( Chapter Five )
Bad Moods All Around

Charlotte hated a lot of things; the taste of cherries mixed with chocolate ice cream, small children who had sticky hands and wanted to touch everything within sight, even the smell of bleach — but then again who likes that? But at the top of that list had to be sand. She absolutely hated it. That was why she was hesitant to join most of her team on the beachline outside the cave. Hank had unshackled her for the day and she planned on watching television till she succumbed to a dreamless slumber. However, Miss Martian — M'gann, felt she needed to get out more and actually spend time with the team. Do something fun.

  She could have told M'gann to leave her be, but the look on her face was almost like a kicked puppy, a soft pout that had Charlotte cursing her existence. Charlotte didn't even have a swimming suit with her. All she had were the knee-length shorts and band shirt she came in. M'gann claimed it wasn't 'beach acceptable' and dragged her to her room. The Martian didn't really need all these new clothes given hers could shift into anything she needed, but she developed a bit of a shopping habit.

  M'gann had given her a simple orange swim-suit. She had no excuse not to join them on the beach now, and even if she could think of another one, there would always be a solution found by her friend. It was a little frustrating being forced outside but Charlotte would get over it.

  Lying on her back with sunglasses perched on her nose, Charlotte felt relaxed. Maybe this was better than sitting on the couch watching reruns of whatever teen-drama she could find. Though, the sand under her was not appreciated. She should have brought out a towel on her way out but M'gann kept pushing her forward. She knew a shower was needed after this.

  Her friends were having fun beside her, building sandcastles and throwing each other into the water. It was a school day but more than half the team didn't have normal studies so they got to do whatever they wanted. Robin wasn't sent off to school unlike Kid since his had been shut down for a few more days — something she wasn't supposed to mention to the others, but his identity wasn't exactly a secret to the girl. Well, not fully. She knew he went to Gotham Academy and some of the story behind him taking the mantle of Robin, his real name was the real mystery.

"We should hit the beach every day!" M'gann cheered while patting the side of her sand castle to keep it together.

  Charlotte could feel eyes burning into her skin. It had goosebumps rising despite the heat of the sun beating down on her. Looking to the side she saw Superboy watching her. There was no malice or irritation in his expression, his eyebrows were resting normally and the curve of his lips were upward. He was smiling. That shouldn't be as unnerving as it was, but Superboy doesn't smile at her. They glare and throw unfriendly jabs, but the way Superboy's face was set in that soft smile it had the girl wanting to bury herself.

  He can't look at her like that. He shouldn't. But when did the Kryptonian ever do things he should? Superboy followed his own agenda and norms, oftentimes reacting to things with unbridled rage. But here he was smiling at the girl who made it her mission to disrupt his peace.

  Charlotte found herself reciprocating the smile, a warm feeling spreading through her entire being. Fighting with Superboy was fun and filled the space of boredom but sharing soft looks might be even better. Though, she was not going to assume this was going to happen often. She still was not his biggest fan and neither was he. These smiles were only because of the joyous atmosphere around them, provided by their friends. It will go away eventually, as will the butterflies in her stomach.

There was a new addition to the team of the previous six. Charlotte wasn't opposed to another teammate as long as they didn't go fangirling in front of her — it always made her feel awkward when Miss Martian does that. But this new girl, an archer, seemed much more relaxed. The two had just met and Charlotte already liked her for that fact alone. She was tired of unwanted attention and the constant chirping voices in her ear.

  Most of the team stood around the archer and the two Justice League members, Batman and Green Arrow to be introduced to the girl — Artemis. Charlotte stood beside Aqualad with her arms crossed over her chest and dark eyes analyzing their new companion.

  "Kid Flash should be here any minute," Miss Martian thought aloud while glancing at Charlotte who was still looking at Artemis, assessing her with a close eye. The blonde didn't seem to mind and reciprocated the act.

  "Recognized: Kid Flash B-0-3"

  Miss Martian gestured to the zeta-tube with a bright grin that for some reason was irritating Charlotte. Why does she smile so much? Nobody is that happy with their life. "There he is now! I'm sure you two will get along famously."

  Charlotte, however, doubted they would be friends right off the bat. No offense to Artemis but she was Green Arrow's new protege, an archer, and placed on the team while Speedy — Roy was still going out solo when it should be him with them. She wasn't the most vocal with her own disdain towards her friend not being with them, but even she wasn't that fond of Arrow throwing in this new girl. It felt like he was trying to replace Roy in a way. Which wasn't at all true.

