The TV screen displayed Wonder Woman, clad in black, standing solemnly among the rows of gravestones. Her face was a mixture of grief and anger, and even through the screen, you could feel the weight of her emotions. Her earlier tears were evident in her reddened eyes, but her voice carried the strength of resolve.

"These soldiers gave their lives in service to protect the innocent," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "And now, their sacrifice has been tarnished by the actions of cowards. One of these men—Steve Trevor—was the first person I met when I stepped into this world. He showed me kindness, courage, and humanity. I owe it to him to bring his killers to justice. Deathstroke and this... 'Red X' will not go unpunished. I promise you that."

Her words lingered in the air like a storm waiting to break. My grip on the armrest of the couch tightened. She wasn't just mourning. She was furious, and it was directed at me.

Before I could dwell on it, the screen flickered off.

"Hey!" Harley's annoyed voice cut through the silence. She shot to her feet, hands on her hips. "We were watching that!"

Her indignation quickly turned into a gasp. I followed her gaze to the figure entering the room.

Joker.

He strolled in, his face painted with its usual twisted grin, but his eyes told a different story. There was annoyance—no, anger—barely masked beneath his jovial expression.

"Well, isn't this a cozy little gathering," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. His gaze swept the room before locking onto Slade, who was leaned back in a chair, sipping lazily from his flask.

Joker's grin tightened. "Care to explain, Wilson, why my plan has been turned on its head?"

Slade raised an eyebrow but didn't bother looking up. "Your plan was taking too long," he said coolly, tipping the flask for another sip.

That response didn't sit well with Joker. His grin faltered for just a second before he turned his attention to me, pointing a pale finger.

"And you." His tone sharpened. "Did you honestly think you were ready to debut?"

I stood up, meeting his gaze without flinching. "Yeah. I'm ready."

Joker's laughter exploded into the room, loud and maniacal. He leaned forward, hands on his knees as if he couldn't contain his amusement. "Oh, precious, sweet boy," he wheezed, straightening up. "You think one mission and a little bloodshed makes you ready?"

He sighed dramatically, then waved a dismissive hand. "Doesn't matter now, does it? The damage is done." He turned to Harley, his grin dropping into a scowl. "And you."

Harley flinched. "M-me?"

"Yes, you, my dear!" Joker's tone was venomous, though his smile had returned. "You were supposed to watch him. Keep him under control. Discourage him!"

Harley pouted, her lip quivering as she shuffled over to him. "But, Puddin', he was—"

"Ah-ah-ah!" Joker cut her off, raising a hand. "No excuses!" He allowed her to wrap her arms around him, though he didn't soften his glare. "Now look at the mess we're in. He's gone and painted a giant target on his back. And now he's got himself a nemesis!"

He threw his hands up in mock exasperation before spinning on his heel to face Slade. "And it's your fault!"

Slade shrugged, utterly unbothered. "Kid needs to grow up sometime."

Joker groaned, shaking his head. "Unbelievable." Without another word, he stalked toward the door, Harley trailing after him like a chastised puppy. She glanced back at me with a half-hearted wave before disappearing behind him.

Now it was just me and Slade.

He finally looked up from his flask, smirking. "Well, kid, seems like you're moving up in the world. Got Wonder Woman's attention already."

I didn't respond, just stared at the spot Joker had been standing. The weight of what I'd done was starting to settle in. But as much as I hated to admit it, a part of me felt... exhilarated.

Slade's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Don't let him get to you. You did good out there."

I nodded slowly. "Yeah."

But Joker's words lingered in my mind. A nemesis, huh? Wonder Woman...

I reached over and grabbed the remote again, turning the TV back on to the broadcast about the funeral. Wonder Woman was in front, her expression stoic but visibly grieving. A few other heroes were there, each showing their respects for the fallen soldiers, but one face was missing. Batman wasn't there.

I exhaled in relief, though it wasn't as freeing as I'd expected. The thought of Bruce still twisted something in my chest. I wasn't ready for that confrontation. Not yet. I didn't know if I'd ever be ready. There was so much I had done, so much I'd become—what would he think when he saw it all? When he saw me? No matter how many enemies I took down, no matter how many lines I crossed, there was still a part of me that felt like I hadn't fully made the change. I wasn't who I used to be, but... was I who I was supposed to be?

