Chapter 5

This morning we finally handed over the villains that had been in our care. Gizmo and Mammoth were rather unconcerned. Likely believing that they had a way out. Jinx on the other hand was frowning. Occasionally scratching the back of her neck before frowning in an aimless direction.

By all accounts it seemed like her treatment had been a resounding success. Not only had I gotten a better handle on several abilities I knew, but Jinx’s memories of each night had disappeared.

This could be easily seen as when I approached Jinx after the first night, we had about the same song and dance each time. With the dialogue not changing or skipping a beat once.

Well, that wasn’t exactly true. If we count slurring words, then there were a few differences. However, these differences were barely worth considering. Well, it didn’t really matter whether she lost her memory or not, it did at least save me from getting specifically targeted by her if she ever got out of prison for revenge.

Though there was one odd thing about her. She seemed…on edge. If her companions were similar, I would have expected a planned break out. But instead, she seemed to be in her own little world. Daydreaming while they were taken away.

How curious. I wonder if one of the drugs had given her lingering paranoia, or perhaps she was trying to remember her nightly sessions. Regardless, the odds that it would become a problem were extremely low.

After deporting the criminals into the arms of the police first thing in the morning, we all went back to the top of the tower to get breakfast. Today it was Robin’s turn to make breakfast. He was a…very by the book kind of chef. Which there’s nothing wrong with of course. But you have to understand that with cooking, not everything can be done by the book. Sometimes improvising is needing. Eyeballing it.

Which led to rather…tough like pancakes. They weren’t burnt per se, they just were well cooked. And no butter was put on them. Not because of Beast Boy’s burgeoning vegan tendencies either, but because it wasn’t in the instructions.

Still, it was definitely better than Starfire’s normal breakfast. Whatever that stuff even was.

After eating, I spent some time checking my phone for the latest news, until finally stopping on something that got me grinning. Ethan had been released from Juvie. Legally, of course. Looking above board while money exchanged hands in the shadows. He was very similar to his father in that way.

Which just meant Min-Jun and Ki were the only ones still inside. Min-Jun would probably attempt to break out at a later date as to not draw attention. Ki…well…the truth was she could probably have left at any time she really wanted to.

There were many types of monsters in this world. Ones that were evil and conniving were the first ones that came to mind. Ones who seemed to possess all the power in the world like superman were another.

Ki was neither those. She was the type of monster whose growth could see her becoming or even surpassing one of those monsters.

And unfortunately for Min-Jun wherever she went, Ki would follow. Which was simultaneously a good, bad, and neutral thing. Well, that was enough of thinking about that problem. I’ll help deal with it once everyone’s out and Ethan’s contacted me.

Shortly afterwards Robin checked his own phone, and after a few minutes frowned at some sort of news. Of course, it could have been anything. Hell, it could have been Batman sending him a drunk text in the morning, or whatever the hell Batman does during the day.

But I couldn’t help but think the timing was suspicious. Even though I had to go out of my way to find news from Gotham instead of Jump City. I just couldn’t believe that Robin wouldn’t do something similar as a fellow Gothamite.

Robin…the Titan’s…

I really have become a part of something here, haven’t I? Still, while the Titan’s were good people that I could get along with, they weren’t the most important people to me. That title went to Tubby and Pizza Face.

Still…well, it’s whatever. I had to do what I had to do.

After breakfast, I was invited to train in the gym once more. This time however it wasn’t Starfire, but Robin. Which made it all the more unexpected. A part of me wanted to not go, as my body was still recovering from the last time I went to the gym, but it would actually be good for to go anyway.

As much as I didn’t want to admit it, my athletic skills were lacking. And in a team where everyone else was much more fit than me…well, it looked worse in comparison. Raven got a pass because she could just fly from threats at a higher speed than she could run. I could not.

To the surprise of no one, Robin’s training regiment was grueling. Push ups, Sit ups, jumping jacks, sprinting, and even pull ups. With a ludicrous amount to reach.

It immediately left me in a sweaty mess. Forcing me to give my all before finally reaching my limit and falling to the floor. To which Robin looked over my body with slight concern.

“…How…how much…was that?”

“…It was one pull up…”

Robin was a slavedriver. A man who demanded absolute perfection in his comrades. Which of course made me think of what must have been asked of him by his own teacher.

Regardless, I would try to reach those dazzling stars, even if they were impossible to grasp. Right after I was able to pick myself off the floor of course.

Which could take up to fifteen or thirty minutes.

“…So, what brought this on?”

“Hmm?”

Robin answered, his voice slightly confused by my question. He had given up on waiting for me to get back up, and started to continue his own exercise. What he called ‘warming up’.

“Oh, right. At the end of this week, me and a few other…partners of the other members of the Justice League will be heading to the Hall of Justice for a meeting.”

Sidekicks. I think the word he was looking for was sidekicks, but it must have slipped by him.

“And you’re telling me this because…?”

“The Justice League wants to meet with you.”

