( Chapter Four )
Attack of the Android

Time off from crime fighting was a luxury that was not often granted. Hank believed there was nothing more important than saving lives. So when Charlotte had been given a whole week off of duty to 'rest and regain her energy' the girl was more than surprised. She could have sworn her father was swapped with a gentler man, but his cold eyes were the exact same they'd always been. There were no clones or magic forces at work, it was simply Hank being tired of watching his daughter — his creation, not being up to par with his expectations.

  She had slept most of the week away, not even bothering to fight the doctors off her as they hooked an IV through her arm to give her fluids. Charlotte was relieved to be back in that white room with nothing but sleep to occupy her time. But now she was back in the line of duty, waiting for a mission to be dished out like a dog waiting for a bone.

  Charlotte stood in the cave with the team, minus Superboy who was meant to be visiting Superman in Metropolis. She watched the Atlantean and speedster take turns hitting the holographic puck against the air-hockey table that Miss Martian had pulled up almost an hour ago. The match had been going on for around forty minutes with Aqualad blocking Kid almost every time, though the ginger boy had been able to pull a fast one on him every couple hits.

While Charlotte knew real hockey rules and the way of the game, the version in front of her did little to keep her interest. If anything, the only reason she remained watching was because hearing Kid curse Aqualad's name every few seconds was the most amusement she's had since being on lockdown. They were throwing playful insults back of forth, though Aqualad less so, Charlotte stifled a laugh behind her hand as the puck got in Kid's goal as he let out a low "fuck."

"Lotte wanna play with me next?" Miss Martian asked the girl who had been standing beside Aqualad silently.

Charlotte looked down at the holographic table with a shrug and took the red mallet from Aqualad. "I've never played before," she admitted but Miss Martian just smiled at her, saying, "Neither have I but it looks easy."

It was in fact easy. The girls hit the puck in a pattern of back and forth, hitting their mallets against the puck harshly to try and make a goal. It was three to two by the time Superboy stepped out through the zeta-tube and through the holographic table that disappeared as soon as he touched it. Charlotte glared at the back of his head while Miss Martian frowned but perked up when she'd seen him.

"Hi, Superboy." She greeted him with her usual brightness, "how was Metropolis?" Her question was ignored as he continued walking deeper into the room.

Charlotte didn't miss the sour expression on his face or the tightness in his shoulders as he looked down at the ground, clearly disappointed by something. She opened her mouth, unsure of what she was going to say but the sound of Black Canary clearing her throat cut her off. The heroine turned to face the Leaguer as she stood with Martian Manhunter.

"Ready for training, everyone?" The blonde asked.

Honestly, Charlotte was excited for hand to hand combat training. She had private lessons back at the lab from different senseis in different subcategories of martial arts but this was against the Black Canary, one of the few women that got to sit at the big table.

"Black Canary, Uncle J'onn!" Miss Martian greeted excitedly, completely forgetting about Superboy as the two approached. The two Martians met each other halfway, hugging once they were standing inches apart.

"M'gann, I was in the neighborhood so I thought I'd see how you were adjusting," Manhunter said as they pulled apart, though he kept a hand on her shoulder.

Charlotte looked down bitterly, biting at the inside of her cheek while her eyes narrowed into a glare at the floor beneath her boots. She wanted her father to care the way J'onn did for M'gann, like family. She wanted to be loved and not as a creation but as a daughter, someone who didn't need to earn it but was given it anyway. But it was stupid to wish for, she knew that, hell even Dr. Miller who heard her rants more times than not agreed.

"A few bumps, but I'm learning." Charlotte didn't want to be jealous of her friend — could you call them friends? She didn't want to be bitter or feel the need to cry every time she watched a man care for the child in his life. She was disgusted with herself and the world.

"Stick around, class is in session." Black Canary said to Superboy who tried walking away, silently thinking the same as Charlotte. The woman walked to the middle of the room where the floor lit up to create a makeshift sparring platform. "I consider it an honor to be your teacher," she looked between the kids. "I'll throw a lot at you, everything I've learned from my own mentor," she began removing her jacket to reveal the wrapping around her arm that covered an injury. "And my own bruises."

