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Nicole sat on campus eating her sandwich. Her meta genes had recently activated but she wasn’t too fussed, her so-called super powers seemed to be little more than enhanced hearing.
She thought it would just be easier to pretend like nothings new, she didn’t want to have to deal with the ire of her family who weren’t super supportive of the whole meta human thing. They’d probably think she’s going to be some vigilante or something but Nicole just wanted to be done with school and get a normal day job. Having enhanced hearing just means she can be more observant.
She was people watching and enjoying her sandwhich when she saw Damian Wayne and some guy walk by her.
Nicole had definitely seen Damian on some gossip channel while procrastinating on homework, he definitely looked the part of rich kid, though the guy next to him looked like any average guy just with big glasses.
While she usually didn’t use her enhanced hearing to respect people’s privacy, she kind of lets it wander when she’s people watching and she absentmindedly eavesdrops on the two.
“Jon, you’re only a part time student and you’re still stuggling to keep up?” Damien chided.
“Hey, super smarts wasn’t a part of the package, “it’s hard to write essays when I have to leave for missions” Jon responded indignantly.
“Speaking of, make sure you catch up quick Kent, we have places to be this weekend”.
“Yeah yeah, I just have a crummy online test to take this week” Jon sighed, “can I use your supercomputer? It is technically open book”.
“Sorry, missions only, and my dad can see what we use the computer for, believe me, he won’t be pleased”.
“Fair” Jon conceded.
The two boys walked out of Nicole’s range. She blinked at the two not sure of what to make of what she just heard. “Frats must be getting weird with hazing I guess” she concluded. Nicole wondered what it must be like to have a dad who could get you top of the line Wayne tech, too bad Bruce Wayne sounded like a strict father, Nicole definitely would use a supercomputer to stretch the limits as to what open book is.
Nicole was with some of her friends to spend the afternoon in downtown Metropolis. She decided to wait outside as her friends were engrossed in a book store that Nicole had lost interest in.
She decided to people watch again and let her hearing wander. She likes catching small snippets of people’s lives, pleasant conversation, small arguments, children asking if they could have something, Nicole just enjoyed being among people; though she did try her best to tune out things that sounded overly personal.
Suddenly her hearing caught distant screams and weirdly… did she hear someone singing?
Suddenly it was like she was under someone’s control and she was no longer in control of her own body. No one else seemed to be affected as she suddenly began dancing towards the direction of the music.
“Free! Free at last! It has been quite some time since I’ve taken the stage but now my dear Metropolis friends, I’m bringing Broadway to you and you’ll just beg to do my bidding!”
Superboy was flying in to see what was causing the commotion as Robin weaved through traffic on his motorcycle.
“Sound filtering on Superboy, this is an olde from Gotham, he can control people by singing”.
“Music Meister? Can’t we just punch him in the throat and be done with it? We have our ears plugged, it's not like he can control us”.
“True but the tricky part is all the civilians he’ll throw at us, try to balance not hurting them while they want to rip out your earpiece, I know multitasking is difficult for you” Robin smirked, “and definitely no super hearing” Robin quickly added.
“I know D” Superboy rolled his eyes as the two approached what appeared to be like a flash mob of people dancing and stealing.
“You’ll help me fund my wicked deeds that were once defeated, once I get my plan off of the ground my power will not be ceded! So steal for me my wicked friends don’t give heroes a chance, if you see them coming now you better make those losers dance!”
The Music Meister had gained control of the people within the city block when Superboy and Robin arrived.
“Ah Superboy and Robin, a pity, not the canary I was looking forward to hearing her sing for me, but you two should do”. The Music Meister sang and called for his mind controlled hench civilians to rush the super sons.
Robin adeptly dodged the onslaught whereas Superboy took them head on, shaking off those that latched onto him and freeze breathing their shoes and hands to the ground.
“Sorry!” Superboy shouted and winced back at each civilian who tumbled off him and stuck to the ground.
“Sloppy as usual” Robin teased as he expertly hit pressure points causing the mob facing him to harmlessly fall to the ground unmoving.
Soon the two boys had safely neutralized most of the mob leaving the Music Meister with few to control.
