Chapter 49

Law PoV

Training under Black Canary for a few weeks had been a pretty positive experience. It’s not like I suddenly got much stronger or anything crazy like that, but I definitely got a bit more knowledge when it came to hand to hand fighting. I also greatly appreciated the small vacation from the Tower.

Nothing wrong with the Titans, but it was nice to get away from them now and again. It was also good to see that the news was starting to blow over as well. As per usual the public quickly got bored and found another piece of news to attach themselves to. News that didn’t involve me.

Of course, I expected there to still be some people with questions, but as long as it wasn’t the most pressing thing at the moment, I probably wouldn’t be dealing with much.

It was like committing a large-scale heist. Afterwards you don’t just go and patrol the streets or try to run some sort of protection racket on Saturday. You bunker down and wait for that shit to die down.

There is no such thing as infinite resources. Manpower, time, attention, money, they’re all limited in some way. There are very few people who can actively pursue a case for so long with no results readily available. And the benefits from even doing so keep dropping exponentially the longer it goes on.

The bigger the crime, the more time needed to lay low.

That all being said, I was looking forward to coming back to the Tower. Continuing with my experiments, studying up on Kryptonian biology, hanging out with Starfire…

And tripling the amount of chores Beast Boy has to do around the Tower.

Was it petty? Absolutely, but I never claimed to not be a petty person. Truth be told, I hold grudges for quite awhile over the smallest of things. I just normally never show it. Simply tallying it in my head towards their debt to me, as well as how disrespectful they’ve been.

And when that tally gets too high…well. Then I step in and take care of things. It’s not too difficult to find creative ways to balance the scales.

“…Hey, L-Songbird?”

I blinked before turning towards Black Canary. The tone she was currently taking was of unease. Soft, full of doubt. Even the way she was holding her arms and looking about the room belied how…vulnerable she felt.

Something that was VERY unlike the extremely confident woman I knew.

“Yes?”

My attention was now solely fixated on Black Canary. How could it not? This was an attitude that she hadn’t shown before. A side of her that she never revealed until now.

Not only was I very curious about the situation, but it was the perfect one in order to get closer to her.

She bit her lip as she contemplated saying something. Rubbing her arms while doing so. Until she spoke up.

“…Theoretically, would you still be my student if I got turned into a worm?”

…What.

She took one look at my expression before frowning and starting to turn around. Leading to me to think quickly of how exactly to appease her.

“…It would be more difficult to learn from, but I’m sure I’d somehow manage.”

Black Canary pivoted back towards me with a wide smirk on her face. Her normal confidence immediately coming back to her as she gazed at me.

“Really? You’d learn from a worm?”

…I was already regretting this.

“Yes. I think if anyone could somehow pull it off, it’d be you.”

Black Canary immediately narrowed the distance between us. At a speed that I haven’t ever seen her go at even during practice. Her arms quickly circled around me and…pulled me into a hug.

I blinked a few times at how firm it was. Not to mention her boobs pressing into me. Which was quite nice, I must admit.

“…You aren’t used to hugs, are you?”

Hmm?

“What a strange thing to say.”

For a few moments Black Canary said nothing. Simply continuing to hug me quietly with her next to mine. Which meant I couldn’t see what expression she was making.

“Most peoples first instinct when being hugged is normally to hug back. And if it isn’t their first instinct, it’s their second or third.”

I rolled my eyes at her words before placing my arms around her. Pulling her in slightly closer to me.

“You know, you could’ve just said you wanted me to hug you back, instead of attempting to psychoanalyze me.”

Black Canary chuckled a bit.

“But where’s the fun in that?”

I shivered slightly at those words. It was something that was very Black Canary to say but…I couldn’t help but think of someone else when she said that. Someone who’s name and face eluded me, which meant they shouldn’t have been able to leave much of an impact on me if I didn’t even have a name for them.

And yet…I couldn’t help but feel a sort of foreboding.

“So…are we going to train today?”

Black Canary broke the hug at my words. Putting her hands on her hips in a very self-confident pose.

“You bet.”

…Why couldn’t all women be as simple as Starfire…

*~o~*

It had only been a couple of weeks, but standing in front of the Titans tower had me feeling a strange bit of nostalgia. Hmm. Well, it was where I stored all my experiments and one of the safest places on the planet.

That I knew about, anyway.

