I don't own anything except my original/own characters and my original plot.

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Chapter 2- Heroes and Villains

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I JERKED AWAKE AND RUBBED MY EYES DROWSILY. Lex was standing over my bed, worry spread obviously over his face. His hands were out like he had been shaking me. Letting out a loud groan, I flipped over and shoved my face into my pillow.

"(Y/n), the team of brats got into the building. Security footage shows some of them getting close to your level, Kid Flash even came out of the entrance. I was worried," He whisper shouted.

That got me up. I shot up into a sitting position, blinking slowly. I assumed that everything that had happened yesterday was some crazy dream, brought upon by some subconscious desire to have a real challenge. But here Lex was, standing in front of me and confirming I wasn't slowly losing my mind.

"None of them got into the room Dad," I mumbled, falling back into my pillows. The least I could do was try to keep the one friend I had that was my age, "Kid Flash must have turned around before he made it here."

"Just making sure. We'll have to look around and see where there's a hole in the security. Of course if they got in here, SASS would inform us. I love you my little shadow."

Smiling slightly, I pulled my blankets up around me higher. I closed my eyes for another few seconds, waiting for the gentle click of the door to signify that it closed. Once I was sure that Lex left I jumped out of bed, checking the time. It was already 7:30, so there was no point in staying in bed any longer.

"Hey SASS," I called out, waiting for my AI system to say good morning and report to me.

"Yes, Miss (Y/n)?" SASS's voice came from small speakers in the ceiling. They were installed everywhere in my home.

"Anything scheduled for today?" I asked, making my way to the bathroom.

"Nothing, it's Saturday Miss."

I stopped in the bathroom doorway, groaning and hitting my head against the door. I thought it was a weekday which was why I got up when I saw the time. I could have gone back to bed.

"Thanks SASS. Oh, do me a favor and don't tell anyone about Kid Flash coming to visit, alright? And delete any and all security footage of him."

"Yes (Y/n)."

Lex had given SASS- Safety And Security System- access to the entire building and created her so she could do anything I said. When he was busy, she was the one who taught me my lessons. Now, I was technically using her against him. From what I knew, teens usually went through rebellious phases; this was mine.

After completing my normal routine in the bathroom I stepped back into my bedroom and picked out an outfit to wear. I settled on a sweater, jeans, and a small key necklace. The key unlocked a music box I got for my 'birthday' a few years ago.

I grabbed my phone and trekked out to the kitchen. I asked SASS to put on some music while searching for ingredients to make pancakes. I took out everything I would need to start from scratch. I had the time. I always had the time.

I took a small amount of flour from the bag, blowing it out like it was glitter. When it settled on the counter and on the floor I sighed, mentally slapping myself.

"(Y/n) you idiot," I whispered. I'd have to clean that up later.

I avoided spreading flour everywhere again and continued to make my pancakes. After I put some batter into different pans, I put the ingredients back in their rightful spots. When the kitchen was cleaned up, I flipped the pancakes I had on the stove, dancing around the kitchen without a care.

"Miss, Poison Ivy is here to see you."

"(Y/n)!"

I grunted as a blur slammed into me. I smiled through the pain, hugging Ivy back. After she finished cutting off my air supply she started hitting me lightly on the arm.

"You never called me back missy! Accidentally clicked end call my ass. What happened?"

"There was a break-in, I thought I heard something, and I didn't want to worry you, or make too much noise to draw attention," I lied, sticking relatively close to the truth.

"You should have told me before you hung up, I would have been here in a heartbeat!" Ivy scolded, pulling me into another hug.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, looking down at the spatula in my hand in shame.

"Oh, honey, I'm not mad, I was just scared for you. I didn't know what was going on and your text worried me even more," she pulled back, running from the room.

"Alright," I watched her go in confusion, turning back to the food I made.

I stacked the pancakes I made onto a plate, loading on the toppings I wanted. I could afford to eat crap considering the fact that I had an hour of intense training six days a week.

"I was out shopping yesterday and I found something for you!" Ivy squealed, running back with three bags in her hands, "I was thinking about how you were talking about being more fashionable and I thought this was perfect. Now hurry up and eat so you can try it on!"

When Ivy said shopping she meant stealing, but she meant well and she had a great sense of style. Although, she generally showed more than what I was used to. She wore what she did because she knew she was beautiful; I wore what I did because I didn't have to worry about impressing anyone.

I hurriedly scarfed down my pancakes, taking care not to choke on them. When I was done a few short minutes later I got up to put my plate in the sink. I was rounding the corner of the counter when Ivy screeched.