"What happened?" Miss Martian asked in concern.

"The job," she threw her jacket off to the side. "Now, combat is about controlling conflict by putting the battle on your terms." Charlotte knew as much but she didn't bother interrupting the woman. She listened intently and kept her eyes trained on her as she spoke, almost mesmerized. "You should always be acting, never reacting. I'll need a sparring partner."

Charlotte lazily held up her hand but Kid forced it back down with his hand that hadn't been holding the banana. "Right here!" He held up the banana, waving it around before taking a bite.

He walked onto the platform with a cocky glimmer in his eyes as he said with a mouthful. "After this," he swallowed the banana and threw the peel off to the side while Charlotte scowled at his back. He made a swish sound, "I'll show you my moves," he grinned.

Canary looked unimpressed as she raised a brow at him before smirking and threw a quick punch that he blocked with his arm. While he was surprised by the quick attack she bent at the knee and stretched out her leg to sweep his own out from under him as she pivoted her left leg. With a groan the speedster landed on his back, "hurts so good."

"Good block," she complimented. "But did anyone see what he did wrong?"

"He allowed you an opening in his moment of surprise. In combat you need to be able to predict your opponent's next move, even if you're wrong. Don't let your guard down." Charlotte spoke with dead seriousness that made Miss Martian look at her a little longer than she would have liked.

Canary nodded at her words, "he allowed me to dictate the terms of —"

"Oh, please. With my powers, the battle's always on my terms." Superboy cut her off with a scoff. He crossed his arms over his chest while holding eye contact with Charlotte across the platform. "I'm a living weapon and this is a waste of my time."

"Bet I can kick your ass no problem," Charlotte smirked as his eyes narrowed into a glare. That seemed to be their thing, pissing each other off.

Canary looked between the two with her own smirk growing. "Prove it, both of you." She stepped off to the side to allow them the room, "you talk big game but do you have the skill to back it?"

Charlotte was more than ready to finally shut Superboy up, she'd been looking for an excuse to kick his ass and here Canary was, giving her the perfect opportunity. She wasn't naive enough to believe she could fight Superboy if he were trained in the field, her biggest asset was her own martial arts experience and the fact she was going into this knowing what to expect.

Superboy would react with anger, fighting blindly while she would keep a level head. While he leads with emotion she will use knowledge.

"Nothing personal, Supes." She told the boy as they stood across from each other, both in defensive stances with fists at the ready.

"Yeah, right." He rolled his eyes before making the first move. He aimed his fist at her nose but her arm came up to block him with ease, her other hand slamming into his stomach with enough force that had him groaning.

Charlotte didn't allow him a second to fight back, she used his bent knee to climb herself onto his shoulders, wrapping her legs around his neck and using their combined body weight to throw him down in a scissor kick. They landed with a thud against the ground as a beeping sound went off. There on the ground a red circle surrounded Superboy with the words: FAIL beside him.

From on top of the clone, Charlotte grinned in triumph, her knees on either side of Superboy's head. Her celebration didn't last long before she felt hands on her waist and the wind being knocked out of her as she landed on her back, Superboy switching their positions with a look of rage. The look in his eyes scared her, reminding her of the psychos she's had to fight day in and day out.

Her knee came up and slammed into his chin, knocking him off her. She rolled to the side to stand across from him again with her hands raised ready to block his next move. He ran at her, throwing his fist left and right as each one was hit away with efficiency. He was getting angrier and angrier the longer this went on, his blood boiling as he yelled out and went to kick her side but she caught his ankle while her own foot came barreling at his face, hitting him square in the nose before he stumbled back from the impact.

  "I'm done," Superboy wiped the blood trickling from his nose onto the back of his hand while Charlotte stood to her feet.

  "Training is mandatory," Canary said as Superboy tried walking away with angry grunts.

  Charlotte grabbed his wrist in a loose grip and spun him to face her. She wasn't going to apologize for doing exactly as she threatened, or ask if he was alright from receiving a kick to the nose, she wasn't even sure what she wanted to say to the boy. But his anger was only going to make his head clouded during fights. He'll lose every battle if he isn't careful and while she was not his biggest fan, she would like to keep him from ending up in a bodybag.

