ACT ONE — CHAPTER ONE
poetic justice

Winnie groaned, an ache pounding against her ribs as she sat up. She had taken a strong hit the night before while on patrol with Dinah, but even the pain of her not-broken rib could stop the grin that made its way onto her when she remembered what day it was. Swinging her legs off the side of her plush bed, she adorned the purple slippers that sat next to her nightstand before standing. Her ears picked up the sound of the tv through the door of her room but she moved to use the bathroom first, opting to wash her face before making her appearance. Roy wouldn't let her hear the end of it if she walked into the kitchen with sleep still masking her eyes.

Having taken a shower the night before, Winnie didn't stay in the bathroom long. It was only moments later that she found herself opening her bedroom door and slipping out into the hallway, the smell of burnt toast and smoke invaded her senses. Her nose wrinkled and she quickly moved to the kitchen, ready to help put out whatever disaster it is that was happening in their kitchen on that day.

Launching herself through the doorway, Winnie came face to face with Roy throwing in an egg yolk into the blender. The red head didn't seem bothered by the smoking toaster as he threw ingredients into the jar, preparing to blend up another one of his atrocious drinks. Dinah was busy with the new coffee machine Oliver had brought, claiming the old one was rubbish and old. He had only bought it 6 months ago.

"Do you not smell the toast burning?" Winnie asked as she unplugged the toaster and took the now blackened slices of bread out with the tips of her fingers. She hissed at the heat and quickly wiggled her hand. "Or like, see the smoke?"

"I was busy," Roy shrugged, humor lacing his tone as he placed covered the blender and pressed blend. "Plus, you've got it, don't you?"

Oliver sat on the stool, his elbows on the counter as he dug into a batch of pancakes drowned in syrup. Winnie raised a brow at him as she placed her hands on her hips, "And you. You were busy too?"

His reply was instant, "Absolutely,"

Winnie snorted and threw the toast— if you could even call it toast at that point— away. She placed new slices into the toaster and moved to grab some coffee. She grabbed two mugs and moved to where Dinah was standing.

"Morning, darling," The blonde greeted as she poured coffee into the two mugs Winnie held. "Sleep well?"

Winnie nodded with a smile, "Knocked right out when I got home."

"Good. Today's going to be an exciting day. You need as much rest as possible." Dinah said as she sat the coffee pot down.

"Rested and ready," Winnie answered with a grin as she moved to the counter where Roy was setting his breakfast. She placed the red and black mug covered in doodled arrows she had made at her pottery class in front of him.

Roy, like her, was in a very good mood. Despite his "I'm too cool for you" and his usually serious attitude, Winnie could pick up on the little things he did as he moved around the kitchen. He hummed November Rain as he pulled a cup out of the cabinet, his shoulders were relaxed, and he didn't seem to have a problem in the world.

"You want some?" Roy asked as he poured his concoction into the glass. It was an ugly vomit green and thick— Winnie thought it looked like sewer water.

With a disgusted look, Winnie set her coffee down and moved to grab her toast from the toaster, "How do you drink that?"

"It's a good energy boost," He gestured to the the white upholstered stools next to his as he sat down. "You should try it."

Winnie placed her plate on the counter as Roy pulled out her seat and pushed her favorite jam in front of her plate. She raised a brow with a grin, "You think I need extra energy?" She sat down and knocked his shoulder with his own. Oliver snorted as Dinah shook her head, both clearly amused by the bickering of the youngest members of their household.

Roy rolled his eyes, "Ha, I totally forgot. Winnie the living battery."

"Hey!" Winnie laughed, smacking his arm. "That's mean."

"Truth hurts, Win," He grinned, eyes brimming with humor. "How's the rib?"

The caught Oliver's attention. He set his fork and knife down and focused his attention solely on her. "You good, kid?"

Winnie took a small sip of her coffee and set it down. A dull pang set off in her rib at its mention. She gently placed her hand against it and shrugged, "It'll heal. Doc said I should just ice it."

"You sure?" He questioned with a raised brow.

