly. “More than you can possibly know. But also know that I’m aware of my limits.” Her eyes flashed toward the door, where Bruce and Alfred had disappeared through. “More than some people in this house,” she said with a slight smirk.

“You’re right,” Dick said solemnly, squeezing her hand back. “I’m sorry, it was just…scary.”

“God, I can only imagine how it must have been for you,” she whispered, and Dick knew she could very well imagine it. This wasn’t the first time one of them had been seriously beaten, but it was the first time it was someone other than Bruce. She kissed his knuckles before releasing his hand so she could carefully get to her feet.

As soon as she was upright, Dick gingerly wrapped her in a hug. Naomi immediately returned the warm gesture, a content sigh whispering past Dick’s ear.

“I love you, Mimi.”

Her next sigh was huffed out and he cackled at her exasperation. “I love you too, Bird Brain.”

“What time did Andi say we were meeting?” he asked as they started walking out of the gym.

“About an hour.”

“You sure you can make it on time with all the stair climbing you’ll have to do?” The question was infused with genuine worry, but delivered with a cheeky smirk, and Naomi knew that while Dick might have been feeling one way, the other was for her benefit, and she appreciated he was finally giving her some room to breathe.

She rolled her eyes and shoved him into the wall. “Whatever, Wonder Brat. You can’t legally drive yet, so you can’t leave without me anyway.”

“I could if I wanted to!” he sing-sang as he skipped toward his room.

“Not without being grounded for a year!” she yelled after him.

When Naomi finally made it to her room (she would never admit how winded she felt after a couple measly flights of stairs), she hopped in the shower to wash away the thin layer of sweat that had accumulated during her short walk on the treadmill. Even that was torturously slow going, given just how much she was scabbed, and when she was finally finished, she sighed at the several cuts that had reopened.

It wasn’t much blood, just a few drops from each slash, so she just let them scab again as she walked into her closet to figure out something to wear. Naomi was well known for getting cold easily, so wearing pants and long sleeves wouldn’t raise any eyebrows.

She grabbed her undergarments and found a pair of forest-green joggers and a cream-colored pullover, then dropped her towel. She caught her reflection in the full-length mirror before she could turn away completely, and she winced at the sight.

The bruises were several days old, and the edges were starting to molt, but the majority of her torso and back were still an ugly black purple-blue. The pain had also receded somewhat, with only the most exaggerated of movements making her lips thin in an attempt to keep from worrying Bruce, Dick, and Alfred.

Sighing, Naomi turned away from the mirror and pulled on her clothes, then joined Dick downstairs. “Alfred’s getting the car,” he said when he spotted her coming down the stairs. He watched her like a hawk as he informed her, several counterarguments at the ready if she voiced her opposition to the plan.

He was pleasantly surprised when she just smiled and nodded. Once they were seated in the backseat (after Naomi had bit back her groan as she slid into the car, knowing two sets of sharp blue eyes were on her) she said to Dick, “You were expecting me to argue, weren’t you.”

“As a matter of fact, I was,” he replied, knowing there was no use in trying to deny it. “You make me, Alfred, and Bruce very happy you’re not pushing yourself any more than you need to.”

She hated to admit it, but she had to agree with them on that; driving did feel like it would be a little more than she could chew at the moment. Given how tired she felt after a slow walk on the treadmill that hadn’t even lasted twenty minutes, her legs felt heavy and her shoulders felt stiff from being extremely aware of how any motion might cause a flare-up of her numerous bruises.

Andi’s house, like James and Sage’s, was in the neighborhood below Wayne Manor’s. Each lot was large with spacious houses and perfectly groomed lawns and shrubbery, and Naomi loved driving the winding road to admire the grand structures.

The drive was short, and Alfred dropped them off at the curb with instructions to call him when they were ready to leave. Dick watched Naomi carefully as they made their way up the walkway, noting she was moving easier than she had over the last couple of days. He also noticed how she let out a breath when they finally reached the covered porch, her shoulders falling away from her shoulders a fraction.

He sighed quietly but didn’t get a chance to check how she was doing when the door was thrown open by Andi Byron. Her hazel eyes sparkled as she pulled Naomi and then Dick into quick, tight hugs before ushering them inside.

“Perfect, now everyone is here!”

This wasn’t their first trip to the Byron household, so Naomi and Dick didn’t spare a glance at any of the opulent rooms they passed. Andi led them to the well-used game room, where the rest of their school friends—Aaron and Logan Wood, Sage Burke, and Barbara Gordon—were gathered.

“I take it from the lack of James and Olivia in the group chat the graduates are no longer invited?” Naomi joked once everyone had greeted her and Dick.

“Liv’s busy with a summer internship,” Aaron said of his and Logan’s older sister, who had graduated with James.

“And James is working with his mother this summer to have some pocket money before college,” Sage answered.

“Jamie and Livy, you will be missed.” Andi sighed dramatically, putting a hand over her heart and bowing her head. Without missing a beat, their young hostess turned to Sage to ask her about the trip to Europe her family had just returned from.

---

“Can you believe the crazy rumors about Lark?” Aaron asked about an hour later. Naomi stiffened and Dick shot her a concerned glance. Her fingers tightened around her water glass as she brought it to her lips.

“They’re more than rumors, aren’t they?” Andi pointed out. “It was caught on camera and everything.”

Aaron snorted. “I won’t believe it until someone sees it with their own two eyes.”

“Isn’t it awful what they’re saying, though?” Sage asked. “I mean, all she’s done is help the city, and that’s the thanks she gets?”

Dick relaxed slightly at Sage’s words in support, but he noticed Naomi was still looking slightly queasy. Her expression turned down-right ill when Sage turned to her and Dick. “What do you guys think?”

“She’s a hero,” Dick said plainly, perhaps a bit too vehemently for an average citizen. “She deserves nothing but praise for all the hard work she’s done over the years.”

“Yes,” Naomi said weakly as everyone turned to her for her opinion, then cleared her throat and said with slightly more conviction, “I agree with Dick. Sh-she’s done so much for the city.”

Dick quickly redirected the conversation, making a comment on the poor performance of Gotham’s baseball team, which made Aaron elbow Naomi with a laugh while Logan began to lament the error-prone infield.

Naomi relaxed as talk continued away from the topic of Lark. She made herself comfortable in the plushy chair and laughed and joked with her friends. After the last few days, with the constant reminder of her injuries and her inability to do anything, she felt refreshingly normal for once. She could forget about her night life, she could ignore the pain, she could just be.

She was almost sad when they left. It was the first time Naomi had ever wanted to linger during one of the school-gang hangouts. Normally she was eager to get back to the Manor, get down to the Batcave, hit the streets as Lark.

Instead, after dinner, after Bruce and Dick had donned their uniforms and left the Batcave, Naomi was left at the computer, on monitor duty. Alfred kept her company, which was appreciated, and he talked her through some of the more nuanced aspects of playing the all-seeing, all-knowing oracle.

Just after midnight, Alfred and Batman insisted she should head to bed. Her argument that she was fine, she could wait until they got back, was weakened significantly by the fact she kept yawning, and her eyes kept fluttering shut. She finally relented, heading up to her room after exchanging good-nights with Alfred, Bruce, and Dick. She brushed her teeth, washed her face, and then collapsed into bed. She was out the moment her head hit the pillow.

---

Location: Wayne Manor, Gotham City
Date: Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Time: 1343 EDT

"Miss Naomi, a package was delivered for you."

As she stepped off the treadmill, Dick glanced over from the high beam and asked excitedly, “Ooh, whatcha get?”

Naomi’s eyebrows furrowed just slightly in confusion. “Wasn’t expecting anything,” she said as she followed Alfred out of the gym, though instead of heading toward the front hall like she expected, he led them to the backyard.

Though “backyard” was a gross understatement. The Manor sat in the middle of about five acres of land, which itself was part of a much larger parcel that was mostly allowed to grow wild. A team of landscapers came by every couple of weeks to keep the growth from getting too out of control and to make sure the flora was healthy. Alfred’s thumb was just green enough for him to maintain the land around the Manor, though a gardener stopped by once a week to assist.

Alfred opened one of the French doors that led to the wide, tiled patio, where a large, young rosebush had been placed on the edge. There were about a dozen buds, ranging from a pale blush pink to a light apricot. A postcard-sized information card was pinned to the burlap sack which surrounded the dirt-encased roots, and a small white envelope was nestled in the leaves.

“For you, Miss Naomi,” Alfred said, plucking the envelope from the leaves and handing it to her. Her name was indeed the only one on the envelope in a neat cursive in emerald-green ink.

“Was there a sender listed? Or a return address provided?” Naomi asked, curious as to who would be sending her a rose bush.

“I’m afraid not, Miss,” the butler replied with a shake of his head. “Shall I plant it?”

“Seems a waste not to,” she shrugged.

“Would beneath your window be too on-the-nose?” he quipped, and Naomi chuckled.

“No, that sounds perfect, Alfred, thank you.”

He nodded once with a smile before heading off to find a cart to move the rose bush. Naomi turned her attention back to the envelope in her hands, and she turned it over to reveal a wax seal stamping it closed in a matching emerald green.

At first glance, it appeared to be plain, with no crest or other distinguishing feature, but when she trailed a finger over it, she felt its uneven surface, indicating there was indeed some sort of design in the wax.

She squinted and began tilting it this way and that in the sun, trying to decipher the image. Just as realization dawned on her, Alfred called her name, sounding slightly concerned. She joined him under her bedroom window, where his steely blue gaze was staring intently at the information card that had come with the bush.

Wordlessly, he passed her the card, and Naomi’s breath caught in her lungs. The rose was called A Lark’s Ascending.

“Either this is the largest coincidence in the world—”

“Bruce doesn’t believe in that word,” Naomi muttered to distract from the way her hands were starting to tremble just slightly.

“—or someone is sending you a message,” Alfred finished solemnly.

Naomi’s thoughts were going as fast as the Flash as she tried to make sense of the pieces. It was one of those puzzles that seemed painfully obvious, but the painful obviousness of it made it seem as though it was the wrong answer and she needed to keep digging to find the right one.

“I will inform Master Bruce of this development.”

When there was no response from Naomi, Alfred turned on his heel and headed inside, taking the rose info card with him.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing mind. Her finger traced the wax seal, the very faint design becoming more and more prominent in her mind’s eye.

Someone is sending me a message.

Despite the bright sun, Naomi felt a shiver course down her spine as the implication of the rose finally sunk in.

Naomi spun on her heel and hurried inside, heading straight for her room. She leaned heavily against the door once it had closed. She stared down at the envelope, the green seal staring back at her, the pattern now clear as day to her.

As she turned it over to inspect the ink and cursive, she finally made note of the unevenness of the weight inside. She hesitated to open it, a long-buried memory resurfacing.

Surely…it can’t be…

There was the slightest tremor in her hand as she unsealed the envelope and tipped it, emptying its contents in her palm. Her breath caught in her throat.

It is.

It was just as she remembered.

A jade medallion about the size and thickness of a quarter hung from a thin but sturdy gold chain. On one side, the same image that had been in the wax seal was carved in incredibly fine detail, the thin line work delicate and filled with gold, which glinted slightly in the overhead light and served to emphasize the design. The detailed tiger face stared up at her, filling Naomi with a sense of warmth and comfort. Of home.

The last time she had seen the medallion had been ten years ago, the last time her mother tucked her into bed. It had hung on a short black leather cord when her mother had worn it, and it would always swing just above Naomi’s nose as her mother leaned down to kiss her forehead.

But what did it mean? Something from her past, resurfacing now, and with a rose that happened to share her alter ego’s name?

Naomi’s thumb was moving absently over the gold tiger face when Bruce called for her and Dick to meet him in the kitchen. She took a deep breath and tucked the necklace into the pocket of her gym shorts.

Dick paused at the bottom of the stairs when he noticed Naomi coming down from her room. “You know what this is about?” he wondered as they continued their way to the kitchen.

“Yes,” she said simply. His eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise, but when she didn’t elaborate, he kept silent.

Bruce was waiting for them, leaning one hip against the island with his arms crossed over his chest. The information card sat on the counter trop in front of him, and he was frowning at it.

“What’s up, Bruce?” Dick asked, walking around to sit on his usual stool.

Bruce didn’t look away from Naomi and he quirked an eyebrow, just slightly, and she sighed. She dragged the card closer to her and stared at the glossy picture of a fully bloomed rose bush. She pursed her lips at it for a moment before sliding it over to Dick.

His eyes widened when he saw the name of the rose. “This is, what? A warning? Something to tell us they…know?”

“Alfred said there was an envelope addressed to you,” Bruce went on, and Dick just barely managed to keep from rolling his eyes in frustration. Naomi blew out a breath and nodded. At her continued silence, Bruce said firmly, “What was in it.”

She was quiet a moment longer before reaching into her pocket and dropping something on the granite counter in front of her. Dick edged closer while Bruce immediately stepped closer. He pulled a fork from the drawer and used it to make the medallion lay flat.

“What is it?” Bruce asked as Alfred passed him a thin dish towel to pick up and inspect the medallion more closely.

“It’s…my legacy,” she said, recalling the words her mother had used. She reached for it, a feeling of wrongness coiling in her stomach at the sight of someone holding the jade. When Bruce retreated, Naomi’s fist clenched on the island.

“Legacy?” His eyes narrowed just slightly. “This is from your birth family?”

Naomi forced her hand to relax, and she pressed it flat against the countertop. “It belonged to my mother,” she said eventually. “She never took it off, and she only ever said that it was our family legacy.”

Bruce nodded, then headed out of the kitchen.

“Where are you going?” Naomi asked loudly, her voice taking on a slightly hysterical edge as she hurried after him.

“Checking for prints other than yours!” Bruce called over his shoulder.

The medallion, as expected, yielded no fingerprints other than Naomi’s, but Bruce, who had never met a forensic test he didn’t love, put the mysterious necklace through the wringer. Naomi hovered over his shoulder the whole time, while Dick eventually drifted to the training mat.

Bruce finally admitted defeat, leaning away from the desk with a sigh. “I haven’t found any identifiable qualities or features. It’s just…jade.”

“So I can have it back?” Naomi asked immediately, sitting up straighter in the chair she had been slumped in.

“Well…”

“You just said yourself, it’s just jade,” she said at his hesitation. “What’s the harm of letting me have just one piece of my childhood back?”

Her words hung in the cool cave air, and even though she hadn’t intended for her statement to guilt him, she could tell the question had struck a chord. Bruce sighed and passed the necklace to Naomi.

She let out a soft breath once it was in her hand. Bruce called for Dick to join him at the computer, something about an ongoing stakeout, so she headed upstairs, telling them she’d be back before they left for patrol.

She took her time walking to her room, turning the jade over and over in her hand. She hadn’t been exaggerating when she called it a piece of her childhood. She had taken the clothes on her back and just one other thing from her small Chinatown home when she was adopted by the Williamsons, and within a week those had been taken from her too.

But what had it been doing with a rosebush?

The rosebush felt ominous, but the medallion felt like home. Naomi couldn’t quite reconcile the conflicting emotions the two objects elicited, but she shoved aside her apprehension and slipped the necklace over her head.

She gasped lightly at the immediate sense of calm that washed over her. Tension she hadn’t even realized was in her shoulders melted away, and she could almost feel a missing piece click into place in her mind. She felt more centered than she had in…days? Months? It was difficult to pin-point exactly, but it seemed painfully obvious now that for a long time now, she had felt unbalanced, disoriented.

When it was time to report to the Batcave for Oracle duty, Naomi had completed a book that had sat half-finished for several weeks, made a significant dent in the next fantasy book from her bookshelf, and put in a few extra hours in the music room than she had since the summer started.

She was feeling chipper as she entered the Batcave, and Dick mentioned as much when he saw her. “Feeling better,” Naomi said with a grin and shrug.

“I’m glad.” Dick smiled back, the evidence of his sister’s ease and contentment in the relaxed slope of her shoulders and the lack of tightness around her eyes and the corner of her lips.

“Ready for your stakeout tonight?”

Dick groaned at the reminder. “Three days now!” he exclaimed as Batman returned to the computer to check for last minute activity.

“Maybe today will be the lucky fourth,” Naomi offered as Dick went up to change.

“Since when were you an optimist,” he joked over his shoulder.

When Robin came skipping down the stairs toward the Batmobile, Naomi just grinned and shrugged. “Dunno,” she said, leaning against the hood of the car. “Just feeling…good.”

“I’m glad.” This came from Batman, who swept toward them from the computer. He placed a warm and heavy hand on Naomi’s shoulder, squeezing briefly. “We’ll reevaluate your injuries when Robin and I return.”

“Sounds like a plan!”

As she watched Batman and Robin zip away, Naomi didn’t feel nearly as disheartened about being left behind as she had in the past. She walked to the Batcomputer with a spring in her step, ready for monitor duty as Oracle for the evening.

Notes:

a little bit of a filler, but the events depicted are relevant to Naomi's character as the season progresses.

Thank you so much for your patience as I slowly post these chapters. Writing comes in fits and starts, and I want to share Naomi's story as it comes to me, rather than sit on chapters for years as I write bits and pieces here and there.

Until next time.

Chapter 12: 7.0 - Denial

Notes:

I own nothing you recognize.

Happy New Year, everyone! Thank you to everyone who has interacted with this story, and thank you in advance for your patience for my random posting :') I can't believe the first chapter of this story was posted in 2020 (over on ff.net), and that this version of Naomi has been in the works since 2018 :o

Location: Infinity Island, Headquarters of the League of Shadows
Date: Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Time: 2342 ECT

There was a knock at the door that roused White Tiger from his light slumber.

“Coming,” he said, padding across the small room to open the door a crack. “What is it?” he asked the Shadow standing outside.

“A message from the Science Division,” the Shadow said. “They said they have your test results.”

White Tiger’s eyes widened as he shoved his feet into the closest pair of shoes and then pushed past the startled Shadow. He had been waiting impatiently for the DNA test to be completed, and it had taken everything in him to not march over to the Division and demand answers.

He practically flew through the darkened, mostly deserted hallways. When he reached the lab, only a couple stations’ lights were on, and when he entered, the Shadow at the station farthest from the door waved him over.

“What do you have for me?” White Tiger asked without preamble.

“I had to run the sample from that glove several times, and the results are not one hundred percent conclusive.”

“Just tell me what you discovered,” White Tiger snapped.

“There is a ninety-one percent chance that the blood on the glove and the sample you provided are a familial match.”

It was what White Tiger had started to suspect, but hearing confirmation, even if it wasn’t one hundred percent, made his heart jump into his throat. He just nodded stiffly at the Shadow and turned on his heel.

White Tiger skidded to a halt when he caught sight of the figure walking through the compound hallways. He bowed as Rā’s al Ghūl approached him, and the Great One bid him to rise.

The ancient man opened his mouth to address White Tiger, but his words caught in his throat, a rarity for him. He tilted his head as he appraised the young man in the soft light.

White Tiger remained silent and still under the intense gaze of Rā’s. The cloaked man finally gave his head a slight shake and simply asked, “Were you searching for something?”

There seemed to be a double meaning to the question, but White Tiger wasn’t sure what to make of it. “Not anymore,” he replied slowly.

Rā’s just hummed in response and bid his temporary Shadow a good night. He stared at White Tiger’s retreating form, deep in thought. He had never seen the young man without his mask before, and he had been surprised when he had seen his eyes. There was something familiar about them, their shape definitely, maybe the color, perhaps even their depth.

He recalled what one of his scientists had informed him of earlier in the month. White Tiger had stumbled across something on one of his missions with the Shadows, something that had required a DNA test.

Realization slowly dawned on him as he realized where he had seen those eyes before. Rā’s al Ghūl let out a loud laugh as he remembered the Jade Emperor’s words to him: There is a potential asset in play that I would like to bring into the fold.

“Fascinating,” he murmured to himself as he retreated to his personal quarters. It was nearly midnight, but it seemed there was some history he needed to brush up on.

---

Location: Mount Justice, Happy Harbor
Date: Thursday, August 19, 2010
Time: 1702 EDT

“L, are you sure you’re ready for this?”

“Way past ready.”

Lark had been ramping up her activity over the last couple of days, and if she wasn’t sleeping or eating, she could be found in the gym: running on the treadmill, doing basic barre exercises, light weight work. Her stamina had taken a hit from her many days of relative inactivity, and she was hoping that by the time she was fully cleared for field work, she would be back at her peak.

“Just remember: no sparring,” Robin said sternly.

“Yes, Mother,” Lark said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. “I remember what Penny-One, Batman, and the Doctor told me.”

They reached the kitchen to find M’gann collecting ingredients for cookies with help from Kaldur while Superboy looked on. The Martian beamed when the two birds came into her line of sight, and she quickly set her armful of ingredients on the counter so she could run to Lark.

“It’s been so long!” she exclaimed as she threw her arms around the older bird. Lark stumbled back a step as M’gann’s weight came crashing into her, and she couldn’t bite back her groan.

