reborn in young justice1

Reborn in Young Justice

Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice or any of its characters. They belong to DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation. The only thing I own is my

The Cave felt quieter than I expected. After the intense morning training session, I thought I'd be under constant scrutiny or thrown into another test, but the team had dispersed to their own activities. I found myself standing awkwardly in the middle of the common area, unsure of what to do.

"Lost?" A voice broke the silence.

I turned to see Artemis lounging on one of the couches, casually spinning an arrow between her fingers. Her green eyes studied me, a mix of curiosity and caution.

"Something like that," I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck.

She raised an eyebrow. "Well, don't expect a welcome party. You've got Robin on edge, and trust me, he doesn't relax easily."

"Yeah, I've noticed," I said dryly.

Artemis smirked. "Don't let him get to you. He'll come around… eventually. Maybe."

I chuckled despite myself, appreciating her blunt honesty. Before I could respond, the sound of rapid footsteps approached, and Kid Flash skidded into the room, holding two protein bars.

"Newbie!" he called out, tossing one at me. "Fuel up. You've got to keep your energy up if you want to survive here."

I caught it, barely. "Thanks?"

"Don't thank me yet," he said, unwrapping his own. "You're about to get a firsthand look at my lightning-fast eating skills. Clock me!"

Before I could reply, he devoured the bar in a matter of seconds.

"Impressive, right?" he said through a mouthful.

Artemis rolled her eyes. "Wally, not everyone is fascinated by your ability to inhale food."

"Jealousy doesn't suit you," he shot back with a grin.

Their banter was oddly comforting, a reminder that these heroes were still teenagers underneath the masks.

Later that afternoon, Miss Martian approached me. "Hey, Kade," she said with a kind smile. "Do you have a minute? I thought we could talk."

"Sure," I said, curious.

She led me to the bioship, which was parked and powered down in one of the Cave's side hangars. As the ramp lowered, she gestured for me to follow her inside.

"I thought you might feel more comfortable here," she said, sitting on one of the seats. "It can be a little overwhelming, being around the team all the time."

"That's an understatement," I said, sitting across from her.

She nodded sympathetically. "When I first joined, it was hard for me too. I didn't feel like I belonged. But they gave me a chance, and eventually, I found my place."

Her words struck a chord. "What if I don't have a place here?"

Miss Martian's expression softened. "You will. But it takes time. And trust."

I hesitated, then decided to be honest. "It's not just about them trusting me. I don't even trust myself right now. I don't know who I am—or what I am."

She tilted her head slightly, her empathy shining through. "That's okay. Figuring out who you are takes time too."

The warmth in her voice made something in my chest loosen. For the first time since I arrived, I felt like someone genuinely believed in me.

"Thanks," I said quietly.

As evening fell, the team gathered in the main briefing area. Batman had left hours ago, but Red Tornado remained, silently observing as the group discussed their next mission.

"We'll be investigating reports of unusual activity in a remote region of Bialya," Aqualad explained, pointing to a holographic map. "There have been sightings of a shadowy figure that may be connected to the League of Shadows."

"League of Shadows?" I asked, unable to hide my curiosity.

"They're bad news," Robin said, his tone sharp. "Assassins, mercenaries, and all-around terrible people."

"Which is why this mission is reconnaissance only," Aqualad added. "We gather intel and report back. No unnecessary risks."

"Recon?" Kid Flash groaned. "Translation: lots of sneaking and not enough action."

"Stealth is essential," Aqualad said firmly. "And that includes you, Wally."

The group began prepping for the mission, each member falling into their roles with practiced ease. As I watched, I couldn't shake the feeling of being an outsider.

"Kade," Aqualad said, breaking my thoughts. "You'll stay here for this mission. We need to ensure you're ready before we take you into the field."

I nodded, trying to hide my disappointment.

After the team left, the Cave felt emptier than ever. I wandered aimlessly, eventually finding myself in the training room.

"Let's see what I can do," I muttered, focusing on the energy within me.

I conjured a small orb, letting it float above my hand. Slowly, I tried to shape it, imagining it as a blade or a shield. The energy shifted, flickering between forms, but maintaining control was harder than I expected.

Frustration bubbled up, and the energy surged, shattering the orb and sending a shockwave through the room.

"Careful," Red Tornado's voice said behind me, startling me.

I turned to see the android watching me, his expression—or lack thereof—calm.

"Your abilities are impressive, but they lack precision," he said. "Emotion influences your power. Until you master control, such surges will continue to occur."

"Great," I muttered, sinking onto a bench. "So I'm just a walking hazard."

"Not necessarily," Red Tornado said. "Control can be taught. Discipline can be learned. It is up to you whether you choose to improve or remain as you are."

His words struck a chord. I had a choice: to wallow in self-doubt or to take control of my situation.

"I'll get better," I said, more to myself than to him. "I have to."