"hm?" Pietro looked up, he was sitting near the edge of the cliff, staring at the water below but when he saw Ciara he stood, "Ci... I'm sorry. As soon as that came on I... I couldn't watch."

Ciara was crying by the time she got to him, "You jerk!" She pounded on his chest, "You're suppose to be there for me...It all came back to me and I needed you..."

Pietro swallowed hard, his own eyes were a bit red as he wrapped his arms around her, "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry" he mumbled over and over again.

She had a good cry went she had finished she felt rather drained. "...Pietro...I love you.." She said softly.

"I love you to" Pietro replied, they were both sitting on the ground now at the edge of the cliff, "see that happen... hell, every time I see your scars I think 'I wasn't there to save her' 'I let her down'." he stared at the water crashing against the rocks before, "I'm so sorry Ciara."

She straddled his legs and looked down into his face, taking her shades off, running her hands along his face. "You couldn't have stopped it... You have no way of knowing... You're here now, love. I may have never been able to recover from any of this without you... You saved me." She wrapped her lips around his gently before pulling away, "My prince."

Pietro smiled back at her, running his hands through her hair, "my lilypad princess" he replied and kissed her back.


((timeskip?))

*
No matter how many times the video was taken down, it continued to get re-uploaded by people. There was a public outcry. People who had disliked the idea of mutants were starting to see things differently. People were standing up for mutants. People who would have simply looked the other way.

Blurred out images were used in newspapers and magazines. Talk shows and News Reports...

Sting Ray continued to train the teens. She tried not to show how much the video had effected her. It seemed to have brought the whole team down. Even though they didn't know Sting Ray was Ciara. It was a shocking thing to witness...

"You're doing great, Kid Flash." Sting Ray commented, finally getting him to go into the deeper waters. She had a hold of both his hands. "See? Nothing to be afraid of. Think you can tred water with me for a couple of mins?"

There was one person who seemed a little different in their sessions. After the video had been shown, Superboy's attitude with Sting Ray was... somehow different. He never mentioned anything as to why, always the quiet type, just... different.

In the middle of Kid Flash's lesson the alarm went off to gather the team for a mission.

Ciara noticed the difference but it didn't occur to her that it was from the video.

"Guess this lesson will be cut short." Ciara brought them both onto the surface of the water, "Run along, they'll be waiting for you." Ciara walked back onto the shore where a smug looking Speed demon sat on a lawn chair, "Enjoying the view?" She smiled. Pietro had packed her a shit ton of swim wear. Today she was sporting a lovely teal coloured bathing suit.

"Always" Pietro replied, wearing a pair of sunglasses although clearly staring at Ciara as Kid Flash took off.

"Well..." She crawled over him, tapping his nose with her index finger, "Perhaps while the children are away... I can give you that big assistant bonus, I've been meaning to give you." She grinned sweetly. "Shall we go see them off?"

"But of course" Pietro grinned widely.


"This is blue beetle" Batman was introducing the new member, "He'll be joining the team. Thanks to his efforts we've received a lead on the Reach. They've been collecting people, you need to find out what they're doing to them."

Blue Beetle waved, "Hi." No way! The Young Justice team. Man, and here I thought Batman was totally gonna gun us down!
"Hi, I'm Miss Martian." She waved.
"It is very nice to meet you Blue Beetle." Aqua Lad shook his hand.
"Artemis." She waved with two fingers.
"And this is Super Boy and.." One quick flash later, "And Kid Flash, " Miss Martian said.
"Where do we start looking, Batman?" Aqua Lad asked.

join the team? the beetle grumbled, we need no one else. kill them all and take over their base.

Robin and Nightwing waved, Batman continued talking, "They seem to be working off the coast of Texas in the Gulf of Mexico" he pulled up the map and zoomed in to the area, "nothing on the surface but below the water there's plenty of room for them to hide."

Blue Beetle turned his head and whispered," That's not how we do things here."
Artemis raised an eyebrow at him. Blue Beetle just laughed awkardly.

Aqua Lad looked over the screen," There use to be Atlantian colonies in this area but after the attacks of the purifiers, no one would suspencet an enemy in the area."

"Good, then they shouldn't be expecting you" Batman replied, "Head out immediately"

As Batman spoke, the front door opened and in sped Quick Silver carrying Sting Ray. "Told .you that you'd have to slow down for the door." She augured playfully. "Who's the blue scarab guy?" Sting Ray asked, trying to avoid Batman s eyes. He hadn't been there since before the viral video was released and she didn't want to talk about it.
"Oh, The name's blue beetle actually. You are..."
" Sting Ray and this is Quick Silver. Really? Cause it looks more like a scarb." She commented, running a finger over the blue bettle on his back.

" We'll head out at once. Miss Martian bring the ship around." Aqua Lad ordered.

~get her prying hands off me~ the beetle hissed ~Are you going to let her talk to us like that?~

"She's not being rude. She's simply cur-ious...." Blue Beetle looked turned his head around when he realized the whole team was looking at him funny. "I know what this looks like. The Beetle on my back talks to me."

"Oh, it's a life form?!" Ciara asked zooming around him to look at it again, "Sorry if I offended you little blue." She smiled, sweetly.
"Well sorta...well... I'm not actually sure to tell you the truth. It communicates through my thoughts."

"Huh... So you have someone talking in your head as well." Sting Ray mumbled.

~This female life form seems unstable in the mind, kill her before she turns on us~


"Team" Nightwing interrupted, "there will be plenty of time for talk later. Lets move out"

"You're over reacting." Blue Beetle commented quietly to himself.
"Oh, sorry." Sting Ray stepped back.

The team headed outside to climb aboard Miss Martian's ship.

Sting Ray slipped her hand into Quick Silver's "Well, seeing how we're not needed." And without making eye contact with Batman, attempted to flee before he spoke.

Pietro was right with her but before they could slip out of the room....

"Sting Ray" Batman spoke in that firm voice.

Sting Ray stopped and sighed, "I'll see you later, Quick Silver." She turned around and marched back over to Batman. "Yes?"

"I was hoping that while I'm here, we could talk about the team's progress" Batman replied, "and I have a microchip upgrade for your goggles" he offered her the micro SD card.