chapter one.
( today is the day. )

An eerie silence hangs in the chilly air of Wayne Manor that morning. The fireplace crackles in the quiet, a comfortable warmth radiating from the fire that illuminates the estate's living room. Sitting at the end of the couch, Yue Harlow curls up in her seat, her legs pulled up to her chest and her gaze narrowed at the flip-phone in her hands. The sleeves of her black sweatshirt, embroidered with a yellow Batman symbol over her chest, are rolled up to her elbows as she rests them against the tops of her knees.

A sigh of frustration falls from her parted lips; another hour has passed without a message from her mentor. She stretches her legs out across the couch, one of her arms falling to limply lay over her stomach as the other hangs off the couch with the phone dangling in her hand.

It wasn't an unusual occurrence for the young hero to be left behind at the Manor while Batman and Robin performed duties befitting their roles as Gotham's Dynamic Duo. But being left behind on such a momentous day – the day she had been waiting for – was another problem entirely, and to make matters worse, neither her mentor nor his partner-in-heroics had called with an explanation for why they were taking so long to return.

They were cutting it close. They were supposed to be at the Hall of Justice in an hour!

With her mind elsewhere, Yue fails to notice the household's butler entering the living room. With his hands tucked gracefully behind his back, and his posture ever-so-straight, he stops in the doorway and clears his throat, "Miss Yue."

Yue's head snaps in his direction. Her dark eyes twinkle in excitement and a hopeful grin spreads across her lips, "Is it time?"

With a proud and knowing smile of his own, Alfred nods his head. Three years he had known her, helped raise her. Three years he had watched how hard she worked for this day to come. Every waking minute not dedicated to school-work was poured into the mask and her vow against crime.

Today, her hard-work would finally come to fruition. The Justice League was almost in her reach.

Yue eagerly jumps out of her seat, her phone long-forgotten on the cushions as she takes off down the hallway with a squeal of excitement. Faintly, she can hear Alfred's chastising for running in the halls and yet all she can do is laugh, "But, today's the day!"

"Mr Freeze was not feeling the aster," Robin comments on his most recent fight against Gotham's resident ice villain, his hands on his hips as he stands beside Flamebird. She stares down at the smaller boy with furrowed brows. The domino mask he wears squints slightly as he stares back at her, his signature smirk tugging at his lips.

"Dude, I don't even know what that means," she states, a sigh of confusion falling from her lips as she crosses her arms over the red and gold costume she wears.

Dick Grayson was the second ward of Bruce Wayne, taken in by the man after unfortunate events transpired; and the last time Yue had come to the Hall of Justice, it had been by his side. The two had just been officially announced as the world's first sidekicks, but they were never able to get a good look inside the building.

It's an offer only just now granted to them.

The taller girl slowly turns away from the boy wonder, her brown eyes scanning the area they stand in, just across from the famed HQ of the Justice League. The small crowd gathered to greet the heroes is already rather rowdy, and she has no doubt it would only get busier as they await the arrival of the other heroes.

"Where's Kid Flash?" She asks, having noticed that the speedsters were yet to arrive. Aquaman and Aqualad stand just a few feet away, conversing with one another, while Speedy impatiently waits beside Green Arrow.

"It's KF," Robin points out with a shrug of his shoulders. They had been friends with Wally West, dubbed Kid Flash while in costume, since he became a hero. They knew his habit of being late more than anyone here did. "Are you really surprised?"

Flamebird couldn't help but smile. "I guess not, but that-" She cuts herself off as a gust of wind brushes past her, whipping the long strands of her black hair against her face.

"Oh, man," Kid Flash complains with a loud sigh, as he skids to a stop beside the Flash. With his goggles perched on his head and his arms crossed over his chest, his emerald eyes narrow at his mentor-slash-uncle, obviously blaming the older hero for their late arrival— another of the boy's typical actions. "I knew we'd be the last ones here."

She had learned long ago that just because someone could be the fastest boy alive, didn't mean they would always be on time-- it had been made clear earlier in the year when Wally missed her 16th birthday. She grins and pushes the windblown strands of hair away from her face, "You- you can see the irony in that, right?"

He slings an arm around Yue's shoulders, a grin tugging at his lips as they follow after the other heroes. "What? The irony in you and Rob dressing like characters from a cereal box while Batman does his whole Dark Knight thing?" His free hand reaches up to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear.

