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Chapter Text

Red Arrow gazed at the Big Top from his position in the shadows from atop a seven story building.

It had been almost six months since he broke away from being Green Arrow’s partner.

He knew from Ollie that the Justice League was considering inviting him into the League, but they were hesitant due to his do-it-solo attitude. So, taking Ollie’s advice (shutters) he started partnering up with the older Leaguers on missions, something he hadn’t done since he asked for their help to stop The Fog.

Now he was investigating Haley’s Circus at Batman’s request. Apparently there had been high profile thefts that coincided with the circus’ stops. His job was to find out if the circus was just a clever cover for a secret criminal organization.

As much as he wanted to laugh at the thought, a circus was the perfect cover for people of various skills to hide out in plain sight without ever being suspected. So in retrospect if the circus really was a cover, it was an ingenious one.

For the moment he decided that it would probably be best to observe the show first and get a handle on what some of the acts were capable of. Switching over to his civvies he bought a ticket and proceeded to his seat. Suddenly the lights dimmed.

Smoke appeared on the ground floor, the lights focusing on the sudden appearance of the ringmaster.

“Ladies and gentleman! Welcome to the Haley International Traveling Circus! Where a world of wonder and mystery comes alive right before your very eyes. You’ll never see another performance like this folks! And now I think it’s time we begin” Haley said, disappearing in another shroud of smoke.

Suddenly, flames burst from the smoke. Fire-breathers and dancers emerged from the cover. As they dazzled the crowd from below a small clown car drove into the middle of the act. As numerous clowns popped miraculously out of the tiny car they all pretended to be scared of the flames, and two of them proceeded to climb the tightrope ladders. When up there the two clowns started balancing and flipping on the tightrope while holding a metal barbell. Suddenly the fire-breathers blew their flames up at the precariously balanced clowns, setting the ends of their barbells on fire. The two clowns proceeded to twirl the weights like the fire dancers. Then all the clowns on the ground come over and sprayed out all the fire with water canisters, smoke then coming up from the bottom of the stage, making everyone disappear once again.

The show continued in that fashion, and Red Arrow couldn’t help but be impressed. And worried.

“The people here would definitely be able to pull off being thieves. Good ones at that” he thought.

“And now ladies and gentleman for our final act. The one I’m sure you’ve all been waiting for…The Daring Dangers!” Haley shouted.

Red Arrow actually jumped a bit at the loud reaction of the crowd.

“Maybe I should’ve done my research better on the circus. I wonder why everyone’s going nuts over the last act?” he wondered.

The lights moved to the top of the trapeze where two people stood, a girl with red hair and a smaller boy with black hair.

“Dan Danger. Dawn Danger” Haley said as the two individuals flipped over each other on the trapeze.

“Diane Danger. Dane Danger” Haley said, the lights now pointing to two archers, one blond and one with red hair and a bow attached to a robotic arm. Red Arrow narrowed his eyes at the red head, sensing something very familiar about him.

“Dean Danger. Don Danger” Haley continued, the lights centering on a black haired strong man juggling hollow barrels, and surprisingly what he was sure was an Altantian making shapes out of water that were floating in the air around the crowd.

“And Dale Danger” Haley finished, and a blur suddenly appeared going around and around the center ring. When it stopped Red Arrow realized that the blur was actually a red haired boy.

“Nobody has speed like that except the Flash! Just who are these kids?!” Red Arrow thought furiously. It was one thing to go up against skilled acrobats and fire-breathers, but this changed the game entirely.

“You’ll never see another trapeze act like this folks. And all of it performed without a net” Haley announced.

Red Arrow watched as Dean threw up two barrels, Dan and Dawn soared through them, and Diane and Dane shoot sparkling arrows behind them. Dan moved back into a quadruple flip, grabbing the trapeze. As he swung back into the center he flipped off the trapeze, falling straight downwards. As the crowd screamed Dean threw up another barrel. Dan landed on it, and the barrel brought him back up to the trapeze where Dawn grabbed his outstretched hand. Dale then started running around Don, lifting him slowly into the air. Don made water come to him from barrels along the side of the arena. The audience gasped in surprise as the water took the shape of a hydra, slithering around the center stage. Each of the Dangers jumped onto a moving hydra, perching themselves on one of its heads. Diane and Dane then took aim at the tornado and fired their arrows. The tornado erupted in an explosion, smoke covering the entire stage. When the smoke cleared all the Dangers were standing together in a line safely on the ground, with blue sparkles from the erupted water floating down into the audience.

The audience roared out their applause for their amazing performance.

Red Arrow only narrowed his eyes at the performers.

“A strong man that may potentially have super strength, an Atlantian, a kid with a suspiciously high tech robotic arm, and a kid with Flash’s speed. If the whole circus is actually in on this then I might have to call the Justice League for back up” Red Arrow thought bitterly.

Red Arrow looked down contemplatively at the red haired boy with super-speed. Something in his memory was nagging at him. Something that involved the baby-speedster.

“Maybe he’s related to the Flash somehow?” RA pondered.

As he was leaving with the crowds he broke off to see if he could find any of the Dangers, purposefully not being stealthy so that he could gather information under the cover of being an avid fan.

“Let me guess? You were looking for the bathroom and got lost” a voice behind him said.

Red Arrow quickly turned around to see Dale Danger behind him.

“More like an impressed audience member who wants an autograph” RA said, fake smiling.

“Sure. Who should I make it out to? Roy Harper? Or Red Arrow?” the red head said smirking.

Red Arrow’s eyes widened in shock. “How do you know who I am?” Red Arrow demanded angrily, pulling out his bow and pointing an arrow threateningly at the speedster.

“Guess our intel is better than yours” Dale said mockingly.

“So the circus is behind the international tech thefts” Red Arrow reasoned.

“What?! No way dude. We’re the ones trying to figure out whose incriminating Pop Haley. Actually, we already have an idea of who it is so you can run along back to Star City. We don’t need the League or their kids’ help” Dale retorted.

Red Arrow narrowed his eyes at Dale.

“I remember now” Red Arrow said slowly, “You’re Wally West aren’t you? Barry’s nephew that went missing four years ago”.

Dale, or Wally, sucked in a harsh breath, his face contorting in an obvious expression of fear.

“Why would he be afraid of Barry of all people? Did Barry reject him as a partner or something, and that’s why he ran away? ...He ran away and joined the circus. Talk about a cliché” Red Arrow thought, barely containing a huff of laughter.

“I’m not going back. I’m never going back!” Wally cried out in fear and desperation.

Before Red Arrow could move Wally sped forward, body checking Red Arrow, and making him fly back into one of the trailers hard.

“Sorry. But I’m not going to let you tell the League I’m here” Wally said, glaring at Red Arrow with one of the iciest glares he’s ever seen.

Red Arrow stood up, bow in hand.

“Sorry kid. Whatever family issues you and your Uncle are having isn’t my problem. This whole circus is suspicious, and I will get to the bottom of it. And if I have to get the League here to do it, I will” Red Arrow retorted bitingly back.

Before Red Arrow could fire at Wally a voice spoke out, “I wouldn’t if I were you. You are greatly outnumbered”.

Don Danger then dropped next to Wally, taking out handles that suddenly morphed into water swords.

Red Arrow sensed movement on his left and right. Glancing out of the corner of his eyes he saw Diane pointing arrows at him, and Dane holding out his robotic arm that now had what looked like a laser tip charging on the end of it.

Suddenly the trailer behind him was shoved aside by Dean, and the girl he recognized as Dawn (who was now green) was floating next to him.

“Definitely underestimated things” Red Arrow thought bitterly.

Suddenly, a spine chilling laugh, eerily reminiscent of the Joker, cut through the silence.

Before he could react a bola wrapped itself around him, and a figure jumped on top of his shoulders, pushing off him and knocking him down.

“Something tells me you’re not feeling the aster anymore” Dan said, smiling at Red Arrow.

For some odd reason Red Arrow got a similar vibe from Dan that he usually got from Batman.

Whatever the reason why, he didn’t like it.

Hell he was through with the whole situation.

“Sorry. But you’re going to be sticking with us for a while” Dan said, lunging forward and punching Red Arrow hard in the face, effectively knocking him out.

Chapter Text

Red Arrow groaned as he came to.

When he opened his eyes he was slightly surprised to see Wally staring at him.

Looking around he noticed they were in some kind of train room compartment.

“This is all your fault you know” Wally said coldly.

“My fault?! How is any of this my fault? You’re the ones who kidnapped me!” Red Arrow declared loudly, affronted by the accusation.

“Because if you hadn’t come here sniffing around we wouldn’t be in this mess” Wally sharply retorted back.

“Oh what? So I’m supposed to just let you and the rest of your circus friends get away with high security theft? Not a chance” Red Arrow snapped back.

“I already told you. We aren’t the ones stealing anything” Wally said, glaring at Red Arrow.

“Oh yeah? Well then how do you explain the fact that the thefts have only occurred in towns that Haley’s has stopped at? Or the footage of stunts that easily match the skills of the performers here?” Red Arrow challenged. Wally narrowed his eyes at him.

“Because the Parasite is using the circus for his own personal gain” Wally revealed.

“The Parasite? The guy who can absorb people’s powers? What’s he doing here?” Red Arrow demanded, surprised by Wally’s answer.

“Dick figured out that he’s building a black hole device. The final part he needs is in Geneva” Wally admitted.

“That’s a little far-fetched for a villain like him don’t you think? How do you even know that anyway?” Red Arrow questioned.

“Because Dick’s the best hacker there is” Wally stated, sounding confident.

“And Dick is?” Red Arrow asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Dan” Wally said simply.

Red Arrow nodded in understanding.

“Kid’s a cheery version of Batman. Now there’s a scary thought” Red Arrow thought with a shutter.

Red Arrow then narrowed his eyes back at Wally.

“If you know what he’s doing then why aren’t you trying to stop him?” Red Arrow questioned suspiciously.

“Because our suspicions were only confirmed tonight. He used Dick’s acrobatic skills to steal a part from the factory here. And like whenever a heist occurred in the past, the person whose abilities he steals gets sick, like Dick is now” Wally explained sharply, not liking the accusation in the hero's tone.

“Because of the absorption process” Red Arrow realized.

“Bingo” Wally remarked.

“Then what are you just standing around for? He needs to be stopped before he gets the last part to the machine!” Red Arrow said, struggling within the bindings.

“Don’t even. You’re not getting out of those. Besides we’re going to take care of it. There’s no way we’d let anyone give Pops a bad name” Wally said determinedly.

Red Arrow just stared at Wally. Neither of them speaking to the other for the next few minutes.

“Your Uncle never stopped looking for you ya know” RA said.

Wally just grit his teeth.

“Why did you run away in the first place? You obviously knew that he was the Flash. You could have been his partner” RA asked, fishing for any kind of information.

Wally just clenched his fists.

“I knew for a year that he was the Flash. He wasn’t exactly as good as he thought he was about hiding his super reflexes” Wally said. RA just snorts out a laugh.

“When I was twelve I accidently found the journal that contained the chemical reaction that made him into the Flash” Wally said trailing off. RA patiently waited for him to continue.

“My parents hadn’t gotten along in years. They’d been arguing ever since I was five” Wally said stoically. RA stayed silent, not liking where this was going.

“I was six the first time my Dad came home drunk and beat the snot out me. Saying all their marriage problems were my fault” Wally continued angrily.

“That journal was my way out. I would either die or get super powers. Either result worked for me” Wally declared with a resolute solemnness. RA’s eyes widened at the implication.

“When I recovered I chickened out. I couldn’t tell him. Then I found out my Dad was actually a Manhunter agent. He handed me over to a Manhunter Base in Siberia. There was no way I was going to work for them. So I ran. Literally. And I ended up literally crashing into Dick, and the rest they say is history” Wally concluded almost wistfully.

“And Dick? What’s his story? Cause I’m pretty sure they don’t teach hacking for beginners in the circus” RA questioned, now curious more than ever.

Wally paused, contemplating whether or not to tell him or not.

“...He was a part of the Flying Grayson’s act here. When he was eight they were performing in Gotham when his parents were killed because of a hit Tony Zucco put out on them. The CPC wouldn’t let Pop Haley keep custody of Dick” Wally huffed out an annoyed breath, “They figured that placing him in the Gotham Juvenile Detention Center was safer for him then running around with the circus”.

“They put an eight year old in Mini Arkham!” RA shouted. Wally nodded grimly.

“Still doesn’t like to talk about it…When he was there he overheard a conversation with one of the guards” Wally said trailing off.

“Did Zucco come back to finish the job?” RA asked concerned.

Wally shook his head, “Not exactly”.

“Then what?” RA questioned.

“The guard was talking to some Arabic woman. Dick overheard them say that…” Wally trailed off.

“Say what?!” RA demanded, hating being left in suspense.

“He heard them say that he was actually Batman’s biological son, and that they had his parents killed in Gotham as a way to recreate how Batman came to be with him” Wally said hesitantly. RA’s eyes widened in shock.

“Dick wasn’t sure what to believe, but he did know that he had to get away. He escaped the detention center and managed to run for two days before the League of Shadows caught him. He managed to escape them when he ten, taking all kinds of equipment with him. After being on the run for two months he ended up back at Haley’s performing under a new name” Wally concluded.

RA was dumbstruck.

“Kaldur was kidnapped by his father, Black Manta, after Ocean Master told him that he had a son. He was about to start training under Aquaman as his partner when he was taken” Wally explained, deciding to continue on to the others in their little rag-tag family. RA stayed silent.

“Kaldur waited two years hoping Aquaman would come and save him, but he never did…So he escaped himself. He actually ran into Artemis during the banquet he escaped at. She wanted to get away from her abusive villainous father too, so they left together” Wally explained.

“Who’s her father?” RA asked hesitantly.

“Sportsmaster” Wally replied as if he was talking about the weather, “Dick and I ended up coming across them in one of the towns the circus was staying at. Dick recognized them from the Shadow’s database, and we confronted them after the show. They wanted a second chance, and we gave it to them”

“And the others?” RA asked, specifically thinking about the other red headed male that seemed oddly familiar to him.

“M’gann is Martian Manhunter’s niece. She took her space craft and came to Earth hoping for a fresh start away from any discrimination” Wally replied. RA raised an eyebrow at him in confusion.

“White Martians are treated as third class citizens on Mars” Wally explained.

“Ah” RA said in understanding.

“She was caught by Cadmus before she even got here. They underestimated her telepathic abilities so she was able to break free of the g-nome’s telepathic control. She freed Power Boy and Arsenal as well, and the three of them escaped in her bio-ship. While they were running from Lex Corp they happened to go through the same town as Haley’s. M’gann really wanted the experience of going to a circus so they ended up staying for the show. They ended up joining us after we saved them from some Cadmus nomes that had tracked them down” Wally concluded.

“And what is Power Boy exactly? A clone?” RA asked.

“Just like you” a voice said.

Wally and RA turned to their left to see Dane.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” RA demanded.

“Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Arsenal. The original Roy Harper” Arsenal declared.

“What?!” RA demanded.

“Three years ago I went to sniff around Lex Corp only to be podded and put on ice, while they amputated my arm in order to make you” Arsenal said harshly.

“That’s crazy! I’m Roy Harper! I remember everything back to when I was a kid before my father died” RA said firmly.

“Because they used the g-nomes to download all my memories to you, so that you could live my life while you were unknowingly programmed by Cadmus to infiltrate the Justice League as a mole” Arsenal stated, unyielding.

“You’re calling me a traitor!” RA lashed out.

“Not an intentional one. Cadmus installed mental controls in your brain that worked on the subconscious level. Power Boy had them as well before M’gann cleared them from his head. She can do the same for you too” Wally said.

"......."

“So everything I am. My life, my purpose, my existence, is nothing” RA said despondently.

“Hey. You’re not nothing. You’re a person too. You have every right to a life as anyone else” Wally comforted.

“That’s easy for you to say! I was never even real. None of my memories are real!” RA shouted.

“So what! Everything you’ve experienced after being ‘rescued’ by Ollie was real. All the people you helped save are real. All the relationships you made are real. After we settled in the circus Dick changed my identity to Ray Harper, Jim Harper’s son. You’re Roy Harper, not me” Arsenal declared.

“How can you just say that!? I stole your life from you!” RA shouted.

“No, you lived your own life under false pretenses. I changed my own life direction because I no longer felt like Roy Harper anymore. Roy Harper wanted to be GA’s partner and to be a hero. I don’t. I’m far different of a person than I was before I was podded. Ollie only knew me for a few months. Haley’s is my family now. Ollie is yours. And you have every right to live as I do” Arsenal concluded firmly.

“Even so, I don’t know if I can go back and be able to look at any of them in the face” RA said sadly, placing his head in his hands.

“Then why don’t you stay with us?” Arsenal inquired.

“What?!” both Wally and RA questioned in shock.

“You want a fresh start? Then help us catch the real culprit, tell the Justice League you handled it, fake your death or something, and then join us” Arsenal said, as if were the easiest thing in the world.

“You…would want me here?” RA asked skeptically.

“We’d have to talk it over with the Team” Wally said, pointedly glaring at Arsenal.

“But I doubt they’ll say no” Arsenal finished confidently.

RA looked at the ground, unsure of what to do.

“You don’t have to give us an answer now. But think about it. I’ll go tell Dick about our plan of action” Wally said leaving.

“Why are you suddenly okay with telling me all of this?” RA asked, raising his eyebrow.

Arsenal shrugged.

“M’gann can just alter your memories anyway, so what does it matter? Of course she’ll get rid of your programming too if that does happen, so you don’t have to worry about betraying the League” he said.

RA nodded, contemplating his options.

“Why didn’t Dick ever try to find Batman?” RA asked, curious.

Arsenal winced.

“The Justice League is kind of a touchy topic for all of us. Dick blames Batman for unintentionally ruining his life. He knows that’s unfair, but he can’t help how he feels. He’s better now. Most of the animosity is gone, but the sadness regarding his parents is understandably still there” Arsenal said solemnly.

“Makes sense” RA muttered lowly.

“Wally’s feeling are a bit complicated. There’s a part of him that misses his aunt and uncle…but mostly he’s afraid. He’s afraid that if he goes back he’ll have to live with his father again, and he’s afraid that his uncle won’t accept him. He’s also a bit bitter that his CSI Uncle never noticed that he was being abused in all the years he knew him. Though he’s forgiven him partially for that” Arsenal expanded.

RA just looked at Arsenal imploringly to continue talking. He wasn't ready to yet.

Arsenal sighed.

“Kaldur loves his mother and adoptive father, but doesn’t want to put them at risk. As for Aquaman…Kaldur was just really let down. He trusted him and Aquaman broke that. He’s afraid that if he returns to Atlantis he would just be arrested” Arsenal said with a wince.

“If it’s any consolation, GA told me that Aquaman has been searching for someone for years. He said that not knowing was upsetting to him, especially when he had heard rumors that the person died. I’m guessing that was Kaldur” RA said.

“I think it’ll be good closure for him” Arsenal agreed.

“What about Power Boy? There’s no way Superman knows that he has a son” RA stated.

“Yeah again, Connor resents that Cadmas basically brainwashed him to be a mindless weapon, and Superman’s replacement should something happen to him. He’s not Superman, and he hates it when people compare them. At the same time he secretly wants his approval. But he doesn’t think his other parentage will go over well with the Big Guy” Arsenal replied.

“Other parentage? I thought he was a clone?” RA questioned confused.

“He is. But only half of his DNA came from Superman. The other half was donated by Luthor in order to fill out the missing sequences in his DNA that they couldn’t read” Arsenal explained.

“Luthor?! As in Lex Luthor!?” RA demanded, shocked.

“Yup” Arsenal said smirking.

“Damn! I’d pay to see that custody battle” RA said smirking back.

Arsenal just laughed.

“It doesn’t bother you that he’s related to Luthor?” RA asked, curiously.

Arsenal shook his head.

“Most of us are actually the kids of criminals. We know that Dick’s mother is Talia al Ghul, Kaldur’s father is Black Manta, Wally’s father works for the Manhunters, Connor is the Boy Scout and Lex’s love child, and Artemis is related to Sportsmaster, Huntress, and Cheshire” he answered.

RA whistled in appreciation.

“Heck we’re even related to Vandal Savage” Arsenal said cringing.

“What!? How?!” RA demanded in disgust.

“Yeah, he’s like our ten times great-grandfather or something. Hence why I was chosen to be kidnapped by Cadmus in the first place. His goal is for his family to rule the world, so he wanted his ‘family’ to help him take down the Justice League, even if it was unknowingly” Arsenal scowled.

“I definitely can’t go back then” RA despondently mused.

“Then don’t” Arsenal simply declared.

RA looked at him skeptically.

“Here it doesn’t matter who your family is, or what you are. It’s who you want be that matters” Arsenal said firmly.

RA considered that for a moment.

“That...actually sounds kinda nice” he admitted softly.

“Think about what we said. It’s not everyday someone comes around offering you a chance at freedom” Arsenal said as he left.

Chapter Text

The League was currently convened in the Hall of Justice.

Red Arrow had failed to contact them for two days, and it left most of the League uneasy. Every one of them knew that even a simple mission can go horribly wrong if certain unexpected factors came into play. Their meeting today was to decide whether or not they should send someone to check on Red Arrow and run the risk of potentially blowing his cover. Ollie of course was in favor of checking in on his former protégé. Batman and a few of the other Leaguers wanted to give him another day before they investigated.

“Red Arrow is being discussed for possible inclusion into the League. It won’t do well to act as if we are still babying him” Batman stated.

“It has nothing to do with babying him! His comm link was destroyed. In my experience that never means anything good” Green Arrow retorted.

“But we cannot know that for sure. Though it is true communication has been severed, the thefts as far as we know have stopped” Martian Manhunter stated.

“Agreed. Red Arrow should have at least one more day before anyone jumps to any conclusion and interferes” Superman said.

“Then I guess I should just ease all your worries now” a voice said, echoing through the Hall.

The League turned to see Red Arrow standing at the gray sliding doors with a mildly relaxed serious expression.

“Roy” Ollie said, happy to see his adoptive son was still in one piece.

“I’m guessing your mission was a success then?” Wonder Woman asked.

“Yes. The culprit turned out to be Parasite. He was siphoning the skills off of Haley’s performers and using them to steal specific tech in order to build a black hole device. When I found out I tried to contact the League, but my comm link was smashed. I didn’t have enough time to try and figure out an alternative communication strategy, so I had to work with what I had. Needless to say he’s currently being escorted to Bell Rev” Red Arrow explained.

The League looked at him mildly impressed.

“Well done” Superman commended.

“Thanks. If there’s nothing else you’d need me for I’m gonna go patrol. I’ll send you a copy of my report later tonight” Red Arrow said, directing his last statement at Batman.

Batman gave a barely noticeable nod and proceeded to the Zeta-tubes, disappearing in a flash of light.

“Without a doubt heading back to Gotham now that the meeting agenda has been resolved” Red Arrow thought.

Batman was never the same after he had failed to save the Graysons. Red Arrow had suspected that it was because of that underlying guilt that he was sent to investigate Haley’s in the first place (the irony of the situation was not lost on him either). Ollie had told him how Batman had grown more distant after the Graysons' son had gone missing and was never found.

Batman had suspected that Tony Zucco may have killed him, but he never found any leads to suggest that he had. Ollie told him that Batman had confided to Superman (who told Ollie after he adopted him) that Batman had wanted to take the kid in, and that he had searched for his whereabouts relentlessly when he realized that the boy had vanished without a trace.

Since then Batman took to patrolling his city more seriously than he had before. Something no one even thought was possible. Red Arrow was tempted to tell Dick, but he didn’t think that the story would be very welcome at the moment.

“Roy. Hold on a minute” Green Arrow said, moving after him.

“What do you say the two of us patrol together? You know, for old time’s sake?” Green Arrow asked, trying to disguise the hesitation and hope in his voice.

Red Arrow looked at him, contemplating his options.

“Ollie may not be father of the year, but he does care in his own laid-back way. He deserves to have at least one last good day with me before I fake my death” Red Arrow decided.

“Sure. Why not” Red Arrow answered with a slight smile.

The immense happiness on Ollie’s face only made the regretful stab worse.

“Then what are we waiting for?” Green Arrow said smiling.

The two of them walked out of the building together, with Ollie wrapping an arm around his son, unaware that it could be the last time he ever did so.

