HOMEMADE DYNAMITE !
❝ TEEN SPIRIT. ❞

INTRODUCING:
MAYA BLACK,
MELANIE MERLYN-WAYNE.
&&. NORA BLACK.

FOURTEEN YEARS AGO..

ABIGAIL LANCE WAS NOT UNFAMILIAR WITH MANORS. Hell, she spent more than half her time in Oliver Queen's. But that didn't make Wayne Manor any less impressive. A hand landed on her shoulder and she looked up to see Oliver stood by her side, smiling softly at the excitement shining from the thirteen year old's face.

"You ready, Squirt?" Ollie asked, squeezing her shoulder reassuringly.

Abigail beamed up at him, "Ready as I'll ever be, Uncle O."

The two managed one step before the sound of gravel crunching under wheels assaulted their ears. Sharp braking made them turn around, and they saw Dinah Lance skid to a stop on her black motorbike, stones and pebbles flying through the air. Removing the helmet, Abigail's aunt flipped her hair from her face and clambered off the metal machine. She adjusted her leather jacket and strode towards her family, seemingly unaffected by the cold Gotham air biting into red cheeks.

"You two weren't going in without me, were you?" Dinah questioned, smiling as the blond man placed a kiss on her cheek.

"Never, pretty bird," Ollie replied indignantly.

Dinah raises an eyebrow, replying dryly, "Obviously."

"It was Abby's idea," Oliver teased, pointing an accusing finger at the small girl, "Blame baby bird over there."

Even though she knew he was joking, Abigail crossed her arms, her voice monotone, "Of course."

Oliver looked at her in surprise before over to his partner, "She's definitely your niece."

Dinah scoffed, eyes drifting to her niece where she then frowned and swiped the glasses from her face, "How often have we told you not to steal Felicity's glasses, Abs?"

Abby pouted, pulling her own round glasses from her pocket and pushing them up her face, "I didn't steal them! I borrowed them!"

"Without the intent to return them," Oliver pointed out, ruffling her hair, "Kinda makes it stealing, squirt."

Abigail scowled, batting Ollie's hand away childishly, drawing a laugh from the blond, "But I like them!"

"Okay, you two," Dinah cut in, beginning to usher them towards the door, "Inside the BatManor. Now."

"Wait," Abigail frowned, resisting her aunt's push, "Where's Roy?"

The teen turned to look at her aunt's bike, scouring the driveway for a boy, a flash of red hair. A scarlet hoodie. Even a sulky scowl. Anything. Despite their best efforts, she still caught Oliver and Dinah exchange nervous and knowing glances. Suddenly her heart felt a rock in her chest and her shoulders sunk.

Dinah crouched down in front of her niece, placing a soft hand on her face, "I'm sorry, kiddo. He wanted to come."

Abby nodded, pushing a smile onto her face as she tried her best to reassure the parental figures before her that she was okay. Three times this week. She just missed him. She didn't even care that they would probably argue anyway. Roy Harper was was the closest thing to a brother she had — even if he was the epitome of a problem child. She was never one to shy away from a challenge.

"I know, Auntie Di," Abby nodded, before grabbing her arm and starting to drag her towards the door, "Now come on — I wanna meet Wonder Woman!"

The two vigilantes laughed as they watched the brunette face forwards, practically bounding up the steps and stopping at the front door. She stopped to wait for the duo, but the door abruptly opened. On the other side, an old man stood, with greying hair and gentle features.

"Miss Lance, I presume?" the man smiled kindly, "Your reputation precedes you, young lady."

Dinah and Oliver appeared at Abigail's back, the former placing a hand on her niece's shoulder. Abigail already seemed shellshocked. The reality of the situation was beginning to settle in and Oliver tried not to chuckle at the way she was almost bouncing on the balls of her feet.

"Nice to see you, Alfred," Oliver smiled, nodding to the Waynes' butler.

Alfred Pennyworth nodded politely to the duo, "The pleasure is all mine, Ms Lance, Master Queen."

The butler stepped aside, letting the trio enter the mansion. Immediately, Abigail was struck by the grandeur and luxury of the scene before her. Sprawling mahogany floor boards, glossy and sheen, framed by towering wooden columns holding up the ceiling and surrounded by classical paintings. Her eyes drifted to the ceiling, bulbs from the crystal chandelier reflecting rays of light off her brown irises, gemstones dangling down like frozen droplets of rain.