  Superboy glared down at her hand and shook it off when a call came through, the image of Batman forming behind them. "Batman to the cave." The team gathered in a huddle, Martian Manhunter and Black Canary joining them.

  "Five hours ago, a new menace attacked Green Arrow and Black Canary." In the corner of the screen a picture of an android with pinkish skin, pointed ears, and glowing red eyes caught their attention. "The attacker was capable of studying then duplicating the powers and abilities of its opponents." They watched as Superman flew in the scene before being swung around by his cape and thrown to the ground. "Arrow called in reinforcements, which nearly proved disastrous as our foe gained more and more power with each new combatant."

  Kid's eyes were wide in fascination as he said, "one guy with the powers of the entire League?"

  "In the end, it took eight leaguers four hours to defeat and dismantle the android."

  "An android?" Robin asked, "who made it, T.O. Morrow?"

  Batman's eyes narrowed. "Good guess, Robin. Red Tornado doesn't think so."

  Manhunter said, "the technology bears the signature of Professor Ivo."

  Aqualad's eyebrows furrowed together while the corners of his mouth twitched downward in confusion. "Ivo," he questioned. "But Ivo's dead."

  Charlotte crossed her arms over her chest, not taking her eyes off the screen. "Does anyone ever stay dead? Look at Ra's Al Ghul."

  "To make certain this threat is permanently neutralized we're sending two trucks carrying the android's parts to two separate STAR Labs facilities in Boston and New York for immediate evaluation." Batman told them, "every precaution is being taken. We'll have four additional decoy trucks to create confusion in case Ivo or anyone tries to recover the remains. You will split into undercover teams to safeguard the two real trucks."

  Kid cheered, "yes! Road trip."

  Superboy, however, was not nearly as excited by the news. If anything he was furious they were being made to do the dirty work. "So now we take out your trash."

  "You had something better to do?" Batman narrowed his eyes on the boy who looked off to the side with a clenched jaw.

  Aqualad looked down at his phone, being the one to receive the important details as he had been appointed leader in the time of Charlotte taking a break from the team. "Coordinates received, on our way."

Charlotte learned how to ride a bike when she was seven. It was one of the few good memories she had, a time before her powers developed. Hank had been the one to teach her, telling her not to be scared and to keep her chin up. On shaking legs she paddled down the street at a slow pace with Hank right behind her, his hands out to catch her if she fell.

  There was a time when Hank was a devoted father. A time before he molded his daughter into his version of a hero. He taught her the fundamentals of being a functioning person, how to ride a bike without training-wheels, showed her what it felt like to be loved.

  But after her tenth birthday, when her hands turned into flickering flames he changed. He imprisoned her in his lab and treated her like nothing but an experiment. Claiming she was to be his god, his salvation from the gloom of the world. She would be the only light he needed. It put all kinds of pressure on her shoulders, a heavy weight she was doomed to cave under.

  But he had prepared her for anything. From being a skilled combatant to a balanced rider.

  The team of six had been divided in half, one group following the trucks leading to Manhattan and another to Boston — where Charlotte was heading on the back of her League-issued motorcycle. It was a simple mission, one that wouldn't require much past an attentive eye. But it was a long one, one long and boring ride through the darkening night.

  "If dislike is the opposite of like, is disaster the opposite of aster?" Robin asked from his place on the right of Superboy, opposite of Charlotte. Getting no response from either of them he continued. "See, instead of things going wrong, they go right."

  Charlotte glanced over at Superboy through the visor of her helmet as she said, "so not whatever happened when Supey was made."

  "Uh," the younger boy chuckled to himself at the silence of the clone before saying, "clearly you're not feeling the aster. What's wrong?"

  "Canary," Superboy said simply.

  Charlotte rolled her eyes with a huff. She wanted to kick his ass, again. Whatever he had to say about Black Canary she did not want to hear it. She was one of the few members of the Justice League that didn't go around spouting nonsense about the job and was able to keep a balance between the mask and a career. She and Fire were similar in a way that had Charlotte feeling some sort of connection to the woman. Looking up to her.

