( Chapter One )
Welcome to Planet Bubblegum

Coast City had been the home of Jude Lucero since before she could remember. She had so many memories that originated from the ghost city, the one where nothing exciting ever happens — unless you count the appearances of a Green Lantern or whatever superhero was visiting that day. This was where her origin began. The peaceful city with lively colors and friendly faces.

  Jude had been a foster kid, not something that had her screaming at the sky over. She was okay with it. Well, she wasn't fine with not having her biological parents or even what happened to them, but it didn't keep her up at night asking the universe 'why me'. A lie in actuality. Jude did in fact scream at the night sky on more than one occasion demanding for answers. But other than that she was perfectly content with the life she lived.

  Skipping past a few details and events, Jude was adopted by Dante and Jennifer Lucero. They were decent enough. Dante was a pilot at Ferris Aircraft while Jennifer worked in a little office answering phones and trying to sell magazines. They lived comfortable lives and wanted a family. That's where Jude came in. The daughter they bought — sorry adopted, Jude was working on not referring to Dante and Jennifer as her buyers. It irked them so she tended to do it more.

  Now, don't get her wrong. Jude knew she was lucky to have a family. She wasn't ungrateful by any means. She was loved and treated with kindness and respect, but they weren't like her parents. They weren't the ones she had lost. Donald and Isabel Hart. Two of the kindest people Jude had ever known. The ones who shielded her from the darkness of the world. They were good people taken too soon.

  When Jude had been adopted into the Lucero family she had tried giving them a chance. Really she did. But sometimes it felt like they tried too hard to be her mother and father when all she truly needed was space. Dante took her to the Aircraft on the weekends to get her out of the house — knowing full well she got plenty of air. Every Saturday he practically drags her out of their house, and in the car he throws question after question at her.

  In most instances, it's asking about her day or her time spent as Star Sapphire. But lately he's been bringing up her friend Wally West, curious if the boy who spent all of June hauled up in his attic playing Nintendo games and watching crappy VHS tapes was more than just a good friend, a companion.

  Everytime it had Jude screaming into her hands and begging Dante to never mention the boy in such a way. Of course the man only did it to pester his daughter, it was his job after all. What father didn't tease their child when it came to crushes or every day sort of things? Sometimes Dante would even offhandedly call Wally her boyfriend, every time it resulted in her either stomping away or complaining passive-aggressively.

  It shouldn't have been funny to him but you try being threatened by a short sixteen year old with the biggest doe-eyes you've ever seen. It was like being attacked by a baby deer.

  " — I still don't see why that boy has to eat the entire fridge when he comes over." Dante commented as he drove down the street, glancing at the blonde who was resting her head against the window. "The kid ate the whole bag of chips in ten minutes, do you know the kind of talent that takes?"

  Jude could talk about Wally for hours — and she has but she did not want to explain the speedster's powers again. It always involved telling her father how he got his powers and Jude just was not feeling like going into a rant on science. She didn't understand what exactly Wally had done and the girl couldn't explain it nearly as well as he did. Jude was failing physics last semester — much to Wally's disdain since he was the one who offered to tutor her.

  "We've been over this," she sighed with an attitude. "He has a really fast metabolism and needs lots of calories to produce energy or whatever."

  Dante was not a fan of his daughter's constant attitude or that he found it hard to connect with her. They were vastly different. Where he had dark and sharp features she had light and soft. He was carefree while she overthinked most things. He accepted Jude as she was while she acted like she wanted nothing to do with him or Jennifer. He just wanted Jude to feel loved and heard.

  "We really need to work on your attitude," Dante sighed as they made a sharp turn. "Your manners are lacking, sweetheart."

  Jude's eyes narrowed the same time her lips twisted into a sneer. "I have manners. We've just been over this so many times." She crossed her arms over her chest but the sneer disappeared and was replaced with a frown. "I'm sorry, I'm just in a bad mood."

  "Want to tell me about it?"

  "Carol told me I need more training but with a team." Jude grumbled in annoyance. "I already work with a team! I mean, does she forget that the Star Sapphires are technically a team? She was talking to me about this team of teens that Hal definitely wasn't supposed to tell her about. The team's existence isn't even confirmed and she's already trying to make me someone else's problem!"
 
