Chapter 21: Home Sleet Home
Flightless Man
Versed in the lewd.
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Chapter 21: Home Sleet Home
Hall of Justice, Washington, D.C.
September 11, 11:44 PM EDT
September 11, 11:44 PM EDT
Once the heroes took down Black Lightning, Blue Beetle and Batman did a field examination on the unconscious man. When it was discovered why he was working to end the world, I tried not to breakdown over why he was calling me cousin. But if I combine the words with Senior's, it makes a disturbing amount of sense.
Almost half of his bones had been replaced by a conductive metal, with most organs likewise artificial. Needing to know for sure, I let Blue Beetle know where he and Red Arrow could dig up some more evidence. If Artemis trusts him, guess I can give it try.
"The surgeons would have discovered if you had the same implants." Artemis tries to ease me jittery nerves with a soothing voice.
"Dude. You helped save the world, I don't care if you are a cyborg." Relieved that I'm not actually a monster, Robin slaps me on the back as we wait for the rest of his team to arrive.
"But he's not!" Hisses Artemis, her eyes narrowing into slits.
That's really not what's bothering me. It's the idea of my mother's death not being an accident at all. I really should have finished Icicle off when I had the chance.
"Are you sure your mom's going to be fine with you bringing him home?" The magician I know is really named Zatanna, mutters from her own couch across from us. "My dad always warned me to be careful around bad boys." Hex's tone is light and I know she's only teasing when she playfully kicks at Artemis' feet.
"She better. I'm the one who paid for the place." My snarky comment gets a groan from the girl beside me.
"Don't think that means you get any special treatment. We're splitting the chores as long as Mom can put up with you."
Glad to be running on only fumes, I turn to Artemis with a smirk. "But I'm supposed to be resting. You heard what Batman said." If I push myself too much, my powers might never come back at full strength.
As Young Justice devolves into playful banter, I let my mind drift. Red Tornado and his 'sister' Inferno are free of hostile control. Though wiping her most recent commands, seems to have left her with the belief she's someone called Firebrand. Shame the Atlanteans destroyed Torpedo before anyone let them know about the alternative.
I barely notice when the three from Bialya arrive, each one with a matching mentor. An excited Artemis says something about being right back and goes to check out the sentient machine.
"Jefferson's mind got wiped too?" Grunts Wally as he gets brought up to speed.
"I'm starting to understand why Glenn was so scared of you." Admits Superboy. It was child's play for Psimon to turn me into an animal."
"Megan wouldn't do that!" Defends the speedster in civilian clothes, his arm going around his fellow redhead's shoulder protectively. "You should know that after she put you back together. Twice might I remind you."
"If she's stronger than the guy who did that to us..." The clone of Superman shrugs awkwardly and lets everyone reach whatever conclusion they want.
Before anyone can really start to worry, I hear Megan speak up anxiously. "I promise that I'm never going change someone's memories after this. I'm still not sure I put all of them back."
See! I told them how easy it was to replace someone with a nearly identical copy.
"So radio mode and scanning memories only?" A very relieved Superboy clarifies.
"It's safer that way." She agrees with a heavy sigh. "For Everyone."
"Did you say Psimon?" Did he try doing the same thing to them? "Creepy guy with a brain you can't stop staring at?"
Nodding slowly, Wally frowns at me for interrupting. "Yeah, that's the dude." His confusion grows into a frown. "Why are you here and does Red Arrow know?"
"He helped save the world," Explains the Flash, which the others all agree with. "Huntress was able to convince the board of directors to clear his record in exchange. You know, if we survived."
"And since we did, I'm done with all this bullshit. You can save the world next time." The bluntness gets a frown from Superman. "I've got some campuses to tour before the spring semester starts. Turns out having Bruce Wayne's recommendation can get you into pretty much any school you want."
"Sounds handy." A smirk flashes on Robin's face and it's really hard not to wink back.