“Are you all right?” Kaldur asked worriedly as M’gann quickly released her.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” Lark assured, smiling brightly at the others. M’gann seemed to take Lark at her word, and while Kaldur did not look convinced, he didn’t say anything else.

Lark joined Superboy at the counter that separated the living area from the kitchen. She hopped on one of the bar stools and asked M’gann, “What kind of cookies are you making?”

“White chocolate macadamia nut!” the Martian said happily. “It seems to be a very popular recipe.”

“Do you have dried cranberries?” Robin asked as he began rummaging through the cabinets and cupboards. “Those would be a nice touch.”

“Ooh, yes, we do!” M’gann said happily. A cupboard door two down from Robin flew open and out floated an unopened bag of the desired food. She added it to her large pile of ingredients on the counter and got to work.

M’gann filled the otherwise-silent kitchen with chatter, and Kaldur and Robin were happy to join in. Lark and Superboy remained mostly quiet, the former sometimes adding a comment here or there, but only if she was addressed directly.

“It’s been…quiet without you around,” Superboy murmured eventually.

“Is that your way of saying you missed me?” she teased with a grin.

“Just…got used to you being around, that’s all,” he said with a shrug, though a slight blush colored his cheeks.

“I missed the Cave,” she said, her grin widening. She had started stopping by the Cave during the off hours shortly after the camping trip. Lark could usually find Superboy in the living room, simply staring at the large television screen as it played static, and she would sit on one end of the couch, curl up, and read.

The first few times, they had simply sat in silence until it was time for Lark to return to Gotham. When she continued to show up with a book, he began asking her hesitant questions, usually about what she was reading. It had become a comfortable pattern, and when she had abruptly stopped coming in without a word, Superboy had admittedly—though only to himself—grown worried.

Superboy glanced over at Lark, her bouncing leg having drawn his attention. He noticed her upper body—what the others in the kitchen could see—was completely still, giving no indication to her apparent restlessness.

“You good?” he asked, and when she quirked her eyebrow in question, he nodded at her legs. “Do you need to blow off some steam or something?”

“Oh, she always does that,” Robin answered for her just as she exclaimed, “Yes, wanna train?”

“No,” the younger bird said with a scowl, his tone that of someone scolding a misbehaving puppy. “You’re not supposed to be sparring!”

Lark rolled her eyes. “I didn’t ask if Superboy wanted to spar,” she pointed out. “I asked if he wanted to train. Big difference."

“Not really,” Robin grumbled.

“Perhaps Lark can oversee a couple sparring matches?” Kaldur suggested. “Black Canary has been absent the last few days, so we have missed a guided practice this week.”

“Good enough for me,” Lark said, hopping off the stool and heading for the hallway. Superboy followed more eagerly than Kaldur and Robin, and M’gann flew after them, floating a timer behind her.

---

A couple hours later, Artemis arrived at the Cave just as Superboy and Kaldur finished their third sparring match. Lark, who had been hovering at the edge of the training circle, stepped toward them, and based on the gestures she was making, Artemis figured the older bird was giving the two boys pointers and tips and critiques.

“Ready to go again?” Lark asked, and they nodded. She rejoined M’gann at the edge of the circle, and Superboy tossed aside his shirt before nodding at Kaldur that he was ready.

Artemis’s lip quirked into an appreciative smirk as she let her eyes roam Superboy’s naked torso. When she finally tore her gaze from the shirtless teen, she noticed that Lark and M’gann were also watching the sparring match, but for very different reasons.

Lark’s gaze was appraising and split evenly between the two fighting figures. M’gann’s eyes, on the other hand, were almost entirely on Superboy, and a small, wistful smile was on her lips. Artemis’s blue-gray eyes narrowed at the Martian, and she marched up to the two girls.

“Lark, where’s your other half?” Artemis asked once she had joined them, noticing the lack of excitable energy that normally danced in the air whenever Robin was around.

“With Batman,” Lark sighed unhappily, her eyes not leaving Superboy and Kaldur. “I’m sidelined for the time being.”

Artemis dragged her eyes away from Superboy long enough to shoot Lark a concerned glance. “Is that the reason for the outfit change?”

“Yeah,” Lark nodded, glancing down at her clothes. Her typical tank top and slim-fitted jacket had been replaced by a long-sleeved turtleneck. “My usual ensemble doesn’t quite cover up all the bruises.”

M’gann’s eyes widened in shock and worry, while Artemis nodded solemnly, as though she could sympathize with Lark’s current predicament.

Silence fell among the three girls as they continued to watch the fight, and after a few minutes, Kaldur was able to get the upper hand. Lark, as she had previously, stepped forward and began discussing the nuances of the spar. Artemis took that time to sidle closer to M’gann.

As soon as Lark stepped out of the circle, conference over, the floor lit up once more. “Initiate combat training,” the electronic voice intoned as Kaldur and Superboy stepped toward each other in the ring. There was a countdown from three, and at one, they charged.

Lark watched them with an appraising eye. This was her first time in the Cave since the dock incident, and while Batman had strictly forbidden her from partaking in any sparring until she was able to move with her usual litheness, she had been granted permission by him and Black Canary to become something of a second trainer, since of the Team, she had the most experience and skill in hand-to-hand combat.

Beside her, Artemis asked M’gann with pseudo-casualness, “Kaldur’s, uh, nice, don’t you think?” Her eyes slid to the Martian. “Handsome, commanding. You should totally ask him out.”

Lark was glad her sunglasses covered her eyes, because she could not help but roll them to the ceiling. It was painfully obvious to everyone except the parties involved that quite a love triangle had formed among the Team.

“He’s like a big brother to me!” M’gann smiled brightly, seemingly oblivious to what the archer was trying to get at. “But you know who would make the cutest couple? You and Wally,” she said, her voice a little sing-songy.

The three girls glanced to the side, where the redhead in question, a quarter of the training circle away, took a big bite of his burrito, completely unaware of the attention.

“You’re so full of passion,” M’gann went on, “and he’s so full of…uh, of…” She trailed off, uncertain how to finish that sentence.

“It?” Artemis suggested with a quirked eyebrow, and even Lark couldn’t help but chuckle along with them.

In the ring, Superboy and Kaldur collided, only for the clone to hook his foot around the Atlantean’s ankle, destabilizing him and allowing Superboy to throw him to the ground.

Superboy smirked proudly. “Black Canary taught me that.”

Lark stepped into the ring again, this time tossing Superboy a towel and helping Kaldur to his feet. “Well done,” she praised the clone. To their leader, she said, “Remember, it’s about staying light on your feet. By staying on your toes, you have a much easier time adapting to what your opponent throws at you.”

She waved Superboy closer and said, “Grab me like you did Kal.”

Outside the ring, two pairs of eyes narrowed at her admittedly suggestive-sounding comment, but Superboy and Kaldur only looked slightly concerned.

“Are you sure that is a good idea?” Kaldur cautioned, even as Lark stepped closer to Superboy.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she waved off.

“But Batman said—”

Superboy was cut off when Lark quirked an eyebrow up at the clone and asked, “Since when have you wanted to do what Batman says?”

“I do not think this is wise,” the Atlantean said firmly as Superboy grinned.

“Look, we’ll go slow,” Lark offered, glancing over her shoulder. “Just to give you an example of how to stay on your feet if you’re ever in a situation like that again.”

Kaldur opened his mouth to argue further, but he was saved the trouble when the eyehole in the ceiling opened. Lark rolled her eyes good-naturedly as she stepped away from Superboy (which elicited identical sighs of relief from M’gann and Artemis). “Saved by the bell,” she joked.

The robot started walking away, but Wally zipped in front of him. “Do you have a mission for us?” he asked hopefully.

“Mission assignments are the Batman’s responsibility,” Red Tornado reminded.

“Yeah, well, the Batman’s with the Robin doing the—L, what do you call it when it’s just them?” Before she could answer, though, Wally finished, “father-son thing in Gotham.”

“Cape Canaveral this time,” Lark corrected. After a beat, she added, “I actually don’t think the media has ever seen Batman with just one partner before.”

“Anyway, you’re headed somewhere, right?” Wally went on. “Hot date? Or a-a mission?” he asked, affecting a French accent.

“If we can be of help,” Kaldur added tactfully.

Red Tornado studied them for a moment before turning and pulling up the holographic keyboard. With a few keystrokes, an image of an elderly man in a three-piece suit and gold-handled cane appeared before them.

“This is Kent Nelson,” the robot hero informed. “A friend. He is one-hundred-and-six years old.”

“Guy doesn’t look a day over ninety,” Wally joked behind his hand at Artemis.

“And he has been missing for twenty-three days,” Red Tornado finished.

Lark tilted her head, her eyebrows furrowed slightly in thought. The name was familiar, and he was somehow connected to the hero community, given Red Tornado’s familiarity with him. His age, though…She ventured a guess and asked, “Was he a member of the Justice Society?”

“Yes, he was a charter member,” Red Tornado confirmed. “The Society was the precursor to your mentors’ Justice League,” he clarified for those who might not be familiar.

The image flickered momentarily before switching to Nelson in a gold-and-navy-blue hero suit. A gold helm covered his entire head, leaving only his eyes visible, and the high collared cape reached to just above his ears. The navy suit was form fitted, with a chunky gold collar and belt, and finished with golden gloves and boots.

“Of course,” Kaldur nodded, realization dawning on him. “Nelson was Earth’s sorcerer supreme. He was Doctor Fate!”

Wally scoffed behind Lark, and again, to Artemis, said, “More like Doctor Fake. Guy knows a little advanced science and ‘Dumbledore’s’ it up to scare the bad guys and impress the babes.”

Lark shot the speedster a look over her shoulder. “What?” he asked. She remained silent and turned back to Red Tornado after a beat. “What did I say?” Wally muttered.

“Kent may simply be on one of his walkabouts,” Red Tornado suggested. “But he is caretaker to the Helmet of Fate, the source of the Doctor’s mystic might, and it is unwise to leave such power unguarded.”

“He is like the great sorcerer priests and priestesses of Mars,” M’gann spoke up reverentially. “I would be honored to help find him.”

“Me too!” Wally exclaimed, his hand shooting up at superspeed. “Sooo honored, I can barely stand it.” Behind his back, Lark noticed Artemis narrow her eyes at him. He held up both hands in a rock-and-roll symbol and gushed, “Magic rocks.”

“Take this,” Red Tornado said, holding up a small gold object, and Lark wondered if he was politely ignoring Wally’s ridiculousness. “It is the key to the Tower of Fate,” he explained as Kaldur took it from him.

Sidling up to M’gann, Wally said with feigned casualness, “What are the chances we both so admire the mystic arts?”

“We will leave right away,” Kaldur said over Wally, and Red Tornado nodded before returning to his quarters above them.

As Lark walked with them toward the hanger, Kaldur hesitated. “Are you sure you should be joining us?”

“Oh, come on, Kal!” Lark cried. “Batman’s already left me behind for one mission, you can’t seriously expect me to sit idly by.”

“Yeah, come on, Aqua-leader,” Wally jumped in, throwing an arm around Lark’s shoulders. “I mean, how much trouble could a dude over one hundred get into?”

“Famous last words,” Artemis muttered, and Lark shushed her.

“Batman doesn’t even want you to spar,” Kaldur pointed out. “How do you think he’ll feel if we take you out into the field in your condition?”

“My condition is fine,” Lark said cooly, her eyebrow quirking at Kaldur’s word choice. Even though her eyes were covered with sunglasses, Kaldur could fell the glower she was sending his way, and he suppressed a shudder. “Besides, it’s not like it’s an actual mission. More like…a check in. Super chill.”

“She’s gotcha there,” Wally grinned.

Kaldur looked like he had many more points to argue, but before he could open his mouth to voice them, Lark slung an arm around Wally’s waist and said, “Great, it’s settled! Let’s go!” and marched toward the hanger. Kaldur could only sigh and follow, hoping this non-mission truly was as easy as it seemed.

---

Location: Salem, Massachusetts
Date: Thursday, August 19, 2010
Time: 2022 EDT

The relatively short flight to Salem had been quiet, but Artemis finally broke the silence when she asked pointedly, “So, Wally, when did you first realize your…honest affinity for sorcery?”

Stumbling over his words a little, the redhead said, “Well, I-I don’t like to brag, but, uh, before I became Kid Flash, I seriously considered becoming a wizard myself.”

Lark snorted as he laced his fingers behind his head as he leaned back to look at M’gann, and Artemis’s eyes rolled back as she scowled slightly.

“We’ve reached Tornado’s coordinates, but—” M’gann started uncertainly.

“Nothing’s there,” Superboy finished, scanning the area below them.

Lark glanced out and saw he was right. To their left were old buildings that looked to be abandoned, and to the right was an empty field.

“Take us down,” Kaldur directed. The Bio-Ship settled in the street beside the field, and the Team began to scout.

“Nothing,” Wally reported after doing a quick run not only of the field but of the surrounding blocks.

“If there’s something here, it’s doing a really good job at hiding,” Lark frowned as she joined him and Artemis.

“So, what do you think?” the archer asked Wally, raising an eyebrow. “Adaptive micro-opto-electronics combined with phase shifting?” she challenged.

“Absolutely…” Wally started, sounding impressed. “Not!” he quickly finished as M’gann approached them. “Clearly, mystic powers are at work here.”

“And I think that’s the first true thing you’ve said all evening,” Lark drawled. Wally shot her a glare and Artemis broke away from glowering at him to share a smirk with her.

Superboy and Kaldur joined them, and the Team stood there dumbly for a few moments before their leader pulled out the key Red Tornado had given him. “A test of faith,” he remembered. “Stand behind me,” he instructed, stepping in front of everyone.

He walked forward several paces and stuck the key out, seemingly at random. Half of it vanished in midair, and the sound of a lock clicking echoed in the quiet night. Suddenly, the Tower of Fate appeared before them, so tall Lark had to crane her neck to see the top. There were no windows or decorations, and she wondered if the interior had windows that could give the observer any view they desired.

Wally couldn’t hide his shocked expression, which mirrored Artemis’s, while M’gann appeared to be coolly interested and Superboy’s eyebrows were pinched as he absorbed this new information. Kaldur pushed open the door and the Team followed after him.

“Wait, the door!” Lark exclaimed, and Superboy, the last one through, whirled around at her outcry. She lunged past him just as it slammed shut, and she crashed into a solid stone wall.

“Uh, where’d the door go?” Superboy asked, somewhat nervously, as Lark shook out her sore palms.

In the center of the room, a hologram of Kent Nelson flickered into existence. “Greetings,” it said. “You have entered with a key, but the Tower does not recognize you. Please state your purpose and intent.”

Wally glanced at M’gann, and before Lark could clap a hand over his mouth, he stepped toward the hologram. “We are true believers, here to find Doctor Fate!” he declared.

The hologram looked disappointed, clearly detecting the lie, and Lark wanted to smack her forehead (or maybe the Kid Idiot). It disappeared and Wally’s face fell.

For a moment, nothing happened, and Lark dared to let out a quiet sigh of relief. That relief was short-lived, though, as the floor began to shake. There was an ominous creak, and then the floorboards gave way beneath them.

Lark’s stomach flew into her throat as she flailed momentarily. Acting on instinct, she pulled the shadows together, creating a platform that stretched out beneath the Team. She shuddered so violently she had to sink to her knees, and she pressed her hands against the shadow.

“You okay?” Superboy asked worriedly, kneeling beside her, as above them, Artemis snapped at Wally, “Nice going!”

“F-feels funny,” Lark stammered through gritted teeth, her face screwed up in concentration. “Never h-had to con-concentrate…this h-h-hard on…”

Wally’s voice was muffled as he exclaimed, “What did I do?!”

The archer’s retort was cut off when Lark let out a sharp cry, followed immediately by the shadow platform vanishing.

Once more, the Team began their descent into the deep pit. Superboy noticed Lark had gone completely limp, and he launched himself toward her. Her breath escaped her in a rush as she slammed into his hard chest, and he dug his fingers and then feet into the stone, slowing their fall.

Above them, M’gann caught Wally while Artemis fired her mini crossbow, grabbing Kaldur as she did. The heat, which had seemed so distant just moments earlier, was becoming nearly unbearable now, and Lark clung to Superboy as she curled herself as small as possible as they went skidding toward the lava bubbling at the very bottom of the pit.

Superboy roared in pain as his feet slid into the lava, and Lark cringed in sympathy. “This Nelson guy better be worth it,” he grumbled as he slowly hauled himself and Lark higher. “Those were my favorite boots.”

“But all your boots are identical,” Lark joked weakly, and Superboy rolled his eyes.

“Are you okay, though?” he asked, recalling how badly she had been shaking as she tried to maintain her shadow.

“Yeah,” she said with a slight frown. “Something was messing with my…concentration? Shadow connection?”

“Didn’t think that could happen.”

“Me neither.”

Superboy just shook his head. “Man, magic is weird.”

“You said it,” Lark said, huffing out a laugh.

Above them, M’gann was falling in fits and starts. “Having trouble…maintaining altitude,” she panted, and she dropped a few more inches before catching herself again. “I’m so hot,” she said, wiping the sweat that had gathered on her face.

“You certainly are,” Wally flirted.

“Wally!” Artemis yelled, glaring down at him.

“Hey, inches above sizzling death!” Wally shot back. “I’m entitled to speak my mind!”

“My physiology and M’gann’s are susceptible to extreme heat,” Kaldur explained, sounding faint. “We must climb out quickly.”

“Lark, are you able to lift us out?” Artemis called down.

She opened her mouth to answer but instead inhaled a lungful of hot air. She shook her head as she let out a choked cough, and Superboy answered for her, “No, the Tower’s still affecting her.”

“Hello, Megan!” M’gann exclaimed weakly, hitting her forehead as realization dawned on her. “We never truly answered the question.” Calling out to the Tower of Fate, she said, “Red Tornado sent us to see if Mr. Nelson and the Helmet were safe!”

Instantly, a floor slid over the lava and the temperature dropped a couple dozen degrees. Superboy dropped to the floor, carefully setting Lark on her feet. M’gann collapsed, pulling Wally with her, and Artemis lowered herself and Kaldur to the ground.

Lark leaned heavily against the stone wall, pressing her shaky palms flat against her thighs. She took a few deep breaths and then straightened, feeling a little less unsteady. Superboy caught her eye, and she nodded once to let him know she was okay.

“This platform,” Kaldur said in surprise as he knelt to press his hand flat against the surface. “It should be red-hot, but it is cool to the touch.”

“Don’t worry, Megalicious,” Wally said breathlessly, putting an arm around M’gann’s shoulders. “I got you.”

“Yeah, you were the one saving her from the lava,” Lark snorted with a slight wince. She was feeling steadier, but now she could feel her body protesting the jarring past couple of minutes, from the attempted use of her powers to the fall to the crash into Superboy.

“Enough!” Artemis finally exploded, marching forward and shoving Wally hard in the chest. “Your little impress-M’gann-at-all-costs game nearly got us all barbecued!”

“When did this become my fault?” Wally demanded.

“When you lied to that, whatever it was, and called yourself a true believer,” Artemis snapped.

“Wally, you don’t believe?” M’gann asked, sounding hurt at Wally’s deception.

The speedster looked from Artemis to M’gann, and finally exclaimed, “Fine, fine!” He glowered at Artemis. “I lied about believing in magic. But magic is the real lie, a major load!” he said, crossing his arms and glaring at the floor like a child defending his action to an accusing adult.

“Wally, I studied for a year at the Conservatory of Sorcery in Atlantis,” Kaldur said, still kneeling on the floor. “The mystic arts created the skin icons that power my water-bearers.”

“Dude, you ever hear of bioelectricity?” Wally asked. “Hey, in primitive cultures, fire was once considered magical too!” he said sarcastically. “Today, it’s all just a bunch of tricks.”

“You’re pretty closed-minded for a guy who can break the sound barrier in his sneakers,” Artemis accused.

“That’s science,” Waly defended. “I recreated Flash’s laboratory experiment and here I am! Everything can be explained by science.”

“Let us test that theory,” Kaldur said, his eyes narrowed just slightly in challenge. He grasped the handle of the door that was placed in the center of the floor.

“Wait!” the redhead exclaimed as their leader yanked on the handle. “The backdraft from the lava will roast us alive!”

Kaldur hauled the door open before Wally had even finished his sentence, and a gust of cold air swirled into the stone chamber, bringing with it white flakes that drifted in the breeze.

“It’s snow,” M’gann said in surprise, raising her hand and waving it around the cloud of puffs.

“Do you ever get tired of being wrong?” Artemis goaded.

They dropped through the opening one after the other, and Lark felt gravity shift so that by the time she was on her feet, she was viewing the chamber as though through a window, rather than over her head. Once the last of them was in the new snowy terrain, the opening glowed and vanished.

“Well?” Artemis asked, looking pointedly at Wally.

“Ever hear of String Theory?” he countered immediately. “We’re in a pocket dimension,” he explained, which elicited a glare and a growl of frustration from Artemis.