  "What business does she have teaching combat skills to a guy with super strength?" He asked, angrily gripping the handle-bars with white knuckles.

  "Well, for one, you rely too much on your powers so you could learn a thing or two from her." Charlotte shook her head in disbelief at the cockiness he held within himself. "For a boy who spent most of his life in a tube you sure do have a massive ego."

  He held onto the bars tighter at her words, wishing he could throw her across the cornfield they were riding along. Anytime Charlotte opened her mouth he felt a compelling pull to just throw her around like a ragdoll. Maybe then she would finally leave him alone. Not that she went out of her way to approach him, or even be in his vicinity, but her comments weren't welcome.

  Answering the rhetorical question Superboy had asked before Charlotte decided to tease him, Robin said, "taking down stronger guys is part of the gig. Canary learned that the hard way. Same with Pyro, Batman and well, me."

  Superboy wasn't hearing it, however. Revving his engine he sped forward ahead of the two and closer to the truck. Leaving Robin and Charlotte in passing silence.

  Charlotte sighed to herself while muttering a low, "drama queen," under her breath.

  A rustling came from the cornfield with robotic laughter that sounded a lot like a monkey. Charlotte adored monkeys but not enough for her mind to make her think she was hearing them out in the outskirts of the city. She went to ask Robin if he had heard it too but before she could six androids in the shape of monkeys came flying out and onto the truck.

  "Well isn't this fantastic," she grumbled.

  "Robin, Pyro, Superboy, our truck is under attack!" Aqualad's rushed voice came through the intercom.

  Robin's teeth ground together as he said, "I kinda figured."

  How they had known where the shipments were going, the exact route, Charlotte wasn't gonna bother worrying over. Batman and his team of do-gooders will figure that out, for now their job is to protect the separated parts of Amazo. Shouldn't be too hard, right?

  "I hate monkeys," Superboy scowled beneath his helmet and not a second later he could hear Charlotte yelling through the comm in his ear to shut up.

Charlotte wasn't going to mess with her ride, keeping it as strictly transportation. She could drive one handed to blast the robots. Plus she was tired of blindly following every order people gave her, especially Robin. She was still bitter over fighting Mister Twister and over exerting herself.

"No point," Superboy said before leaping off the bike and onto the truck to fight the monkeys. His motorcycle remained in the road driving forward till it lost control and came down, sliding against the road and straight towards his companions.

Charlotte was able to swerve out of the way but Robin hadn't been as lucky. He jumped from the bike and used his grappling gun to swing himself onto the side of the back of the truck, kicking one of the monkeys down.

The girl pulled off to the side of the road and cut the engine through the throttle. She leisurely climbed off the bike and placed her helmet on the seat. Taking to the sky she flew over to the truck with a speed that had Superboy wishing he had gotten that ability.

While the monkeys attacked the clone, he used his helmet as a boxing glove, bashing their heads and throwing them onto the ground. Charlotte felt a little bad for the small androids as she slammed her foot in the face of the one coming straight for her. More came from the cornfield and jumped on Superboy, targeting him.

It wasn't a laughing matter and yet Charlotte couldn't stop herself from laughing at the absurdity. She pulled one off his to help but the thing jumped from her hand and onto her head, tugging at her hair and trying to lead her off the side of the moving vehicle. Heat swelled in the palm of her hand as she brought it down on the robot monkey, melting it from the head down and tossing it off to the side.

"Is it bad I feel guilty for killing a robot?" She asked through the comm.

Miss Martian responded with a hum, "I get it."

She knew it was just an android but if killing Red Tornado would be considered a crime then so should killing these monkeys — at least Charlotte thought so, does that make her a criminal now? Probably not but it didn't sit right with her.

In her moment of distraction she hadn't been able to help Superboy who had his eyes hit with the lasers from the robot he had been fighting. His scream of pain mixed with the rage inside him as his hands covered his eyes. Four monkeys clung to the clone, flying him high into the sky with Charlotte trying to follow but she wasn't fast enough.