Gotham City, New Jersey
September 12, 3:09 AM EDT
Almost half of his bones had been replaced by a conductive metal, with most organs likewise artificial. Needing to know for sure, I let Blue Beetle know where he and Red Arrow could dig up some more evidence. If Artemis trusts him, guess I can give it try.
"The surgeons would have discovered if you had the same implants." Artemis tries to ease me jittery nerves with a soothing voice.
"Dude. You helped save the world, I don't care if you are a cyborg." Relieved that I'm not actually a monster, Robin slaps me on the back as we wait for the rest of his team to arrive.
"But he's not!" Hisses Artemis, her eyes narrowing into slits.
That's really not what's bothering me. It's the idea of my mother's death not being an accident at all. I really should have finished Icicle off when I had the chance.
"Are you sure your mom's going to be fine with you bringing him home?" The magician I know is really named Zatanna, mutters from her own couch across from us. "My dad always warned me to be careful around bad boys." Hex's tone is light and I know she's only teasing when she playfully kicks at Artemis' feet.
"She better. I'm the one who paid for the place." My snarky comment gets a groan from the girl beside me.
"Don't think that means you get any special treatment. We're splitting the chores as long as Mom can put up with you."
Glad to be running on only fumes, I turn to Artemis with a smirk. "But I'm supposed to be resting. You heard what Batman said." If I push myself too much, my powers might never come back at full strength.
As Young Justice devolves into playful banter, I let my mind drift. Red Tornado and his 'sister' Inferno are free of hostile control. Though wiping her most recent commands, seems to have left her with the belief she's someone called Firebrand. Shame the Atlanteans destroyed Torpedo before anyone let them know about the alternative.
I barely notice when the three from Bialya arrive, each one with a matching mentor. An excited Artemis says something about being right back and goes to check out the sentient machine.
"Jefferson's mind got wiped too?" Grunts Wally as he gets brought up to speed.
"I'm starting to understand why Glenn was so scared of you." Admits Superboy. It was child's play for Psimon to turn me into an animal."
"Megan wouldn't do that!" Defends the speedster in civilian clothes, his arm going around his fellow redhead's shoulder protectively. "You should know that after she put you back together. Twice might I remind you."
"If she's stronger than the guy who did that to us..." The clone of Superman shrugs awkwardly and lets everyone reach whatever conclusion they want.
Before anyone can really start to worry, I hear Megan speak up anxiously. "I promise that I'm never going change someone's memories after this. I'm still not sure I put all of them back."
See! I told them how easy it was to replace someone with a nearly identical copy.
"So radio mode and scanning memories only?" A very relieved Superboy clarifies.
"It's safer that way." She agrees with a heavy sigh. "For Everyone."
"Did you say Psimon?" Did he try doing the same thing to them? "Creepy guy with a brain you can't stop staring at?"
Nodding slowly, Wally frowns at me for interrupting. "Yeah, that's the dude." His confusion grows into a frown. "Why are you here and does Red Arrow know?"
"He helped save the world," Explains the Flash, which the others all agree with. "Huntress was able to convince the board of directors to clear his record in exchange. You know, if we survived."
"And since we did, I'm done with all this bullshit. You can save the world next time." The bluntness gets a frown from Superman. "I've got some campuses to tour before the spring semester starts. Turns out having Bruce Wayne's recommendation can get you into pretty much any school you want."
"Sounds handy." A smirk flashes on Robin's face and it's really hard not to wink back.
Gotham City, New Jersey
September 12, 3:09 AM EDT
On the walk through her new neighborhood, I'm very relieved to find not a single obvious gang sign. Blue Beetle and Red Arrow returned with damning news. My mother was another cyborg, only powered by cryogenic energy instead.
As we near her new townhouse, Artemis grabs my hand "Can we talk?" She gets a cloud of chilly mist when my powers react instinctively.
"Haven't I been doing that all night?" I could barely go three minutes before someone had a new question for me.
"How..." She chews on her lower lip and hesitates. "Are you going to be alright?"
At least that's up to me now. "Eventually. Thanks for stopping me."
