Teen Titans In The Field (3)

Apart

Kara SorEl

Coming up to the mall after our little date, we were surprised to see Charlie outside. He was standing by the exit door with a bunch of older villains, smoking. Most of them were the big burly types, a roid monster in a gas mask, a lizard dude and a man who looked like a wrestler.

"Yeah man, just try to keep him out ya head. Guys like that are all about control!" Gas mask guy was saying, I tried to recall his costume, he was well dressed and looked at least 50, with greying hair and a bald spot. He spoke as Charlie smoked, "A lot of the old guard are all about 'their plans' and control and your old man was one of the most controlling. I remember him and Aquaman were always butting head."

I waved as Charlie noticed us approaching and I gave him a quizzical look. "Hey Charlie. Didn't know ya smoked!"

He looked at the smoke in his hand, flourished it. "I don't. Sometimes when I'm stressed, but the nicotine doesn't do anything for me. I started it ages ago to look cool!" He dropped the butt and stamped it out. "Guys, this is my new team. Supergirl and Ultra Woman!" He gestured to us, dressed in casuals, the villains nodded their response. "Hope to fight with you someday, seen you on the news and Wonder Woman's training you professionally!" Gas mask sounded like a professor, old and polite. Holding out a hand I squeezed it very firmly.

"I'm Bane!" said Gasmask, "And this is Killer Crock and Big Top. Together we run Hench4You, helping older villains find casual work. You'll meet us in the workplace eventually when one of our guys tries to kill you."

I nodded, blanched and was surprised when Lena spoke up, "Yeah, I know Lex has worked with Bane in the past. Always expected I'd take over the company when I'm older but my step-mother is currently in charge while Lex is away!"

"I thought you'd be with the others inside?" I interrupted, trying not to act nervous. Was I actually the only 'hero' in this chat? Yes, yes I was. "You know, Robin and the others?"

"They're mall crawling right now with a girl I know from school. She's a good sort, like a cheerleader only nice!" What a weird way to describe someone! Obviously the stilted over politeness of this conversation was being forced by the truce, trying not to let things get personal, but 'cheerleader only nice' was way too vague to tell me anything. I just nodded dumbly, "Well we're going to head in and look around." I continued,

Charlie nodded distractedly, and we walked past the villains into the mall. Charlie said something then ran to catch up. "Hey, yeah sorry about that. Was just chatting to some of my uncle's old friends. Kara, can I ask you for a favour tomorrow?"

I blinked, "Um, maybe? What kind?"

"I agreed to visit a relative in the Supermax, would love for some muscle to come along. Keep me calm. I was talking to them about it, but maybe you'd be good instead, out of costume though as Linda Lee."

I turned, walking backwards for a bit as I talked to Charlie. Well, technically floating but it looked like walking, I wouldn't trip that way. "I don't much like my Linda Lee identity, but if you think I can help, I'd like to!"

"And those glasses really work!" Lena put in, "It sounds dorky and weird but when I first met Kara I would go from Fighting her as Supergirl, to having lunch in the cafeteria with her as Linda. Didn't even know until she did the change in front of me!"

We wandered through the mall as we talked, eventually spying Robin, Starfire and Claire at the eatery! Several topics passed by, although Charlie was weirdly silent through most of them. It was Starfire who waved us over!

"Hey you two! Come here, we're playing 'what will Star swallow!'" Claire called out.

I snorted back a laugh but Lena laughed openly. "What, no okay no whatever you're doing please don't call it that!"

"They're getting me to try foods I've never seen. Spicy, sweet and sour!" Starfire explained, "Honestly it's all a bit bland, even the ones that are poisonous!"

"She means the Spicy stuff, scientifically she's right." Robin explained as we gathered up on the table.

Lena and I had already eaten so we spent the next few hours just chatting as Robin and Claire went through a smorgasbord of take-away Mexican, Italian and Asian foods. Charlie was right on board, and also right about Claire. She was nice. Friendly, a little overly so, casually hugging nearly all of us at least once before we parted ways, calling everyone 'hun' or 'dear' and insisting on feeding us.

By the time we caught the train back to our temporary HQ, all of us were tired, with full bellies and Robin and Charlie were carrying tote bags. Shopping trip successful, date successful, plus we'd made a new friend and met a few of our future enemies.

The calm before the storm.