Once they decided they were high enough they dropped him. Charlotte's eyes widened and bulleted down to catch him. She tried. Nobody could say she didn't, especially not him. She had been under him with her arms out ready to secure him but he was heavier than she expected. His weight had her groaning as her muscles tensed and she lost focus. They were hurtling toward the ground, feet from meeting the road when Charlotte closed her eyes waiting to feel the rough impact, but she didn't.

Her face hit a softer surface. Superboy's chest. He had a hand holding the back of her head while his arm was secured around her waist. Acting as a cushion for her fall.

  With a crease between her brows, Charlotte lifted her head and pushed her hands against his shoulders to prop herself up. This was the second time he'd done something like this, protecting her, even when she did not need it. The fall would have hurt, sure, but not enough to throw her out of commission. She was more durable than she looked.

  Peering down at him, Charlotte could feel heat rising to her cheeks. It was embarrassment, nothing more. Her mouth twisted into a scowl the longer they laid there trapped in an uncomfortable silence. Climbing off him she watched the truck get smaller, moving further and further from them. Turning back to him she watched as his hands covered his eyes, harshly rubbing at them despite the state they were in.

  The lasers had temporarily blinded him, forcing him to rely on his other senses. He was frustrated, more so than usual, as he gritted his teeth. The clone used his super-hearing to find the truck. He used the mechanical laughter of the monkeys for guidance. Superboy bent his knees and jumped from the ground, leaping through the air and back onto the truck.

  Charlotte followed him with a deep sigh. This was going to be a long night, she could already feel it. Dropping down onto the truck she helped Robin fend off the monkeys, melting as many as she could, ignoring the guilty pang in her chest.

  Superboy yelled out while throwing the androids off him the same time two more used their lasers to blow out the tires, causing the truck to swerve. Robin didn't waste a second before getting the driver out of there, throwing them both into the cornfield.

  Charlotte was not going to wait and turn into an accident. She took to the air, offering a hand to Superboy but he hit the limb away with a scowl. Not wanting her help. The truck lost control, tipping over and rolling along the road. The heroine watched in horror as it landed on top of Superboy. She watched on with her mouth hung open and dread in her stomach. Surely his enhanced durability would have saved him, right?

  A hole formed in the back of the truck as the androids stole the parts of Amazo, carrying it into the sky and away from the team. Charlotte wasn't worried about that so much as she was for her teammate. He had protected her from their fall yet she was unable to help him — granted he did bat her away when she tried. She flew to the truck, grabbed a corner and tried using all her strength to lift it but super strength was not one of her powers. Sure, she was stronger than the average human but not by much, she was no Kryptonian.

  The truck was flipped back over by the boy beneath, his angry grunts causing a sense of relief to Charlotte as she took a couple steps back. "You're such an idiot!" She yelled at him with her own face red with anger. "Why didn't you take my hand? I thought you were hurt!" Charlotte jabbed a finger in his chest and all he did was look down at her blankly.

  "I didn't need your help," he said. Superboy leapt from the ground and into the sky, following the robotic monkeys as they made off with the cargo.

  "Aqualad to beta," their leader's voice came through the comm. "We've lost our cargo. Did you —"

  "It's gone, and so is Superboy." Robin sighed in frustration while looking back at Charlotte as she walked over to him with her cheeks still burning red.

  "Aqualad to Superboy, radio your position. We'll help you," they heard him say.

  As expected, the clone's voice was clipped as he said, "I don't need help, don't want any!" and his line went dead.

  "Superboy?" They got no response.

  Charlotte crossed her arms over her chest, "he dropped his comm. That boy is a loose cannon who needs babysat, fucking idiot. Stupid motherfu —"

  Aqualad cut her off with a clear of his throat, not wanting to hear her complaints. "Pyro, language."

  "My bad, dad."

  Charlotte blocked out the rest of what was being said but she figured they were going to continue the mission and get the parts since Robin was crouched to the ground, hooking a wire from his glove into the back of a monkey. How was this kid always prepared for everything? She knew how Batman worked because of Fire but Robin was a different kind of odd.