Two days later and Ollie was still in high spirits. He and Roy seemed to be working through the problems they had developed in the past year, and the two of them have never been more in-sync with each other. They weren’t arguing, and he was happy that he was finally getting some quality time with Roy and not just Red Arrow.

He was planning to take Roy out to a car show tomorrow, and maybe spend a day this weekend vacationing at his beach house if things continued to go smoothly.

Meanwhile, Red Arrow was internally panicking. He had stalled falsifying his death by two days. He knew his ‘death’ would destroy Ollie, and had severely underestimated how much he didn’t want to do that to the green archer.

For two days he debated the pros and cons of a random retirement. But trying to explain that to the Justice League along with the fact he wanted to join the circus instead of superheroing was not going to be a conversation that was going to fly well. It would be too out of character for him to do something like that, and he couldn’t put the Team (as they call their secret covert group) at risk. So he decided to just suck it up and just go through with it, no matter how hard it may be.

“So this is the factory you suspected of dealing illegal explosive and detonation parts?” Green Arrow asked as he hopped down onto the building next to Red Arrow.

“My inside sources informed me that the warehouses belong to Brick. So I figured it was worth a look around” Red Arrow replied.

“Get anything so far?” Green Arrow asked.

“No. No activity and no heat signatures that I could see with the infrared googles. I was going to take a closer look inside once you got here” Red Arrow said.

“Sounds like a plan. We’ll search the left warehouse first” Green Arrow said, standing up.

“Actually, I figured we’d be able to cover more ground separately, and if we find anything we’d comm the other. It’ll finish things up quicker” Red Arrow suggested, hoping that Green Arrow would agree or else his plan could go really wrong really fast.

“If you think so” Green Arrow replied.

“Alright then. I’ll take left, you take right. Meet up in five minutes if we don’t find anything” Red Arrow said, hopping down immediately after so GA couldn’t contest his idea.

Green Arrow just shook his head with a smile at Roy’s impulsive behavior.

Red Arrow entered the warehouse with a barely audible tap of the feet.

“Now or never” he muttered to himself.

Green Arrow was still searching through the warehouse, looking for any kind of evidence of detonation tech. The five minutes were almost up and it didn’t seem like he or Roy had found anything.

“Maybe Roy’s source was wrong” he thought.

Then a terrifying possibility started slowly creeping into his mind.

“Unless it was a trap” he muttered angrily to himself. He pressed his fingers to his comm link, “Red Arrow what is your current status?”

Silence.

“Red Arrow do you copy?” Ollie radioed again.

Silence.

Green Arrow immediately began fast-walking to the other end of his warehouse in order to exit it and get to the entrance of the warehouse Roy was scouting out.

Before he knew it Green Arrow was running towards the exit door when a crackle came over the comm.

“Ollie?” Roy croaked out over the comm.

Green Arrow picked up his pace.

“What is it? Are you alright? What’s wrong?” Green Arrow demanded, desperately afraid for his adoptive son.

As Green Arrow ripped the warehouse door open he heard the two most devastating words of his life.

“I’m Sorry”

Just as the words were spoken the left-side warehouse exploded into flames. The pressure from the blast ripping apart its foundation and blowing Green Arrow backwards back into the warehouse he had just been scoping out.

Grunting from the pain of the impact he frantically picked himself back up and walked back out the warehouse door a second time.

“No. No no no no no no no no no no. ROY!” Green Arrow screamed as he stared at the burning flames and rubble.

No.

His son couldn’t be gone.

Not like this.

Not when they finally had a chance to be father and son again.

The world couldn’t be that cruel.

Green Arrow fell to his knees, tears falling like waterfalls down his face as he sobbed uncontrollably.

Chapter Text

A week later Batman called the Justice League together for an urgent meeting at the Watchtower.

A stifling air of sadness permeated the room.

Everyone was still in shock from Red Arrow’s sudden death.

Green Arrow and Black Canary had taken it the hardest, while for those like Batman, the Flash, and Aquaman, it brought up hurtful memories of the children they failed.

For Zatara, it just confirmed his fears of what could happen if he let his daughter get involved with the League.

They could all still remember getting the emergency call from Flash that made all of their worst nightmares a reality. The death of a comrade.

*Flashback*

The Flash was doing his usual rounds when a call came over his comm link.

“Flash here” he said over the link.

Instead of a voice, the sound that came over the comm made him very nearly trip over his own feet as he halted in shock. It sounded like GA was…crying. No. Bawling.

“GA what’s wrong!? What happened!?” Flash demanded, horror gripping his heart.

When Green Arrow didn’t answer he tapped the comm again.

“GA!” Flash shouted desperately, already making his way towards Star City.

“He…he…he’s…he’s gone. Oh God he’s gone!” Green Arrow managed to stammer out through his rasped tears.

Fear gripped the Flash’s heart.

No. Please don’t mean what I think you mean!

“GA where are you?!” Flash demanded, praying Green Arrow was coherent enough to tell him.

“The…the docks” Green Arrow said weakly.

Flash sped up his pace.

“I’ll be there in a few minutes” Flash said firmly.

When he found Green Arrow he was kneeling in front of the rubble of what used to be one of the warehouses.

“GA?” Flash said, placing his hand on his friend’s shoulder.

“He’s gone. Roy’s gone” Green Arrow said despondently.

Flash tensed at the realization of his greatest fear. Red Arrow had died in the blast.

He could do nothing but stare into the dying flames as he held onto his friend’s shoulder and made the call every Justice League member dreads.

“Justice League. This is the Flash. I am at the Star City docks with Green Arrow…Red Arrow has perished”

*End Flashback*

“I know that as heroes we have to muscle on and all, but what can seriously be so important right now that you needed to call an emergency meeting?” Green Lantern (Hal) asked, borderline demanded.

“I have reason to suspect that Roy Harper may still be alive” Batman announced.

Immediately the League started shouting out demands at Batman.

“Silence!” Wonder Woman shouted.

After everyone settled down she glanced at Batman.

“Are you sure about this?” she asked skeptically.

Green Arrow was looking at Batman now with a pleading expression, begging for what he said to be true.

“I wouldn’t be saying it if I didn’t have sufficient enough evidence Diana” Batman retorted.

“But how?! Everything was burnt to a crisp, and Superman didn’t hear…didn’t hear a heartbeat” Green Arrow said, choking on the last part.

“That is exactly the problem” Batman said, ignoring the questions of confusion and activated a holo-screen with pictures of the warehouse.

“There was no body. Just what remained of his weapons and a few shredded pieces of clothing” Batman stated.

“Yes. Thank you for that reminder!” Green Arrow said angrily.

“So there was no body. That doesn’t mean that he’s still alive somewhere” Hawkwoman said.

“Indeed. The reason I suspected otherwise were the events leading up to the incident itself” Batman commented.

“What do you mean?” Superman asked.

“When Red Arrow reappeared after two days of no radio communication he began to act out of character” Batman said.

“Are you kidding me?! You’re saying that wanting to make amends with me is out of character!” Green Arrow demanded, standing up out of his seat.

“It’s not just that. In the last two days he was uncharacteristically reaching out with more of an olive branch than he had done in several months. Not to mention when I recounted your last conversation he intentionally split the two of you up and took the left warehouse for himself, while he told you to search the right” Batman explained.

Everyone was silent, absorbing the new perspective on the information.

“Even his last words to you were odd. He said ‘I’m sorry’” Batman stated.

“You think he planned this. That he faked his death” Flash stated in shock.

“Yes. But for what reason or purpose I don’t know” Batman said.

“That’s ridiculous! Why would Roy fake his death? It just doesn’t make any sense!” Green Arrow cried out.

“I believe that something happened on his mission with Haley’s. I already looked into Bell Rev, and the Parasite is indeed locked up tight. Haley himself even corroborated a similar retelling of the events that led up to Parasite’s arrest. So whatever happened to make Red Arrow decide to fake his death probably occurred in the two days that it took to get back to the Hall of Justice” Batman logically deduced.

Green Arrow slowly slunk back into his seat.

“So all the time he spent with me…was…what? An apology? Pity?” Green Arrow said despairingly.

Black Canary placed a hand on his shoulder and arm, to comfort him.

“Roy loved you Ollie. What he did wasn’t out of pity. He wanted to let you know that he loved you back. Whatever the reason for his actions, Roy didn’t want to hurt you, or else his last words to you wouldn’t have been ‘I’m sorry’” Black Canary said soothingly.

“The real question is why he did it in the first place” Martian Manhunter said.

“Maybe someone was blackmailing him?” Captain Marvel offered.

“Right now I can’t say for sure, but we will find him” Batman said firmly.

The rest of the Justice League nodded in agreement.

Something was going on. And they were going to find out what.

“Ladies and gentleman! For our final act of the night, the Daring Dangers!” Haley announced with his usual gusto.

Dave Danger couldn’t help but smile at the roar of the crowd.

“Yeah. I think I’m gonna like it here” he thought as he and his ‘family’ appeared one-by-one in the center ring.

Unbeknownst to them that very soon their cover was going to be blown. And the peace that they had created for themselves was about to go up in flames.

“Found you baby girl” an ominous voice said from the audience.

Chapter Text

The Haley circus train was currently stopped in New York City. It’s been a month since Red Arrow faked his death, and he hasn’t regret a single moment of it (even though hurting Ollie did leave a regretful phantom stab). Roy had been initially worried about being recognized when they came to the States, but Dick assured him that Pop Haley intentionally avoided towns that had members of the Justice League patrolling it for their sakes. When he had asked whether or not that hurt their business Dick just cackled out his creepy laugh and said that Haley’s was the most famous traveling entertainment around. Roy never thought that he’d want to be anything other than a hero. He spent nearly all of his existence (all three years and some odd months) trying to become a member of the Justice League. Now that he knew the truth, it was freeing to be able to make his own choices in how he wanted the direction of his life to go. Most people wouldn’t understand the drastic actions he took. Hell most would probably say that he was just a coward running away from his problems. In a sense they would be right, but he also felt that the League was safer without him around. And that he was safe from being used as a pawn for The Light, as Dick said they called themselves.

A criminal organization with Ra’s al Ghul, Lex Luthor, Queen Bee, The Brain, and Klarion, all headed by Vandal Savage. Now that was scary. The Team filled him in on all the things that the Justice League hadn’t been able to connect. Including the fact that the Injustice League was just the Light’s scapegoat. They weren’t exactly sure what The Light was creating or exactly why, but it involved a combination of different technology, genetics, biology, and magic. When he asked how they got all the information they all just put it down to Dick’s mighty hacking skills. He was also surprised to learn that the Team had actually assisted in some of the League missions without any of them realizing it. In fact, Red Tornado owed Dick his life. Dick had hacked into Batman’s systems and left an anonymous tip (that even Batman couldn’t reverse trace) about Red Tornado’s whereabouts to the League after he had supposedly betrayed them. When the League arrived they realized that Red Tornado was never a traitor after all.

He was also surprised to find out that they knew Zatara’s daughter, Zatanna. Apparently when the circus had been in Salem, Massachusetts they ran into her when she had been sight-seeing as she waited for Zatara to complete his mission to find Kent Nelson. While he had been searching the magical realms, the Team and Zatanna decided to scope out the Tower of Fate. Worried that they would be recognized they created their own secret identities. Dick went by Robin, modifying his old Shadows uniform to contain red, with yellow on the underside of his cape, and an R stitched over his heart, complete with a domino mask. Wally chose the name Turbo in order to keep himself separate from the Flash. He wore a silver body suit (and mask with red googles) with red gloves and boots, and a red wing symbol encircled on his chest. Artemis went by Tigress, clad in an orange suit (and tiger-like mask) with black accenting stripes. Kaldur, like Wally, had to choose a name other than what his sidekick name would have been (Aqualad). So, he chose Torrent. He wore a blue tight Atlantian tank top, black pants, and belt, with a blue face mask (that he hated, but had to wear so his father wouldn’t recognize him so easily). Megan went as Miss Martian and just shifted her appearance to her regular humanoid Martian form. At first Connor didn’t really think he had any other options then to go as Super Boy. Fortunately, Dick gave him the idea to go as Power Boy, an idea which Connor liked. With that he chose to wear a white mid-sleeved shirt with black gloves, and cargo pants, a red belt, and a domino mask. Finally, Ray went by Arsenal, donning a domino mask, and a red military-like outfit.

Together they managed to stop Klarion from getting the helmet, but at the cost of Kent Nelson’s life. That was the turning point for them. Nelson had thanked them with his final breath, and called them all heroes. From then on they made it their mission to secretly gather information on the Light and their plans. Zatanna agreed to tell her father that she had gone looking for Kent Nelson herself, and would tell him what had occurred (omitting any mention of the Team). Before Zatanna summoned her father she told Connor that Kent would be a good last name for him, to which they all agreed. Roy had to stifle a laugh at the irony. Zatanna definitely sounded like a rebellious little troll, and he couldn’t wait to meet her while they were in New York.

“Dad, its okay if I have a couple friends over so I don’t die of boredom while you’re off on League duty right?” Zatanna asked, putting on her best innocent face and puppy eyes. “How many exactly is a couple? I don’t want to come home to find out that you threw some kind of wild party” Zatara questioned back. “It’s just going to be the Daring Dangers. You know, the star act in Haley’s circus. All around my age. I met them in Salem. Ringing any bells” Zatanna teased. “Right, well, I had forgotten that you acquainted with them” Zatara said, giving her a pondering look she didn’t really like. “The League doesn’t suspect them right? No. It’s impossible. They covered their tracks too well” Zatanna thought. “Dad we have all sorts of circus connections from our traveling family magic show days, including Haley’s circus” Zatanna countered. Zatara sighed. “Of course. Have fun and don’t do anything reckless…or destroy the house” Zatara said, kissing her on the head goodbye as he walked out of the house. After waiting a few minutes to make sure her father didn’t come back, a smile made its way onto her face. “Zatara has officially left building” Zatanna said through the mind link.

“So how long are you guys going to be in town?” Zatanna asked as she took a bite of her gelato. After meeting up the group decided to stop for ice cream and lounge in Central Park. “About a week. The show is opening three days from now. I can uh, get you front row seats if you’d like?” Dick said stammering a little. “So, our little bird has a crush on a certain magician. I’m so going to get a lot of mileage out of this” Roy thought deviously. “Sure. I’d love to go. I’ve never actually had the chance to see you guys perform before” Zatanna replied, smiling at Dick. “We would be glad to have you come” Kaldur said. “I just wish you could join us during our performances. We would have so much fun together!” Megan said. “I couldn’t do that to my Dad. Besides he’d use his magic to track me down in two seconds flat” Zatanna said resigned. “Yeah. It was risky enough for me to pull the stunt I did. We can’t risk doing that with you. No offense” Roy stated. “Dude, callous much” Wally said, elbowing Roy.

“It’s fine. He is right. And I can’t put you guys in danger like that” Zatanna said. “Doesn’t mean you can’t practice with us though” Artemis said. “Training? Now that’s something I can get behind” Connor said smirking. “Uh” Zatanna said confused. “Don’t worry about him. He’s just upset because our tamer’s monkeys got loose and decided to use him as a jungle gym” Dick said laughing. “I hate monkeys” Connor said scowling. “Hey can we stop at a burger joint on the way back? I could really go for a double chili cheeseburger and strawberry milkshake right about now” Wally said rubbing his stomach. “Seriously Baywatch? You just had two triple scoop ice cream cones” Artemis commented. “Hey! Accelerated metabolism here. Not my fault I don’t need to exercise in order to burn calories” Wally replied back. “Actually it is” Ray said smirking. Wally just scrunched up his face and stuck his tongue out at Ray. “Alright. So burgers than training it is” Dick said. “I’m pretty sure it’s supposed to be the other way around” Roy said jokingly.

“I called you all here today because I have found answers regarding Red Arrow’s disappearance” Batman announced. “You found him!” Green Arrow demanded. “Yes. And not just him” Batman said. “What do you mean, ‘not just him’?” Black Canary questioned. “I think it would be better for all of you to see for yourselves” Batman replied, pulling up a large holo-screen in front of him. On the screen was a video.

“And for our final act of the night folks! The Daring Dangers!” Haley announced. Zatara’s eyes widened. The League watched as each member of the Danger family appeared on stage. “Dan Danger” An impressive quadruple flip. “Dawn Danger” Curious movements that almost looked as if she was floating. “Diane Danger. Dane Danger. Dave Danger” “ROY!” Green Arrow shouted, getting up out of his seat. “Keep watching” Batman commanded. “Dean Danger. Don Danger” “Kaldur’ahm!” Aquaman shouted, not believing his own eyes. “Keep watching” Batman said fiercely once more. “Aaannnd! Dale Danger!” The League couldn’t help but be stunned as they watched a blur go around the center ring. When the blur finally stopped the lights shown down on a red haired, green eyed teen. “Wally” Flash croaked out.

Chapter Text

Batman paused the video. “I don’t understand…Roy faked his death. Left me. And stopped being a hero…to join the circus?” Green Arrow said dumbfounded. “I am confused as well” Aquaman said, still staring at the image of his would-have-been pupil with sad, confused eyes. “How” Flash muttered dumstruck. “Flash?” Hal said, gripping his shoulder. “How…how does he have super speed?” Flash muttered in disbelief. “I don’t know. You said he loved science right? Maybe something similar happened like with you” Hal said. Flash’s eyes widened. “The accident…” Flash mumbled, the pieces all suddenly falling together. “What accident?” Superman questioned. “Wally was doing a project at school when something went wrong with the chemical mixture. He was in the hospital for two weeks. We all thought he was going to die from his injuries. It never even crossed my mind that…” Flash explained trailing off. “That still doesn’t explain why he ran away though. From what you told us he was a huge Flash fan. If anything I would’ve thought he would’ve tried to be the Flash’s partner” John Stuart said. “And Kaldur would have returned home to Atlantis…and yet he has not” Aquaman added in.

“Agreed. Which is why I have come to the conclusion that for whatever reason each of the Dangers are in hiding” Batman revealed. Murmurs of disbelief rang through the room. “What proof do you have to support this?” Wonder Woman asked. Batman motioned back to the screen, bringing up an image of Dan Danger. “The boy’s real name is Richard John Grayson” Batman stated. “The orphan that went missing? Are you sure?” Superman questioned surprised. “Yes. The physical appearance and acrobatic skills match that of Richard Grayson’s when he had been a part of Haley’s Circus with his family” Batman said. “That still isn’t enough proof that they’re in hiding though” Captain Atom said. “When Richard was orphaned he was purposefully placed in the Gotham Juvenile Detention Center and promptly erased from all public records. By the time I found out he had already escaped the Center and was presumed dead” Batman said with a barely noticeable hard edge to his voice. “That’s despicable! How could they do that to a child who just lost their family?!” Black Canary said angrily. “Agreed. However, that is not the most important part” Batman said. “Then what?” Captain Marvel asked. “Dan Danger only joined Haley’s circus about four years ago. Richard went missing about six years ago” Batman said. “Which begs the question. Where was he for those two unaccounted years” Red Tornado said.

“The same can be said for Wally, Kaldur, and Roy” Batman continued, “Dale Danger appeared not too long after Wally disappeared, Don Danger likewise appeared about six months ago. About two years after he was taken by Black Manta”. “He’s hiding from his father” Aquaman realized. Batman nodded. “Lastly, Roy fakes his death and not even a week later Dave Danger makes his debut with his ‘family’” Batman states. “Okay, but why would Roy hide from me?” Green Arrow asked. “Their exact reason for hiding I am not sure of as of yet. However, they do all have one thing in common” Batman states. “What would that be?” Flash asked curiously. “All of them went missing for an unaccounted period of time before they became a Danger. Dick and Kaldur went missing for about two years, Wally went missing for about two weeks, and finally Roy had two days where we had absolutely no radio contact with him” Batman revealed.

The League was stunned to silence. “So someone had gotten to all of them during this time, and this encounter made them decide that they needed to hide” Martian Manhunter concluded. “Is there any significance with the number two?” Red Tornado inquired. “Could be. As of right now I haven’t been able to connect it with any villain, ritual, or organization other than Two-Face” Batman said, “What we do know is that Kaldur was in fact taken by Black Manta. So it is possible that multiple villains are working in collaboration with each other for some unknown purpose, and that all the kids managed to escape at different points”. “Okay then how did they all end up at the circus? That’s a little coincidental don’t you think?” Flash said. Batman didn’t speak for a moment. “There is another theory” he said slowly. “Why do I get the feeling that we’re not going to like this theory?” Hawkman stated. “It could be that they were each planted there as spies for some criminal organization” Batman said monotone.

“You think Roy’s a traitor?! That he was our supposed mole!?” Green Arrow demanded angrily. “Whoa there Bats. You can’t honestly believe that Wally would work for his idol’s enemies do you?” Flash demanded confused. “Kaldur’ahm would never betray Atlantis in such a way” Aquaman shouted, angrily banging his fist on the table. “Unfortunately I can’t rule out any possibilities, as undesirable as they may be” Batman said firmly. Before another argument could begin Zatara smacked his staff down onto the table in order to get everyone’s attention. The League turned to him. “My daughter is friends with them” Zatara said tightly, not wanting to believe that his daughter could possibly be a traitor. “You’ve met them!” Flash demanded. “No. I have not. But a few months ago, while I was searching for Kent Nelson my daughter met them in Salem. Coincidentally my daughter also finds, and tries to save Kent Nelson from Klarion…my daughter is not weak, but she is not powerful enough to have defeated Klarion alone” Zatara trailed off. “You think they helped her?” Superman asked. “It is possible” Zatara admitted.

“If they helped her stop Klarion then there’s no way they’re criminal spies!” Captain Marvel said, remaining positive. “It’s not just that either…I’m sure they probably had a hand in helping my daughter and Rocket fight Klarion and the other sorcerers as well when they had divided the world” Zatara speculated. “If that is indeed the case then we’re going to need to talk to your daughter about this” Batman said. “Actually…my daughter is with the Daring Dangers right now” Zatara said tightly. “What!?” Flash said. “Zatanna told me that she was inviting them over to…hang out. They are probably still together. I could…track my daughter and see where they are now” Zatara offered unhappily. “All in favor of tracking Zatanna Zatara and the Daring Dangers down now?” Superman asked. Every League member raised their hand. “Then it’s settled. Zatara, if you’ll do the honors” Batman stated. Zatara nodded, silently praying that his daughter and her friends would be corporative.

“So you’re new hero name is Actaeon? A little conceited to name yourself after a deity don’t you think?” Zatanna teased. They had all changed into their combat gear. Roy had decided that keeping his Red Arrow identity wouldn’t have been a good idea, so the Team helped him choose another cover. Now Roy sported a white and bronze version of his original Red Arrow costume, custom with a bronze bow and arrows. “Well with good looks like this why not flaunt them a bit?” Roy teased back.

“And what a good view it is” a voice purred from above them.

Chapter Text

The Team turned to face the intruder, each of them going into their battle stances. “Cheshire” Actaeon grit out. “It’s been a while. And I must say, I’m enjoying the new look. It gives me some ideas for the next time we’re alone together” Cheshire said flirtatiously. “You two are dating?!” Tigress shouted. “What?! NO!” Actaeon denied. “Careful handsome, you’ll hurt my feelings” Cheshire teased. “Keep it PG little girl, we’ve gotta job to do” Sportsmaster said revealing his presence. “Guess it was too much to hope that I’d never see you again Dad” Tigress said bitingly. “Watch your mouth baby girl. You’re on thin ice as it is for running away” Sportsmaster warned. “Gee never knew you cared so much” Tigress mocked. Sportsmaster huffed out a laugh. “Don’t get the wrong idea baby girl. If you were gonna run away it would’ve been better for our rep if you became a goody-two-shoes hero then a circus joke. Although I might have to amend that seeing as you and your little friends seemed to have formed your own little secret covert team” Sportsmaster judged. “So glad you approve” Tigress said sarcastically.

“Miss Martian link us up” Torrent thought. “They’re not the only ones you should be worrying about ninos” Bane said coming into the train field with some of his henchmen. “Indeed kiddies” Psimon says smirking, Mammoth coming up right alongside him. “The link is up” Miss Martian relayed. “Then go” Torrent thought. Power Boy tackled Mammoth, only to be punched in the face, sending him flying a few feet. When Mammoth charged after him Power Boy shot up and uppercut him the jaw. Actaeon shot his arrows at Cheshire only for her to block them with her sai and engage him in close combat, forcing him to use his bow to block her attacks. Likewise, Tigress shot her own arrows at her father. Sportsmaster merely blocked them all with his hammer, and charged at her, throwing his hammer at her and making her have to dodge. “Psimon says you should just give up now. Your little psychic abilities are no match for mine” Psimon mocked, sending a brain-blast at Miss Martian. “We’ll see about that” Miss Martian retorted, dodging his blast and attacking him telepathically, engaging them both in a telepathic battle. “You should just give up nino. Little boys like you need to grow before fighting in the big leagues” Bane mocked after trading blows with Robin, and preceded to toss him into the side of a train car. “Well you know what they say, big things come in small packages” Robin retorted throwing explosive birdrangs at Bane.