Carol Ferris, the reason Dante and Jeniffer adopted Jude two years ago. They were friends through working together and Carol happened to know a kid who was in need of a permanent home. Something Carol nor Hal could give her.

  Dante listened attentively as they drove through the city. Reciting every word she said in hopes of understanding where she was coming from. He knew that teenagers were typically insecure in themselves and felt easily abandoned, especially Jude. But that was not what was happening here. "You do need to work on teamwork." Dante spoke, honestly. "While I'm not a big fan of teenagers risking their lives for the fate of the world —"

  "Dramatic."

  " — I know I can't stop you and it's my job to be supportive. If Carol thinks teaming up with people your age will be beneficial then you should do it. Aren't you supposed to listen to your mentor?"

  If Dante could control Jude's life he probably would have taken that magical ring off her finger and locked it away where she would never find it. This wasn't out of malice but because he worried for her wellbeing day and night. He was worried one day Carol and Hal would come knocking on his door, delivering the news that would shatter his heart. But working with a team, people she could fall back on? Dante thought it was a way of keeping his little girl safe while still allowing her to continue being a hero.

  If she found herself in trouble, there would be people to get her out of it. "Listen, I know you like working with Carol and Hal but you need to think of what will be best for you. This team can't be so bad. Do you know who's on it?"

  "Nope," Jude picked at the chipped pink nail polish on her fingers. "Hal couldn't go into a lot of detail, just that it's up to Batman if the team actually happens or not." She furrowed her brows in thought, stopping her picking habit and turning a little to face her father. "So, Robin is definitely on the team...that doesn't sound so bad but I don't wanna do it. Put a bunch of teenagers together and we lose brain cells."

  The sound of Jude's phone buzzing against the car's leather seat cut through the pause of the discussion. The teenage vigilante pulled out the device covered in a glittery-pink case and looked down at the flood of messages. All of which were from Wally. He was begging her to come to Central City — a decent ways away from where she currently resided. In broken texts, the boy was asking for her assistance in shopping for his new friend, a Kyrptonian, he had told her.

  Jude has met one Kryptonian in all her sixteen years of life, and that was Superman. She couldn't wait for the explanation for this new friend of Wally's. Knowing him, he probably came across the alien after getting himself into trouble — Robin not far behind.

  "I need you to pull over," she said while sending a quick text back.

  Dante furrowed his brows but pulled off to the side of the backroad. "Is something wrong?"

  Jude shook her head and unbuckled her seatbelt. The amount of times she's ditched her family for Wally was beginning to pile up and she had to admit, she didn't like it. Not when Dante's bright eyes dulled when she asked him to stop the car. "It's Wally..." she bit the inside of her cheek while avoiding her father's sad eyes. "He needs help with something. Like, alien level help."

  Dante nodded more so to himself as his lips pursed in disappointment. Saturdays were meant to be their days. The times where he was actually able to be around his daughter without going around his work schedule. He was upset, it was clear, but he wasn't about to tell Jude she couldn't go to her friend. Not if it was an emergency.

  "Be safe," he sighed.

  Jude leaned over the center console to kiss her father's cheek before opening the car door and stepping out. Her ring materialized her Star Sapphire suit before she took to the sky. Flying at an exhilarated speed all the one over to Central City.

Walking around the Central City mall, the clone of Superman walked behind Wally, dressed in baggy light-washed jeans and an oversized red flannel that made him feel like he stuck out like a sore thumb. The giant sneakers on his feet weren't helping either. Every step he took made him feel like he was still learning how to walk. He was half tempted to kick them off and go around barefoot.

"I don't like wearing your father's clothes," Superboy complained for the hundredth time as he sulked behind the redhead.

Wally shrugged, his steps slowing when they neared Forever Sixteen. A store his best friend frequented whenever she visited the city. "Doesn't thrill me either, but the Solar Suit had to go." They stopped beside the store, the boy grinning over his shoulder. "Besides, dude...that's what we're here to fix. I even called in a friend to help you blend in. Jude likes dressing people up for fun." He thought back to that one time he allowed the blonde to talk him into wearing her mother's wedding dress — he doesn't wanna talk about it.

Up ahead, a girl dressed in a light pink tulle skirt with a matching long sleeve with a cropped bottom came running in their direction. Her white mary-janes made little tapping sounds as she pushed past a couple holding hands, breaking them apart. She yelled back an apology when she was halfway to the two boys.

