Just wanna say, I never intend to not finish this. But updates will be a problem- That's just me. I will DEFINITLY try harder for this story, because I'm fucking hyped as hell for it. Believe it or not, but I am always writing. It's just writing for future chapters, ideas, moments I want to have, and then what really takes time for me is trying to fill in the gaps between these writings. I hope you still enjoy!

For once in my life I truly felt like Slade was hiding something from me. It was incredibly disheartening thing to feel because there was something about honesty that really made everything ok, and Slade is an incredibly honest guy... or was.

I know, who would have guessed? His freaking moral compass, man. In truth, Slade never really had to lie to me, because I and his intensions were always the same; mission wise. I was usually the only differentiating variable in this sense because I wanted to eat for comfort, go out for the sake of curiosity and basically enjoy myself. Slade... I don't know what he truly wants out of life, but all I know is that it's very different from my own. Yet I could still identify with these unknown intensions, so it all worked out in the end despite our few bumps (mainly caused by me).

And what I had just encountered was Slade's bump.

Slade could immediately tell when I was lying to him, so when he looked me in the eye, saying flatly, "It doesn't concern you." I knew he was lying to me. So funny that I could tell, as an uncountable amount of times I've sat late at night wondering if really Slade was a liar, but I was too figured out, too manipulated to be able to decipher it. All those worries were gone now though- because that right there was a lie, and I haven't felt that ever, and there's no other variation of it. And that empty space was then replaced with another worry; why was Slade lying to me?

You see Slade had been acting really sketch lately- more than usual, I mean. Slade was, of course, never a really open person (I think the only relationship where it is he who has to go seeking out a conversation with is Wintergreen), but never particularly lengthy in concealing anything. Sure, he was protective (crazy protective), but he didn't give two shits about what you knew or what you thought about it. It was admirable, really, to accept all your darkest intentions with a head-first, and not at all bashful, approach of getting it... and a bit concerning (but that was obvious; just look at his profession).

But he'd been decisively keeping me out of stuff- stuff he was obviously worried about, and Slade being worried was not a thing. A fucking mythical creature had just swooped in through the window (we didn't even have a window) and this is Slade forbidding me to pet it, and doing so in an annoying tactic of pretending that nothing is there when clearly there is a dragon in the living room.

… But you get what I mean. Slade's hiding business stuff from me and acting like he's not.

Of course I wasn't about to go up and ask... Then again, Slade was a man for a straight forward approach. Yet, a tingling feeling inside of me reasoned he wouldn't appreciate it this time around.

So Slade was lying to me, and I had no idea what to do.

That is, except go out.

Somewhere Else

Screaming in the halls of justice was a regular thing. It wasn't before, but now very much so. I knew we shouldn't have formed a kid team. But, of all the people, Batman was pretty adamant about it, and also Flash... Though, Flash's opinion wasn't exactly- eh- reliable. I truly think he just thought of it as a fun little thing to have. But headaches, and screaming, was not fun.

Man, if the people truly knew how the Man of Steel felt about children the world would surely riot. I have to say I'm not too good with living up to reputation; It all had to do with my morals, and that was composed of two things: Good, and Justice. Putting children in harm's way was definitely not good- and neither was their company in a high-work environment.

Just as I contemplated this Robin came zooming out the zeta tube, screaming some livid debate about a flood they were assigned to help aid stranded civilians.

It was funny, much like the Batman, Jason was the root cause for the sudden, focus-ripping yelling in the halls.

That Batman family sometimes...

"What? Let him go- Let him go-"

"Robin," Aqualad sighed, his usual cool composure shaken into a tired glaze. "There were people on that roof-"

"There was also a fucking-"

"Language," Artemis mumbled, sighing and dropping off from the zeta tubes into a sloped chair.

I rose a brow, staring at the scene inquisitively. Even I, a man of so little communication with the few, young heroes could identify the oddness that was Artemis scolding over bad lingo.

Robin reaffirmed his gaze at her, eyes blazing and unrelenting. "That fucking thief-" Artemis grimaced further, but spoke no more words, rather resigning deeper into her chair, "-who had hurt them. He was- He was getting away with that stuff! How could we let him? How could we let him get away when he was bound to go off and hurt someone else!"

"Robin, we understand-"

"Big shit you understand!"

Aqualad continued bravely, carrying on into the unrelenting storm that God knows had probably lasted more than a couple hours, "I understand why, Robin. I really, really do. But that roof was going down, if we hadn't evacuated them right then they would have been swept into the stream, and who knows what would have become of them after that."

Robin growled unceremoniously, crossing his arms to look brashly to the side.

