"Two large pizzas and a salad," Kid Flash said to the waiter at the pizza parlor. He put his feet up on the table. "And make it fast." He was slapped sharply on the shoulder, knocking him off balance.

"Use some manners KF." Jinx said critically. Turning to the waiter, Jinx softened and added "Hold the dressing please."

It was evening in Central City, and after a long day of crime fighting and butt kicking, the pair decided to finally put up their feet and relax—literally in Kid Flash's case. The two sat at a table outside, the sun gradually setting beneath the skyline of the city. Central City was Kid Flash's hometown, and when he wasn't helping out in Jump or Steel City he mostly performed his heroic duties there. It was familiar. He knew the terrain. He could navigate the city at light speed with his eyes closed.

Jinx liked living there for the exact opposite reason. No one knew about her past villainy. Since taking up the hero mantle, Jinx had been completed accepted as an honorary Titan and her past crimes were pardoned. The citizens never really forgot though. It was hard to forget the pink haired witch who cursed you, smashed your windows, and stole your money. Starting anew in Central City was also attractive since her boyfriend liked it so much.

"Hey!" Kid Flash said suddenly. "I just remembered, today is July 7th! It's the luckiest day of the year you know."

"Oh the irony." Jinx said, rolling her eyes. "Felt any luckier today than usual?"

"I'm always lucky." Kid Flash cracked a half smile. "I've always got my lucky charm with me." Jinx smiled back.

"Well look who's the charmer. Aren't I supposed to be the one with magical powers?" Jinx raised an eyebrow. Kid Flash scooted closer and put his arm around his girlfriend. She just laid her head on his shoulder when Kid Flash heard footsteps behind him.

"Pizza?" Kid Flash exclaimed jumping to his feet and spinning around.

He was shocked to find himself face to face with a stranger, a creepy pale teenage in black formal attire with two long horns protruding from his greasy mop of hair. A cat with uncanny eyes lay on the boys shoulder. Kid Flash narrowed his eyes.

"You don't have any piz-" Kid Flash was cut off by red energy blasts from the stranger's hands. The blast threw him to the side against a wall. Kid Flash recovered quickly, only to find that he was trapped in a strange magical cage. He bounced off its walls and tried to vibrate his molecules and phase through, but he was met with shocking resistance. Meanwhile, Jinx had sprung into action.

"That's my boyfriend you blasted!" Jinx screeched, her eyes flashing pink. She sent waves of pink energy towards the boy. Debris was hurtled towards the stranger, but he summoned a shield of red energy to protect himself. He let out a sharp laugh.

"You can't destroy me." The boy said in his awful, high pitched voice. He advanced towards Jinx, backing her against the wall. "Your powers cause bad luck and destruction. I am chaos. Your little magic is meaningless against me."

"Jinx run!" Kid Flash yelled from within the red cage. He started charging at the walls again, desperate to break through. Jinx turned to escape but was bound in red magic as well.

"However," the boy continued. "Your brand of witchcraft is exactly what we need to further our plans." Jinx struggled against her bonds.

"I don't know what you've heard, but I don't do crime anymore!" Jinx grunted as she struggled. "I'll never help you!"

"Don't worry." The boy said with an uncanny smile plastered across his face. He waved his hand and a red portal appeared. "You will see the light."

The portal engulfed the boy and Jinx. The red cage immediately disappeared, freeing Kid Flash. He sped towards where the portal was, but it had already disintegrated.

He stood in the empty, half destroyed pizza parlor with slumped shoulders. He couldn't believe it. He let that creep sneak up on them and kidnap his girlfriend. He felt his jaw and fists clench in anger. He was going to find her, and next time he wouldn't let this creepy kid surprise him.

That kid wasn't going to get away with this.

Kid Flash swallowed and pulled out his communicator, and made a call.

Mount Justice

January 20, 19:34 EDT

"We have reason to suspect Klarion is planning something." Batman said. "This might mean that whatever organization was behind the Starro Tech scheme might be at work again as well."

"Sweet!" said Kid Flash triumphantly. The others turned to look at him, and Artemis rolled her eyes. "Sorry, it's not like I missed Klarion or anything, cause I can't stand the guy with the creepy magic mumbo jum—I'm just excited to finally have another real mission."

The Team was gathered in the cave for a mission briefing by Batman. There weren't as many covert ops missions lately as the ominous criminal organization behind the activities between July and New Year's had abruptly gone underground. This meant the Team trained more with their mentors, and got to know each other better. Superman not only acknowledged Superboy's existence, but they trained frequently. The turbulent relationship between Wally and Artemis had escalated since their New Year's kiss. The other New Year's kisses didn't amount of much. Zatanna and Robin, while both acknowledging their feelings, didn't actually care to solidify them into an official relationship. Rocket and Aqualad had gotten closer, but it was hard to tell if there was anything romantic lurking beneath Aqualad's serious demeaner or Rocket's tough-girl attitude. Romance aside, New Year's was definitely a turning point for the Team that deepened their bond.

"I haven't minded the downtime." Miss Martian quipped cheerfully, glancing at Superboy.

"Hopefully you haven't grown negligent of your training and skills in your downtime," Batman said seriously. "Because you might have your hands full with this."

He turned to the computer and brought up a couple of large images. They showed Klarion escorted by thugs from the League of Shadows into a building, Teekl perched on his shoulder. A strange girl with pink hair could be seen walking with him. Klarion guided the girl into the building with his hand on the small of her back.

"Who's the girl? I didn't know Klarion had a girlfriend," joked Robin.

"I've run her face through the Justice League databases," said Batman. "There's no record of her anywhere. It's like she doesn't exist."

"Klarion is not from this world." Zatanna said. "That's why he needs his familiar, to bind him to this plane of existence. Maybe she's from wherever Klarion came from."

"She doesn't have a familiar in the footage." Aqualad said, stepping forward. "But we shouldn't rule that out."

"Your mission," began Batman. "Is strictly for reconnaissance purposes only. Break up into two teams, and you will investigate the last places they were seen, as well as Klarion's old haunts. You are to find out what they may be planning and the identity of the girl."

"Understood." said Aqualad. "Superboy, Rocket, Zatanna, and I will take the supercycle. Miss Martian, Kid Flash, Robin, and Artemis will take the bioship."

(A/N: This marks my return to fanfiction after several years. I know nothing too interesting happens in this chapter, but I promse to up the anty next chapter.)

Chapter Two Preview:

Artemis narrowed her eyes and leaned closer to the glass, watching the strange girl. Without warning, the pink-haired girl whipped around and locked eyes with Artemis. They were pink, with cat-like irises. They briefly glowed pink, causing Artemis's skin to prickle.

"Guys," Artemis said through the link. The glass creaked sharply. "We should get out of here." A visible crack abruptly shot through the glass. Artemis stared wide-eyed as the crack slowly branched out.

"They know we're here." Miss Martian exclaimed. "This is a trap!"