Please, don't close your eyes

Remorse at a reckless achievement and the report of something unexpected

'I'm so disappointed, you've always been a person capable of choos between the planned and risky, I can't understand how this time you acted as an ignorant.'

'It wasn't risky, we had a plan and'

'and it failed half way through, due to rashness and poor leadership management.'

Cassie could find no argument for that, not with Diana looking at her in that serious, scolding way.

'Still, we managed to get more than the information that was originally the priority.' She encouraged herself to say, 'we rescued two innocents, if we had just walked away with the information who knows what they would do with them. What they might force them to do next' with each word', her voice found greater strength to argue.

Nevertheless, Diana did not relent. 'It was an honorable action what your partners and you did, there's no doubt about that.' The older Amazon sighed, her mask of anger cracking slightly on the spot. 'But still, you should have called in a higher authority figure. Because, what if the mind-controlling creatures had put you under their control? What if that boy you rescued hadn't yielded to your help? Did you think of the countless consequences of one false step?'

Cassie looked down and bit her lower lip. They didn't, not to any depth.

'I know it's hard to be treated or seen as someone unprepared for the great battlefields,' Diana dropped her mask a little more and rested both hands on the young woman's shoulders causing her to look up doubtfully. 'I went through many confrontations and arguments with my mother to gain approval to be at the front line like the others. However, I understood that there are times to be reckless and times to stand aside before stepping into the war zone. Not every time you are victorious, even with self-confidence and faith in your heart there are times when you need the help of someone more experienced in battle.'

Cassie felt the breeze on her back and ducked on the spot, the memory of the scolding she received from her older sister forgotten as she dodged Impulse's fleeting kick. A leap to her left took her away from the next blur of the speedster's blurry punch.

"Where did you go, girl? Did you bring me something?" asked the teenager, pausing for a second to look at her. A frown took root on the red-haired boy's young face as well as a somewhat impertinent smile.

"Let's stop it here, my mind is not very present at the moment," suggested the young woman as she stood up from her squatting position.

Bart looked at her even more confused, this time the smile was lost. "Did you get the scolding of the century last night too?"

Cassie raised an eyebrow at such questioning. "Did Flash lecture you?"

"No," he replied carelessly, Cassie gave him an emotionless look. "Grandpa flash, his wife, uncle flash and his girlfriend gave me a full lecture of sermons."

"...Oh" Cassie couldn't help but widen her eyes, at least she was on the receiving end of one person's reprimand.

" Oh? Don't say 'oh' to me. I'm banned from video games, pizza, nachos and burgers until Grandpa Flash authorizes it!!" exclaimed the red-haired young man with ennui and great regret. "You know what?! now that I remember all that I've lost the will to train too."

The now melancholy boy dropped backwards onto the mat, both cheeks puffed out as short grumbles came out left and right. Cassie looked at him somewhat startled, then began to giggle. The grumpy puppy face this one was making was so unusual.

It was funny to watch.

Bart only sulked even more.

"I see I'm not the only one been punished." The comment was unexpected, both young men turned their heads at the same time toward the new spectator. "At least you guys didn't have your life battery confiscated." Tim looked like an emaciated zombie, or so Bart thought.