Something caught M’gann’s attention, and she brought it to everyone else’s when she asked, “What’s that?” The that in question was a cane Lark recognized from the image of Kent Nelson that Red Tornado had shown them back at the Cave.

“Ooh, maybe it’s Nelson’s magic wand,” Wally said sarcastically as Artemis approached it. They reached out at the same time and their hands closed around the cane, each exclaiming, “I got it!” as they did.

Suddenly, the cane started glowing, and again, Wally and Artemis said together, “Ahh, I can’t let go!” The cane started to rise, taking the pair with it, and in a flash, they were gone.

Silence fell among the remaining Team members, the only sound around them the stinging, whistling air. Lark shared wide-eyed looks with the others, uncertain what to do next.

Finally, Kaldur said heavily, “We better try to find a way out.” With no better idea, they started walking.

The Team traveled in silence, which was amplified in the snowy landscape. It was just like a snowy day at the manor: that perfect stillness that came with a blanket of white, every sound of nature intensified in quiet that made the world feel like it was suspended in time.

It would have been peaceful if Lark wasn’t so damn cold.

“And to think, I was regretting my choice of long sleeves and a turtleneck just a little while ago,” she said, her suppressed shivers making her entire body practically vibrate. She crossed her arms across her chest tightly, her jaw clenched so tightly to prevent them from chattering that her teeth ached.

“Would you like my jacket?” Kaldur offered, looking slightly worried at the intense discomfort Lark was in.

Normally, Lark would do the polite thing of waving away the kind offer and insist she was fine. But she knew her increasingly visible shivering would undermine any argument she tried to put up, so she just nodded and gave Kaldur a grateful smile.

The jacket itself was rather thin, meant more to cover up the Atlantean’s gills than protect against the chill, but it was still warm from Kaldur, and Lark closed her eyes briefly as the lingering warmth soaked into her skin.

Once she could open her mouth without her teeth clattering together, she said, “Thank you so much, Kal.” He gave her a small smile in response.

Another stretch of silence was broken by M’gann as she said, “I don’t understand Wally. It’s almost like he needs to believe the impossible can’t happen.”

“Wally uses his understanding of science to control what he cannot comprehend,” Kaldur explained. “Acknowledging the existence of magic would be to relinquish the last vestige of that control.”

“He’s a man of science, through and through,” Lark nodded in agreement. “Even with everything he sees as a hero, he’s always looking for the logical explanation.”

“That sounds so…tiring,” M’gann said after a moment. “To constantly seek answers, always questioning what you see…”

Any possible reply was halted when ahead of them, Lark heard a snap and a crack, and when she glanced up, she saw a short flight of stairs leading to a doorway at the top of a mountain peak. She glanced at the others, and they hurried toward it.

Superboy went first and then Kaldur, which turned out to be a good thing: as Lark stepped through, she felt her body being tugged straight down, and her arms flailed as she suddenly found herself falling. She couldn’t cushion her fall with shadows quickly enough, and she landed unceremoniously on top of the two powerhouses of the Team.

“Ow,” she deadpanned, and from her position on her back, she watched as M’gann floated down after them, the doorway vanishing behind her. Lark rolled off the two boys with a groan and an apology.

“I think that hurt you more than it hurt us,” Kaldur said with a wry smile as he helped her to her feet.

“You don’t know the half of it,” she said around a wince, her whole back feeling freshly bruised. Oh, Bruce and Alfred are not going to be happy with me.

“Friends of yours?” a new voice asked, and Lark looked up to see Artemis rush toward them, Wally standing beside Kent Nelson a few paces behind her.

The speedster and the former mystic hit the deck as a zap of lightning arced toward them. Lark traced it back to its source and found Abra Kadabra standing with a strange teenager with an orange cat on a platform quite a distance away, and she realized they were in a space that reminded her of M.C. Escher’s print.

Abra Kadabra sent several more bolts of lightning their way, and everyone scattered. Nelson used the head of his cane on a giant golden bell that sat in the center of the topsy-turvy space, and it rang out as it began to glow. He and Wally stepped through it, and the kid with the cat flew after them, leaving the Team to deal with Abra.

The magician decided his best bet against teen superheroes was long-distance, and he stayed on his perpendicular platform and shot more lightning bolts at the Team. Lark bit back a groan as she dodged the lightning arcing her way.

Too slow, too slow! she screamed to herself, and she threw several exploding birdarangs in Abra Kadabra’s direction. They detonated prematurely with a wave of his wand, but the smoke gave enough cover for Superboy leap forward to punch him. The clone got in a hit before he was hurled backward, and M’gann telekinetically caught him before he could tumble into the abyss.

Lark managed to dodge another lightning blast, but a testament to her physical state, she was the first one to be struck. She fell to her knees, and the lightning formed a cage to trap her. She found that as long as she remained still, there was only a faint, unpleasant buzz that danced over her skin. If she tried to stand, or even move, she was shocked back into submission.

She wasn’t sure how long she was trapped like that, but eventually, the electric cage vanished. Lark stood with a groan, and she found the other members of the Team were slowly getting to their feet as well.

As they gathered at the center of the platform, M’gann called Wally’s name tentatively through the mind-link.

{Yeah, I’m here,} he replied, his voice unusually somber.

{What is it?} Lark asked, her eyebrows furrowing in concern.

{It’s Nelson,} Wally said just as the bell began glowing

The Team shared a look, and Artemis asked uncertainly, “Is that…an invitation?”

When Wally and Kent Nelson didn’t step out, Lark called, {We’re on our way, Wall,} and she plowed forward. Th others were left to hurry after her, should the glow fade and they get left on the wrong side of the bell.

Lark held her breath as she stepped through the golden bell and released it in a whoosh once she blinked the bright light from her vision. The rest of the Team appeared behind her, and they found themselves at the top of the Tower.

At the very center, Wally was beside Kent Nelson, who lay flat on his back, still in a way that could only mean one thing.

“Oh, Wally, I’m sorry,” Lark said softly as she knelt just behind him. She wrapped an arm around his shoulder, and at the simple human contact, Wally sagged into her embrace.

“I didn’t even know the guy,” he mumbled. “Why do I still feel this bad?”

“Do you want me to answer that question, or do you want to grieve a little more?”

Wally poked Lark in the side as he let out a choked laugh, and Lark jerked away from the prod. She pinched his shoulder in retaliation, and after one more long, heavy moment, Wally got to his feet.

The Team had hung back to let Lark comfort Wally, and now they slowly approached. Kaldur reached out to take the Helmet of Fate from Wally, but his fingers clenched against the golden helmet, and he drew it closer to his chest. Kaldur glanced at Lark, and she shook her head just slightly, indicating they should let him hold onto it for the time being.

“How do we bring Mr. Nelson inside?” M’gann asked hesitantly. She glanced around the top of the Tower of Fate, which offered no way back inside.

Lark stretched out her hand, and a shadow shroud enveloped Kent Nelson. The shadows lifted him off the ground, and a door materialized before them.

Once they were back in the Tower, Kaldur hailed the Cave. “Red Tornado, we have…found Kent Nelson.”

“I see,” the robot said after a beat. “And his condition?”

“Deceased.”

The pause was longer this time, and when Red Tornado launched into instructions on what to do with Nelson’s body, his voice maintained its usual monotonous drone. But Lark had the distinct feeling that if Red Tornado had been human, his voice would have been shaky with emotion.

The Bio-Ship was filled with solemn silence on the way back to the Cave, and it wasn’t broken until the Team was a few minutes out.

“Batman is on his way to the Cave; he will lead the mission debrief,” Red Tornado informed them.

“Debrief?” Superboy grumbled. “This wasn’t a mission.”

“Please remind him of that when we land,” Lark muttered, unable to hide a wince as she shifted a little in her seat. She felt eyes on her and glanced up to see Kaldur studying her. She rolled her eyes. “Please don’t say ‘I told you so,’” she sighed, closing her eyes as she leaned back.

“I would never,” the Atlantean said. Lark opened one eye to see his face perfectly sincere, but there was a twinkle in his pale eyes that told her he was a little amused. She chuckled and shook her head.

Batman was indeed waiting for them in the mission room when they landed, and his eyes immediately zeroed in on Lark. The whites of his mask narrowed as he carefully monitored her movements, and his lips thinned as he noted the stiff way she walked.

Kaldur launched into the debrief, and when he reached the end, with Nelson’s death, Batman bowed his head for a beat. When the moment passed, he said, “Funeral arrangements will be made for Kent Nelson, and you will be informed of them once the plans are set.” He nodded once at them, then looked pointedly at Lark. She waved goodbye to the Team and followed him to the Zeta-Tube.

Dick was waiting for them in the Batcave, and Lark removed her sunglasses and pulled up the sleeves of her turtleneck. “How was Cape Canaveral?” she asked.

Bruce interrupted Dick before he could dive into a dramatic retelling of the mission. “Don’t think you’re getting out of this conversation.” Dick’s jaw snapped shut at the hard undercurrent in Bruce’s voice. “Change into something that will let Alfred check your torso and back.”

Dick’s eyes widened and it was his turn to ask, “How was the Cave?”

“I guess I’ll explain everything once I’m changed,” Naomi sighed, heading for the changing rooms.

She came back dressed in her usual pajama ensemble of a matched set in a Justice League hero pattern. A strip of cloth was tied around her chest, and Alfred was waiting at the medical bay. She sat obediently on a cot and lifted her shirt to let him inspect her bruises.

Alfred gently prodded various points on her torso and back, watching her face to gauge her pain levels. He lifted an eyebrow and tsked lightly as he stepped back. “You’ve most likely set your recovery back a day or two,” he said.

“Oh, the horrors, a full forty-eight hours,” Naomi said sarcastically with a roll of her eyes.

“How did you end up on a mission, anyway?” Dick asked once Naomi joined him and Bruce at the computer.

“Yes, do tell.”

Naomi blew out a breath. “Wally bugged R.T. about a mission, and R.T. told us about Nelson.”

“Why did you leave the Cave?”

“Because I didn’t want to be left behind again!” The answer burst out of Naomi with more force and more emotion than she expected, and even her companions seemed mildly surprised at the emphatic-ness of her answer. She dropped her gaze and tugged at the hem of her shirt. “Besides, it wasn’t even a real mission,” she mumbled to the floor. “It was just a…wellness check.”

Bruce remained silent for a long moment. When he spoke again, his voice had lost its hard edge, but it was still held a hint of reprimand. “Either way, you were not cleared to be in the field, regardless of the circumstances.” He sighed heavily. “You’re grounded the next two days,” he declared. “You’re not to do any physical exercise more strenuous than a brisk walk on the treadmill, and you’ll man the coms at night.”

Naomi head tipped back as she let out a long sigh, but to everyone’s great surprise, she eventually nodded. Dick’s eyes widened and Bruce raised an eyebrow. She rubbed her eyes and said, “I’m too tired to argue, but I promise not to pick up the argument tomorrow. Or, well, when I wake up.”

Turning to Alfred, she said, “If I’m dismissed, I’d like to head to bed.”

“Good idea, young madam,” he nodded. Alfred’s eyes slid to Bruce and Dick and he added, “A good idea for everyone, I believe.”

Batman might be a formidable figure on the streets, Bruce Wayne in the board room, but within the manor, everyone knew Alfred had the last word. Naomi headed upstairs first, and Alfred brought up the rear. She bid goodnight once they reached the private wing, and after finding a comfortable sleeping position with minimal groaning, she fell into an easy sleep.

Notes:

Endings are so hard for me to write *sobbing emoji*

I was originally going to write Lark joining Batman and Robin to fight Ra's, but I figured Batman has a "follow what I say, not what I do" mentality when it comes to injury and crime fighting (ie Batman will fight through broken bones and internal bleeding as long as he can stay on his feet, but he would be super strict about his kids fighting with even the slightest scratch).

There are certainly Robins who would fight harder about being sidelined for injury, but Lark has her reasons for being more willing to be "grounded" (though she doesn't even realize it herself). There's a really interesting character quirk(?) of Naomi's that I really love, and when I ran it by my friend, they really liked it too. I hope I'm doing a good enough job of dropping bread crumbs. If you think you've figured it out, drop a comment!

Is there any rhyme or reason behind Lark being unable to use her shadows in the Tower of Fate? No. But you know. Comic book logic. And do I know anything about genetics and what constitutes a familial match? No. But you know. Fiction.

Until next time :)

Chapter 13: 7.1 - The Pendulum...and the Penalty

Notes:

I own nothing you recognize.

What's this, an update? This chapter and the next couple have actually been mostly written for a while now, it was just a matter of filling in some of the gaps I had left and polishing the scenes.

Warning(?): one curse word.

Disclaimer: I know nothing about wills/estate law, so the whole thing with the Williamsons and Naomi is for the purpose of storytelling. Also the science-y stuff? Total guesswork.

Location: Wayne Manor, Gotham City
Date: Monday, August 23, 2010
Time: 1013 EDT

Hal Jordan chuckled as he floated down toward the expansive lawn of Wayne Manor; of course the bats would be early to a 10:30 meeting.

Naomi and Dick were doing simple warm-ups in the grass while Bruce spoke with Alfred a few feet away. All four looked up at the green glow that washed over them as Hal descended, and Bruce stepped forward to greet his fellow League member.

“Hal,” he addressed. “Thank you for coming over.”

“Of course,” he nodded, his aura and Green Lantern uniform disappearing as he landed. He shook Bruce’s hand and then turned to Naomi and Dick. “Long time, no see, kids,” he grinned.

“Wow, you sure missed the memo,” Naomi quipped playfully, quirking an eyebrow.

“Yeah, didn’t anyone tell you we’re not kids?” Dick added, his expression mirroring his sister’s.

Hal chuckled and held up his hands in surrender. “Sorry, my bad. Long time, no see, heroes.”

“Better,” Dick beamed. He turned to Naomi, briefly squeezed her hand, then stepped back to join Alfred on the patio.

“So, are you ready for this?” Hal asked Naomi.

“Yes,” she nodded resolutely.

As Naomi demonstrated what she knew and what she could do with her powers, Alfred turned to Bruce and said, “If now is a good time, I shall go check on the estate.”

Bruce nodded, and Alfred headed for the garage. It was a short drive to the Williamson estate, and Alfred punched in the gate code and drove slowly up the gravel driveway, carefully scanning what he could of the grounds to make sure there was nothing amiss.

The Williamsons’ will had left everything to Naomi, but since she had only been eight at the time of their deaths, their possessions had been put in a trust to be overseen by Naomi’s next legal guardian. Had anyone other than Bruce Wayne become her guardian, there most likely would have been questions about the motive. But since Bruce Wayne was the wealthiest man in Gotham, no one thought twice about the guardianship.

All non-material possessions—stocks, interests, holdings—were overseen by Bruce’s accountant, who was trusted to be honest in the quarterly reports. The land, the estate, and everything within were seen to regularly by cleaners and gardeners, but Alfred always made a point to visit once a week to make sure nothing was missing.

Alfred parked by the garage, the structure detached from the main house and a short walk to the front door. His pace was brisk as his gaze swept methodically across the land that was visible from the path, and he was inserting his key in the lock before he realized there was something out of the norm.

A note was taped to the elaborate brass doorknocker, and Alfred’s eyebrows rose when he saw Naomi Hong Williamson beneath three Chinese characters, the handwriting neat and precise. He plucked the folded paper from the knocker and then turned to face the front lawn, slowly scanning the area, though he already knew he wouldn’t see anything else out of place.

Alfred pocketed the note and then continued inside.

---

Location: Wayne Manor, Gotham City
Date: Thursday, August 26, 2010
Time: 0733 EDT

Naomi walked down to the kitchen to find Dick already seated at the island. Bruce watched her carefully as she moved around the island to sit next to Dick, looking for any signs of discomfort. But it appeared she was finally on the other side of her extensive bruising: she was light on her feet and her movements were as graceful as they had been before the docks.

“How’s training with Hal going?” Bruce asked once Naomi was settled in her seat.

“Good,” she nodded. “I didn’t realize how mental it was. I know we’ve only been at it for a couple days, but I can already tell my constructs are more solid.”

“I’m glad.” There was a brief pause before Bruce sighed and said, “I’m sorry I didn’t think to ask Hal for help sooner.”

“Hey, I could have just as easily asked him on my own,” Naomi said with a shrug. “I didn’t think about it, either.”

Alfred set a plate of pancakes in front of Naomi as Bruce’s phone started ringing, and he pulled it from his jacket pocket to answer. “Hello, Lucius,” he greeted. “Really?...I see…Yes, I can come in early…All right, see you soon.”

“What’d the Fox want?” Dick asked as Bruce put his phone back in his pocket and folded the newspaper neatly.

“He says a suspicious package was delivered to the Wayne Foundation building,” Bruce said before knocking back the last of his coffee and getting to his feet.

“Can we go?” Dick asked excitedly.

“Sure, I don’t see why not,” Bruce shrugged.

Naomi glanced down at her breakfast and then back up at Bruce. “Can I finish my pancakes first?” she asked, her eyes wide at the horrible thought of leaving one of Alfred’s meals unfinished.

Bruce chuckled and nodded, and Naomi dug happily back into the fluffy pancakes and fresh strawberries. Fifteen minutes later, Alfred whisked away her plate, and she and Dick hurried upstairs. When they arrived at the entryway a few minutes later, they were dressed for the day: Naomi in boot-cut jeans and an oversized Gotham U hoodie, and Dick in jeans and a thin dark green hoodie under a black jacket.

Alfred held open the passenger door of the family car for Bruce, Naomi, and Dick. Once they were seated and their seatbelts safely clicked, Alfred drove around the large stone fountain that sat in the middle of the circular driveway, the gravel crunching familiarly beneath the tires.

Bruce glanced at his oldest ward and he quirked an eyebrow. “I thought you said it was too hot to wear long sleeves and that’s why we got Zatara to make you a glamour charm.”

“Yeah, but did you see my boots?” For emphasis, Naomi stuck her leg in the air to show that, indeed, she was wearing her Lark boots. Putting down her foot, she added, “Besides, it’s not like I can dress comfortably for summer and be action-ready in a moment’s notice.”

“Are you expecting trouble?” Bruce asked, his eyebrows lifting slightly. “It’s just a package.”

“That Lucius said looked suspicious,” Dick chimed in. “You can never be too careful, can you?”

“And don’t act like you don’t have dozens of Batsuits stashed around the office in case of emergencies,” Naomi quipped, raising a challenging eyebrow. She shared a look with Dick over their sunglasses, both of which were more fashionable than the plain black ones they used when around the Team in civilian wear.

Bruce chuckled at his wards’ antics and went back to his phone. Naomi and Dick spent the rest of the drive into the city comparing their summer reading.

When they arrived at the Wayne Foundation building, Alfred pulled up to the curb before hopping out quickly and walking around the front of the car to open the back door. Naomi and Dick quickly stashed their sunglasses in their respective cases and tucked them into the little cubbies beneath their seats.

“Shall I wait around, Master Bruce?” Alfred inquired once the door was firmly shut and the trio were standing safely on the sidewalk.

“For the time being,” Bruce nodded. “But if there’s any sign of trouble, we might need you at the controls,” he added knowingly.

“Yes, sir,” Alfred nodded. Naomi and Dick waved to him before they turned to the entrance.

“Mr. Wayne!” the lobby receptionist greeted brightly as Bruce strode through the lobby. “And you have the kids with you!” Naomi and Dick shared subtle disgruntled looks.

“Good morning, Kathleen,” Bruce said politely. “Yes, Naomi and Dick are accompanying me today.”

“How wonderful!” Kathleen said with a wide grin.

“If you’ll excuse us.” Bruce gave her another smile before ushering his wards in front of him to the elevator banks. They were joined by several other Wayne Foundation employees, who Bruce made polite small talk with on their way up to the top floor, which housed the board rooms and the executive offices.

“So, what’s this about, Lucius?” Bruce asked as he, Naomi, and Dick approached the large clay urn that sat in the middle of the floor.

“Not sure, Bruce,” the President of Wayne Enterprises and one of Bruce’s most trusted confidants said honestly. “This arrived, addressed to you. No return address.”

“Has it been scanned?”

“Post 9/11? Of course,” Lucius replied. “But it appears to be…mud.”

Naomi and Dick shared curious glances.

“Nothing toxic, explosive, or radioactive,” he assured. “Just mud, or perhaps clay.”

Naomi’s eyes widened when she saw the crack form in the container, just before it started rumbling. Suddenly, the top burst off, and a giant brown mass erupted from the urn. Without a word, Bruce and his wards slipped into the shadows.

Naomi ducked into a corner and in a flash, she whipped off her jeans and hoodie. The bulky, oversized hoodie had been a useful cover for her cape and utility belt, both of which fell into place once freed from the excess material. She pulled her mask from her belt and ruffled her hair to get it back to its natural center part.