  Kid Flash — Wally dressed in beachwear came running towards the group with pool noodles, a beach ball, a stereo and ice chest in hand. "The Wall-Man is here!" He looked at the team with a bright grin. "Now, let's get this party star —" he cut himself off as he crashed to the floor after tripping over his own foot. " — ted." The sunglasses perched on his nose were now crooked to reveal one of his bright green eyes while locking eyes with Batman. An embarrassed flush of his cheeks made Charlotte cover her smile.

  Artemis looked down at him with a teasing grin while one hand rested on her hip and the other gripped her compound bow. "'Wall-Man' huh? I love the uniform." She snickered. "What exactly are your powers?"

  Now standing his eyes narrowed on the blonde archer with a confused frown. "Uh, who is this?"

  "Artemis. Your new teammate." She crossed her arms over her chest.

  "Kid Flash. Never heard of you." His words had Robin smirking behind him despite the disapproving look from Aqualad.

  Green Arrow stepped forward to cut through the tension. Though the words he was about to say were only going to make the situation worse. "Um, she's my new protege."

  Kid clearly looked confused and unhappy with the news. Almost offended for his friend. "What happened to your old one?"

  "Recognized: Speedy, B-0-6."

  In walked the first sidekick of the Green Arrow. Gone was the yellow and in its place was a suit of red and black — Charlotte liked that look better, she could hardly take her eyes off him, and no she was not checking him out. Maybe. "Well, for starters, he doesn't go by Speedy anymore." He narrowed his eyes on the team, a hint of malice to his glare when his attention landed on Artemis. "Call me Red Arrow."

  "Roy, you look —"

  "Hot." Charlotte didn't bother hiding the fact she was eyeing him in the new suit. However, one person in particular had heard her and for some reason it bothered him. Superboy glared at the red haired archer while crossing his arms over his chest.

  "Replaceable," Red Arrow responded. His eyes shifted over to Charlotte who was still looking at him with a spark of interest but he said nothing to her, just offered a cheeky smirk. That only made Superboy huff with annoyance.

  "It's not like that," Green Arrow tried defending his case. "You told me you were going solo."

  "So why waste time finding a sub?"

  Charlotte hated being a hero, being the man-made goddess Hank Reeves so desperately clung to as his salvation. But, she knew that if anyone were to take her place she would feel even more resentment towards her father. Roy had every right to feel upset and betrayed by the revelation of yet another protege. He was taking it a lot better than Charlotte would have. If she saw her father mentoring another kid, turning someone else into his weapon, she would make it everyone's problem. So, Roy was taking it a lot better than she would expect.

  It is easy to feel betrayed and abandoned by those in your life. Especially when you see just how replaceable you truly are.

  "Can she even use that bow?" He scoffed while focusing solely on Artemis who stalked towards him with a glare in place. "Yes, she can." Artemis smirked at him while resting her hands on her hips.

  Throwing his hands up, Wally asked, "Who are you?!"

  Answering at the same time Artemis and Green Arrow gave the same excuse of her being his niece. It was a little overdone with Miss Martian being Manhunter's niece but who was Charlotte to judge. As long as the blonde wasn't going to get them killed, she was welcome to the team. If anything, Charlotte already preferred her over M'gann — and this was nothing against the Martian. She is friendly and good company but she was too friendly. It rubbed her the wrong way. Not at all because of how she looks at Superboy. Definitely not.

  "Another niece," Robin chuckled at the humor in the excuse.

  Aqualad took a step closer towards Red Arrow, "but she is not your replacement. We have always wanted you on the team and we have no quota on archers."

  Charlotte raised her hand with a teasing grin tugging at her lips. "I vote we keep him." She didn't miss the small laugh Roy tried covering with a cough. Their friendship wasn't something they talked about often, or even acknowledged but it was there. The gentle teasing, friendly flirting, even calling each other out when needed. That was how they were. It was an unspoken thing, something that belonged to just them.

  "If we did have a 'quota' on archers, y'know who we're picking." Kid offered him a smile, ignoring the glare on Artemis' face.

  "Whatever, Baywatch." Artemis scoffed. "I'm here to stay."

