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amoxgirl · 5 years

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Legacies

Legacies Chapter 2

1995 Appalachian Mountain Territories

Jon knew he was different than most boys his age, what made him different he didn’t know nor understood but it didn’t matter. His Mom simply told him that he simply marched to the beat of his own drum and didn’t care for the ‘rough housing’ the other boys were doing. He had nodded at his mothers explanation and thought no more about it, he rarely played well with the other boys and often found himself coming to the rescue of the younger kids or the girls that was from the neighborhood.

It didn’t bother him, he rather liked it- other ten-year-old boys wouldn’t help the girls out nor would they play with the ‘babies’ either cause one group had ‘cooties’ or because the other group still wanted to play sillier games. But Jon was unique in the fact that just as long as he was outside where the sunshine could hit his face and he could take a deep long breath of fresh air he was happy.

Life was good… He had his Mom and his Nana and that’s all that mattered to him.

---(0)---(0)---(0)---

It was summer time and by far Jon’s favorite time of year, no school and the warm lazy days called to his heart like nothing else could. While this summer most of the boys he did play with got to go to a summer camp Jon had elected to stay at home, the majority of other kids that were still around were of families that couldn’t afford to go to the summer activities.

He had over heard his Mom and Nana talking about it once school had let out, that they had saved up enough money for him to go should he choose to do so but the flyers that his teacher had sent home with him on the last day of school looked so boring- and that’s what he had told his Mom and Nana.

Instead here he was in wooded park climbing a large oak tree, smiling successfully when he got middle ways up into the top of the tree. Parking his butt on a thick branch and digging out a granola bar from his pocket he enjoyed the shade and the pride of getting this far up when suddenly he heard voices shouting. Stuffing the rest of the bar into his mouth and pocketing the wrapper he hastily made his descent down again.

Listening closely, he realized that there was lots of different voices screaming, male and female alike- stepping into a screaming direction Jon was finally able to make out what they were screaming, “Sasha!” He tilted his head and thought about the name- he thought it belonged to a visiting young girl, she was spending the summer with her own Nana if he remembered correctly and something told him that having this many adults screaming for her was bad news.

Suddenly from around a tree a man stepped out and froze- Jon hadn’t felt him there and by the raised eyebrow he thought the man was just as surprised to see him as he was. In the stretched silence Jon took a moment to look at the man and found himself freezing when he noticed the guns at the man’s hips. Wetting his lips, he felt a slight, very so slight fear bubble- “you’re not truly afraid are you?” when the man spoke it was a funny accent Jon had never heard before, and with Cincinnati being a ‘port’ city he had heard so odd accents before this. But trying to be polite, as his Mom had taught him, he answered the question, “no Sir!” There was a smile forming on the adults lips when the shouting came closer.

Then Mister Connors stepped out around the park path and spotted him and the other man and snapped, “Jonathan what in the blue blazes are you doing out here?” Then Mister Connors eyes snapped to the other man and froze, his head lowered, and a closed fist came over his heart as he spoke, “hail Gunslinger!” Jon felt his eyes go wide as he looked at the strange man who was bringing up his right hand and with two fingers tapped his left side of collarbone. “hail Sai, what’s all ruckus for?” Mister Conner’s raised his head and spoke more softly, “a girl has went missing Sai!”

Jon shuffled his feet as the adults talked, he barely understood the conversation but the pieces he understood was the Gunslinger was on a hunt for parts of a posse he had been chasing for a long time. Suddenly the Gunslinger spoke up, “I will help in the search,” Mister Connors sputtered and finally managed out a thank you- Jon beamed and added, “I will help too!”

At this Mister Connors thundered at him, “certainly not young man- your march your butt back to your mamma and stay there! We don’t need to be looking for two lost kids tonight!” Stiffen his back Jon was ready to fire back when the Gunslinger spoke up, “the Lad can accompany in my search- I don’t know the terrain and something tells me he might be handy to have along!”

Once Mister Connors left Jon turned his full attention to the Gunslinger and with a shy voice was able to squeak out a thanks, but the other man simply studied him harder. After a minute he spoke up again, “what’s your full name Lad?” Jon straighten up to his full height, which was pretty tall for his age. “Jonathan Dean Moxley Sir!” The other man let out a laugh and held out his hand, “Steven Regal young Moxley!” Shaking his hand Jon felt his small world center and a heat ignite deep in his little heart.

---(0)---(0)---(0)---

It was the next day, the second day of the search for the missing Sasha when Jon had mentioned the pond to Mr. Regal when he asked Jon why he was concerned about the pond he shrugged his shoulders and said as an afterthought, “girls like cute animals and stuff- sometimes ducks swim in that pond!” The other man simply stared at him for a moment and then had him lead him to the pond in question.

Jon watched in awe as Mr. Regal walked with him around the large pond and pointed about small but noticeable foot prints- once when they bent down to examine an odd set of tracks Mr. Regal began to teach him differences of each track they found so when they bent down again some hours later Jon was about to identify the deer tracks without pause.

This seemed to please Mr. Regal and Jon felt such pride in himself that he never wanted this day to end however Mr. Regal wasn’t done teaching him. Next he was taught about the moss on tree trunks and how to avoid poison ivy and what mushroom/berries were good to eat. He learned how to identify the scat left behind to know what type of animal he was tracking- learned how to listen for sounds and more importantly for the sound of water.