I wasn’t sure what kind of reception I was expecting when I returned. Maybe a bit of confusion due to the unannounced absence. Well, that wasn’t quite true. They knew that I would be gone for a bit with Canary, but gone for a bit could either be a few hours or a few days. Not usually a few weeks.

Then again, Robin has been known to do something similar, though that was usually with Justice League activities. Or Batman related ones.

Cyborg also occasionally leaves for parts. Usually for his own projects in the garage or to fix himself up. I wasn’t very interested in what he was up to, so I didn’t normally ask.

However, what I got was far different from that.

“Oh, hey Law.”

“Sup.”

“…Law.”

“Law!”

The reactions I got were completely normal. Normal for the Titans, at least. Lackluster acknowledgement from Raven. A nod from Kid Flash. Finger guns from Beast Boy…before I strangled him, of course. A wave from Cyborg. A call out from Galatea that sounded like a threat. A simple hello from Aqualad. An extremely pleasant hug from Starfire.

And a…mutter from Robin? Actually, I don’t think he even acknowledged my presence. Odd.

Besides that, everyone was pretty normal. Which…felt strange to me. A peculiar feeling for me to just so easily fitback into the team. Like nothing had changed.

…It wasn’t a bad feeling.

After quadrupling the chores for Beast Boy for the next month, I checked in on my lab. Seeing it nearly as beautiful as the day I left it. Double checking the security system just in case and making sure that no one had gone through while I was gone.

Everything was as I expected, and no trespassers were detected. Which was a good sign. Double checking my list, I made sure everything was as it should be, and that it was all accountable.

After some light reading with the Kryptonian information tablet, I traveled back-

…I was a paranoid individual. Personally, I don’t think I was overly paranoid, but things might look different to an outsider. They definitely felt that way when I talked to some of the other Titans. How lax they could be at all times simply defied understanding.

Kori was one thing. She was from space. But Beast Boy? Kid Flash? Galatea?

…Alright, Galatea could probably overpower anything that even wanted to hurt her, but still.

In Gotham though my paranoia could be seen as healthy. Practically a staple in everyone’s life. Without it, most didn’t live to double digits without having some really powerful parents. And even then, it could be a bit of a coin toss.

Which is why despite the high-tech personal defenses to my lab, I had also added some extra security here and there. Very small things that were barely noticeable. Such as a bit of scotch tape.

It’s not a very common trick, but it wasn’t unheard of. You put a small bit of tape on something you think might get tampered in a hidden manner. Then you can check up on it afterwards. If the tape was dislodged or broken, then someone had tampered with it. If it wasn’t, then it was fine.

A trick I picked up was that it was a bad idea to put this protection on a lot of things. Because the more traces that are left of a trap, the higher the chance that someone will find it and then start to look out for it.

There was also another clever personal twist with the trick. Lots of thieves will look for traps when they’re handling the most expensive treasure out of a collection, or when they hit the motherload. Very rarely do they extend the same caution to everything else that is around them.

Which is why there was no tape on anything important to me in the entire room. As if anyone did actually know the tape trick and searched those areas, they wouldn’t find much of anything.

But what would be the point of this, you may be asking? If it’s not on something you want to protect, why have it at all?

Because it’s not meant to show if there’s a thief or not. It’s meant to show if someone was snooping in the Lab. And considering the tape under the drawer right next to where I keep the Kryptonian tablet, that meant that’s exactly what someone did.

After rechecking my cameras, I confirmed that they showed no one entering or leaving the room. Of the few that were in the room, none of them showcased any footage of someone walking around.

Even the secret camera that I had stored for situations just like this and wasn’t connected to any of the systems the other ones were. All signs pointed to the tape naturally having worn itself away.

But I wasn’t that stupid.

Signs pointed to someone being capable of finding and tampering with the data of the cameras. Which of the Titans, went down to two suspects. Robin and Cyborg.

Robin was currently acting a bit…strange. So it could have been him. But that also seemed rather strange. As he’s never really seemed to care much for any sort of privacy for my Lab. Simply walking into it whenever he felt like it when I was in the room, and just proceeding to ask me about things.

And it wasn’t as if I could just kick him out of the Lab. Considering he was the leader of the Titans, sort of the owner of the Tower, and that it would look insanely suspicious on my part to do so. Which would only leave to him getting more curious about my work.