“Hiyah” Torrent cried out as he morphed his water bearers into whips and struck out at Bane’s men, knocking out three of them as they tried to shoot him. Arsenal followed suit and activated the laser in his robotic arm, striking five more of Bane’s men going after Torrent. “Nrut rieht snug otni sekans” Zatanna cried out. Three men cried out in fear as their guns turns into snakes and wrapped around them. “Nrut eht sekans otni epor” Zatanna chanted, turning the snakes into ropes and incapacitating the three henchmen. Turbo then moved in and finished off the remaining five of Bane’s men by literally running them over. “Zatanna go help Tigress with Sportsmaster. Arsenal and Turbo go to Actaeon. Power Boy I’m on my way now” Torrent ordered. As Robin dodged another punch from Bane he threw down a few smoke pellets, cloaking his presence. As Bane tried to locate Robin all he heard was his creepy laugh through the smoke. Suddenly Robin jumped above him, detaching the tube feeding venom into his system. As Robin landed back down behind Bane he shot out his extendable taser, latching it onto the venom tube’s attachment area on Bane’s head, electrocuting him. With a cry of pain Bane collapsed defeated.

“Robin protect Miss Martian from attackers” Torrent ordered. “On it” Robin replied back. “Hiyah” Power Boy roared, punching at Mammoth. However, Mammoth dodged and punched Power Boy in the face, making him fly back. As Mammoth went to punch Power Boy again his fist was stopped by Torrent’s water whip. Taking advantage of Mammoth’s momentary lack of focus Power Boy punch him hard, returning the favor and making Mammoth fly backwards. “Power Boy now!” Torrent said. Together the two of them punched Mammoth into the elephants’ giant water bowel. Torrent then used his electrokinesis to shock Mammoth while in the water, knocking him out. “Honestly, is keeping your distance in a fight all you’re good at? How disappointing. I’m an up close and personal girl myself” Cheshire teased, dodging all of Actaeon’s trick arrows and Arsenal’s laser attacks. “Turbo now!” Actaeon shouted. Coming out of nowhere Turbo body checked Cheshire, making her fly into a tree. “How’s that for personal” Turbo mocked. Actaeon then shot a net arrow at Cheshire, trapping her.

In an astral plane Miss Martian was having a difficult time continuously countering Psimon’s mental attacks. Robin sensed her struggles through the link as he guarded her. “Power Boy. Try encouraging Miss M through the link. I think she might need a pep talk from her boyfriend” Robin relayed. “I’ll see what I can do” Power Boy grunted. Meanwhile, Miss Martian had put up a psychic shield around her in order to defend herself against the onslaught of Psimon’s brain-blasts. “I don’t know how much longer I can hold out” Miss Martian thought. “M’gann!” Power Boy’s voice rang out in the astral world. “Power Boy?” Miss Martian said confused. An image of him formed in front of her. “Kick his butt” he said smirking. Miss Martian smiled with renewed confidence as Power Boy’s image disappeared. Psimon just laughed at her. “You think that pathetic pep talk can change the differences in our power? Psimon thinks not!” Psimon said, sending a huge brain-blast at her. Miss Martian’s eyes turned green as she cried out, sending her own huge psychic blast at Psimon, nullifying his own attack and striking him down. Miss Martian snapped back to reality and Psimon’s body collapsed to the ground. “Good work!” Robin congratulated. Miss Martian just smiled at him. “Thanks Connor” Miss Martian said softly. “Hey, no problem. We’re a team remember” Power Boy thought back.

Tigress dodged the arch of the hammer as it was swung at her head. She fired an explosive arrow at Sportsmaster forcing him to move away from the blast. As he dodged she tossed a bola at him, which he merely cut with a knife as it neared his body. “Face it little girl you’re out of your league” Sportsmaster mocked, as he moved though the small flames on the ground. “Nordlac nrub dnc nordlac elbbub” Zatanna’s voice called out, making the small flames burst to life as a giant inferno. Sportsmaster grunted in annoyance. Suddenly his comm sparked to life. “That is enough. Retreat now” a voice commanded. Sportsmaster just growled in frustration, running through the flames in the opposite direction of Zatanna and Tigress. Hearing the chopper Tigress and Zatanna ran after him. “Sportsmaster is getting away!” Tigress called out. Cheshire turned her head at the sound of the helicopter. “Sorry boys sounds like my ride is here. Until next time, Actaeon” Cheshire said flirtatiously, cutting the net with her sharpened gloves. Before Actaeon, Arsenal, or Turbo could do anything she released a bunch of smoke bombs into the air. “Cheshire’s headed to the helicopter!” Arsenal shouted.

The Team converged in time to see Sportsmaster and Cheshire grapple on-board the helicopter. “We have to bring down the copter” Actaeon shouted, taking aim with an explosive arrow. As the Team moved to attack, Sportsmaster launched a missile at the group. “Look out!” Robin shouted, moving away from the missile. As the Team moved away the explosion still blasted them harshly forward as the missile hit the ground. Tigress looked up immediately after getting to her feet. “They're gone” she said with annoyed exasperation. “Look on the bright side. We have Mammoth, Psimon, and Bane in our custody” Torrent said with pride. “Now all we have to do is contact the authorities and have these guys shipped off to Bell Rev” Robin stated joyfully as he started typing out a message on his holo-computer.

“No need. We can handle their transfer” a voice sounded from above them.

The Team looked up to see the entire Justice League descending upon them, like angels coming down from heaven. Or from the Team’s perspective, heroic guardians encircling them as if they were potential fleeing villains.

“I believe we have more important matters to discuss right now” Superman declared.

Chapter Text

The Team watched as Green Lantern (John Stewart) made three cages for Mammoth, Psimon, and Bane, and flew off with Hawkwoman, Hawkman, and Captain Atom.

The Team on the other hand was still surrounded by the remaining members of the Justice League.

Though the heroes weren’t openly threatening them, the warning was there: Try to escape, and they would stop them. By any means necessary.

“I hate this! They’re treating us like caged rats!” Connor said angrily.

“I’m sorry guys. This is probably my fault” Roy said apologetically.

“Hey. Don’t be sorry for wanting freedom” Dick replied back.

“I think I’m the one who sound be apologizing. My Dad gave me a weird look when I mentioned you guys and I just brushed it off” Zatanna said, miserable that she was probably the reason the Team was caught.

“What’s done is done. For now we need to figure out how we are to handle the situation” Kaldur stated.

“I’m not going back!” Wally said panicking.

“There’s no way I’m living with Ollie again” Ray said firmly.

“Uh I’m pretty sure the League is gonna end up throwing those of us suffering from bad DNA in our own containment cells” Artemis said bitterly.

“I won’t let that happen to any of you!” Roy said fiercely.

“Well, they haven’t attacked us yet. So maybe they just want to talk?” M’gann said hopefully, not wanting to fight her Uncle.

“More like ‘kindly’ interrogate” Dick replied dryly.

Meanwhile, the remaining Justice League had mixed feelings about the children in front of them.

At that moment, it was taking all Flash had not to bolt over to Wally, squeeze him tight in a hug and never let go...But judging by the hostile glares his hugs wouldn’t be welcome.

Besides, as far as he knew Wally didn’t know that he was the Flash (and getting hugged by a random hero who wasn’t supposed to know you would be weird).

Green Arrow and Aquaman weren’t much better.

GA wanted to both hug Roy, and tie him up so that he never did anything so stupid again.

Aquaman in contrast just wanted to apologize to the young man who should be fighting by his side, not hiding himself away because he did not feel that he could rely on him anymore to keep him safe.

Meanwhile, J’onn couldn’t help but stare at his fellow Martian. Something about her mind when he had brushed against it briefly had felt vaguely familiar.

Zatara on the other hand was caught between his incredible worry for his daughter, and his fear-rooted anger at her actions.

The fact that Zatanna wasn’t meeting his eyes wasn’t helping matters either.

Unlike the others, Batman took careful note of all the children.

'Red Arrow, a female Martian, a boy who looks like a younger Superman, a younger boy who bears a striking resemblance to Red Arrow, Aqualad, Zatanna, a female Green Arrow, Wally West, and a highly trained Richard Grayson' Batman thought.

His kidnapped-and-escaped theory was looking more and more likely by the minute.

These weren’t normal kids. Judging by the way they took out Mammoth, Bane, and Psimon, they were trained soldiers.

And that just made his guilt worse.

If he had just paid a slight bit more attention, Richard Grayson might never have disappeared in the first place.

He also took note of their slight movements and gestures at one another. Almost as if they were having a silent conversation.

He turned his attention over to the female Martian.

Telepathy.

Taking that into consideration they probably were having a silent, psychic conversation.

At this point however, everyone was on edge, and he still wasn’t sure how the kids were going to react to them.

'Well, sometimes it best to just jump into the fire' Batman thought.

“I think it’s time you brought your thoughts out loud, unless you want us to assume you’re using your telepathic conversation to plot against us” Batman stated.

The League looked at Batman in surprise before turning back to the children.

“That depends on why you’re here” Roy retorted.

“We’re not here to hurt any of you. We just want to understand why you left in the first place!” Green Arrow said pleadingly.

Roy just grit his teeth.

“It was better, safer, this way GA. The Team isn’t a threat to the League. All we want is to be left alone” Roy stated.

“But why! It makes no sense!” Green Arrow said confused.

“There’s a lot you and the League don’t know GA. We felt safe here so we stayed” Roy explained.

“Safe from what?” Wonder Woman asked concerned.

“Or rather, safe from us? Or villains?” Batman asked.

“Both” Dick answered calmly.

Batman’s eyes snapped to his.

“So you all did escape from villains then?” Superman asked.

“You could say that” Wally replied bitterly.

“Who threatened you!?” Flash blurted out worriedly.

Wally’s eyes went to his Uncle’s, his expression cold.

“You finally care after I leave?” Wally hissed viciously.

Flash winced at the accusation. Then it hit him.

“You knew I was the Flash?!” Barry exclaimed stunned.

Wally just rolled his eyes.

“For someone who’s called the Fastest Man Alive you’re not so quick on the uptake are you?” Wally said bitingly.

Barry just looked sadly at Wally, not understanding why he was going out of his way to be hurtful to him.

He’s imagined a million different scenarios about finding his long lost son…but somehow this was worse than any worst-case scenario his paranoid-terrified mind ever came up with.

*Flashback*

“Barry you have to calm down” Iris said, clutching onto his arm.

“Calm down! How can I calm down!? Wally’s missing Iris! I have to find him!” Barry shouted.

“You’ve been searching for almost a week now Barry. You’ve ran through every building, around every corner, even the sewers, and you haven’t found him yet. You need to give yourself a break to think” Iris stated.

“He’s been missing for ten days Iris. Ten! I need to find him before something happens. In case something did happen!” Barry said unrelenting.

Iris just pulled him into a desperate hug.

“I can’t fail him Iris” Barry said softly.

“Barry I need to tell you something I should have told you a long time ago” Iris said, pulling away, looking at him with immense guilt and regret.

Barry sighed.

“What is it” he asked resigned.

“Wally isn’t your nephew. He’s your son” Iris said, still holding onto his arms as she looked him in the eyes.

Barry flinched, and his eyes widened in disbelief.

“What?” Barry said, his confusion almost going unheard if his wife hadn’t been a foot from him.

“When we first met you were nineteen and I was eighteen. You were making a place for yourself with the police, and I had just started working for the Central City newspaper. We spent one night together and I ended up getting pregnant with Wally. My brother and his wife couldn’t have kids so they offered to raise Wally as theirs so I could continue on with my life and career. Despite the attraction I never thought the two of us would ever meet again, let alone get married” Iris said trailing off.

Barry continued to look at her dumbfounded.

“Barry?” Iris said softly.

Barry flinched back to reality, moving back a step away from her in hurt disbelief.

“I have a son. Wally’s mine?...Why the hell didn’t you ever tell me when we did get back together?!” Barry demanded.

“I was going to I swear!” Iris pleaded.

“Then why didn’t you!?” Barry demanded sadly.

“I went to Rudy’s and told them that I wanted to tell you about Wally. They just looked so hurt…and then Wally came down the stairs and said ‘Hi Aunt Iris’. At that moment I realized that I wasn’t his mother. That we weren’t his parents. So I told my brother that I changed my mind and left” Iris explained.

Barry looked at her with hard angry tears in his eyes.

“That wasn’t your decision to make!” Barry shouted.

He quickly sped into his Flash uniform, and started turning for the door.

“Barry” Iris called out.

“I need to find Wal…I need to find my son. I’ll be back later tonight” Barry said speeding out of the house without a backwards glance.

*Flashback end*

He and Iris managed to reconcile and continue on with a happy marriage, but there was a giant Wally sized hole in their lives that couldn’t be sewn back together.

While he had been running himself ragged trying to find his son Iris called the League to reel him back in.

They pinned him down and forced him to eat and sleep properly again.

All the League members pulled their resources to try and help him find Wally…but not even Batman could find a trace of him. It was like Wally had just dropped off the face of the map.

He never stopped looking, but eventually he came to understand that he couldn’t devote all his time to searching for his son even though he wanted to. He had Central City bad guys to reign in (though even they noticed something was wrong with him).

He had prayed every night that he would find Wally alive someday.

When Batman had showed them that video it had taken Superman restraining him in order to keep him from running ahead of them in order to get to Wally.

Seeing him now all he wants to do is understand what happened four years ago.

“Hey T, try and cut your Uncle a little bit of slack here. You’re acting like he was the one to beat you black and blue” Dick said softly.

“I know it’s just, gha! I know I’m taking my anger out on him, but…” Wally trailed off.

“But you don’t want him to think that everything is right with the world” Roy finished.

“Yeah” Wally said, losing some of his anger.

“Look. All of us have our reasons for hiding from you, just as much as we are hiding from the villains after us” Ray said.

“And those would be what exactly?” Green Lantern (Hal) questioned.

The Team stayed silent.

“We can’t help you unless you tell us why villains are after you” Black Canary said calmly, with a slight motherly tone.

The Team looked at each other.

“Should we try to trust them?” Artemis asked.

“Maybe I should start. If they react well to me, and by extension Artemis then I believe we should” Kaldur suggested.

“Well it’s not like they’re going to let us leave anyway” Connor noted irately.

Kaldur nodded and looked towards the Justice league.

“My biological father, Black Manta, kidnapped me. He wanted to get to know me better, and he tried to show me how much better being on his side was. I resented that I was not strong enough to get away, so I waited, and bided my time” Kaldur paused and looked at Artemis.

She nodded at him.

“After spending two years with him I managed to sneak away during a criminal banquet function. I came across Artemis as I was making my leave. She and I had bonded in the past over our mutual dislike of our parents, so she left with me” Kaldur concluded.

“Eventually we ended up in the same town as Haley’s, and we ended up staying there with Dick and Wally when they offered us a fresh start” Artemis finished.

Aquaman gazed apologetically at Kaldur.

“Kaldur’ahm. I am deeply sorry that I was not sufficient enough to keep you safe” Aquaman stated regretfully.

“It is I who should apologize my King. I had doubted you and thought that you would have mistaken me for a traitor, and would’ve had me arrested had returned to Atlantis. For that I am sorry” Kaldur replied, a burden looking as if it had come off his shoulders.

“You are always welcome home and by my side Kaldur’ahm. Always remember that” Aquaman said, relieved that Kaldur did not hate him after all.

“Thank you my King. And if it is still the same to you, you may still call me Kaldur” Kaldur replied. Aquaman smiled back at him.

Barry and Ollie couldn’t help but be jealous of Aquaman’s easy reconciliation with his almost-protégé.

“And your parent is?” Batman questioned.

Artemis rolled her eyes.

“More like family. Sportsmaster, Huntress, and Cheshire” Artemis stated as exasperated and annoyed as she could.

Captain Marvel just whistled, “Dang that sucks”.

Green Lantern elbowed him.

“Ow” Captain Marvel said annoyed.

Artemis just scoffed.

“Believe me, you have no idea. At least you don’t have to live with your enemies” Artemis stated coldly.

The League gave her sympathetic looks.

J’onn then decided that it was his turn for answers.

“If I may ask how you came to Earth? Your mind is vaguely familiar to me, however, I cannot place the memory” J’onn inquired, looking at M’gann.

M’gann nodded shyly.

“I’m actually your niece” she said nervously.

J’onn’s eyes widened in recognition.

“I mean we’ve never actually met, but I’ve seen you around sometimes when you do visit” M’gann stammered out embarrassed.

J’onn smiled at her shy behavior.

“And how may I ask did you arrive here?” he asked.

“I used the bio-ship I had just gotten for my birthday. Unfortunately I was captured before I could land” M’gann said sadly.

J’onn’s smile dropped and it was replaced with worry.

“By whom?” he asked concerned.

“Cadmus” she said simply.

“Weren’t you suspicious of some activities going on there?” Superman asked Batman.

Batman nodded.

“The building apparently underwent a reform and Guardian is now in charge. I’m assuming you had something to do with that” Batman inquired.

M’gann nodded.

“They were creating creatures called gnomorphs. Creatures capable of things like super strength and telepathy” Connor said.

“Basically they were creating living weapons” Ray cut in.

Batman nodded.

“I managed to break free of their telepathic control. I broke out Connor and Ray too when I escaped, and we all got out together in my bio-ship” M’gann explained.

“You make it sound like it was simple” Ray scoffed.

“Desmond was annoying” Connor commented.

“And you two are…?” Captain Marvel trailed off.

Ray looked at Connor and he nodded.

Sucking in a deep breath he steeled his nerves.

“My name’s Connor Kent. I’m a human/kryptonian clone made from the DNA of Superman and Lex Luthor” Connor said in a hilariously emotionless voice, sounding almost as if he was tired of explaining it to others.

Likewise, the Justice League was hilariously silent.

All of their expressions (minus Batman who had already figured out the Superman part) were of open mouth shock and disbelief.

“Wow. Congratulations you actually broke the Justice League. Major Kudos man” Dick snickered.

Dick’s comment shook the League out of their stupor.

Connor was still staring at Superman, trying not to look too hopeful. Superman on the other hand seemed to stammer a bit and awkwardly looked away from Connor’s eyes, looking so uncomfortable that he seemed like he was about to fly away at any second in order to escape.

Connor’s demeanor darkened as a result of the brush off.

Batman couldn’t help but silently disapprove of his friend’s actions as well.

“Well, now we know that there’s hope for gay couples across the world to be able to have kids of their own” Green Lantern said jokingly, trying to ease up some of the tension.

Wonder Woman smacked his arm for the poor timing.

“Are you a clone as well?” Red Tornado inquired to Ray.

Ray smirked, “Me no”.

“Me on the other hand, yes” Roy said stepping forward.

“What!!?” Green Arrow demanded.

“I’m the original Roy Harper. I was captured and put on ice by Cadmus. From there they amputated my arm to create him” Ray said gesturing to Roy, “From then on he became Roy Harper and lived my life not knowing that he was clone, or a sleeper agent for the Light”.

“What!?” (Green Arrow)

“Captured?!” (Black Canary)

“Clone?!” (Flash)

“Sleeper agent!?” (Wonder Woman)

“What the heck kind of name is The Light?” (Captain Marvel)

“Quiet!” Batman shouted.

The League members silenced.

“Explain” Batman demanded, narrowing his eyes at the Team.

“The Light is an organization of criminals formed by Ra’s al Ghul, Queen Bee, the Brain, Lex Luthor, Klarion, and Vandal Savage. They’ve been the driving force behind everything this past year, including having the Injustice League take the fall for their actions” Dick explained.

“A bunch of bad guys joining forces is never a good thing” Captain Marvel observed.

“Do you know their objective?” Batman questioned.

Dick shook his head no.

“We know that they are creating something with different kinds of technology, science, biology, and magic, but we aren’t sure what” Dick stated.

“What we do know is that they are plotting to end the Justice League” Kaldur said stepping in.

“And that they were going to use me as a pawn in their game to do it. That’s why I left” Roy said.

“I don’t understand how you would have betrayed us. Clone or not, I know you Roy. You are a hero” Green Arrow said firmly.

Roy gave him a relieved smile.

“Thanks. And it was unconscious programming planted there by the gnomorphs. Sportsmaster was my handler, and he could use code words to shut me down and get info from me without me even realizing it” Roy answered.

“I already cleared any and all programming from Roy, Ray, and Connor’s minds, so you don’t have to worry about their loyalties” M’gann quickly assured.

“Ray?” Green Arrow questioned, amused by the name choice.

“I changed my name. I didn’t feel like Roy Harper anymore anyway ya know? Roy Harper was your kid, and I never was. So, new name, fresh start” Ray answered nonchalantly.

Green Arrow nodded, silently disappointed that…Ray didn’t see him as family.

“And uh, you Wally?” Flash asked nervously.

Wally just grit his teeth.

Dick and Artemis each put a supportive hand on his shoulders. Wally letting out a breath.

By that point Flash was vibrating in place from his nerves.

“My Dad was an agent for the Manhunters. His job was to help recruit an army to take out the Green Lanterns on Earth” Wally revealed.

“There are still agents on Earth?!” Green Latern (Hal Jordan) demanded.

Wally grimly nodded.

“They have a base out in Siberia. After I got my powers my Dad sent me there hoping I’d be their trump card” Wally scowled.

“And you ran away” Green Lantern (Hal) determined with a hint of pride.

“That was one of the reasons yeah” Wally admitted.

“What was the other?” Flash asked.

Wally gave him a dark look before continuing.

“My Dad beat the crap out me” Wally stated bluntly.

At that omission Flash froze.

For the first time since he received super speed he remained absolutely still.

“It started when I was six and it got progressively worse. It’s a wonder how I managed to hide all the injuries, and make enough believable excuses for the broken bones. By the time I was twelve and I found your journal on how you became the Flash I decided that I would either get superpowers or die trying” Wally said, dark shadows covering his eyes.

Red.

That was all Flash saw as his son’s words finally registered in his brain.

He had always thought it was odd how Rudy and Mary didn’t seem to miss or search for Wally like they did, but he just brushed it off because of his own need to find him.

Thinking back Wally always had some kind of bruise or injury from what he claimed were from gym and chemistry related accidents. Wally had always been so open and outgoing with him and Iris that he never even questioned his home life. Wally was rambunctious, clumsy, a science genius, and an avid Flash fan. Sure he wasn’t the most popular kid in school, but he had friends in the science club.

Just hearing how badly he failed to notice how much pain his son was in made his adrenaline and blood boil.

His son was given to his wife’s brother to be safe and they abused him!

He ran away because his ‘father’ abused and sold him.

He ran away because neither the Flash, nor ‘Uncle’ Barry helped him.

Wally recreated that experiment totally okay with the possibility of dying.

At this point the Flash was a blur as he vibrated in place in his rage. The ground itself was smoking from the friction.

“Flash!” multiple Leaguers shouted out at him, trying to get his attention so he would calm down, but it was all just white noise to him.

“Uncle Barry!” Wally yelled out, speed-sprinting forward and grabbing onto his Uncle’s chest.

At his son’s actions the Flash paused in his uncontrolled vibrations to clutch his son back as if he were a lifeline.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry” Flash kept saying quietly over and over again as he held onto his son for dear life.

Nothing he could ever do would ever make up for leaving Wally with Rudy and Mary. Nothing.

Everyone else remained silent. Giving them the illusion of privacy they deserved.

“I’m happy for him” Dick said.

“So am I. Wally deserves to have family members that will treat him right” M’gann said smiling.

“I believe a lot of good happened here today” Kaldur replied.

“Yeah. I have to say I’m surprised GA took everything as well as he did” Roy commented.

“Humph” Connor scoffed at his own misfortune.

“It’s okay Connor. I don’t think me and Batman are going to be doing any father-son bonding anytime soon either” Dick consoled.

Connor nodded gratefully at him.

By the time Flash and Wally had calmed down the each League member had individually decided that the kids should stay with them.