It was closing in on dark when Jon felt the odd sensation at the back of his skull, the sensation quickly turned into a headache and just when Jon thought he couldn’t take it anymore everything in his vision tilted and he tripped. Mr. Regal caught him easily enough and frowned at him, “Jon…. Jon what ails you?” Working his mouth Jon had never felt so tired before but he forced himself to speak, “I had this funny feeling in my head then it turned into a headache but now it doesn’t hurt- when the pain went away it surprised me!” He felt Mr. Regal go completely stiff and watched as the other man bowed his head, after a moment he spoke softly, “do you hear it Jon?”

Jon was trying to detangle himself from the arms of the other man when he asked, as his heart thumped wildly against his chest, “hear what?” Mr. Regal glanced up at him at last and whispered, “the voice of your father?” Suddenly Jon was scared to breath, scared to move but Mr. Regal continued on, “a gunslinger will always hear the voice of his or hers forefathers Jon- a gunslinger will never lose focus nor get lost in thought cause they are never alone in their own head!”

They spent the hour in silence, man and boy both staring straight ahead- the man razor focus ahead while Jon himself stares ahead. They quietly came a upon a fork in the road- bending down in the dirt Jon traced the funny looking track when a small but quiet voice murmured deep inside his ear- left, “Mr. Regal I think we should go left!”

Mr. Regal studied him for a moment then nodded and as they walked Jon whispered. “I heard him!” Mr. Regal quietly laid a hand on his head told him one of the most important things in his young life, “listen to him Jon- he will never lead you astray.” Nodding as they continued on until they came to a hill and small cave crop to left- She is inside, glancing at Mr. Regal Jon smiled big when the other man thumbed his thumb into the direction of the cave, “Agreed!”

With that they both walked into the cave and a mile in they found the destroyed corpse of little Sasha Banks and Jon let the tears fall freely.

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1997 Gator Country

It was summer once again and this year the heat had came early and Jon was suffering because of it- his Dinn had swung by after school had let out and nabbed him for their annual summer training. It had been two years since he had met Steven Regal and awoke his inner gunslinger spirit- his Dinn (not teacher- heaven forbid) had continued his hunt but had always dropped back in to train him, a fact his Mom and Nana had hated but when Regal (as his Mom calls him) told him that the instinct to hunt- and the pressure of the voice in head would make him insane before he hit adulthood they had relented.

It had been on their first trip outside the Appalachian Mountain Territories that his Dinn told that he had called in some favors to some local Bookmen and after much digging they all agreed that Jon was perhaps the youngest gunslinger to awaken his inner instinct.

“It’s not doing me any fucking favors in this swamp!” He knew if his Mom and his Dinn heard that fowl word muttered from his lips he would have received a lashing but in the heat of the day- with only his hunting knife and four bullets left in his apprenticeship guns, and half a canteen left of drinkable water he was annoyed.

Drop off to the left

Smiling in a cruel kind of way, a smile unbefitting a twelve-year-old Jon simple stopped and listened and after a moment he heard the faint sound of a rattle from a rattlesnake.

“Oh, goody dinner!”

---(0)---(0)---(0)---

He never got to eat or skin the damn rattlesnake that night, why? Simple, really- his instinct had spoke of the drop off, but it was Jon’s own intelligences that found the cave buried back in the drop off- and in finding the cave (his least favorite places) he had found the two-man posse he and his Dinn were hunting.

Quietly and slowly exiting the cave he took up post in a tree and set off a soundless flare and waited. He knew better than to engage the posse on his own- even though he thought he might be good enough to take them on, but in doing so he might have to kill them and so far he hadn’t been giving the go ahead to kill anything human yet.

Behind and to the right

Already having his gun drew and in the guard position Jon quietly shifted to take a peek behind him- having the tree trunk to his back firstly made him work a little harder at not being heard or seen. The man that slipped out to the right of his tree was a larger man than his Dinn- but the guns at his hips told Jon all he needed to know. Softly, “a mile in it forks- they are to the right fork. The girl is either sleeping or unconscious.” The big man pauses and just as softly asks, “not dead?” Jon snorts and snaps back, “give me some credit man- I know the difference between the living and the dead!”

Yes, little Sasha Banks had taught him that fact two years ago. The sight of her cold body plus the signs his Dinn took shown him taught him early on the differences. Sighing Jon made his way down his post and landed soundlessly next to the unknown Gunslinger, glancing at one another for a second then Jon smirked when other man puffed out his cheeks and moaned in disappointment. “your just an apprentice….” A pause then, “numbers?” Giving the other man a flipped look Jon respectfully, cause like it or not this man wore gunslinger guns, “two!” A long moment, “you made your first kill yet?” Swallowing hard Jon simply shook his head was about to answer when a scream echoed from the cave, “Fuck me- come on then seems like today is your lucky day!”

Jon wanted to back peddle and tell the man to fuck off- he wasn’t his Dinn, had no right to give him orders but another scream echoed out and the image of Sasha Banks flashed in front of his eyes

Never stop never look back

Muttering, ‘fuck you!’ and when the other man gave him a funny look Jon sheepish blushed and said softly, “not you!” The other man nodded and jerked his head inward and Jon took a deep breath and followed.

The work that follows is fast, deadly, and precise on both the unnamed gunslinger and himself. Both their aims were accurate and just as deadly- Jon thought he would be sick afterwards, but he felt nothing when he noticed the girls tore cloths and the bite marks on her shoulders and small breasts.