While I have no doubt he’d respect the privacy of my room, I fear the lab was an entirely different beast. Something that he wouldn’t sneak around to do when he could just ask. There wasn’t much reason for him to bypass security when he could probably just go and do it without much in the way of repercussions.

Cyborg was the other obvious choice. Whereas Robin had the training to find the cameras, Cyborg likely had the tools to just locate them by some sort of tech-based signal. But that also seemed extremely odd. Cyborg in some aspects was the complete opposite of me.

He was interested in technology. I couldn’t care less about it. On the flipside, I cared a lot about chemistry. Cyborg didn’t seem even the least bit interested in the field.

Also, Cyborg has shown plenty of times to respect my and everyone else’s privacy. Likely because he greatly values his own.

…There was also the possibility of a third unknown person sneaking into the Tower that wasn’t related to the Titans at all. Which was a pretty sobering thought. Because if they could get through the actual Tower’s security system, then they likely could get anywhere on earth.

Hmm.

I’d think about this later.

For now, I needed to hold a meeting with the Titans.

*~o~*

“Come on…just how long is this meeting suppose to take?”

Kid Flash complained as everyone was rather bored, waiting for the last member of the Titans to arrive. Yet it seemed like Robin didn’t get the memo. As he was the only one who hadn’t come down just yet.

…and he just responded via text in the group chat.

Ooookay…guess he’s not coming.

“How long has Robin been acting like…this?”

I asked in puzzlement. To which the majority of Titans looked up with chagrin expressions. Beast Boy was the first to answer.

“For a few weeks now. I think he’s still working on the Deathstroke case thing.”

Still? Jeez, I thought he’d grow bored when nothing came of it for at least a week. It’s been…awhile since then, hasn’t it? This is probably the longest he’s focused on a case then.

“Hmm…”

I hummed in response, thinking about the situation. Starfire worriedly poked her head forward with a frown.

“Should we perhaps check up on friend Robin?”

I thought about for a bit before shaking my head.

“No. He just needs to either work this out for himself or crash and get back to normal like usual.”

Both Aqualad and Kid Flash seemed relieved at my answer. The two of them exchanging nods towards my direction. Starfire seemed unsatisfied, but deferred to my judgement.

Realistically, what was there to say? Pull your head out of your ass, and get back to normal? No that would never work. Especially against someone like Robin. If anything, that would just encourage him to work harder.

“So…was this an intervention for Robin or…?”

Kid Flash started to speak up. Obviously, he had something to do after this. Which was definitely news to me. Perhaps he got an actual date for once?

I shook my head before standing from my seat. In front of me was a round donut like table that had the various Titan members around it. Normally to my left at the top of the table would be Robin, but it was currently empty. To my immediate right was Kori.

I regarded everyone for a second before speaking up.

“The Titans have been operating for over half a year at this point. Give or take a few months. I think it’s time that we seriously start discussing adding some additional new members to the team.”

Kid Flash immediately frowned at my words. Showcasing clearly where he sat on that discussion. Cyborg seemed a bit surprised, which didn’t indicate anything yet. Beast Boy and Starfire were excited. Raven and Aqualad simply continued to gaze at me with serious expressions. Galatea…didn’t seem to care.

“Woah, woah, woah. I think it might be a little early to just start adding more to the team. We already have our hands full as it is.”

“Do we? We have plenty of rooms. There’s enough space and we’re definitely capable enough of helping the next generation of Titans.”

“Gen three! Gen three!”

Beast Boy cheered repeatedly in excitement. Which caused me to frown slightly. Saying ‘Gen three’ meant that he considered the new Titans to be different. Which wasn’t really a problem as he hasn’t met them yet.

The problem was the number between one and three. Gen two. Saying Gen three implies a Gen two, which implies that he sees Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Galatea as a different group. At least, a group that he didn’t consider on the same level as the ‘original’ Titans.

It showcased the divide between us.

“You say that we are capable of ‘helping’ the next…’generation’ of Titans. Are you certain of that? How will we be helping them? By simply coexisting?”

Aqualad questioned, leading to a bunch of nods as they turned towards me for an answer. It was a fair point, and one that I had thought about.

“I’ve considered giving each of these new recruits a ‘guide’ of sorts. One of us that will be chosen as someone to train and pretty much ease them into the Team. Not like a mentor, but like equals.”

They nodded at this causing Kid Flash to scoff a bit. Aqualad seemed satisfied before Cyborg asked the next question.

