The Thing Inside Me

Chapter 9

It's been weeks of getting up early to train, and staying out late in stakeouts. School is still going well, except Megan an I are missing a lot of cheer practices. It Christmas break is coming soon, whatever that is. But from my understanding we don't have to attend school for a while. I have decided to wear my suit mask every day while I am  with the team. Batman told me that identity is an important secret. And the team is starting to like me now and I am learning more about them every day. Artemis still isn't the biggest fan of me, and Red Arrow just joined the team and he doesn't like me either. But it doesn't bother me that some people don't like me, that how I grew up. The thing that matters to me now is helping this team to the best of my abilities. I have learned that my past doesn't matter, it where I'm going.

"Nightslash? Hello?" A voice called from behind. I turned to see Wally sitting at the dining table in front of me. "Sorry Wally, your pancakes are almost done." I said while turning  back to the sizzling pancake I had on the stove. I placed the last pancake on the stack I made. I picked up the plate and used my telekinesis to carry the others. "There is chocolate chip, blueberry, and maple pancakes. So you don't get bored while you eat them." I smiled as I took a seat across from him. "Wow! Thanks." Wally said right before stuffing his mouth full with a pancake. I smiled and ate a pancake. I looked up an realized that Wally was on his last pancake. "Wally! I made thirty pancakes! I only ate one!" I yelled in shock. "Sorry, they were really good." He smiled apologetically, he stared laughing, "Why are you laughing?" I asked starting to giggle. "Your f-face when you l-looked up and re- realized I ate all the pancakes!" He laughed. We sat there for a while laughing till we couldn't breathe. "I've never done that before." I said catching my breath, "Done what?" He asked. "Laughed." I smiled shyly. "Really?" He said shocked, "You should laugh more often, you have a really cute laugh." He smiled while reaching across the table to hold my hand. My cheeks felt warm, am I blushing? Wally couldn't see it but I was definitely blushing.

"Sorry, for making you cook." Wally said while handing me more plates. "It's fine Wally, it gave me a chance to practice cooking." I smiled as I grabbed the plates from his hands. "Your a really good cook, and it really cool how you learned to do it yourself in such a short period of time." He said as he leaned against the counter. I continued to wash the dishes as he watched with a goofy smile on his face. "Your thinking about her again." I teased. "No I'm not!" He shouted bashfully. "Yes you are!" I playfully shouted back. "No!" He said splashing the dishwater at me. "Hey!" I shouted as I leaped away. I splashed him back with a swipe of my hand, "Yes!" I shouted. "Ahh!" He yelled as the water made contact with his shirt. We continued to splash each other with water until Aqualad walked in.

"What are you two doing in here?" He asked as he came around the corner. "Nothing!" We shouted at the same time. Aqualad stood there in shock when he saw us, we were soaked in water and the kitchen was as well. "Never mind." He said shaking his head and exiting the room. We looked at each other and started to laugh again, I took the moment to splash him with water one last time. "Was too." I smiled. He just laughed. "I'll clean this up, your parents should be home from their date by now." I giggled while picking up a towel to dry Wally off. "Ya, probably." He smiled as I dabbed the towel on his shirt. "Hmm, maybe you should just take the towel with you." I laughed as I handed him the towel. "Ya, probably." He laughed as he took the towel. "Bye Wally, see you later." I smiled, "See ya Sapphire." I laughed as he waved goodbye. Now I have to clean all of this.

"Hey, what are you doing in here?" A voice asked from behind me, I got up off of the floor and placed the wet towel in the sink. Artemis was standing behind me, "I'm just cleaning up." I responded. She looked around the room, "You really made a big mess in here." She said crossing her arms in front of her. I looked around at the rest of the mess, "Ya, we did." I smiled thinking of my water fight. "We?" Artemis asked confused, "Wally and I, we had a water fight over something. It was kinda fun." I said answering her question. "What was it about?" She asked, "Oh, nothing." I said trying to hide my smile. "Right... anyway I'm heading home. See you later." She said kinda moody, but that was just how Artemis talks. At least that's what I learned.

I had just finished cleaning the kitchen when Robin walked in, "Hey." He said upon his entry. "Hey." I replied placing the last towel in the sink. "Was there a leek?" He asked while approaching me. "No, just a water fight." I smiled sheepishly not wanting him to tell Batman. He just looked around the kitchen and nodded, "I'm going to take theses towels to the laundry room, then I'll put away the dishes." I smiled while using my telekinesis to place the wad of wet towels in a laundry hamper. "Ya, sounds good." He said staring at the ground. I almost left the room before I realized something was wrong. "Robin? Is something bothering you?" I asked as I turned to face him. He looked up at me his eyes slightly widened, he was searching for a response that wouldn't made me ask more questions. "I'm fine." He finally said, I gave him a sassy look saying Ya right. Then I left the room.

Wolf (Superboy's per wolf) greeted me in the hall then followed me down the hall to the laundry room. "Something is bothering Robin," I said to Wolf, "but I don't know what. Or how to ask him probably so he tells me what's on his mind." I sighed. Wolf starred back at me, I loaded the machine and left. Wolf whimpered as my side, "I know Wolf, but I don't know how to get him to talk to me." I responded. Wolf started walking down the hall towards the kitchen. I followed behind him. We walked all the way back to the kitchen and I paused at the door. Robin was now seated at the table his back was turned to us,  so he couldn't see us watching him from outside the door. I breathed in and took a long exhale before entering, I seated myself across from him.

His head shot up, his eyes met mine. I gave him a sympathetic smile, "What's wrong? You don't have to tell me all the details, but I want to listen to what you say." I said my expression slowly turning into concern. He sighed, "I don't know what to say. I'm just having a hard time figuring out why some members of the team don't like you. And it makes me angry when they treat you like a slave, making you do all the cooking and cleaning. It's just not right. I want to talk to Br-Batman about it, but the team might get mad at us. And I-I." He blew through his words quickly, I only cut him off when he started to choke on him words. " Thank you for telling me, and all the cooking and cleaning doesn't bother me. It distracts me from things that do bother me. And what the team  what the thinks about me is none of our concern. It's their opinion, not ours." I smiled slightly as I watched his saddened expression fade. "I have to put these dishes away." I said standing up from the table. "No, I'll do it." Robin said as he jumped up from his chair and raced to the sink. "Robin I-" "Please? It the least I can do for you." He bagged. "Okay." I sighed with a bit of relief. "See you tomorrow?" I asked, "See you tomorrow." Se smiled.