The young girl rolled her eyes and raised her hands up in the air before moving on to make a series of motions with her arms. She'd be lying if she said it didn't hurt. It definitely hurt. But it didn't stop her being useful. "See? I'm good."

Dinah ruffled her hair with a chuckle as Roy snorted. Winnie turned her attention to him and stuck her tongue out at him. He flicked her forehead in response. Winnie playfully narrowed her gaze and rubbed the spot on her head.

The red head chugged down his green juice— Smoothie? Shake?— Winnie didn't even know what it was before standing up and moving to the fridge. He opened the cooler and pulled out one of the multiple ice packs Dinah kept stocked. He tossed the ice-pack at her and she caught it effortlessly.

"Thanks," She smiled gratefully as she lifted her tank enough to place the ice pack against her skin. She hissed as the ice made contact with her skin but pressed on. Dinah put some fruit on her plate before she took her seat next to Oliver. Roy snatched a piece of toast off her place and took a bite. Winnie tossed a half hearted glare his way before picking up the other piece of toast, determined to finish it before he got his hands on it too.

Winnie ate her breakfast, making sure not to leave a single crumb on the plate as she finished off her coffee. Black coffee hadn't been something she'd always enjoyed, but lately there was something about it that just satisfied her tastebuds.

Oliver turned the small kitchen tv on and turned the volume down, leaving them to listen to the hum of the local news channel in the background as they ate.

She turned to Roy, "What are the others like? I've only done this for two years and I've never really met any of them besides Robin. And even that was in passing."

Her meeting with Robin had been small but impactful. Winnie had been in Gotham with Dinah when she had met him. The Boy Wonder definitely lived up to her expectations that's for sure. Watching him in action had been... thrilling. It made Winnie focus even more on her training with Dinah. Honing her powers to serve a purpose that wasn't fueled by greed and evil had felt good. Watching Robin fight and fighting alongside him helped her find a focus that she hadn't had before. He had been doing it for years snd she'd only been doing it for a few months at that point but that pushed her even more. He was what she wanted to be.

"You nervous, Win?" Roy asked as he passed her more of the fruit Dinah had set on the counter.

Winnie huffed, "No," Yes. "I just want to know what to expect. I've been at this less than any of you have."

Doubt started to fill her mind as her shoulders hunched in. She pulled the ice pack out of her shirt and set it on the counter and anxiously scratched her bare knee. Did she deserve this? She'd been doing this for two years and a few months. Being Black Canary's sidekick was the best thing to ever happen to her but being put next to some of the most seasoned sidekicks in the game was... nerve wracking. She supposed they wouldn't be sidekicks after today, though. Maybe that's what made her even more nervous. The expectations. The responsibility.

Dinah set her coffee down, "You have absolutely nothing to worry about. You know the League wouldn't have authorized it had they thought you were anything but ready."

"And you are ready, kid." Oliver added with a small smile. "We wouldn't have put your name out if we thought you weren't." Oliver was a lot of things but a liar wasn't one of them. His brutal honesty had been a welcome reprieve to what she was used to when she was younger.

Dinah leaned over and squeezed her hand, "You've got this, darling."

"You suck energy out of thin air," Roy said. "You're pretty cool, Win."

Winnie raised a brow, "Was that a compliment?"

He rolled his eyes, "Kid Flash has superspeed and Aqualad is an Atlantean. You're not that special."

She pushed him with both hands, kicking out with her left leg as she tried to push him out of his seat. Roy scoffed and pushed her leg away as he held onto the counter. Winnie smirked as she moved to try and push him again when the television caught her eye.

Her smile turned into a frown, eyes laser focused on the breaking news that blew up on the tv. Her furrowed brows caught the attention of the others and Oliver turned the television volume up.

"Icicle Jr. has attacked Star City's." The reporter on the scene said quickly as the camera panned to the man wracking havoc on the suspension bridge. Winnie zoned out the rest as she turned to Dinah who in turn gave her a nod. She jumped out of her seat at the same time Roy and Oliver did. All at the ready.