Lark grappled upward to join Batman and Robin, and together, the three Gotham heroes dropped from the ceiling. As soon as their feet hit the ground, though, the creature shoved them out of the window.

The smell of wet clay assaulted Lark’s nose as the mud creature fell after them, and she would have gagged had she not been free-falling toward the unforgiving pavement below.

The world seemed to slow down around Lark, and glancing to her partners, she saw them struggling to reach their grapple guns. Her new training took over, and Lark stretched her arms toward Batman and Robin, her eyes emitted a black glow edged with dark purple as she did. A moving, living shadow twisted into existence under them, halting their free-fall.

As the creature continued plummeting to the ground, Lark lowered the shadowy platform to the sidewalk across the street from the Wayne Foundation building.

“Good job,” Batman said gruffly once the shadows had vanished. “Stunners,” he instructed, and he and his birds set to work trying to get the clay off their belts to reach the desired tool.

“Whaaatt…? Whaat diiid sheeee dooo too meeee…?” the monster garbled, making Lark wonder if perhaps it was as shocked at its state of being as she, Batman, and Robin were.

Traffic had stopped behind the little crash, and with an angry roar, a hammer replaced the clay monster’s right hand. Lark threw out her hand and a translucent black shield formed around the nearest car’s hood before the hammer could smash the metal. With a grunt, Lark took a step forward and flicked her wrist, the shield following the motion to shove the clay creature backward.

The driver stared at her wide-eyed and Lark saw that in the passenger seat, the man’s young teenage son had recorded the whole thing. She quickly dropped her hand, and the man sped off, though the son craned his neck to watch Lark for as long as he cold.

Finally de-gunking their belts, Batman and Robin shot their stunners, Lark racing to join them. The three bolts lodged into the clay with a wet thunk and the monster roared as the electric current ran through him. But instead of being rendered unconscious, he just growled and turned a furious glower their way.

“Really thought he’d be a little less sheveled after that,” Robin said nervously as the creature swung a fist their way. The trio managed to leap backward out of the way, but when the monster turned his back to them, three hands shot out of his back and sent them into the wall behind them.

Lark groaned a little in pain and got to her feet slowly as the monster wailed, “Howwww…?” before falling through the manhole cover in the middle of the road. Batman was the first to the street, and echoing from below, Lark could hear, “Howwww…diiid thiiisssss haaapennnn…?”

Around them, pedestrians began whispering about the unusual daytime Bat sighting, but it wasn’t only the Bat and his birds that caused them to point and stare. Instead, it was the mysterious black platform that had caught the trio’s initial fall, preventing them from crashing into the pavement and then the shield that had appeared around the car.

“Did you see that?”

“So the pictures were true!”

“Was it really Lark?”

“Nooo…the Bats aren’t supers!”

“But it’s been all over the papers!”

“And online!”

“Can you believe they’ve been lying to us this whole time?!”

“Who cares? It sure saved that man an unpleasant talk with their insurance.”

“Who cares?! We have enough nut jobs to worry about! It’s bad enough the city has a guy running around at night in nothing but tights and a mask!”

“Oh, shut up! All Batman, Lark, and Robin have ever done is save hundreds of people!”

There was a snort, followed by, “Yeah, for now! What happens if one of them goes crazy?”

“They’re already half-way to Arkham!”

“Yeah, before you know it, they’ll be sitting right alongside Ivy and Two-Face and Hatter and all the rest of them!”

“Hey, they’re people, just like you and me! They deserve some respect.”

“They might be people, but they sure as hell aren’t like you and me!”

“Let’s go.”

Batman’s sharp tone tore Lark away from the loud voices arguing across the street, and she shook her head a little to clear it; now wasn’t the time to worry about what they were saying. Batman grabbed his grapple gun and swung to the top of the Wayne Foundation building, Lark and Robin following.

“You okay?” Robin asked Lark when he saw her lips were trembling and her arms were crossed tightly across her chest.

She knew she was doing a terrible job at concealing her distress, but the corners of her lips would not stop twitching as she tried her hardest to keep her tears from falling. She swallowed thickly and after a few deep breaths, finally managed to choke out, “C-can’t help but th-think about what they w-were saying down there.”

Her fingers clenched into fists as she took a shuddering inhale, hating that she was showing her weakness in the field, even if they were on a roof with no one as her witness except Batman and Robin. She took another deep breath and said, her voice steadier, “I know that kind of talk was all over the internet, but hearing it in person…”

Robin reached out and placed his hands on Lark’s shoulders. He squeezed tightly and said firmly, “You acted on instinct. And that’s what people saw down there. They know you’re a hero of this city.”

Lark wanted to push back, bring up the warehouse again, demand to know what people thought about that incident, even though she already knew. But she knew Robin was at a loss about what to do; she had never been one to show her emotions, good or bad, so this barrage of negative press was pushing her limits. Robin simply didn’t know how to comfort Lark, since she had never put herself in the position to be comforted.

She swallowed back her insecurities and nodded, taking Robin’s hands from her shoulders so she could hold them tightly for a moment before letting them drop.

Batman had hung back but observed the exchange between the two nonetheless. He had called the Batwing, and as it touched down on top of the building, he approached Lark.

“Robin’s right,” he said softly, a little emotion leaking into his voice, and Lark and Robin glanced up at their mentor. “You can’t change public opinion; all you can do is continue fighting for what’s right.

Lark nodded again, and Batman squeezed her shoulder briefly before walking up the ramp of the Batwing, the two birds on his heels.

“Now what?” Robin asked once they were seated and strapped in, wrinkling his nose as he flicked some mud off his cape.

“The Batcave,” the Dark Knight glowered, returning to Batman-mode. “I need to investigate where that thing originated.”

The ride to the Batcave was short, for which everyone was grateful. They quickly filed out of the jet and gathered around the Batcomputer.

For everyone, Dick voiced, “Ugh, I need a shower,” as his lip curled and he scowled at his muddy uniform.

“Ew, I think it’s moving!” Naomi couldn’t help but squeal as she stuck her left arm straight out in front of her, eyeing the globs of clay with weary eyes.

“Moving?” Bruce asked immediately, grabbing her wrist and yanking it closer to his face to examine. “Hm…”

“If you’re going to study it, can you please get it off me first?” she requested, looking as though she wished she could detach her entire arm and just give it to Bruce.

“Right,” he nodded. “Hold on.” He hurried to the Science Station and came back with three vials. “Put some of that mud in here,” he instructed, handing a vial each to Naomi and Dick. They did as he asked, scraping the gunk into the glass.

Once filled and passed to Bruce, Dick asked, “Now can we go clean up?”

“Yes,” he nodded.

“Finally!” Dick cheered, taking off for one of the changing rooms, Naomi on his heels.

She sighed in relief once she had discarded her soiled uniform. For a moment, she just stood in her underwear, reveling in the sensation of just feeling clean. Well, cleaner. She finally stepped into the shower, the warm water washing over her skin and taking away the stench of wet clay.

Once she was scrubbed clean and dried, Naomi stepped out dressed in sweatpants and a large dark gray hoodie with the Bat symbol across the front. She found Bruce bent over a microscope and Dick hovering over his shoulder.

“Anything?” she asked, toweling off her hair.

“Yeah,” Bruce said.

“That’s great,” she grinned.

“But it doesn’t make sense,” he admitted with a frown. “There’s DNA in this sample.”

“Is it one of ours?” Dick asked.

“No. It’s foreign, but definitely human.”

“Huh…” Naomi stopped on Bruce’s other side, standing on her tiptoes to peer over his shoulder.

“Is it mutated?” Dick asked as he squinted at the sample.

“Possibly…” Bruce fell silent as he continued studying, his frown deepening the longer he stared.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Naomi’s arms were tight across her chest again, her eyes unfocused and her gaze elsewhere. He recognized she was retreating into herself, something she had done for several weeks when he first took her in, before they had started working on developing her skills as a young hero. He also knew that unless he gave her something else to focus on, she would start to spiral.

Pushing away from the microscope, he touched her elbow briefly and said, “Isolate the DNA, then run it through the database. Hopefully, there’ll be a match.

Naomi nodded resolutely and she turned all her attention to the clay sample. Her dark eyes sharpened, and Bruce sighed quietly, glad to see she was successfully, if temporarily, distracted.

It took her a couple of hours to find a useable DNA sample, but once isolated, they waited for the computer to run it through the collective database of various law enforcement agencies, Naomi and Dick sparred a little, ate lunch, and then returned to sparring.

Shortly after lunch, the computer beeped, indicating it had finished its search. Naomi and Dick stepped off the training mat and approached the computer, where Bruce was already seated.

His sigh told them that the computer had been unable to find a match, but they still stood on either side of him to gaze up at the screen. Naomi blew out a breath. “Well, that was a waste of time,” she grumbled.

Before they could contemplate their next move, a small alarm went off, accompanied by one of the small satellite screens flashing red. Bruce enlarged the alert.

“Suit up,” he said, though Naomi and Dick were already on the move. “There’s been a sighting of this clay monster.”

“Aw, but I’m all clean!” Dick whined, though he followed Naomi up to the changing rooms all the same.

Batman was waiting for them by the Batmoible, and once everyone was seated, they shot off down the tunnel.

---

Location: Mount Justice, Happy Harbor
Date: Thursday, August 26, 2010
Time: 2107 EDT

Miss Martian and Superboy were waiting for Kid Flash and Aqualad in the mission room, each of them having gotten a ping from Batman letting them know there was a mission for them.

“Anyone know what the mission is?” Kid Flash asked as they gathered in the center of the training circle. “Bats interrupted before I could eat my post-dinner snack!”

“It must be important, to call us so late and with so little warning,” Aqualad surmised.

As he said that, Batman’s image appeared in the mission room, and the gathered Team saw the Dark Knight seemed to be covered in mud.

It looks like he got in a fight with a pottery wheel, Kid Flash couldn’t help but snicker in his head. And lost!

“Attention, Team,” Batman addressed as a disgruntled and clearly unhappy Lark and Robin came into view behind him. “Take the Bio-Ship to Gotham City immediately and rendezvous with Lark and Robin at these coordinates.”

“What is the mission?” Aqualad inquired.

“Shouldn’t we wait for Artemis?” Kid Flash asked.

“Don’t wait,” Batman said. “There’s a creature loose in my city.”

“If it’s your city, why are we hunting it?” Superboy grumbled, crossing his arms across his chest.

“You are not to hunt it or engage,” Batman answered sharply. “Track it until I return with the solution. Batman out.”

Superboy continued to grumble under his breath as Aqualad lead them to the hanger. They boarded the Bio-Ship and sped off for Gotham.

“Kid, see if you can find any clue as to what we might be facing in the Gotham news,” Aqualad instructed as they banked over the water.

“Got it,” the speedster nodded, and he began scanning the headlines. It didn’t take him long to find the news clips from that morning, and he enlarged the video, overlaying it on the Bio-Ship’s panoramic window.

Kid Flash raised the volume, and the Team caught the last part of the anchor’s report. “—arrived on the scene to battle this new monster,” she was saying. “But that wasn’t the biggest surprise Gothamites got this morning. No,” she said dramatically, “it was this.”

The video clip was shot outside the Wayne Foundation building, and at first, the only thing they could see were the pedestrians who were exclaiming and pointing and running away. The next moment, though, the Team saw why.

A large mass came hurtling toward the ground, followed closely by the Triumphant Trio—a nickname the media had oh-so-cleverly dubbed them. However, it wasn’t just the brown mass that had everyone staring in shock. It was the fact the trio were floating on a shimmering black platform which disappeared once their feet hit the concrete.

The video switched to a vertical screen, this clearly taken from a cell phone. It looked to be taken from the passenger seat of a car, and the sole focus was Lark. She was covered in what looked to be clay, and her head moved slightly as she looked between the monster and the car in which the video was being taken.

She suddenly thrust her hand out as she stepped off the sidewalk and onto the street. The whites of her mask abruptly glowed, like a light had been switched on, the color an eerie black edged with dark purple. Beyond the car, a shifting black mass materialized, the same as the color emanating from Lark’s mask.

The camera angle shifted to show out the windshield, and the viewers saw that the black wall extended around the hood, evidently preventing the clay monster from smashing the car with hammers-for-hands. The monster was shoved away with the shadow, and as the car peeled away, the camera returned to Lark, who was still standing in the middle of the street, watching the car as it sped away.

The news returned to the anchor, who continued, “The shocking news that one of Batman’s birds has powers broke two weeks ago, and the incident outside of the Wayne Foundation marks the first eye-witness accounts, appearing to corroborate the initial report. We return you to our on-site reporter. Robert?”

The view on the Bio-Ship’s window flipped to the street outside the Wayne Foundation, and in the background, the hero trio could be seen. With Superboy’s enhanced hearing, he was able to catch the audio in the background, and he growled a little when he caught what some of the pedestrians were saying.

“Superboy?” Miss Martian asked, glancing at the clone. “What is it?”

He was prevented from answering when the news returned to the studio, and the two anchors began commenting on the “shocking development” regarding Lark. They took calls from concerned Gothamites, and while some said it was stupid to question all the good Lark had done for Gotham over the years, they were sadly the minority.

The majority had much more extreme views regarding Lark’s new abilities, and they worried she would turn out to be as crazy as the villains she locked up or that she might turn against Gotham and go on some sort of killing spree.

The final straw, though, came when in the background of the on-scene reporter, the Team could see Lark standing still as a statue on one side of the street. They couldn’t see her eyes, but they could see her lips, which were twitching ever so slightly in the corner as she continued to gaze across the street at the pedestrians.

“Turn it off,” Superboy said darkly, his arms crossed tightly across his chest. Aqualad did as was requested and the clone relaxed slightly. He knew Lark, and he thought it was ridiculous for anyone to worry about her turning bad; she was one of the best he knew.

“How dare they?!” Kid Flash finally exploded, his emerald eyes narrowed and his expression thunderous.

“She was only trying to help them,” Miss Martian said weakly, having never seen the young speedster so outraged. “Why would they treat her like that?”

“Those idiots!” he continued to rage as he got to his feet and began to pace the Bio-Ship. “Lark is the sweetest, kindest, more caring person in the world! She wouldn’t hurt a fly! Unprovoked,” he amended after a beat.

Aqualad could only shake his head in disbelief. While he didn’t know Lark as well as Wally did, he had certainly gotten to know her better, and he was confident that everyone speaking out against her was one hundred percent incorrect in their assessment of her.

The rest of the ride to Gotham was filled with angry silence. Aqualad was tense at the head of the ship, flanked by a fuming Superboy and a muttering Kid Flash. In the back, at the helm, Miss Martian sat dejectedly, worrying at her lip as she compared what she had expected Earth to be like and what she had witnessed since stepping out of Bio-Ship just a couple short months ago.

They finally landed at the coordinates to find Lark and Robin waiting for them. Their body language betrayed their exhaustion, and they were covered with bits of drying mud.

“Glad you could join the party,” Lark said with a tired smile once they were all on the ground.

“What happened to you, gorgeous?” Kid Flash asked, wrinkling his nose as the smell of clay and something much worse wafted over them.

“Yes, I’m okay, too, K.F. Thanks for your concern,” Robin said sarcastically, scowling at his best friend.

“We ran into a little trouble,” Lark admitted. “Something was sent to the Wayne Foundation. We intercepted the thing before it could injure any of the employees, but it was like a living mass of mud.”

“We caught the news report,” Aqualad nodded, and Lark tensed ever so slightly as the barrage of negative comments she had heard all day returned to the front of her mind. Robin and Kid Flash noticed the change in her immediately, and her partner reached out to briefly squeeze her hand. She offered him a small smile before he released her hand and they returned to business.

“This Clayface guy is no joke,” Robin informed. “It seems he can manipulate his body into any shape or size he needs, meaning it’s hard to catch him off guard.”

{Clayface? You’re naming him Clayface?} Lark muttered to her partner, raising an eyebrow at him and ignoring the confused looks of Kid Flash, Miss Martian, and Aqualad.

{It’s fitting, don’t you think?} Robin shrugged with a grin.

{So, you’re saying this thing actually kicked Batman’s ass?} Superboy asked dryly in perfect German, picking up on what Lark was doing, though Lark rolled her eyes at his question.

{Look, I’ll let you in on a little trade secret,} she said. {Batman may seem invincible, but he’s only human, like me or Robin. But don’t think for a moment he couldn’t kick your ass,} she added with a pointed look at the clone.

Superboy didn’t respond, just hummed lowly. Lark chuckled and he cracked the smallest smile. Since the cold case given to them by Captain Atom, Superboy figured out definitively that the Cadmus G-Gnomes had taught him who-knew-how-many languages, and given Lark was fluent in the most languages, she had taken to spontaneously speaking a random language in an attempt to figure out exactly which languages Superboy knew. So far, they were at eight, but Lark had a feeling that was only the beginning.

“So, what’s the plan?” Miss Martian asked, bringing the focus back to the mission. Everyone turned to Aqualad.

“Oh, well, this is Gotham,” he said after a beat, shaking his head a little like he was clearing his thoughts. “Perhaps we should follow Lark and Robin.”

They turned to the two birds, and Robin gestured for Lark to take the lead.

“When we first encountered…Clayface, we lost him in the sewers,” Lark explained. “He reappeared later, and we followed him underground.”

“That explains the stench,” Kid Flash complained, and Lark shot him a scowl.

“Batman said our best chance of catching this creature is if we split up,” Robin went on. “He went back to the Batcave to study the mud that the creature is composed of, and we would take the Team into the sewers to continue tracking Clayface.”

“Let’s just get this over with,” Superboy grumbled, exiting the alleyway and heading toward the nearest manhole cover.

“Remember,” Lark said sharply as she caught Superboy by the upper arm, the others following after them, “we are not to engage.”

“I know,” Superboy said, sounding slightly exasperated.

“Switch to stealth,” Robin said. “We don’t want to stick out like sore thumbs down there.”

“And link us up,” Lark added. “Sounds will travel easily in the tunnels, and we want to make as little noise as possible.” Miss Martian nodded in confirmation.

Aqualad, using his Atlantean strength, removed the manhole cover, and one after the other, the Team dropped into the sewers.

Kid Flash immediately started gagging. {This reeks!} he gasped.

{Oh, yeah?} Superboy raised an eyebrow. {Try having a super sensitive nose,} he countered.

He laughed sheepishly. {Oh, right.}

{Come on,} Robin said as he rolled his eyes. He took the lead and the Team began to trek through the ankle-deep water.

As they trudged through the sewers, Kid Flash voiced for the Team what had been on their mind since they saw the news. {L, you know what everyone’s saying is bullshit, right?}

She shot him a small, grateful smile. {Thanks, Kid. I just wish the rest of Gotham shared your opinion.}

{It won’t take long,} Miss Martian assured with a bright smile. {They all know what a great hero you are!} After a beat, she asked, {Though I am curious; I was under the impression neither you nor Robin had powers. So, when did yours develop?}

{About five months ago,} Lark answered.

{You’ve certainly done a good job hiding them,} Superboy commented.

{Yeah, mostly,} she nodded. {There have been moments on patrol or on missions when it just kinda…slips out. But Batman thought it would be a good idea to keep it under wraps, until we had a better understanding of my capabilities before we…revealed them to the world.}

{So the big reveal today was unplanned?} Miss Martian asked.

{Nothing quite like falling to your death to make you react on instinct,} Lark said with a dry chuckle.

{Have you learned anything?}

{A little. I’ve started working with Green Lantern, which has been really helpful.}

She was prevented from going on when a loud shriek suddenly echoed through the tunnels. Even Lark and Robin jumped in surprise, only to realize a moment later it was just Miss Martian, who was now floating higher above the water.

{Sorry,} she said sheepishly, slowly lowering herself so she was closer to the others. {A rat surprised me. How do you two stand it?} she asked, looking at the two birds.

{We spend more time down here than is recommended,} Robin shrugged. {Side effect of having a sewer-dwelling villain as part of the regular Rogues Gallery.}

The Team lapsed into silence after that, only occasionally broken to redirect their search or to issue warnings about particular sections of the sewers.

It was nearing five in the morning when Miss Martian asked hesitantly, {Maybe Clayface has moved on?}

Her voice was weary, and Lark couldn’t blame her. Even her eyes were starting to sting with exhaustion, and she couldn’t help but wonder if maybe the Martian was right and the clay monster had decided the sewers were disgusting and had wanted a change of scenery.

Robin called everyone to a halt while he and Lark consulted their holographic map of the underground passageways, and Miss Martian, spotting Aqualad venture ahead, attempt to hail him.

When her few attempts failed to catch their leader’s attention, Lark finally yelled, {Kal!}

Aqualad paused and then looked around, his eyes slightly glazed. {What…} He trailed off uncertainly, and Lark frowned fractionally.

{Are you linked?} Miss Martian asked him.