“I know you were afraid that you would be used to betray the League, but I’d like it if would come home. Both of you” Green Arrow said, looking at both Roy and Ray, “And if you want you can come too Artemis. I’m interested in seeing just how good you are with that bow of yours”.

Roy, Artemis, and Ray simultaneously looked at each other and then looked back at Green Arrow surprised.

“You are welcome to come back to my apartment with me as well M’gann. I would like to spend time getting to know my niece” J’onn said, floating over to the younger Martian.

M’gann smiled joyously at his request.

“I would be delighted if you would accompany me back to Atlantis Kaldur. There are a great many who would be happy to know that you are alright” Aquaman said, moving over to a surprised Kaldur and placing a hand on his shoulder.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to let you outa my sight now kid. Plus I think Iris would like a chance to smother you as much as me right now” Flash said, still clinging onto Wally.

Black Canary just glared at Superman who was still actively ignoring Connor, and Batman’s glare.

Walking over to the young kryptonian she placed a hand on his upper arm.

“If you’d like, I need a sparring partner while Green Arrow is busy will all his kids” she said kindly.

After a moment of shock Connor gave her a small grateful smile.

“I’m not grounded for life am I” Zatanna winced as her father approached her.

“You and I are going to have a few words about your reckless behavior and secret keeping when we get home young lady” Zatara said sternly.

Meanwhile, Batman had turned his attention to the young boy who had managed to keep from telling his story out loud to the whole League.

Batman walked over to Richard, or Dick as the other kids seemed to call him.

Dick stared right back at him, cold and judging. Knowing without Batman having to say anything, that he was asking if he’d come with him.

Chapter Text

Batman was very aware of why Richard was giving him the speculative eyebrow.

He was not known for trusting many, and let even fewer outside heroes into Gotham. His secret identity still only remaining known to the founding Justice League members. So for him to offer a child with an unknown background into his crusade was a huge deal.

Even if Richard declined he would make sure that he went with a Leaguer he truly trusted to be able to handle the young man who oddly enough reminded him of himself. And heaven knows not many would be able to.

Dick on the other hand was fighting his conflicting feelings of anger and sadness at Batman.

Roy had told him that Batman had wanted to adopt him when he had been Richard Grayson, and that he hadn’t stopped trying to find out what had happened to him when he had disappeared.

He wanted to hate the man who was the reason his family was taken away from him, just because he was supposedly born with half of said man’s DNA.

Objectively he knew that was unfair. Batman had no idea that he had a son. Let alone that he was indirectly responsible for ripping his life out from under him. All he knew was that he failed Richard Grayson. Not Richard al’Ghul. The problem was Dick didn’t know if Batman was just trying to rid himself of his past guilt, or just using him get the answers to the many questions that had built up around the entirety of his disappearance.

If either were the case he didn’t think he would be able to tolerate being in the man’s presence for very long. But at the same time he wanted to find out if the tales Talia had told him about his birth father were true.

Talia had painted Batman as someone who did the right thing because it was right and that was the only reason he needed.

He wondered if he told Batman of their relation if he would take him in merely out of obligation, or because he didn’t want his son running around as an assassin.

“What do you guys think? We can’t leave Pop Haley without a top act this last minute” Dick thought.

“I agree. While I would like to visit my home we owe Pop Haley our lives for taking us in” Kaldur agreed.

“The show isn’t for three days. You guys could go with the League if you wanted to and still be back to perform. I’m sure they would understand” Zatanna put in.

“Oh yes! That would be perfect! I know the circus has become our home, but I came to earth hoping to connect with my Uncle just as much as I wanted have a fresh start here” M’gann thought.

“You don’t have to feel guilty M’gann.

"I think I’m going to use this time to let my mother know that I’m okay” Artemis replied.

“I…I want to go with my Uncle” Wally stammered.

“I think Ray and I should make some amends with Ollie” Roy decided.

“I’m still not going to live with him. But it couldn’t hurt to tease him a bit again” Ray agreed.

“Whatever” Connor huffed, bitter about everyone else’s happiness.

“Canary’s a good mother figure PB. I think you’ll be surprised how much you may end up bonding with her if you go with her” Roy encouraged.

“I guess that leaves me with Batman then” Dick said resigned.

“I’m sorry dude. I know this has gotta be rough on you. But who knows, maybe the two of you can reach some common ground, and you can get rid of some of that anger you’ve got pent up” Wally advised.

“Maybe” Dick reluctantly confessed.

“Then we have reached a verdict. If they allow us to return to perform, then we shall go with them” Kaldur concluded.

The Leaguers patiently waited for them to conclude discussing their private decision. Hopeful that the children trusted them enough to take them up on their offer.

“We have agreed to each of your generous offers. However, we cannot leave Pop Haley without a lead act on such short notice. So if you shall agree, we would need to tell him that we shall be returning three days from now in order to do our part in the performance” Kaldur stated.

“Of course” Aquaman said, relieved that Kaldur would be returning with him after all.

The rest of the League quickly agreed to their terms as well.

“No need waste your time with that” Haley said, walking out from between the train cars.

“Pop Haley! How long have you been there?” M’gann asked, shocked by his sudden appearance.

“Long enough” he chuckled, “The real question is what are all of you still doing here? Go on. This is an opportunity of a life-time, more than I could ever give any of you”.

“That is not true” Kaldur replied immediately.

“Yeah. If it weren’t for you we would never have found a home or family at all” Artemis insisted.

“And I love all of you like my own grandchildren. However, I knew from the moment all of you came into my center ring that you were all meant for so much more” Haley said.

The Team couldn’t help but get misty eyed at the old man’s words.

“Now get going. You all have friends and family to catch up with. The circus will still be here when you get back. And I don’t expect to see any of you kids till then” Haley said, giving them the final push forward that they needed.

“Keep your emergency alarm watches on, and I wish you all well” Kaldur thought with a bit of pep.

Dick watched as his family-by-choice each left with their prospective family members/sort-of mentors.

When it was finally just him and Batman, Pop Haley just gave him a knowing smile and tipped his hat slightly in his direction as if to say ‘get going’.

Steeling his nerves he returned his gaze back to Batman.

“Definitely feeling distressed. Heavy on the dis” Dick thought uneasily.

Chapter Text

“Completely irresponsible! Not to mention the fact that you've been lying to me for months!” Zatara scolded angrily as he floated the two of them home. Zatanna held her ground, folding her arms defensively, matching his angry look with her own.

“Of course I lied to you. What else could I do? Say ‘Hey dad all my new friends are the kids of criminals and or dangerous runaways, and oh in case you weren't aware they're the ones who've been secretly helping the League’?” Zatanna replied sarcastically.

“Yes!” Zatara replied indignantly.

Zatanna huffed out a scoff. “You and I both know how that would've gone over. You would've told the League about them” Zatanna stated, rolling her eyes.

“Of course I would have told the rest of the League! They needed help!” Zatara defended, as if the notion was obvious.

Zatanna narrowed her eyes. “You and I both know, that kids or not the League still would've detained them for questioning just on the grounds of what and who they are. I wasn't about to get them unjustly arrested when they gave me good reasons to keep their existence a secret” Zatanna stated firmly.

Zatara just clenched his teeth.

“And if I had to, I'd make the same choices all over again. Because I know I made the right ones” Zatanna stated, planting herself firmly.

Zatara let out a big sigh, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. He could understand where his daughter was coming from. Had the League found out about the 'Team’ under different circumstances he was certain that their first interaction wouldn't have gone so smooth (or emotional).

His daughter was most likely correct in her assumption that they would've been detained for questioning (rather than going home with members of the League like they were).

Rationally he understood that his anger was just misplaced. He was terrified that he would lose his daughter like he did his wife. It was why he didn't like involving her in League matters. He didn't want his daughter to risk her life being a hero.

But he should've known better. She was as stubborn and rebellious as her mother, with a strong moral compass and the logic to back her decisions (most of the time anyway).

He let out another deep sigh and opened his eyes.

“Fine. While I agree that keeping their existence a secret was better in the long run, that doesn't mean I'm going to reward your recklessness and lies. The matter with The Light is a serious matter and the League should've been told sooner, not to mention Roy's 'death’ was a huge emotional blow to the League” Zatara scolded.

Zatanna gave her father a reluctant nod.

“So...grounded?”

“Grounded”

Dick couldn't help but drink in the sight before him as the flash from the zeta tube died down.

The Batcave was exactly how Talia had described it.

A technologically fortified cave filled with gadgets, weapons and trophies from the Bat's past victories.

The fact that he was even here was still incredible in itself...Though he still chalked that up to the Bat's guilt.

Having already scanned and re-scanned his surroundings his eyes settled on the only other person Talia had said resided with Bruce Wayne.

“I want to introduce you to someone” Batman stated, moving forward and down the stairs to the platform.

As the two of them approached, the butler gave Batman a serious speculative eyebrow.

“Master Bruce” the elderly man acknowledged, “Do I need to pin a reminder to your cowl to call ahead if we are to have additional guests during supper?”

Dick smirked.

He was definitely going to like Alfred Pennyworth.

“Nice to meet you. I'm Dick Grayson”

Two blurs raced through Central City, kicking up loose newspapers, and blowing the hats off the innocent bystanders caught in the slipstream. Barry couldn't remember the last time he was this happy.

No.

He could remember.

It had been back when he and Iris had taken Wally to the carnival in Central City two weeks prior to when he had gone missing.

Running alongside his son brought him a kind of joy he usually only felt when spending time with Jay.

But this was a new kind of joy.

After two years he finally had his son back. He had his son back and they were laughing and joking and racing one another as they took the scenic route back home. He even got to show Wally some of his favorite pit-stops to get food.

Rationally he knew he was on an emotional high. What people seemed to forget was that having super speed meant that he could think just as quickly. Which meant that his mind was racing with all the what ifs.

Logically he knew that despite the easy atmosphere right now Wally still (rightfully) held some bitterness at him and Iris that they were all going to have to work through at some point or another, but he couldn't bring himself to deal with that right now.

He wanted to hope that Wally wouldn't be too angry at them for keeping the fact he was their son and not Rudy and Mary’s from him. But with the revelation of Rudy's abuse he couldn't help but want to selfishly put off that discussion for a later time.

He knew it was wrong, but he wanted to enjoy this moment with his son.

“Keep up old man!” Wally said mockingly as he sped past him. While he had been lost in his thoughts he had unconsciously slowed down enough for Wally to catch up to him.

“Old man huh?” Barry challenged good-naturedly back, picking up speed once more, easily catching back up to Wally and speeding right by him and into the house.

“Hey hun. How was work” Iris asked, looking up at Barry from where she was finishing up dinner.

“We're gonna need to order some more food Iris, we've got company” Barry said giddily.

“Oh? Are Jay and Joan coming over?” she asked.

“What? No. W-” Barry paused, looking around but not seeing Wally.

“Barry? What's wrong?” Iris asked concerned.

“Uh. I'll be right back” Barry said, speeding out of the room.

He sped right back out the front door, initially passing a stock-still Wally frozen out front.

Barry put on the brakes and turned back around, pausing next to his son.

“You okay kiddo?” He asked hesitantly, seeing the conflicted look on Wally's face.

“I...I don't...I don't know” Wally trailed off.

His Uncle and Aunt's house had so many hard memories attached to it.

Happy memories sure.

This place had been his safe haven away from his father.

But disappointing memories too.

Disappointment every time his Aunt and Uncle believed one of his lies on how he got that week's mottle of bruises. Disappointment that they never seemed to understand why he always wanted to stay an extra night.

How a building could elicit such an amalgamation of emotions from his was beyond him. It was just a structure of brick, and wood. But even that logic couldn't break him away from all the house represented.

Was he ready to deal with a lifetime worth of bitterness? Maybe not. But as much as he was dreading coming face-to-face with the core of all his problems, he wanted to see his Aunt just as much.

“Let's go” Wally decided.

“You sure kiddo? You can take all the time you need. We can make a run to Paris if you'd like?” Barry offered.

“Maybe another time....Right now I think I want to see Aunt Iris” Wally said.

Barry nodded, trying not to wince at the 'Aunt’ part.

“Then let's not keep her waiting then” Barry said, placing his hand on Wally's shoulder.

Wally nodded.

It was time.

The two of them sped into the house together, though Wally made sure to hide himself behind his Uncle when they stopped.

“Sorry about that Iris” Barry said, pulling off his cowl.

“It's alright...but what's going on Barry?” Iris asked, clearly confused. She picked up the mashed potato bowl and went to move towards the dinner-table.

“Uh, me I guess” Wally said awkwardly, poking out from behind Barry, his cowl down as well.

Iris gasped, dropping the bowl.

Wally quickly sped forward, saving the contents and the trouble of cleaning up later. Slowly he placed the bowl onto the table, now face-to-face with his Aunt for the first time in two years.

“Wally?” Iris croaked out in disbelief.

“Hey Aunt Iris. Looks like I've got a lot of explaining to do huh?”

“You do well channeling your anger” Dinah complimented, squaring off in a fighting stance once more.

“Dick helped a lot with that. Didn't listen to him at first though” Connor admitted, the two of them circling each other.

So far they had gone seven rounds and he hadn't gotten close to beating her once. If it had been the him just freed from Cadmus he would've walked out of the room in a huff at his second loss tops. He knew because that's what happened when he first sparred with Dick.

Back then he had been overconfident in his abilities, thinking of himself as a living weapon superior to any human in hand-to-hand combat just because of his super strength alone. Dick had showed him pretty quickly that all his strength was meaningless if he just charged in blindly and couldn't make his anger work for him.

“You're good. But you still overreach too much. You rely too inefficiently on your super strength” Dinah noted, the two of them still carefully sizing each other up.

Neither of them were in a rush, no efficient hand-to-hand fighter would (or should) ever rush in blindly anyway.

“Not like I have anyone like myself willing to teach me” Connor said bitterly.

Dinah gave him sympathetic eyes, spar or not she was still a school counselor. She couldn't in good conscience ignore Connor's...family issues with Clark.

She was very disappointed in the man to say the least. Bruce will be the least of his problems once she's through with him.

“Superman dealt with the situation wrong. Despite what the world media portrays he’s still 'human’. He makes mistakes just like the rest of us. I promise you he'll come around” Dinah assured.

“Even If it takes me using a kryptonite mallet to knock some sense into that hard head of his” she thought.

“Whatever” Connor ground out with an angry edge, pushing forward and starting round eight.

“Where are we going my King?” Kaldur inquired as the two of them swam through the (mostly) deserted castle halls.

From what he could remember when Queen Mera would take her classes to visit the palace it had never been this deserted.

“To the palace private dining area. I sent word ahead of us for a few guests to join us for dinner” King Orin replied.

“Guests my King?” Kaldur inquired as they swam through the open doorway, the privacy doors closing behind them.

“My love it is good to see you” Queen Mera greeted warmly, her one hand resting on her swollen stomach, “For what is the occasion you gathered us all here?”

“A joyous occasion my dear. A friend once lost has been found” King Orin replied, swimming to the side so that Kaldur was no longer blocked from view.

Kaldur sucked in a deep breath as he saw just who his King had gathered before them.

His mother Sha’lain’a, his (step) father Calvin Durham, and his two dearest friends Tula and Garth.

Each of them gasped as they caught sight of him. His mother clinging desperately onto her husband in what appeared to be a silent plea for him to acknowledge that what she was seeing was truly real.

“Kaldur” Tula exclaimed, floating up from her spot at the table.

“Is it really you?” Garth whispered, as if saying it any louder would that he would disappear once more.

“My family, friends, my Queen, it is truly wonderful to see all of you again” Kaldur answered.

“My sweetheart!” Sha’lain’a cried out, darting straight over to her son and wrapping her arms around him. A gesture Kaldur quickly reciprocated.

“I'm home”

“Well this isn't awkward at all” Dick thought sarcastically. Neither he or Bruce had said a word to each other throughout dinner.

What were they even supposed to talk about? 'Hey Bruce, exactly how much money do you have? Did you have any help in building the Batcave? Oh and hi I'm actually the son you were told miscarried fourteen years ago. Nice to meet you’.

Dick resisted the urge to sigh.

They needed to start somewhere....But he had no clue where.

As Dick was trying to find something to break the silence Bruce decided to try and take the initiative.

“Alfred said you settled in without a problem” Bruce said. Dick nodded, surprised the man was the one to actually start the conversation.

“Yeah. Didn't have too much with me so it was easy enough. Biggest shower I'd ever seen” Dick said, making an attempt at a little humor.

For a second Dick could swear he saw the corners of Bruce's mouth quirk up.

“You're more than welcome to anything in the house. Including the training room” Bruce said.

“Thanks….You wouldn't happen to have some gymnastics equipment would you?” Dick asked.

Bruce nodded. “Some, not too much though. You're welcome to use them if you'd like” he answered.

Dick nodded.

Damn he hoped his stay here wouldn't be filled with awkward stilted conversations like these. If so he might actually go insane.

“I'm assuming you still have your suit with you?” Bruce asked.

Dick raised his eyebrow at the abrupt topic change.

“Yeah. Why?”

“How would you like to patrol Gotham with me tonight?”

“I must say, I'm quite impressed” J’onn complimented as he watched his niece effortlessly use her telekinesis to manipulate the cooking ingredients around her.

“Oh it's nothing really” M’gann said with a blush, “I wasn't that good in the beginning”.

“But like all things you improved with practice” J’onn assured, watching her telekinetically place the seasoned ham into the oven.

“Thank you. That means a lot coming from you” M’gann said happily.

J’onn was hit by a pang of guilt. This was his niece and he knew next to nothing about her. Sure on Mars that wasn't too unusual due to the sheer number of family members their kind typically have, but after spending so much time on Earth, where there was more of a value placed on interacting with family, he couldn't help but feel like he had let her down.

“While we wait for the meal to cook, why don't you tell me about yourself?” J’onn asked.

“Sure! We can play Twenty Questions! That way we can both get to know each other” M’gann said with a smile, floating over to her Uncle.

“Twenty Questions? I'm afraid that I have never heard of such a game” J’onn admitted.

“It's simple. We each take turns asking each other whatever questions we want. If you really don't want to answer something you can say pass” M’gann explained. J’onn nodded.

“I'll start. What's your favorite Earth food?” M’gann asked.

“Oreos” J’onn replied unhesitantly.

“Oh! I can make some Oreo chip cookies sometime for you if you'd like?” M’gann offered.

“That would be delightful thank you” J’onn said with a smile, “Do you have any hobbies?”

“I like to cook and bake” M’gann said enthusiastically, “But I...I also like watching Hey Megan”.

“Hey Megan?” J’onn questioned curiously.

M’gann tucked her head into her chest a bit, embarrassed. “It's a TV show I started watching back home” she said blushing.

J’onn gave her a small smile that he hoped was assuring. “I see. I believe then it is your turn to ask me a question” he said.

M’gann nodded, relieved he wasn't laughing at her like some of her siblings had.

“Is it hard being a Martian superhero?” M’gann asked curiously.

“It can be. Not everyone is accepting of other species, but overall I've found that the majority are accepting of my presence here on Earth” J’onn replied honestly, noticing the hopefulness in his niece’s eyes as he answered her question.

“If I may, why did you come to Earth to begin with?” he asked.

M’gann looked down at her hands as she wrung them together nervously. J’onn frowned as bit.

“If you do not wish to tell me at this time you do not have to” he told her.

While he wanted to know what had pushed her to taking the risky journey to Earth, he didn't want to force her to answer his question.

“No. It's alright. I….I wanted to get away from the class system on Mars for a while. I wanted to find a place where I could fit in” M’gann hesitantly revealed.

J’onn’s eyes widened for a fraction of a second.

She was a white Martian.

That explained things a bit. White Martians were typically treated as second class citizens on Mars due to the fact white Martians in the past had experimented on the early humans during the crucial time in their species’ evolutionary development.

Essentially in Earth terms white Martians were racially discriminated against by the red and green Martians.

He knew his sister had married a white Martian despite the prejudice, and only two of their thirty children had been born as white Martians, but with three-hundred other nieces and nephews he had never met either of them.

It saddened him that M’gann had felt the only way to escape the system was to go off world, but he would make sure that she knew that he would be here for her every step of the way in her transition to Earth.

“Well, I believe it is safe to say that you have” he responded.

M’gann gave her Uncle a grateful smile.

“Yeah. I really have”

“Wait Ray hold o-”. Ray slammed the door shut before Ollie could finish.

“I don't know why I thought coming back here would be a good idea!” Ray shouted angrily.

Roy just gave him a large (deliberate) sigh.

“What? You think I'm being overdramatic? You saw him out there. He doesn't know anything about me yet he thinks he can make all our problems go away by throwing money at everything” Ray said angrily.

Roy just shook his head.

“That's not his intention. Ollie's an idiot for sure, but he's not a pretentious ass. He had an entire buffet lined up because he didn't know the kinds of foods you liked anymore and he didn't want to base anything off of the short time you had been with him” Roy began, sounding like he was lecturing a child.

Ray just gave him a scoff.

“He's not trying to buy you affections or approval by offering to take you to his resorts or rent out an entire movie theater. He just wants us to spend some quality time with each other” Roy continued undaunted.

Ray just turned his head away gritting his teeth.

“Ollie doesn't know where he stands with you. He feels guilty as hell for what happened to you so he's overcompensating….badly” Roy explained, with a clear tone of exasperation.

“You think?” Ray said sardonically.

“Give him a chance. He's still a man-child that isn't good with dealing with issues in an age appropriate way. That hasn't changed. But he does care and he is sorry. Just give him a chance to show you” Roy said, almost pleading (almost).

Ray gave a small frustrated growl.

“Fine. But I still reserve the right to punch him in the face if he gets obnoxious again” Ray conceded.

Artemis stood outside her mother's new apartment. It was average, nothing special, but taken care of nonetheless. Batman had helped her get her mother's new address after she had been released from prison. As it turned out she had moved to Gotham of all places.

She had plans to meet up with the rest of the Arrows tomorrow. Right now she she just wanted to check up on her mother seeing as there had been no-one to help her transition back into society.

She couldn't help the knawings of guilt that chewed at her stomach.

She had stayed with her father as long as she had because she had wanted to be there for her mother when she was finally let out.

Because of the injury she received during her capture she would be wheelchair bound the rest of her life. Jade had already left, and her father was an asshole, which meant that it was up to her to help her mom….and she failed epicly.

When she had ran into Kaldur that day at the gathering she had saw it as her chance for early freedom, not expecting to go on the run for as long as she had.

But what upset her was the fact that she didn't regret it.

Her mother didn't deserve such a selfish brat for a daughter.

Willing her misty eyes to fade she glared at the apartment door. If her mother threw her out that was fine...she just needed to see her once for herself, even if it would mean for the last time in person.

Artemis walked unsteadily up the front ramp. No matter what happens once her mother opens the door she would always watch over her from afar.

Steeling her nerves she knocked on the wood, fighting the urge to shift on her feet as she waited.

“Yes?” her mother asked as she opened the door to see who was knocking at dinnertime.

“Hi Mom" Artemis said, her voice cracking with emotion.

Her mother's hand went to her mouth in shock. “Artemis” her mother whispered, tears falling down her face.

“He said that you were dead” her mother said in a broken whisper.

“Dad's an asshole mom. That's nothing new” Artemis scoffed, still fighting her own tears.

Her mother leaned forward in her wheelchair, clinging desperately onto her youngest daughter. Artemis unhesitantly clung right back, losing her battle with her now overflowing tears.

It was some kind of test. He could glean that much.

But he had no idea what he was being tested on.

And unless he could figure it out, he was in some serious potential trouble.

Bruce knew he hadn't been hiding out at Haley's the entire time he disappeared from the detention center. Fighting skills like his didn't come from nowhere after all.

Maybe he was trying to gleam where he'd been from his fighting style? Killer assassin was a pretty distinctive style.

Too bad for Bruce he didn't use the style taught to him by the League of Assassins. He had created his own style based off of his size, speed, acrobatics, and flexibility, and combined it with the other martial arts styles the LoA taught him.

He couldn't really tell if Bruce, or rather Batman, was impressed with his skills or not. He seemed pretty content with just observing how he took down the thieves and robbers, and asking for my input on how he would handle the drug dealers importing a shipment at the docks.

Though Dick could swear he quirked an eyebrow or something when he had effortlessly hacked into the bank surveillance system to get a better idea of what was going on during the heist.

It was just driving him up the wall that he didn't know what Bruce wanted out of this little team up.

He was starting to feel like Bruce was just waiting for him to make a wrong decision, and it was starting to make him paranoid.