The broadcast continued, but I couldn't focus on it anymore. I hit the power button on the remote again and leaned back on the couch, the quiet filling the space around me. Something about the stillness made the doubts inside me louder. Even after everything—everything I did earlier, the military, the bloodshed, the chaos—I still couldn't shake that feeling.

I wasn't ready. I wasn't fully there yet.

I could still feel like a sidekick sometimes. No matter how much Slade had let me take the spotlight tonight, no matter how much he stepped back and let me play the role of the leader, there was something inside me telling me I wasn't leading anything. He was the one who called the shots, and I was just the one who followed. I was the one who cleaned up the mess, but I wasn't the one creating the plan.

I wanted more. I needed more.

I didn't want to be in someone's shadow anymore. Not Slade's, not anyone else's. I had the power now. I had the skill. But did I have what it took to lead? Could I handle it? Could I take the reins without looking back?

Slade opened the door, about to leave. His figure blocked the light for a moment, casting a long shadow across the floor.

I sat up, my voice steady. "I want a team."

He glanced back at me, a smirk curling on his lips. He didn't even hesitate. "Done."

The door slammed shut behind him.

I was alone again, but for the first time in a while, I didn't feel lost. I felt something else. Determination. Ambition. It was my turn now. I wasn't waiting for anyone to give me a chance anymore. I was taking it.

A team. My team. And this time, I would lead it

Time skip. . .

In my head, I could already feel the tension of the situation, but nothing really prepared me for what happened next.

I stood there, fully armored, tapping my foot against the ground. It felt like I'd been waiting forever—Slade had told me to gear up and meet my first team member, and yet, here I was, twenty minutes past the time I was supposed to be meeting them.

I shifted my weight, trying to ignore the fact that I was getting impatient. Not like I had a choice in the matter; Slade never really gave me any room for input on these things. I shot a glance at him, leaning casually against the wall, as though waiting was no big deal. I envied that calm demeanor. He could stand there forever and not care.

But not me. My fingers twitched, itching for something to do.

It wasn't long before the roar of a motorcycle broke the silence. I immediately tensed up, glancing at Slade, who, to my surprise, didn't even flinch. He just kept his gaze steady, his eyes never leaving the street.

Then, I saw her.

A woman with white hair, her bike zooming toward us, kicked up dust as she maneuvered around obstacles with a natural ease that caught my attention. As she approached, her eyes briefly met mine before she swerved—directly into a police car chasing her. She didn't even break a sweat. Without missing a beat, she swung a sword with precision, taking out both officers in the car like it was nothing.

The explosion that followed as she leapt back to her bike sent a hot gust of wind toward me, but I didn't flinch. I was too focused on her now.

She skidded into the park right in front of me, the screech of her tires sending a jolt through the air. As if to add more chaos to the already explosive scene, she casually hopped off the bike and spat a grenade pin onto the ground near my feet. The police car, just moments ago a wrecking ball of destruction, now disintegrated into a massive fireball behind her.

"Sorry I'm late dad" She chuckled flicking her hair back before sheeting her sword as she began to walk back

Slade chuckled as he watched the destruction, clearly enjoying the show.

"Y/N, meet Rose Wilson. My daughter," he said, introducing her to me.

I raised an eyebrow, still not fully processing everything. She stood there, eyeing me up and down before she asked, "Robin, right?"

I tensed immediately. Robin? Was she trying to bait me into saying something? I held my ground, but I couldn't help the anger bubbling up in my chest. The nerve to call me that. But before I could react, Rose defused the situation.

"Slade told me everything," she said, her tone casual, almost uninterested. "And I'm willing to join your little team."

I let out a long sigh, the tension finally easing up as I removed my mask. This wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but I had to deal with it. I looked up at Slade, who was already walking over to Rose's bike, apparently ready to ride off. "You're on your own to find the rest of the team," he said over his shoulder. "Have fun."

And with that, he was gone, leaving me alone with the newest member of my team...wait I don't even have a name yet huh?

Rose turned to me, her eyes sharp and calculating. "So, who else is joining us?"

