Chapter Text
Ramona
-October 3rd, 2018-
Putting down my kickstand and taking off my helmet, I look up at the extremely tall building that stands before me and think to myself 'I might live here. If they don't think I'm a part of the Light trying to infiltrate their team.'
Going up to the door, I hit the buzzer, holding it and waiting for a response.
"Hi, what do you need?" A seemingly teenage sounding voice answers.
"Yes, does a Garfield Logan live here?"
There's radio silence and for a second, I consider just leaving but there's another buzz.
"14th floor."
The door is unlocked and I pull open, heading to the elevator, pressing the 14 button.
Once the elevator doors open, I'm met with the inside of the penthouse. I slowly walk out and look around, examining the space.
Out of now-fucking-where, someone comes out from behind the corner and the rest just come pouring out of everywhere else. It's like a surprise party, except I don't like the vibe of this surprise.
Superboy grabs my helmet out from under my arm and I immediately go turn to yell at him but the same voice from the buzzer cuts in before I can.
"Don't worry, you'll get it back. He's just searching it to make sure there's no listening or recording devices in it." Turning back around, I see that that voice belongs to Garfield Logan.
Making a face, I shift my weight onto my hip and cross my arms over my chest, frustrated and annoyed.
"I can't even ask to make this quick because I asked for you." I mumble to myself.
He smiles and responds. "Yes, you did. So, can you tell us what this is all about?"
Garfield gestures to my face and I realize I forgot to take off the balaclava I wear under my helmet.
I pull it off and shove it in my pocket before running my hand through my disheveled hair.
I watch as he turns and gives a look to Ms. Martian, most likely telling her to start reading my mind. He then turns back and prompts me to continue.
Heaving a sigh, I start talking.
"I found you guys because I ran away when I was 15. I had been off and on living in shelters and I got a job to save up money for a laptop. Once I got the laptop and the Outsiders started trending, it wasn't hard to calculate where you guys were. Granny Goodness made your address public knowledge after the whole fiasco- but after I found it, I scrubbed it from the internet. So, no one can find it anymore."
Garfield looks at Ms. Martian to see if I'm telling the truth.
"It's true. But she's shielding her mind, I can't figure out anything else."
He shoots me an accusational look.
"One; thanks for scrubbing my address. Two; why are you shielding if you're telling the truth?"
I tilt my head.
"Because it's my story and I'm telling you what you need to know. I'm a private person, I don't even like telling all of you this much."
My words cause him to look over both his shoulders and he realizes just how big the crowd is. It's Cyborg, Superboy- no doubt using super hearing -, Halo, Static, all of the Outsiders and Ms. Martian, who's literally in my head.
He turns and gives me an understanding look.
"Continue."
"Anyway, I also got enough to get my bike so I've been driving from my home up here to L.A.. While I was stopped on a beach, I, uh, kinda got struck by lightning. I passed out for a bit and when I woke up, I grabbed a tree and next thing I know, it's fire. So, after, I got tested for the meta gene and I have it. What must've happened was the lightning strike activated it and now I have electricity powers. I taught myself how to control them enough but there's a lot that I need to learn. So, I came here in hopes that you guys would need another hero and kinda maybe sorta help train me?"
I finish giving my sob story- not the whole thing -and give a small hopeful smile.
Again, Garfield turns to Ms.Martian and once again, she confirms.
"It's the truth. What do you wanna do?"
He holds up a finger, telling me to wait while he calls an 'emergency team meeting'. I watch as they huddle up and talk about me and whether or not I'm a liability.
I only catch bits and pieces of the conversation but I can fill in the blanks.
"...don't... everything about her."
"We... didn't... about Halo."
"...like her. She... trust worthy. Her... chance."
There's a few more but it's just the same thing over and over. I did, however, catch that they'll have Nightwing do a background check to fill in the blanks of my story.
Garfield turns back to me after the huddle breaks apart and tells me the verdict.
"Ok, so I talked with the team. We'll take you in. But there's a few things you should know."
"Like what?"
"Since you haven't graduated already, you'd still have to attend school on top of being a hero and mental health checks are mandatory and non-negotiable."
Listening to his terms, I realize it's not that bad. He continues on, saying that I'd be training with both Black Canary and Static, for combat skills and help with my powers respectively.
When he asks if I have any questions, I shake my head. "No questions, but I've graduated already. I taught myself the rest of the high school curriculum and took the test for my diploma."
"Well then, I guess you don't have to worry about school but everything else still stands."
"Of course. So, what's next? Some crazy initiation or I have to go through a series of tests?"
Superboy cuts in, holding my helmet out to me.