Wally watched her in amusement, his arms crossed over his chest while a toothy grin pulled at his lips. "Now isn't she fashionable," he commented to his taller companion. "She got my mom to stop wearing denim on denim."

"Who is she?" Superboy looked at the girl practically strutting towards them now that she wasn't in much of a hurry.

"Jude," Wally slung an arm over her shoulder when she walked up to his side with a bright smile. "The beautiful diva —" she elbowed him roughly, " — who I just can't live without."

Jude huffed a sigh, "you are such a suck-up."

"You love me."

Jude looked at him wide eyed. How did he know? The blonde moved out from beneath his arm and stepped in front of Superboy, taking in his baggy clothing and the bored expression on his otherwise handsome face. They had some work to do. Luckily, Jude loved shopping and bonus points for not having to pay since it was on Batman according to Wally's messages.

  "You look like a lumberjack," she pulled at the hem of his shirt with a frown. "We need to find a color that suits you better and the right size. Maybe something dark...you don't look like a bright colored kind of guy. I would say yellow but I associate that color with Wally." She looped her arm with his and dragged him through the store, stopping at a rack of dark blue jeans.

  "We don't know your size so we'll have to try a couple different ones but based on your build I'm thinking an eighteen but we should also try a large just to be sure." Jude placed the two pairs of pants into his awaiting hands. "Now for shirts lets try purple —"

  Wally cut in, "I don't think he's a purple guy."

  "He doesn't get a say right now," Jude waved him off with a shake of her hand and sauntered over to the shirts section. She examined one that she was almost certain she had bought for Wally a month ago before shaking her head and putting it back. Jude lifted another one in front of her, this one had Superman's emblem on its chest. She was going to put it back but a hand wrapped around her wrist, stopping her.

  "I want it in black." Superboy said while releasing her after she raised a perfectly sculpted brow at him.

  "Are you sure? He's not all that exciting." Jude furrowed her brows while craning her neck to make eye contact with the boy.

  "I want that one," he grabbed a handful of the black shirts.

  If this was anyone else Jude would have made a comment on their sense of fashion being basic and that owning multiples of the same outfit was weird unless, of course, it was to replace the original. But for some reason she couldn't bring herself to voice her judgment towards the super-powered boy. Instead she pushed him in the direction of the changing room to try on the clothes with an encouraging smile.

  "Are you kidding me?" Wally asked with a look of offense as he leaned against the wall across from the changing room. "You were supposed to make him blend in. You told me buying the same outfit was almost as bad as throwing plastic on the ground!"

  Jude rolled her eyes, "he really wanted it. Let the big guy get what he wants, not like either of us are paying." She twirled a strand of long blond hair around her pointer finger. "Besides, he'll blend in just fine with all the superhero fanatics running around."

  "I can't believe you, of all people, are okay with this. The last time I tried buying the same two shirts you told me it was stupid and —"

  "Tell me how you found him."

  Wally pushed himself off the wall and looked around the corner and under the stall doors for anyone who could overhear them. "Okay, so Rob, Aqualad, and I went to Project Cadmus cause there was a fire but we found Superboy — that's his name. He was stuck in this pod and we released him but he attacked us. Helped put us in pods for cloning — oh yeah, Supey is the clone of Superman — but anyway, he busted out of Cadmus with him and completely destroyed the top half of the lab. Crazy night."

  Jude was looking at him with a bewildered expression, her mouth was half open and eyes wide. She knew the sidekicks were supposed to be joining the Justice League from Wally not being able to shut up about it, even Dick was excited. But she was so out of the loop on how their Fourth of July went. While Jude was lighting fireworks with her parents and neighbors, her friends were living a wild adventure.

  She had to admit, she preferred her night over theirs. Dante had barbecued on the grill in their backyard while Jennifer set up a table with sparklers for the neighborhood kids. It was a party for the whole block at that point. Jude even had a fun time watching the showcase of fireworks from sitting on the roof of her house while listening to the laughter of the kids below her. She'd definitely choose that over blowing up a science lab creating new life. The small moments spent at home.

  "You guys are crazy. This is why Jennifer doesn't like us hanging out." Jude muttered.

  Wally laughed while shaking his head in disbelief. "Jen-Jen loves me, she just won't admit it but the muffins say it all."