  Roy went to walk away and disappear back through the zeta-tube but Charlotte stopped him with her hand on his shoulder. Her eyes that looked like pools of cinnamon locked on his forest green ones. Her teasing grin was replaced by the slightest frown. "You don't have to go, you have a place here."

  Aqualad cut in, now standing shoulder to shoulder with Charlotte, blocking the archer from leaving. "You came to us for a reason."

  "Yeah," he looked down at Charlotte's hand, swiftly shaking it off. "A reason named Dr. Serling Roquette."

  Robin began typing on his glove with a smirk of interest and bubbling excitement. "Nano-robotics genius and claytronics expert at Royal University in Star City." Pictures and documentations on the scientist projected behind the team as the boy continued, "vanished two weeks ago."

  "Abducted two weeks ago by the League of Shadows." Roy corrected.

  Robin gasped with a glint of mischief behind his mask-covered eyes. "You want us to rescue her from The Shadows?" Charlotte hoped not. She was okay playing hero but she did not want to go against any assassins if she could prevent it. She'd leave that up to Roy and the adults. She didn't feel like getting a sword through her stomach.

  "Hardcore," Kid Flash grinned.

  "I already rescued her," he walked closer to the holographic screen.

  Charlotte turned to Miss Martian and whispered, "is it bad I think he's attractive like this?" The green teen covered a hand over her mouth to muffle her giggles. Superboy looked over at her and gone was his smile from on the beach, he was glaring now. Charlotte rolled her eyes at him and lifted her middle finger.

  "Only one problem, The Shadows had already coerced her into creating a weapon." A new layout of images came on screen, an insect looking android and a canister with multiple buttons. "Doc calls it the Fog. Comprised of millions of microscopic robots. Nanotech infiltrators, capable of disintegrating anything in their path. Concrete, steel, flesh, bone."

  "Well that's just perfect," Charlotte muttered but got an elbow jabbed in her side by Robin, who she hadn't noticed even moved to stand beside her.

  Roy continued, "but its true purpose isn't mere destruction. It's theft. The infiltrators eat and store raw data from any computer system and deliver the stolen intel to The Shadows. Providing them access to weapons, strategic defense, cutting edge science and tech."

  Artemis sighed while rolling her eyes. "Perfect for extortion, manipulation, power broking." She listed. "Yeah, sounds like The Shadows."

  Kid Flash scoffed with his hands on his hips, a brow raised in the girl's direction. "Like you know anything about The Shadows."

  Artemis looked over her shoulder with a smirk. "Who are you?!" Kid yelled while throwing his arms around.

  "Roquette's working on a virus to render the Fog inert." Roy told them.

  Charlotte couldn't care less about this doctor or scientist — whatever she was. She didn't even want to be sporting the title of 'superhero' but she knew this Fog put her and others at high risk. Every record would be stolen, the well-being of others put into the hands of criminals. Her father's secrets, her secrets, all out in the open. She couldn't let her personal life be clear as day. If anyone found out about her father's lab, the things he did to her, she would be taken away from everything she has ever known. She would be placed in the foster system no doubt, she refuses to go through that.

  Hank might be a bad guy but there is always worse.

  "But if The Shadows know she can do that —" Robin was cut off by the red archer. "They'll target her." Roy finished for him. "Right now, she's off the grid. I stashed her at the local high school's computer lab."

  "You left her alone?" Green Arrow questioned with a note of disbelief detected in his tone.

  "She's safe enough for now." Roy shrugged.

  Green Arrow walked towards the boy with a frown. His eyes focused on him completely. "Then let's you and I keep her that way."

  "You and I?" Roy raised a brow at the man. Not at all believing the man truly wanted him around when he had been replaced. "Don't you wanna take your new protege?"

  Green Arrow tried to get closer, opening his mouth to talk but was stopped by Batman's hand coming down on his shoulder. The two shared a look, the man in green frowning to himself before saying, "you brought this to the team. It's their mission, which means it's hers now too."

  Roy scoffed, heading towards the zeta-tube. "Then my job's done." On his way out he glanced over at Charlotte one last time, offering her a small nod which she reciprocated. A silent message.

  "Recognized: Speedy —"

  "That's Red Arrow, B-0-6. Update." He corrected the automotive voice before disappearing.