She lets out an honest to god giggle. "Thanks for actually listening. Wasn't sure if you remembered how."
"I need to go to Arkham tomorrow and talk to Viktor about the procedure." The parts lasted for seventeen years and Red Inferno was fully functional after fifty. "And I'll need to pay Oswald a visit eventually."
"It's so weird that you're on a first name basis with our dads' rivals." Laughing at the absurdity of it, Artemis still hasn't let go. "And you have a whole team of super villains following your orders."
"I prefer to think of them as my super friends." Sticking my tongue out the corner of my mouth, I make it clear they aren't my minions. "It doesn't have the same connotation that a team does."
Her brow crinkles in understanding as she untangles our fingers to open her front door. "You really do want out."
"That's going to be a problem," Jade is waiting with Paula at the kitchen table.
"Why are you here Jade?" Snarls Artemis, who takes a half step in front of me.
"Because my boss is quite upset with him. Wants Cameron to do a few things, before he considers things square between them." With no mask on this time, I can see Jade's eyes roam body. "Glad to see you put some meat on your bones."
She could have just killed me in my sleep and been done with it. I'm not completely written off yet, so what do they want from me?
"And those things would be?" With only one way to find out, I follow Artemis into the kitchen warily.
"He just wants you to find a few things for him buried in the ice." Shrugs Jade with a good show at feigning disinterest. "Maybe build up a few glaciers while you do. He never said anything that sounded fun, so I didn't really take any notes."
"... That's it?" I was already going to do that.
Jade nods and starts slathering blueberry jam on a fresh piece of toast. "He said you took someone in Superman's weight class off the board. He doesn't care if it cost him a few dregs like Kiteman."
"Now Mom said you promised to take them out for dinner." Smirking at me as she crunches down, Jade makes us wait for her to finish in awkward silence. "You better be taking us somewhere fancy."
As we near her new townhouse, Artemis grabs my hand "Can we talk?" She gets a cloud of chilly mist when my powers react instinctively.
"Haven't I been doing that all night?" I could barely go three minutes before someone had a new question for me.
"How..." She chews on her lower lip and hesitates. "Are you going to be alright?"
At least that's up to me now. "Eventually. Thanks for stopping me."
She lets out an honest to god giggle. "Thanks for actually listening. Wasn't sure if you remembered how."
"I need to go to Arkham tomorrow and talk to Viktor about the procedure." The parts lasted for seventeen years and Red Inferno was fully functional after fifty. "And I'll need to pay Oswald a visit eventually."
"It's so weird that you're on a first name basis with our dads' rivals." Laughing at the absurdity of it, Artemis still hasn't let go. "And you have a whole team of super villains following your orders."
"I prefer to think of them as my super friends." Sticking my tongue out the corner of my mouth, I make it clear they aren't my minions. "It doesn't have the same connotation that a team does."
Her brow crinkles in understanding as she untangles our fingers to open her front door. "You really do want out."
"That's going to be a problem," Jade is waiting with Paula at the kitchen table.
"Why are you here Jade?" Snarls Artemis, who takes a half step in front of me.
"Because my boss is quite upset with him. Wants Cameron to do a few things, before he considers things square between them." With no mask on this time, I can see Jade's eyes roam body. "Glad to see you put some meat on your bones."
She could have just killed me in my sleep and been done with it. I'm not completely written off yet, so what do they want from me?
"And those things would be?" With only one way to find out, I follow Artemis into the kitchen warily.
"He just wants you to find a few things for him buried in the ice." Shrugs Jade with a good show at feigning disinterest. "Maybe build up a few glaciers while you do. He never said anything that sounded fun, so I didn't really take any notes."
"... That's it?" I was already going to do that.
Jade nods and starts slathering blueberry jam on a fresh piece of toast. "He said you took someone in Superman's weight class off the board. He doesn't care if it cost him a few dregs like Kiteman."
"Now Mom said you promised to take them out for dinner." Smirking at me as she crunches down, Jade makes us wait for her to finish in awkward silence. "You better be taking us somewhere fancy."