Gaze drifting to the furniture, she found an ornate fireplace burning brightly and chestnut coloured, leather sofas and armchairs. Further into the main hall, an impressive staircase lead to the higher floors. She noticed a family portrait hung on the wall, right at the intersection before the staircase split, ascending to a gallery landing. Longweave rugs formed a makeshift carpet which trailed right to the centre of the room. Blue colours tinged the entire place, clashing with the eccentric homely feel of the manor.

Oliver Queen lived extravagantly, but this was something else.

Then Abigail's eyes landed on the small group of people standing before her, murmuring between themselves, and she swore, if her spirit could leave her body, then Jesus Christ, hers just did. Before her stood the Justice League. The Justice League. Starstruck was a goddamn understatement.

"I think I'm gonna scream," Abby squeaked, loud enough for Dinah to hear.

The blonde pressed her lips together to keep herself from laughing, rubbing her niece's back, "You've got this, kiddo."

Oliver had already begun walking forwards. Instantly, a blonde woman emerged from the group, beaming broadly as she enveloped the archer in a tight hug, one which Ollie happily returned. A man then stepped forwards to greet him, too, a pearly grin spreading across his face as the two met one another fondly. Abby barely had time to try and figure out who they were, she was too busy focusing on keeping her legs from buckling because holy shit these people were superheroes.

Eventually, she reached the group, and Dinah's hand relinquished it's soothing hold on her shoulder as she said her own hellos.

"League," Dinah addressed the people before her, turning to hold out her arm to the brunette, "This is my niece, Abigail Lance..."

Slowly, the heroes filtered out, the seven of them separating from their circle into a line, looking over at the girl. Abigail's breath nearly stopped in her throat. Her heart pounded in her chest, lightning coursed in her veins and she wasn't sure whether she was gonna scream or faint or throw up. It didn't matter that they were clad in civilian clothes, it didn't matter that there were no capes or cowls. The Justice League was stood before her.

Abby's eyes trailed across the faces before her, soaking them all in as puzzle pieces and red tape lined up in her mind. Every face was visible now, she could see them with their masks and suits on. And as they introduced themselves, her mind put together who they were, who they became, when the world needed them.

"Nice to meet you, Abigail. We've heard a lot about you. I'm Diana," one woman smiled, reaching a hand out, which Abigail shook with a face of awe. Wonder Woman.

Abigail was ready to float off into the air at this point. She was pretty sure the only thing keeping her rooted was her determination not to embarrass Auntie Di and Uncle Ollie.

The blonde who'd hugged Ollie stepped forwards, and Abby recognised her face vaguely, "You've grown a lot since I last saw you, kid."

Abby's brow furrowed before her face lit up, "Maya?"

The Ghost. She'd seen Maya Black a lot when she was little, often the woman was around Dinah's or Ollie's. There had been a giant uproar about her supposed return from the dead a few years back. Apparently, the children of millionaires disappearing for extended periods of time (and being presumed dead) was more common than one would expect. More than was normal, anyway.

But Maya's introduction was warm and kind as she smiled down happily at two of her oldest friends' niece, and the other Leaguers followed suit.

"Clark Kent, pleasure to meet you, miss." Superman.

"I'm Allen. Barry. Barry Allen." The Flash.

"Hal Jordon." the man looked to Dinah, "I can see the resemblance, Dinah." Green. Fucking. Lantern.

The Lantern Corps' had hardly been seen on Earth lately. The fact she was meeting one? Abby was pretty sure she was actually about to self-combust.

The next man grinned fondly at her, offering a strong handshake so forceful it made Abigail's very head move, "I'm Arthur Curry. Nice to finally meet you, kid." Aquaman.

Finally, Abby's gaze landed on the last man. He was stern faced and dark haired. His eyes were almost as sharp as his cheekbones, and he didn't seem too keen on introducing himself. Not that she needed him to. She wasn't stupid, and even if she was, his face — his name — was plastered everywhere in this Godforsaken city. This was Bruce Wayne. This was Batman.

"Ignore him. His name is Bruce Wayne."

A voice interrupted the silence, and Abigail's eyes snapped to the grand staircase, where a stunning, redheaded woman was slowly descending. Her lips curved up at the side, giving her blue eyes a mischievous twinkle. Abigail knew her, too. Melanie Merlyn. Well, she supposed it was Merlyn-Wayne now. The two had married years ago, and now had a little girl. (Elizabeth, was it? Martha?)