"No, nothing like that. You move in and get settled."
"That's it? No crazy conditions?"
Garfield answers this time."Others than the ones you agreed to, no. Right now, though, Static will give you the tour. I have to get to a shoot so I can't."
Static steps out and forward from where he was standing and gestures for me to follow him. In doing so, we go down a bare hallway.
"I'm Static but you can just call me Virgil." He introduces himself, holding out his hand.
Accepting the offer and shaking it, I return the favor, realizing I didn't introduce myself earlier. Ms. Martian probably get my full name and is telling the rest as we speak.
"Nice to meet you, Virgil. Ramona."
He returns the greeting as we stand there and continue to shake hands.
"Nice to meet you too, Ramona."
A few more seconds and we keep on moving, Virgil telling me which room is which when we pass it.
"This is the gym. Everything on this floor is amenities."
"Cool. And I can use any of them? No matter what time it is?"
He nods.
"So, I can go... swimming at 4 in the morning?"
He huffs out a chuckle. "Yeah, pretty much."
"Sweet." I mutter to myself as we continue walking to the elevator.
We take it up to the second floor, where everyone's bedrooms are.
He points out Cyborg's room, who's name is Victor Stone and Halo's room, who's name is Violet Harper and uses they/them pronouns- which is useful information because I would hate to misgender anyone.
It's, like, the highest form of disrespect, but disrespecting boundaries is very close second.
Anyway, he keeps pointing out bedrooms until he gets to his.
"This is my bedroom and yours is to the right of mine, so you can get to me whenever you need to."
"Alright, thanks." Pointing to my room- I have one of those now -I excuse myself. "I should probably grab my things from my bike to get settled in."
"Oh, no problem. I'll help you."
He starts trailing behind me to follow me to my bike and I stop and turn.
"No, you don't have to do that. I can handle it myself."
"I insist. The faster your stuff gets up here, the faster you can bring your bike in."
"Alright, fine. But only because she needs to be cleaned soon."
He follows me back down to grab my three garbage bags- two full of clothes, one with shoes, photos, and makeup -and bring in my bike to park it next to Sphere, who is apparently a piece of New Genesian technology with sentience.
After cleaning my bike, which took me about 2 hours, I get settled into my new room. Putting my clothes in the drawers, certain pieces and my shoes in the closet. I set up my makeup on the dresser and pin photos to the wall.
3 hours and my room is... mine. Personally mine. By the time I finished, it was time for dinner and I offered to cook for everyone.
Everyone- Victor, Violet, Conner, Megan, Garfield, and Virgil -were at the table when I brought out dinner on a serving platter.
The first to comment is Victor. "Dang, this looks amazing! You didn't have to go all out."
Taking my seat next to Violet, I plate my food, along with everyone else.
"It wasn't too much. Just some tostados and elotes." I respond, my accent slipping out. Well, I guess it's always there since English is my second language but you get the point.
I don't hate my accent, I actually love it- a lot. It's unique to me and only me. But if someone catches it, then they'll start asking questions and of course, someone does. They always do.
It's Conner who asks about.
"Where's your accent from? I didn't hear it earlier."
Swallowing some corn, I respond. "Mexico. Born and raised until the whole running away thing."
Violet, putting their tostado down, turns and asks the question I've been expecting.
"I have been meaning to ask, but why did you run away."
I shrug, taking a bite. "I had to.
Virgil asks, "Why?"
"Just did. Know what, can we not talk about this? Who wants tres leches?"
Suddenly, everyone forgets about the interrogation and wants some cake.
-----30 minutes later-----
I'm standing at the sink, doing the dishes when Virgil picks up a plate and starts helping me.
"I thought everyone else went to bed." I comment.
"Well, clearly, I'm not everyone else." He retorts.
"Clearly." I say as I continue to wash dishes.
Some minutes of silent go by before Virgil cuts it.
"Look, whatever the reason you ran away, I'm sure it was valid. No one runs away for the sake of it. And we didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
"I know. But it was bound to happen eventually. Just wasn't expecting it so soon."
He drops the plate he's holding into the drainer and faces me.
"That doesn't make it ok."
Putting my last dish in the drainer, I face him.
"Seriously, it's fine. Forget about it. Someday I'll be ready to talk about it. Just... not today."
He takes off his dish gloves and walks with me to our rooms.
"I understand but when you're ready to talk, I'll be here to listen. You can come to me- any of us -about anything, ok?"
I nod and watch as he escapes into his room.
Guess I have to work through my issues now. At least I won't be all the way alone.
Virgil's got my trust a bit.