  "We'd have heard by now if the decoy trucks had been attacked," he muttered while typing on his glove. "So how did these monkeys know exactly which trucks to target?" Robin asked no one in particular, though his eyes did travel up to Charlotte who looked calmer than earlier. After pressing another button a holographic map appeared in front of his face, causing him to laugh in triumph. "The parts have GPS. The monkeys can track the signal, which means I can track them with the one I captured."

  "Great work detective birdie." Charlotte patted his shoulder, ignoring the glare he was giving her

  Turning back to the map, he followed the lines as he said, "it looks like both sets of parts are converging on...Gotham City." His mouth tipped into a frown.

  "That far south? M'gann and I won't get there anytime soon. I'm sending Kid on ahead to meet you, Aqualad out."

  Charlotte tapped a button on her watch, calling her motorcycle to her given it was too far of a walk. She watched Robin pick up the monkey and swing it over his shoulder while calling for his own bike. He glanced over at her with his lips pursed, watching her in momentary silence. She raised a brow in his direction, unsure what he was looking at her for. "Hold my monkey," he thrust it into her hands and took off for the cornfield.

  She pulled a confused frown but didn't question it when he came back a minute later in his Robin suit. Tossing the monkey back to him she climbed on her orange bike.

  "Definitely a disaster, heavy on the dis."

Riding into the Gotham city limits, Charlotte began to worry for Superboy. He was guided by anger and if he wasn't careful he was going to get himself killed. What was he thinking going after Amazo alone? He'd been at this a little under a month and was still learning to be a hero, he was in over his head.

  "So you changed too?" Robin asked the speedster who was running beside their bikes. Easily matching the speed.

  "Are you kidding? I feel naked in civvies." Kid said. Honestly it was sad that all the members of the team could relate. Their suites were like a second skin that they barely shed. For Charlotte, it was more like her only skin. "You still tracking the parts?"

  "They were heading through Gotham, but they veered."

  Charlotte quirked a brow at the boy. "Why can't you use basic words like a normal person?"

  "It's okay that you don't understand a higher vocabulary," Robin teased. He looked down at the GPS on his holographic computer and paused, his mouth curving into a frown. "Wait, they're at my school."

  Charlotte was unfamiliar with conservatory buildings, her lessons were taught in the lab — though the place was more like an empire with how it was built. She was technically homeschooled and had never stepped foot in a school. Okay, that's a lie. She has been to a school before but not as a student. It was to put out a fire, she just happened to walk past. But she was a little jealous Robin got to be in a real school, surrounded by others just wanting to learn.

  She didn't get that luxury. Don't get her wrong, she knows she's privileged with her father owning his lab and being able to bring in hard earned money from his findings, but she was a little bitter. Her teammates got to have seminormal lives outside the mask while she was constantly dorning her's.

  The three made their way to Gotham Academy. Apparently chaos ensued from the clone and android, Charlotte had deducted from the damage done to the window on the third floor, the holes through the walls. She should have guessed Superboy would find himself in trouble when he left them. He wasn't ready to work alone, most of them weren't.

They followed the path of destruction, leading them to the gymnasium where Superboy was fighting Amazo — or more like where Amazo was kicking his ass. Kid sped over and picked the clone up with a, "yoink" and brought him over to where Charlotte and Robin were standing beside the bleachers.

Robin threw a bird-a-rang at the android while Charlotte flicked Superboy in the forehead. "Martian Manhunter," Amazo said as he changed the density of his body, phasing through the weapon. "Access, Red Tornado." His legs disappeared in a red swirl as he charged at the four teens, throwing them into the bleachers.

Charlotte landed on her back with a groan, staying like that for a minute till she sat up on her elbows. She could already feel a bruise forming. She watched him go after Kid Flash with Captain Atom's powers, narrowly missing him. Gritting her teeth, Charlotte stood to her feet and took on her pyroplasmic form, flying toward the android but he used the Canary cry to throw her back into a wall.