The question hung in the air, and for a moment, I didn't know how to answer. But then it hit me. This was it. The start of something big. This was a new team, not like the Titans. Sure, I called the shots then but this time I won't let the same thing happen again.

"I'm going to recruit an old enemy, and you are going to break out someone by the name of Terra, tell her Red X needs her"

I said handing her a picture of who she needed to find.

With a nod, no complaining no asking questions Rose already climbed a nearby building and was off... I like her attitude already.

As for the other two...I needed to come 'home' first.

Time skip. . .

The rain hammered against the glass of the Hive Tower, the storm outside matching the chaos that swirled in my mind. I had broken into the tower, moving through the shadows of the building, heading toward a single, solitary room. Jinx's room, just who I needed with her unpredictable but powerful magic.

I waited in the shadows of her room, my presence unnoticed for now. It was quiet, eerily so. The soft hum of the rain outside was the only sound that kept me company as I waited. It didn't take long. I heard footsteps. Her footsteps.

The door creaked open, and Jinx stepped inside. Her usual bravado was gone. Instead, she seemed hollow, her eyes clouded with sorrow. She looked worn out, the weight of loss dragging at her, still thinking I was dead. She didn't see me at first, moving about the room like someone lost in their thoughts.

Then she froze.

She turned, sensing something was wrong. Her fingers glowed with magic, an instinctive defensive reaction.

"Who's there? You've got some nerve breaking into my room let alone the Hive Tower!"

 Her eyes locked on me, surprise and confusion flashing across her face. The moment she saw me, her magic faltered. I could see it in her eyes, the recognition, the shock.

"Jinx," I said, my voice steady but calm. The words I spoke were not meant to harm or threaten, but to remind her of something deeper.

Her breath caught, and her hands fell to her sides, her magic dissipating. "Red X..." Her voice was soft, but the confusion and disbelief were clear. She took a cautious step toward me, her eyes narrowing as if trying to make sense of what was happening.

Then it clicked. Her eyes widened. Her breath hitched. She recognized me—she knew.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and despite herself, Jinx's lips trembled. She looked like she wanted to speak, but her voice failed her. She wasn't sure if she should believe it or not, if she could trust her eyes.

I didn't let her say anything. Reaching into my armor, I pulled out a small, folded note. I handed it to her, my hands steady. She looked at it for a moment, then back at me, as if questioning everything in front of her.

"I need you," I muttered, my words low but filled with meaning. There was no time to explain, no time for everything she might want to know. There was only what I needed—and right now, I needed her.

The storm outside intensified, the lightning illuminating the dark room with a sudden flash. I turned to leave, slipping back into the shadows as I had come.

Jinx stood there, clutching the note, her eyes following me even as I disappeared. But I knew she wouldn't stay lost for long. I had given her a choice—a choice that would bring her into my world, whether she was ready or not

. . .

I stood outside the looming Titans Tower, my black armor blending into the shadows, the rain pelting against my mask. The towering structure, once my home, felt foreign now. I wasn't sure if it was the years that had passed or the fact that I had left it all behind after everything fell apart. Either way, the feeling gnawed at me.

My comms buzzed inside my mask, and I instinctively answered. Rose's voice came through first, but it was accompanied by the sound of loud debris smashing and angry yelling—Terra's fury.

"Good news, found Terra. Bad news, she's still pissed off and trying to kill me," Rose said, her tone flat but unmistakably strained.

I sighed, rubbing the side of my head. "Do whatever you have to do to contain her, Rose. I'm almost done here."

"Got it," Rose replied, her voice cutting off abruptly as another crash echoed over the comms. The sounds of fighting made my head throb. 

Ending the call, I shifted focus. I clicked my grappling hook, the line snapping out into the night. With a swift yank, I pulled myself upward toward the familiar windows of my old room. I reached the edge and began to carve through the glass with the blade hidden in my gauntlet. The motion felt mechanical—like a reflex, even though a part of me wanted to hesitate. I didn't have time for hesitation anymore.

The hole was big enough for me to slip inside, and I did. The room was exactly as I remembered it—stale, untouched, and suffocating with the memories of what had been. The bed was still neatly made, the desk littered with papers, and the shelves full of old trinkets. The silence was deafening. 

