The recycled air of Mount Justice always slled the sa: cold tal, ozone from the teleportation platforms, and a faint hint of burnt ozone from the combat simulations. Erick Smith—or Forge, as he preferred to be called in the shadows of his own mind—walked through the wide corridors, his hands in the pockets of his reinforced black jacket. His footsteps echoed softly against the tal alloy floor.
The last month had been an exercise in pure frustration.
The Justice League had treated him like a fragile child. "Full recovery," they said. "Strict dical observation." He had woken from the regeneration capsule twenty-nine days ago. Twenty-nine damned days in which he could have returned to the field, honing his new Martian abilities, testing the limits of the M'gann blood that now coursed through his green veins. Instead, he had been forced to remain confined to Smith Manor, monitored by Doc and Natasha, while the world outside continued to spiral toward chaos.
They see as a boy who almost died fighting Lobo. They don't understand that death was just another factor in the calculation.
He snorted, his blue eyes gleaming faintly with the inner reflection of the elental fire that still burned in his chest. The elental pulsed in sync with his irritation, small bluish flas dancing beneath the skin of his forearms before retreating.
The automatic doors to the main room opened with a soft hiss as he approached. White lights illuminated the circular table where the team was already gathered. Uniforms soiled with dust and combat marks told the story: they had just returned from a mission. And there was a new mber.
A giant wolf, white as fresh snow, sat beside Superboy. Thick fur, rippling muscles beneath the skin, eyes red as fresh blood. Forge imdiately recognized the creature from a past life—one of the genetically modified animals from the episode "Agendas," or sothing close to it. One of Brain's experints.
His voice ca out relaxed, almost lazy, carrying the slight accent that he had never been able—nor wanted—to completely eliminate.
"Hey, everyone."
They all turned around at the sa ti.
Artemis was the first. The blonde archer rose from her chair with a fluid movent, her gray eyes lighting up with genuine relief. In three steps she crossed the distance and threw herself against him, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck. Her scent—clean sweat, the leather of her uniform, and the subtle perfu she wore only when she knew she would see him—filled his nostrils.
"Finally," she murmured against his shoulder, her voice low enough for only him to hear. "A whole month without being able to touch you properly. I was going crazy."
Forge returned the hug, one hand sliding down to the base of her back, squeezing possessively. In the last month they'd managed to et a few tis—stolen nights at the mansion, sparring sessions that ended with sweaty bodies colliding on the tatami mat, muffled moans as the elental fire made her skin flush. But it was never enough. It was never safe enough.
He turned his body, still embracing her, looking at the rest of the team with a calm smile.
Starfire was there, her golden skin gleaming softly under the artificial lights, her fiery hair pulled back in a high ponytail. Her green eyes t his, and a wide, almost shy smile spread across her face. The desperate kiss in Central Park still burned in both their mories—tongues intertwined, solar and elental energies rging in a mont of pure survival that had left silent promises hanging in the air.
The others were smiling too. Robin with that sarcastic half-smile, Wally with an exaggerated nod, Kaldur with his usual leader-like composure, M'gann floating lightly beside Superboy, and Superboy himself with his hand resting on the white wolf's back.
Forge slowly released Artemis, but kept one hand on her waist as he approached the table and sat down between Starfire and the archer.
"Hey everyone. How are you?"
Kaldur was the first to answer, his voice calm and firm as always.
"Much better now that you're back, Forge. Batman inford us this morning: you have full permission to resu active missions."
Forge tilted his head, his smile gaining a sharp edge.
"And stronger than ever."
Robin raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest.
"What do you an by 'stronger'?"
Forge shrugged, leaning back in his chair. The light reflected off the pale green skin of his face, making the slightly luminescent veins beneath the surface appear as rivers of energy.
"Apparently, the Martian blood not only saved … it gave so extra abilities. I'm now considerably stronger than before. And, as a bonus, I unlocked telepathy. Nothing on gan's level yet, but… it's there."
Wally whistled, impressed.
"Dude, you're really lucky. To face off against a naked, psychopathic intergalactic rcenary and still co out with new superpowers? That's like winning the death lottery."
Forge let out a low laugh, but his eyes hardened for a fraction of a second.
"I wouldn't say it was luck. The chances of dying during the procedure were much higher than anyone imagined."
M'gann frowned, her green skin darkening slightly with worry. She floated a little closer.
"What do you an? Even though I copied my DNA and had the transfusion done..."
"That's exactly why," Forge interrupted, his voice soft but heavy with weight. He looked directly at her, softening his tone as he saw guilt beginning to well up in her eyes. "The odds of rejection, of developing so kind of atypical Martian cancer, or of synaptic collapse were extrely high. Far higher than we should have risked. I analyzed the numbers afterward, gan. It was a genetic Russian roulette we played… and, for so reason, we ca out winners."