{Oh, yes, Miss Martian,} he answered, nodding at the green-skinned teen. The haze over his eyes finally lifted as he rejoined the Team, both physically and mentally. {Your psychic link functions perfectly.}

{That’s a relief,} she smiled. {We couldn’t hear you, like your every thought was a million miles away.}

{My apologizes,} Aqualad said, bowing his head slightly for added remorse.

Lark sent the Atlantean a sidelong glance. It had appeared that his mind was everywhere but the Team the past few days, and she worried that if he didn’t get his head out of the clouds—or maybe out of the water—soon, they might all suffer the consequences.

{There’s another stretch of tunnels just up ahead,} Robin said to the Team. {After that, we should—}

Before he could finish his thought, something exploded out of the water. Lark grunted as she was lifted off her feet and shoved backward by a muddy limb. The rest of the Team suffered the same fate, and in a blink of an eye, they were all trapped in mud.

With her arms pinned to her sides, Lark felt her heartbeat pick up; how the hell was she supposed to get out of this? She couldn’t reach her utility belt, and…wait…

She had been training with Hal for moments like these. She took a deep breath—and nearly gagged at the combined stench of sewer and clay—and focused.

Just as it had earlier when she had been in free-fall, time seemed to slow, and Lark concentrated on the shadows that were plentiful in the dark underground tunnels. The shadows started to slither their way toward her and coiled around her legs, but she didn’t feel scared. They moved over her body and then stilled, forming a second skin that suddenly expanded as time returned to normal, the growing shadows forcing the clay from her body and allowing Lark to drop to her knees in the water.

The rest of the Team freed themselves, and as they watched Clayface slip back into the water, Miss Martian panted, “That was unpleasant. Like tangling with a rabid Ma’alefa’ak on Mars.”

“Unpleasant, sure,” Kid Flash nodded, “but kinda easy. That thing was a pushover! What the hell was Batman worried about?”

“This is how it was earlier,” Lark said as she wrung out her cape. “It threw us around for a bit before slinking off into the sewers.”

“What’s a malafak?” Superboy muttered to Robin.

Their reprieve was short-lived, as something suddenly rammed into Lark’s back, sending her flying forward, along with the rest of the Team. She shuddered as she felt sewer water slip under her uniform, the cold, grimy water giving her goose bumps. The monster laughed deeply as it lumbered the other way, leaving the Team groaning behind him.

“You okay?” her partner asked beside her, sounding as winded as she felt.

“Yeah,” Lark groaned, getting slowly to her feet before offering a hand to Robin.

Aqualad put his finger to his ear, and after a moment, he said, “Yes, Batman, though the encounter was far from successful.”

“If that’s Batman, ask him where Artemis is,” Kid Flash grumbled. “And how come she gets away with skipping this so-fun sewer party?”

Once Aqualad had given Batman an update on their Clayface hunt, Lark sighed and said, “We should regroup back on the surface. Miss Martian, is the Bio-Ship in range?” The Martian nodded. “Good. We’ll go topside and go from there.”

Robin led them to the closest exit, and they climbed out from the sewers. Miss Martian called the Bio-Ship and they made their way to the rooftop across the way.

Once inside the Bio-Ship, they took turns changing into clean uniforms. When it was Lark’s turn, she pulled a few spare rags from her utility belt to wipe the grime from her body after she had stripped. She did her best to pick the clay bits from her hair, knowing she would be taking a long shower when she got back to the Cave or back home.

Kid Flash changed after her, and when he emerged, he exclaimed, “What’s the point of putting on a clean costume when I’m not fresh?”

“Oh, Wally, you’re always fresh,” Miss Martian replied.

Lark rolled her eyes but chuckled. “Don’t encourage him.”

“At least you have a clean costume,” Superboy grumbled, scowling at the mud still caked on his clothes.

“Yeah, an old back-up!” Kid Flash complained. “No stealth-mode! It stinks!”

“Actually, I think the stink is you, Freshness,” Robin snickered. Becoming serious, he asked, “But what about the creature?”

“Batman wants us to track it,” Lark reminded. “I tried planting a tracer, but he must have been able to feel it; the signal went dark almost immediately.”

“Why settle for that?” Kid Flash exclaimed. “Okay, sure, it got the drop on us. But now we know its trick!”

“Yeah!” Robin agreed. “We split up! Then, whoever finds old Clayface radios the team—”

“And we converge and kick some clay-butt!” Superboy finished enthusiastically.

“I don’t know…” Lark said hesitantly.

“What do you think, Aqualad?” Miss Martian asked, and Lark realized that Aqualad had remained seated and quiet since he had washed off the clay.

“What?” he asked, sitting up and looking around at the Team. “Oh, yes. It seems we have a plan.”

Lark frowned but remained silent. She pulled up her holographic computer and with Robin’s help, they mapped where they had encountered Clayface.

“There has to be a pattern,” Lark scowled after almost fifteen minutes of attempting to narrow down where Clayface might be.

“Wait, what’s that?” Superboy asked, peering between Robin and Lark.

“The tracker!” Robin and Lark exclaimed at the same time as the former began typing away furiously, hoping to get a lock on it before it could disappear again.

“I thought he ditched it,” Kid Flash said, standing on Lark’s other side.

“Maybe his clay just interfered with the signal,” Robin shrugged. “Got it!”

“Let’s get this show on the road!” Kid Flash whooped.

They were only a few blocks from the tracker, and so they decided to walk it. When they reached the building, everyone looked to Aqualad for instruction.

“Oh, yes,” he mumbled. “Split up. Radio if you see Clayface.”

“Got it, boss!” Kid Flash said as he lowered his goggles over his eyes before speeding off, and the others followed his lead.

The building turned out to be a storage warehouse, with the floor a maze of iron-framed shelves that housed an assortment of boxes and containers. Lark grappled to the top, hoping that some high ground would help. Even from the top, though, it was impossible to get a good layout of the entire floor, since the shelves were stacked at uneven levels, creating an obstacle of sorts for Lark to figure out as she ran lightly along the top.

“Guys, I found the creature!” Superboy suddenly called over the comms. “Rendezvous at my coordinates!”

Everyone acknowledged and Lark took off again, her footsteps feather light as she hurried toward Superboy’s coordinates.

When she was a few yards from Superboy’s last position, Lark dropped to the floor and carefully crept forward. A trail of mud guided Lark to a small space and she found Aqualad standing in the middle.

She sighed in relief and dropped her arm, pocketing her birdarang as she did. “Have you seen the others?” she asked as she approached him, turning her back to him halfway into the space to survey their surroundings.

“Not yet,” Aqualad said. “It has been radio silence since Superboy called.”

“I don’t mean to question your leadership, but I think it was a bad idea to split up,” Lark said uneasily.

“Funny,” Aqualad’s garbled voice said. Lark gasped and whirled around to watch Aqualad’s face morph into Clayface’s. “I was thinking the same thing!”

She did a back handspring to get out of the way of Clayface’s clay arm, which was aiming to smash her where she had been standing a moment previously. She reached for her grapple gun and started to sail through the air, up and away from the threat, but Clayface just laughed as his arm lengthened to glom around Lark’s feet.

She cried out as she was roughly yanked back down to the ground, losing her grip on her grapple gun. Giving up on that, she curled into a ball the best she could as she was pulled toward Clayface. A transparent black bubble appeared around her just before she was sucked into Clayface’s massive torso.

“You can try that all you want, girly!” he rumbled as he expanded to accommodate the large sphere. “But you still need to breathe!”

Lark’s breaths came in gasps as she was eventually completely engulfed by Clayface. She had never experienced darkness so thick and oppressive before, and she grunted as she felt Clayface begin to constrict around her protective bubble.

Cracks began to appear in the smooth black surface as her concentration waned and exhaustion began to course through her.

Lark blacked out as her shield disappeared, not a sound escaping Clayface's mass.

Notes:

I was super excited to get this chapter posted, since it's one of the ones that I think provides a peak into Naomi's psyche, which I really can't wait to explore in more depth in upcoming chapters.

As always, thank you for the interest in Naomi and her story :)

Until next time.

Chapter 14: 8.0 - Downtime

Notes:

I own nothing you recognize.

WARNINGS: a Panic Attack, which is sandwiched between a line of centered and italicized text, if you wish to skip that part; mild cursing (one curse word)

Location: The Batcave, beneath Wayne Manor
Date: Friday, August 27, 2010
Time: 0540 EDT

"Do you have an actual plan, Master Bruce?" Alfred asked as he walked up the steps to the platform where the Batcomputer resided, a fresh Batsuit in his arms. "Or are you resigned to leaving the dirty work to the young masters and friends?"

“It must employ some kind of…morphic field…” Bruce trailed off, ignoring Alfred’s dry tone. “The creature has lost mass, limbs…even its head. Yet it reforms…” His tone only slightly betrayed how impressed he was with the clay monster’s cellular structure.

“Zatara is enroute, in case it’s some kind of magical element,” Bruce went on, “but if not, then it’s using a morphic field to maintain cohesion.” He adjusted the frequency of the instrument he was working with before zapping the sample of clay once more. “If I can find the correct frequency, I can disrupt its morphic resonance pattern with a simple taser, rendering it inert.”

He grunted in frustration when the frequency failed to do as he wished, and he went to set a new frequency. He paused briefly to look at Alfred over his shoulder. “As for the Team,” he said, “Aqualad knows not to let his operatives engage.”

“Very well, sir,” the butler nodded, setting the folded Batsuit on the table next to Bruce. “In case the Batman decides he needs a fresh suit,” he explained when Bruce shot him a look.

Bruce hummed and turned back to the work at hand. He chose another frequency and tested it on the sample once more. He gave a frustrated growl when he once again failed to get the desired results.

What was he missing? Bruce went over the quick notes he had scribbled, looking over the math and approximations of the clay creature’s mass. Everything looked fine, so what the hell was he doing wrong?

Trying once more, he adjusted the instrument and tested the clay. As he introduced the electric current to the sample, it seized, as it had every single time during the previous tests, but this time, when Bruce drew back the electric wand, the clay went completely placid, not a twitch in sight.

Without stopping to congratulate himself on tedious work well done (or to change out of his dirtied suit), Bruce input the frequency into his stun gun, clipped it to his belt, and pulled the cowl over his head.

“Alfred, contact Zatara, tell him I am no longer in need of his assistance,” Batman instructed as he swept down the steps to the platform where the Batmobile sat.

“I take it you found the clay’s kryptonite, so-to-speak?” Alfred asked, standing at the railing that prevented an unwanted fall from the Batcomputer’s platform to the Batmobile’s base as Batman hopped into the vehicle and it roared to life.

“Yes,” he said simply before the top slid shut and he sped off down the tunnel, hailing Aqualad as he did.

When he received no response, Batman frowned; Aqualad was always good about answering calls from the comm-link, so what was going on? He tried Lark and Robin next, but when he heard nothing, his knuckles tightened around the steering wheel and the Batmobile shot forward with renewed fervor, speeding down the tunnels almost faster than the installed lights could come on.

“Computer, pull up the last known coordinates of the Team,” Batman commanded.

“Searching…” the computer responded before announcing a moment later, “Coordinates found.”

Glancing at the screen as he shot out onto Gotham’s early morning streets, Batman jerked the wheel to the side as he took off toward the storage facility.

He stopped a block from the building and after opening the top of the Batmobile, shot his grapple gun and sailed silently to the roof of the building he was parked beside. He crossed the roof in a few long strides and then launched himself toward the warehouse, where a skylight was conveniently placed.

Below him was the Team, all but Aqualad unconscious on the floor. The leader attempted to use his water-bearers on the clay creature, but his water maces were easily caught and used to fling him away. Aqualad collided with the wall hard enough for it to fracture, and he collapsed to the floor to join his teammates.

He attempted to stand again, but his limbs felt like lead, and he could no nothing but watch with trepidation as the clay monster stalked toward him.

Batman dropped through the glass, throwing several exploding batarangs as he did. He landed in a soft crouch before backflipping away much like Lark had to evade an overhead smash. Reaching for his belt, Batman unhooked the stun gun that had been specifically tuned to disturb its cellular matrix and fired.

It roared before slowly melting into a mound of lifeless mud. With a tight-lipped frown, Batman surveyed the scene before him. Aqualad slowly pushed himself to his feet, and the others were starting to rouse. All but Lark.

Batman’s tight-lipped frown became a full dark scowl as he swept toward his oldest ward, who appeared to have been dropped to the ground already in the fetal position. Batman gently straightened her, so she was stretched out on her back, and Robin limped over.

“Is she okay?” the young bird asked hoarsely.

Hearing that, Aqualad felt his blood run cold. It was one thing he managed to get his entire team knocked unconscious, and it was another thing for one to still be out cold. But it was an entirely different thing if that individual also happened to be Batman’s protégé.

Forget about Annhax Orin having my head, and Batman simply taking my job, Aqualad’s inner voice worried. I would be lucky if that’s all Batman took!

Perhaps that was overdramatic, the calmer, more level-headed part of Aqualad’s mind reasoned. It was a well-documented fact Batman didn’t take lives.

But he might make an exception for his protégé…

Batman placed two gloved fingers against Lark’s neck, searching for a pulse. “It’s weak, but there,” he said gruffly. He easily scooped her up and turned to the rest of the Team, and Aqualad shrunk back just slightly as Batman’s steely gaze settled on him.

“Go back to the Cave,” he instructed. “Wait in the mission room until I join you. Do not think about leaving,” he finished darkly. “Robin, go with the Team,” he added quietly to his youngest bird, and while he looked like he wanted to argue, he nodded and went to stand beside Kid Flash.

“H-how is she?” Miss Martian asked softly, wringing her hands in worry as she gazed at her prone friend.

Batman gazed down at Lark’s still face, the only indication she was alive the subtle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. He just hummed low in his throat in response to Miss Martian’s question before sweeping out of the warehouse.

Robin wanted desperately to join Batman, and Kid Flash placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. The raven-haired teen knew there was nothing he could do for her now, and that Alfred was more than capable of finding out what’s wrong with her, but it felt wrong to not be with her.

The walk to the Bio-Ship was quiet, and they were all so out of it they forgot they could have asked Miss Martian to call the Bio-Ship to them. Each was worried about Lark, but Aqualad worried the most, if that was possible. If anything happened to her…it would be his fault completely. He had been the one to give the order to split up even though he knew Batman’s orders had been not to engage.

The flight back to the Cave was silent and tense. Superboy’s arms were crossed tightly across his chest and he stared stoically out the window, though internally he was coming up with creative ways to hurt Clayface for harming Lark. Kid Flash was uncharacteristically still, while Robin couldn’t stop moving. He spent the entire time pacing in the back of the ship, and had Miss Martian not been worrying at her lip, she would have gently asked Robin if he could stop; he was making Bio-Ship anxious.

Finally arriving back at the Cave, Aqualad was the most reluctant to leave the safety of the Bio-Ship, but he knew that, as leader, he had to face the consequences.

Batman was waiting for them in the mission room, his body appearing relaxed save his fists, which were clenched at his side, mostly hidden by his cape.

“How is she?” M’gann asked immediately, hovering a few inches off the ground as she clasped her hands anxiously in front of her.

“She’s recovering,” Batman said simply. “You will all receive a report on your performances,” he continued. “Now, I need to talk to Aqualad.”

The Team glanced at their leader nervously, and Kaldur appeared to be steeling himself for the most difficult conversation ever.

“The rest of you, hit the showers,” Batman said when he noticed their slight hesitation. “Head home.”

“Head home?” Superboy muttered as he turned and walked away. “I am home.”

Robin hesitated, glancing between Aqualad and Batman. The look he sent the Team leader was difficult to decipher, but Aqualad read it as, You better hope Lark is okay.

“Just Aqualad,” Batman said when he noticed Robin linger. The young bird’s hard gaze bore into Aqualad for a moment longer before he turned and marched toward the Zeta-Tube.

Once he had vanished, Batman’s full attention was turned to Kaldur, who did his best not to let his knees knock.

“I am sorry you had to intervene,” he said immediately. “I know the Team performed poorly—”

“The Team performed adequately,” Batman cut in. “The problem was you,” he corrected darkly. “You’re their leader, and your head wasn’t in the game. You are very lucky Lark isn’t paying for your lapse in judgement.”

Kaldur looked down at his feet. Batman was right and he knew it; there was no denying it. “You are correct,” he said heavily. “Of late, I am not even convinced I belong on the surface world,” he admitted. “For so many years it filled my every thought. But now that I am here…” He paused. “My dreams are all Atlantis.”

“Atlantis? Or someone you left behind? You can split your time between the surface and the sea, but not your mind,” he said sternly. “Either you’re here one hundred percent, or you need to walk away. Make a decision, Kaldur. And make it soon, before another member of your Team pays for your distraction.”

Kaldur could only nod, his throat too tight to speak. Batman regarded him for a moment longer before sweeping away and stepping into the Zeta-Tube.

He let out a shaky breath once the Dark Knight had disappeared in a flash of light. Once he had steadied his heartbeat, he straightened and walked to the Zeta himself; he needed to get to Atlantis.

---

When Robin appeared in the Batcave, he was prepared to sweep dramatically to Naomi's bedside. Instead, he came to a sudden halt when he saw her sitting upright on the medical cot.

“You’re okay!” he exclaimed as he approached.

“Why do you sound so shocked?” she laughed, her voice still a little weak. Her eyes narrowed slightly as realization dawned on her. “Did Bruce not mention I was awake?”

“He knew?!”

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Naomi sighed and rolled her eyes. “I came to before we had even reached the Batwing.”

“We were so worried about you!”

She winced. “God, I hope he wasn’t too hard on Kal. He was, wasn’t he.”

“Yeah, that’s where he is now,” Dick nodded. He rushed toward her medical cot, where she had swung her legs over the side to stand. “Are you okay? Did Alfred say you could get up?”

“He wants to get me on an I.V. drip, but he said I could take a shower first,” she said as she waved away Dick’s assistance. “He went to get a refill on the bags.” He stubbornly stayed by her side as she walked slowly but steadily to the showers, and when Naomi emerged, feeling clean and fresh, she found Dick leaning against the railing. He again stuck by her like glue as she walked back down the stairs and toward Alfred, who was setting up the I.V. drips.

“Can you please tell Mother Hen to stop hovering?” Naomi asked Alfred dramatically. Dick stuck his tongue out at her but remained by her side. Since Naomi was declared otherwise healthy, she didn’t have to return to a medical cot, and Alfred went about starting her I.V.

The Zeta announced Batman’s arrival, and if Naomi hadn’t been hooked up, she would have marched over to him immediately. As it was, she straightened in her seat and scowled at Bruce as he approached.

“You didn’t have to give Kal a heart attack,” she said as soon as he was within earshot. “I’m fine.”

“You remained unconscious longer than the others,” Bruce replied evenly. “You warranted extra care in the aftermath.”

“Yeah, by like, three minutes,” Naomi shot back. “You could have told everyone when you went to the Cave that I was awake.”

“Kaldur’ahm is your leader, and his poor choices led directly to the Team’s defeat,” Bruce stated bluntly. “Should he not face the consequences of his actions?”

Naomi rolled her eyes. “There’s no good answer to that, and you know it,” she grumbled.

Bruce finally dropped his Batman mask, and he regarded Naomi as a worried father. “I’ll give Hal a call and ask him about this.”

“Do you really have to bother him with this?” Naomi asked with a sigh.

“We should cover all our bases,” Bruce nodded, and he left it at that. He walked over to the Batcomputer, hailing Hal as he did. Naomi sighed again and slumped in the chair.

Once Naomi’s I.V. bags had been drained, Alfred shuffled her and Dick off to bed. When he returned to the Batcave, Bruce was still at the computer.

“I have already called the office and informed them you are indisposed,” Alfred said.

“That was unnecessary,” Bruce said, not looking away from the screen. “I can catch a couple hours of sleep and then head into the office by late morning.”

“It is already late morning,” the butler informed.

Bruce’s fingers stilled on the keyboard and his eyes flashed to the clock in the corner of the screen. “Oh.”

“There is one thing I wanted to ask you, Master Bruce.”

“Yes, what is it, Alfred?”

“Have you informed Miss Naomi of the note?” Bruce sighed and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his tired eyes. Alfred asked next, “Have you read it?”

“It’s gibberish,” he said immediately. “Just one line, a string of letters, that the computer hasn’t been able to decode.”

“You read my mail?”

Bruce froze and Alfred sighed softly. The butler straightened his shoulders and turned to Naomi. “Young madam, you must understand—”

“It’s not a letter, it’s just a scrap of paper.”

“And that makes it better?” Naomi demanded. “If it was addressed to me, you shouldn’t have even opened it!”

“I had to make sure—”

“Bullshit,” she snapped. “You just can’t stand not being in the know.” A muscle in Bruce’s jaw jumped, but Naomi plowed on. “Where is it? Where’s that note?”

Bruce’s eyes narrowed, but Naomi refused to back down; she glared right back. A tense silence stretched between them, and it was finally broken when Alfred stepped forward and swiped the folded paper.

