MONSTROUS.
005. | ❛ the lady does have a heart. ❜

Sara and Crystal made their way to the library where Nate would be, and the two ladies were elected to be the bearer of bad news for the historian. They stepped in, seeing Nate looking at the screen a photo of Commander Steel punching what seemed like a Nazi solider.

"Is that Grandpa?" Sara asked

"Yeah. Pictures of him are hard to find. You just got to know where to look."

"Well, that must've been something, getting the chance to meet him." Crystal said while they still stared at the photo.

"You would think so, right? But... I don't know. Felt empty somehow."

Sara took this time to casually slip the news in, clearing her throat to signal Crystal as they leaned against the bookcase facing him.

"Well, meeting your idols usually does. Think of it this way. You are gonna have one hell of a story to tell your friends when you get back home." Sara said and Nate quickly caught on to what they were implying.

"Back home? 2016 back home? You can't cut me from the team."

"Well, you're right, because you're not a member of it. And even if you were, history can be dangerous, and it's no place for a..." Crystal was cut off by Nate.

"A historian? I'm more than..." Nate touched his chest and feeling it various times, noting something that was off, "that's weird."

"It's really not so weird. You don't have any superpowers. You don't even have training..." Sara went off before Nate told her what was happening.

"Not that. My grandfather's dog tags. They aren't around my neck."

"So?"

"So I haven't taken 'em off since I was a kid. They were here a minute ago, and now they've..."

"Vanished." Sara and Crystal said in unison looking at each other.

"What does that mean?"

"That history has changed." Crystal informed him while he went to his journal in a hurry scrambling for his notes.

"What are you doing?"

"Reviewing my notes on the JSA." Nate said while getting to the page and skimming before turning to Sara and Crystal. "We have to go back to 1942."

"Nate, the JSA was pretty explicit on us not going back to 1942." Crystal crossed her arms before Nate explained what he just read in his notes.

"That mission the JSA went on to track down Baron Krieger in Paris, they're all gonna die there tomorrow. My grandfather too."

[•]

After hearing Stein's plan on how to catch Baron Krieger, Crystal went to see how Nate was preparing to help. She went down to the armory, feeling a way of emotions come over her while heading down being filled with memories that lined every hallway she turned. Even the ingestible translator that she used when they went to Germany and when she finally convinced and said out loud to Ray that she liked Leonard.

"Ouch. Where'd you get that?" Crystal observed Nate's bruise on his shoulder as he buttoned his shirt.

"Uh, it must have happened when I fell after my grandfather decked me. Hey, that fabrication room's pretty cool. Can it really make clothes from any era?"

"Yeah, you know, we may not have trophies or framed letters from former presidents, but we've got a few cool toys. Including ingestible translator. Swallow this, you'll be able to speak and understand any language spoken to you." Crystal handed to him who took it and looked at it, marveled.

"That's cool, but I already speak German, French, Japanese, Italian, and Latin." He said as he handed the translator back to Crystal who looked at him with wide eyes, "What?"

"You speak six different languages; you have a tendency to run towards danger; and you're related to a member of the JSA. Why did you become a historian?"

"It's a long story. Um, hey, where do I go to get a gun?"

"You ever shoot someone before?" Crystal asked

"I mean, I may not be trained by a member of the League of Assassins, have witch and vampire powers, be trained with a bow and arrow, but I can take care of myself."

"Not out here you can't. Out here, even the strongest and the bravest of us die." Crystal looked intensely at Nate, who didn't comprehend that anybody even someone as herself could die.

"Like Captain Hunter?"

"You could say that. But I'm just trying to make sure you get home safe and sound." Crystal smiled before heading up the stairs and having a comment from Nate echoing through the halls.

"So the lady does have a heart."

"Don't tell anyone." Crystal replied back and heading to the closet to get rid of her casual clothes and put on a French outfit accompanied by a beret.

[•]

Crystal arm was draped into Ray's as Martin and Sara did the same, and Jax walked alone down the long flight of stairs.

"The club is closed tonight for a private function." The man confirmed for them giving the cold shoulder.

"Do you have any idea who I am? I am Max Lorenz."

Just in time, a Nazi soldier passed by and at the sound of his name stopped immediately, turning back with surprising look, "Did you say Max Lorenz?"

"Yes. And I have never been treated with such rudeness." Martin played the part well with the Nazi being convinced that Martin was the famous singer.

"Of course not. You're more than welcome here, Herr Max." The Nazi unlatched the robe as they all proceeded with both, Sara and Crystal exaggerated while giving their shawls to the man before proceeding inside.

Crystal went around her separated way, trying to stay undercover with loads of Nazi soldiers looking at her before going back to their conversations. "No sign of Krieger or the JSA. Canvass the area and stay on the comms." Sara informed her while she got back to Ray's side who was about to take a sip of champagne before Crystal grabbed it out of his hands.

"Champagne is more of my drink." Crystal went to drink before the scent of it disgusted her immensely and handed it back to Ray. "On second thought, you can have it."

They both scanned the room before Ray caught something, "Think I got something. The lady with the animal powers. But she looks different."

"You mean hot." Mick whispered over their ears as Ray went to talk to her leaving Crystal to go and socialize with Jax and while Ray was talking to the woman, the rest of the team seemed to appear just in time.