Artemis spoke up next, through tired, messaging hands on her face, "He couldn't have gotten far anyways; hopping from cement to cement in that condition? With all that hardwire he'd cashed up? Wouldn't have fared him good... Anyways, he's probably locked up now, and not going anywhere in that flood."

Robin didn't speak, bottom lip tight.

And then Aqualad picked the wrong time to talk, "Robin what you did is unacceptable even if you had made the right call. I, as leader, expect that the moment I give yo-"

And then Robin was gone quicker than the flash of his cape.

They sat in calm, beautiful silence.

Aqualad didn't look nearly as pleased as I felt, however, his eyes pleading in remorse. "Perhaps I shouldn't have-"

"Oh quiet," the blonde, still sat, breathed through her aspiration.

Aqualad silenced, eyes turning to look upon her, but paused and widened at the sight of me.

Darn, my disguise has foiled me once again.

"Su-Super-" he clammed up, bowing his head hastily. "I am so sorry, if I had know-" his eyes looked up, then quickly flashed down again. "That was handled very unprofessionally on my part, and I am sorry you had to see that. It won't happen again."

My heart curled in surprised pity at his statement. "No worries, no worries," I laughed, waving my hand away at his composure which not once had faltered... It seemed it was just a part of his personality. "A man cannot be judged by the actions of one of his teammates."

"A leader can," Aqualad stated, then realizing what he'd said, quickly looked to begin another apology.

"Don't worry about it, Aqualad." I grinned in approval. "And yes, very true."

Aqualad smiled back, affirming and confident.

He really was a good pick, on Aquaman's part. Maybe young heroes wouldn't be all headaches.

"AYYYE-YOOO!" A flash slammed into Aqualad's once firm side and turned it into a stumbling mass as Kid Flash slapped him on the chest brotherly. "Good day, good day- Saving everyone, right?" a big grin was over his face, and it widened even more once he'd spotted me. "S-Man!" he called, opening his arms wide as though preparing for a big embrace and I'd almost taken a step back in fear.

I may retract that previous statement. Young heroes were definitely, definitely headaches.

Then again, same could go for their mentors.

In Another Particular Mentor's Cave

Suddenly aged-by-stress-creases became evident to him in his forehead once he'd finally calmed enough to smooth out his face, and feeling the familiar post—cowl-grease of his hair he'd further inclined to finally clean up a bit like Alfred had insisted hours ago. But then again he was Batman, and he'd continued working.

That is until his usual disturbance from work showed up, his one and only sidekick and ward, Jason.

The boy didn't even have to do anything and he'd immediately averted his concentration. Jason had a way of doing that; being the only one who could concern him enough to prioritize over his perfectionist schedule.

"Jason," freshly-un-cowled Bruce grumbled, his voice still sunken into its gravely, Batman-tone.

The boy's stomps were magnified by the cave's echoey tendency.

"Why wasn't I made team leader?"

Bruce sighed. Not this again.

"Robin, there are some attributes-"

"Is it because he's older?"

"Don't interrupt me," Bruce growled, sending a just as threatening glare as he could as Batman into Jason's back as he attempted to undress by the uniform pantry. "And look at me when I am talking to you." The teenager stiffened, reluctantly wobbling to face his mentor with a heated gaze pointed right at the floor.

Bruce took a calming breath. "You are more experienced, yes." Bruce contemplated just a moment, trying out his next words carefully, "But, you are uncommunicative to your teammates. I'd go even so far as to say you disregard your teammates."

These words weren't meant to be so harsh, and he felt a cruel sting as Jason recoiled... but it was the truth, and this boy needed the truth.

"Just," Bruce struggled in explanation, "try to work with them. It was my fault you were not specifically trained to fight along side other styles differentiating from mine- that's my bad- But you have the reigns now, Jason. You have a team who is just as unused to this dynamic as you, and you are so far the only one not making an effort to reform." He leaned forward, even more gravely serious than usual. "That is part of growing stronger; to change, develop- You will never learn this by sticking to your own ways."

"I really don't want to hear it right now, Bruce, I really don't."

"Then why did you ask?" He immediately regretted his sharp comment.

"I don't-" a frustrated growl erupted from the prodigy's chest as he began a quick path to storm out, as usual when confronted with his anger.

"Take a breather, son," Bruce tipped off at his retreat.

"Please, do not?" Jason groaned on his way out, slamming the door and making the man sat at his work chair smile slightly at the antic.

He just needed time to cool off, that's always what he needed...

Batman grimaced.

A sharp beep clicked his mind off its current, troublesome thoughts and to the monitor. Notable Disturbance, the bright lettered words flicked onto the screen as he punched in a key that immediately leapt the view to a street side, a column of text appearing below it explaining: Identified, Ravager.

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