Title: The Medic
Author: Asase
Rating:PG 13(just to be safe)
Genre:Action, frendship, fluff
Characters: OC, Robin, Young Justice characters, Batman characters
Summary: Harley Quinn attacks.
Word Count: 2,417
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or organizations from the Young Justice cartoon, comics, or expanded DC universe.
The Medic
Chapter Two
Cira’s House
February 3, 17:15 EDT
Cira’s first instinct was to rush forward, but she squashed it sensing a man coming fast from behind. He had finally chosen to appear from his hiding place in the dining room. She grabbed his arm and threw him over her shoulder. A second attacker rushed her from the right. She spun and kicked him forcing him to hit the ground hard. She was on him in seconds her hands balled into his shirt, hauling the man up and pressing him into a wall.
“Tsk Tsk. Is that anyway to treat a houseguest? Where’s the southern hospitality?” The female intruder spoke again, the edge of madness in her voice.
Cira dropped the henchman like a stone and turned.
“Sit,” the mocking tone in the intruder’s voice dissipated. She twisted the gun against Mio’s head. Mio screwed her dark eyes shut.
The henchmen attempted to restrain Cira. She shook them off and made her way to one of the upright chairs. The henchmen resigned themselves to standing by her side. They were dimwitted and easily subdued. Looking to their mistress for orders, they wouldn’t act with permission.
“I came all this way to talk and you weren’t even home when I got here!”
Cira shrugged. “I’m a busy girl. Next time, call ahead.”
“Don’t try to be funny. I know funny and you’re not it.”
“Who are you?”
“I’m asking the questions here!” the intruder stomped dramatically. “You know you don’t look like much.” She looked Cira up and down. “As burly as you are I ‘spected someone bigger. So how’d ya do it?”
“Do what?”
The intruders face slumped. “Oi..slow on the uptake this one. Mistah J sure knows how to pick em.”
Cira mouthed ,“Mister J?” scrunching her face, before realization lit up her eyes.
“Now she gets it!” Harley Quinn gave a predatory grin. “So how’d ya do it? How’d a punk like you take down Killer Croc?”
Cira felt all eyes shift to her.
“Mistah J seems to think that you have special powers. But I’ve seen all types of kooks, you don’t look the type.”
“Uh, what type do I look like?” Cira asked hesitantly.
Harley squinted her blue eyes at Cira. “Well ya ain’t glowin’. I’d just chalk it up to dumb luck. Croc’s too big for his britches anyway.”
“So now that you’ve checked you’ll be on your way?”
“Nah,” Harley moved the gun from Mio’s head to her own, stabbing it with each word. “See we know how the Bat thinks,” She grinned wider. “So Mistah J sent me to find ya first. One bat brat is enough.”
Harley pointed the gun at Cira and prepared to fire. A red shape crashed through the window knocking gun out of Harley’s hand. Rita lunged forward and collided with Mio knocking her out of he way. Cira tore after Harley tackling her to the ground. Another crash and the window was completely shattered by Robin’s entrance. He landed on one of the henchmen and then sprang to attack the second one. Harley struggled under Cira but couldn’t dislodge the larger woman.
“Uh Oh.” Harley’s eyes grew wide as Cira pulled back for a punch. The villainess went down with one blow.
“We need to restrain them.” Cira barked
“Got it.” Robin pulled out several pairs of bat cuffs. He tossed one to Cira. With Robin’s help she pilled the crooks in the corner. In that time Mio had helped Rita free from her bonds.
“Mio.” Cira turned to her friend.
“Y-yes?” Mio stammered
“Honey, I know that you are still shaken up but can you make the call? Cale’s in bad shape.”
“Right!” Mio dug into her pockets for her cell phone.
“I’m getting my kit.” announced Cira
“I’ll get it. You start with Cale and cut King loose.” Rita said, leaving the room before Cira could argue.
Cira helped Cale lay on the floor and began inspecting his wound. Cale’s skin had grown paler than usual with blood loss and worry. She let Robin take care of King.
“Why is Robin here?” King asked as soon as the gag was removed. “Not that we’re not grateful.” He smiled quickly at Robin. “Who’s Killer Croc?” He put extra emphasis on the words. “And why does he sound like some one you shouldn’t have messed with?”
“You know our girl’s a fighter.” Rita returned with the kit and handed it to Cira. Cira began to dress Cale’s wound. It would require stitches but for now she could at least stop the bleeding. Mio moved to Cale’s side and held his free hand.