“You just had to learn my trick, you heroes make me sick”, the Music Meister suddenly saw Nicole sashaying her way towards him behind the two super sons, “though before the curtain call, we will see who truly falls!” The Music Meister sang out to Nicole who pounced on Superboy, distracting the two sons as Damien tried to help Superboy shake her off.
“You may have bested me but I’ll take this chance and I’ll fly free!” The Music Meister sang as he hopped onto a musical note Segway and drove away.
As he left, the mob stopped trying to dance and sing and looked around confused and embarrassed. Save for one Nicole who was still viciously trying to bite and scratch Superboy with dance moves.
“What’s with her?” Superboy asked Robin, holding Nicole away by arms length.
“I don’t know, for some reason the song is affecting her more than the other civilians” Robin said, tying Nicole’s feet together with the flick of a fancy batarang.
Eventually with Nicole unable to follow the Music Meister, she stops dancing and singing and instead dry heaves. “I haven’t done that much cardio in… forever” she said breathlessly.
Robin was monitoring her while Superboy debriefed with Justice League staff who were doing crowd control.
“So you’re back to yourself I presume, any idea why the mind control affected you longer?” Robin asked frankly.
Nicole noticed his voice sounded vaguely familiar, “No idea, I just kept on hearing this song in my head”.
“Hmmm” Robin looked at her inquisitively.
“May I go? My friends must be looking for me” Nicole asked politely.
“Sure sure” Robin said dismissively as he went to talk to Superboy.
Nicole’s legs felt like jelly but she had a backlog of messages asking where she was that she needed to get to and quickly walked and texted. She used her hearing to make sure she didn’t walk into traffic as she texted and speed walked.
Suddenly Nicole heard distant humming coming from somewhere.
“Hey little songbird, someone’s unique, you’re under my control even when I just speak”
Nicole found herself lured towards an alleyway.
“You can’t resist my siren call, you'll help me win once and for all” the Music Meister sang quietly.
Robin and Superboy reconvened in their apartment to figure out how they were going to catch the Music Meister.
“I take it back, having to safely neutralize that many civilians while they’re dancing and singing at you is so annoying” Jon complained.
“My father foiled the Music Meister’s plan a while ago, be glad that this time he didn’t have any super humans under his control” Damien sighed.
“Did you have to hit so many people’s pressure points? Won’t those people be out for like a week?”
“It was the most efficient way for me to stop them from attacking us without harming them, not everyone has freeze breath and heat vision”. Damien retorted, and besides, Justice League medical staff can undo what I did, anyways we are getting off track we have to figure out where the Music Meister will strike next”.
“I mean it does seem like today he just did musical petty crime” Jon shrugged, “I can’t imagine there being some grand scheme he’s cooking”.
Damien looked over the transcript of the lyrics. “If we are to take his song literally, his crime spree seems to be collecting funds for something, and considering the beating my father gave him, he’s probably working on being able to regain control of as many people as he can”.
Nicole sat tied up in the Music Meister’s apartment. It was richly adorned no doubt funded by the Music Meister’s song. She really wished she had abilities more helpful than enhanced hearing right now. She could hear the Music Meister talking to someone in a different room.
“That’s outrageous! This is far more limiting than I expected” the Music Meister sounded frustrated.
“The tech that they’re using is complex, unfortunately the range is limited if you desire to disrupt it” a voice Nicole didn’t recognize said plainly.
“Well you could’ve at least lowered the asking price!” The Music Meister said greedily.
“Business is business Meister, I hope you put on a good show, do break a leg”.
The Music Meister walked out fuming but his eyes gleamed once he looked at Nicole.
“Well for my misfortune there’s a poor unfortunate soul right here when I need her” the Music Meister smiled.
The Music Meister hummed and Nicole fell under his spell.
“You’ll help me say bye bye birdie, and we’ll do it by playing dirty, you’re my leading lady today and we will make those who stand against us pay. I’ll distract the boys with an old song and dance and I’ll keep you just out of glance, this crummy device may have short range but I’ll make sure to set the stage”.