"What about the initiation?" Winnie heard Roy ask as the two pairs walked off in opposing directions. She looked at Dinah, the same question in her eyes.

"We can fight off ten of Jr. and still be there before a certain hero sidekick duo. Don't worry, darling. We'll be on time." Dinah replied with a grin. "Let's get ready."

Winnie nodded in response, curious about who her mentor was referring to as they got in the elevator.

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Winnie huffed in annoyance, the black bodysuit she adorned as Nexus seemed to have dust all over it and there was nothing Winnie hated more than making a bad impression. Fighting Icicle Jr. had been a breeze, but avoiding one of his irritatingly icy blasts had the girl jumping away and right onto the dirty ground. Getting roughed up was normal and to be expected but today? Today's the day. She couldn't look like she was anything but perfect— a hero of the masses.

She discreetly adjusted the thin black mask that hid her identity, opting to busy herself rather than focus on the nerves that had begun to eat away at her confidence. She played with her hands, fiddled with her fingers, and even fixed her hair more times than she could count. Dinah had just smiled fondly at her, choosing to keep silent and let Winnie take a moment for herself. She appreciated it.

Today's the day. She repeated in her head. Her life had changed forever two years ago and now? Now, she was doing something she would have never expected. She was one step closer to joining her mentor within the Justice League. Heroes. Winnie smiled sadly, eyes stinging with unshed tears as she spotted the group of heroes that stood proudly in front of the Justice League HQ. Her parents would have never expected this. Their daughter, a hero. She still found it hard to believe.

Winnie sniffed, turning her face away from Dinah as she wiped her eyes. They had turned her into a killer. A weapon. But she had turned herself into a hero. Someone who helped people. Someone who protected those who couldn't protect themselves. She had worth now in the eyes of others, but she'd keep fighting until she saw the same worth in herself.

"Nexus?" Dinah said, her brows furrowed in concerned as she placed a gentle hand on the girl's shoulder. "Is it your rib?"

Winnie shook her head, forcing a smile, "I'm good, Canary. Just overwhelmed."

"These things to do that," Dinah replied with a soft smile. The blonde brushed Winnie's shoulder before squeezing it reassuringly. "Let's meet the others."

Winnie couldn't help the awe she felt at seeing an Atlantean— not one, but two— standing in front of her. She had seen Aquaman on the news before, but to see him in person was... Epic. If she wasn't trying to make a good impression, she would be giggling. Biting down on the inside of her cheek, she pushed down her excitement. Be cool.

Her eyes moved to the man in the black suit and she found it even harder for her to contain her excitement as she bounced from one foot to the other. Batman. Seeing him at night was like seeing a shadow— a terrifying, vengeful shadow. Yet despite the DC sun being out and bright, Batman was as intimidating as he was in the darkened alleys of Gotham.

"Black Canary," Batman greeted with a nod as Dinah and Winnie reached where the group was standing. Winnie nervously looked at Roy, who gave her a small, reassuring downward tilt of his head. She slid her eyes to where Oliver, Green Arrow, stood proudly next to his protege. He gave her a similar gesture, the corner of his lip twitching. It was only then that Winnie had gotten the strength to finally look up at the looming figure in front of her, her heart pounding against her ribs. "Nexus."

Winnie wanted to squeal, internally jumping up and down as the Bat's gaze landed on her. On the outside, she cleared her throat— the confidence Dinah had ingrained into her brain pushing the budding nerves out of the way and straightening her spine. "Batman."

The man turned, his back now to Winnie as she took the few steps it took to stand next to Robin who stood next to Batman, Dinah on her other side. It was only then that she really noticed her surroundings. Winnie had seen Headquarters before, but only on television. Seeing it up close, knowing she'd be inside its walls soon, was baffling. She noted the people at the door, reporters and civilians alike.

"Today's the day," Batman said with a small smile. Winnie noticed the hand he placed on Robin's shoulder and looked up at Dinah with a grin of her own. The blonde returned the grin.

"Welcome to the Hall of Justice," Green Arrow stated, staring straight ahead with a smile of his own.