She scoffs and knocks him away with a roll of her eyes. Sure, her costume being composed of bright reds and gold was a stark difference to Batman's dark suit, but it was a nice difference. A light in the darkness that was Gotham City, she liked to think.

"Is that Batman?" The crowd grows louder as the group of heroes near them.

Her eyes scan over the crowd of fans and theorists alike, taking a moment to smile and wave to a few children who were gathered near the rope separating them from the pathway. The kids, younger than Flamebird herself, light up as they're noticed by her.

"I see Flash!" A boy calls out, pointing over to the Flash, who walks just behind Kid Flash. "And Flash JR."

Another kid corrects him, "His name's speedy, duh."

"No. Speedy is Green Arrow's sidekick."

"Well, that makes no sense."

"Did you hear that, Flash JR?" Flamebird nudges Kid Flash's side with her elbow, a teasing grin tugging at her lips as his eyes narrow in her direction.

"Really, Flamebird. You wound me." He places a hand against the left side of his chest, right where his heart would be, as he repeats his words with a shake of his head, "You wound me."

A smirk makes its way onto Robin's face as he stares up at the two of his friends, chuckling to himself as he says, "Hey, break it up, lovebirds."

Flamebird's eyes widen and she quickly turns to look over at him, praying nobody would notice the blush spreading across her cheeks. "You know, that wasn't funny the first time either, Rob."

Aqualad clears his throat, falling into line with the trio. "I'm glad we're all here." He swiftly changes the topic back to the matter at hand, simultaneously saving Flamebird from the embarrassment of Kid Flash noticing her reaction to their younger friend's teasing.

"Have all five sidekicks ever been in the same place at the same time?" Kid Flash grins excitedly, looking between each of the young heroes as he wonders.

Speedy, Green Arrow's partner, glares at the speedster. "Don't call us sidekicks," he tells him firmly. "Not after today."

Flamebird frowns at his overreaction, her gaze flickering back to Kid Flash, who simply shrugs his shoulders to answer her unspoken questions. Even with all of their eyes focused on him after the small outburst, Speedy didn't hesitate or falter in the slightest. Instead he stares forward, directly at the front doors of the Hall as they get closer and closer.

"Sorry." Kid Flash apologises. "First time at the Hall. I'm a little overwhelmed."

"You're overwhelmed, Freeze was underwhelmed. Why isn't anyone ever just whelmed?" Robin wonders, as he and the other four sidekicks enter the Hall. They all, with the exception of Speedy, pause in the doorway to stare up at the League's statues with varying looks of amazement.

The several statues of the Justice League's founding members -- Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter -- tower over each of them.

"Oh..." Robin breathes out in awe. "Maybe that's why."

The young heroes come to another stop in front of large metal doors marked 'Authorised Personnel Only', the doors slowly open with a hiss and Martian Manhunter walks out to join them. "Robin, Flamebird, Speedy, Aqualad, Kid Flash," he greets the teenagers. "Welcome."

Excitedly, Robin and Kid Flash turn to each other at the last second, their palms pressing together in a quick high-five before they move to follow the others through the tour of the Hall. "You now have unlimited access to the gym, our fully stocked galley, and of course," Martian Manhunter leads them down through the halls and to a large room, "Our library."

Flamebird can't hide the grin still plastered on her face as she enters the library, looking over the large bookcases that cover almost every inch of the walls, from the floor to the ceiling. For three years now, she had been training and working alongside Batman for a moment like this -- for a chance to join the League that protected the world.

Now that chance was finally here. How could she not be amazed by it?

"Make yourselves at home," the Flash smiles at the younger heroes.

Flamebird stands frozen in place, her feet glued to the ground for a moment before she moves to sit down at the small couches placed near the large monitor, her leg bouncing in excitement and her foot tapping against the ground.

Kid Flash, who chooses the seat beside her, leans over the armrest separating them to whisper, "I can't believe it. Today's the day."

Their mentors huddle together for a moment, hushed whispers echoing between them before Batman turns to face the young heroes. "Quick debrief to discuss the coincidence of 4 ice villains attacking on the same day," he explains. "We shouldn't be long."

He then turns around to face the entrance to the zeta tube. A recognisable sight to Flamebird– they had one of their own in the Bat-cave and a few scattered around Gotham City for easier travel back and forth between other cities around the world. The Justice League can't be everywhere at once but zeta-travel certainly makes the attempt easier.

A small camera pops out from behind the metal doors to scan the Justice League heroes. "Recognised: Batman, Zero-Two; Aquaman, Zero-Six; Flash, Zero-Four; Green Arrow, Zero-Eight; Martian Manhunter, Zero-Seven; Red Tornado, One-Six." An automated voice announces their identities.