Always shoot to kill and never kill just for the sake of killing

The girl had stopped screaming long enough to understand that the people that had just saved her wasn’t there to inflict more pain and started to cry. Jon went to the man he had just killed and checked his pockets- looking for any type of ID, he had witness his Dinn do this countless times and so he knew to also check the pulse to make sure his kill was dead.

“Your fucking good kid, what’s your name?” Smiling at the praise Jon answered proudly, “Jon Moxley!” The older man cocked his head and mumbled, “Moxley- I know I have heard that name somewhere before,” shaking his head clear he continued onward, “Well done Jon Moxley, I am Mathew Reigns but most in these parts call me Rosy!”

Smiling Jon stuck out his hand to other gunslinger and replied back, “nice to meet you Rosy!”

#writing #fanfiction #wrestling #BirthrightLegaciesAU #LegaciesChapter2 #Dean Ambrose | Jon Moxley #Seth Rollins #Roman Reigns #Renee Young #Sasha Banks #Mathew 'Rosy' Reigns

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eternallyyoungjustice · 5 years

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Wherever the Winds Take You: Chapter 10

A/N: Hey guys! I can’t believe we’re already on chapter 10...I decided to do this little bit from the comics because it’s just too pure not to write. God bless the team just being teens, you know?

Anyway, just a side note, the next couple chapters are probably going to be a little bit late because of finals, summatives, work, etc. Oh the joys of being a student in June (hahahakillmehahaha). Anyways, I hope y’all enjoy! Sorry for the length.

Martín Dance Studios, Paris

July 21

03:12

To say that Lina was flustered would be putting it lightly. As she hurriedly attempted to pack up her music equipment and put her clothes on over her dance-wear, all at the same time she felt as if she wanted to slam her head into the dance studio linoleum flooring that she had just been practising on.

“You know you don’t have to rush, yes?” The robust voice beside Lina spoke, sounding more than a little amused.

“You closed four hours ago Quinn. Of course I have to rush!” Lina exclaimed, sparing a hand away from her equipment to shove a tangle of sweaty brown hair out of her face.

Rolling his eyes, Quinn Martín found himself moving closer to his friend and took the speaker chord she had been attempting to coil out of her hands. "If I had wanted you out, I would've have kicked you out Lina. Even if it meant daring to intrude on you practicing."

The girl dared to look up to Quinn, still looking angry at herself, before sighing in defeat as she took his non-verbal hint to let him help.

"Thank you." She muttered as she stood and focused on putting a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt over the shorts and sports bra she had been wearing.

“So,” Quinn spoke as he continued to pack up the last of the stuff, “other than practicing here three hours a day and taking advantage of our business free of charge, what has the Fabulous Lina Dubois been doing?”

“Oh you know.” Lina shrugged, even though Quinn couldn’t see it. “This and that. Family to care for, crops to harvest, errands to run.”

“Teams to form and genetic labs to implode.” She wanted to add, but she had promised herself long ago that she would keep her only civilian friend as Lina, separate from her life as Zephyr, even though a small part of her always wanted to disclose her many adventures to him.

“That’s all? You lazy girl.” Quinn shook his head. “Maybe that’s why you can stay up, dancing your feet off after three in the morning. You must be sleeping so much…”

Once again, she felt compelled to tell him the truth. She wanted to explain that no, that wasn’t the reason. The real reason she could do this was because she had spent the last few days in Happy Harbor, so what little of an internal clock she had after two years of constantly having to bounce around the world, was set to Eastern Standard Time, where it was only currently dusk.

But instead, she simply laughed quietly and muttered a silent “Oui, of course.”

“You know,” Quinn stood up just as Lina finished putting her hair in a loose ponytail, both finished with their respective tasks. “Mina Élysée is hosting an old silent movie marathon next weekend, if you’re not too busy with family, crops, and errands…..we should go.”

Lina raised an eyebrow, “Hasn’t Mina hated me since I first came to the school?”

Quinn looked a touch embarrassed. “Touché...she didn’t exactly know how to react to someone with autism…”

Lina gave a half-hearted shrug. “You can always go without me. I bet Chloe would love to go with you…”

Quinn let out a deep, sarcastic laugh. “No thank you. Chloe may be sweet, but I don’t want to spend the whole night hearing how ‘whatever artist’ is better than ‘whoever’, and then have to try and find a good enough reason to fend her off at the end of the night.”

“Awww, wee lamb.” Lina mocked in English. “How cruel the world is that such a sweet girl is interested in you.”

Quinn rolled his eyes, then shoved Lina’s radio and devices into her as he gave his cookie-cutter excuse. “She’s not my type.”

Lina gave a small snort as she shouldered her equipment. Then, she was distracted by her phone buzzing in her pocket. As she pulled up the small glass device, she saw that she had a message from her newest contact.

HEy Lina!1

Wallyhad thr idea to gocamping twonigt! Want 2 joinn?

-Megan

Lina smiled, amused. It was becoming evident to everyone in the team that M’gann still hadn’t gotten used to human technology. The other day they had taught her how to use an electric oven properly (after yet another batch of hockey puck cookies). The experience was possibly the most dangerous thing they had done yet, including Cadmus and Mister Twister.

“What are you smiling about?” Quinn asked, as he leaned over to look at Lina’s phone but she quickly shut it off and shoved it in her bra.

“None of your business, Martín,” Lina smirked as she eyed-down her friend. As Lina’s light blue eyes met Quinn’s dark dark brown ones, he felt his resolve weaken. The pools of azure could have that effect on anyone if she wanted them to. He was just a little more vulnerable to it.