Standing on the roof of Happy Harbor High School alongside Miss Martian and Superboy, Charlotte felt bored. They had been standing there for a total of thirty minutes and not once had she seen any danger approaching. She wanted to be inside the computer lab guarding Roquette but Aqualad thought she would be better as defense and a look out. He sent out the ones who he thought would pack a heavier punch should the Shadows come for the scientist.

  And with their luck, they would. Charlotte considered the team cursed in a way. They attracted trouble more often than not. Which was to be expected given they are a team of vigilantes. But Charlotte would prefer to be on bedrest for the rest of her life than fighting crime. Some people did this for life and she did not want to be like them. The second she turns eighteen she's leaving Hank and putting the name Pyro to rest.

  Charlotte didn't have a plan for her future, all she knew was this would not be her life. She will not be a prisoner to the mask. She will not be like Fire, or Ice, or even Batman. Pyro was temporary. She wanted more for herself, she wanted to live, not just survive.

  "Everyone online?" She felt the telepathic scrape of claws against her mind's eye from Miss Martian. She was getting used to it the more the girl used her powers but she still wasn't a big fan. But it was necessary when their radios weren't always reliable. "This is weird," flashes of the remaining members of the team inside the computer lab flashed through Charlotte's mind, causing her to wince.

  "And distracting." Roquette's voice had Charlotte wanting to slam her head into a wall — that woman sounded like a total snob. "Coding a distributive algorithm virus on a kiddie computer with less ram than a wristwatch is hard enough. Now I have to hear teen-think in my skull?"

  Narrowing her eyes on the ground, Charlotte lowered herself to sit on the edge of the roof. "Lady, we could easily leave you to defend yourself against The Shadows. I'd be more than happy to deliver you to them with a nice little bow if you don't shut the fuck up and work on getting rid of the threat you made."

Kid agreed with her while snacking on a candy bar, "do you always complain when someone tries helping you?"

"Pot, kettle. Have you met?" Artemis teased.

"Hey, hey, I do not need attitude from the newbie who drove Red Arrow off the team."

That wasn't entirely the case. Roy left because he felt disrespected, betrayed by his mentor. Artemis was just someone he felt the need to direct his hurt towards instead of accepting that he is in pain. The new girl did nothing wrong, she just wanted to be a hero for reasons unknown to the team. But Charlotte was going to accept her with opem arms, defend her against the others, even if that meant having disagreements with one of her friends. "Easy, KF, she is part of this team now. You need to accept it and move on."

"You can't be serious, Lotte! You're close with Red, how can you be okay with this?"

Charlotte huffed a sigh while running a hand down her face, fed up with the conversation already. "She's not replacing him. Deep down you know that, just drop it and focus on the mission at hand."

"Since when are you the serious one?"

"Since you're acting like this is all Artemis' fault. You want someone to blame? Point fingers at Green Arrow."

Artemis was surprised someone had stood up for her, usually she needed to fight her own battles, have her own back. She grew up protecting herself, being the one to put others in their place when they stepped out of line. But here things are different. She has people who will be there for her — even if she doesn't realize it yet. Artemis will not be alone.

"Fate of the world at stake." Roquette interrupted them, pausing her fingers on the keyboard. Charlotte could even visualize her snobbish upturn of her lips.

"Blondie started it," Wally huffed.

Artemis scooted off the desk with a glare directed at the speedster. "How 'bout I just help the others patrol the perimeter?"

"Good idea," Aqualad stood with his arms crossed, watching the archer make her way outside.

Charlotte kicked her feet above ground, feeling beyond bored just sitting there. She needed something to do. Usually when she'd be sitting around at the lab one of the doctors would give her a coloring sheet or hand her bombs to try and absorb their radiation, determining what all she could handle. She would rather be back there getting tests run or defusing bombs cause at least then she'd be doing something with her hands.

"You might wanna cut her some slack." Robin told Kid Flash. "It was her arrow that saved your butt from Amazo."

"What? No, that was Speedy's — I mean Red Arrow's arrow, right?"

"Not so much."

"Well, still not giving her the satisfaction."

Artemis' frustration was felt through the mind-link, Charlotte knew it was not her own feelings. While she was annoyed with the two going back and forth already, and mix that with her boredom, she didn't feel the need to strangle Kid Flash with Robin's cape. "You know I can still hear you."