“Alfred,” Bruce growled, his voice full of warning. The butler didn’t face his employer as he passed the note to Naomi, who snatched it from Alfred as soon as it was within reach. With one final glare at Bruce, she whirled on her heel and marched back upstairs.

Bruce leapt to his feet to race after her, but Alfred stepped in front of him. He remained stoic, and another staring contest began. But Bruce had never been very successful in defying Alfred, and he finally returned to his chair.

“I think this matter is best dealt with once everyone has had at least four hours of sleep,” Alfred said firmly. When Bruce hesitated at the computer, the butler said firmly, “Right now.” He ushered Bruce upstairs, and once they reached his bedroom, Alfred rolled down the blackout blinds before going around the room and pulling closed the heavy curtains. He waited until Bruce was in bed before leaving.

Alfred paused in front of Naomi’s closed bedroom door and contemplated knocking, but decided to heed his own advice and let Naomi sleep off her frustration at Bruce. He did poke his head into Dick’s room and saw the youngest member of the household was sound asleep, and Alfred smiled softly at the sight. He gently closed the door behind him and then went about his daily chores.

---

Naomi had had every intention of catching a few hours of sleep after the I.V.s, but she had returned to the Batcave to ask Bruce if Hal was still coming over for her training. Instead, she had overheard him and Alfred talking about a note that had been intended for her. Now, sleep was the last thing on her mind.

She sat in the middle of her bed, the small slip of paper looking so innocuous against her dark bedspread. Her two names stared back at her, and that was one reason Naomi hadn’t yet opened the note. It had been years since she had seen her Chinese name, and even though it should have been second nature to her, it somehow felt foreign, like it was no longer hers to claim.

The second reason the note lay unopened in front of her was because Naomi recalled what she had heard Bruce say, about the contents being in a code the computer had been unable to crack. The mention of an uncrackable code tugged at a distant memory, pushed so far to the back of her mind that she had all but forgotten about it. But now…

Naomi took a deep breath, picked up the paper gingerly, and slowly unfolded the note.

As Bruce had said, there was only one line of letters, with no hint of a key anywhere. Naomi had wondered if perhaps the note would be indecipherable even to her. But the memory of creating the code came back to her in a rush, and it only took her a few moments to decipher:

The Estate, August Twenty Seventh, Twenty One Hundred

All the air in Naomi’s lungs escaped her in a whoosh! She took an unsteady breath, then another, and another. Before she knew it, though, she was hyperventilating. She somehow maneuvered herself so she was kneeling on her bed, and she folded over herself with her arms crossed in a tight X over her chest. Soon, nothing existed beyond her body: her heart thumping so hard in her chest she was sure it was going to burst out; the muted roar in her ears that rendered all other noise faint and fuzzy; the tingling in her toes, fingers, and nose that quickly spread to her feet, hands, and face.

Distantly, Naomi was aware a knock had turned to a pounding on her door, before it finally burst open. Voices she vaguely recognized were slow to penetrate her haze, but she couldn’t make sense of the words being spoken and if there was intensity to what was being said, it was lost on her.

Hands settled on her shoulders and tried to coax her into sitting up straight, but a long, low groan slipped past her lips at the attempt, and the hands retreated in a rush. The voices spoke again, but they still reached Naomi as though she was underwater, so she made no attempt to discern the words.

Sometime later—it could have been minutes, it could have been hours—Naomi’s whole body finally went slack as the tension bled from her. She remained curled on her side in the middle of her bed, slowly coming back into her body. The unpleasant numbness in her extremities slowly retreated, and her heartrate and breathing eventually returned to normal. It wasn’t until she finally pushed herself into a seated position that she realized she must have been crying the whole time, because her eyes were dry and scratchy, and her cheeks were tight with dried tears.

The Estate, August Twenty Seventh, Twenty One Hundred

Those words continued to dance behind her eyelids, but she forced them away as she looked around her room in a slight daze. Her eyes finally landed on Bruce and Dick, both of whom had retreated to her little sitting area but were on the edges of their seats as they watched her with wary eyes.

Silence stretched between them, and Naomi was the first to look away. Her eyes landed first on the note, but quickly averted them to her hands, which were clasped in her lap.

“What time is it?” she asked hoarsely.

“A little after one,” Dick answered, getting to his feet and slowly approaching Naomi’s bed.

She swallowed thickly and nodded in thanks. Dick perched on the edge of her bed, clearly uncertain if he could or should get closer. Naomi glanced up slowly, and her eyes zeroed in on Bruce, who remained in the sitting area.

“How long?” she asked faintly. In a stronger tone, she clarified, “How long have you had this note?”

Bruce lifted his chin and set his jaw, the way he always did when he was asked a question he would rather not have to answer. His lips thinned briefly before he said, “Alfred found it on Monday.”

Naomi’s breath escaped her in another whoosh, and she dug her fingers in her scalp as she folded forward again. “What right did you have?” she whispered. When she looked up it again, it was the darkest glare she had ever mustered, and she repeated in a snarl, “What right did you have?! That was mine, and you had no right to any part of it!”

Dick froze, looking wide-eyed between the two of them. He had never seen Naomi so furious, and he had never seen Bruce so conflicted.

“Get out,” she said quietly. “Please,” she added after a long beat.

Bruce didn’t need to be told twice; he nodded once and got to his feet, and he made it to Naomi’s bedroom door in a few long strides. Dick hesitated for a moment, and then slowly stood from her bed.

“I’m a call away if you need anything,” he whispered. Naomi could only bring herself to nod, even though she heard the confusion in his voice and wished she could find the words to explain her tumultuous state of mind.

Once Dick closed her bedroom door softly behind him, Naomi flopped back onto her bed and brought a pillow to her face, which muffled her screams of frustration and confusion. She screamed until her throat was hoarse and then finally came back up for air.

She lay there, flat on her back, just starting up at the canopy over her bed. She held the pillow she had screamed into to her chest, and for the first time in ten years, she found herself wishing for Tanya the Tiger.

Tanya had been the stuffed tiger she had been gifted as a newborn, and she hadn’t gone anywhere without Tanya until she went to live with the Williamsons. Just a week after she had arrived, Tanya had been lost to Naomi, and while it had devastated the six-year-old, she had learned to live without her beloved tiger.

But now…the jade medallion, the note…it had Naomi thinking about her first life, as she had come to refer to it, more than she had in years.

She felt around for her phone, and when she checked the time, she winced. She had been in her room longer than she realized, and her stomach was growling in protest. Finally peeling herself off the mattress, her limbs felt heavy and her head like it was stuffed with cotton. Naomi sighed, dug the heels of her palms into her eyes, and then finally got to her feet.

The manor was empty as she crept through the halls, feeling more like a burglar than a resident. When she made it to the kitchen, it was similarly deserted. Naomi found a note on the refrigerator from Alfred, letting her know that lunch had been saved should she want it, and that dinner would be at seven if she decided to wait until then.

She dove into the fridge and found the leftover pesto pasta salad front and center. She portioned out a serving for herself and then settled at the kitchen island.

The pervasive silence pressed against her eardrums, and once again, Naomi found herself thinking about her past. The quiet, spacious, clean kitchen stood in stark opposition to the tiny, homey kitchen from years ago. The apartment she had called home sat in the middle of Chinatown, and as such, the constant noise of the tight-knit community had served as the soundtrack to her early life.

She…missed it. And she hadn’t thought about that life in years. Even when the jade pendant had arrived, it hadn’t elicited this kind of reaction from her. She had a sinking feeling she knew why she was reacting this way, and she couldn’t figure out what would hurt more: if she was right or if she was wrong.

Naomi got to her feet and returned her barely touched food to the refrigerator. She stood for a long moment at the fridge, unsure what to do next.

With a heavy sigh, she retreated to her bedroom. Maybe she could pass the time reading.

---

Naomi hadn't meant to sneak away from the manor residents...she just happened to slip past the small courtyard where the sounds of a one-on-one basketball game could be heard, and she didn't want to interrupt Bruce and Dick's bonding time. Alfred happened to be on the opposite side of the house from the garage, so she was able to drive off the property without alerting him.

The Williamson estate, in classic Williamson mindset, was the largest property (second only to the Wayne’s) and the highest up the hill (second only to the Wayne’s) in the affluent suburban neighborhood where all of Gotham’s wealthiest citizens lived. As such, it was a very short drive of only a few minutes that Naomi could have walked if she so chose.

She punched in the gate code to enter the property, and she drove slowly up the gravel driveway, feeling strangely detached, despite the monumental meeting that was about to take place. She parked directly in front of the porch and sat for a long moment before finally turning off the engine and climbing out of her car.

After grabbing her violin case, Naomi took the two steps up the front porch and unlocked the front door. She was surprised when the anticipated wave of nostalgia never hit. Instead, anxiety crept up her spine, and Naomi had to physically shake herself to rid herself of the eerie sensation.

She slammed the front door a little harder than she meant to, and then marched through the house, leaving a trail of lamp light to the sitting room. Once there, she went through the practiced motions of setting up her portable music stand, laying out the sheet music, and then unpacking her violin.

Naomi set the violin under her chin, placed the bow to the strings, and began to play.

---

When she finally stopped playing, the silence felt loud. She slowly lowered her violin, and her audience of one made itself known.

“You play beautifully.”

The voice was quiet, but it rang out like a shout. Naomi didn’t flinch, didn’t turn around, just went through the familiar motions of putting away her violin: first the bow, then the violin, finally the music. She closed the case with a soft click, zipped it up, and then lifted it from the sofa to rest on the carpet.

Finally, she turned to face her brother.

“I’m sure Mom would be disappointed,” she said flatly. “She never wanted us to be a cliché.” There was a pause, and then she corrected herself, her tone slightly sarcastic. “Or rather, the woman I knew as my mother didn’t want us to be clichés.”

Aidan Hong chuckled weakly and rubbed the back of his neck. “No, that’s still accurate. So, uh, what made you want to pick it up?”

“Irene liked the symphony,” Naomi said with a twitch of a shrug, turning away from Aidan to move deeper into the sitting room. “It gave us something to…talk about.”

He frowned slightly at her back, sensing something more to that simple statement, but before he could open his mouth, Naomi whirled around to face him again. “But you’re not here to talk about that.” The previous vulnerability Aidan had seen in his little sister, the slight drop of her shoulders, her downcast eyes, had vanished.

Standing in front of him was Lark. Her posture was deceptively relaxed, but she stood with her feet shoulder-width apart and her arms loosely crossed over her chest. Her weight was more on the balls of her feet and distributed evenly between her two feet. She could jump into action in a moment’s notice, if the need arose. Her dark eyes, a near-reflection of his, were hard and cold while her jaw was set, and her chin was lifted slightly in defiance.

“You left me a note. Why?”

The confident demeanor Aidan had walked into the estate with fell away, and Naomi was surprised to see her brother looked world-weary and older than nineteen.

“Because so much has happened these past ten years, and there’s so much I need to explain.” Naomi raised a pointed eyebrow, and Aidan took a deep breath and started from the beginning.

He watched her carefully as he talked, and he while he was glad she didn’t keep up a mask in front of him, it broke his heart how each word he spoke seemed to elicit five different emotions, none of them positive. By the time he reached the present, Naomi had sunk onto the nearest surface, which happened to be the floor.

She let out a heavy breath when Aidan finally finished speaking, her head cradled in her hands and her knees pulled up to her chest. “That was…a lot,” she said eventually.

He approached her slowly, as though nearing a cornered animal. He stopped at least two feet away and still at a glacial pace, sat in front of her. Silence stretched out between them, and Aidan, following Naomi’s lead, made no attempt to break it.

When Naomi finally raised her head, she let it fall back against the wall that was supporting her and just looked at Aidan. She had dropped her guard, and Aidan could read the exhaustion and confusion in her expression.

“You said that you’re here without Mom’s—Mother’s approval. Why?”

“Because you’re my sister. And I think we need each other now more than ever.”

Naomi let out a hollow laugh and shook her head. “Why?” she asked again. “Why now, why after all these years?”

“Because now that I’ve seen the truth about our parents, about what they do…I don’t want any part of it.” She studied his face and saw nothing but the truth. Aidan sounded bitter and angry, but there was a steely resolve in his voice, too.

“Let’s say I believe you,” Naomi said slowly. “Let’s say I believe you want to leave, to get away from…ourparents…What…”

She trailed off as she tried to finish that question. There were so many ways it could end: What am I supposed to do with this information? What do you expect me to do? What does that mean for us?

Perhaps simply: What does that even mean?

The action—Aidan leaving—might be simple, but it sure as hell wouldn’t be easy, and it opened up a whole can of worms as far as Naomi was concerned. Her default was to problem-solve, and part of her was glad she had reverted to that instinct, rather than try to approach this emotionally.

She took a deep breath and said, “You want to leave. What are you going to do?”

It was a fairly open-ended question, but Aidan nodded seriously, carefully considering his answer.

He slowly worked through his plan, which was admittedly not entirely fleshed out. Naomi listened intently, her lips pursing slightly as she mulled over his rough plan.

“Regardless of what happens, though,” Aidan finished firmly, “I’ll help you learn how to use your powers to their fullest extent.”

“Oh.” She blinked in surprise. “Well, Green Lantern has started to show me the ropes…” She couldn’t fight the slight wince that crinkled her left eye.

He nodded in acquiescence, looking completely unfazed at her awkward decline of his offer.

Silence fell between them again, but unlike the previous stretches, it felt familiar and almost comfortable, and Naomi would have been content to stay in their quiet little bubble for hours. But her gaze landed on her violin case, and she frowned slightly as remembered her initial anger and confusion. “Do you know the name of the piece I was playing?” she asked, her eyes still fixed on the case.

“No,” Aidan said slowly, sensing there was more to that question. “Why? What’s it called?”

“A Lark Ascending.” Naomi finally looked at Aidan, and her eyes were narrowed in suspicion while his were clouded with confusion. “I thought it was a fitting companion for the rose bush I received ten days ago.”

When that didn’t seem to spark any recognition, her frowned deepened. “So…you didn’t send this either?” From beneath her shirt, she pulled out the jade medallion, and Aidan’s eyes widened.

“She sent that to you?” he gaped.

“Explain,” Naomi scowled.

“They’re heirlooms.” He tugged at his own collar and revealed a matching gold chain and jade pendant. “How much do you know about the Empire?”

“Empire?”

“Right, that name hasn’t quite caught on…Mother has been trying to get the Coalition of Four officially renamed to the Jade Empire, but there have been dissenters. Anyway, the four families were traditionally represented by one of four animals, and—”

“And our family’s symbol is the tiger.”

“Yes. The others—”

“Are the dragon, turtle, and phoenix.”

“Right. Each family had these pendants made in the early inception of the Coalition, to be worn by the leaders and their selected heir. Mother gave me this one when I turned sixteen.”

“So, what does it mean that we both have one? Is that her way of announcing her retirement?”

“No.” Aidan looked troubled, and it made Naomi’s shoulder tense. “Mother is ruthless, but also a brilliant leader. She knows the organization like the back of her hand, and honestly, I think it would fall apart without her at the helm. She’s planning something…”

The silence this time was heavy, and Naomi pulled her knees closer to her chest. What felt like hours later, she was shaken from her rumination when her phone buzzed. She winced when she saw the late hour, then answered with a guilty glance at Aidan.

“Hey,” she said quietly.

“Hey, are you okay?” Dick asked frantically. “We came back inside and you were nowhere in the house! We saw your car was gone, and, well…”

“You tracked it.”

Aidan looked like he couldn’t decide if that revelation was amusing or cause for worry, and Naomi turned away from him.

“Yeah, sorry,” Dick said with a sheepish chuckle. “But we couldn’t figure out where you would have gone so late and with no warning. How…how are you?”

She could tell that wasn’t quite the question he wanted to ask but understood his true intention: You’re at an empty estate that you haven’t been to once in all the years I’ve known you. Why? What’s wrong?

“It’s…complicated.” Dick seemed to wait for her to elaborate, but instead she said, “I’ll be ho—back in a bit.”

“Right, okay…See you soon.”

“See you.”

Naomi got to her feet as soon as the call ended, and she walked around Aidan to retrieve her violin case. “I have to go,” she said unnecessarily, still refusing to look at him as she charged toward the front door.

“Hey, wait, are you okay?” Aidan called as he hurried after her. He reached for her hand as she was turning off lights, and she flinched away from him.

“Sorry,” she spluttered, looking alarmed at her own action. She stared at her hand, then his, which had dropped to his side, and finally glanced up to meet his eyes. “I-I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears finally welling. “I-I don’t know why—”

“It’s okay,” Aidan said gently. His expression was full of genuine worry and care, without a trace of hurt or anger at her reaction, and Naomi bowed her head as the tears began to pour down her cheeks. She set her violin case down and then lunged toward Aidan.

He took several steps back as her weight barreled into him, but he immediately wrapped his arms around his little sister as she sobbed into his shoulder.

{It’s okay, Mimi,} he whispered into her hair. {I’m so sorry for everything. But I’m not going anywhere, I swear it. I’m right here.}

---

It was another thirty minutes before Naomi finally made it home. She knew there were signs she had just bawled her eyes out, and she also knew that would gain a lot of attention at the manor, since she had never cried to this extent before.

But it was late, she was tired, and she just wanted to sleep in her own bed. When she entered the house, she found three pairs of eyes immediately on her, and she sighed.

"It's late, I'm tired, and I really just want to go to bed," she said immediately. She knew that would also draw attention to how out of sorts she was, but at the moment, she just didn't care. She waved good night and turned on her heel before anyone could say a word.

---

Location: Wayne Manor, Gotham City
Date: Friday, September 03, 2010
Time: 1829 EDT

Bruce stood at the gym's doorway, watching his two wards with a slight frown. Naomi and Dick were doing their individual workouts, as usual, but the gym was silent rather than practically vibrating with music, and there was a tension in the air that hadn't dispersed since Naomi came back from the Williamson estate.

He and Dick had respected Naomi’s silence on the matter, since she had seemed fragile in a way neither they nor Alfred had ever seen before, but Bruce could tell that the new distance was starting to get to Dick. Naomi had spent the previous week mostly lost in thought, drifting around the manor or in the gym, and only going to the Cave for mandatory combat training with Black Canary. Bruce wanted her to talk, to open up about what was on her mind, but knew he would be met with resistance, so he thought maybe some time with the Team would help.

He cleared his throat as he stepped into the gym, and two heads snapped his way. “Suit up,” he instructed. “There’s something I want the Team to look into.”

When they stepped out of the Zeta-Tube into the mission room, the rest of the Team minus Aqualad was waiting for them.

“You’re dismissed, for now,” Batman said, causing everyone to glance at each other in confusion. “There are a few things I want to verify that I need the League’s computers for. I’ll call you when it’s time for mission briefing.”

The others shrugged and headed for the kitchen, M'gann already talking excitedly about a new cookie recipe. Lark and Robin lingered, both wondering at Batman’s explanation since they knew very well that he had full access to the Justice League’s system from the comfort of his own Batcave. But he was already buried in holographic screens, so they shared shrugs and followed the others.

---

Thirty minutes later, the timer dinged and M'gann pulled out the sheet tray. "Careful, Superboy!" she warned as he snagged a cookie. "They're hot!"

Wally whizzed past, snatching the cookie from Superboy, who scowled at the brightly dressed boy. “Not as hot as you, babe,” he said with a grin at M’gann.

“Thanks, Wally,” M’gann said slowly as the speedster popped the cookie in his mouth. “That’s, uh, sweet.”

“Not as sweet as you, sugar,” he said cheekily after he swallowed the cookie.

Lark and Robin shared a look and Artemis snapped, “Oh, grow up!” while casually smacking the back of Kid Flash’s head before calmly reaching for a cookie herself.

“Ow,” he grumbled, rubbing his head.

Lark grabbed a cookie for herself and then passed one to Robin just as Batman’s voice sounded from the Cave-wide speakers. “Team, report to the mission room.”

Everyone scarfed down their cookies and hurried to join Batman, and when they entered, they found their leader had finally arrived.

“I am here,” he was saying to Batman. “One hundred percent.”

“Just in time for your next mission,” Batman said to him. Aqualad nodded, and the Dark Knight got right to business.

“The Watchtower detected an immense power surge in the Bialyan desert…”

Notes:

I meant to post this chapter sooner, but I ended up having more trouble with Naomi's "downtime" scene than I anticipated. I also played around with putting the last chunk, during September 3, in the Bereft chapter, but that chapter is already going to be long, so I figured I'd put it here.

So, the big reveal! Did you guys guess it? Was it a good twist, or was it super obvious? Or did I drop just enough hints for it to be a fun reveal?

As you might have noticed before, I'm using the curly brackets {} to indicate when a language other than English is being spoken. For future reference, anytime Naomi and Aidan speak with {}, it's in Mandarin, unless otherwise stated.