The fire form flickered in and out till she was left with her biological body. She was getting irritated with not being able to keep up the ability when distracted, it was frustrating. Fire had been able to use it just fine, distracted and all. It made her a little bitter as she rolled out of the way of Kid being blasted into the wall behind her.

Superboy went to attack Amazo again but was blocked and hit in the face with Superman's strength. He was tossed into the bleachers the same time Robin threw another bird-a-rang. Nothing was working on the android, he knew their moves, had their mentors powers and abilities.

Though, Charlotte doubted he had Fire's since she didn't answer Green Arrow's call for backup. At least that was one power he hadn't copied, or they'd be in even worse shit.

She watched as his arm elongated moments before slamming down on the bleachers behind Robin, hoping to hit him but he ran out of the way. Kid sped over to Amazo and went to throw a punch but he was caught by the arms and pulled into his chest. The speedster groaned in pain as he was squeezed in a vice grip from the strength of Superman. An arrow came from the shadows but Amazo changed his density, dodging the arrow and dropping Kid.

Charlotte carefully moved behind the android, her hands lit with vibrant flames as she gripped its sides. She felt triumphant until it phased through her attack. "Fuck," she used her arm to block a hit coming for her head, making sure to not leaving an opening at her stomach. However, she neglected her legs, giving Amazo the chance to slam its foot down on the bone.

The girl cried out in a mix of anger and pain. She could still feel it so she decided it was not broken at the least. Charlotte was picked up by her shoulders and tossed into the bleachers where she remained on her side, laying awkwardly.

Robin watched on in frustration, his blood boiling at the sight of his friends getting hurt. He went to throw another bird-a-rang when Amazo activated Superman's powers, shooting his laser eyes at him. Robin would have been dust if it hadn't been for Kid rushing him out of the way.

  Superboy looked at Ivo from across the room. He sat on the opposite row of bleachers with his robotic monkeys on either side of him. Frowning, his eyes landed on Charlotte a few feet to the right of him, her eyes closed and scratches along her cheek from hitting the wood. He may not show it but the boy cared for his team, seeing them all in pain upset him but he needed to act, not react, just as Black Canary tried telling him.

  "Oh yawn," Ivo rolled his eyes while making a dramatic show of being unimpressed. "Normally, Amazo would study and mimic your abilities during battle but what's the point? You're all such poor copies of the originals."

  "So everyone keeps saying," he grit his teeth. "It makes me angry!"

  Anger was always seen as a weakness, something that clouds your judgment but Superboy thought it just made him unpredictable. A way for him to distract the android from his teammates. Superboy leapt from the bleachers and over to Ivo, slamming his fist down but the man ran away with a yell of surprise. "Want to see me channel that anger?!"

  Charlotte stirred at his voice, blinking her eyes open and sitting up with her muscles tightening. "Y'know what, I'm not feeling very heroic right now. Kick his ass, Supey!" She climbed down the bleachers and hobbled her way over to the two boys in the corner of the gymnasium, watching the scene.

  "Great," Kid huffed. "He's gone ballistic again."

  Robin smirked, catching onto what their kryptonian friend was doing. "Maybe not."

  "Amazo, protect your master." Ivo ordered. "Priority alpha."

  Charlotte watched Superboy feigning attacks on Professor Ivo, an amused grin tugging at her lips. He could have easily crushed Ivo if he really wanted to. He was playing with him. Giving the others the opportunity to form a plan. She did, however, groan when Superboy was blasted back by Amazo.

  The two robotic monkeys picked up Ivo by his elbows, slightly lifting him into the air as Robin asked, "anyone want to play keep-away?" Robin ran forward and kicked Ivo's back causing him to tumble across the floor.

  "Me, me!" Kid cheered while running around back over to Ivo but was thrown out of the way by Amazo.

  Charlotte grinned, "my turn!" She flew overhead, picking Ivo up by his ankles. He dangled there while Charlotte shook him around a little.

  Robin threw a bird-a-rang but Amazo activated Martian Manhunter's powers to density shift. The sharp object went through him but Superboy took the opportunity to quickly stuff his fist into his face the same time as he switched off the ability. His head exploded and not a moment later his body fell to the floor, unmoving while Charlotte laughed.