“Discouraging rowdy customers and muggers at gigs seems to be of a different scale.” King looked back to Cira unimpressed. “This is about what happened downtown isn’t it?”
“Robin.” Cira barked again. “No disappearing. Lay low until the cops are done. I need to talk to you.” Robin sheepishly stopped at the window, surprised he had been caught in the middle of disappearing.
“Are you giving Robin orders?” Mio asked
“Is Robin following them?” Rita asked
“You’re working for Batman!” King accused pointing at her, “I wondered when you’d become a superhero and-“
Cira glared at King silencing him. “I need to see your face Rita.”
Rita sat in front of Cira. “Bossy much.”
Cira sighed. She began to treat the cut on Rita’s face carefully wiping the blood from her roommates tan skin. “I’m not working for Batman. This is a temporary situation. And I’m just gonna treat Robin to dinner.”
“Look, I shouldn’t-” Robin started
“Oh come on stay. It’s the only thing we can do to thank you.” King offered. He steered the boy to the kitchen.
***
The police and ambulance came and went. It took a lot of convincing to get Cale in the back. He insisted that he was fine. Mio rode with him to keep him calm, patting her boyfriend’s red hair and making soothing noises.
“Shame Cale’s missing this.” King filled a tortilla with strips of steak and peppers. “He’s the one who wanted fajitas.”
“Got a text from Mio.” Rita flipped open her phone. “Cale is fine. I’m making him stay the night. Robin is cuter in real life.” Rita read the words automatically and then blushed at the last line.
Robin smirked.
Rita covered her face with her hands. “Mio!”
King laughed loudly slapping his knees.
“Yeah I’d bet he’s already fending the ladies off with batarangs.” Cira shoved the boy lightly.
“You know who’s cute?” King asked
“Dare we ask?” Cira placed her food back on her plate.
“Red Arrow.” King took a large bite.
“Who?” Cira raised her eyebrows.
“Green Arrow’s sidekick.” Rita answered
“Partner,” King interjected, mouth still full.
“Ex-partner.” Robin corrected
“So they did split up!” King exclaimed, ever the gossip. “Oh the things I would do to that boy.” King’s voice darkened.
“That’s appropriate,” Rita muttered
“What? Red Arrow has to be legal by now,” King took another drag of his margarita, draining the glass.
“ I’m sure Robin would rather not hear about any fantasies regarding his peers.” Cira hissed
Robin laughed uncontrollably wiping away tears.
“You tell Red that if he’s ever in the Atlanta area to look me up.” King pointed a finger at Robin.
“Oh tell Green Lantern-“ Rita started
“Which one?” Robin asked.
“This is not a dating service.” Cira cut into the conversation, hoping to cut off any wild ideas.
“You don’t really need me to tell him. You can tell him yourself.” Robin offered
“How?” Rita asked.
Robin’s face lit up with mischief. He raised his arm and tapped a few buttons on his holo computer. “Video recorder.” He hopped out of his seat and went to King’s side.
Rita scooted over to take Robin’s seat. “So,” she paused until she had Cira’s attention. Using the ‘we need to talk’ voice she added, “You never really told us what happened downtown.”
“I didn’t think that there was much to tell.”
Rita paused, hazel eyes weary.
Cira sighed, defeated she turned to her roommate. “It started pretty much how you’d imagine it. The symposium was in full swing. The Injustice League crashed the party. They separated us from the folks they wanted to ransom and kept us under guard. “
“Killer Crock was in charge of you all?”
“No. They just left us in the hands of a bunch of goons. I figured that it would be best to just lie low. But the Justice League burst in. You won’t believe the power these guys have!” Cira became more animated. “Being near the Injustice League was already testing my limits. But the Justice League was on a whole different level!”
“You couldn’t block them out?”
“And it was giving me a headache. I must have looked crazy. All hunched over with my hands over my ears. I’ve never felt a life force so strong. Suddenly dealing with so many of them at once? I’m surprised that I didn’t get sick. Had to sit and meditate right in the middle of the crowd.“
“Sorry to interrupt but does that actually work?” King asked
“The cross legged meditative pose?” Cira asked. “Part of it is about posture and centering yourself. I’d say that it’s about keeping a proper routine. We form habits via repetition. Returning to that pose sends the signal to your body that it’s time to meditate now.”