"That's it?" Speedy lets out a frustrated huff as he stands from his seat, his masked eyes narrowing in the League's direction before they could leave. "You promised us a real look inside, not a glorified backstage pass."

"It's the first step," Aquaman tells him. "You've been granted access few others get."

"Oh, really?" Speedy angrily points up to the small window above the Hall's library, where a few fans could be seen staring down at them and taking photos like tourists. "Who cares which side of the glass we're on?"

"Roy," Green Arrow takes a step forward to address his partner, "You just need to be patient."

"What I need is respect." He spins around to face the other teenagers, who were all staring back at him with looks of confusion. "They're treating us like kids. Worse," he scoffs, and corrects himself, "like sidekicks! We deserve better than this."

Flamebird glances over at Robin and Kid Flash, sharing a look with the two boys before turning back to Speedy. She knows they aren't sidekicks, they're just as much heroes as The Justice League. But this was the agreement. Why was he acting like today was meant to be more than a tour of the HQ?

"You're kidding, right?" He breathes out, surprised by their reactions– or lack thereof. "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," Kid Flash shrugs, "But I thought step one was a tour of the HQ."

"Except the Hall isn't the League's real HQ." He snaps at them. The League heroes standing behind Speedy stiffen in surprise, and Flamebird straightens in her seat as she listens to him continue. "I bet they never told you it's just a false front for tourists and a pit stop for catching zeta beam teleporter tubes to the real thing: an orbiting satellite called the Watchtower."

Flamebird's wide eyes flicker to Batman but, as always in a situation about his lies, he refuses to look either of his wards in the eyes. The Dark Knight instead glares in Green Arrow's direction, not approving of the man's choice to inform his partner about the League's real HQ. It shouldn't have surprised her so much, Bruce always did this to them; lie and keep secrets until it would blow up in his face.

Really, he could learn a thing or two from Green Arrow.

"I know, I know," Green Arrow smiles nervously at his fellow heroes. "But I thought we could make an exception." The other heroes stay silent, causing the smile to fall from his face, "or not."

"You're not helping your cause here, son." Brushing off his comrade's words, Aquaman turns to address Speedy once more. "Stand down or-"

"Or what? You'll send me to my room?!" He cuts him off angrily. "And I'm not your son! I'm not even his," he glances at his mentor, "I thought I was his partner... But not anymore."

Flamebird flinches as she watches Speedy rip his feathered yellow hat off his head and throw it at his mentor's feet, the entire room falls into stunned silence as he begins to storm off-- but not before he glares at his fellow young heroes one last time. "Guess they're right about you four," he hisses as he passes them, "You're not ready."

Flamebird's dark hazel eyes widen again as she moves to her feet, silently watching the archer leave the room. "Roy," she finally calls out, taking a step towards the door he left through before halting as an alarm blares through the library.

Superman's face appears on the large monitor behind them, and the adults rush to the computer systems to answer his call. "Superman to Justice League. There's been an explosion at Project Cadmus. It's on fire."

"I've had my suspicions about Cadmus," Batman says. "This may present the perfect opportunity to in-"

Another alarm echoes, much like the one that announced Superman's call, before Zatara appears on the screen as well. "Zatara to the Justice League," he announces. "The sorcerer Wotan is using the Amulet of Attan to blot out the sun. Requesting full League response." The four young heroes inch forward, staring up at the screens with wide eyes.

"Superman?" Batman glances back at the Kryptonian.

"It's a small fire," he replies, with his signature reassuring smile. "Local authorities have it under control."

"Then Cadmus can wait," Batman informs his League with a firm nod. He reaches his hand out to press a large button in the centre of the console. "All Leaguers rendezvous at Zatara's coordinates. Batman out." There wasn't a second of hesitation in Green Arrow's actions as he strolls over to the zeta-tube, followed by Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado.

Flamebird follows the other teens towards the Leaguers, only for Batman to turn around and say the words they were all dreading: "Stay put."

"What? Why?" Robin's eyes widen as he takes another step forward, Speedy's words still ringing his head like a taunting hymn.

"Batman, come on. You said-" Before Flamebird could finish her sentence, Aquaman cuts her off.

"This is a League mission." He speaks, and her head snaps in his direction. A 'League' mission. Those three words continuously ring in her head as she curls her hand into a fist. She tears her eyes away from the Atlantean.