  The changing room door opened to reveal Superboy wearing the jeans Jude had picked out and one of the many black shirts he had scooped up. The outfit wasn't bad at all and even got the Star Sapphire's approval. She walked up to the boy and stood on her tiptoes to fix the collar of his shirt that had gained a crease. "This okay?" He asked the two despite already getting a nod from the blonde teen.

  "Sure," Wally shrugged, not all that into shopping unlike the girl in front of him.

  "You need boots, black ones. Oh maybe a leather jacket!"

  "No jacket," Superboy crossed his arms over his chest with a grunt that had Jude wanting to compare him to a caveman.

  "Fine," she huffed and sauntered over to the lineup of boots in the front of the store. Her eyes scanned the different pairs as did Superboy. Wally, however, was watching Jude. Her fingers hovered over the array of boots till she lifted a black set with brown soles, offering them to Superboy to try.

  The tall boy sat on the ground, pulling off the shoes that were way too big for him and slipping on the boots. "They fit," he nodded and went to take them off but Jude shook her head. "Can you walk in them?" She crouched down to be at his level and pressed her thumb down at the toe of his boots to see where his foot stopped. "If the shoes are too small your toes will break from being crunched but if they're too big you risk falling on your face."

  Superboy stood up and walked through the isles of clothes under Jude's orders. He shrugged, though the corners of his lips pulled into a half-smile. "I like them, they're comfortable."

  Jude placed her hands on her hips while leaning against Wally's shoulder. "Then we'll get them. You will need a coat though for when it gets chilly outside."

  "Can't we come back later for that?" Wally asked with furrowed brows. "It's literally summer."

  "It gets cold in some parts of the world and we don't really know where Superboy is gonna be staying." She glanced over at the clone who was staring blankly, "he needs a coat."

  Wally grumbled incoherent words under his breath while walking over to a rack of fashionable coats and held up a brown one made of faux cow skin. "This one?"

  Superboy shrugged, not really carrying. "Sure."

  Jude threw her arms up with a deep sigh. "You both are hopeless."

"Are you sure you don't want a little variety?" Wally asked once they already paid, though there was no changing Superboy's mind. He was stubborn and dead set on getting those shirts that he had begun to get irritated with the speedster's pestering. Wally had tried to get the Kryptonian to at least get a few different shirts but he wasn't having it. "I mean you picked out a whole rack of the exact same black shirt with —"

  He was cut off by the mall security yelled, "freeze punk!" It had gained the attention of the three teens, Wally being quicker on his feet, ran to the door to see what was going on. Jude followed after she heard the shattering of glass, only to see the security man had been thrown through the window of the jewelry shop right next door.

  Wally and Jude shared a look before she bolted for the girl's restroom to change into her suit. Stepping back out of the stall after her Star Sapphire uniform materialized she checked on her reflection in the mirror. Blowing herself a kiss before running back out to see two blonde teens picking on the store clerk and security guard. A boy and a girl around her age. How fun.

  "I'm still hungry, Tuppence." The blond boy said while holding the store clerk in a headlock. "So, I'm takin' our new pal back to the food court."

  "Please...please," the man begged in fear.

  Jude watched the scene in silence as she flew over to Wally and Superboy, one of which stood with the lower half of his face covered by a bandana tied behind his head. It was yellow, like the color she associated with him. "Should we step in now, or..."

  "Right behind you, Tommy." Tuppence picked the man in his sixties up one handed and walked closer to the ledge of the third story. "Just cleanin' up a bit first. Y'know how I feel about folks leavin' litter lyin' 'round." She tossed him over the barrier with ease and a cackle of laughter.

  Civilians ran while screaming in fright, afraid they were about to watch a man fall to his death. That would have been the case but Superboy jumped over and caught the man, his feet crashing into the tile floor, causing pieces to fly into the air and a hole to form under him.

  "I'm so getting blamed for this," Jude sighed but flew down to where Superboy was, Wally following using his speed. "Way to go, not drawing attention to yourself." She said, as if Star Sapphire talking to a 'local' boy wasn't eye-catching enough.

  "Here, put this on." Wally handed him the red bandana he stuffed in his pocket after buying them from the clothing store they had just been in. "Why?" Superboy asked but accepted it anyway.