  "Help me disassemble him, now!" Robin ordered.

  Kid shook his head while gripping his injured arm, "dude, the guy has no head."

  Charlotte flew over to the three boys who huddled in one area of the floor. Still carrying Ivo, she dropped him on the ground with a thud at Superboy's feet before landing beside him.

  "Don't take any chances," Aqualad said, as he and Miss Martian finally showed up.

  Miss Martian dropped on the other side of Superboy, her hands wrapping around his arm to help him stand up. Charlotte watched them with her smile twisting into a deep and bitter scowl, for reasons unbeknownst to her. "Superboy, are you alright?" The green teen asked softly.

  Superboy had a small smile, barely noticeable as he said, "I'm fine." He glanced over at Robin who was helping Aqualad and Kid dismantle the android. "Feeling the aster."

  "Uh, hey," Kid's brows furrowed. "Where's Ivo?"

  The six looked to where Charlotte had dropped Ivo not even five minutes earlier only to see he had disappeared. "This isn't on me." The flame hero put her hands up in surrender.

Standing in the middle of the main lobby of Mount Justice, Charlotte looked between every hero in the room. Batman, Red Tornado, Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Martian Manhunter. They all looked impressed with the work the Young Justice had accomplished, though Charlotte was still feeling odd after seeing Miss Martian's interaction with Superboy.

  Charlotte was a jealous person, the feeling was not foreign to her. She felt it everyday. But to feel it over her friend holding onto their teammate, confused her. She did not like Superboy, they were still getting to know each other and all he did was irritate her. As for Miss Martian? Charlotte enjoyed her company but was not attracted to her. So she was at a loss.

  Where was this bitterness coming from?

  "The Amazo Android is in pieces again, safely being analyzed at the two separate STAR Labs but Ivo escaped, and since he originated the tech, he's arguably more dangerous than the android." Aqualad informed the Leaguers.

  Black Canary stood with her hands on her hips and a neutral expression as she said, "capturing the professor will be a league priority."

  "But we understand your mission encountered other complications," Manhunter said.

  The five teens turned to Superboy who closed his eyes in resignation, a deep sigh leaving through his nose. Charlotte wasn't as upset over his leaving as she was about him not thinking before acting. He could have gotten himself killed had the team not caught up to him. The Kryptonian needs to realize he is not alone, he has people to fall back on.

  Charlotte, who stood between him and Miss Martian, shrugged to herself. "We handled it."

  "Complications come with the job," Batman said. "Your ability to handle them has impressed the League."

  "The whole league?" Superboy asked with a frown.

  "Given time, yes." Batman looked down at the boy with an 'S' on his chest, giving him some bit of hope that Superman won't always be ignoring his existence. "Kryptonians, as you know, have very hard heads." That caused Superboy to smirk over at Charlotte who just rolled her eyes. Doesn't she know it. "Of course, there's no shame in asking for help. That's why the league exists, because there are some problems even we can't handle individually."

  "Please," Robin scoffed with his arms crossed. "If we needed help, we'd never get the chance to ask." He pulled out the arrow that had been shot to save Kid Flash. Where he kept it, Charlotte couldn't tell you. "Look familiar? You were following us! Babysitting!"

  Batman took the arrow while Robin complained about the adults not trusting them to handle things on their own. He handed it over to Green Arrow who inspected it with a close eye comparing it to one from his quiver. "We didn't follow you," Batman told them simply.

  The arrows were similar but not exact replicas. Two different heads. "And that's not your arrow, but that means —"

  "Speedy!" The speedster interjected with a bright smile.

  "He has our backs," Aqualad nodded, missing the look passed between the adults.

  Kid grabbed the arrow while cheering, "souvenir!"

  Charlotte pushed Superboy over to Black Canary with a thumbs up in encouragement. He realized the woman had been right from the beginning and now he just needed to accept the fact he needed help. She walked away from the group with a ghost of a smile tugging at her lips.











  








NOTE!

^ This was me every time I wrote an interaction between Lotte and Conner!