“Do you…have someone specifically in mind?”

I nodded before pulling up the virtual diagram on the round table. It’s what the hole in the center was for after all. That way everyone had an idea of who I was talking about, as well as getting some of the information about them. It wasn’t much information, but it was something.

“The first is Miss Martian. She’s a-”

Kid Flash let out a loud whistle, interrupting me while seeming starstruck with the image before him. He eventually leaned forward with his head in his hand, giving it a dopey like smile.

“I change my mind. I don’t think this is a bad idea at all…”

Right…

I quickly explained who she was, her abilities, and my experience with her. As well as who her uncle was. Starfire seemed excited for the possibility of another alien and friend on board, where as everyone else seemed rather interested in her set of skills.

Though a few like Cyborg and Beast Boy seemed a bit creeped out when it came to her ability of telepathy.

“And theoretically, if she was accepted, who would you nominate as her…’guide’?”

Aqualad questioned, causing me to think for a moment.

“Ooh! Ooh! Me. Pick me!”

Absolutely not. I wanted her to join the Titans, not file a lawsuit against us.

“Starfire seems to have the most in common with her. A stranger in a strange land. She could definitely sympathize with being away from home. As the two of you also have flight, I think it’d be very easy for her to keep an eye out. …As long as you’re okay with that, Kori.”

Star nodded her head in excitement at me. Closing her eyes as she did so.

“That sounds most wonderful indeed!”

Well, that sounds just about settled. Obviously we’d vote on whether or not to add them later, but I was just introducing the idea of them for now. I switched to the next candidate I had prepared.

“This one we’ve all actually met before. Zatanna.”

That got a bunch of nods and even smiles. It seems like no one was going to push back on her, even Kid Flash. I don’t know why I was surprised about that, considering he was now checking out the holograph version that I brought up of Zatanna herself.

Stay classy Kid Flash.

“Considering you’re the only other person with experience in the arcane arts, I think-“

“No.”

Raven answered me in a tone that brook no further discussion. Interesting. It would be one thing if it was just Raven annoyed at the job itself and didn’t want to take it. That I expected. But an answer like this sounded rather…serious.

Aqualad coughed, leading everyone to focus off of Raven, much to her relief.

“I actually have experience with magic as well. I served in the Conservatory of Sorcery. While Atlantean magic is likely extremely different, I think that difference can be used to help build rapport.”

Made sense to me.

Finally, we moved onto the final one I had prepared. After bringing up her model, I started to speak.

“This is-“

“Woah! Sorry, but there’s already an archer we’ve had our eye on for this team.”

I blinked in surprise as Kid Flash spoke up, and Aqualad who was next to him started to fiddle with the technology of the table. If they wanted to speak up and bring someone up, then by all means.

It didn’t take Aqualad long to bring up his candidate. Which indicated that either he was better with technology than me, or that he had prepared this a while ago. Possibly both.

I was given a model of a red archer in front of me as I sat down. A half-drawn bow in their hands as they spun in the air. Oh right, I remember him from the Cadmus event.

Both Aqualad and Kid Flash talked about Speedy to the other Titans, and honestly sold him rather well. Bringing up his experience and age to everyone. He would be the oldest of the Titans by…I think a year or two.

That is, if he was accepted.

Both Aqualad and Kid Flash nominated themselves to be his guide.

“I think that’s a good proposal. Speedy is definitely a good fit for the Titans. That being said, I don’t think there’s any sort of quota set on archers for the team.”

“Eh…”

Kid Flash winced back awkwardly while Aqualad nodded along. Beast Boy this time spoke up.

“Yeah, if we stop letting people in because someone else can do something similar, then we’d quickly run out of people to invite.”

That was…actually pretty wise of him. I actually didn’t expect that from Beast Boy of all people. Kid Flash eventually conceded, but not before asking that when Speedy gets accepted, that he gets invited to the tower before Artemis.

When, not if. An important distinction.

No one else had any candidates to push forward. Leading me to wrap up by letting everyone think over the candidates for several weeks before scheduling another team meeting in order to finally vote. As well as giving everyone access to the…public applications.

That is, the applications that hadn’t been vetted and had been sent it via the public. No one seemed interested in going through that massive amount of paper work though.

Eh…maybe I’d give it a cursory look later just to see if I could find anything interesting. Doubtful, but a good way to waste away fifteen minutes I suppose.