“It was my brother, he wants me home,” Lina spoke after a moment, a pang of uneasiness surging through her stomach as she lied to someone she considered to be one of her best friends.

“Well, it is three in the morning.” Quinn shrugged, running a hand through his shoulder-length black hair.

“You know how protective Calvin gets.” Lina shrugged. Quinn couldn’t help but let out a loud howl of laughter.

“Don’t remind me. Remember the first time I visited your place? The guy interrogated me.” Quinn laughed. “But I suppose you’re not much better…”

Lina frowned slightly at that. “What? I am not even close to being as protective as Calvin!”

Quinn gave the small girl beside him and gave her an unconvinced smile. “Whatever you say, Cherie.”

Lina, not catching the sarcasm in his voice, simply waved her hand in dismissal and made her way to the door. “Well, I best be off. Goodnight Martín, love you!”

When the door to the studio closed, Quinn remained in the studio; alone and the room darkened by the loss of sun gazing through the windows. He dug his hands in his front pockets, his smile left on his face.

“Goodnight Dubois.”

Happy Harbor

June 20

21:35

It didn’t take long for Lina to fly home at top-speeds, shower, get changed into some nicer civvies, and zeta over to the cave. Another talent she had picked up in her years as a hero; she had become very good at quickly changing clothes. Robin had once told her that it was one skill every hero grew into after time.

And just as she thought of the young, raven-haired boy; he materialized in the Zeta-tube beside her.

“Fancy meeting you here Airhead.” Robin cracked open a grin as his eyes met Lina’s figure.

“You as well, Boy Blunder.” Lina nodded. “I was just thinking of you actually.”

Robin’s smirk doubled in length, and a hand swept through his hair. “I knew my good looks and charm had to get your attention eventually.”

Lina let out a loud snort of laughter. “Mhmm, sure. I think you’ve been spending a little too much time around Wally.” She rolled her eyes. “Get back to me when you’re not a child, okay?”

Robin joined into the French girl’s laughter as they made their way into the kitchen, where they found Kaldur, Conner, and M’gann waiting.

“Ah, you two made it!” M’gann exclaimed happily. “Sorry for the last minute plans, but Wally’s idea to go camping sounded like so much fun!”

“No problem M’gann.” Robin shrugged. “Beats patrolling with Bats any day of the week in my book.”

“It was kind of you to invite everyone.” Kaldur nodded.

“But where’s Wa-“ Before Lina could finish her question, the ginger speedster sped into the kitchen with his hands full of camping supplies.

“Gathered a couple chairs, some firewood, scrounged the pantry for graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows; and now we’ll cozy up together outside…”

Wally’s voice trailed off as he entered the kitchen and caught a look at his teammates waiting inside, his expression full of surprise which led everyone to believe that these plans were not made with them in mind.

“We’re going to need a lot more stuff than that if we’re gonna go camping!” Robin smirked.

Happy Harbor

June 20

21:56

“This was a great idea, don’t you think Wally? Camping in the great outdoors…” The cheeky mockery in Robin’s voice could be heard a mile away.

After digging into some supplies around the cave, the group had found enough to be used for all six of them. Three two-person tents, a hammock, more firewood and food, a few chairs that could be used outside, even a cooler that the teens used to store the food in case of any animals that may be lurking in the woods.

It was the true camping experience, save for the actual home base that was less than a kilometre away from the campsite.

“I don’t remember inviting you.” Wally huffed. “Besides, I didn’t say anything about camping. I said a campfire. Big difference between just a campfire and the whole camping thing, I don’t like camping outside anyways…”

Wally sent a grinning look over his shoulder at M’gann, who was sitting far back from the fire. As Martian and Atlantean biologies were extremely susceptible to high temperatures, such as fire, both M’gann and Kaldur had to sit far away from the fire as to not receive any unwanted heat.

“...unless, of course, I’m camping with that special someone.”

“Dude, that was borderline creepy.” Robin cringed.

If M’gann had noticed Wally’s flirting or Robin’s line, she didn’t bother to show it. “Well, I think all of us camping is a wonderful idea!” The alien girl piped up.

“She didn’t seem to think my line was too bad,” Wally smirked.

Robin looked at Lina, noticing her holding back her on cringing. “She’s probably on a sugar overload.”

“Thanks to Wally, I get to try s’mores for the first time.” M’gann cheered as she took a bite of the mushy marshmallow-chocolate-graham cracker concoction on her stick.

“What can I say? I’m a sweetie!” Wally quipped. “Get it? Cause s’mores are sweet?”

Seeing the Martian girl enjoying her own s’more, Lina looked down at her own with an alien look.

“I do not understand this dessert…” Lina muttered.

“They don’t have s’mores in France?” M’gann asked, mouth full of gooey marshmallow.

Lina shook her head. “Marshmallows aren’t very popular, and graham crackers aren’t even available anywhere that I know of…” After poking the melted sugars white goo spilling out from the dessert, the girl wrinkled her nose and handed hers to M’gann; who ecstatically snatched it and popped the dessert into her mouth.

“So this is what you do when you go camping?” Superboy asked, gesturing to their makeshift camping grounds. “Sleep in these flimsy things called ‘tents’ and sit around the fire?”

“Yeah, that’s pretty much about it. So if you feel like heading home, I can sit here with Ms. M...alone.”