The Music Meister untied Nicole’s bindings and the two began to dance together. “Superboy’s our target dear we’ll make the public shriek with fear, once the boy’s under my thrall it’ll be truly time for the curtains to fall”.
The sudden simultaneous reports of robberies indicated that Robin and Superboy were needed on the field.
No doubt it was the Music Meister doing with a bunch of silent alarms going off at once.
“The same old song and dance? I wasn’t expecting an encore” Superboy joked as he flew to the scene.
Robin followed behind on his motorcycle, “you’re right, there’s something suspicious with the Music Meister trying a similar plan twice in one day.
“Glad you folks can be my ensemble for our evening performance! The matinee was a hit and here we are again. Now, get to work chorus line!”
The civilians under the Music Meister’s control did the same routine that was done earlier in the day, gleefully singing and dancing along as windows were smashed and valuables and cash was dumped into the streets for the Music Meister to revel in.
He spied Robin and Superboy coming in.
“Right on cue! These thugs are here to interrupt our sweet charity, but get them chorus help them see, soon they will listen to me”.
“Are you getting a weird sense of déjà vu?” Superboy asked, seeing the familiar choreography of the crowd.
“”Stay on high alert, something isn’t right” Robin said while he went into his routine of dodging and neutralizing.
“I think most of his brain power has got to be going to thinking up those rhymes on the spot, I don’t think we’re exactly dealing with the Riddler here” Superboy casually went into easily freezing the feet of the mob attack in him.
“Though it helps to learn his tricks at least, we can safely stop the civilians from attacking us way easier” Superboy said proud of himself, jumping over the crowd of people.
Once again the super sons were able to corner the Music Meister.
“Useless!” The Music Meister said frustrated, “none of these people are making it to callbacks”.
“It’s over Music Meister you have no one left to control” Robin threatened, pointing a katana at him.
“I can’t even make a casting call?” The Music Meister hummed nervously.
Robin squinted at him before he remembered the girl from earlier.
“And in comes company” the Music Meister smirked.
Robin turned around to see Nicole pointing a device at Superboy, two noise filters fritzing on the floor and his boyfriend who very much has two left feet beginning to dance.
“Shit” Robin said as Superboy jetéd toward him, kicking him in the face.
“My leading lady has arrived and finally the understudy too” the Music Meister cackled, “all that’s left is the chorus line and we’ll have one show stopping number! Five six seven eight!” Music blasted and Superboy twirled in the air and used his heat vision to melt those trapped by his freeze breath earlier.
The Music Meister hopped on Superboy’s back to watch his show unfold.
Knowing that he was outnumbered, Robin picked himself up off the ground and angrily threw down a smoke bomb to retreat and figure out how to save his idiot boyfriend.
Nicole really resented her enhanced hearing right now. She was doing the Music Meister’s bidding from a distance and was unable to resist and stop herself from deactivating Superboy’s noise canceling communicator.
Now she watched as she moved back into a far off alley in case she was needed later.
Suddenly noise filters were placed in her ears and she was no longer under his spell.
“Oh… my… god” Nicole tried to shout but was hopelessly out of breath.
Robin put his gloved finger over his mouth.
Nicole brought her voice down, “thank you”.
“I need answers,” Robin asked immediately.
Nicole nervously explained all that she knew from overhearing Music Meister and handed Robin the device.
“Shit I knew he was up to something but of course he was reckless” Robin said angrily.
“Are you talking about Superboy?” Nicole asked confused.
Robin gritted his teeth and tried to act professional, “it is nothing. Do you think you can sneak up to the Music Meister and distract him as I try to get Superboy another pair of noise filters?”
“I can try, I’ll do my best to pretend to know the choreography” Nicole said bravely.
“I usually wouldn’t risk civilians but if I call for backup it could potentially end with more superheroes under his control”.
It’s fine Nicole smiled, “I want revenge on that theater nerd for using me”.
“Come out little song bird, come hear the word” Music Meister taunted while flying on Superboy.
Suddenly Robin jumped off a rooftop and tackled the Music Meister off Superboy.
“Why you heckler you!” The Music Meister shoved Robin back and sang out as his chorus line caught him.
Robin shot his grappling hook and swung safely to the ground.