"I couldn't get the Justice League." Roquette complained, only making Charlotte all the more irritated. All night she had been hearing this woman throw jabs and whine, she was tired.

"The virus won't be of much use if we cannot find the weapon," Aqualad stepped up behind the doctor. "Can you track it?"

"My utility fog is not a weapon."

Charlotte scoffed, "Its being used as one."

"It's science, brilliant science! And of course I can track it, but I'd have to go online. Might as well rent a billboard with this address and assassinate me written in neon."

That didn't sound like a bad idea. Charlotte didn't know why she was in such a bad mood tonight or even why she disliked this scientist, other than the fact she made a fog that could put all of them in deep shit. Earlier, back on the bioship, she had even snapped at Kid Flash for breathing too loudly. Everything was setting her off and the team did not like it. She hadn't been their fun-loving friend the last few weeks. Not since Cadmus, it had Aqualad concerned but neither of her friends could focus on that now. They had a job to do.

"We will protect you." Aqualad promised Roquette.

After a minute, the woman's voice rang through their heads once more. "Tracking the fog now."

Charlotte jumped off the roof of the school as Artemis exited the front doors. Her knees bending to stabilize her before she straightened, looking out through the fence for any trouble but had seen nothing. She moved around to the back opening where Miss Martian had dropped too, Artemis already making her way over.

   The meta-human leaned against the wire while the archer crouched with her bow at the ready. Superboy walked the perimeter, his eyes traveling over to Charlotte as he passed. "Hmm, that boy." Artemis hummed with a grin that had Charlotte rolling her eyes. Miss Martian didn't look too happy about her comment either.

  The Kryptonian turned to Artemis with a blank expression, not at all amused or interested. He kept walking after seeing the way Charlotte's lips curled into a scowl — smiling to himself with his back facing them.

  "He can hear you." Miss Martian huffed with her eyes narrowed in jealousy. "We can all hear you."

  Artemis smirked, "oh I know."

  "Miss Martian, Doctor Roquette has located the fog. Reconfigure the bioship so that Robin and Superboy can pursue." Aqualad instructed.

  The Martian hovered her hand in the air, making the alien ship visible and lowering it into the field. "Ready," she said before Robin and Superboy came running towards the lowered ramp.

  Charlotte watched them leave, wishing she had gone with them instead of being stuck with a jealous M'gann and annoyed Artemis. The two girls weren't talking for about five minutes but Miss Martian had been fed up with the thoughts festering her mind with her arms crossed over her chest and brows pinched together as she glared at her shoes.

  "You embarrassed Superboy."

  Charlotte leaned her head against the fence, eyes aimed up at the stars. "Like your comment about him having 'good ears' and saying his suit totally works for him isn't embarrassing enough? Your crush on him is getting weird."

  Miss Martian balked at the girl she had considered a friend, or at least hoped would be her friend. "I do not have a crush on Superboy!"

  "You're obsessed with him."

  Artemis smirked to herself, "besides I didn't hear him complain."

  "Must you challenge everyone?" Miss Martian whirled on Artemis, ignoring the warning look Charlotte was giving her.

  "Where I come from, that's how you survive." Charlotte's life was the opposite of that. If she challenged her father she would be locked up longer, hosed down with the jets so she'd be unable to use her flames. Sometimes he'd even force her to fight her instructors after giving her whatever drug he could find on hand. She had learned early on that rebelling would do nothing but get her hurt, yet she couldn't stop herself. Even if just for a little while.

  She would not submit.

  "M'gann, Artemis, Lotte. We are under attack in the computer lab." Aqualad's voice had the girls standing on high alert, already running into the building.

  Charlotte and Artemis ran further ahead, the archer with her bow in hand and the pyro with her hands encased in balls of fire that burned bright. They made their way into the computer lab just in time to see Cheshire holding one of her sai above Aqualad who laid on the ground in front of Roquette. Artemis shot an arrow at her hand, causing the weapon to fall with a groan.

  She turned to face the two heroins. "Don't move." Artemis warned with another arrow knocked in the bow. The distraction gave the Atlantean time to get to his feet, his waterbarers creating twin swords as he stood behind the assassin. Charlotte kept her hands alight while blocking one of the two exits.