Right now he was scouting out one end of the docks while Batman took the other.

As he slipped into the supposed abandoned building he immediately felt his hackles rise, quickly snapping out his escrima sticks in response.

“Richard” an unfortunately familiar smooth voice called out.

Dick fought the urge to grit his teeth as Talia al Ghul sauntered out of the shadows as if she were their queen.

“Talia” Dick acknowledged tightly, “To what do I owe the displeasure?”

“Just sending a message my child. The League knows and waits to see what is to become of your new arrangements” Talia replied, unphased by his rudeness.

“Consider your message received. Now leave before we see how you look in orange” Dick threatened.

“You are your father's son” she commently wistfully, ignoring his vitriol like she usually did.

Dick bristled at her “compliment”.

She was always comparing him to Bruce.

Ra’s blamed his (infuriating) moral compass and stubbornness on him.

That wasn't to say he didn't inherit anything from Talia’s side (as much as it destroyed him to admit it even in the safe confines of his own mind).

As much as he tries to portray otherwise he did toe the line at times.

Morally he was more gray than anything (Pun not intended).

He just recognized that part of himself and intentionally made sure to be as “goody-two-shoes” as possible so that he never ever fully crossed that line over to villain.

He had done a lot of things in the LoA that he wasn't proud of (that he should be in jail for). Stealing (he will forever deny that he actually enjoyed the adrenaline rush of those missions), sabotage, and a slew of different conspiracies, and countless broken cyber and white collar laws.

But even so, there were certain lines he had absolutely refused to cross.

Killing being one of them.

“This little bonding time will be good for you Richard. It is where you belong after all” she continued as I was half-lost in my own thoughts.

“You are the heir to the Bat”

Wally couldn't sleep.

He was too hyped up on adrenaline.

Fear.

Nostalgia.

Of course being back in his old room at his Aunt and Uncle's house would do that to you.

The room was exactly as he had left it.

...Well, cleaner, but still.

It was….unnerving to say the least.

Dinner was amazing! (So long as the elephant in the room wasn't mentioned)

The question was...Where did he go from here?

Sitting outside one of Tony Zucco's old haunts, Dick finally understood what it was that Bruce had been testing him for.

“He killed my family” Dick announced to no-one in particular.

Even if it was years late it still made him feel better to have it said aloud.

“Do you want to kill him?” Bruce asked simply, bluntly, obviously watching his body language and vocal inflections.

“You left him alive!” Ra's roared, “You were ordered to kill him! The very man who murdered your family and you left him alive!”

Dick just stood resolutely in front of the Demon's Head, holding strong to his convictions.

“He is his father's son” Talia noted approvingly.

“No” Dick replied, sounding just as strong in his convictions as he did back then, “Justice is the best vengeance”

And at that moment something in the atmosphere shifted between them.

And Dick had a feeling he knew what it was.

Robin just got the Batman's approval.

Chapter Text

“We’re going to have to come up with a cover as to why you’re here” Bruce stated, using his towel to wipe the sweat off his brow.

He wasn’t about to keep Dick couped up in the mansion, no matter how many different amenities there were.

Dick vaulted off the balance beam.

The two of them had gotten up early out of habit to train.

Turning to face Bruce, he chose his words carefully before he spoke.

“There’s no way the League of Shadows doesn’t already know I’m here. Not after Sportsmaster and Cheshire got away” Dick commented neutrally, waiting to see Bruce’s reaction.

Bruce nodded, having anticipated that already, but had waited for Dick to tell him so himself.

“In that case I have a different plan in mind” Bruce stated, not giving anything away in his inflection.

Dick raised a skeptical eyebrow at the lack of detail, not sure if he should be worried or not.

“If the two of you will be departing from the manor than might I suggest a bath for the both of you as well as breakfast?” Alfred suggested, making his way into the workout room.

“Are you implying that we don’t smell like roses and candy?” Dick replied jokingly.

“In my experience eau de body odor has never been a particularly favored aroma” Alfred sarcastically remarked back.

Dick cackled his way up the stairs.

He wondered if things ended up falling through with Bruce if he would be able to keep Alfred.

“I promise I’m okay mom” M’gann assured, staring at the image of her parents on the screen.

“Honey you went missing without a trace! We had no idea where you had even traversed off to. You could have taken the bioship anywhere in the cosmos! You could have been hurt and we’d never know!” her mother near shouted.

M’gann winced in guilt.

“I’m sorry I did that to the both of you...I just really wanted a fresh start away from Mars” M’gann mumbled sadly.

Her father looked at her in sad understanding.

He knew exactly what she meant.

He had grown up routinely mistreated by red and green martians throughout his life.

Even as he grew into adulthood it was hard for him to find and maintain any job, even the ones that was seen as ‘dirty’ work that no-one wanted.

Defying all social boundaries he and her mother had fallen in love and gotten married, even when her mother’s family had threatened to disown her.

They had made it work despite all the odds against them.

But M’gann didn’t want to suffer her entire life just to maybe have a semblance of a better life.

“Just be safe” her father said soft, gently.

“And I expect to meet this Connor soon” he stated, a note of teasing in his voice.

M’gann felt her cheeks heat in embarrassment.

“Daaaddd” M’gann whined.

Her father just laughed.

“Love you sweetheart. We’ll tell M’comm you said hello” he said, cutting the transmission.

Stepping out of the bioship she found her Uncle waiting for her.

“I take it that your call went well?” he inquired curiously, seeing the relieved look on her face.

M’gann nodded.

“Mom wants me to come home, but Dad convinced her to give me a couple days. They want me to visit on Christmas” she informed him, unhappy about the possibility of leaving Earth.

J’onn nodded.

“That is doable. Perhaps we can bring some Earthly traditions of the holiday with us to show them” he suggested, hoping to lift her spirits.

“I can make all kinds of cookies! And some fruit cake! And bring candy canes!” M’gann declared excitedly, using her telekinesis to zoom into her Uncle’s apartment in order to start gathering a list of necessary items.

J’onn smiled, happy that he was able to make his niece smile.

“I really appreciate this Hal” Barry said gratefully.

“It's really not a problem at all Barry. Just be ready to move out in an hour” Hal reminded him, knowing how despite his friend’s super speed he always seemed to be late.

“I'll be there” Barry declared determinedly, hanging up the call.

“What was that about?” Wally asked, zipping down the stairs, hoping that his lack of sleep wasn't too noticeable.

“The Green Lanterns and I will be raiding the Manhunter base in Siberia you told me about” Barry explained, fighting to keep the anger out of his voice.

Wally couldn't help but flinch a bit at that, causing Barry to internally rage even more.

“I get why the Lanterns are going, but why are you?” Wally asked curiously.

“We're gonna use the raid as an excuse to gather evidence against Rudy” Barry explained slowly, unsure of Wally's reaction.

Wally blinked in surprise, looking owlishly at his Uncle for a moment before his brows scrunched in confusion.

“I'm not following” Wally admitted.

“The story is gonna go like this, the Flash found you on the streets and you told him about the Manhunter base in Siberia and your father's involvement. The Flash tells the Green Lanterns, and they go and check it out. They raid the base. They find evidence in the systems that Rudy is a Manhunter and that he sold you and that you escaped. Then Child Protective Services gets involved and officially hand custody of you over to me and Iris” Barry explained, just shy of using Flash-speak.

Wally's heart seized.

“You're not giving me back to Rudy are you?!” Wally demanded fearfully.

“What?! No! I just told you how I was going to prevent all that” Barry declared, completely confused.

“But you said Child Services-”

“You're going to remain in Flash's ‘custody’ until all the evidence is complied so that when the Flash takes you to the police station they won't give you back to that bastard!” Barry firmly assured.

Wally was silent for a moment, grateful tears stinging the edges of his eyes.

“Hearing you talk about yourself in the third person is weird” Wally said jokingly, a smile forming on his lips.

Barry let out a relieved breath.

“Flash takes offense to that” Barry retorted teasingly, pulling Wally in for a hug.

“The police station?” Dick inquired confused, “Why here?”

“I was going to have a cover identity made for you, but if the League already knows you're here then there's no point in wasting our time on that” Bruce said, pulling them into the parking lot.

To Dick's mild embarrassment it took him a moment to realize just what Bruce's plan was.

“So we're telling everyone that Red Arrow found me while on his mission at Haley's and he told Batman knowing that you had ‘asked’ Batman to find me, and then Batman gave me over to you” Dick hypothesized.

Bruce nodded, parking the car.

“You overheard some guards that had been paid off by Zucco to kill you so you ran and ended up back at Haley's” Bruce confirmed, giving Dick more details to work with, mildly impressed that he figured out the cover-story on his own.

Dick nodded, not entirely sure how he felt about officially coming back from the ‘dead’.

“I'm just going to get thrown back into the foster care system” Dick stated stoically as he opened the car door, trying to keep the miserable disappointment out of his voice.

And here he actually thought Bruce would keep him at the Manor.

“You won't” Bruce declared firmly, assuredly.

Dick raised a skeptical eyebrow at him, curious if that confidence came from being a wealthy billionaire who usually had the money and influence to get whatever it was that he wanted.

“And you're so sure because...?” Dick asked.

“Because I'm already your foster parent” Bruce declared.

While Kaldur had not expected a parade in response to his return, he had not expected to be on the receiving end of such coldness either.

“Though what is one to expect when they accuse the beloved Prince Orm of being Ocean-Master” Kaldur thought bitterly.

After his return celebration yesterday he had sat down with his King and told him everything he knew so far of the Light, Black Manta, and even the identity of the Ocean-Master.

While shocked and betrayed his King had believed his words and had his brother arrested with plans for Wonder Woman to interrogate him with her Lasso of Truth.

While they had tried to keep the arrest private, word had gotten out none-the-less.

Needless to say the citizens of Atlantis were outraged at the accusation, especially coming from someone who had been with an enemy of their country for a significant amount of time.

King Arthur had all but ordered Kaldur to remain in the palace after he had visited his old school and some of his former classmates had attacked him, calling him a no-good trouble causing traitor.

Fortunately Tula, Garth, and one of the younger students he used to mentor, L'gann, had jumped to his defense when they realized that he wasn't going to do much more than block and dodge, not wanting to hurt his former friends.

Needless to say Queen Mera had not been amused and had quickly ended the fight.

Pregnant or not the Queen was not one to be trifled with.

Staring out the guest room window Kaldur let out a sigh.

He didn't regret what he had done.

He just regret the pain and stress it put his King through.

“After the trial perhaps it'd be best for me to leave” Kaldur thought sadly.

“Artemis on your left!” Ray called out, warning his teammate.

Reacting first Artemis dove forward behind the closest barrier, just in time to hear the paint splatter against the board and not her.

“Keep moving” Roy ordered from his spot up a tree, “You just gave away your position”

Of course right after yelling out the warning Roy ran off himself since he just gave away his own hiding spot, barely dodging paintballs now aimed in his direction.

Spotting a flash of green Ray made his way around the barriers, keeping low to the ground.

Taking a risk he peered over the top of the barrier he had chosen to hide behind.

The moment he did a paint bullet appeared right in front of his face.

Not having enough time to react he closed his eyes, preparing himself for the inevitable sting that was about to come.

As paint splattered all over his face he realized quickly that there hadn't been any pain.

Opening his eyes he scanned his person, only to discover small splatters of paint on his face rather than a giant blot.

“You're welcome” Artemis declared haughtily, sliding up next to him.

“You hit the paintball coming at me with one of your own” Ray realized impressed.

“Easy shot” Artemis bragged, sticking her tongue out at him.

“Not the best place for a conversation” a voiced chastised teasingly.

Suddenly both Ray and Artemis were struck in the chest with a green paintball.

“Dang it!” they both chorused together.

“Two down, one to go” Ollie smirked from his position in the branches of the tree behind them.

Artemis and Ray just gave Ollie an evil smirk, causing a pit of unease to form in his stomach.

“Made you look” they said together.

Suddenly Ollie heard the telltale sound of a rapid fire spray of paint bullets heading his direction.

Quickly crouching down against the branch, Ollie dodged the paintballs just in time.

“Ha! Missed me!” Ollie declared joyously.

“Did I?” Roy questioned.

Though Ollie couldn't see him, he could tell that Roy was smirking.

Finally realizing why he looked up, only it was too late, a barrage of paint balloons rained down upon him, having been knocked out of their hiding places by the bullets Roy had shot just then.

Artemis, Roy, and Ray laughed as Ollie was covered head to toe in red, orange, and black paint.

“I'd say victory is ours” Roy declared, moving out of his hiding spot.

Ollie just huffed out a laugh as he hoped down from the tree, his feet making a squelching sound as he landed.

“Nice teamwork you three” Ollie complimented, grateful that the goggles had protected his eyes.

“Now this is my kind of training” Artemis declared happily.

It was the exact opposite of how her father had trained her.

Practical, fun, and together as opposed to harsh, ruthless, and every-girl-for-themself.

“I don't know about you three, but I could definitely use a shower” Ollie said with a chuckle, holding up his paint splattered arms.

“How about we order some Vietnamese food for lunch?” Ollie inquired, hoping to connect with Artemis a little bit better through food (and praying that he wasn't instead offending her on accident).

Fortunately Artemis understood that Ollie was just reaching out an awkward olive branch.

“How about I invite my Mom over instead and we can all make our own authentic Vietnamese dishes?” Artemis counter offered.

“I can't tell you how much of a relief it is to see you alive” Commissioner Gordon declared, giving Dick a small smile.

“I...remember you” Dick noted slowly, the memory of a kind bespeckled police officer coming to the forefront of his mind.

Commissioner Gordon nodded grimly.

“I am truly sorry” he said, giving Dick a sad look.

“For what?” Dick asked, his face scrunching in confusion.

“For failing you. Batman was the one who had brought the evidence forward that what happened to your parents wasn't an accident... I'm sorry that your case wasn't handled better” the Commissioner apologized.

Dick shook his head, “You're not the one who killed my parents. And you're not the one who put me in the juvenile detention center”

“I'm just sorry Bruce and I didn't get you out of there sooner” the Commissioner said, glancing over to where Bruce was finishing up the paperwork in his office.

Dick couldn't help but frown.

“I still can't believe he's my legal guardian” Dick muttered.

The Commissioner hummed in agreement.

“I was surprised as well when he had told me...Frankly I don't know if I've ever seen him as livid as he was the day he walked into my precinct all but demanding that I help him remove you from the detention center” the Commissioner admitted, lost in his own memories.

Dick honestly didn't know what to do with that information.

Bruce had apparently cared about him without even knowing that he was his son.

Before he even knew that he had disappeared.

He knew Bruce himself wasn't truly responsible for his parents’ deaths.

But it still hurt beyond all understanding just thinking about them.

How they had been killed because of him.

Because of the bloodline he carried.

But Dick knew his mother would pinch his ears if she saw how he was indirectly blaming Bruce.

He was her little robin in the Spring.

And Spring was all about new life and rebirth.

And right now he was faced with the chance for another new life.

A chance to get to know the man who had never stopped looking for him even though he wasn't even obligated to do so in the first place.

But was he ready for that?

It still baffled his mind that maybe if he had just waited a little bit longer he would have left the juvenile detention center with Bruce rather than with just the clothes on his back.

For the first time he truly wondered what it would have been like to have lived as Bruce's ward instead of the League of Shadows’ captive.

“That should do it” Bruce stated, handing over the packet of papers to the Commissioner.

“I'll let you know if I need anything else. For now go home and give Alfred my regards” the Commissioner stated.

Bruce gave him a grateful nod.

“Dad?” a young female voice called out, echoing through the station.

I turned to see a cute red-headed girl about my age heading in our direction.

“Barbara, what are you doing here? It's only-”

“Eleven-thirty AM Dad” the girl, Barbara said cutting him off with an exasperated smile.

“That late already? Time definitely flies” the Commissioner stated, looking away from his watch.

“Ah Barbara this is Richard Grayson, Bruce's ward. Dick, this is my daughter Barbara” the Commissioner introduced, placing his hand on his daughter's shoulder.

“Nice to meet you” Dick told her.

“Likewise” she replied, giving Dick a curious once over, “Will you be at the Gala tomorrow?”

“Gala?” Dick questioned confused.

“Dick just arrived today. I was going to ask if he wanted to go to the Gala a bit later” Bruce stated tightly.

He hadn't wanted to overwhelm Dick with the burdens of the high life and annoyances of the media vultures just yet.

“What Gala?” Dick asked again, not letting the subject drop.

“The Christmas Eve Gala. All Gotham socialites will be attending” Barbara said, finally giving Dick a straight answer.

Dick resisted the urge to scowl.

A room full of hosh-posh stuffy entitled rich brats was not his idea of a good time.

“Will you be there?” Dick asked curiously.

“Unfortunately” Barbara deadpanned.

Dick chuckled.

“Then I guess I will too. I mean what kind of gentleman would I be if I left you alone in a den of snakes?” Dick remarked sarcastically.

“If anyone's going to get eaten alive it's you pretty-boy” Barbara challenged good-naturedly back.

“Maybe. Maybe not. I guess we'll both have to see” Dick replied with a smirk.

“I guess we will” Barbara agreed.

“How many kinds of cookies are you making?” Connor asked, amazed by the sheer amount of ingredients floating past him.

“Ninety-three peppermint cookies, ninety-three chocolate chip cookies, and ninety-three sugar cookies” M'gann replied cheerfully, telepathically whisking around the ingredients as she read the cookbook.

“That's...a lot of cookies” Connor noted.

“The end result will only be three of each kind of cookie per person...Should I make more?” M'gann asked worriedly.

What if she didn't make enough and they wanted more?

“I'm sure it'll be fine” Connor assured her, grabbing ahold of the bowl of flour before it rammed into the side of his head.

M'gann just gave him a sad smile.

“I just...Not all my siblings and I exactly get along” M'gann admitted sadly, “I mean it's not like all of them were mean to me, but...They...Some of them made fun of me for loving Earthly television. Said if I didn't get my head out of the clouds then I wouldn't amount to anything”

Connor's eyes softened as he gripped both of M'gann's hands comfortingly.

“That’s ridiculous” Connor declared, “Dreamers are successful because they're constantly going after what they want”

“You're a hero and a world famous performer. If anyone has bragging rights it's you” Connor praised.

“Thanks Connor” M'gann said gratefully, leaning in to give him a light peck on the lips.

Unbeknownst to them J'onn and Dinah were making plans of their own for Connor while the two lovebirds baked in the kitchen.

“And he is completely ignoring your calls?” J'onn inquired disappointedly.

“Mine and Batman's” Dinah confirmed, not even trying to hide the irritation in her voice.

“I understand that this is a shock for him. But Clark has always wanted children. And now to toss that chance away…” J'onn trailed off.

“Well I'm not going to just stand around and let Clark bury his head in the sand” Dinah declared firmly.

“I take it you have a plan then?” J'onn inquired curiously.

Dinah gave him a grinch-like smirk.

“I'm going over his head” she declared cryptically, smugly.

Seven screens flickered on at the signal to covene.

“Ocean-Master has been compromised” the Brain informed robotically.

“Shall we retrieve him?” Queen Bee inquired, not particularly caring one way or the other.

“He needs to be silenced” Ra's corrected, not wanting to risk the Prince revealing anything of their plans.

“Send in Black Manta” Savage cut in quickly, his steepled fingers visible on his screen.

There was no point in devoting precious meeting time for such a trial matter.

“After all, the Light has no use for such a disgrace” Savage declared cruelly.

Chapter Text

Whoosh.

Iris tightened her grip on the box of Christmas ornaments before she dropped them on the floor.

Setting them down on the couch Iris started sifting through yet another box that had appeared almost out of nowhere.

'Our old Christmas clothes' Iris thought nostalgically, her eyes growing sft as she lifted the child-sized santa hat out of the box.

Whoosh.

Iris scrambled to grab the hat as it was blown out of her hands and into the hair, huffing out a sigh of mild annoyance at her husband's continuous running around.

Another three boxes. This time tinsel.

As Iris was trying to decide which colored tinsel to use for the tree another 'whoosh' sounded.

"Barry!" Iris called out sharply, her hands crossed over her chest.

"What'd you need?...Oh" Barry exclaimed, blinking owlishly.

Iris was covered head to toe in silver tinsel.

"Uh. I'm pretty sure the tinsel is for the tree babe" Barry tried to joke, wincing at the flatness of it.

Iris just leveled him with an unimpressed look.

"Sorry" he muttered, removing the glimmering decorations off her in a flash.

"Barry I think you need to slow down a bit. You're running around like if you don't somehow find every Christmas box in storage it's suddenly the end of the world" Iris exclaimed.

"Iris it's Christmas Eve! This is going to be our first Christmas with Wally in two years...I just really don't want to mess this up... Especially... Especially when we agreed to...tell him today" Barry said self-consciously.

Iris' eyes softened in understanding, reaching over to rub her husband's shoulder.

"I'm dreading it just as much as you are, but right now I think Wally would rather us be doing Christmas activities together rather than watching us run around like headless chickens unpacking boxes" Iris pointed out.

Barry nodded, "You're right".

"Come on. When Wally gets back from the store we can bake cookies and decorate the tree together as a family" Iris stated happily, smiling brightly.

"Sounds good to me! I was getting a little pekish" Barry exclaimed, his face lighting up.

"The groceries are for cookies to be eaten later. Not as we're making them" Iris reminded him with a fond eyeroll.

"Right" Barry agreed, though his mischievous eyes told another story.

"These are delicious Sweetheart. What are they called again?" Sha’lain’a asked her son, taking another bite of the treat.

"Peppermint chocolate chip cookies. M'gann kindly made a batch for me to give to you and Father" Kaldur explained, happy that they liked them. He would be certain to let M'gann know.

"And these are a tradition on the surface world?" Calvin asked curiously.

"Baking is a common practice for the holidays. I wish there were more of our traditions that I could share with you, sadly there are not many that can be done underwater" Kaldur explained slightly downcast.

He missed the Team. They were as much as his family to him as his Mother and Father.

That wasn't to say he wasn't happy to see both of them...But it was hard.

He was no longer allowed to venture out of the Palace.

Not because he was under arrest, but because a great many Atlaneans were up in arms over his part in Prince Orm's arrest and later imprisonment.

Even after King Arthur had made Prince Orm's trial with Wonder Woman public, the Atlantean people had remained mistrustful of him.

They called him a spy. A plant. That he had thrown Prince Orm to the wolves in order to gain their trust.

What upset him more was that backlash against him was affecting his Mother and Father as a result of their connection to him.

They however refused King Arthur's offer to reside within the Palace until the worst of it died down.

Though they did visit him often.

"Nonsense" Sha’lain’a said, "We can, what is it that you said? Decorate a tree?"

"Alas there are no pine trees underwater" Kaldur reminded his Mother, incredibly amused at her attempts to cheer him up.

"No. But there are plenty of other sea life I'm sure we could use as a substitute" Calvin pointed out, not to be deterred.

"And I'm sure I can wrangle Tula, Garth, and that boy L,gann into coming to a celebratory dinner tomorrow here at the Palace" Sha’lain’a proclaimed, clapping her hands together in excitement.

"That sounds like a splendid idea" Kaldur caved, a genuine smile adorning his face.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Ray ignored the door in favor of stuffing what was left of his clothes into his duffle bag.

Stupid Ollie. Stupid holidays. Stupid stupid stupid!

"That's a lot of stupid" a voice echoed behind me.

Turned to face Roy who was now leaning against my soon-to-be-vacated room's door, obviously having picked it open.

"The world is a stupid place" Ray grumbled.

"Now you just sound like an angsty teenager" Roy pointed out amused.

Ray just scowled at him, "You're not changing my mind this time".

Roy just raised an 'oh-really' eyebrow at him.

"I think you're just taking things the wrong way again" Roy stated simply, unphased by Ray's stubbornness. He could be just as stubborn after all.

"He's trying to control my life! You heard him on the phone!" Ray furiously exclaimed, tossing the sweater into the top of the duffle bag.

"He wants you to come back and live with him" Roy corrected.

"He was making plans to register me in schools in Starling City. False birth certificates! Adoption papers! In what century did he think that would be a good Christmas gift?!" Ray demanded challengingly.

"He's stupid" Roy commented with a shrug of his shoulders.

"I thought you said I was just being an angsty teenager?" Ray mocked.

"Because you are. But I didn't say you were wrong" Ray corrected, sounding amused.

Ray just rolled his eyes.

"We've already established that Ollie can easily go overboard and not think about the meaning of his actions through. He's stupid, but he's not intentionally being malicious" Roy pointedly reminded him.