“You’re about as subtle as a train wreck, you know that?” Robin grinned. The flames reflecting off his sunglasses, which he was still wearing despite it being the middle of the night, made his mischievous features look downright malicious.

“You’re not going to catch any fish unless you go fishing dude!” Wally replied, then seemed to catch himself as he looked back at Kaldur-who was cringing a little at the metaphor. “Sorry, no offence.”

“Usually,” Robin cut in, crossing his arms, “you sit around the campfire and tell stories.”

“Oh!” M’gann exclaimed, whipping around to face Kaldur who broke off his eye contact with Lina to face the Martian. “I would love to hear your story Kaldur. Could you tell us how you became Aqualad?”

“I was thinking more of a ghost story type of thing but I guess…whatever.”

Seeing the flames continue to brighten the boy’s sunglasses along with the almost evil in appearance expression, a shiver ran through Wally’s spine.

“Dude, tone down the evil villain vibes would ya? You’re creeping me out!” Wally whisper-shouted.

“Oh, I suppose I could do that if you do not think it will be too boring…” Kaldur said, eyes darting around his teammates to get a reading on how they may feel about the suggestion. Everyone’s interests seemed to be piqued however, everyone’s eyes on him save for Robin’s-whose head was tilted in his direction but his eyes still lay focused on the flames before him.

“Not at all! I would love to hear it!” M’gann nodded.

Ever self-conscious about being in the spotlight, Kaldur took one more look around the campfire. When his eyes landed on Lina, whose head was propped up in her hands as she waited for him to begin. Her eyes displayed such excitement, even though she already knew his story from many a telling, and the Atlantean felt a sense of confidence flow through him. His mind began to formulate his story, piecing together the chapters of his life as his grey-teal eyes became entranced by the fire.

“Well, I grew up in the city of Shayeris, which is a city in Atlantis. Surface dwellers think all Atlanteans are the same, but our kingdom has many cities, many people, many cultures. When I was twelve, I completed my education and began my mandatory service in the Atlantean military-which is standard for all at that age.”

“After a while, I was transferred to the prestigious Conservatory of Sorcery in the Atlantean capital of Poseidonis. Queen Mera is the Head Mistress of the Conservatory and wife of King Orin, Aquaman. It was a very different time for me. It was difficult, as it would be for anyone at age fourteen I suppose, but also a time in my life where I met friends that I know will be with me for a lifetime."

"Then came a day...a horrible day when Poseidonis was attacked by the Ocean Master. I can remember it vividly, as if it only happened yesterday. It was the day Aquaman almost met his end."

"Aquaman and Ocean Master fought for what seemed like hours. When the two clashed it seemed to shake the very foundations of the city. Ocean Master had gained the upper hand, and nearly defeated Aquaman." Then, Kaldur paused. "Correction: Aquaman was defeated."

"Garth, a fellow student, and I intervened on the King's behalf. It was the only thing we could think of doing. The danger did not occur to us, the only thing that mattered to us at the time was that our King was in danger. It may have been one of the most foolish things Garth and I had ever done, as we nearly met our own end. We had no hope of defeating him whatsoever, but the time we spent engaged in battle against the Ocean Master was time enough for our King to recover. That was all he needed as Aquaman finally triumphed over Ocean Master."

"Aquaman is a being of two worlds. On the surface world, he fights for justice of all beings, under the sea he is a leader of many. Both carry the weight of responsibilities. Overwhelming responsibilities that only the best of men can carry for so long. Even Aquaman cannot do both forever. Realizing that on the surface both Batman and Green Arrow had taken on apprentices that could one day take over their respective mantels, King Orin had been contemplating the same idea. With this in mind, he approached both Garth and myself with the possibility of becoming his proteges. I must admit, the possibility intrigued me immediately."

"I had never been to the surface world, and I will be the first to admit that I am a bit of an adventurer. Many is the day in class that I would dream of visiting distant oceans and possibly, one day, even the surface world. Both Garth and I seriously considered the King's offer. But Garth ultimately chose to continue his studies with Queen Mera at the Conservatory of Sorcery. For me, however...the chance to visit the surface world was a dream come true. So at the age of fourteen, I became Aqualad. I miss my friends, Garth, Tula...but the chance to work with my mentor and King was an opportunity I could not pass up. I like to think the work that I am doing makes a difference."

"The rest of the story you know. Aquaman brought Aqualad to the surface world...and now I am here with you."

Kaldur's story elicited a smile from pretty much everyone, although on differing levels.

Lina stretched her back over the log she was leaning against, moaning slightly as she did. "I love stories of the fathoms below…" she sighed.

"So you wanted to be Aqualad?" M'gann asked.

"Yes, the opportunity alone...I could think of no other path." Kaldur spoke with a small, content and nostalgic smile on his lips.

"If you think he wanted to be Aqualad so badly, let me tell you about how I got started." Wally piped up.

"Oh this ought to be good." Lina heard Robin mutter.

"It literally goes back a couple generations. Each generation of Flash has started with a bang! Literally! Jay Garrick was in a freak accident: Boom! There it is. During the 40s and 50s, he was everywhere. 'The fastest man alive', Jay Garrick was the first Flash."