Superboy came down from the sky and stared intently at him.
“Kill the little birdy Superboy, you’re under my spell you’re my new toy, the Music Meister reins supreme I’ll make every single super scream!”
Superboy immediately bolted towards Robin who deftly dodged the punch.
Robin could tell Superboy was doing all in his power to hold back.
It was kind of charming besides the fact that one hit would definitely get Robin a long lecture from Alfred and forced bed rest.
Robin played along with his role as civilians tried to hold him down for Superboy to get a clean hit as he solo’d the crowd.
Robin multitasked keeping an eye on Nicole as she snuck behind the Music Meister.
He turned around and Nicole pretended to be under his spell.
“You’re not supposed to be on stage! Take five honey, I’ll need you later”.
Nicole then used the device the Music Meister gave her to disrupt his microphone.
Electricity shocked the Music Meister and he dropped his microphone as Nicole turned and ran.
“Why you little- that bird put you up to this didn’t he? Well no good deed goes unpunished”, he turned to chase after Nicole but was met with a swift kick to the face from Robin.
“Well here’s the clever hero, it’s too bad that your little friend has super hearing” the Music Meister smirked as he continued to sing.
“You don’t play along you won’t hear my voice? I’ll make him break you, he has no choice!”
Superboy slammed into Robin and flew him into a wall.
Robin was winded and was face to face with his boyfriend’s glowing red eyes.
“Jon, stop” Robin whispered as he tried to escape Superboy’s grip.
Superboy grimaced and his grip faltered just long enough for Robin to slip out and move behind Superboy just as he let his lasers loose.
Robin quickly put in two new noise filters and Superboy blinked and his laser vision stopped. He looked around frantically, “Damien?” He asked worriedly.
“Shhh no names on the field” Robin said behind him.
“Robin!” Superboy said happily, “but you used my name” Superboy teased.
“Yeah yeah, that was to snap you out of the mind control, this is not over yet”.
The two angrily looked over at Music Meister who commanded a much smaller chorus now that his microphone was broken.
“Look here no need to throw tomatoes, I know when to end the show” the Music Meister sighed, “until next time!” The Music Meister sent the remaining chorus members to block the boy’s path and he made a break for it. He turned into the alleyway where he hid his getaway
Segway but found its tire slashed and a smug Nicole standing next to it.
Superboy appeared behind the Music Meister and put his hand over his mouth.
Nicole was slightly traumatized, she definitely wouldn’t see a musical for a few months and had done more exercise today than she had in the last three years but she did get the satisfaction of revenge on that theater kid who kidnapped her.
But she couldn’t fully focus on that pleasure as she had heard Superboy call Robin Damien during the fight and she slowly realized why Robin’s voice sounded slightly familiar.
She knew no one would believe her; Damien did a good job at changing his voice but Nicole’s enhanced hearing recognized slight similarities that a change in tone couldn’t hide. But frankly, she didn’t want to say anything as she didn’t want Batman knocking at her door.
She tried to slink away but Superboy stopped her.
“Hey I just wanted to thank you for helping Robin save me” Superboy smiled.
“It’s no worries I’m glad I could be of help, especially since it was partially my fault you were in that position in the first place” Nicole did her best to mask her nervousness, she knew Superboy had super hearing and she really hoped he didn’t assume her heart rate was increasing because of anxiety.
“It was Music Meister’s powers that influenced you, it’s not your fault”.
‘But it is sorta my fault that my enhanced hearing got caught by him twice’ Nicole thought to herself, she was happy Superboy didn’t have mind reading powers.
Robin came to join the two after doing some crowd control.
“There’s work to do Superboy” he said plainly.
“Ah yes, thanks again um, I didn’t get your name” Superboy flashed a kind smile.
“Nicole”.
“Thanks again Nicole, now I have to take Robin in for a medical checkup” Superboy grinned as he picked up Robin.
“Superboy I’m perfectly capable of transporting myself”.
“Sorry still have the noise filters in can’t quite hear you properly” Superboy winked at Nicole who chuckled.
Nicole watched the two superheroes fly off.
Holy shit she goes to the same University as Robin.