  "Because until Bats makes his decision about our team, I'd rather not create another Cadmus-style incident. At least not one we can be blamed for."

  Jude, with her hands on her hips, said, "you're still gonna be blamed for this. We all are."

  The three looked up at the third floor where Tuppence was watching them with an awkward frown, clearly confused on who they were — aside from Jude who has been spotted as Star Sapphire at least four different times when helping Flash and Kid Flash alongside Green Lantern. They were frequent occupants with Hal and Barry being so close. "Who are those two?" Superboy asked but neither of the two knew either.

"No idea," Wally said while Tuppence turned back to her brother.

Jude narrowed her eyes at the barrier preventing them from seeing what the siblings were doing. She didn't wait for either of the boys to follow before flying up to the third floor and hovering over them with her ring glowing, cutting off their speech of the civilians being held hostage by the Terror Twins. She created a glowing pink bo staff as she landed Tuppence and Tommy.

Twirling it around her hand she grinned at the teenage girl dressed in an outfit similar to her brother's. White cropped shirt, red suspenders, and plaid skirt and ripped stockings. A cute style but Jude wouldn't be caught dead complimenting her opponent. Unless it was sparring with Wally — which usually got her cheeky smiles and pink cheeks as a response, every time. "You need an attitude adjustment, Terrible Twos." She swung the bo at Tuppence's feet, causing her to lose balance and fall on her ass.

Tommy, not liking the shorter of them hitting his sister, he went to wrap his arm around her neck in a headlock but the speedster came crashing into him from the back. "Hands off!" Wally snapped while shoving him face first into one of the stone pillars supporting the building.

The bo-staff disappeared under Jude's mental command, she lifted Tuppence by her suspenders and flipped her over her back with a grunt falling from her lips. Lifting someone was a lot harder than it sounded. The girl Terror landed at Superboy's feet with a huff of air and her hand coming up to rest on her head.

Superboy grabbed Tuppence by her shoulders and threw her into one of the stone pillars, causing it to crack under the pressure. "Son, you do pack a wallop." She wiped at her chin with the back of her hand while glaring at the Kryptonian. "Lady, I'm not your son," Superboy clenched his fist and aimed it at her jaw but she caught it in the palm of her hand, wrapping it around his. "And I ain't no lady."

Tuppence twisted his arm behind his back and dragged him over to the railing, using her enhanced strength to throw him down the levels. The boy landed on the tiles with a loud crash that had Jude grimacing. She went to fly over but Tuppence grabbed her by her hair and slammed her into the ground with enough force that had the Lantern flinching.

"Supey!" Wally yelled while speeding over to the railing, not noticing his blonde friend struggling under one of the siblings.

"Reckon yer focused on the wrong hero, hero." Tommy charged at him and went to throw a punch but Wally was faster. Much faster. He used his speed to lean under Tommy's extended arm and shifted their positions to bring the older boy to the ledge before throwing him over with their command weight.

Jude had used Tuppence's brewing anger as the distraction she needed. Commanding the ring, she created a glowing pink fist and slammed it into her face, causing her to fall off her. She got to her feet and jumped over the railing, using her powers to soften her fall before running towards Superboy who was groaning on the ground. Jude placed her hand on his head, looking for a soft spot to indicate an injury — as if a Kyrptonian could get hurt from a fall like that.

Tuppence ran at Wally with blood seeping through her nose thanks to Jude. Still angry over her brother being tossed over she yelled, "big mistake jerk!"

Wally jumped over the railing, holding onto it to keep himself from falling but his actions had made it easy for Tuppence to fall over it. "That's "Kid Jerk" to you sister!" He taunted. "And seriously, what part of "I'm way faster than you" aren't you getting here?"

Tommy, who had jumped down to be in front of Jude and Superboy, smirked down at them. He kicked Jude in the chest, knocking the breath out of her as she placed a hand over the ache with a glare in place. He then punched Superboy across the face and picked him up over his head, throwing him through the mall's tall windows and into the parking lot.

Jude got to her feet and formed a war-hammer, swinging it at his head with her jaw clenched and eyes blazing with a pink shimmer. "We gotta go, babe!" Wally yelled down to her while running towards the shattered windows. "Come and get us, Timid Twins!"