"... He's still stupid though"

"I have to say you've definitely reached number one sister status in the eyes of some of your younger siblings" Mother giggled, watching as some of her younger children argued over who got to have the last of the cookies M'gann had made.

"Oh I told Connor that I should have made more!" M'gann exclaimed, mildly distressed.

She hated that her siblings were fighting each other over her cookies.

"Nonsense. There is still the..fruit cake and candy sticks left" her Father assured, assessing the Earthly food items again, fascinated.

"Candy canes" M'gann corrected with a sigh, "At least I know better for next year"

"Indeed" J'onn agreed, placing a comforting hand on his niece's shoulder.

It was admittedly nice to return to his home world and see his family again.

He and M'gann would need to visit more often.

M'gann's parents gave each other a glance that M'gann immediately recognized.

It was the look they gave her when they first told her that she wasn't allowed to go to Earth by herself.

"Honey your Father and I have been talking...And we haven't seen you in a while. You were missing-"

"What your Mother is trying to say is that we'd like for you to stay on Mars for a little bit before going back to Earth" her Father explained, his tone less frantic, holding onto his wife.

"What?! Why?!" M'gann exclaimed, stunned.

"Honey you were kidnapped-"

"And I escaped! I have a life on Earth now! Friends! I can't just leave!" M'gann exclaimed in a panic.

A scoff sounded.

"So what? You can leave your family without so much as a goodbye, but you can't leave a bunch of earthlings you've known less than a year" H'nna demanded.

"No! It's not like that!" M'gann desperately tried to explain.

"And what life? You could've learned to be a good housewife here. No need to be all dramatic and run away to Earth to do something you would've ended up here anyway" J'enn scoffed, sounding exasperated.

"If she's lucky" B'lla snickered next to her.

"No I…" M'gann trailed off despondently at her sisters' mocking and dismissals.

"That is quite enough" J'onn demanded, his tone firm and commanding, and not happy in the least, causing the sisters still floating around the dining area to pause in stunned silence.

Even the younger ones fell silent feeling their Uncle J'onn's ire and angry disapproval.

"M'gann is a strong independent young woman. Since arriving on Earth she made herself a career as a beloved celebrity and performer. She has a loving boyfriend and has found lasting friends that have bonds that equate to family. And on top of a successful career and personal life she and her friends protect the public as heroes. Even helping the Justice League. She is not wasting her time as a housewife as you say. Jealousy is not an attractive color. Do well to remember" J'onn proclaimed, glaring his nieces down for their abhorrent behavior, getting a dig right back in at their mockery of M'gann's status as a white Martian.

Silence.

Complete. Silence.

Not even a single telepathic thought was registered.

"M'gann is more than welcome to continue remaining with me...After all she has a performance tomorrow that she promised to complete" J'onn announced, his tone firm and unmoving.

M'gann soared over to her Uncle, squeezing him in the biggest hug of his life.

"Thank you" M'gann telepathically exclaimed, forever grateful for his defense.

"We need to talk" Ray proclaimed, marching right up to Ollie without compunction, Ray following close behind him.

Ollie blinked owlishly in surprise for a moment, "I'll call you right back".

As soon as Ollie hit the end call button Ray let him have it.

"I'm not living with you. My home is at Haley's. Traveling around the world with the Team, seeing new sights, meeting new people, the center ring, the applause, the camaraderie. That's where my home is. Not here. And you have no right to make that decision for me!" Ray proclaimed, rooting himself like a tree.

He wasn't going to lose his life, his family again.

Not if he could help it.

He lost years of his life because of others dictating his life for him.

No one is going to do that to him again.

Ollie looked as if someone had both slapped him in the face and knocked all the air out of his lungs, his eyes shining with regret and sorrow.

"I…"

"What?! Got nothing to say?" Ray demanded furiously, wanting Ollie to say anything. To justify his actions.

If anything he just looked sadder.

"I thought you were starting to be happier here...But I was only thinking of myself... I'm sorry" Ollie apologized, his voice low and unsure, his shoulders slumped and defeated.

Ray just growled out in frustration, "You weren't supposed to be reasonable!"

"For the love of God just make up your mind. Either you're pissed at him or you're afraid. For the sake of everyone just pick one already!" Roy announced in exasperation.

"Afraid?" Ollie inquired, confused.

"He was captured and podded by Cadmus for years. Would you be happy about someone coming in and making decisions for you about your life?" Roy deadpanned.

Ollie's face grimaced with undue horror.

"Oh God that's-That's not what I meant at all!" Ollie exclaimed in a panic.

"I told you he was an idiot" Roy said matter-of-factly at Ray.

"No. I said he was stupid and you agreed with me" Ray corrected.

"I think we all just need to promise each other one thing" Roy continued on, wanting to just get to the heart of the issue and move on with his life.

One that included watching cheesy Christmas videos and eating candy canes.

"What? For me and Ollie not to be in the same room together unless Canary is playing counselor?" Ray sarcastically replied.

"Not exactly. But it is something she told me once" Roy admitted.

"Which is?" Ollie asked hopefully.

"To assume makes an ass out of u and me"

Dick severely underestimated just to what degree he'd want to throttle each and every one of these pompous snobby rich assholes.

Every sentence out of them was either demeaning or smelled of rat and profit to be gained.

Or ass-kissery.

A lot of ass-kissery.

At least when he was with the Shadows it was all entirely a game of manipulations and profits.

This just pissed him off.

Barbara, or Babs as he's officially dubbed her, has been giving him amused smirks throughout the night, her eyes sparkling in interest as she tried to figure out just when he'd finally crack.

She even offered to "rescue him" at one point.

'Well jokes on her' Dick thought, 'I love a challenge'

Just as Dick was about to try stomaching another conversation with his haughty cousin Bette his Team Alarm Watch dinged.

Without a moment of hesitation Dick slipped unnoticed out of the ballroom and into one of the many abandoned rooms.

"Wally?" Dick whispered desparately, "What's wrong? Did the Light find you? You need backup? Over?"

Sniffles sounded over the communicator, causing Dick's spine to stiffen in alarm.

"I-I'm outside t-the hall. I just-I just need a friend right now" Wally stuttered, his breath coming out in pants as if he were holding back tears.

"I'm on my way" Dick resolutely declared.

Artemis sat atop her Mother's apartment complex, waiting for Wally and Dick to arrive.

The morning had started out great.

A nice breakfast with her Mom. She went up into the storage space and dusted off some of the old Christmas boxes. They made a whole bunch of Vietnamese inspired Christmas cookies.

Then her Mother got a letter in the mail offering her daughter a scholarship to attend Gotham Academy.

She scoffed at the idea. Promptly crumpling up the paper and tossing it into the wastebasket.

Her Mother of course saw the offer as a wonderful opportunity for her to "better her life".

She understood where her Mother was coming from, but she was happy at Haley's. And while she had missed her immensely, she wasn't planning on staying in Gotham.

Not unless everyone in the Team wanted to stay at their new (temporary) 'homes' as well.

'And considering what Wally's going through right now? That's a big if' Artemis thought.

As if called, a whoosh sounded behind her.

Turning around, Artemis was met with a grim looking Dick Grayson, and a red-eyed Wally West.

Artemis immediately went over to Wally and squeezed him tight.

"We got you" she told him, gripping his shoulders tight, not saying a word as another round of tears made their way down Wally's face, only gripping him even tighter.

"Sooo who lives here?" Connor asked as they walked up the front porch, more than a little wary and skeptical about why Dinah had insisted that he come with her to a Christmas Eve celebration at some couple's farm in the middle of the countryside.

Dinah gave a few soft raps of the door before turning to give him a conspiratory grin.

"Your grandparents"

Chapter Text

Today was the day.

Bruce and Alfred had claimed a good vantage spot where they were able to see every angle of the center ring, with Ollie and Dinah sitting to their right, and Mr. and Mrs. Kent sitting to their left.

Ma and Pa were particularly ecstatic to see their grandson perform.

Bruce swore that Ma was going to crush him to death via hug after giving her and Pa tickets to fly in and see the show.

A responsibility that should have been Clark's.

But Bruce held his tongue and debated on the ethics of planting audio recording devices in the Kent's home so that he could hear Ma lay into Clark himself when he showed up later tonight, unaware that his parents even knew about Connor's existence, let alone that he was now temporarily living with them.

Bruce, ever aware of his surroundings, took note of everyone else's location.

J'onn had shifted into his John Jones persona and decided to situate himself on the opposite end of the stands as an additional assurance that no one would connect their civilian identities.

Though sitting not far from them was Arthur, Mera, Sha’lain’a, Calvin, Tula, and Garth. The latter four excited for their first experience in the surface world.

Zatara was sitting comfortably in the VIP section, and Paula Crock was in the handicap accessible seating in the front row.

And despite the fact that Wally was currently bunking in the room next to Dick's, Barry and Iris were seated close to the front rows near the performers' entrance on stage, no doubt hoping to talk to Wally when the show was over.

Tonight marked the final day the kids were...obligated to stay with them.

Bruce wasn't sure how to feel about that.

A part of him hoped that Dick would stick around the manor just a tad bit longer, but the decision was ultimately Dick's.

After having the Shadows try and dictate his life he reserved the right to decide for himself.

And if Dick chose to return to Haley's, then at least Bruce knew where he was and could keep a discreet eye on him while he lived his life.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to Haley's Christmas extravaganza!" Pop Haley proclaimed, his voice echoing through the microphone as the lights of the center stage brought the focus down on him.

The crowd cheered in excitement and anticipation of what was to come. Some of the loudest cheers coming from the Team's family and guests.

"Tonight's performance is all about the feelings of home and family. And I welcome you all into ours tonight!" Pop Haley proclaimed, giving the audience a bow, the spotlights vanishing, turning the area completely dark.

Suddenly the spotlight returned to the center ring, only this time instead of Pop Haley, Zatanna was center stage.

"Wons ti tel" Dahlia (Zatanna) proclaimed, a swirl of snow forming in-between her palms.

With a flourish Dahlia threw her arms up into the air, allowing the snow to burst into the air, gently drifting around the enclosed area as if someone had shaken a snow globe.

In awe of the lightly drifting snow around them the audience let out a gasp of surprise when Diane, Dane, and Dave Danger fired ropes of reinforced Christmas lights across the top of the circus tent from their ledges on the rafters.

A pair of tightrope walkers in waltz-like attire made their way out onto the decorated ropes dancing and twirling their way across the air as if they weren't 100 feet off of the ground, Josh Groban's song Believe giving the atmosphere an almost magical feel.

Suddenly Dan and Dawn Danger trapezed their way above the tightrope walking dancers, letting go of their bars and spinning like corkscrews past one another before grabbing onto the opposite bars.

On the back swing both of them let go, the audience gasping at their free-falling descent.

Right as the song reached the part "And give your dreams the wings to fly", Dan and Dawn grabbed onto the translucent wires, using their momentum to propel themselves around the outer rim of the ring, their angel leotards making them look as if they truly were angels flying freely through the snowy night.

On the ground a wave of water burst onto the center stage, Don Danger swirling the water around him on the floor before freezing it into ice and skating along its surface as he created ice sculpture after ice sculpture around the rink.

Gazing upon the newly decorated stage the audience realize the aerial show had been a distraction while the ground floor had been set up.

Presents and snowmen were scattered around the newly snow covered stage.

Suddenly Dean Danger came out onto the ice, skating gracefully as if he wasn't juggling three nine foot tall pine trees.

With careful aim Dean tossed the trees stump first into their designated stands around the stage, signalling to Diane, Dane, and Dave to start firing decorations onto the trees with their arrows.

At the same time clowns burst out of the snowmen startling the audience members in the front row and even catching a few in their snowball fight.

Back on the rink Don completed the ice ramps and loop-de-loops.

Dale Danger burst out onto the stage, taking a super fast lap around the edge of the stage so that a small amount of snow was kicked up at the audience members, before zooming his way onto the ice, slowing down just enough so that the audience could watch him speed around backwards and side to side as he weaved his legs in and out of each other, only speeding up slightly so that he had the momentum he needed to skate backwards through the loop-de-loop.

As Dale was launched into the air he did a double flip before landing on his feet and sliding down the ramp, giving the audience a grateful bow for their cheers as he slid past them.

"Etativel!" Dahlia exclaimed, having teleported herself onto the small platform in front of the Christmas tree in the middle of the ice rink.

Suddenly all the presents began to levitate high into the air.

"Nepo kaerb!" She commanded with a snap.

The presents burst apart like fireworks. Red, green, and gold square confetti, as well as taffy and mints showered the audience, the children squeeling with joy and scrambling to catch what they could.

"An amazing first performance, wouldn't you agree?" Pop Haley exclaimed, having made his way back to the center stage.

The audience of course roared out an applause.

"Now that the stage has been set, let's keep this express train going all the way to the North Pole!" Pop Haley proclaimed.

“So? What did you think of my first performance as Dahlia Danger?” Zatanna inquired, skipping her way over to her Father, still giddy and energized from the show.

Zatara just gave his daughter a proud, but sad smile.

“Your Mother would have been proud” Zatara softly exclaimed, regretful that in his protectiveness he had stunted his daughter’s growth and potential.

He had wanted her to be safe...But she had (rightfully) wanted to live.

“Perhaps it is time for our family shows to become just that again” Zatara suggested.

Zatanna just looked at him in awe before tackling him with a squeezing hug, “Best Christmas gift ever!”

“Soooo what now?” Ray asked, feeling a bit out of place with the Team scattering around to their relatives now that the show was done.

Christmas had never really been a thing on the Reservation, and while he celebrated it in the past because of the Team, and knew basic facts due to commercialism in general, he never had any Christmas traditions to call his own, which left him feeling kind of lost as to what the four of them would be doing.

"I figured we could recycle an old holiday tradition" Ollie proclaimed, a mischievous smirk forming on his lips, making Ray raise a curious eyebrow at him, especially when Dinah huffed out an exasperatedly amused sigh.

"So shooting out Christmas lights and stuffing ourselves silly with cookies and eggnog till we puke?" Roy inferred, an amused grin on his face as well, his eyes lighting up in laughter at the memories of past holidays.

“Is that really a thing?” Ray asked, partly confused and partly grossed out at the idea of vomiting up his guts.

“It is for us” Roy replied, “Just wait until you hear Dinah Canary Cry Christmas carols at opportunistic thieves”

“Now that sounds interesting”

“But what if they don’t like me?” M’gann protested nervously as Connor led her hand-in-hand over to meet his grandparents, J’onn following close behind, “I mean I’m-I’m-”

“An alien?” Connor finished, giving his girlfriend an amused eyebrow, “Last I checked Kyrptonian isn't a race that originated on Earth”

M’gann just puffed her cheeks out at him, complete with an irritated glare.

Connor just laughed.

“They’re going to love you” he assured her.

But M’gann wasn’t so sure.

A majority of her own biological family didn’t accept her.

The Team were the exceptions, not the rule.

‘It will not be as you think’ J’onn assured his niece, brushing his mind gently against hers in comfort.

‘Thanks Uncle J’onn’ M’gann thought gratefully back, though it still didn’t remove her nerves...Or prepare her for the whirlwind that was Ma Kent.

“Aren’t you the most adorable thing!” Ma proclaimed, quickly moving forward to give M’gann a huge hug.

One that was 100% reciprocated once M’gann snapped out of her stupor.

“Connor has been gushing about you ever since he arrived yesterday! I just had to meet my future granddaughter-in-law!” Ma excitedly exclaimed, clapping her hands together.

M’gann blushed in mortification, resisting the urge to hide her face in her hands.

“You and your Uncle must join us for Christmas dinner!” Ma decided, already formulating plans to increase the abhorrent amount of food she had already prepared. Kryptonians had huge appetites after all.

“Oh no we couldn’t possibly intrude!” M’gann stammered out surprised.

“Oh sweetheart I insist! The more the merrier! Right Hun?” Ma waved off, smiling brightly at her husband.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve had guests over for Christmas. I think it’ll be a nice change of pace. Plus it’ll be our first Christmas with Connor, and it would be rude not to invite his girlfriend and her family over as well” Pa whole-heartedly agreed.

“Thank you!” M’gann exclaimed, pure joy lighting up on her face, “I can help you in the kitchen if you’d like?”

“That would be wonderful dear” Ma gratefully accepted, happy to have another helping hand.

‘Maybe the Team aren’t the exception after all’ M’gann thought happily.

“Wally wait!” Barry pleaded, hoping he and Iris could just get him to turn around.

Fortunately he hadn’t used his powers to speed away yet.

“I have nothing to say to either of you....Sound familiar?” Wally bit out spitefully, not once halting in his strides back to his trailer.

“Wally I’m so sorry that we-that I failed you. I truly thought you were safe and happy. Had I known the monster Rudy was I would have told you years ago!” Iris pleaded guiltily.

She would never not feel guilty for giving Wally away.

She had trusted that her family would treat Wally right.

She had trusted wrong.

“But you didn’t!” Wally snapped, wheeling around to face his biological parents, “You let me believe that you were only my Aunt and that they were my parents. That I was stuck with them! And now you turn all that on its head and you somehow think that erases everything that’s happened? That somehow it makes all that pain, loneliness, and fear better?! Well news flash, it doesn’t!”

“I know it doesn’t” Iris said, tears streaming down her face, “If I could turn back time I would, but I can’t. I’m sorry I didn’t see that you were hurting, suffering, with Rudy. I’m sorry I was never there for you when you needed me to be-”

“That we were never there the way you need us to be” Barry corrected, cutting Iris off, “Neither of us saw the signs. And while I may not have known that you were my son back then it still doesn’t make the fact that I know I failed you in the worst way any different. You trusted Iris and I to protect you as your family and we didn’t. And that’s a guilt and regret that will always be there no matter what happens or how much times passes”

Wally just stood there silently, teeth still clenched, and hands still balled into fists, vibrating lightly with heavy emotion.

“I know that this probably isn’t what you want to hear, but as horrible as you feel right now just put yourself in their place. Your Mom thought she was giving you a better life. Your situation is any parent’s nightmare. The fact that she had been so closely a part of your life makes that even worse” Artemis said, ignoring the wetness of her shoulder from Wally’s tears as they sat slumped over on the roof of her Mother’s apartment.

“And you’re not the only one she lied too you know. Your Dad didn’t know either. I can’t imagine how he must’ve felt finding out that his missing nephew was actually his son” Dick reminded him softly, trying not to wince guiltily at how his words applied to him as well, “They looked for you. They love you, and it doesn’t sound like they’re trying to run from their mistakes”

“I wish I could say that Sportsmaster isn’t my biological Father...You have a second chance at a better life with two parents who love you” Artemis told him, placing her hand on Wally’s.

“So what then? I’m just supposed to bite my tongue? Forgive and forget?” Wally bit out bitterly.

“No” Dick told him firmly, “How you feel is how you feel. You told me that...Just remember they’re suffering to”

“There’s no magical reset button” Wally grit out, tears forming in his eyes, “I don’t know how I feel about...all this”

“And that’s fine. We never expected it to be easy, or for things to go back to the way they were. We don’t want them too” Iris said, her breath hiccuping as she removed some of her frozen tears with her one hand.

“We’re all very different now. Everything is different...And...It might be better to...start over? Relearn each other?” Barry suggested, trying and failing to keep the hopefulness out of his voice.

Wally said nothing.

His brain moving a million miles a minute.

Should he?

Should he?

What did he want?

Did he want this?

…...He didn’t know…

…...But he didn’t want to run anymore either…

“Maybe you can all get through that suffering together” Artemis suggested, the conversation going silent from there, the three of them content to just take comfort in each other’s presence.

“...I still like hot chocolate” Wally grumbled, not looking at either Barry or Iris as he scratched at his face awkwardly, pretending not to see the hope light up in both their eyes.

Did he want this?

“A bunch of small marshmallows or one giant one?” Barry asked, fighting the urge to smile, as if his happiness would shatter the moment.

Wally wasn’t sure.

“Mountain of tiny” Wally replied.

But he wanted to find out.

"I knew they'd work things out" Dick stated confidently, sincerely happy for his friend as he observed the beginnings of the little reconciliation from the side of the tent.

"That makes one of us then" Artemis muttered in guilty despondence.

"Hey, I'm sure you and your Mom can reach a compromise" Dick assured her softly, "She just wants to know your safe. Your Dad did tell her that you were dead after all"

"I know I know" Artemis exasperatedly exclaimed, "But it's my life too. And the idea of trading in my tights and alter ego for a prep uniform is just so…"

"No?" Dick finished, giving her a wry smirk.

"Yeah" Artemis agreed, letting out a sigh.

"You know if I never got kidnapped I'd probably be going to Gotham Academy" Dick noted offhandedly, cringing at the thought of being surrounded by those snobby, rich, entitled prep brats.

"So you're definitely staying with Pop Haley?" Artemis questioned.

She still wasn't entirely sure what she wanted to do yet.

...No...She knew what she wanted. But she didn't want to leave her Mother either.

Dick was silent for a moment, his serious yet dark and slightly hesitant expression sent a prickle of worry down Artemis' spine.

"I think...I might tell Bruce the truth" Dick slowly proclaimed, his voice unsure.

Artemis blinked in surprise.

"Is that what you want?" Artemis asked him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"No matter what I decide, I just don't want there to be any more lies between us" Dick explained.

"A fresh start" Artemis realized, her eyes going soft with understanding.

Dick nodded.

"He's not very good with emotions, but I know he cares. Spending time with him gave me the closure I needed...He deserves the same" Dick exclaimed, his eyes now far more confident in his decision then a moment ago.

Artemis nodded.

"When are you planning on telling him?" she asked.

"Once I know how everyone else is feeling about their current living situations I'll go from there” Dick decided.

"If you need anything, I'm here” Artemis assured him.

Dick just gave her a grateful nod, watching her make her way over to Ms. Crock.

Things were going to be changing for all of them, and Dick couldn’t help the slight stab of fear that they would all be drifting away from one another.

The Team was his family too.

“The only thing that is constant in this world is change. Don’t let the fear of the unknown keep you from flying my Little Robin” Mary said, kissing him lightly on the forehead.

‘Change in normal’ Dick silently assured himself, taking in a deep breath, taking the crucial steps forward toward Bruce, ‘And change is only what you make of it’

Hopefully they could all make a positive one.

Black Manta watched as his son descended back into the sea with the King and Queen from the shadows of the harbor.

Soon.

Very soon.

Chapter Text

"We have made our decision" Kaldur proclaimed, stepping forward as the defacto leader of the group.

The Team, including, Zatanna, stood resolutely behind him.

The kids were all dressed down, so none of the Leaguers in attendance knew what they had decided.

Though Batman was fairly certain her knew the answer.

*Two days ago - Christmas day*

"And Agent A saves the day again. I don't know what we would do without you Alfred" Dick exclaimed, trying to wipe the flour off his face, but ultimately giving up when his efforts were obviously fruitless.

He and Bruce were practically covered in the stuff...And so was the kitchen.

"Burn down the kitchen I'd reckon" Alfred deadpanned, removing the mostly burnt first batch of gingerbread cookies he and Bruce had put into the oven.

They didn't look too black black, so Dick figured they were still salvageable. That's what frosting was for after all.

Waste not want not.

"Why don't you go clean up Chum. We'll meet back here to fix up the kitchen, and then move on to the next manner of business" Bruce told him, dusting some of the flour off himself so he wouldn't track it through the Manor.

"I call the first Christmas movie!" Dick proclaimed before racing out of the kitchen to take a quick shower.

Arriving back at the kitchen Bruce was surprised Dick hadn't beaten him to the punch. He had expected to come down to see Dick finished half of the kitchen already.

Speak of the devil, Bruce heard the quick pattering of footsteps making their way closer to the kitchen.

"Sorry" Dick grinned, bounding into the room, "I'm my excitement I made a wrong turn. Why do you have so many unnecessary hallways?"

"The better to confuse those who shouldn't be looking around" Bruce replied.

Dick made a comically offended face, "Gee thanks".

Bruce ruffled Dick's still wet hair, "You'll get used to it...If that is what you'd like"

Dick gave him a grin that didn't meet his eyes. A fact Bruce didn't fail to notice.

"It would make Easter Egg Hunts interesting" Dick said thoughtfully, a mischievous glint coming into his eyes.

Bruce snorted, "And can you imagine what Alfred would do if we forgot any?"

"He'd kick us out of the house" Dick agreed with a laugh.