"Then, one day this guy comes along; a huge fan of The Flash, wanting to know all about this Jay Garrick-back in those days Jay didn't really hide his identity-he contacts Jay and the two spend hours and hours talking about his adventures and his accident that turned him into the Flash. This guy even goes so far as to re-create the accident that created the original! But whereas Jay Garrick's was a complete freak accident, this guy rre-createsit under laboratory conditions; he set the whole thing up in his lab and tried to make it happen. Result? Still a big explosion, but lo and behold he becomes speedy mcspeed-speed himself! Now he's The Flash. Well, not the original Flash, but the new Flash...the Flash we all know! Now that I'm saying all this...they probably could have used different names…But now this time, he was even faster than the old Flash! He had even more speed!"

Wally popped another s'more into his mouth, then continued his story.

"Okay, so check this! The second Flash is a fan of the first Flash-Jay Garrick-and it turns out great minds think alike! Cause I was a fan of the Flash! The second one, not the first. Well, I was a fan of Jay Garrick after I got to meet him, but he was a little before my time."

"Long story short, one day I was in my Uncle's house and stumbled across his old notebooks, and got the shock of a lifetime. That was the day I found out my uncle was The Flash! Once the shock had passed a bit, I kept reading. He had been keeping a journal of all his experiences and experiments! Especially the one that made him the Flash-the second one, not the first-""We get it already!" Robin interrupted.

Wally ignored his friend's outburst and carried on.

"When I found that out, I would kind of keep hinting to my uncle that Flash could maybe use and needed a partner. I mean, come on, by this time Bats already had Robbie over there, GA had Speedy, Aquaman had Kal...heck, even RT had Lina at that point! This was a total no-brainer! I've got to admit, Flash was a little resistant at first."

"Does this story sound confusing to anyone else?" Superboy asked.

"Just let me finish, and you will be confused no more Supey!" Wally winked, sending finger guns to the clone. "So, having his journal just like he saw the previous Flash's, I try to recreate the experiment with my own chemistry set. And what do you know? I was actually able to do it."

"The experiment actually worked?" Kaldur asked.

"Well...not at first, actually." Wally suddenly seemed a little uncomfortable. "I was hurt in the explosion, it was pretty bad...but although the super speed didn't kick in for a couple weeks, when it did; I was perfectly fine, and then I was off and running. I couldn't wait to show Flash! When he saw that I had powers, how could he not want me as a partner? You guys should've seen his face when I showed him! This time he jumped at the chance to have me as his partner, Flash couldn't wait to show me off to the world! He was beyond ecstatic, he couldn't contain his excitement! It was the greatest day in the history of the world! Why you ask?"

"We didn't." Robin snorted.

"That's the day the world got Kid Flash!"

Wally remained silent, as if waiting for people to applaud, then said with an air of victory and pride, "You. Are. Welcome."

"Ah yes, we're all so pleased that you're so speed-capable." Robin snickered. Wally shot a glare at him.

“What’s the matter? Jealous?” Wally asked.

“Sheeyah, right. Jealous of you?”

"What about you Lina?" M'gann cut in, catching the small brunette's attention.

"Moi?" Lina asked, then laughed awkwardly. "I can assure you, mine's not as interesting as fighting alongside great monarchs or sciencey explosions…"

"As long as it's not so confusing…" Superboy shrugged.

"C'mon Lin', you've got a great origin story!" Wally cheered on.

Lina sighed, a timid heat crawling up to her ears, and she found herself fiddling with a strand of hair.

"Well, then...I guess I should start with where I grew up. My family line worked in the circus industry for generations, right down to my parents, my brothers and I. We performed for a European Travelling Circus, Cortez' to be exact...it was my home. My father was a stagehand, he was never one for acts himself, but my brothers were a fire-dancer and an animal tamer respectively and my mother and I...we were an acrobatic duo! Aerial work, floor routines, silks, contortion, gymnastics...everything you could think of, we specialized in! Growing up in a circus...there's nothing else like it. The acts, the work that goes into it, the family...it's perfect."

Lina's eyes seemed to light up as she spoke, but then suddenly the light seemed to fade. "But then...there was a fire. The authorities never figured out how it started, but my mom and I got crushed in some debris when she tried to save me and...when the smoke cleared my mother had…passed. I was put into a coma lasting for months. Apparently, nothing in the circus lay untouched by the flames. With the destruction it wreaked, and then with one of the most prominent families in Cortez' history leaving after the death of their monarch...the circus closed before the end of the season."

"But then, while in my coma, this power in me suddenly manifested. Somehow, I don't know exactly how, I created a giant tornado in the France countryside. Thank God nobody was hurt, and the destruction was minimal considering. But when I woke, the Justice League was there. My family had explained everything to them and then; Red Tornado, Black Canary, and Batman came into my hospital room and talked to me. They told me of how Red was willing to take me in as an apprentice, teach me to control my powers, and Black Canary would help me heal while also teaching me hand-to-hand combat. My family wasn't too happy at this initially...but I agreed. I felt like I needed to do something so it wouldn't happen again."

"Then started a whole year of training. Being in a coma for months while I healed from serious wounds had left my body weak and brittle, so I had a lot of work to do. But as I'm sure you'll all find soon, Black Canary is the perfect person to 'whip you into shape', no matter what shape you start off in. And then, after I was deemed ready by both my mentors, I was officially given the title 'Zephyr' and I started fighting evil. And now...here I am, with all of you."

"...I'm sorry about your Mother." M'gann frowned. The girl looked a little guilty, but Lina shook her head and smiled.

"It's alright, I have made peace with her passing. And besides, I know that wherever she is...she's happy that her family is all well and safe."

"You really don't know where your powers come from?" Superboy suddenly asked. His question surprised Lina, but she answered nonetheless.