  "This gig's getting interesting." Cheshire laughed tauntingly while bringing out her own sword, slicing it through the air. Artemis narrowed her eyes while releasing her arrow but Cheshire cut it down the middle before it could touch her. They went back and forth a few more times before Miss Martian and Kid Flash showed up. "Maybe a little too interesting." She hummed while throwing down a smoke bomb and disappearing from sight.

  "Gone." Kid Flash sighed.

  "She's getting away!" Roquette shouted in anger, as if the team couldn't tell for themselves. "You're letting her get away!"

  "Lady, you need to seriously shut up before I decide being a villain is better suited." Charlotte huffed while picking up the sai from the ground and twirling it around her hand, inspecting the metal. She handed it to Artemis who stuffed it into her belt without paying it much mind.

  Kid Flash pointed an accusatory finger at Artemis. "This is all your fault!" He shouted. "You were on perimeter, how did that Shadow get in?!"

  Miss Martian stepped forward with a frown that looked more like a pout, if anything. "That's not really fair," she dismissed. "Lotte and I were outside too."

  "Outside being distracted by her!" He placed his hands on his hips, fixing Artemis with a glare before turning back to the alien. "Besides, I can't be mad at you." He gave her a lopsided grin "you gave me mouth to mouth."

  "We heard that!"

  "Dang it!"

  Miss Martian gave Artemis a half-hearted smile while the speedster walked away, leaving the three girls standing near the door. "I didn't do half as well during my first battle," she rested her hand on her shoulder while the blonde gave a thankful tug of her lips. Not quite a smile but it was something. "And I know you can't have been Green Arrow's sidekick for long."

  Charlotte didn't have anything encouraging to say so she just shrugged, "at least you didn't get stabbed or something."

  "Focus, everyone." Aqualad called their attention. "The Shadows will be back."

  "Robin to Aqualad." The young detective's voice came through the communications device instead of the mind-link given the distance between him and the team. "We're over Philadelphia. We've located The Shadow's next target. Star Labs, but we're too late. It's destroyed." Charlotte took in a deep breath. She didn't want to even think about how many  lives were crushed in that building. "The fog decimated it. This is bad, Star Labs is cutting edge science and now their secrets are in the hands of the enemy." A moment of silence went through the team of teenagers. "What's our next move?"

  "Rescan for that fog," Aqualad glanced at Charlotte who looked like she wanted to kick something, bad. He moved closer to her and placed a reassuring hand to her shoulder. "Find it. We're moving the doctor."

The team had moved Roquette to the docks with Miss Martian acting as a decoy inside one of the few shops while Aqualad stashed the real doctor in a cafe. Charlotte had thankfully been stationed with the Atlantean around the perimeter and away from the petty fighting and hateful glares between Artemis and Wally — the majority coming from the male redhead. Like right now, everyone could practically feel it from a distance.

  "Stop it, both of you" Aqualad chastised, though his eyes were on Charlotte who was leaning against a tree looking at the ground in boredom. Anything was better than being around Artemis and Wally though. "I can hear you glaring."

  Charlotte watched him approach her spot, looking around in false alert, as if searching for someone who wasn't really there. She knew the plan. Act like they were on guard so the assassins would believe they were surrounding the place which housed Roquette. The fake, not real. It needed to seem real if they wanted to keep the doctor alive so Charlotte relaxed her posture and crouched to the ground, acting as Aqualad's mirror.

  "Miss Martian, stay in camouflage mode and make a wide perimeter sweep." He said loudly, trying to garner the attention of whatever assassin the Shadows sent their way.

  Charlotte heard the leaves rustle in the tree before she saw anything else. With sly movement she pulled a knife from the strap around her thigh and rolled away from the orange webs that came stretching down from the dark corners. The sticky material stuck to Aqualad, pulling him towards the owner till Charlotte threw her knife through the air, effectively cutting him loose.

  Aqualad gave her a nod of thanks but his face dropped when he saw Hook approaching with his barb. He and Charlotte stood back to back, each facing off with an assassin. The pyrokinetic teen gave Black Spider a onceover, not at all feeling threatened by the boy beneath the mask but she and Aqualad needed to be put down, just for awhile. The act needed to be flawless.

  Had this been a real fight Charlotte would have thrown Black Spider down but she needed to be the one knocked off her feet. Playing the fool.

  While Aqualad was hit upside the head by the barb, the boy acting knocked out, Charlotte allowed Black Spider to tangle her in his webs at the side of a white truck. She glared at him while he wiggled his fingers in a taunting wave.