"First things first" Bruce stated, halting the conversation so that they could get the night moving.

"Mission: Clean Kitchen a go" Dick agreed, grabbing the bowls and making his way over to the sink.

"Did you decide on a movie?" Bruce inquired curiously as he wiped down the floury countertops.

Dick paused a moment.

Almost a startled kind of frozen...As if he'd forgotten.

"Hmmm" Dick pondered, scrubbing the dishes at a much slower pace now as he wracked his brain, "I was thinking Home Alone. There's something about watching the kid take matters into his own hands that's deeply satisfying"

Bruce stiffened a bit, "Oh?"

Dick tensed, though his voice still held a bit of levity, "That's a judgy "Oh". I'm guessing you're not a Home Alone fan?"

"I can appreciate the slapstick comedy, but it gives kids the wrong impression" Bruce casually explained himself, trying not to sound accusatory seeing that he had hit a nerve.

"I don't see how it's any different from what we do" Dick challenged as he rinsed the soap out of the bowls.

"Its not supposed to be about revenge. You can't hurt someone just because you think that they deserve it" Bruce calmly countered back, "Kevin McAllister displayed clear signs of sadism"

"And what? You're saying that's me? Is that the real reason why I'm here? So that you can make sure that I don't turn into a sadistic little assassin?" Dick sneered, tossing the dishcloth into the sink and wheeling around to glare at Bruce.

"No that's not-"

"Whatever" Dick scoffed, marching out of the kitchen, "I'll be back later to finish cleaning"

Leaving Bruce standing in the middle of the kitchen alone wondering just what caused the blowout.

"I have to say, Vietnamese style gingerbread cookies are not a failure" Artemis admitted, taking another sample bite, not looking at her Mother.

"It was certainly fun" Paula agreed, cookie in her mouth as she wheeled around to get milk out of the fridge.

"I'll admit I'd never thought of applying how I make my truck arrows to cooking" Artemis muttered spacily.

"It's all science. You should consider pursuing a career in cooking" Paula recommended, pouring a glass for each of them.

Artemis' hands trembled slightly before she clenched them into fists, her eyes shadowed.

"Because I should be going to Gotham Academy right?" Artemis said, her accusatory words in opposition with her soft tone.

"Artemis-"

"Right" Artemis repeated sharply, still not daring to look at her Mom.

Paula sighed, "Yes I think you'll be wasting an excellent opportunity to better your life".

"That's just it Mom. You think. I've already bettered my own life. Without your help" Artemis harshly exclaimed, "And I don't need you swooping in telling me how I need to live my life"

"Artemis!"

Artemis didn't look back as she walked out of the room.

"Clark welcome home!" Ma greeted warmly, giving her son a giant hug when she opened the door.

"About time. I was beginning to think we needed to call in the cavalry" Pa joked, giving Clark a hug of his own.

"Sorry I'm late. Apparently not even villains take a holiday" Clark apologized, handing Pa the presents he'd bought so they could be put under the tree for later.

"No worries dear. All the guests are already inside" Ma assured him, guiding him to the dining room.

"Guests?" Clark questioned in surprise, but before he could use his super sense to determine who it was, they were already at their destination.

Nobody moved.

Clark for his part was almost too stunned to speak.

Almost.

"J'onn? M'gann? Connor? What are you all doing here?" Clark asked, completely baffled and slightly tense at the fact Connor was here.

"Yes Clark. What is my grandson doing at your Father and I's home on Christmas?" Ma questioned sharply, though her tone was still light and cherry and the patronizing smile never left her face.

Clark couldn't help but since at the accusation.

'Damn' Connor thought impressed (and a little smug at his Grandma's not so subtle passive aggression), 'Don't mess with Ma Kent'

"Ma-"

"After Christmas I expect a darn good explanation why I had to learn I was a grandmother from Dinah. But right now I expect everyone to be on their best behavior. M'gann and I didn't slave away in the kitchen all day for nothing, you hear?" Ma scolded looking her son in the eye.

Clark couldn't do anything as he was thoroughly chastised by his Ma.

"Great!" Ma cheerfully exclaimed, clapping her hands together, "Everyone take a seat!"

This was hands down the most awkward dinner Connor had ever attended.

Clark hadn't looked at him once since arriving, though he did compliment M'gann on her cooking and deserts.

Which was good because Connor wasn't sure if he could keep himself from punching the guy if he had been rude to her.

J'onn likely would have as well.

But then again it wasn't M'gann that made Clark uncomfortable.

Ma made sure that everyone was smiling and laughing though, so all in all it wasn't horrible. Really, Ma should be the one named Superwoman with all she had to put up with tonight.

Of course then everything went to pot.

A notification sound alarmed throughout the room, and Clark pulled out his phone.

"Someone is wreaking havoc near Cadmus" Clark exclaimed, immediately standing up.

"We can help you" M'gann immediately offered, quickly realizing that whoever it was, was likely an escaped prisoner or experiment.

Clark gave her an appreciative smile, "Thank you, but I can handle this quicker on my own. But if I do need backup I will contact J'onn...Don't worry I'll be back before you know it"

And just like that he was gone.

Pa turned on the TV so that they could watch the incident live.

"Is that..." M'gann inquired in utter disbelief, staring at the screen in speechless horror.

"This just in. An unknown assailant in a white suit and an inverted Superman logo on his chest is destroying buildings, tossing vehicles, mad upending asphalt" the reporter announced.

"He looks like..." Ma trailed off, stunned.

"Me..." Connor finished, his voice a shocked whisper.

"And here comes Superman to save the day!" the reporter cheered.

"I have another grandson?!" Ma exclaimed in surprise, looking at Connor for some kind of confirmation.

"They had a backup plan..." Connor muttered in growing horror.

"Well I'm sure Clark can talk the young man down" Ma confidently declared, seeing that Connor was too spaced out to answer.

"Superman is pausing to try and reason with the assailant. Who oddly enough looks very similar to him...And the assailant is attacking the Man of Steel! Superman strikes back ruthlessly!" the reporter proclaimed.

Connor pales at the sheer unflinching beatdown Clark was giving the other clone, 'Is that what he wants to do to me?'

M'gann's hands covered her mouth, her Uncle wrapping an arm around her in comfort as he glared in angry disappointment at the screen.

Ma clutched Pa's hand in disbelief, not recognizing the man that they saw on the screen before them.

It was a little more then an hour later that Clark arrived back at the farmhouse after capturing the clone with the Guardian's assistance.

Everyone was waiting outside for him.

"Why the long faces? Its the holidays!" Clark exclaimed, trying to bring some levity to everyone's grim expressions.

"Did you have to be so rough with the child Clark?" Ma questioned scoldingly.

"Rough?! Ma that wasn't a child! It was an unstable clone!" Clark defended.

"Like me?" Connor demanded, teeth and fists clenched tight.

Clark narrowed his eyes at Connor, "Match, as Guardian called it, couldn't even talk and was lacking higher cognitive function because it was missing pieces of its DNA. For all we know you-"

"Clark Joseph Kent that is enough!" Ma sharply it off, walking directly up to her son, finger pointed up to him, "Children do not ask to be brought into this life! Whether they are born or created makes no difference! Just because one has a disability-"

"Disability?! Ma, this isn't a child with Cerebral palsy or Autism-"

"You yourself just stated that the poor boy has genetic defects that effect his ability to cognitively comprehend things appropriately! Regardless, how you could even punch someone who looks like your son so ruthlessly-"

"He's not my son Ma! He was created to be my replacement should something happen to me!" Clark shouted, his chest heaving slightly.

"..."

"If I could slap your cheek without hurting my hand I would" Ma exclaimed, her tone scarily even.

Clark flinched at her words.

He hadn't meant to blurt out his insecurities and uncomfortablities like that.

"Connor is not you!" M'gann exclaimed, furiously flying over to the Man of Steel, "Connor is his own person with his own likes, dislikes, hopes and dreams! He isn't you or anyone else! Connor is Connor, and you'd know that of you'd just give him a chance!"

Clark was speechless.

"Don't worry about it M'gann. He's made his opinion crystal clear...Thank you for having me" Connor thanked, turning to Ma appreciatively and grabbing ahold of her hand in thanks.

He needed to get out of here.

"No sweetie" Ma said sadly, patting Connor's hand, "You're not the one who can fly"

Clark blinked in surprise, his mouth dropping open, "Ma-"

Ma just leveled him with an immovable glare.

Taking a deep breath Clark took off into the night.

"Kaldur" Sha'lain'a called out softly, opening the palace guest room door.

Kaldur was standing with his back to her, facing out at the riot in front of the palace.

Sha'lain'a slowly made her way over to her son, Christmas festivities long since forgotten.

"This trial will pass darling" Sha'lain'a said softly, swimming over and lightly grilling her son's shoulders in assurance, "It may take some time, but people will see that you are not the enemy here. Mad then things will start to feel like home again"

"That is just the problem Mother" Kaldur corrected grimly, "Atlantis is no longer my home. I have been trying to fool myself otherwise for some time now"

"Sweetheart..." Sha'lain'a exclaimed sadly, a hint of desperation in her tone in realizing where this conversation was likely going.

"Haley's is my home Mother. While I will always love you, Cal, Tula, and Garth, and I will always see King Orin as my King, but Atlantis is not where I belong" Kaldur told her sadly, kissing her lightly on her cheek.

He needed to go.

For more reasons then one.

*Current day - Hall of Justice*

"And the verdict?" Flash I suited in trepidation, barely keeping himself from vibrating in place.

The Team didn't waver.

They needed to do this.

"We are staying with Pop Haley" Kaldur announced, his tone resolute and final, "The decision was unanimous"

You could almost hear all the hearts in the room shattering into irreparable pieces.

"And you are all certain that this is what you want?" Black Canary inquired sadly.

"It is" Kaldur proclaimed, the entire Team nodding along with him.

"Zatanna?" Zatara inquired carefully, his silent question hanging in the air.

"I want to join Haley's as Dahlia Danger" Zatanna requested firmly, though Zatara could tell from the look in her eyes it really wasn't a request, "At least just until winter break is over...I think it'll be good experience for me, you know?"

For a moment Zatara said nothing as he tried to clamp down on his roaring overprotective instincts.

Letting out an audible sigh Zatara nodded.

A relieved and grateful smile made its way into Zatanna's face.

They could do this.

"Of that is what all of you have decided then we respect that" Batman proclaimed, eyeing Dick specifically.

Dick gave him a small nod.

Flash on the other hand was a moment away from bawling his eyes out.

He thought things were getting better!

Wally gave his Dad an apologetic look.

And though he was looking at Flash, his next words were for the entire League.

"If you ever need us, you know where to find us"

Chapter Text

Behind the proud smile he was portraying for the flashing cameras, Green Arrow couldn’t help the swirling concoction of sadness, grief, and loneliness mixing itself in his stomach.

Today was supposed to be a happy day where they welcomed three new members into the League: Icon, Elastic Man, and The Atom.

Instead his mind was bitterly replaying to itself how Red Arrow should be standing up here right now.

Green Arrow resisted the urge to sigh.

Roy, Ray, and Artemis had a right to decide the kind of life they wanted to live (all the kids did).

And no matter how much it hurt, he wasn’t about to destroy the fragile relationship he’d built with all three of them just because he wanted them to stay.

“Time to go in” Black Canary whispered, nudging Green Arrow out the vortex of his own thoughts.

Green Arrow nodded and followed the newbies inside the Hall along with Batman, Red Tornado, and Superman.

“We’re going to head up to the Watch Tower from here. Before we do, Icon, if you want to speak with your protege we understand. I’m sure she’ll want to congratulate you” Black Canary stated, a smile making its way onto her face.

“You don’t know Raquel, that is Rocket. After making her wait inside, congratulations may not be the first thing on her mind” Icon stated grimly, almost certain he was about to get an earful from his protege for making her hide away instead away from the spotlight.

Only when the group walked into the lounge they found the room instead to be eerily vacant...

“Though I thought she would at least stick around…” Icon exclaimed, stunned and mildly hurt that his protege had been so upset that she hadn’t even stayed until after the ceremony.

Smokey Mountains Dec. 30th 1:43 pm

“Are you sure it’s her? I mean are you absolutely positive?” Tigress inquired, babbling in her nervousness.

“See for yourself. This is the security footage from the Asheville Regional Airport. Facial recognition confirms that’s Jade Nguyen. But she’s your sister. What’d you think?” Robin asked, pulling up the footage and pictures onto the Bio-ship’s monitors.

“It’s Jade. Cheshire” Tigress exclaimed, looking down in disappointment, scowling in annoyance.

“Agreed. But focus on what she carries. Is that the case you saw in New Orleans. The one that got away?” Torrent asked, turning to Acteon.

“Yes” Acteon proclaimed, clenching his fists on his chair.

That had been one of the few missions he’d actually failed since he had struck out on his own as Red Arrow, and was still a sore spot for him.

“Okay, I’m guessing from the mugshot that this Cheshire is the bad guy, but what’s so important about that case?” Rocket asked, trying as best as she could to follow along.

It was obvious the Team had been up to a lot more than just helping Zatanna deal with Klarion, and though she was honored they called her in for additional backup, she still felt out of the loop with a lot of what was going on.

“Remember the Injustice League?” Robin asked, starting his explanation from there.

“The giant evil plants attacking cities around the world? Uh yeah” Rocket proclaimed, as if she would forget that!

“The League put them in prison, but their more devious allies still scheme. Whatever is in that containment case seems important to their plans. And we need to find out what it is” Torrent explained, his tone firm and determined.

“I had the chance to get the case in New Orleans, but I screwed up big time and Cheshire got away” Acteon exclaimed through grit teeth.

“Approaching Cheshire’s jet” Miss Martian informed them, expression serious.

When the ship finally got within view of the jet the Team gasped in shock, the sight causing Artemis to have to turn away.

“Looks like there were no survivors” Miss Martian reported sadly, looking upon the wreckage of the plane with sadness.

Enemy or not, Cheshire was still Artemis’ sister.

Immediately the Team started scouring through the bits of plane scattered around the snow covered ground, searching for any sign of the case...or survivors.

“How come homeland security and the NTSD aren’t all over this?” Rocket asked confused as she took another 360 look around.

“Cheshire’s ID was a League alert. Authorities didn’t pick it up and her jet didn’t follow the flight plan. It flew under the radar. Literally. The WatchTower autotracked the jet and reported the crash” Robin informed her as he fiddled with some of the damaged tech.

“Then why isn’t the League here?” Rocket questioned, curious how the hell they got here before them.

Icon was going to kill her when he showed up!

“Because our Boy Wonder has some mighty hacking skills and arranged to get the alert first” Zatanna proudly proclaimed, a mischievous smirk making its way onto her face.

“And because Cheshire and that case represent our unfinished business” Torrent exclaimed, his tone resolute.

“Where are the bodies?” Power Boy questioned, skeptical about how the crash site seemed so abandoned.

“Here’s one” a sultry voice echoed from above.

Looking up the Team saw Cheshire in all her haughty glory, entirely uninjured.

“And it is stunning” Cheshire purred out, looking directly at Roy with a flirty gaze that could be seen even through her mask.

Roy ignored Artemis’ narrowed eyes and thanked his lucky stars he knew how to keep his expression schooled under pressure and not blush.

“I am flora not fauna. I am foliage not trees. What am I?”

The Team swiveled their heads quickly to see the Riddler snap his fingers, and devices pop out of the snow, a barrier surrounding them. Trapping them inside it.

“Come on you can get this” Riddler mocked, “I am shrubbery not grass. What am I? I…”

“Am bush” Robin finished, his voice grave.

“Did you honestly think we'd believe that you would heed the Light’s warnings? We knew you were on Cheshire’s trail,and we’re all tired of your interference kiddies. This is the endgame. Ordered from above and executed by their master strategist, moi” Riddler derided, cockily arrogant.

“Miss Martian is everyone linked?” Torrent inquired, his tone confident and sure.

“Yes” Miss Martian confirmed.

“Go” Torrent ordered.

The Team scattered, and the Villains followed suit in an attempt to cut them off.

“Ekahs siht ebolgwons!” Zatanna proclaimed, the snow around them lifting off the ground and blowing right at the enemy.

Taking advantage of Zatanna's cover, Turbo rammed his way straight through several winter-geared up cronies wielding Apokoliptan weaponry, tag-teaming with Torrent who used his water-bearers to take the shape of maces and knock out several cronies of his own while Arsenal covered the duo and prevented the Apokoliptan tech from hitting them or the other members of the Team.

“Power Boy, the power cells” Torrent instructed, swiftly knocking out yet another enemy.

“Workin on it” Power Boy mentally grumbled, annoyed at the lack of openings he had to get away from Mammoth, silently cursing himself for being a weak clone.

Tigress on the other hand immediately tore after Cheshire, firing an arrow sharp and true, knocking the case out of her sister’s hand and forcing Cheshire to pull out her swords to defend herself.

The two quickly became a flurry of arrows and blades as Cheshire cut threw Tigress’ attacks and forced her sister into close-combat.

“Just like old times. Dad pitting us against each other” Cheshire exclaimed, a dark nostalgia in her tone as she arched her blades at Artemis’ non-vitals.

A flash of burning fury made its way through Artemis’ veins at the mention of Sportsmaster.

With a furious growl she reeled her bow back and slammed the frame into Cheshire’s swords, only just barely having them blocked from ramming the weapon into her sister’s face.

Cheshire narrowed her eyes at the particular viciousness of the blow, but said nothing as she and Artemis continued their little dance.

Turbo continued barrelling through the cronies with Miss Martian and Rocket providing him aerial cover.

However, with her back turned Rocket didn’t see one of the cronies standing back up, and thus was met with a severe debilitating electro-shock to the back, the unusual red disc pinning her to the ground.

Arsenal immediately leapt up and took out the enemy (cursing his inattention) while Torrent sprinted his way over to their teammate, yanking the disc away from Rocket, ignoring the electro-shocks as he tossed the disc into a cluster of the enemy attempting to surround him.

"Maybe being a 'villain' isn't for you...But I think it's been made obvious you aren't meant to be seen as a hero either" Black Manta's voice hauntingly echoed in his mind.

Torrent winced at his vengeful actions, shaking himself out of his stupor long enough to ensure that Rocket was okay before returning to the battle.

Seeing that Power Boy was too busy dealing with Mammoth to take out the barrier, Actaeon busied himself with sniping off the power cells, keeping an eye on everyone in case they needed emergency backup.

Power Boy grunted as he was once again slammed to the ground by Mammoth, bringing his arms up to shield himself from the repeated blows.

"You'll never be anything but an unstable science experiment to him. A two-bit copy weaker than the original and unable to service its intended purpose...Is that the legacy you want to live up to?" Luthor bitingly inquired.

Noticing that Power Boy was in trouble, Zatanna thought fast, reached out one of her hands to the top of the mountain she called upon her magic, “Ehcnalava!”

Suddenly, the cliffside rumbled and an avalanche roared its way down the mountain, barreling its way towards Power Boy and Mammoth.

“Artemis look out!” Cheshire exclaimed, quickly knocking her sister out of the way of the unforgiving snow before disappearing without a word, leaving behind a stunned Artemis who wondered what the hell just happened.

Collaborating with Zatanna, Miss Martian used her telekinesis to levitate Power Boy away from the disaster, leaving Mammoth to be engulfed by the snow alone.

After a moment of silence a rumble sounded, with Mammoth furiously exploding his way through the piles of ice and stone.

Without hesitation Actaeon struck the brute with one of his polyurethane arrows, effectively trapping Mammoth in place.

Seeing his chance, Robin snuck up behind Shimmer and Riddler, tossing two smoke grenades to block the villains’ sight.

While Shimmer was coughing her lungs out Robin took advantage of her distraction, tying her up with a bola and knocking her out with a clean punch to the skull.

Seeing that Riddler was about to attack Robin, Zatanna covered his back, “Tekcajtiarts”.

Riddler's squeal of denial and fright was so high pitched Zatanna was sure he'd cause another avalanche.

“No! No! I am not the straitjacket type! I am strictly Bell Rev, not Arkham!” Riddler pleaded, struggling in his bindings.

“Gag mih” Zatanna commanded, unimpressed and fed up, bindings wrapping themselves around the Riddler's mouth, effectively silencing him.

“Is it always like this?” Rocket asked, an excited smile on her face from all the adrenaline as she floated her way over to Zatanna.

“Yeah pretty much” Zatanna nonchalantly replied, grinning at her friend.

Seeing that the battle was over, and the barrier was now broken, courtesy of Actaeon, Zatanna flicked out her wrist, “Hguone htiw eht ebolgwons”.

This was the easy part.

They had a potentially much larger issue no doubt headed their way.

"So" Batman began, standing firm and stern in front of the Team, members of the League mirroring his stance behind him, "Tell me if this sounds familiar...You informed us three days ago that you were not interested in working as a covert ops team for the Justice League. You then proceeded to hack League systems, and follow up on League concerns and Red Arrow's past missions, and endanger your lives"

No one said a word.

And Dick especially knew that Batman wasn't done.

"In partially lying about your intentions your initiative resulted in the capture of three escaped felons, allowing us to prove that Warden Strange runs Bell Rev as a cover for criminal activity, and the retrieval of an important attache for the Light...Well done” Batman praised, a small grin making its way into his face at the rebellious teens actions, not being able to help but eye Dick in particular when complimenting them.

The Team's shoulder's dropped in relief, a majority of their tension lifting.

Though Dick still couldn't look Bruce in the eyes right now...Mask or not.

“I thought you all were done butting into League business?” Black Canary questioned, giving the group an amused eyebrow.

"We stated that we preferred to reside with Pop Haley" Kaldur corrected, a slight tease to his tone.

"We never said that we would stop digging into what the Light was doing" Wally finished, giving the Leaguers a smug smirk as he bit into his apple.

Flash huffed out a laugh at his nephew's antics.

They really should have figured the Team would stop acting on their own.

"Out of curiosity, what was in the case that the Light needed so badly?" Dick inquired.

“Bio-technology integrated with some kind of nano-circuitry” Batman replied, opening up the case for the Team to see.

“Though I am unfamiliar with the species, the bio component is clearly not of Earth” Icon relayed, briefly examining the technology for himself before putting it back in the container.

“We’ll be taking it to the WatchTower for further study” Batman informed them, closing the case and handing it off for Icon to carry.

Seeing the Leaguers trailing off to the Boom Tube, with Green Arrow giving them a wink and Flash cornily giving Wally the 'call me' gesture, the Team took it as their cue to leave.

Seeing the group about to go Black Canary halted them, "You don't have to leave just yet. The Cave is yours to look around. The League doesn't use it anymore".

The Team blinked in surprise.

"Are you actually offering what I think you're offering?" Roy questioned in disbelief.

"The League agreed to allow you all to utilize the Cave as a home base of sorts if you so wish" Red Tornado informed them.

"Why?" Dick questioned, narrowing his eyes skeptically at Batman in particular.

"You informed us that you wish to remain with Haley's Circus. I already assumed that you would still be working undercover” Batman stated, his tone neutral, unsurprised.

“And allowing us to use the Cave should we need it is the League’s way of making sure we’re safe without stifling us” Dick finished, unsure how he felt about the League being able to check in on them should they choose to use the Base.

“Exactly” Batman confirmed, “You will have access to all the technology, resources, and equipment the Cave possesses”

“Including backup from the League” Roy stated knowingly, slightly miffed at being babied yet again.

“Only should you require it” Red Tornado cut it, “Otherwise you are free to do as you please”

The Team silently mulled over the Android’s words, debating amongst themselves how they felt about the handout.

“And with that, we leave you to your decision” Batman exclaimed, dismissing himself before he said or did something that would distance Dick from him further.

“Icon wait!” Raquel exclaimed, quickly flying over to her mentor before he left for the WatchTower, “Um congratulations on the League thing. Sorry I skipped out”

“Yes well, we both seemed to have found teams that suit us” Icon proudly proclaimed, giving his strong-willed protege an understanding smile, one that was pleasantly returned.

The moment Icon stepped through the Boom Tube the false cheer was replaced with tension, something Raquel didn’t fail to notice.

"So this is the infamous Cave huh? It’s cool that the League trusts us enough to give us our own Base” Raquel stated awkwardly, trying to make conversation.

“They’re suspicious” Dick corrected gravely.

“With every right to be” Kaldur retorted, his tone just as serious.

“Wait what?” Raquel exclaimed in surprise, thoroughly confused where that came from, “What do you mean suspicious? I mean you were all going to be their partners right?...Actually, why didn’t you all stay with the League?”