Ray's conversation with the woman couldn't have lasted more than a minute because they were right in front of them the next.

"Look who I found, and she's thrilled we've offered our help." Ray informed them before a Nazi soldier came their way.

"Herr Lorenz, I must introduce you to General Gerd von Rundstedt. He's a huge fan."

"Oh, lovely to meet you, General." Martin said with General keeping a stern face.

"You are Max Lorenz? Lorenz is well over 6 feet tall." The General started his skeptical questions, observing Martin more closely.

"Ah. My towering voice often causes people to overestimate my height."

"Perhaps you will treat us to a song, Mr. Lorenz?" The General pointed to the stage, all of them looking at each other not knowing how they were going to get out of this.

Sara pursued her role being very girly, "Maxie has a concert tomorrow night and needs to rest his pipes." She massaged Martin's chest still not convincing the General of Martin's Mr.Lorenz.

"I insist, Fraulein. And, uh, please, no Negro music." The General asked looking straight at Jax, who got offended in the worst way.

"I sw..." Jax leaned forward being stopped by Crystal.

"Mm, not worth it."

"It'd be a little worth it." Jax answered and while they were all together Nate talked through the comms.

"Heads up. Baron Krieger just arrived."

Martin tapped the microphone on stage, "Is this on? Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Max Lorenz, and, uh, this little waltz I am about to sing for you is an original song. Uh, very popular in Austria where... where the hills are alive with the sound of music."

It takes Martin a couple of seconds to start singing but when he does, all of them are surprise that Martin even had that voice, " Edelweiss, Edelweiss. Every morning you greet me. Small and white. Clean and bright. You look happy to meet me. Edelweiss."

Hearing Martin's voice was definitely soothing and while he was doing a good job at fooling everybody, Nate spoke on the comms. "I know the Baron's plan."

"Let's get out of here." Sara said, getting Martin's attention and telling him to cut it to leave.

"Bless my homeland. Forever." Martin ended with the General sprouting with tears and saluting the dictator at the time.

"Heil Hitler!"

"Heil Hitler!" All of them said in unison and just as Ray, Crystal, and Jax were about to leave the General came over.

"You did not salute the Fuehrer."

"Oh, yeah. Sure, I did. I'm all about saluting the Fuehrer."

"You're lying. I was watching you the entire time."

"Uh, you know what? I... I just... I have a little crick in my neck, and it's really hard for me to straighten my arm." Ray made up with Crystal coming to his aid.

"Yes, I simply urge him to see a doctor. But he's as stubborn as a weasel." Crystal smiled at the General who wasn't buying it again.

"Heil Hitler." The General saluted and kept on saying until Ray saluted.

"H... h..." Ray clears throat trying to salute and gave up, "Aw, hell." Ray punched the General in the face bringing Jax to smile, "Why do you get to punch him?"

Once again the Legends were involved in another bar brawl basically kicking Nazi ass again. And while they were fighting, the Nazi did their best by protecting Martin. They had help from the Vixen with her animal attacks but still somehow they all managed to end up on the floor again due to StarGirl's power.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Rex Tyler asked

"We came back to... to rescue you." Martin told them with Crystal waving sweetly before laying back down on the floor alongside the unconscious Nazi's and Legends.

[•]

"How are things with your grandfather?" Crystal asked as she and Nate walked down the various hallways of the Waverider.

"You know, I think he's avoiding me for some reason."

"Well, it's hard for people to look at their future." Crystal said.

"Maybe."

Crystal stopped Nate noticing the cut he had on his suit that was still bleeding through his tux. She lifted it up towards him while he just brushed it off.

"Oh, one of the Nazis at the club had a knife."

"Well, that should have stopped bleeding by now."

"I'm just gonna get a new bandage." Nate walked ahead

"To go with your bruise?" Crystal called after him.

"Well, you know how fragile we historians can be." Nate smiled and Crystal shaking her head.

"This isn't fragility. I know my cuts and bruises." Crystal looked at his cut again before understanding what Nate was. "You're a hemophiliac. Your blood doesn't clot, wounds can't heal, and if it's bad, you can bleed to death."

"Yeah, well, you don't have to worry about that."

"Too late. You could've died tonight." Crystal's toned increased with Nate not understanding the risks of death and being a time traveler.

"But I didn't. In fact, it was the opposite. I never felt more alive. Look, when I was five years old, I cut my knee, and my mother wouldn't let me out of the house till I was 16. I'm a grown man. I can make my own decisions."

"Not on this ship, you can't." Crystal flat out told him and Nate still trying to dial down the situation.

"Crystal..."

"Look, I cannot let you go out there tomorrow, knowing that you could get killed. I have enough deaths on my conscience as it is." Crystal told him, but Nate was like her. Stubborn and hardheaded, not really caring about the consequences that would proceed.

"Look, I know you don't think I can add anything to this team, but out there? Out there is history. And nobody knows more about it than me."

"Well, we've been managing just fine without you." Crystal sternly told him and walking away before whispering to herself, "Mostly fine."

_

[a.n]

I love the new Sara and Crystal relationship. Mostly because they're both in the same grieving process, both of them helping each other Sara with Laurel and Crystal with Leonard. Which new pairing do you like? And there is a hint of a surprise to come....