"Headquarters of the Justice League," Aquaman finished off.

Winnie practically bounced with glee as she stared ahead, a feeling of pride engulfing her chest as her hands shook with excitement. She had always wondered what the inside of Headquarters looked like. Wondered where the heroes of the world met.

An unexpected wind pushed through her hair, messing up the ponytail she had spent over fifteen minutes on. She looked over her shoulder when she heard an abrupt voice.

"Oh, man," A boyish voice huffed, as he came to a stop next to the man in the red suit. The Flash. Winnie almost let out a shriek. The fastest man alive was standing right there and he was just dusting off his suit like he hadn't come into the clearing at the speed of light. Winnie's eyes turned to his protege and almost laughed as he crossed his arms, his red hair sticking out at odd angles as he tried his best not to pout. He was failing. Miserably. "I knew we'd be the last ones here."

Winnie bit the inside of her cheek to control the budding laughter. Dinah nudged her, "Told you. We'll never be late as long as those two are here." The irony of it all, Winnie thought. The fastest people on earth. Always late. Who would have thought?

The sidekicks— though she supposed they wouldn't be that for much longer— moved in line with each other, their mentors behind them as they treaded into the crowd of reporters and civilians. Winnie found herself chuckling at the commentary from the crowds.

"I'm glad we're all here," Aqualad said as he smiled at the crowds.

"Have all five sidekicks ever been in the same place at the same time?" Kid Flash asked as he looked at the mentees.

Winnie hasn't been in the same place as any of them except Speedy and Robin— Speedy, because she worked with him. Robin had been a pure accident.

"Don't. Call us sidekicks," Roy snapped, fists clenching as he stared straight ahead. Winnie knew how he felt about the term. It was odd, considering that was what they were, but she couldn't judge him. Roy had always been ambitious and his goals were beyond what even Winnie could imagine. "Not after today."

"Not after today." Winnie confirmed with a smile, hoping that she sounded as reassuring as she wanted to be. Roy turned to her then, his shoulders relaxing a bit as he gave her a single nod. The girl let out a breath of relief.

"Sorry," Kid Flash apologized, the corner of his lip tugged down. "First time at the hall. I'm a little overwhelmed."

"So am I," Winnie admitted with a small smile. Kid Flash perked up and grinned, green eyes flashing.

"You two are overwhelmed. Freeze was underwhelmed," Robin sighed with a frown. "Why isn't anybody ever just whelmed?"

Winnie took a steady breath as they all passed through the doors of the hall, her anxiety creeping up once again. Her lips parted as she took in the interior, eyes going wide as she took in the towering statues of the League members— golden, striking, and as intimidating as the heroes themselves.

Robin seems to be in as much awe as she was, his head tilted to take in the statue of his mentor, "Oh. Maybe that's why."

Winnie agreed with a speechless nod, her gaze still locked on the statues of the founding Justice League members as they approached a door that read 'Authorized Personnel Only'. The doors slid open and revealed Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado. Winnie schooled her expression, hiding her anxiety plagued excitement as she looked in between the two heroes.

"Robin, Speedy," The Martian addressed formally, looking each one of them in the eye. "Nexus, Aqualad, Kid Flash. Welcome."

Winnie nervously dusted off her suit once again. This was really happening. It was happening and it was real. She felt a hand rest gently on her shoulder, squeezing reassuringly. She looked over her shoulder and met Roy's serious gaze. Despite his lips being set in a firm line and his eyes narrowed in focus— there was a warmth there that seemed to be reserved for her in that moment. She appreciated it more than Roy could ever understand.

"You now have unlimited access to the gym, our fully stocked gallery," The Martian said as they entered through the doors. Robin and Kid Flash exchanged fist bumps once the Martian fully turned his back to them. Another set of doors opens to reveal a gorgeous room filled with shelves. There were hundreds of books placed on the golden shelves, Winnie's fingers itched to run over the spines. "and, of course, our library."