“To answer the first question, we were set up” Dick answered, frowning in thought.

“Agreed. Cheshire and Riddler were ready for us” Kaldur exclaimed, unhappy about the revelation.

“So there’s a mole” Artemis proclaimed, her words eerily echoing through the halls of the Base.

"Wait! You can't actually think someone here would betray the Team?" Raquel exclaimed in disbelief.

From what Zatanna had told her the Team was extremely close knit, like family.

Not to mention they all hated their forced criminal pasts and relations.

She couldn't picture any of them willingly betraying the Team.

Though she guessed willingly was the key word.

"None of us would. Though it is not for a lack of trying on our parents' part" Kaldur reluctantly revealed, unsure if they could fully trust Raquel or not.

"What do you mean?" Raquel asked, completely confused.

"You see, it started on Christmas…" Dick began, a sorrowful regretfulness making its way into his blue eyes.

Dick quickly sped his way through the Manor halls, expertly weaving his way down the fastest route to his room (he'd memorized most of the Manor already).

Reaching his room Dick turned the knob, opening the doorway to his quarters.

The moment his head was past the threshold a shadow appeared out of nowhere.

Dick instinctually ducked away from the obsidian blade, gripping the wrist of his assailant and twisting it harshly, spinning the attacker and pinning them to the ground, their arm twisted behind their back.

Before Dick could demand the Shadow why they were there Dick caught movement out of the corner of his eye.

Looking up he saw none other than his ‘grandfather’, Ra’s al Ghul, standing regal and haughty as he gazed down at him appraisingly.

“To what do I owe the dishonor of this unfortunate visit?” Dick demanded, narrowing his eyes angrily at the Demon’s Head.

“An incentive to keep you and your little friends from poking your noses in the Light’s business” Ra’s replied, cutting right to the chase, “I would hate to have to kill my current heir...No matter your inheritance of your Father’s more cumbersome personality traits”

“Current?” Dick questioned, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end.

“I see your training has not dulled in the slightest. Good. Very good” Ra’s smirked, a viciously sharp pleased smile to himself, one that only made Dick angrier at the memories of bloodied hands and shredded feet.

Of being forcibly remade into something else.

“And just what is this so called incentive you think you have that will get us to back off?” Dick inquired curiously, knowing Ra’s wouldn’t be here unless he truly had something to hold over his head.

“A who” Ra’s smugly corrected, his smile morphing into a shark’s grin, “His name is Damian”

“So the Shadows are currently trying to blackmail you?” Raquel proclaimed in disbelief, stunned that any family would do that to one another, even if they were the villains.

“Not just Dick’s unfortunate blood relatives” Artemis corrected grimly.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing here?” Artemis demanded, pulling out one of her knives that she’d stashed throughout the house, careful to keep her voice down so that her Mother wouldn’t hear her downstairs.

Her Mother was estranged from her ungrateful criminal husband for a damn reason. She wasn’t about to ruin their holiday by letting her Mom know that her Dad had broken into the apartment for whatever twisted reason.

“At ease Baby Girl, I’m not here to dance. I’m the Ghost of Christmas Future here to give you a little helpful advice” Sportsmaster haughtily proclaimed, crossing his arms across his chest, wholly unconcerned by his youngest daughter’s threats.

“And why would I ever take your advice?” Artemis mocked, giving her Father an impressive sneer.

“Because unless you want to be picking out your Mom’s funeral casket you and your little circus freaks better stay out of the Light’s business” Sportmaster warned, his voice entirely serious.

The color drained out of Artemis’ face.

“You wouldn’t kill your own wife” Artemis challenged, though the pleading edge to her voice was obvious.

“She chose her side. Remember what I taught you Baby Girl. It's everyone in this family for themselves”

“So wait, are all your relatives threatening you to butt out?” Raquel asked, looking at each of them for some kind of confirmation.

“No” Kaldur denied, shaking his head, “Just myself, Dick, Artemis, and Connor”

Kaldur had been enjoying an Atlantean Christmas dinner with his family and friends in the Palace when tragedy struck, reducing their merriment to ash.

“King Orin! Horrible news!” one of the guards exclaimed, swimming frantically towards the King as he was seated at the dining table.

“What is it?” the King demanded, immediately standing to address the guard.

“Prince Orm was found dead in his cell! Murdered!” the guard exclaimed in furious terror.

“What?!”

“Alert the rest of the guards. I want the intruder found” King Orin demanded, his eyes dark with a controlled fury.

“Arthur…” Mera muttered, swimming over to her husband.

“I need you to remain in your quarters until we know if my brother was their only intended target, or if they are after the crown” the King firmly exclaimed, taking his wife’s hand in his, the plead in his eyes evident.

Mera gave him a solemn nod, reaching one hand down to cradle her seven month pregnant belly.

“The rest of you will be escorted to your rooms for your own safety” King Orin proclaimed (read: ordered).

“But my King-” Kaldur began to protest, no doubt in his mind that this hand the Light’s fingerprints all over it.

“You especially Kaldur'ahm” the King sternly cut off, “I have my suspicions as you do as to who is behind this crime, and if we are both correct in our assumptions then it would be best your Father not reach you”

Kaldur grit his teeth in frustration, but none-the-less salute his King’s orders in the traditional Atlantean sign of respect.

Kaldur kissed his Mother’s cheek in farewell as he swam off to his quarters.

‘Should I dare to follow my King?’ Kaldur wondered thoughtfully to himself, weighing his pros and cons.

Shutting the doors Kaldur swam his way over to his water-bearers, gazing at them as if they held the answer to his predicament.

Suddenly, movement caught his eye.

Swiftly grabbing his weapons Kaldur’s tattoos glowed their fluorescent blue-white, swords brandishing out of the tips of his bearers.

“I’m not here to fight” a familiar voice echoed, one that only made Kaldur tense even further.

“So it was you” Kaldur exclaimed, narrowing his eyes at the maskless Black Manta...His biological Father.

“Was I truly such a bad Father to you that you wished to leave?” Black Manta inquired curiously, a note of confusion and hurt well hidden within his question.

“It was not you, so much as what you wanted me to be. My views are not yours. For that reason I had to leave” Kaldur firmly corrected, not dropping his weapons in the slightest.

For all that Black Manta was a cold-hearted killer, he’d never treated him overly harshly. Never abusive as Artemis’ Father had been.

In fact the man might have been a good Father had his views on power not warped his perceptions of what was right and justified in this world.

But that being said, Black Manta was stern and had a hot temper when things did not go his way. And with their clashing views and his own refusal to ceed to his Father’s way, it was only a matter of time before he saw his Father taking more drastic measures to alter his perceptions.

"Maybe being a 'villain' isn't for you...But I think it's been made obvious you aren't meant to be seen as a hero either" Black Manta casually exclaimed, as if what he said was mere fact.

“I fail to see how” Kaldur retorted, narrowing his eyes at the villain.

“So quick to defend those who are quick to turn against you for slightest infraction or lies...You’ll learn a harsh lesson someday. Perhaps soon” Black Manta exasperatedly proclaimed, placing his helmet on his head.

“And in the meantime?” Kaldur questioned, skeptical of the man’s motivations.

“I would halt your meddling in the Light’s affairs...You would hate for something to happen to your Mother and Cal” Black Manta warned, the helmet’s eyes glowing devil red.

Just as Kaldur launched in attack, a smokescreen appeared, and Black Manta was gone just the same as he had appeared...Without a trance.

"But obviously they didn't expect their threats to work" Raquel observed, placing her hands on her hips, "Shouldn't we be heading over to protect the people they threatened? Or do ya'll already got it covered?"

The Team looked at each other with wary looks.

"We have a different plan in mind" Roy slowly relayed, sounding like he didn't really like the idea of said plan...Or rather the risks.

"What kind of plan?" Raquel inquired, narrowing her eyes in suspicion, "Cause none of you seem too thrilled about it"

"We give them exactly what it is that they want" Connor proclaimed, crossing his arms across his chest.

"And that would be?" Raquel inquired, raising a curious eyebrow.

'Come outside'

Connor flinched at the sudden invasion of his mind, an invasion he hadn't felt since Cadmus.

Looking over to M'gann he found that she was sound asleep.

'Now'

Connor winced again at the stab to his mind.

Making a decision, he carefully removed the covers from his legs and quietly made his way across the floorboards.

Silently lifting up the window, Connor climbed out, deciding against jumping from the second floor so that he wouldn't wake up Grandma and Grandpa Kent.

Sitting on the garden bench as if he belonged there was none other than Lex Luthor himself.

Connor stomped his way over to the son-of-a-bitch, barely reigning in his super strength as he did so.

"You have a lot of nerve showing up here" Connor growled out, restraining himself from punching the bastard clean into a crater as he paused in front of him, fists clenched.

"I don't remember signing over my custody rights" Luthor stated sarcastically, giving Connor a mocking smirk.

"I might have half your DNA, but you are not my Father" Connor furiously grit out.

"Apparently neither is Superman" Luthor caustically retorted, causing Connor's expression to darken in reminder of what had occurred earlier that night.

"You'll never be anything but an unstable science experiment to him. A two-bit copy weaker than the original and unable to service its intended purpose...Is that the legacy you want to live up to?" Luthor bitingly inquired, looking much like the cat that caught the Canary.

"You set Match free" Connor accused, trying (and failing) not to let Luthor's words get to him.

"You'd like to blame me for that wouldn't you? Blame me for the Big Blue showing his true colors?" Luthor countered, his smile unkind.

Connor growled in frustration.

"Everyone has a dark side...These heroes are disrupting the status quo by pretending to be so morally righteous...There needs to be a balance. Yin to yang. Good and evil" Luthor lectured, standing in front of his 'son', "The world already has a Superman...What it needs is a Power Man"

"They want us"

Santa Prisca 5:57 PM

Steering Sphere down a ways away from the group below, Power Boy strut his way over to Luthor.

“Welcome Power Boy. I’d like to introduce you to my associate, Queen Bee” Luthor introduced, gesturing to the Bialyan Queen.

“My pleasure” Queen Bee exclaimed, a sultry edge to her voice (though Connor was sure that was just her powers at work).

“I believe you know everyone else. Sportsmaster, Mercy, Blockbuster, Ra’s, Black Manta...And our new friend Bane, who’s graciously allowed us to use his island in exchange for certain...considerations” Luthor stated continuing his introduction, careful not to reveal anything too in depth.

“So the two of you are the ones calling the shots for the Light” Power Boy probed, his statement sounding more like a curious inquiry.

“A flattering notion son, but we have many friends” Luthor chuckled, a darkly satisfied smirk adorning his face at the sound of a helicopter nearing their location.

“This one of your friends now?” Power Boy asked, pretending to be mildly on edge.

“No my boy, one of yours” Luthor retorted smugly, looking forward to his son's reaction at their latest guests.

The helicopter doors slid open to reveal Tigress and Cheshire.

“Artemis?” Power Boy muttered in feigned disbelief.

“The hero thing wasn’t workin out. You get how it is. All costs with no benefits...This is where I belong” Tigress proclaimed, forcing herself not to smack her Father’s hand off her shoulder.

“It’s a fast growing club” Queen Bee declared, amusement laced within her tone.

As if on cue, Robin appeared out of the shadows, expression stone hard as he stood next to Ra’s.

And as if following suit, Black Manta made his way out of the bog with Torrent by his side.

Power Boy’s expression shifted to one of tempered steel.

“Give me those Shields you promised, and I’m in too” Power Boy exclaimed, fists clenched.

Luthor walked straight up to his son, assessing the resolve in his eyes.

“My boy...You’re a terrible liar” Luthor smirked, amused that Connor thought that he could actually fool him.

Eyes wide, Power Boy moved to take out the man with a firm body blow...But before he could...

“Supernova” Luthor casually stated, exasperated by his wayward ‘son’.

Power Boy ‘froze’ in place.

“What’d you want us to do?” Artemis near demanded, stepping forward haughtily and placing her hands on her hips.

“You two follow me” Sportsmaster order, pointing to Tigress and Robin.

“What of Power Boy?” Torrent inquired, not being able to keep himself from asking about the fate of his friend.

“He’ll be fine. He simply requires a few...adjustments” Queen Bee assured him, a dark humor in her tone as she tried to use her power to lightly lull Torrent into a sense of calm and relief.

“Bring him along” Luthor ordered Desmond, flicking his hand in Power Boy’s direction.

Tigress grit her teeth so hard they were nearly cracking under the pressure.

The moment Desmond was a second away from Connor her resolve broke.

She couldn’t do it.

Acting fast, Tigress fired a polyurethane arrow at Desmond, trapping him in a prison of foam.

“Sorry Dad. I want to play you like you wanted to play me, but I won’t let them mess with Power Boy’s head” Tigress exclaimed, thoroughly enjoying the pissed off fury in her Father’s eyes.

“Take her down” Ra’s ordered Robin, confident that the boy wouldn’t betray him like Sportsmaster’s ilk had.

Reacting immediately, Robin threw two smoke bombs at Tigress, blinding her vision, and leaped into the fray, disappearing into the smoke as well.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Miss Martian dropped her invisibility and telekinetically tossed Queen Bee harshly into the ground, effectively knocking her out.

“That was for Garfield” Miss Martian muttered in satisfied retribution, still angered how the Queen’s actions nearly got the little boy killed.

It was only a stroke of fortune that Pop Haley had indulged her and done a show in Bialya so she could meet her Earth Idol.

Distracted by the sudden attack, Bane nearly didn’t have time to dodge the arrow that was fired in his direction from the smokescreen.

“Queen Bee is down. Power Boy, you’re safe from her control” Miss Martian informed him.

Tossing his act aside, Power Boy immediately made his way over to his ‘Father’.

“I may not be much of a liar, but I still fooled you” Power Boy smugly proclaimed.

“And I’m so proud. I take it Miss Martian cleaned ‘Supernova’ from your mind” Luthor speculated.

“And confirmed that you didn’t have the genomorphs plant anything else in my head that night at the Kent’s farm” Power Boy confirmed, cracking his knuckles against his hand as he continued his way forward.

“All true. Personally I blame Dr. Desmond for letting you get away in the first place” Luthor snipped, mildly annoyed.

As if in response to the jab, Desmond broke free of the polyurethane, and with a furious venge-filled roar launched himself at Power Boy, dragging him across the ground until they reached the edge of a cliff.

With a furious roar, Desmond punched Power Boy clean through the edge of the cliffside, forcing him to scramble for purchase against the rocks to slow his descent.

“Un poco de ayuda“ Luthor stated, giving bane the go ahead to order his men to fire their semi-automatic weapons.

In response to the assault, Sphere lifted up off the ground and fired her own weapons at the enemy, causing all the villains to scatter.

“You have been a very naughty girl” Sportsmaster scolded, swinging his flail threateningly in his hand.

“Guys, reinforcement time” Tigress stated, a bit of nerves in her tone as her Dad knocked aside all her arrows as if they were pesky flies.

Taking the signal, Rocket and Turbo immediately knocked over Bane’s men like bowling pins.

Angered at the attack, Bane activated the Kobra venom so that he could take out the annoying brats himself.

Seeing the precariousness of the situation, Luthor lifted Queen Bee into his arms in an effort to escape while they still could, “Time to go”.

“Luthor!” Torrent exclaimed, taking advantage of sphere having momentarily pushed his Father back, “Neither you nor Queen Bee is going anywhere”

“Young man, if you expect to detain me, contact my attorney” Luthor brushed off, unconcerned at the child’s water swords.

Mercy immediately fired her arm cannon at Torrent, knocking him backwards into the trees.

Seeing his chance, Black manta strut his way over to Torrent, his helmet’s eyes glowing a demonic red.

“It would seem you still choose to be naive” Black Manta stated, disappointment clear in his tone.

“I would rather be naive than deluded” Torrent countered back, the resolution and disdain in his voice clear.

The time for talking was done.

Seeing that his son would not see reason, Black Manta fired his lasers in rapid fire mode, forcing Torrent to use all his speed and strength to block the blasts with his swords while still managing to advance closer to his Father through sheer willpower.

“You still have much to learn” Black Manta mocked, waiting for the moment his son thought he was within striking distance of him, and proceeded to manipulate the bog around them, knocking Torrent away from him in a splash of mud and grime.

Coughing the mud and pebbles out of his mouth, Torrent watched in frustration as his Father opted for a tactical retreat and vanished within the trees.

“Take out the Martian” Bane ordered his few remaining henchmen as he glared daggers at the annoying young alien.

Seeing that Miss Martian was under heavy fire Zatanna focused her magic in order to cover her friend.

“Ekoms dna srorrim!” Zatanna exclaimed, a puff of smoke surrounding the enemy, their weapons morphing into snakes, “Egnahc sehtolc otni sgnidnib!”

The last of Bane’s henchmen were silenced as their clothing transformed into ropes.

Pissed off at having the last of his men taken out by one of the stupid the brats, Bane tackled Zatanna harshly into the ground, knocking her unconscious.

Having shaken the last of the mud off himself, Torrent watched helplessly as Luthor took off in his helicopter.

“I got this” Rocket confidently exclaimed, soaring up into the air like a sparkling pink comet as she raced after Luthor.

Providing backup, Arsenal turned his attention from the cannon fodder to Luthor's jet, firing the Lazer from his cybernetic arm in the direction of the propellers.

Luthor just smirked as he flipped a switch and miniature missiles began raining down upon the cocky teenagers'.

Thinking fast, Rocket activated her Force Bubble, shielding herself from the unexpected attack.

When the smoke from the blasts cleared, Rocket frowned when she saw that the helicopter had also blocked Arsenal's attack and gotten a pretty significant head start...But.

“We can still-” Rocket began, confident that she’d be able to catch up.

“No. You both are needed here” Torrent denied, “I have a plan”

Tigress is knocked aside by the flail, her blow breaking in half under the pressure.

Cheshire stood warningly above her, her sword pointed at her sister’s neck.

“You know I don’t tolerate disobedience Artemis” Sportsmaster growled, annoyed by his daughter’s betrayal and stupid fascination with heroes.

“Sure Dad. Jade and I learned that the hard way” Artemis exclaimed, narrowing her eyes at her older sister momentarily before choosing her next words very carefully, “Does Jade even know that you threatened to kill Mom?”

Jade’s eyes narrowed dangerously at her sister, searching, scanning them for any kind of lie.

She found none.

“Trying to pit us against each other Baby Girl?” Sportsmaster mocked, the sneer clear in his voice, though his tension increased at the uncertainty of what his eldest would do with the new information.

“I learned from the best” Artemis sarcastically mocked, smirking as her distraction worked, and watched as Turbo proceeded to barrel into Jade, and Acteon trapped her in one of his net-arrows.

Turbo used his momentum to launch himself at Sportsmaster, however the man had already seen through the straightforward attack and judo flipped the teen into the forest and through tree branches.

“You certainly know how to catch my attention” Cheshire flirted, her voice sultry as Actaeon made his way closer to her.

“Cut the crap Cheshire. I know you heard what Artemis said” Actaeon, stated, not in the mood for games.

“I did” Cheshire confirmed, her voice a drallingly casual tone despite the sharp edge to her eyes, “Unsurprising really”

“Are you just going to let him get away with that?” Actaeon questioned, arms crossed over his chest.

Cheshire just gave the archer an appraising look. Not saying a word as she considered her options.

“If you continue to help them, you know what will happen” Ra’s warned, hands folded behind his back, confident that even if Richard attacked, that Ubu would protect him.

“I’ll save him too” Robin proclaimed, clenching his hands into fists.

Ra’s didn’t need to see Richard’s eyes to feel the resolution, the promise in those words.

“Then so be it. I look forward to your homecoming” Ra’s dismissed, casually turning his back to his grandson as if he was in no danger whatsoever of literally being stabbed in the back.

Choosing his battles, Robin quickly made his way over to Zatanna, combating Bane with a flurry of punches and kicks, and using his size and flexibility to use the man’s body like a jungle gym and distract him before the bastard could deal Zatanna a final blow while she was unawares.

With a groan Zatanna lifted her head off the grass in time to see Robin get tossed into a tree, the bark fraying at the sheer force of the impact.

“Etaerc Nibor snoisulli!” Zatanna commanded, covering her friend, teammate, and crush.

Four puffs of gray smoke appeared by Robin’s side, transforming into mirror copies of himself.

“Gotta love”

“An army”

“Of me” the Robins proclaimed in synchrony.

Sending the clones out first, Robin calculated Bane’s movements, waiting for the opening he’d created during villain’s final attack on the last clone to quickly detach the Kobra Venom tube from the back of Bane’s head, not only cutting off his power source, but having a moment of ingenuity, Robin activated his taser wire, launching it at the port on Bane’s head and electrocuting him into unconsciousness.

Stealthily climbing back up the cliffside, Power Boy launched himself at Desmond as the man had his back turned, walking away from his work with satisfaction.

Power Boy clasped his heads together, and with all his strength he slammed them down on the top of Desmond’s head, smashing the former scientist to the ground.

Providing backup, Miss Martian proceeded to drop several boulders on top of Desmond.

“Power Boy, Miss Martian, move!” Torrent ordered, ready to exact his plan.

As Miss Martian and Power boy moved out of the way, Torrent tossed the Apokoliptan discs they'd kept on the bio-ship at the still conscious beast, trapping Desmond in the electrical trap.

Without giving Desmond the chance to recover, Rocket and Arsenal blasted him with the Apokoliptan guns they had chosen to commandeer.

Taking advantage of the opening, Torrent turned the ground to mud, causing Desmond to sink into the ground up to his neck.

“You should really learn to channel that anger” Power Boy mocked, proceeding to happily knock Desmond unconscious for good this time.

Tigress grunted as she barely managed to dodge each of her Father’s attacks, praying that the others would soon be over to enact this half of the plan.

As if answering her prayers, Torrent’s voice echoed through the link, “Artemis now!”

Tigress quickly launched herself into the air, grabbing onto the nearest branch, watching in smug satisfaction as Sportsmaster was trapped in mud.

Thinking quickly, Tigress jumped down onto her Father’s head, burying him further in the sludge, and removing any chance of him escaping.

“Jade!” Sportsmaster called out desperately, quickly realizing his predicament.

The woman just proceeded to remove her mask, giving her Father a grin worthy of the Cheshire Cat.

“Sorry Dad. In this family, it’s every girl for herself” Jade exclaimed, placing her mask back onto her face (though not before giving Roy a sultry wink), and disappearing into the shadows of the forest.

“Jade!” Sportsmaster roared out in indignant fury.

Roy hoped he made the right decision by letting her go after she'd broken free.

At the very least they had had a possible inside with the Shadows.

Walking up to her Father, Tigress kicked the man in the head with every ounce of the hatred and revulsion she had built up for him since she was a child.

Grunting, Turbo made his way out of the forest, covered in sticks and mud, picking up the hockey mask that stumbled at his feet.

“Souvenir” Artemis exclaimed, a relieved yet sad smile on her face as Wally placed his hand comfortingly on her shoulder.

Her Mom was safe now.

Regrouping, there were smiles all around.

“It is always like this” Raquel giddily exclaimed.

“Told ya” Zatanna giggled.

“Disaster averted. Feelin the aster” Dick proclaimed, sounding exhausted but (mostly) extremely relieved.

He would save Damian, but now was the time to celebrate their victory.

“Agreed. This has been a good day” Kaldur stated, joy surging through him at having finally stood up to their families.

Today was a good day.

WatchTower 9:31 PM

Typing a few more codes into the Watch Tower’s computer, Batman placed the bio-tech into the scanner.

“Scanning” the computer relayed, breaking down each of the known components of the bio-tech, including its makeup and cellular structure.

Batman narrowed his eyes at the results.

“So, are you ever joining the party?” Superman asked, making his way over to his workaholic friend.

“This circuitry is disturbingly sophisticated” Batman commented instead.

“I’ll take that as a no” Superman exclaimed in amused exasperation, placing his hand gently behind Batman’s neck...And implanting the bio-tech as he did.

Batman’s eyes momentarily widened in shock as he felt the bio-tech merge itself with his body, taking control of his mind.

Like a puppet, Batman made his way into the main hub, strutting past his fellow expressionless colleagues as he halted at the keyboard, typing in the codes that would lead to the beginning of the end.

“Override: Batman 02” Batman exclaimed, his voice emotionless and neutral.

“Recognized. Access granted. Vandal Savage. A04”

Vandal appeared in a vision of bright light, grinning as he watched the League bow before him.

Today was a good day.