“Like how you shouldn’t read in bed because it helps your body associate lying in bed with sleep.” Rita paused. “But if you were so busy trying to block out the Justice League’s life signals how could you fight at the same time?”
“I blocked out all but one. Imagine a large bell. Like Hunchback of Notre Dame big, ringing in your head.” Cira’s arms spread wide. “It just refused to be repressed. And while I’m struggling with that Killer Crock decides to show up.”
“So, he attacked you then…” Rita mused.
“Nah, but a baby started crying, and he started yelling at the baby, and it made the baby cry more…” Cira spoke hastily the words spilling from her mouth.
“A baby?” King asked the disbelief in his tone.
“A baby!” Cira continued, “In Croc’s defense I’d say that he was already agitated by the Justice League’s presence. But he shouldn’t have threatened the baby and its mother.”
“You snapped.” Rita prompted.
“You would have too.” Cira accused “I separated myself from the crowd and started yelling at Croc to stop yelling at the baby.”
Rita groaned.
“A few of his men tried to stop me. I managed to take one of their handguns.”
Rita’s hands now covered her face. She shook her head preparing for the worst.
“The rest have their guns trained on me. But apparently I was amusing to Croc. He doesn’t think that I’ll shoot and informs me that even if I did his skin is like armor. So,” Cira shrugs. “I shoot one of the goons.”
“You did what!” Robin yelled jumping back into the conversation.
“It was in the chest.” Cira said flippantly.
“That makes it better?” King asked
“They were armored up. Like a swat team. The guy didn’t die.” Cira’s eyes rolled out of her skull. “Come on guys. You know I’d know if he was gonna die.”
Rita held up her hands. “Why aren’t you full of holes? There is no way they wouldn’t retaliate. “
“Croc thought that it was hilarious.” Cira leaned back in her chair. “Told his men to stand down. Told me to follow him. “
“Once you were outside of the main room you took him down.” Robin added
“That doesn’t explain how she took him down. She’s not that strong,” Rita said
“On the tape-”Robin started
“There’s a tape?” Cira cried
“Don’t worry we confiscated it.”
Cira grumbled about the world’s over-reliance on technology.
“On the tape,” Robin continued. “She appeared to fight him as a regular opponent. He didn’t touch you once.” He looked at Cira. “I thought that you had super strength or speed or something. You hit him a few times and he went down. “
“Pressure points.” Cira answered
“Wait,” King squinted at Cira. “Those are real too?”
“King!” Rita said exasperated.
“Sorry, sorry no more interruptions.”
“ When Croc didn’t return they sent some more men after me. And when they didn’t return they sent more,” Cira laughed. “They were so unorganized and apparently they only left two behind to watch the rest of the hostages “
“You started a riot….” King grinned like a fool. “You would.”
“You took down all of the henchmen?” Rita asked eyebrows raised. “Girl I know you’re tough but that’s pushing it.”
“I just gave ‘em the run around.” Cira said with a shrug. “Like I said they were very unorganized. A pretty easy group to dupe.”
Robin was lost in thought and muttered almost to himself. “Croc has pressure points?”
“They are in a different position than a normal human’s.” Cira answered. “And you have to apply a significant amount of more pressure. But yes.”
“I still think that you should try to be some from of doctor.” King said “With your powers you could diagnose anything. No need for blood tests or x-rays.”
“Yeah you’d be rich.” Said Rita
“Yeah I’d be rich.” Cira answered with a practiced response. It was a suggestion she heard often. “ I could work at the best medical facilities and I’d end up only helping the rich. I’d rather stay here and help the ones who really need it.”
“I have to get going.” Robin spoke in a hurried tone, heading towards the door.
Cira rushed out of her seat and to Robin’s side. “I’ll go with you.”
He turned away from her. “No. I just have to check in that’s all.” He attempted to smile nonchalantly.
Cira puts her hand under his chin lifting it. “I’m not gonna let you get yelled at by the grump. Not over my decision.”
Robin’s eyes grew wide and he stepped back. “How?”
“Kids are easy to read.” She raised her hands in a placating gesture. “Not that you’re an open book. But your shoulders have slumped,” she pointed to his shoulders, “and your stomach’s in knots.” She pointed to his stomach, “And there is only one person that a daredevil like you would fear, no, respect enough to make you nervous,” she pinched his cheek and grinned
Robin’s smile lit up the room.
Chapter one
Chapter Three