"Make yourselves at home," The Flash motioned to the cushioned black seats with a grin. Winnie stood next to Roy as Kid Flash, Robin, and Aqualad took their seats. The latter had given her a look before sitting, offering her the seat. Winnie had smiled and shaken her head, mouthing a silent no, thank you. That smile didn't last long as she watched her mentor along with the other mentors turn their backs to them.

"Quick debrief to discuss the coincidence of four ice villains attacking on the same day." Batman stated nonchalantly. "We shouldn't be long."

Winnie's eyebrows furrowed as she looked at Dinah's back, eyes moving to Oliver's as confusion rang through her mind. Was that it? The zeta-beam scanned each hero, "Recognized. Batman, 02. Aquaman, 06. Flash, 04. Green Arrow, 08. Black Canary, 13. Martian Manhunter, 07. Red Tornado, 16."

Roy seemed to have the exact same thought as he stepped forward, "That's it?" Winnie stood next to him, as she stared at her mentor. "You promised us a real look inside. Not a glorified backstage pass."

"It's a first step," Aquaman replied calmly. "You've been granted access few others get."

Winnie looked up  at the glass that separated them and the reporters. They watched and wrote on their notepads, cameras flashing as they dissected every interaction in between the protégés and their mentors. She didn't like it. It made her feel closed in, like an animal in a cage.

Roy pointed to the glass window, "Oh, really?"

"Roy," Winnie whispered softly as she pulled at the sleeve of his red tunic.

That didn't stop him. "Who cares what side of the glass we're on?" He hissed, hand still raised.

"Roy, you just need to be patient," Oliver said, stepping up to console his protege. Winnie winced. That was definitely not what the man should have said.

Roy's shoulders tensed even further as he pulled away from Winnie's grip, "What I need is respect." The redhead turned to Winnie, his gaze sweeping over her and then the other protégés. "They're treating us like kids! Worse. Like sidekicks. We deserve better than this."

Winnie didn't know if she deserved better than this. Maybe this was all she deserved and Dinah knew it. That's why her and Oliver put her name in at the League meeting. After all, she had only been at this for two years— it was absolutely nothing compared to the time the others had put in.

Winnie glanced at them then, gaze flitting from Robin to Kid Flash, then to Aqualad. They all seemed content with their positions, satisfied with where they stood. If they were happy enough, then how could Winnie justify feeling disappointed? Her expectations were one thing— a lavish picture filled with dreams of what's to come— but her reality was something completely different.

"You're kidding, right?" Roy's eyes widened in surprise, voice dropping as he took in the people he'd known for years. "You're playing their game? Why? Today was supposed to be the day. Step one in becoming full fledged members of the League!"

"Well, sure, but I thought step one was a tour of the HQ." Kid Flash replied with a shrug as he sat up.

"Except the hall isn't the League's HQ." Roy retorted. "I bet they never told you, it's just a false front for tourists! And a pit stop for catching Zeta-Beam teleported tubes to the real thing! An orbiting satellite called the Watchtower."

Winnie looked at Roy in confusion, the words he spoke seemed to float in the air as they all took a few seconds to process what he had just said. Winnie looked at Dinah then and the woman held her gaze with a frown. Her eyes shined with something the girl was very familiar with. Guilt. The blonde gave her a small nod. Roy was telling the truth.

"I know, I know, but I thought maybe we could make an exception," Oliver said lightly to Batman who crossed his arms and frowned. "Or not."

Aquaman stepped up, eyes slightly narrowed, "You are not helping your cause here, son. Stand down or—"

"Or what?" Roy shot back. "You'll send me to my room? And I'm not your son. I'm not even his. I thought I was his partner, but not anymore."

Winnie's eyes widened as Roy took off his yellow hat, tossing it angrily to the floor. The others seemed as shocked as she was, clearly at a loss for words as their jaws practically hit the ground. She stared anxiously between him and Oliver, heart racing as she waited for Roy's next move. Roy turned to her, "Are you coming with me?"