"I do not. The League has apparently attempted to find out, I even was the subject of a couple of tests at STAR Labs for a couple of days because we wanted to figure it out, but...we simply do not know." Lina shrugged.

“I’m sure we’ll figure it out soon.” Robin shrugged. “Just gotta find the right people.”

The French girl gave the younger boy beside her a smile and gently rustled his hair. “Merci...perhaps one day…”

“Can you tell us how you got started Robin?” M’gann asked.

Wally answered with a loud snort of laughter, which seemed to put Robin in a very bitter mood as the raven-haired male looked away and began to pout a little. “Are you kidding? Bats won’t even let him tell anyone his real name!”

Finally looking back at his best friend, Wally noticed that the youngest of the group was looking particularly uncomfortable. A slight blush was dusted on his cheeks, and his shoulders were slouched. The ginger also noticed the fact that Robin was avoiding looking at Lina at all costs. As if just looking at her, or as Wally knew-thinking too much about the story she had just told-would lead him to unravel. Wally sidestepped and reevaluated what he just said.

“I mean...you’ll probably get a better origin story out of Supey over there.” The ginger motioned to the shadowy figure across the fire from him.

“But you all already told me his story, didn’t you?” M’gann spoke. “You told me that the four of you rescued him from CADMUS.”

Wally nodded. “That we did.”

“Yes, chronologically Superboy is only 16 weeks old,” Kaldur explained

“And you don’t have any memories of what happened before you were rescued?” The Martian girl asked Superboy.

If Superboy was at all anxious from having the attention suddenly tossed onto him, he didn’t bother to show it. “I have some memories...from the g-gnome…it would teach me about the world outside while I was in the containment pod.”

This made M’gann smile but then frown slightly. “So you can remember things? When you were in the containment pod they would feed you information and you could remember it, right?”

“I guess so.” Superboy shrugged indifferently.

“Well if you can remember what they taught you, you must have been thinking about things as they fed you information,” M’gann said, her voice almost analytical in a sense. “What did you think about?”

“When I was in the containment pod, I was fed information. But I really didn’t start thinking for myself until I got out.”

“Well what kinds of things do you think about now?”

The group seemed unsure of why the sudden interrogation had sprung up surrounding Superboy’s thoughts, but when the clone hesitated in his answer the attentions of all the experienced proteges seemed to be piqued. And when the boy looked back at everyone with a gaze that was equal parts cold and empty, several warning signs began to go off in their heads. The only exception to this was Robin, who Wally noticed hadn’t reacted at all.

“The one thing that’s always on my mind...destroying Superman.”

Almost in unison, a chill crept up every single hero’s spines. Upon seeing the shocked expressions on their faces, Superboy stood from his chair and turned away from the group.

“Are you serious Superboy?” M’gann asked.

Superboy paused. “...it’s how I feel...sometimes. What if that’s why I was created? What if that’s the only reason I was created?”

“That’s not possible.” M’gann shook her head.

“Yeah! Look at all the good stuff you’ve done so far!” Wally exclaimed.

“What would be the possible reasoning behind this thinking?” Kaldur inquired.

Superboy sighed, and his fists tensed by his sides. “I just feel...I don’t know what I feel. Sometimes thoughts happen.”

“Those would be silly thoughts!” M’gann chipped. “You should put them out of your head.”

“He does have a valid point.” Robin pointed out, but the tone of his voice made it evident he did not want to be the realistic one in this scenario. “We really don’t know anything about what they did to him yet…”

Reaching up, Lina touched Wally’s arm and the two looked to one another for a moment, then nodded.

“We know he’s one of the good guys, and we know he’s part of the team,” Wally argued, standing up.

“We know he fought side-by-side with us to get out of Cadmus, and helped to free us from being cloned ourselves,” Lina added on, standing up herself and floating over to the clone. She was joined by Wally, spare s’more in his hand.

“In this world, actions speak louder than words,” Kaldur spoke. “Superboy has proven his intentions with his actions.”

“Hero, villain. Human, or otherwise. Each and every living being has a balance of good and evil in them. That includes all of us here today, whether we choose to recognize that or not.” Lina nodded and placed a caring hand on Superboy’s shoulder. “What matters is what part of that balance we choose to act on. You’ve proven several times that you act on the good.”

“Exactly!” Wally exclaimed, and shoved the s’more into Superboy’s hands. “So put those thoughts outta your head Supey! And while you’re at it, have another s’more.”

Superboy looked down at the s’more, his expression shrouded in shadow. “Thank you...all of you.”

As Wally and Lina sat back down, the former nudged Robin with his foot. “Dude, what’s wrong? Not like you to zone out mid-monologue.” Wally whispered.

“I guess Superboy isn’t the only one lost in thought tonight…” Robin whispered back, ever so mysteriously.

An awkward silence spilled over the teens. The only sound surrounding them being the cracking of the fire and the odd rustle in the bushes. Nearly everyone shifted uncomfortably in their seats, not wanting to continue in the awkwardness but not wanting to be the first to speak after such a dramatic moment. But never being one to like silence of any sort, especially amongst friends, Wally’s eyes latched onto the only person who had not given their own personal origin story.

“Hey! Miss M! What about you? What’s your dealio?”

“Oh...uh, I guess since you all told your stories…” M’gann cleared her throat, which had suddenly gotten very dry. “I guess, well, I’m from Mars…”

She slapped her head, “Hello Megan, you all already knew that!”