Ah, so Batman wanted a meeting, did he? I wish I could have been surprised, but of course I wasn’t. The dark knight, the world’s greatest detective, the defender of Gotham…heh, what a load of garbage.

After a few seconds, I stood back on my own. Having found a second wind to attempt pull ups once more.

“And what do they want?”

Robin paused at that for just a second. Showing his indecision or apphrehension.

“I…don’t know.”

Hmm, so either he knew and wasn’t going to say, or he genuinely wasn’t told and is taken aback by that. I had a very…complicated relationship with the Boy Wonder. Sure, it was all smiles and fine now, but there was something stirring just under the ice. Just waiting for a crack to rear it’s head.

…But for now, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. I owe him that much. Which meant it was time for me to switch topics.

“So, why are all the sidekicks going to the Hall of Justice?”

“Partners, and the Justice League promised to show us the Justice League’s headquarters.”

Robin grunted out, before calming down immediately afterwards and even sounding excited by the end.

…okay? That’s it? A tour?

“…okay.”

Robin snorted at that.

“It’s alright. You don’t understand how big this is for all of us s-partners.”

Hah! He was about to say sidekicks! He admitted it!

My victory was cut short as I fell to the floor from the pull up bar. This time curling up into the fetal position for several minutes before talking again.

“So, who else is going to be there?”

“Batman, Aquaman, Green Ar-“

I stopped him before he could continue.

“No, I meant the partners.”

Despite emphasizing that last part in a sarcastic manner, Robin took it as a compliment. Or perhaps me ceding a point? Which it definitely wasn’t and I’d go on record about that.

“Oh. Aqualad will be there, so will Kid Flash and Speedy. Me and Kid Flash go way back.”

I quirked my eyes at that before frowning.

“…wait, Flash has two sidekicks?”

“Hahaha, you should totally say that to Speedy. He gets that ALL the time, it’s hilarious. But no. Kid Flash is the Flash’s partner, and Speedy is Green Arrow’s.”

Well that’s just confusing. Just call him…Arrow Boy. No wait, that sucks. Quiver. No, that sounds very…feminine. Dart. Eh…short and sweet, but also bland. Little Arrow. No, sounds very…native American. Arrowette?

Huh. I actually quite like that one.

“And Aqualad is Aquaman’s…oh right. That reminds me of something I always wondered. So Atlantis is real right?”

Robin nodded, a slightly questioning tone in his answer.

“Right?”

“…So Aquaman looks pretty human, but there are some other villains who come from the ocean, and they looked pretty monstrous. Like King Shark. So…do Atlanteans look like fish people?”

Robin paused for a second to think of answer.

“Eh…it’s complicated. Not everyone that comes from the ocean is Atlantean.”

Oh. Well now I feel silly, and slightly racist against fish people.

“Ah, so King Shark isn’t Atlantean.”

“Er, no. He is.”

…What the hell? So, I felt bad for nothing? Why did he have to say something so misleading?

Robin then proceeded to tell me how while Aquaman was a lot less fish looking than most Atlanteans, the majority did look human like. Though with things like gills and fins. Though there did also exist citizens that were much more aquatic animal looking. Something about the trenches? I didn’t really understand that part.

“…So does that mean an Atlantean way back when had sex with an animal to create them?”

“I…you know what? That’s an excellent question. You should ask Aquaman or Aqualad that when you meet them.”

Something tells me that was a terrible idea. Though it did at least seem that Robin didn’t know the answer to that question either. Which made the whole situation a lot less tense.

“Alright, enough warming up. It’s time to actually start exercising.”

…What? What did that even mean? What the hell was all of this then? Was he just flexing on me? That bastard…I might not be even half as fit as him, but I was at least twice as handsome. Maybe even three times as much.

Wait. If the Justice League was going to be there…that meant Wonder Woman would be there. The amazon that has captured every teenage boy’s heart from here to Olympus. Hell, she was so well known she was even one of the biggest characters of the Percy Jackson series.

Maybe uh…

Maybe I should give that acne cleansing mask another go…I mean, who isn’t interested in a little Amazon action? Apparently, the nation she comes from is full of warrior women with a spartan like life style, and everyone walks around naked. It was practically paradise on earth.

And who didn’t like a strong, powerful woman?

…Besides Ki of course. She was probably the one exception. Strength was hot. Crazy? The exact opposite.

Hmm, I wonder if it was possible to get abs in three days…eh, I might as well forget it. I would have to be going up against people like Superman and Batman, who were built like fucking Spartan’s. Though it was a nice idea.

Hmm…perhaps I should try to get Wonder Woman’s autograph for Ethan? Most of his collection of porn in Juvie was dedicated to her after all.

Speaking of gifts…Green Arrow and the Flash wear masks. I wonder if it was possible to get a copy for Min-Jun? Oh yeah, and those hawk people also wear masks but…who gives a shit about them?

Wait, wasn’t the Hall of Justice half-way across all of America?

…I hope we fly first class.