Winnie stared at him, her lips parting as she searched for an answer. Go with him? Go where? She looked to Dinah, who had uncrossed her arms and let her arms fall to her side. Her expression had gone flat.

Roy was more than her friend— he was her brother. He'd been the first person she had felt comfortable around when Oliver and Dinah had rescued her from that alleyway two years ago. It was Roy who bought her favorite mug, and it was Roy who put in more hours than anyone to help her figure out her powers. But now she stood at the edge of the unknown, she found herself uncertain: Where would they go? Anxiety crushed her heart in its claws as flashes of her life on the streets of Star City surged to the forefront of her mind. Her broken leg. The unbearable pain. The ravaging fear.

She couldn't live through that again.

"Whitney," Roy said firmly. "Yes or no?"

"Roy..." Winnie whispered as she gripped his arm. She had to find a way to make him understand. He understood her better than anyone else, he had to understand. "I... you know I—"

Tears welled up in her eyes and threatened to spill when he pulled away his arm, his gaze locking onto hers as a flicker of betrayal gleamed through his black mask. Without another word, he walked out, muttering words to the others as he left Winnie standing there, her chest aching and her throat blocked by an impending cry. She tilted her head back, eyes focused on the ceiling, as she took one shaky breath at a time— fighting to suppress the sadness that overwhelmed her.

The door closed behind him, the sound of it locking the only noise in the silent room until an alarm rang out. It was only seconds before Superman showed up on the giant computer screen that sat in between the shelves. Winnie quickly wiped the the stray tears from her cheeks and regained her posture, focusing her eyes on the screen as the Kryptonian began to speak.

"Superman to Justice League, there's been an explosion at Project Cadmus. It's on fire." He announced as the League members huddled around the screen.

Batman stood at the front, "I've had my suspicions about Cadmus. This may present this perfect opportunity to—" The man was cut off, another alarm blaring as another member of the League showed up on the screen.

Zatara's face was grave as he spoke, "Zatara to Justice League. The sorcerer Wotan is using the amulet of Attan to blot out the sun. Requesting full League response."

Winnie stared in between the two Leaguers on the screen as she waited for the Heroes in the room to make a plan.

"Superman?"

"It's a small fire. Local authorities have it under control," The alien responded.

"Then Cadmus can wait." Batman affirmed. He pressed a button on the giant keyboard. "All Leaguers rendezvous at Zatara's coordinates. Batman out."

Kid Flash, Robin, and Aqualad stood next to Winnie as they all waited for orders.

Batman turned to them, "Stay put."

Winnie raised her eyebrows as Robin said exactly what they were all thinking, "What! Why?"

"This is a League mission." Aquaman answered.

"You're not trained." Flash added.

Winnie's anger simmered. Not trained?

"Since when?!" Kid Flash exclaimed, a mixture of shock and annoyance in his tone as he stared at his mentor.

"I meant you're not trained to work as part of this team." Flash reiterated.

Winnie looked at Dinah, now feeling the same betrayal that Roy felt when he walked out, "I thought we were a team." Winnie said to her mentor with a frown.

Dinah looked at her with a reassuring smile, "There will be other missions. When you're ready."

"You said I am ready," Winnie countered sharply. Her gaze turned to Oliver who stood at Dinah's side. "And so did you."

"And we meant it." Oliver answered. "But Canary's point stands."

Winnie frowned, crossing her arms over her chest as she turned her gaze away from the two of them choosing instead to focus on Batman.

"Stay. Put." He repeated.

And then they all followed after him, the doors closing behind Red Tornado as the sidekicks— because apparently, that was all they were— stood in silence.

"When we're ready?" Kid Flash scoffed, throwing his arms up in frustration. "How are we ever supposed to be ready when they treat us like... like sidekicks?"

"My mentor. My king." Aqualad whispered softly. "I thought he trusted me."

"Trust? They don't even trust us with the basics." Kid Flash huffed. "They've got a secret HQ in space!"

"I can't believe she didn't tell me," Winnie softly said, nails digging into her palms. She did not know whether to be sad or to be angry. The surge of emotions only made the anxiety that coursed in her veins worse.