Abby would sometimes see Dinah cooing over the photos Melanie sent of the baby. Domestic superheroes could be unbearable. Sometimes.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, the fiery woman came to a halt at Bruce's side, gently wrapping a hand around his arm, "He's not really a people person. I'm Melanie, it's a pleasure to meet you, sweetie."

Abigail smiled at the woman, before Ollie cleared his throat awkwardly, drawing the small girl's attention to him. Oh crap. Oliver clearing his throat usually meant Abby was either in trouble (aka had been caught red handed) or was gonna have to do something that she would not be happy with. Oliver was incredibly bad at dishing out telling-offs.

"This is League business, baby bird," he jerked his head towards the staircase behind, "Why don't you go meet the other kids? Apparently they're pretty cool."

"They're teenagers, Ollie." Maya raised an eyebrow at her friend in amusement, "They're full of anger and sarcasm. And an abundance of teen spirit. But mostly just anger."

"She has a point," Abby agreed, nodding her head appreciatively. Oliver scoffed and Dinah could already feel a headache coming on at the prospect of the two bickering again. Thank God Roy wasn't here to antagonise the situation more.

You wouldn't know that Oliver adored the kid, or that Abby thought the world of him, from how they acted. If Roy was here, Dinah was pretty sure you wouldn't have guessed he loved them to pieces, either. But Dinah did.

"Alright, okay," Dinah interrupted, "Abby — up the stairs. Ollie — stop acting like a child."

Abigail stuck her tongue out at Oliver childishly before hurrying up the stairs, not exactly sure where it was she was supposed to be going.

She soon found herself wandering the halls curiously, looking out for any signs of life. Or a map. A map would be fan-fucking-tastic. No such luck seemed to be befalling her — until a girl stumbled into her line of sight.

She had smooth, porcelain skin and messy dark hair, though blonde strands were growing through at the roots. Her eyes were bright and impish, and she looked around Abby's age. The girl spotted her, too, and stopped in her tracks.

"The fuck are you?"

Abby crossed her arms defensively, "Abby Lance. Who the hell are you?"

The girl didn't answer straight away, looking at her as though she was sizing her up before deciding whether to answer or not. The last name must have finally clicked in her head, because a small smile wormed it's way onto the girl's lips and she slowly approached Abby.

"You're Dinah and Ollie's kid, then?" the raven haired girl asked, thumbs slung through the hoops of her belt.

Abigail squared her shoulders, "Niece."

"Oh, I definitely like you," the girl grinned, sticking out her hand, "Nora Black. You probably met my parents downstairs. Maya and Barry."

After a second of hesitation, Abby reached out and took the outstretched hand, a grin to mirror Nora's spreading over her face, "Nice to meet you, Nora."

"Come on, I'll introduce you to the other two," Nora kept her grip on Abby's hand, turning it into a means of dragging her as the dark haired girl spun and walked down the corridor.

Corner after corner, Abby felt like Wayne Manor was more of  a maze than a home. She soaked in pictures and paintings and photographs, eyes flickering from each face and smile. The man in these frames seemed so different to the one she'd met downstairs. She recognised Melanie as well, and smiled at the sight of Alfred in there, too. The fourth figure was a small, bright haired little girl with her mother's face and her father's eyes. She couldn't have been older than two or three. 

After making so many rights Abby was sure they'd gone in a circle, the duo finally stopped outside a half-ajar door. She was really gonna need a map for this place. Mumbling and the occasional laugh came from inside and Nora let go of Abby's hand as she moved for the door.

"One thing," Nora suddenly said, pausing before she pushed open the door, "Don't let Grayson intimidate you."

Abigail scoffed, "I'd like to see him try."

NOTE!
look, despite what's in this chapter, i'm a slut for domesticated superheroes. let it be known.

aLso i know y'all wanted to see how dick and abby meT SO IM TRYNA GIVE IT TO YA BUt also you have to wait until the next flashback (& when do you WANT another flashback?) because abby meeting the league is enough excitement for one chap!!!!!

&&. anna cathcart (who portrays young!abby) is 16 years old and of unspecified asian decent. i couldn't find another age-appropriate fc that was of caucasian-asian ethnicity.