I slid under the bed, reaching for the hidden compartment I knew all too well. My fingers brushed against the familiar object—a flare. It was the last thing I needed to finish my mission, but even as I touched it, I felt a heaviness settle in my chest. Something felt... wrong.

Then I heard footsteps—quick, urgent, heading toward my room.

I cursed under my breath, quickly returning the glass I had taken out of the window back into place. Moving swiftly, I slid down the side of the tower, keeping to the shadows. The flare was clutched tightly in my hand, the only thing tethering me to the mission.

My heart thudded heavily against my chest, and my head throbbed, the pain sharp and relentless. I pushed it aside. There was no time for weakness, no time to fall apart. But the truth was, I wasn't ready. Not for this, not for what I was about to do.

As I ran through the wet streets, the weight of it all felt unbearable. Maybe I wasn't supposed to come back. Maybe I wasn't ready for the fight, the weight of leading this new team, of becoming someone I barely recognized. But there was no turning back now. I had already made my choice

. . .

I made my way through the dense forest, my boots heavy with the rain-soaked ground beneath me. The trees towered around me, their branches stretching like dark, gnarled hands reaching toward the sky. I didn't mind the rain anymore; the cool droplets hitting my face felt almost like a reminder—of the mission, of what I had to do next.

At the highest point of the forest, I planted the flare into the earth. It wasn't just any flare. No, this one held significance. After Blackfire and Starfire's disastrous fight in Jump City—a fight that nearly destroyed the city itself. Starfire had lost hope that she could ever make amends with her sister, especially after Blackfire had been thrown into an intergalactic prison for her actions.

Starfire didn't need the flare anymore and so I took it, I don't know why at that moment but I'm glad I did, this was the only way to get her to come.

I held my breath as I struck the flare against the rough surface of the earth, the sudden burst of light making me flinch slightly. The flare shot up into the sky, its blazing trail lighting up the night like a comet. The vibrant streak lingered, leaving a trail of red in the stormy sky. The rain slowly began to die down, the clouds breaking apart as the light from the flare pierced the sky.

I removed my mask, letting the cold air hit my face, and sat back against the trunk of a nearby tree. My heart beat in my chest, but I forced myself to steady my breath. I couldn't be nervous now. Not after everything I had done to get here.

I waited.

And then, as if the sky itself parted for her, a figure descended slowly. It wasn't fast—there was no rush in her movement. The figure floated down, the aura of power around them unmistakable. A few moments passed before I could make out the details, the woman who hovered before me, her hair a stark contrast to the dark night sky, glowing with an almost ethereal light.

Blackfire.

Her expression softened as she floated before me, her smile sly but welcoming. "We meet again, Robin," she said, her voice smooth, almost teasing.

I stood up, keeping my gaze steady, but I couldn't stop myself from feeling the weight of her presence. It was hard to explain, the way she felt. Almost familiar, but not quite. Still, the mission hadn't changed. I needed her. And now, it was time to see if she was willing to join my cause.

"I'm not Robin anymore," I said, keeping my voice steady. "I wasn't the same as I was back then, and now I need a favor and I'm not asking"

Her smile widened at that, her eyes glinting with curiosity and amusement. "Not asking, huh? I'm intrigued." She stepped closer, her eyes never leaving mine. "I assume you know exactly what you're asking for, then?"

I nodded, stepping forward, feeling the weight of everything. This wasn't just another recruit—it was a statement. A risk, perhaps, but it was necessary. "I'm building something new. Something... different. I need people who are strong. People who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty."

Blackfire studied me for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly, as if weighing me. Then she shrugged, that familiar cocky grin playing at the edges of her lips. "Sounds like my kind of thing."

I exhaled sharply, relief coursing through me. "I'm assembling a team," I continued, my voice harder now, more decisive. "And I need you as a part of it."

She tilted her head, her smirk growing. "You certainly don't waste time, do you, Robin?" Her gaze softened just a bit. "But you know, I think I can manage some time for you. Maybe."

That was all I needed. Blackfire was in. my team was complete... The Lost Legion.

To be continued. . .