Aqualad sighed, "What else aren't they telling us?" 

"I have a better question," Robin added. "Why didn't we leave with Speedy?"

Winnie's heart thudded painfully against her ribs as she flinched. Robin seemed to pick up on her pain.

"If it's any consolation," He said. "I'm sure he'll be back."

"You don't have to lie to make me feel better, Robin," Winnie shook her head sadly. "We all know he won't be." Robin seemed to agree with her words, choosing to keep silent instead.

"We've never met," Kid Flash held out a hand. Despite their current irritation, an easy going smile played on his lips. "I'm Kid Flash."

Winnie took it, choosing to see it as a distraction as she met the speedsters green eyes— a smile of her own on her lips. "Nexus."

Aqualad held out a hand as well, "I'm Aqualad. I've heard of your powers, they are very intriguing. I hope to see them on the field someday."

Winnie flushed, never been one to take compliments well, "Thank you."

Aqualad turned to Robin then, "What is... Project Cadmus?"

"I don't know," Robin hummed as he moved to the keyboard of the giant computer. "But I can find out."

His fingers flew across the keys as the computer spoke out, "Access denied."

"Wanna bet?" He challenged as he continued to type away. It was only moments later that he managed to open the files.

"Whoa," Winnie said in awe.

"How are you doing that?" Kid Flash asked, eyes wide.

"Same system as the Batcave." He grinned. 'Access granted' was printed across the screen seconds later. The boy wonder quickly read over the screen. "Project Cadmus. Genetics lab here in DC. That's all there is."

"Why is Batman suspicious of a genetics lab?" Winnie found herself asking.

"If Batman's suspicious, maybe we should investigate."

Winnie raised a brow as Aqualad began to speak, "Solve their case before they do. It would be poetic justice."

The thought was appealing. Poetic justice. If Roy had stayed, he would have jumped at the opportunity to get back at their mentors for lying to them. She knew it and she was sure everyone in this room knew it too.

"Hey, they're all about justice." Robin smirked in response.

"But they said stay put."

"For the blotting out the sun mission, not this." He had a point. If they could play with words, why couldn't they?

Kid Flash practically vibrated with excitement, "Wait. Are you going to Cadmus? Because if you're going, I'm going." They both turned to Aqualad with matching grins, both equally as mischievous as the other.

"And you, Nexus?" Aqualad asked.

Winnie scratched her palm, looking in between the three of them. They all looked at her expectingly, waiting for her answer. Roy would go... wouldn't he? Of course he would, if Oliver pissed him off— he'd do anything to piss him off more. And so; for once in her life, Winnie let her anger do the talking.

"I'm in, too." She confirmed with a nod. "If you'll have me."

"Yes!" Kid Flash cheered. "Looks like you'll be seeing her power on the field sooner than you expected!"

Winnie snorted as they all turned to look at Aqualad.

"Just like that we're a team on a mission?"

Robin grinned, "We didn't come for a play date."

Winnie found herself smiling, excitement mingling with the anger coursing through her veins. She had thought she had proven herself to Black Canary. Proven her worth and her strength. But as it turned out, she had apparently only proved herself enough to earn a glorified gym membership. Oh, and a library pass. She can't forget the library! Roy was right. They needed respect. They tried earning it. Maybe now it was time to force it. And she would prove that she was worthy of it. If it meant defying Batman and going rogue with a group of people she had never trained nor fought with, so be it.

She grinned at her new teammates, fingers prickling with power as they all moved together— preparing for a mission they hadn't walked in here expecting.

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author's corner

i. i was rushing to get this out bc i wanted to post it before wally day ended and i actually did it. its still wally day here so YAY! winnie and roy are my babies and writing this kind of hurt my feelings but hey! they're better later on hehehe! id also like to put it out there that winnie's power are based on energy absorption. she absorbs energy and she can then meld and wield it however she likes. she can essentially get a power boost from anything! anyway, if there's any typos or grammar mistakes, i apologize! buuuut im genuinely so excited to get this story going!

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