"You're not trained," Flash agrees.

"Since when?" Kid Flash demands.

"I meant, you're not trained to work as part of this team," Flash says, motioning to his fellow Leaguers as if he was proving a point.

"There will be other missions when you're ready." Aquaman agrees.

"How do you expect us to be ready when you won't let us be anything but- but sidekicks?!" Flamebird raises her voice at their mentors, her nails digging into the palm of her glove. She couldn't believe it. Were they really expecting them to sit here and behave? Her words did little else than earn her a glare from her mentor.

"Flamebird." He warns– the only warning she would likely receive from the Dark Knight. "For now, stay put." She couldn't see the look in his eyes due to the cowl, but his tone was enough to make her shrink in on herself, averting her gaze and crossing her arms angrily.

If she couldn't fight him on this now, then she'd certainly do it when they got home. He wasn't getting away with it this time.

The Leaguers left through the zeta beam teleporters, causing the metal doors to shut in front of the teens, the "Justice League Members only" sign taunting them like it was there for this reason specifically.

The second they disappear in the flash of white-light, Kid Flash lets out a scoff. "When we're ready?" He quotes aggressively. "Birdy's right, how are we ever supposed to be ready when they treat us like- like sidekicks?" As he glances over at Flamebird, her eyes narrow in his direction. The annoyance painted over her visage was clear to see even with the golden domino mask covering her eyes.

Birdy had always been a nickname she hated hearing, though her hatred for the nickname only made him use it more often. Even referring to her as Birdy when she was out of costume.

"My mentor, my king... I thought he trusted me," Aqualad whispers, tilting his head back slightly as the upsetting truth washes over him.

"Trust? They don't even trust us with the basics!" Kid Flash points out with a frown. "They've got a secret HQ... in space!" He throws his hands up to emphasise his point.

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

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

Flamebird's anger dissipates slightly. As silence washes over her friends, her shoulders relax and she huffs frustratedly. "If we left with Speedy, it would ruin our chances altogether," she answers. "I don't know about you guys, but... I still wanna join the League."

Kid Flash stares at her for a moment, his gaze softening and a smile soon replacing his once-prominent frown as he admires the girl standing beside him. "How are you still so positive after that?"

She glances over at him, smiling ever-so-softly. "Someone has to be."

"What is... Project Cadmus?" Aqualad asks, turning their attention back to the mission Superman brought to the League's attention before their departure.

Robin raises his head, clearly intrigued by the idea. "Don't know, but I can find out."

They all walk toward the computers, watching as Robin begins typing, only for the automated voice to respond with access denied. Robin glances at Flamebird, the two sharing a look as he begins typing yet again, hacking into the League's computer systems with ease.

"Whoa. How are you doing that?" Kid Flash's emerald eyes widen in amazement as Robin slowly gains access into the locked system files regarding Cadmus.

Robin smirks, shrugging his shoulders, "Same system as the Batcave."

Flamebird looks over to Aqualad, who watches on in confusion. "He does this more often than you think," she informs the boy. She presses her lips together in thought, they hacked the Batcave systems so often and yet still failed to find out about the secret HQ. It puts things into perspective. How much is Batman hiding from them?

" Access granted ." The automated voice of the Justice League's computer snaps Flamebird from her thoughts.

"Alright. Project Cadmus, genetics lab here in D.C." Robin reads aloud. "That's all there is, but if Batman's suspicious, maybe we should investigate."

"Solve their case before they do," Aqualad hums in response. "It would be poetic justice."

"Hey. They're all about Justice," Robin chuckles.

"But they said stay put." Aqualad reminds them all with a sigh, as though the order was enough to keep them here.

Flamebird's face lights up, a grin tugging at her lips as she throws her arm around the Atlantean's shoulders. "All the more reason to go," she encourages him.

"Besides, that was for the blotting out the sun mission, not this," Robin nods in agreement

"Wait. Are you going to Cadmus?" Kid Flash places his gloved hands on both Flamebird and Robin's shoulders. "Because if you're going, I'm going." The two boys turn to Aqualad, grinning up at him as they wait for him to agree with the plan.

A small sigh falls from Aqualad's lips as he looks between the three younger heroes in front of him; Robin grins up at him childishly, Kid Flash meets his eyes with a look of excitement, and Flamebird gives him a thumbs up— an attempt to encourage him further, he assumes.

"Just like that," he glances back at the screen portraying the Cadmus building, "We're a team on a mission?"

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