Jude followed after him, ignoring the nickname that he definitely used with every woman — not just her. When she made it to the parking lot she had seen Superboy crashed through the windshield of a car, causing even more damage that they would no doubt get in trouble over. The last time she had gotten into a disaster where Hal scolded her wasn't even fully two weeks ago. And it totally wasn't her fault. Blame Arisia for wanting to see Earth's stores. They just so happened to run into a bit of an issue when some boys thought it was funny to pull off Arisia's hood hiding her ears.

At least nobody died. Though, those boys did wind up in the infirmary because Jude got angry. But she wasn't completely to blame. Arisia joined in too after one came running at Jude from behind.

"Good job luring them away from the hostages." Wally complimented the Kyrptonian as he slid off the car.

"Is that what I was doing?" Superboy grumbled but allowed Jude to look him over for any cuts. Not like anything could actually hurt him, unless one of them was carrying Kryptonite in their back pocket.

The Terror Twins landed in front of them, causing the asphalt to crack beneath their feet. They had been glaring just seconds ago but now they appeared scared, almost anxious as they looked at the three teens — or more like, behind them. "Dang it, Tup. I ain't sure we're ready for them boys yet..." Tommy said while gulping.

Tuppence agreed with a frantic nod of her head. "Nah, Tom. Definitely a better part o' valor moment." Sharing a look, the siblings leaped into the air and away from the confused sidekicks who were now standing with furrowed brows.

"Uh, wow." Wally mumbled while Jude contemplated running after them. They did steal afterall. And she was technically a space-cop. Well, the sidekick of one. Star Sapphires weren't really police material, they followed their own agenda of spreading universal love. Jude just happened to be more heroic because she had Hal as a mentor alongside Carol, two of the best people she knows. They cared for the world and vowed to protect it. "Guess we scared 'em off." Wally glanced over at Jude.

"Should we go after them?" Superboy asked.

Jude liked that idea. At least then the day wouldn't be a total bust and she could tell Carol what she did. That's what the young teen often did when she spent days away from her and Hal. She'd give them full detailed reports of her adventures. Sure, in some cases it was just patrolling with Wally and Dick in one of their cities but at least it was something.

"No you shouldn't and no you didn't." The three turned to look behind them where Flash stood beside Superman. Both looking disapproving and irritated. Jude was used to seeing that look on Carol but not on Flash, he was one of the carefree heroes who find humor in the strangest of things. Yet here he looked beyond disappointed with his hands on his hips.

"Busted," Wally mumbled to himself.

The clone looked at the Man of Steel in surprise mixed with admiration, almost as if he couldn't believe the Kyrptonian hero was right in front of him. "Superman..." but he had already flown away, ignoring the boy's existence. It made Jude angry. She understood having a clone wasn't the most exciting thing and it could be a little frightening but he was just a boy, a kid who needed someone.

Jude looped her arm through his with a comforting smile. She knew she wasn't a fan of Superman, but him ignoring Superboy solidified that. Now she had an actual reason not to like him. "I'll steal Kryptonite from Robin and shove it up his ass," she promised him, half-joking but it brought a small smile to the boy's face.

"Three days," Flash crossed his arms over his chest while looking between the teens. "You couldn't stay out of trouble for three days...and you dragged Jude into this! I'm never going to hear the end of Hal's frustration, do you get that?" He huffed out a deep sigh through his nose.

Wally frowned, "hey, that's not —"

"Go home. Get a good night's sleep." The man narrowed his eyes on his nephew. "I'll pick you and Superboy up first thing in the morning." Flash backed away from the teens, preparing to run. "Batman's made his decision."

Jude's suit dematerialized the same time the boys removed their bandanas from their faces. She pinched the bridge of her nose while groaning in annoyance. "He's so gonna tell Hal about today," she pouted. Hal Jordan was not the strictest person on Earth but he did have his moments. And he did dish out punishments. Usually it was getting Dante and Jennifer to ground her for endangering her life, or making her train with Kilowog and the newer recruits. Not fun at all, especially when Kilowog was harder on her whenever she gave him an attitude — which was a lot.

Wally wrapped an arm around her shoulder while tugging her to his side. He looked down at her with a hopeful smile, ignoring his uncle's disappointment for now. "Maybe he'll put you on the team."