"Why is there flour all over the ground?" Ivy grabbed a washcloth from the sink, "You can't live like this (Y/n). If your life isn't clean, then it isn't worth living. I surround myself with plants but that doesn't mean there's dirt everywhere I go."

"I understand," I couldn't help but chuckle as Ivy wiped down the floor and counters until she deemed them clean enough.

"Alright, now that I've put your life together for you we can continue," Ivy pulled me into the living room and set the three bags down in front of me.

I chose the one closest to me, pulling out a black miniskirt that I already knew would show off some skin. I scrunched up my nose, quickly covering it up when I noticed Ivy staring at me. I pulled up the next bag. In that one was a white top, obviously meant to go with the skirt. In the last bag was a pair of white flats.

"Wow," I stared down at the clothes, then back at Ivy with a smile, "These are amazing, but what would I wear them for?"

"Yourself," Ivy shrugged, smirking mischievously, "Or for your birthday. You're turning sixteen, and then it's two years until Lex hands you his company."

"It may be two years away but I don't think I'll ever be ready. The outside world... It's not great. Adding me to the mix will probably end in a disaster."

"You're underestimating yourself," Ivy slapped my leg to reprimand me, "You've gained so much control, and you're powerful. You could cause some real chaos, without harming people if that's what you wish."

"Ivy," I dropped the clothes back into their bags, nervously twiddling my fingers, "Why are you still a villain after all this time? No offense, but it feels like they never win."

Ivy's smirk fell from her face. She sighed, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. I was worried I had crossed some sort of invisible line before she spoke.

"We were normal once. We had jobs, lives, dreams," Ivy smiled sadly, her eyes looking into the past, "But we were different than other people, and they knew that. When we're put into this world, we're told what's 'fair', what we can become. Society only accepts those that conform to their ideals and villains don't. For that they made us outcasts, and that got to us. But, we're doing what we think is right, just like the heroes. Besides, we don't always lose, and now with you-"

Ivy cut herself off. A beep sounded, and she pulled out her newest burner, "Oh, time to go! Crime never sleeps, but it looks like Batman finally is. Love you little shadow."

Ivy gave me a quick kiss on the forehead before rushing out of the living room and through the metal door. I smiled and picked up the shopping bags to bring them to my room. I took the outfit out once again and looked it over, considering what to do with it.

A small voice in my mind rose to prominence with the idea of wearing it the next time Kid Flash came back. If I did, I could pull him in like Ivy did with men, and there'd be no way he wouldn't come back again, but things like that weren't my forte, and I was fifteen, not made for things like that.

I sighed, putting the outfit away. Not today at the very least.

I wasn't even sure when Kid Flash would be coming back, but my instincts told me that night. That way he would visit soon enough to tell me when he could come back in the future, and reassure me that he and his team weren't plotting anything.

I plopped down on my bed, closing my eyes. In the grey area between sleep and consciousness I thought about what Ivy said. It was true that villains were normally pushed to become what they were due to the boundaries society set for them- although there were a few exceptions. So what was the deal with heroes?

Did they work out of a wish to help people? A need for recognition? Ulterior motives? They did so much good for the world without asking for anything in return, but everything came with a price whether or not it's said out loud.

Where did I fall? Raised by villains I sympathized with them nearly entirely, but one encounter with a hero and my whole world had been turned upside down. Heroes could be corrupt, and villains could be good. The world wasn't all black and white and it scared me more than I wanted to admit.

~*~

"There's no way I can do this," I stared down at the outfit Ivy got me, going through the same conflict for the second time that day, "Nope. Not today. Maybe not ever."

I discarded the outfit again, leaving my bedroom. I sat down on the couch, looking out the glass wall expectantly.

"SASS, what time is it?"

"It's eight forty-two at night Everyone in the company has gone home, including Mr. Luthor. The nightly janitorial staff are making their rounds right now."

The building was closed, with the majority of people gone for the night. If I was right in assuming Kid Flash was coming, then he should be there soon. I pulled out my phone, sending a quick text to Harley.

Still coming over Tuesday?

You know it!

Harley was supposed to come over for the day on Tuesday so we could catch up. She was like my big sister, so I always looked forward to her visits. That and she was such an interesting person to be around. Sometimes she was Harley, and other times she was Harleen Quinzel. Being away from the Joker was changing her.

"I'm here!"