“All Martians live in underground tunnels because the surface is inhabitable. Our family lives are very intertwined because, as you already know, we mostly communicate telepathically. This helps the large families of Mars keep a sense of community and stay closer."

"Large families?" Wally asked, looking intrigued. "How many are in in your family?"

"Martian families are quite large. I myself have twelve sister and seventeen brothers. In my extended family I have over three hundred counsins." M'gann explained. Everyone's eyes widened at this, especially Wally's.

"Three hundred?" The speedster asked.

"Yes."

"Are they all girls like you?"

"Dude!" Robin exclaimed. "You are a class act!"

"Dude!" Wally called back. "Three hundred girls that look like her? Now that's a planet I want to visit!"

Lina nudged Wally with her foot. "Bordering on creepy again, KF."

"Well, half of my cousins are male, but yes. Most Martians look similar...mostly Green like my Uncle J'onn and myself. But there are other...differences. There are also Martians who are red and white...but some on my planet do not see the whites as equal."

"Well, that's a little ironic, compared to Earth…" Lina thought.

"My parents are both green, and I was raised in what would be called a 'liberal' type of environment. My family, I, have no issue with white Martians. Others...are not as tolerant."

"What made you come to Earth?" Kaldur asked, and Lina could notice a little bit of discomfort in his voice.

"Of all the brothers, sisters, parents, aunts, uncles; the family member I was closest to was Uncle J'onn. We had a great relationship." M'gann went on to explain. "We would watch exploits on Earth with the rest of the Justice League. He grew to be a true beacon of hope and stood for what our society could achieve. He became the most famous Martian in our history! And upon his return to Mars, it was considered a planetwide celebration! But his return was not for adoration...he had a more specific purpose in mind."

"Upon learning about all of you-Robin, Aqualad, Zephyr, Kid Flash, and Speedy-J'onn decided now was the time to introduce a younger Martian hero to Earth."

"J'onn J'onzz came back to Mars and declared he would hold a competition to find the next Martian champion that would be returning with him to fly amongst the heroes of Earth. I decided I would enter the competition, as it seemed so did half the population of Mars. I however, was coming to Earth. The competition was fierce and dangerous. It was exciting, and consumed the lives of every single Martian on the planet."

"At first, Uncle J'onn seemed as if he didn't want me to compete. I thought maybe it was because he didn't want me coming to Earth. I had seen some of his adventures, they were life-threateningly dangerous. But I was not going to let that stop me, I was determined to win! From everything I had seen and heard of Earth from that point...I had loved it. I wanted to come see it for myself, I would not be bested. I won the whole competition."

"My heart soared! I was coming to Earth! This was the most exciting point of my life, and now I am here with all of you! I am a part of the Team! I truly love it."

"We are happy you're here with us as well M'gann." Kaldur smiled.

"You could say that again," Wally added.

"And I hope we continue to live up to the...what's that word…'hype'." Lina reached over to pat Megan's leg.

Pulling the conversation away, Robin stood and stretched. "Well...I don't know about you guys, but I think I've had one s'more too many. I'm going to hit the old sleeping bag."

"Yes!" M'gann cheered. "This has been such an amazing evening, but I am so excited to sleep in a tent!"

"I'm right behind you." Wally piped up, only to be pulled back by Robin.

"Yeah, only you're sleeping in this tent right over here," Robin spoke, motioning to the tent that the two boys had agreed beforehand to share.

As everyone began to stand, M'gann turned to face Lina. "Are you turning in as well?"

"I believe so, I'll be in in a minute." The human girl nodded, stretching her neck to crack the bones. The girl with green skin nodded happily and zoomed over to the tent belonging to the two of them.

"Hey, next time you think we should go camping for real? Like in an actual camping ground instead of in our own backyard?" Wally asked.

"You don't strike me as the outdoorsy type...maybe next time we'll try down the hill a bit." Robin shrugged indifferently.

"You're certain your family is fine with you staying the night here again?" Kaldur asked the small French girl standing beside him, who nodded in response.

"Believe me, they are more than fine with it. Last I spoke with them my older brother said, and I translate, "it's good to have your sorry butt out of the house for once”.” Lina laughed a little. “What about you? I hope this isn’t stopping you from visiting Atlantis.”

Kaldur shrugged. “Atlantis will survive without me for a few more days. For now, my place is with the team-my friends.”

Lina smiled at this, and gently bumped her shoulder with his. “I’m glad to hear it! But for now, I think your place is getting some sleep.” Kaldur’s lazy smile turned into a chuckle.

“The same to you.”

“In that case,” The air-manipulator grinned and took a curtsy to both the Atlantean and the clone, who had been silently watching them with an empty expression, “I wish you adieu et bonne nuit.”

Kaldur watched Lina turn and leave, a small smile itching at the corners of his mouth, but Superboy just turned to face the flames once again. After a moment, the Atlantean focused back on the Kryptonian.

“That was a fun evening indeed, but I think I will be turning in as well...unless you would like some company, Superboy?”

“No, that’s okay.” The younger boy barely made a physical notion of whether he had heard Kaldur or not, “I’ll turn in soon. I just want to sit here with the fire a bit longer.”

Kaldur nodded but didn’t question the response. “Well, if you need anything; you know we are all here for you.”

And with that, Kaldur left to enter his own tent. But Superboy continued to stand, his eyes on the dancing flames but his gaze seeming to go straight through them. As if even though his body was standing there, in the makeshift camp site, but his mind and thoughts were...elsewhere.

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