Notes: So, I managed to infect my housemate with the DC bug, and we just finished rewatching Young Justice (again, in my case). Since then, we can't stop talking about headcanons and story ideas, and this one is sticking with me. In true me fashion, it's just sticking to my ribs till I get it out. So, here it is. I'm going to crank out as much of it as I can while I can.

The cement branded his skin as he skidded to a halt. Normally, this wouldn't even slow him down, but now….

The thick lead chain that dangled around his neck may as well have been moored to the asphalt. It was connected to a single piece of kryptonite….small, but big enough to weigh him down.

He could still hear the distant screams of people as they fled their cars. The bridge was awash motor oil and shrouded in smoke from burnt tires, the acrid scent burning the back of his throat… the Metro-Narrows was still standing, but it had seen better days.

Firmly planting his hands on the blacktop, Superboy tried to push himself up. The radiant death-rock was no bigger than his wrist!…and yet, his arms screamed in agony.

"I suppose now you know how it feels to be human." the voice was unnatural, altered to be too deep and too… electronic. Filtered through the strange gas mask on the creep's face.

He wore basic black denim overalls, a heavy tool belt, a ski mask and a gas mask over that… a bit of overkill on keeping that identity secret, if you asked Superboy.

His heavy footfalls were slow, purposeful. Thudding through the cement till they were all Superboy could hear. He didn't put weight on the staff that he carried, using it as a martial weapon much the same way Robin did…

…speaking of Robin… Superboy didn't hear Lagoon boy or Robin struggling against unseen restraints or the distant sounds of a panicking populace. His eyes rose to their assailant's face, and he winced. He could just make out bright green eyes through the mask.

He wanted to ask what this was. Why this creep was attacking and what he hoped to gain. But he was too weak. His chest was beginning to feel heavy, and even the act of breathing was becoming laborious.

A simple mission. And with Blue assigned elsewhere, he'd been more than happy to take the role of heavy-hitter for Delta team. And here they were…

"Don't fret." The asshole said, dropping to one knee to loom over him. "It's almost over."

Superboy bared his teeth and refused to look away. Whatever this freak was planning to do, he'd have to meet his eye the entire time.

Superboy didn't see the woman, because she came out of nowhere. A black boot landing squarely on the asshole's shoulder. He was flung like a skipping stone across the bridge.

Careful hands gripped his right shoulder as she turned him over. All in black, with long white hair and tanned skin, a pair of blue eyes met his. She wore an indigo scarf around her head and mouth and wore nothing but black. Her body was long and sleek.

"Here, let me see." she said, her voice reedy, frantic. She ripped the kryptonite from the chain around his neck, reeling back to toss it away. But then her arm froze in place. She cried out as he hand was forced back down, just above him.

Superboy turned his head and managed to see the freak with his hand reaching out towards her. He was keeping the kryptonite in her hand near enough to Superboy to keep him in that weakened state.

Her eyes meet his, and he watches as her fear turn into anger.

"Fine. You want to play." She grumbled. "Let's play."

The kryptonite in her hand stopped glowing, flickering at first before dulling to an emerald color… and then it began to gray slightly as all the color disappeared, leaving a clear crystal behind.

Her eyes changed from bright blue to glowing green.

"Fuck." the altered voice did nothing to hide the freak's rapidly dwindling confidence.

He vaulted forward, struck again. This time by Superman wielding a long beam.

Unfortunately, Superboy was not recovered enough… it was like the Kryptonite was still around.

"Shit, shit, shit!" he heard the woman swear. "I can't contain it!"

The creep, picked himself up, staggering a bit before surveying the scene. As Superman drew closer to Superboy, his flight faltered. By then it was too late, and he couldn't stop himself from crashing.

Superboy looked up to meet those green eyes, laden with concern. She dropped the clear crystal onto his chest and was drawing away, but the properties of the kryptonite were…were inside of her.

The Creep's eyes tracked this movement, his eyes following the path of the crystal as she released it. He smirked at her. "Well, kill 'em already." he grumbled. "No sense in this venture being a total bust." Superboy's eyes widened as he vanished entirely.

"Hey!" she shouted, and Superboy heard Superman talking into the com device in his ear. "Asshole!" she hissed.

"Superboy…is down. Myself as well." he said. "I think it's the girl."

"Roger that!"

'Clark, no.' Superboy wanted to say, but all he got out was a faint groan of 'no'.

An arrow sailed through the air and hit her in the center of her chest, knocking her over the edge of the bridge.

"No!" Superboy sat up almost immediately. Her scarf fluttered down, the only evidence she had even been there.

…he felt… better. Not perfect. But…not like he was going to suffocate just from the effort it took to breathe.

He lurched upward, stumbling as his eyes landed on his floating rescuer. Evidently,…she'd caught herself in midair. He hands were clenched tightly against her own collarbone, her knees drawn up…it almost looked like a timid fetal position.

"So… Kryptonite gives you wings." she said, her voice jittery. He blinked at her, as she shrugged. "Who knew?" she drifted up, closer and he felt his body shudder, as though it would collapse in on him.

She gasped.

"Jesus Christ bananas, it's still killing you." she whimpered. Her mouth hung open before she half warbled. "I gotta get it away." and then she turned and began flying out low over the water before finally disappearing amid the crowded buildings.

Superboy instantly felt better…and worse. He turned, limping to Superman's side. He hooked an arm under Superman's bicep, helping him to stand upright. Now steady, Superman put a hand on his shoulder.

"Alright, Kon?"

Superboy nodded. "She helped us."

Superman squinted at him.

"And now both of them are gone." La'gaan's voice was resentful and challenging all at once, and Superboy had to remind himself that this was his teammate….again. Not a rival, not an adversary. His teammate.

Green Arrow swung himself in their direction. "How did this all end up so pear-shaped?"

"It was supposed to be a routine sweep." Superboy reminded. "Nothing in the reports mentioned kryptonite."

"Or the freak in the masks." La'gaan muttered, rubbing his throat.

"Are you two alright?" Superboy asked, now aware that he had been particularly focused on his own set of circumstances.

"Never better." Robin assured. He had already placed the crystal that had been kryptonite into one of his belt pouches and was gathering up the scarf.

"And they weren't working together?" Superman asked.

"No. He was the one that caused all of this." Superboy gestured around them.

"She swooped in and… she did something to the kryptonite." Robin said. "I'll know more once I run some tests."

Superman looked at Green Arrow. "What kept you?"

"Some idiot in a gas mask…" he grumbled, his descriptor setting Delta team on edge. "He just appeared and knocked me around with a staff… then he… disappeared again."

"It was probably the same guy that was here!" La'gaan growled. Superboy knew it was coming, he just had to wait for it and–"Neptune's beard!" and there it was.

"…and you're sure they weren't working together?" Superman asked, his gaze turning back to Superboy.

"I'm certain she was nowhere in sight when he started this." He says evenly.

"Superboy's right." Robin vouched, joining the group. "We'd set the perimeter pretty far back and cleared the area of civilians."

"Authorities are inbound." Green Arrow observed, his Archer's gaze glancing towards Metropolis as the flashing lights of emergency vehicles began to converge on the bridge from that side.

"We should reconvene at HQ." Superboy decides.