I jumped up, running over to the glass. Tentatively, I placed my hand on the glass, holding back an excited squeal when Kid Flash put his hand over mine. Kid Flash dropped to the floor and I followed his lead. He wasn't in his Kid Flash uniform, instead he was in casual clothes, he didn't even have his mask on. Smart and stupid considering I couldn't find him in real life, but I had tech to track his face.

"So, any news?" I questioned, crossing my legs like a child would in a sharing circle.

"I'm turning sixteen soon," he grinned, "November eleventh."

"Oh! My birthday is on the nineteenth. Well, sort of," I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly, "Lex found me on that date, and there's some more significance behind it so we call it my birthday. I don't really know when it is..."

"I think it's great that you're celebrating something important and calling it your birthday," Kid Flash complimented.

"What are you going to do for your birthday?"

"I'm going to celebrate with the team if that counts for anything," he shrugged casually, leaning back on his hands, "What are you going to do?"

"I'll be here," I sighed, motioning to the surrounding rooms, "But apparently this mysterious parent is supposed to come and get me on my sixteenth birthday. I doubt it though. Why come back if they wanted to leave me in the first place?"

"Have fun with that," Kid Flash laughed.

I snorted at his reaction, "Thanks for the vote of confidence. If I suddenly disappear after my birthday then you'll know what happened."

"I'd find you, don't worry. If, uh, if I wanted to get you a birthday present, what would I get you?"

I hummed in thought, "Something foreign. Not necessarily a souvenir but a postcard or a seashell or something like that. I don't want to leave, but that doesn't mean I want to be clueless. What about you?"

"I like the Flash and food," Kid Flash said simply. I laughed, already getting an idea for what I could do.

~*~

It had nearly been three hours chock-full of passing stories back and forth with Kid Flash. He was funny, and kind, and made me question the corrupt and harsh nature's I was told most heroes had with people that weren't civilians.

"So your friends..."

"They're interesting," Wally nodded, finishing my thought, "But they're my friends so what can I say?"

I glanced over at the clock on the wall. Eyes widening, I jumped up. Kid Flash followed, worry flashing over his face.

"You should go. It's almost midnight and I wouldn't want this to affect your hero work or anything," I sighed sadly.

Kid Flash sighed as well, but got ready to speed off anyway. He looked towards the large entrance to my level.

"I won't be able to come back until Tuesday."

"Harley is coming over on Tuesday," I winced, regretting scheduling our hangout for that day.

"Harley Quinn?"

"Yeah. Raised by villains remember?"

"Right, anyway, Wednesday it is then. Probably around the same time as tonight."

"Until then, Kid Flash," I grinned.

"Wally."

"Gesundheit?" I answered confusedly, thinking that what he just said was some weird superhero sneeze.

"No," he laughed. God his laugh, "My name. It's Wally."

"You trust me with your name?" I asked quietly. Somehow, he heard me from across the room.

"Of course I do, you're my friend. Besides, who can you tell?" Wally smiled teasingly, then left. It only occurred to me then that I should have asked how he got past our security measures.

Sighing dreamily I walked out of the living room and back to my bedroom. I changed into pajamas in a haze, climbing into bed.

"Of course I do, you're my friend."

I was Wally's friend. He trusted me with his secret identity. Me. The girl who was raised by villains, who had killed people as a baby.

What was Wally doing to me? Was this just because he was the first guy I had ever met that wasn't like an uncle or dad to me, or was there really something there? I wasn't going to act on a little crush I had and ruin the one real friendship I gained myself.

Closing my eyes I drifted off to sleep.

Lips pressed against mine. Hand gripped my waist, their thumbs rubbing skin that peeked out from under my shirt. They were warm, rough, and pulsing with energy. It was a dream. I knew that.

Who was I kissing? Wrenching my eyes open I gasped into the person's mouth. It was Wally. I tried to pull back, but despite my awareness that I was dreaming, I wasn't in the driver's seat. I was stuck going along with it, hyper aware of the situation. It was my subconscious seeking out comfort. Wally was the first boy I had met that was my age. My head was bound to come up with stuff like this.

"Why didn't you tell me (Y/n)? Why didn't you tell us?"

Wally was gone, his touch leaving burning prints on my body. Voice echoing off of nonexistent walls, it was strained and angry. I backed up. There were no shadows here, just a never-ending white room. If I had to fight, my powers wouldn't be an option.

"You're just like him. Lying, betraying. You betrayed me (Y/n)."

The floor cracked beneath me. I backed up, but wherever I stepped the cracks followed. Finally, I fell into an inky blackness. For the first time in my life. I didn't feel safe in the dark.