  Out from the shadows Cheshire came into view. Her face covered by the mask of a cat. Her two companions came to her sides, looking accomplished with their work. "The Martian could return any second and I'm not keen on evening their odds." Her voice was low as she talked to them. "We end Roquette now."

  Charlotte watched as they ran from her sight. A sigh of relief leaving her nose once she knew they were out of earshot. Aqualad got to his feet, rubbing at the back of his head where the barb hit him. Staring at Charlotte covered in webs looking like she wanted to blow something up, he fought a laugh while she was glaring at him. "Don't even." She huffed while heating her hands to disintegrate the silk material.

  "I was not going to." He wasn't very convincing with the way he was trying to hide his smile. Getting an elbow to the side he got serious, leading her to the cafe where Roquette was being held for her safety.

  Once inside Charlotte looked around the room where Roquette was at the computer searching for the fog — or so the girl was hoping. She situated herself by the door, peeking through the windows at the dimly lit night. The plan was in motion and her team would be fine. They were made up of skillful individuals who could handle their own. She had to remind herself. They could handle a couple assassins.

  "I've almost got it," Roquette informed them, her eyes peering at the two over the computer screen.

  A thump coming from above had the two heroes sharing a wary glance. Aqualad moved closer to the doctor while Charlotte grabbed the second knife off her thigh strap. "We have company." The Atlantean squared his shoulders, prepared for a fight.

  "Uploading now." The doctor narrowed her eyes. "And by the way, you said you'd protect me."

  The sound of pellets rolling put Charlotte on edge. The smoke shot through the small balls as Aqualad used his waterbarers to form his swords. It was a diversion. One that had left the two confused and grasping for any semblance of defense as they spun to face the window that was creaking open up from above. The bottom half of Cheshire's face came into view, a blowgun at her mouth as she shot darts at Aqualad.

  The assassin dropped to the ground as Aqualad stubbled back with a grunt of surprise. "Let's test the limit of your jellyfish immunity, shall we?" She taunted, her head turning towards Charlotte when she heard her approach. With Aqualad struggling against the toxin from the darts, Charlotte took up offense, the Atlantean guarding the doctor.

  Cheshire spun in her crouched position to face the young hero and raised to her full height. "This should be fun." She widened her stance and held her fists out in front of her. Her head tilted to the side at Charlotte's look of uninterest. As if she were already bored of the fight before it even began.

  Charlotte didn't know when she lost her spark — metaphorically of course, she could still produce a flame, but the light she had inside herself was gone. She felt drained, like she wasn't herself. She was different since Cadmus. And not just because of the tests that transpired afterward. Charlotte couldn't remember the last time she had a genuine laugh or smile, or even the last time she cracked a joke that wasn't an insult. She felt different, bad different. Her heart wasn't in anything anymore.

  Charlotte was barely existing.

  "Let's get this over with." She mumbled while flipping her knife in hand. She threw it through the air, lining it up perfectly with Cheshire's shoulder and watched it sore through the tension.

  With her remaining sai, Cheshire batted the knife away with a speed that had to of been practiced. It was impressive but Charlotte was not going to go around being impressed by the enemy. Wanting this done quickly, Charlotte could have burnt her alive but being a hero meant no killing — at least in a way that could lead back to her. And with Aqualad along with the doctor as eye witness, she wouldn't allow herself to cross that line. Not like Charlotte hasn't killed before. She made a few accidents in the beginning of her career that she feels little regret for.

  Charlotte instead, decided to take a more combative approach to the assassin. Speak her language. Violence. She ran at her with a fake attack, pretending to go for her left side and when Cheshire went to block that attack she slammed her knee into the woman's right kidney. A throaty groan and a fist to the nose was exactly the reaction Charlotte had anticipated.

  The two went back and forth with kicks and punches, Cheshire even managed to stab her in the side with the sai, leaving the metal between the flesh and twisting to add salt to the wound. It had the hero shouting in agony but she refused to back down. As much as the doctor irritated her, they needed her alive. So, Charlotte fought through the pain despite the nagging voice in the back of her head screaming at her to just let go. To give up. Was being a hero really worth all the torture she endures? Quick answer being no, no it wasn't. But she doesn't have a choice in the matter. Charlotte is stuck.