"I don't do teams," Jude already had the other Star Sapphires and even the Green Lantern corp, though the Guardians weren't supportive of that fact. They thought Jude was too aggressive when pushed just enough, something that could prove disastrous. Wally responded by rolling his eyes but he understood, she didn't do teams because there are more people to lose, just like how she refuses to make any more friends because again, she could lose them.

"Think Superman will be there tomorrow?" Superboy asked with a frown.

Wally shrugged though he did offer up a sympathetic smile to the half-Kyrptonian. "Uh, sure. You know...if there's no emergency somewhere."

"Right," Superboy looked down at the ground.

"Fuck Superman." Jude grumbled while kicking an imaginary rock. She turned to Superboy with a bright smile. "You don't need him, he's missing out on a good person right here. Show him you are better off without him." She grabbed his hands in hers, dragging him with her back towards the mall. "You have us to lean on."

"Yeah," Wally agreed. His eyes, however, fell to their hands with a twist of his lips. Not a smile or a frown, but something close to a scowl. His eyes remained soft and friendly though. "We better retrieve your new dud."

The next day Jude stood in Mount Justice with one of her mentors behind her, his hands resting on her shoulders. She did not want to be there. She remembers telling him she would rather chew off her own foot than become someone else's problem. Hal had tried his best to get her to understand this was for her benefit. Working with others her age would not only help her rely on others but also act her age. It's not like she doesn't know anyone on the team. She has Kid Flash, Robin, Aqualad, and even Superboy now.

She wanted to stomp her feet and scream at the top of her lungs. Curse Hal and Carol's existence, even her parents who were just as supportive of this idea. Jude Lucero was not cut out for this. She felt sick. Her fingers were twisting the fabric of her shirt as she stood between Superboy and Robin. She looked above her at the man dressed in his Green Lantern uniform. "I'm gonna get you back for this," she smiled through her frustration.

Batman stood in front of the lineup of teenagers with his hands behind his back and a deep scowl etched across his face as he addressed them with his usual gruff voice. "Since you four are determined to stay together and fight the good fight," he looked between the four boys. "You'll do it on League terms." He gestured to Red Tornado, the red android in a blue cape, "Red Tornado volunteered to live here and be your supervisor." He pointed toward the blonde woman beside the android, "Black Canary's in charge of training. I will deploy you on missions."

Batman's eyes went to Jude who looked like she'd rather be anywhere else right now. "All of you."

"Real missions?" Dick — or better known as Robin, asked his mentor.

"Yes." Batman narrowed his eyes, "but covert."

Flash grinned from beside his nephew, his hand on his shoulder. "The League will handle the obvious stuff." He pointed to the emblem on his chest with his grin falling slightly. "There's a reason we have these big targets on our chest," he said.

Aqualad cut in with a stern expression that had Aqualad standing even straighter, if that were possible. "But Cadmus proves the bad guys are getting smarter. Batman needs a team that can operate on the sly."

"The six of you will be that team."

Robin nodded along, "cool...wait, six?"

Coming through the zeta-tube two new faces made themselves known. Jude knew about Martian Manhunter through Hal so she wasn't at all surprised by him being there. However, the girl with him was the mystery. "This is the Martian Manhunter's niece, Miss Martian."

"Hi," she waved while smiling shyly.

Wally grinned while walking towards her and Jude felt her heart drop. She knew what was coming. It's the same thing that happens every time Wally meets a girl he thinks is attractive, and every time it leaves her picking up the pieces of her shattered heart. "Liking this gig more every minute." He winked at Miss Martian. "Welcome aboard! I'm Kid Flash." He pointed between the Boy Wonder and Atlantean, "that's Robin, Aqualad. S'cool if you forget their names."

"I'm honored to be included." Jude was jealous, she knew it and it was all because this new girl had Wally's attention, but it wasn't Miss Martian's fault. All she was doing was existing. So, Jude pushed Wally out of the way and offered her hand to the Martian with her friendliest smile she could muster. "Star Sapphire, but you just call me Sapphire."

"I can tell we're going to be best friends." Miss Martian mirrored her smile.











  




    

  
NOTE!

The first chapter of the rewrite is done! I genuinely had so much fun writing these and kept texting my friends about Jude and Wally because I could not get myself to stop thinking about them. I have so much planned for this book, everything after season 1 is gonna be interesting that's for sure.