He saw her shoulders relax slightly, but the worry still lingered. Forge reached across the table and briefly touched her fingers—a quick, almost casual gesture, but laden with aning. The psychic connection between them, born from that transfusion, pulsed for an instant like a warm spark.
Wanting to change the subject before things got too tense, he turned to the rest of the team.
"So, guys... what did I miss during this month of 'forced vacation'?"
Artemis huffed beside her, crossing her legs.
"A lot of things. And the biggest one…" she exchanged a quick glance with Kaldur, "...was the discovery that we have a traitor on the team."
Forge raised an eyebrow, the elental fire sending a slight pulse of heat through his chest.
"Traitor?"
Superboy grunted, his fists clenched on the table.
"We haven't been able to talk to you about this yet. We found out earlier today, before the mission to India."
Kaldur took charge of the explanation, his voice deep.
"It was my fault. I knew this information a few weeks ago and didn't share it with the rest of the team. Red Tornado... he and two androids identical to him attacked Mount Justice a few weeks ago."
Forge tilted his head, processing. He already knew—his AIs had picked up fragnts of the League's encrypted reports—but he feigned surprise at just the right level.
"How did you co to the conclusion that there was a traitor?"
Kaldur continued, his voice hoarse:
"A few weeks ago, I was on a mission with Red Arrow. Sportsmaster let slip that soone was leaking information to the enemy. Soone from the inside."
Robin scratched his chin, thoughtfully.
"At first it seed like just a provocation. But then... everything fell into place."
Forge drumd his fingers on the table, the tallic sound echoing faintly.
"That's ridiculous. Why would Red Tornado betray the League now? He's been with the organization for decades. If it were outside influence, soone capable of reprogramming a League android… they'd have to be a super-genius. And even then, wouldn't they have security protocols against cyber intrusion?"
Kaldur nodded slowly.
"Perhaps he was compromised in so way that we don't yet understand."
Forge shook his head, his tone becoming sharper.
"It doesn't make sense. This whole story slls fabricated. Soone is planting clues. I don't know who yet... but I'm going to find out."
He paused, looking at each of them.
"I can try to locate Tornado. I don't think it will make much of a difference — the League is already hunting him — but I'll do my job and help the team."
Wanting to lighten the mood, Wally flashed a wide smile and changed the subject.
"Since we're talking about crazy things... look who we brought from India earlier today."
Forge turned his gaze to the giant white wolf. The animal watched him with frightening intelligence, its red eyes fixed on him.
"He underwent so kind of genetic modification, right?" Forge asked, already ntally calculating possible DNA samples.
Superboy nodded.
"Yes. Him and other animals. The process made them stronger... and much smarter."
Forge leaned forward, intrigued.
"Who was the genius behind this?"
Robin replied without hesitation:
"O Brain."
Forge let out a low whistle.
"Interesting..." He looked at the wolf. "Hey, kid. Would you allow to collect a small blood sample? Nothing invasive. Just for study, in case any future health complications arise."
Superboy looked at the wolf and asked:
"How are you?"
The wolf held Forge's gaze for long seconds, assessing him. Then, slowly, it nodded.
Forge smiled, genuinely impressed.
"He's really quite intelligent, isn't he?"
Superboy shrugged.
"All the animals we found demonstrated a high degree of intelligence. We don't know exactly what process was used, but... it's impressive."
Forge leaned back again.
"Sothing to consider carefully." He raised an eyebrow. "Did you let the other animals roam free? This could cause serious problems in the ecosystem."
Wally riu.
"Captain Marvel befriended Tiger. He promised to keep them all safe."
Forge blinked, processing the absurd information.
"He... spoke to the Tiger?" He shook his head, chuckling softly. "What kind of crazy world is this?"
The rest of the night unfolded more lightly. They talked, told jokes, reminisced about monts from past missions. Artemis and Starfire laughed side by side, occasionally exchanging glances that included Forge at the center—a silent dynamic he was already beginning to savor. The white wolf observed everything in silence, occasionally letting out a low growl that sounded like laughter.
Forge leaned back in his chair, observing the group.
These little monts... I need to cherish them.
He knew. He knew better than anyone. This was the universe he had witnessed on screens in a past life. A universe where happiness was as fragile as glass. At any second the Joker could release gas, Ra's al Ghul could unleash a virus, Darkseid could open a Boom Tube. Everything he had now—friends, lovers, family—could be ripped away in the blink of an eye.
The elental fire pulsed gently in his chest, a constant reminder.
That's why I build. That's why I plan. That's why I bleed first... so they don't have to bleed later.
He gave a genuine smile, letting the conversation flow around him. Artemis leaned her shoulder against his. Starfire brushed her knee against his leg under the table.
For now, he would enjoy it.
The ascent would continue tomorrow.
But tonight... tonight still belonged to them.
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