This chapter also features more link breaks than I usually use, but I'm challenging myself to be okay with jumping scenes, rather than jumping through hoops to link each scene to the next with text, kinda how in movies and tv you'll go from one setting to another without following the actors step by step from Point A to Point B (i hope that made sense)

Anyway, as always, thank you so much for your continued interest in my story, and I'll see you in the next update :)

Chapter 15: 9.0 - Bereft

Notes:

I own nothing you recognize.

I also don't quite know how time works, so if the time stamp from the end of the last chapter doesn't quite make sense with the time stamp for the beginning of this chapter, sorry about that.

Warning(?): one curse word

Location: The Quraci Desert, on the Quraci-Bialyan Border
Date: Friday, September 03, 2010
Time: 2344 EEST

When the Bio-Ship touched down, Aqualad nodded at Lark, indicating she was to scout a perimeter, and Miss Martian opened a small exit for Lark to slip through. After carefully walking around the ship, which was still in camouflage mode, she informed, {All clear.} The ship reappeared, and the Team filed out while Superboy hefted the large, bulky scanner courtesy of Batman onto his shoulder like a giant backpack.

{Artemis, Robin, scout,} Aqualad instructed. The two nodded before slipping away while Lark resumed perimeter patrol.

{The Bialyans control the site,} Artemis informed a few minutes later.

{We're close. Maybe a little too close...} Robin warned.

Aqualad considered their position and nodded after a beat. {Very well. We will set up here,} he confirmed for Superboy, who didn't seem all that encumbered by his electronic burden.

Superboy set the contraption on the sand and twisted a dial at Lark's direction. The machine hissed and panels opened to reveal more dials and controls. Lark got to work.

Robin and Artemis reappeared a couple minutes later, and Robin joined Lark at the machine. "We should be up and running in no time," Lark said softly, glancing over her shoulder to Aqualad as Robin took over the bulk of the work.

"Jackpot!" Kid Flash sang, peering between the birds' shoulders. "The site's lousy with Zeta-Beam radiation."

"Detecting non-terrestrial trace elements from the tent," Robin confirmed.

"I'll check it out in camouflage mode," Miss Martian offered.

Aqualad nodded. "Good idea. Go."

"Careful," Superboy said shortly, and Lark shared a glance with Robin, a knowing smirk passing between the two.

"And maintain telepathic contact," Aqualad directed.

"I will, Aqualad," Miss Martian promised. She pulled her hood over her head and faded from sight.

A moment later, her voice informed, {I'm in.}

{Good, but tread carefully,} their leader warned. {Camouflage is not invisible,} he reminded.

{They're testing something,} she told them, her voice pitching in alarm. {But, it's alive! In pain...Hello? Can you hear me?}

{I can,} a new voice came, sounding almost gleeful. {And an open mind is a dangerous thing.}

{Someone's hacked our link!} Miss Martian whispered, sounding terrified, her fear so pervasive the others could practically feel it creep along their spines.

{Psimon can't see you,} the voice continued. {Psimon can't catch you. But Psimon can make you all FORGET!}

Lark cried out in pain and the sound was echoed by her teammates. She fell to her knees as she clutched her head, suddenly feeling as though there was a war going on in her mind, one side struggling to invade, the other successfully blocking.

She groaned softly as the sharp pain subsided to a manageable ache, and when she looked around, she realized her teammates were stumbling away, each going in different directions, still clutching their heads in apparent pain.

With a wince, Lark reached out both hands, her intention to rope the Team together so that they couldn't wander too far away, but another spike of pain pierced her head, making her curl in on herself in a futile attempt to block her head from the psychic intrusion.

{Who’s protecting you?} the stranger’s voice asked, though it sounded strained, like it was taking a lot of effort just to speak to Lark. If the voice wanted to say something else to her, it was unable to as it did its best to fight to second invisible force inside Lark’s head. The pain was so intense, Lark couldn’t even find it in her to make a sound. She wanted to let the sand swallow her, anything to get the pain to stop.

Just when Lark was sure she was going to pass out, the foreign presence suddenly disappeared. For a long while, the only sounds she could hear were her own pounding heartbeat, the rushing of the blood in her veins, and her ragged breathing. She blinked slowly and struggled to sit up, realizing that at some point, she had indeed curled into the fetal position. With great effort, she pushed herself into a seated position and looked around.

She sighed in dismay when she realized how far her teammates had wandered. They were five shapes drifting in five directions, and Lark struggled to her feet, determined to find some way to bring them all together again. Her legs shook nearly too much for her to stand steady, but she managed to anchor herself and stand up straight. She raised her hands, concentrating on the retreating figures, hoping to rope them and keep them from wandering too much farther. Nothing happened, though, and when Lark looked at her hands, she realized they were trembling, and the longer she concentrated, the more her head pounded.

With a frustrated exclamation, she stumbled forward, initially aiming toward Robin before hesitating. Aqualad wasn’t built for the desert, and of all of them, it might benefit him the most to have someone who at least had some idea what was going on.

After determining which figure in the distance was their leader, Lark set after him. With something to focus on, the pounding in her head was forced to take a backseat. Several times her knees almost gave out, her legs feeling shaky and weak, but she forced herself to stay upright. She was determined to get the team back together, and there wasn’t anything that could get in the way of her goal.

They traveled for miles, deeper into Bialya—Lark knew because she was keeping an eye on her map—before Aqualad finally collapsed. Lark’s eyes widened and without a second thought ran the last several yards. Had it not been for the shadows that solidified under her feet to give her a solid base to push off, she would have twisted her ankle ten times over in the uneven, shifting sand.

“Aqualad!” she exclaimed in alarm, dropping to her knees once she reached him and turning him onto his back. She started a full-body scan on the holo-computer in her glove and was both relieved and exasperated when it came back clean save for dehydration. “What the hell happened to you?” she murmured.

Figuring Aqualad would be okay for the time being, Lark sat back and took stock of what she had on her: in her utility belt, she had her usual arsenal; she had kunais in her right thigh holster as well as stuck in her boots; and her rarely used collapsible jō staff was in its holster at her left thigh.

A new addition were two flasks of water, which were kept cool by the thin, insulated pouch each was in, which also served as a way to strap them to her back. When Batman had first told them that their mission was to the desert, Lark had stopped by the Batcave to pick up the flasks, the anticipation of a desert mission making her uneasy.

Checking the time, Lark figured they had at least five more hours of darkness before they had to worry about finding shelter, so she sat on the sand a few feet from Aqualad, ready for a long evening.

---

It was still dark out when Aqualad's soft groan roused Lark from her light slumber and she watched with rapt attention as he turned over on his side before slowly pushing himself into a seated position, his back to her.

“Kaldur’ahm,” Lark called softly.

She quickly scrambled to her feet as Aqualad leapt to his and whirled around in surprise and panic, looking ready to fight. His eyes almost immediately rolled to the back of his head as he fainted, and Lark threw out her hand and created a shadowy pillow to catch the Atlantean and gently lower him to the sand.

A moment or two passed before he stirred again. He blinked slowly, trying to regain his bearings. Once Lark thought he was sufficiently oriented, she approached him again. When she came into view, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “You…you are Lark,” he said slowly in recognition. “You work with Batman.”

“Yes,” she nodded, relieved he at least knew she wasn’t the enemy.

“Do you know why I am in a desert?” he asked. “Where is Aquaman? Or Batman, or Robin?”

“Aquaman and Batman aren’t with us,” she said with a slight frown; why would Aquaman or Batman be on a Team mission? “Robin is…elsewhere, at the moment. What’s the last thing you remember?” she asked him.

Aqualad frowned. “I was…I was on a mission with my king,” he recalled. “We…we were in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Brazil. Where are we? How did I get here?” he asked again, looking lost and a little desperate.

“We’re on a mission in Qurac,” Lark said slowly, fighting down the growing hysteria that was threatening to burst out at the fact Aqualad didn’t even remember where he was and why. “You, me, Robin, Kid Flash, Superboy, Miss Martian, and Artemis.”

Her leader frowned, looking at her in confusion. “We are here with Kid Flash? What about Speedy? And who are the other people you mentioned? Are they young heroes too?”

Lark blinked. “Yes…we’re a team. Red—Speedy isn’t a member.” He continued to stare at her, and she sighed. “Look, it’s a long story, and right now, we need to focus on getting out of here.”

He nodded slowly and Lark sighed in relief. “Okay,” she said, her mind already shifting into mission-mode. “First thing’s first: we need to get you to the Bio-Ship.”

“Bio-Ship?” Aqualad questioned. “And what about our…teammates?”

“The Bio-Ship is our means of transportation,” she explained. “And we need to get to it first because you are not equipped to be in the desert for this long.”

“I am amazed any creature can survive in a desert,” he muttered. Lark’s lip quirked a little at that; she couldn’t say she disagreed with him there.

She pulled up her holo-map, her heart falling a little when she noticed just how far away the rest of the Team was, but she forced herself to concentrate on one thing at a time. She showed him the map that floated above her wrist and pointed out the Bio-Ship’s marker, which was thankfully, not as far from them as the rest of their teammates.

Aqualad slowly looked over the entire map, doing his best to get a sense of the distance. His eyes drifted to the very bottom of the map, which read 0416, 04-09, and his eyes widened in shock.

“It is April?!” he exclaimed, making Lark jump a little. “We have been in this desert for a month?”

“April?” Lark questioned, then glanced down at the timestamp again. Realizing he had mistaken the 04 as April, her own eyes widened. “It’s not April,” she said slowly. “It’s September.”

“September?!” he parroted. He began muttering in Atlantean, and while Lark wasn’t as fluent as she would have liked in the language, she understood he was asking questions she couldn’t answer, though she did catch the Atlantean words for six months, time, and a curse Lark had learned from an Atlantean drama.

“My God, what the hell did Psimon do to you?” she muttered, worry and fear creeping into her for the first time since the Team split.

With the entire Team missing six months of memories and lost in a vast desert, Lark was definitely worried about the likelihood of the Team finding each other again. What was worse, though, was how unprepared they were for a prolonged stay in a desert that was also behind enemy lines.

“Who is Psimon?” Aqualad asked, and Lark took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Right now, her priority needed to be on getting herself and Aqualad out of the desert. She could worry about the rest of their situation later.

“The bad guy.” Turning back to her map, she allowed herself one more moment of dismay at how far away everyone was before she shut down her panic. “We have a couple more hours before the sun comes up and we can reevaluate then. In the meantime, we should get moving, while it’s still cool.” Lark glanced up at the Atlantean. “Sound like a plan?”

He nodded and followed her as she started off, using her map to guide them. Aqualad had to admire her cool under pressure, even if she did seem to have a better grasp on their situation, and he greatly appreciated her calm presence; it was enough to get his feet moving.

Now that he was no longer in immediate danger, Aqualad realized just how dry he felt, especially his gills. Without glancing back at him, Lark reached behind her cape and pulled out a dark purple flask that was about the size of her hand.

“Here,” she said. “Have a little.”

“Thank you.” Aqualad took the flask from Lark and unscrewed the top. He took a sip and could feel the water work immediately, sliding down his throat and into his stomach, cooling his insides and bringing at least a little relief to his dry eyes and gills.

He was tempted to gulp down all the water then and there but figured he should do his best to save it. After all, he wasn’t sure how long they would be stuck in the desert, and the water would need to last between two people. He did pour a little over his gills before handing the canteen back to Lark. She took a small sip herself before putting it back in its holder.

And with that, they set off into the desert.

---

Location: The Bialyan Desert
Date: Saturday, September 04, 2010
Time: 1156 EEST

Robin woke with a groan, feeling uncomfortably hot and sticky. His eyes fluttered open and then immediately closed them to block the bright sunlight that beat down on him. He reached out blindly to pull the blankets over his head, only to realize there were no blankets to pull over his head.

Instead, he was surrounded by…sand?

He peeled open his eyes, and when he finally took in his surroundings, he sat up, his mouth dropping open in shock.

Just where the hell was he?

He winced when he became painfully aware of a pounding in his head and he rubbed his forehead, only to pause when something dawned on him.

Where were Batman and Lark?

Finally pushing himself to his feet, Robin began stumbling in the direction of a rock outcropping that was a few yards away.

When he finally reached the rocks, he leaned heavily against it, using it to steady himself as his head continued to swim. In the distance, the sand suddenly kicked up, signaling the approach of something large. Robin’s eyes widened and he scrambled to the other side of the rocks, finding footholds that allowed him to hoist himself toward the top.

“Those are Bialyan Republican army uniforms,” he said to himself as he watched the Jeep roll past him. “But what are Bialyan’s doing in, uh…” His eyes widened as he pulled up his holo-map and saw where he was. “…Bialya?

“Okay, better question,” he huffed. “What am I doing in Bialya?” His eyes zeroed in on the date, and he gaped. “In September? What happened to March?! Better radio Batman…”

He trailed off as a memory suddenly came to the front of his mind.

It was of Batman saying, “Maintain radio silence at all times,” with a map of Bialya spread out behind him on a screen that didn’t look familiar. Neither did the cave, in fact.

“Or not,” Robin sighed. He peered around, and seeing the coast clear for miles, flipped off his perch and onto the desert sand.

A piece of black fabric caught his eye as he straightened, and he approached it. Lifting it off the rock, his eyes narrowed at the large red Superman shield printed on the dark background. What was Superman doing here? And in a t-shirt?

Robin took a deep breath to keep himself from freaking out. “One thing at a time,” he said out loud. “Find Batman and Lark.”

He pulled out his holo-map and looked for their icons. He frowned when he couldn’t locate Batman or even the Batwing, but then felt his heart sink when he saw how far away Lark was. Curiosity replaced his dismay, though, when he spotted an unfamiliar black marker on his map. If it wasn’t Batman or the Batwing, what could it be?

“Only one way to find out,” Robin sighed as he closed the map and started making his way southeast.

It was a long, hot slog. He had a huge distance to cover, as well as dodge the occasional Bialyan military vehicle. His only saving grace was that he seemed to also be moving in Lark’s direction, and hopefully, they would run into each other soon.

---

Lark and Aqualad covered a decent stretch of desert before the sun drove them to find cover. There wasn’t much in the way of shelter, so Lark directed them toward the base of a particularly large dune and conjured a shade for them to huddle under.

Aqualad quickly fell asleep, and while Lark herself was exhausted, worry at their situation kept adrenaline pumping through her veins. She wanted to reach out to Robin, let him know she was okay and ask him how he was, but Batman had been clear: no non-telepathic contact, either with him or between the Team.

She did manage to drift to sleep for a couple hours, and when she startled awake again, it was about an hour before sunset. The sun was low on the horizon, and thankfully, had long ago stopped beating down on them, since sometime during Lark’s slumber, her shadowy shade had disappeared.

Aqualad stirred beside her, and after he had sat up, Lark passed him a water flask and then they set off again.

They had managed to travel several miles, and Lark was starting to feel optimistic about their chances of reaching the Bio-Ship before dawn, when Aqualad collapsed.

She called his name in alarm and quickly turned him onto his back. She checked his pulse and cursed under her breath when she felt how weak it was. A quick scan from her computer told her he was well past dehydrated.

Lark groaned and buried her face in her hands. Had she missed the signs? Had she not been paying as close attention as she thought? They were down to the last half of her second water flask. What else could she have done?

She took a deep breath and forced her panic and guilt down. Now is not the time, she scolded herself. Aqualad needs me, now more than ever.

Looking around, she took in their surroundings. The sands here were relatively flat, which didn’t bode well for keeping a low profile. In the distance, though, a large dark shape caught her eye. Pulling out her computer again, Lark used it to magnify the object, and relief swelled in her chest when she realized it was a large rock cluster.

Determined to get Aqualad there, she squared her shoulders and then concentrated on creating a platform beneath him. It took her a few tries, but once it solidified under him, she set off for the rocks.

---

It was fully dark by the time Robin neared the marker. He approached the dunes cautiously in case the site had attracted unwanted attention. Peaking over the sand, he saw the coast was clear, and sitting prominently in the middle of the desert was a large black rectangle, maybe five and a half feet tall, three feet wide, and four feet deep.

He consulted his map again, dismayed to find that Lark’s dot had stopped moving about half a mile away. Well, maybe I can check out the…whatever-it-is before she gets here, he decided. He scrambled over the sand and approached the thing, which from up close Robin realized was a machine of some sort.

Almost immediately, though, armed men erupted from the sand, their guns trained on the frozen bird.

{Her Majesty wants him alive!} one of the men shouted to the others.

Robin’s eyes narrowed as he dropped a smoke bomb. The thick dark smoke momentarily confused the soldiers, letting him get to work. Two were quickly wrapped in weighted lines and before they had even hit the ground, several more dropped their weapons when well-aimed birdarangs struck the barrels, rendering the firearms useless, at least for the time being.

Robin rushed one of the soldiers and at the last moment launched himself over the Bialyan, placing his hands on the man’s shoulders and twisted him so he hit two of his fellow troops.

{Enough!} one yelled angrily. {Open fire!}

He did handsprings to get out of the way of the spray of bullets from the soldiers whose guns had escaped Robin’s birdarangs. Somewhere behind him, he heard a voice call, “I’ll hold that! Thanks!” as the guns suddenly disappeared from the soldiers’ hands.

Two more approached Robin’s unprotected back, and as he turned to face them, they were abruptly thrown back by an invisible force. He glanced up and saw the vague silhouette of a girl floating in the air. She materialized, and Robin noticed she was green-skinned and dressed similarly to the Martian Manhunter.

One last soldier was attempting an escape, and Robin wasn’t the only one to notice. A green arrow came whistling through the air and just before it hit the soldier, the end burst with a bolo line that wrapped around the man’s legs, causing him to fall forward onto the sand. Coming over the dune was a girl with long blonde hair pulled back in a high ponytail, dressed in a green uniform and mask and her bow still drawn. She slowly lowered her weapon, eyeing the scene below her skeptically.

“K.F.!” Robin exclaimed, relief washing over him as he walked toward his best friend to clasp his hand. “Man, it’s good to see a familiar face!”

“Hey, Rob,” Kid Flash said happily. “Memory loss?” he asked.

“Six months!” Robin groaned.

Looking around, the speedster noticed a certain member of the Bat clan was missing. “Where’s Lark?” he questioned.

“Wasn’t with me when I woke up, but I was on my way to meet up with her when I got ambushed by the Bialyans.” He checked his map again, confirming she hadn’t moved, and sighed. He glanced around at the unconscious soldiers and said, “Let’s hogtie these creeps first and then we can compare notes.”

Once they all confirmed that the past six months had been wiped from their memories, Miss Martian was quick to fill in that she had a flash of a memory, one that implied that they—she, Robin, Kid Flash, and Artemis—plus Lark and another teenager called Superboy were some sort of—

“Team? We’re a…team?” the blonde archer asked once Miss Martian was done, looking and sounding incredibly dubious at the prospect.

“The four of us, Lark, and Superboy,” Miss Martian confirmed.

“Then this must be his,” Robin realized, pulling the scrap of shirt from his belt.

“Yes!” the Martian exclaimed, taking the fabric from him. “Did you see him?”

“I think we did,” Artemis said, turning to Kid Flash.

“Feral boy?” he asked, scratching his chin. “Some teammate,” he snorted. “He attacked us!”

“He didn’t know who we are,” the archer defended. “I don’t know who we are!” she added.

“I remember Batman ordering radio silence,” Robin said. “It’s the only reason I haven’t reached out to Lark; any kind of communication could be intercepted.”

“So we work for Batman?” Artemis asked, quickly masking her horrified expression.

“How do you know we don’t work for my mentor?” Kid Flash countered, poking his chest with his thumb as he did. His black and dark gray uniform spontaneously changed to his signature bright yellow and red. “Whoa,” he breathed, pushing the lightning bolt again. “This is cool!” he exclaimed as he continued to change the colors.

“We look ridiculous!” Artemis snapped, having tried to change her uniform as well but now sounding as though she had come to her senses. Throwing her hands in the air, she yelled at the speedster, “Quit touching yourself!” Turning to the rest of the young heroes, she huffed out, “We need our memories back.”

Their surroundings suddenly changed, and Robin looked around, startled. They were in a domed room, which glowed from the images that covered the surface in shards. Indistinct whispers echoed around them as they saw themselves in the different fragments.

“I’ve brought you into my mind,” Miss Martian said as she appeared before them in bright silhouette, “to share what I’ve remembered so far. But I need your help.” She finally took a solid form and turned imploringly at them. “Together, our broken memories can form a whole…if you open your minds to me.” The last part she added hesitantly.

“You want to paw through our private thoughts?!” Artemis exclaimed, backing away and this time unable to disguise her horrified expression.

“I have no wish to intrude, but—”

“You need to hack our minds to grok what happened to us,” Robin shrugged. “Got it. Go.”

“My brain’s all yours,” Kid Flash grinned. “Try not to let its brilliance overwhelm you.”

“Or underwhelm you,” Robin snickered. “Hey, why isn’t anyone ever just whelmed?” he asked no one in particular.

Kid Flash, having noticed Artemis still looked wary at the prospect, stepped forward to take her hand. She glanced at him before sighing and saying stiffly, “Last six months only, and only what you need.”