  Cheshire was on top of her now, holding the bloody weapon with the tip to her throat. Charlotte's hands wrapped around the assassins's, using whatever strength she could muster to push the sai away from her. Ignoring the way her blood dropped onto her chest, her teeth ground together while Cheshire was snickering to herself. And by the computer all Aqualad could do was watch as the poison took control of his body. He couldn't be there for his teammate, his friend.

  A strangled grunt came from the young hero as she used her leg to kick Cheshire off of her, throwing her weight to the side. With one hand over the bleeding wound in her side, Charlotte got to her feet and stood with Aqualad in front of the doctor. She had no rope to tie the assassin down so for now she was going to have to keep knocking her off her feet. Not something Charlotte could do without feeling like she was losing more and more blood.

  The cut was deep but she'd live. She didn't think any major organs were hit. A stab wound was all it was. Something that would need patched up in the infirmary, it would heal quicker than it would for a normal human.

  Cheshire, now standing, stalked towards the three. Her steps deliberate and hands itching for the sai that she made quick work of grabbing. She glanced over at the computer screen which showed a fully loaded bar. "So you finished the virus," she said to Roquette. "Eliminating the reason for your elimination Though not the entertainment value." Cheshire shoved Aqualad and Charlotte aside, causing them both to fall weakened from their wounds. She then pushed the doctor against one of the tables. "Lucky for you my orders are clear. You live to program another day. After all, doctor the Shadows may find another use for you."

  Charlotte watched as Cheshire left them after that, all the while she lay there on the ground angry with herself. She used one of the chairs to help pull herself up and helped pull Aqualad to his feet. She slung one of his arms over her shoulder while Roquette took his other side and helped lead him outside the cafe where she had seen Cheshire disappear to. Only now the assassin was long gone.

  "Artemis, where's the assassin?" He asked the blonde archer, the lone person in the night.

  Artemis looked down at the ground guiltily, her bow hung low at her side while she avoided looking at her teammates. "She, uh, she got away."

  Kid Flash came speeding over with a scoff. "Oh, from you? Big surprise." He gestured to the air where Miss Martian had Hook and Black Spider levitating in the air. "Notice we got ours."

  Charlotte rolled her eyes at her friend. "Mistakes are made, it happens to everyone."

  Kid went to say something but his eyes caught the sight of blood against her orange and yellow suit had all sorts of alarms going off in his head. He sped to her side and touched the side of where the wound was. He hissed at the slap he received to his hands. "That doesn't look good. Like at all."

  "It'll heal on its own."

  Kid didn't look like he wanted to drop it. If anything he wanted to yell at her for being reckless enough to get stabbed but he left her alone. He wasn't willing to have an angry Charlotte on his ass because he was pestering her. He preferred when her anger and insults were directed at Superboy because then he was on the safe side of things. "You're getting that cleaned as soon as we get back to base."

  "Base?" Charlotte raised a brow. "Dude, stop watching spy movies."

  "Did I tell you about this one —"

  "I'm in hell."

Charlotte stood in the infirmary irritated with everything that happened during the mission. A stab wound. That was what had weakened her? Not being drained of her powers or even a sword through the chest. A thin metal blade through her left side, directly between her ribs. The wound was closing on its own but she still needed to clean it and wrap it. She was not going to ruin one of her band shirts over spilt blood. It took her years of convincing Hank to even let her wear normal clothing instead of those ugly white scrubs on a daily basis.

In front of her on the counter was gauze, disinfectant, and some wool wrapping she found in the cabinet. She was used to injuries that didn't heal within minutes. Her skin cells rebuild themselves at a fast pace but since she went nuclear every time Hank or a doctor demanded it, the healing process has been longer. It was just another thing to add to her list of annoyances.

She used her chin to hold her shirt up while cleaning the blood from her skin, hissing everytime she hit the opened wound. Charlotte was not someone who had to rely on ointments or bandages when she got hurt or sick. She was superhuman. She was better than the average human. But now she felt just like any other girl wearing a suit. There was nothing special about her.

Charlotte was slowly losing pieces of herself.

























NOTE!

updating is so hard when WP wouldn't let me copy and paste from my doc (i've spent hours screaming and almost gave up) but it's finally here! i've been trying to update this and Cut Me Open for DAYS!!! hopefully with the next update i can see my entire screen and copy and paste without any problems.