Miss Martian nodded and held her hands out in front of her. Three glowing blue hands snaked out from her forehead and her outstretched hands, and each placed itself on their heads.

Robin’s eyes slide shut, and he felt a tug in his brain as his memories of this mission resurfaced. They played out, and as Miss Martian went down the line, coaxing the suppressed memories from each of her teammates, Robin saw their memories from their perspectives, which triggered the rest of his own memories to come rushing back to him.

The last memory was from Miss Martian’s point of view, and they were snapped out of her mindscape when they realized they had completely forgotten the last member of their team.

“Aqualad!” they exclaimed.

“Where is he? What happened next?” Robin demanded.

“I don’t know!” Miss Martian said helplessly. “That’s the last thing I—we—remember.”

Kid Flash made a noise in the back of his throat when he realized he and Artemis were still holding hands, and they quickly released each other. “We landed twenty-four hours ago,” he said as he twisted away from the archer and scratched his head. Artemis crossed her arms over her chest and scowled, also turning her back to the speedster. “If Kaldur’ahm’s been wandering in the desert that long, well…that can’t be good for a guy with gills,” he finished grimly.

“And where’s Lark?” Artemis asked. “Why haven’t any of us come across her yet?”

“I’ve been keeping track of her tracer,” Robin assured. “I was hoping we would meet here, at this mystery machine, but she stopped moving about two hours ago. As for Aqualad, now that I know to look for him…” He trailed off as he pulled up his holo-map, his eyes widening when he spotted Aqualad’s dot. “He’s close!” he exclaimed. “Actually, it looks like he and Lark might be together.”

Kid Flash wagged his eyebrows, and Robin scowled his way before he marched off in their direction.

“If Lark and Aqualad were so close,” Artemis started after a few minutes, “why didn’t you notice him right away?”

“The computer must have reverted to showing only Bat frequencies,” Robin shrugged.

“There are separate frequencies?” Kid Flash asked.

“Well, sure.” Robin shrugged as if the answer was obvious. “It’s why the Team doesn’t get Justice League hails, and why the Justice League doesn’t get Bat-related pings, et cetera.

“It sounds so logical when he says it,” the speedster grumbled.

They descended into silence after that, and before long, they finally came upon the two oldest members of their team.

Lark jumped to her feet and whirled around when she heard footsteps approaching, ready to defend herself and Aqualad from Bialyan soldiers. She nearly collapsed in relief when she saw it was Robin and the Team.

The two birds rushed forward, each relieved to see the other was in one piece and on their feet. The normally consummate professional bats let their guards down as they hugged each other tightly, Lark going so far as to close her eyes and let out a heavy exhale in relief in see her little brother.

She pulled back and switched her grip to Robin’s shoulders, inspecting every inch of him as she asked, a little frantically, {Are you okay? You’re not hurt, are you?}

The Romani of his parents was a little clunky on her dry tongue, but he nodded with a slight chuckle, smiling a little at the familiar sounds in the unfamiliar and hostile environment. {I’m okay, promise.}

“What, no love for me, love?” Kid Flash asked, skidding to a stop after doing a quick recon lap.

Lark and Robin shared one last look before she dropped her hands and turned to Kid Flash with a small grin. “Hey, Kid.”

“That’s all I get?” he pouted, and Lark rolled her eyes good-naturedly.

“How’s Aqualad?” Miss Martian spoke up, and Lark’s face grew serious again.

“Not good. He lost consciousness about two hours ago. I’ve been giving him water, but he needs saline and electrolytes.”

The Atlantean’s head turned slightly, and everyone save Lark held their breaths, hoping he would magical awake. He only shifted restlessly in the sand and muttered in Atlantean.

“He started talking about an hour ago,” Lark said as Miss Martian knelt at Aqualad’s head and placed her hands on his temples. “But he’s just getting worse.”

“I can’t restore his memories in this condition,” the Martian sighed helplessly.

“Call the Bio-Ship,” Robin said, looking at the Martian.

“It’s out of range,” she said heavily. “But you can get him there fast,” she realized, turning to Kid Flash.

“He’s too heavy,” the speedster said, shaking his head. “And I’m too low on fuel. Right now, I couldn’t even carry her,” he added, gesturing to Artemis.

The archer scoffed and batted his hand away. “Why not just levitate him back?” she asked.

“I can’t,” Miss Martian said firmly. “I have to find Superboy. Six months ago, he didn’t exist. He has no memories, just…animal impulse. And I’m the only one who can help him.”

“Superboy’s indestructible!” Kid Flash exclaimed. “Just ask those tanks!”

Temper flaring, Lark glared ferociously at the Martian and snapped, “Aqualad needs help, now!”

Miss Martian glanced down at their leader, and her resolve seemed to waver. But her eyes suddenly widened, and she shot up in the air. “No!” she shouted. “Superboy’s in pain! We can’t wait!”

“Aqualad is dying!” Lark practically snarled.

“We still don’t know what erased our memories!” Robin yelled after her. “It could happen again!”

Lark had half a mind to run after the Martian, suggest that maybe whatever shielded her mind could be extended. But her vision swam, one Martian becoming three Martians becoming one again. She blinked hard a few times, and by the time she was seeing straight, Miss Martian was just a dot on the horizon.

“Fuck!”

Everyone startled at Lark’s outburst. She tipped her head back, hands threaded through her hair in frustration. She muttered a few other words before taking a deep breath and looking at the remaining Team.

“I’m sorry,” she said heavily. “I’m just tired.”

Robin placed a hand on her shoulder. “You’re not alone now,” he said firmly. “This isn’t just your burden anymore.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice wavering slightly before she cleared her throat, back to business.

“The Bio-Ship’s here,” Lark informed everyone once Robin had pulled up a holographic map. “We should be able to make it there before the sun rises.”

She conjured a shadow to lift Aqualad, and they started their trek toward the ship. Aqualad continued to mumble in Atlantean, and Lark sighed softly. She wished there was more she could have done for their leader, but she had already given him all her water, and her stash hadn’t been enough for an Atlantean in the desert for more than a day.

They had only made it several dozen meters before Lark finally faltered. Her feet had started to drag, and she tripped over something buried just under the sand. She jolted forward, and Robin caught her before she could fall flat on her face, and Aqualad crashed into the sand, though he hadn’t been high enough for the drop to be too jarring.

“How do you feel?” Robin asked worriedly as she swayed slightly.

“Just peachy,” she mumbled unconvincingly.

“Hey, look.”

Artemis was kneeling in the sand at Lark’s feet, brushing away the sand to reveal that the cause of Lark’s stumble was a jumble of tarp and two poles, most likely from a tent, and with some help from Kid Flash, a cot was fashioned for Aqualad.

Once their leader was stretched out on the tarp, Kid Flash and Artemis each grabbed a pole, and they set off again.

They made it just a mile from the Bio-Ship when a rumbling in the distance disturbed the otherwise silent night.

“Damn!” Robin hissed in frustration. “Quick, over here,” he said, ushering their little group behind a rock outcropping. Kid Flash and Artemis gently lowered Aqualad onto the sand and Robin helped Lark against the rock.

{Tula, we can still be together in Atlantis…} Aqualad pleaded, and Artemis gently soothed, “Shh, Kaldur. Quiet now.”

Robin sighed after he double checked their location. “We can’t risk a firefight with Aqualad KO’d and Lark dead on her feet,” he said. She was so out of it she didn’t even bother trying to convince him (however unsuccessfully) that she was fine.

“It’s not just them,” Kid Flash grunted. “I’m out of juice.”

“And I’m almost out of arrows,” Artemis added, pulling the quiver around so they could see indeed, she was down to her last few arrows.

Lark didn’t hear anymore as her eyes slid shut. It had been a while since she had felt this exhausted. Not even when she had fought Clayface and passed out because she had overexerted herself. At this point, she was running on fumes. Without Aqualad’s knowledge, she had been giving him all her water, leaving her dehydrated, hungry, and hot. Very hot.

Batman is going to kill me, she thought groggily. She had only been cleared for field work a week prior, and even then, Batman had wanted her to take it easy, even though she had insisted she was back to top fighting form.

She was awakened—when had she fallen asleep?—when Robin exclaimed next to her, “Yeesh! Get a room! I mean, Lark is right here.”

“Dude!” Kid Flash scowled as he and Artemis turned away from each other, the darkness hiding their blushes. “Where were you?”

“Breaking radio silence,” he responded with a smirk. He glanced at the soldiers’ retreating backs, and Lark watched as they stopped when Robin’s signature cackle wafted through the quiet night before an explosion clouded their view.

“That’s our cue,” Robin said. “Move!” He helped Lark to her feet and then supported her weight again as he led the others toward the Bio-Ship, which was thankfully not much farther away.

It was in camouflage mode and sealed up, and for a moment, Robin was worried they would be locked out until Miss Martian got back. Luckily, it seemed to recognize them and lowered a ramp for them to enter.

Artemis and Kid Flash gently dropped their makeshift stretcher on the Bio-Ship floor, which immediately elevated beneath Aqualad to form a cot akin to a medical bed.

“Good girl,” Lark murmured, her woozy head making her mutter what she thought was nonsense, though the Bio-Ship seemed to hum beneath her fingers as she began searching for fluids to give the Atlantean via an I.V.

She hooked up the first bag of saline and then tried to insert the needle into Aqualad’s veins, but with how dehydrated he was, his veins were too small for her shaking hands to find.

“Whoa,” she muttered as her knees suddenly gave out. She quickly caught herself on the edge of the cot and Robin rushed to her side.

“How about you let someone else do that,” he suggested, and Lark just nodded and let him take the needle from her.

“Make sure you alternate saline, glucose, and electrolytes,” she slurred as Robin started the I.V. and Kid Flash helped her into a chair.

Once the I.V. was set up, Robin asked, “Artemis, can you watch him for any change?” as he knelt beside Lark’s chair. The archer nodded just as a partition suddenly appeared between her and Lark, Robin, and Kid Flash.

“Hey!” she exclaimed.

“Sorry, Arty!” Robin called through the divider. “I need to check on Lark and you don’t have the security clearance!”

“That was unnecessary,” Lark chuckled weakly as Robin carefully removed her mask to get a good look at her eyes.

“How you feeling, L?” Kid Flash asked as he passed her a bottle of water and a power bar.

Lark’s shaky hands was the answer as she unsteadily raised the water to her lips.

“Have you had anything to eat or drink while we were in the desert?” Robin asked worriedly as he watched Lark gulp down the cold water.

“We were in the desert,” she parroted. “It’s not like there were five-star restaurants in which to dine.”

He rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean.”

“Okay, but what about the rest of you? It’s not like any of us were prepared for a long trip in the desert.”

Robin opened his mouth to respond, but Lark turned to Kid Flash. “There should be some Gatorade with the water and protein bars. Pass me one?”

The speedster nodded and hurried to the back. “Which color?” he called.

“Red!”

He passed her the Gatorade and then disappeared to give the birds some privacy. Lark pointedly ignored Robin’s narrowed eyes as he said softly, “L, don’t lie. I’ve seen you like this before, and it’s always been because of low blood sugar and dehydration. Did you have any of the water you brought with you?”

Lark didn’t respond, just sipped the Gatorade, though when the sugar hit her tongue, she wanted desperately to chug it. That would just prove Robin’s point, though, so she forced herself to go slowly.

“You’re too observant for your own good,” she sighed once she had drained the bottle.

“It’s what we do,” he shrugged. He took the empty bottle from Lark and then retrieved another for her. This one she drank more eagerly, not lowering it from her lips until it was nearly finished, but she squeezed Robin’s hand in silent thanks.

Once she was done, she secured her mask over her eyes, the partition lowered, and she got to her feet, feeling much steadier.

When she glanced around, she saw that Artemis, Kid Flash, and Robin had each changed out of their uniforms for much more airy and comfortable civvies, and Lark quickly followed suit. She stepped into the little changing nook and peeled off her mask and uniform. She would have loved to scrub every inch of herself of sweat and sand, but since there was no shower, she settled on using baby wipes to help alleviate some of the stickiness.

Once she was a semblance of clean, she pulled on running shorts and an oversized t-shirt, then used pins to keep her dirty, sweaty hair off her face. She finally replaced her mask, which was thankfully a new, clean one from her spare uniform stored on the Bio-Ship.

She stopped on her way to the front of the ship to check on Aqualad, and with the help of her holo-computer, was able to confirm his vitals were slowly returning to normal.

Artemis returned to his side with a damp washcloth, and Lark stepped aside so the archer could lay the cloth on Aqualad’s forehead. She had just smoothed it on his head when Miss Martian’s voice rang out in their heads.

{Hey, everybody! I’ve got Superboy. He’s back to normal and we’re on our way!}

Aqualad suddenly sat up, the washcloth falling into his lap. “Who are you?” he demanded when his eyes first settled on Artemis. “And how did you get inside my head?”

Lark stepped forward, and when he caught sight of the motion, his pale green eyes flashed in her direction. He seemed to relax when he spotted a familiar face. She opened her mouth to explain what had happened, but Miss Martian beat her to the punch.

{Hello, Megan! Aqualad’s memories! I knew I forgot something.}

Lark felt her previous irritation at the Martian flare up again, but she kept a lid on her emotions; she still wasn’t entirely sure how connected a Martian mind link made its parties, but better safe than sorry. She couldn’t quite stop her lip from twisting slightly in frustration, though.

{Aw, man, me too!} Kid Flash suddenly exclaimed. {I didn’t get a souvenir for the mission.}

{Don’t worry,} Miss Martian said, a grin apparent in her voice. {Got the souvenir thing covered.}

After Aqualad was convinced he was in safe hands, he settled back in the Bio-Ship’s cot. Lark squeezed his hand briefly and then trudged to her usual place, practically flopping into the seat, her legs sprawled out in front of her. Her limbs felt weak and heavy, and she just couldn’t convince her body to sit “respectably.”

When Kid Flash came back to the front of the ship, his eyes immediately zeroed in on Lark’s newly exposed legs. He intended to make a flirty comment but instead his eyes bugged out of his head.

“L, what happened to you?” he exclaimed. Robin was immediately on alert, and Artemis peered over curiously.

Lark looked at him questioningly. “What do you mean?”

“Your legs!”

When Artemis got close enough to see what Kid Flash was going on about, her own eyes widened. “Holy shit, Lark, you look like you got attacked by a thousand sheets of paper.”

“Oh, those.” Lark sat up straighter, dragging her legs closer to her body as if to hide them from view. It had been nearly a month since the attack by the Tigers, and she had gotten used to seeing the cuts turn to scabs turn to scars. They were thin and mostly short, so they had healed fairly quickly. But her tan skin was now riddled with pale scars, and she had forgotten that no one outside the family knew.

It was still summer, and Lark knew she would be absolutely miserable if she had to spend time in the sun wearing long sleeves and pants, so Batman had gotten Zatara to place a glamour spell on an anklet of Naomi’s, a thin gold one that she had gotten years ago but never worn. Like with all glamour charms, it didn’t change what Naomi saw, so even when she wore it, she still had the full display of scars.

She ran a thumb absentmindedly over the top of her thigh, as though tracing a wound visible only to her. “Mission in Gotham,” she said with a shrug. “Shit happened. Could have been worse.”

Kid Flash reached out and squeezed her shoulder. He offered her a small smile in quiet support, and she smiled back in thanks. Artemis’s gaze followed Kid Flash as he went to his seat, and when she caught Lark looking with a slight smirk, she quickly whirled around and returned to fussing over Aqualad.

The last of their Team arrived then, bringing with them…a giant gray sphere.

“That’s new,” Lark commented, staring unblinkingly at the thing.

“So’re the scars,” Superboy replied, jerking his chin in the direction of Lark’s legs.

She raised an eyebrow. “How would you know that?”

“From the beach day!” he exclaimed when all eyes snapped to him, his cheeks turning a little pink.

Robin ground his teeth loud enough for everyone to hear and Kid Flash laughed at the flustered clone.

“Oh, right,” Lark said with a little laugh, her head tilting slightly. “Forgot about that.”

Kid Flash looked like he was going to make some sort of comment, but Robin must have sensed it too. He sent the speedster a dark glare and the redhead wisely kept his mouth shut.

“Anyway,” Superboy said to the floor, clearing this throat and rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “Can we keep it?” he asked, returning the focus to the mysterious object he and Miss Martian had picked up.

“What is it?” Robin asked, still looking peeved, though it was unclear if it was at Superboy or Kid Flash.

“It was being tested in the same tent as Superboy,” Miss Martian said as she approached Aqualad. He looked wary, but after a slight nod from Lark, he let the Martian press her fingertips against his temple. Her eyes glowed briefly as she restored their leader’s memory.

“If the Bialyans were interested in it, Batman will need to approve,” Lark said. “Might want to run some of his own diagnostics.”

The machine—which Lark was now sure it was—beeped, almost angrily, and maybe a bit fearfully? On a hunch, she said directly to it, “Batman wouldn’t…hurt you, or try to change your programming or anything. He’s just—”

“Paranoid,” Kid Flash supplied.

“Cautious,” Lark corrected, though she couldn’t say she disagreed entirely with him.

Superboy patted the surface of the sphere and it hummed—happily?—at the touch. “I want to keep it,” he said stubbornly, and Lark decided not to fight him on it.

Once everyone was ready to leave, Miss Martian smoothly directed the Bio-Ship up and away. It was quiet, almost everyone too exhausted to do much beside zone out.

The young Martian couldn’t sleep, though. She could have, if she truly desired, since Bio-Ship knew her way back to Mount Justice. But she was still keyed up about her mind-meld with Superboy. It made her feel giddy and gave her a weird floaty feeling that was nothing like flying.

She sighed happily as her eyes rested on Superboy, only to falter slightly as she recalled the comment about Lark’s legs. But she had seen all of Superboy’s mind; if there were any romantic feelings for the other girl, Miss Martian hadn’t sensed it.

She relaxed at the thought, only to frown a little as something occurred to her. Lark had never needed to have her memories restored. When the Team came upon her and Aqualad, she had seemed to know exactly what was going on, without the telepath’s assistance.

Tilting her head curiously, she slowly and gently reached out for Lark’s mind. Like with any telepathic intrusion, there was a little resistance to the foreign invader. But when Miss Martian pushed deeper, something else lashed out.

Simultaneously, Miss Martian and Lark cried out in pain. Lark’s legs kicked out beneath the blanket spread across her lap, as though she could fight off a mental invasion in the physical world.

Robin was immediately at Lark’s side, putting a hand on her shoulder to steady and anchor her. “What’s wrong?” he murmured, rubbing her back in soothing circles as she pressed the heels of her hands against her forehead.

“My head,” she muttered. “It’s like the Psimon thing all over again.”

Robin frowned. “Some sort of psychic aftershock?”

“Why after all this time, though?” she countered softly. “And why would it only affect me and Miss M?”

“You okay, beautiful?” Kid Flash asked Miss Martian, who was cradling her own head in her hands.

“Y-yes, I’m all right,” the Martian stammered, even as she stared intently at Lark’s and Robin’s hunched and whispering forms. When she glanced over at Superboy, he gave her a small, concerned smile before turning back to the window.

Miss Martian sighed, wishing he would comfort her the way Robin did for Lark. She supposed it was different, with them being siblings and all, but still…to have someone rush to your side in a time of need? It’s what every girl dreamed of.

Lark and Robin were still conversing in low tones, and it was impossible for Miss Martian to hear over the white noise of the air whooshing outside. She was tempted to eavesdrop, but hesitant to reach back into Lark’s mind. Maybe Robin…?

Slowly, she stretched her telepathic perception toward the younger bird. There was the initial resistance, as always, but she couldn’t delve any further, couldn’t glean what he and Lark were talking about. With a frown, Miss Martian withdrew her psychic touch, missing the way Lark winced and then cast a narrowed-eyed glance her way.

Notes:

So, what do you think?? I'm nervous posting this chapter because of the whole M'gann-Lark thing, but don't worry, it won't be the last of this strange tension between the two! I definitely have plans to expand their working and personal relationship, and I think (hopefully!) it'll be interesting and nuanced and that you'll enjoy it as much as i've enjoyed exploring it!

So I think I'm going to try a thing. I've created a tumblr blog (i know, who still uses tumblr) called yj-naomis-nook and I plan on posting outtakes, excerpts, full chapters that I planned but never posted previously for one reason or another, asks, and anything else that comes to mind. (I think my first non-content post will be an expansion of this Note, since I was going to go on a spiel about why I wanted to take M'gann's character the way I'm going, but thought it was getting a bit too long for a note.)

If there's interest, I'll start engaging and posting over there with some frequency. I love Naomi and the characters I've created for my take on YJ, and I'd love to share my plans for the future seasons (because sneak peak S2 onward will be more canon divergent *eyeball emoji*) with more than just my irl friend.

As always, thank you so much to everyone who has interacted with this story. Until next time :)