ROGUE| DICK GRAYSON

xx. traitor

Rowan sat next to Robin at the table in the cave. Kid Flash was across from her with M'gann next to her. Artemis sat beside Wally and Superboy stood at the end of the table.

"Thank, but no thanks." KF said, declining the bowl of pretzels that Green Arrow was handing to him.

Robin spoke up, "Yea, what we want are answers about Red Tornado and his siblings."

"Exactly!" Green Arrow grabbed the pretzels, but KF quickly took them back, "Leave the bowl."

Rowan rolled her eyes as she glared at the archer, "You're a sheep, Queen."

The blonde man looked at her with a confused face, "What? You want me to disregard my orders?"

"Orders? Aren't you guys equal? A team?"

He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, "Listen, Rogue-"

"No, you aren't listening to me." The girl stood up, glaring into his soul. If looks could kill, he'd be more than six feet under, "We almost died because you don't even know who's on your own team. We have a right to know-"

"You knew!" Everyone turned their heads to see Superboy grabbing Aqualad, "That android and his maniac family nearly killed M'gann and Rowan!"

The said Martian flew over to them, "Conner, what are you doing?"

"Kaldur knew we had a traitor among us and said nothing!"

The rest of the team walked over to the two. Rowan's stomach dropped as she saw Aqualad's guilty expression.

"You knew?"
"And didn't tell us?"

The Atlantian tried to explain himself, "I sought to protect the team from-"

"Protect us from what? Knowledge that might have saved our lives?" 

Conner looked back at M'gann, "You almost died!"

"Enough." Batman's voice rang out from the crowd of heroes, "With Red Tornado missing, the team will now be overseen by rotating supervisors. Captain Marvel has volunteered to take the first shift."

Rowan's eyes scanned over the muscular man that acted like a child, "I'm really looking forward to hanging with you guys."

The girl nudged Dick beside her, "How much you wanna bet that Captain Marvel is a child?"

Dick didn't laugh or smile at her joke, causing nerves to bubble in her stomach. Is he mad at her? Did she fuck everything up? Rowan felt herself closing up, building walls so nobody could hurt her. It was a safety tactic, so she didn't have to feel anything anymore. It was as easy as flipping a switch.

"–I have another assignment for this team." A screen in front of them showed a giant gorilla with a gun in his hands.

Kid Flash grew angry, "Gotham Mayor attacked by Guerilla Gorilla?" 

"Was this the only thing he could find to distract us?" Conner spoke, using their mind link to talk.

"Batman, please!" Robin pleaded, "Tell me you're not sending us on a joke of a Wild Ape Chase."

"I never joke about the mission." Kid Flash looked back at Rowan, expecting her to have something to say against The Dark Knight. But, he saw her looking straight forward, listening to his every word, "I've checked the sources. I've studied the patterns. Mayor Hill's encounter is only the latest in a series of incidents. Aqualad, you and your team will depart for India and check this out."

Rowan's jaw clenched as everyone walked away from Aqualad. He was their leader, but that made her think of the other possibilities of keeping it a secret. 

"Aqualad, may I speak to you?" Rowan's request wasn't up for debate with her tone. He nodded and walked over, "Why did you keep it a secret?"

Aqualad paused, thinking over his words, "I felt that if no one knew, then no one would question one another's actions and responsibilities."

Rowan slowly nodded, "So, you thought we were suspects of being the mole."

"Yes, the idea of the mole put doubts into my mind, but seeing how everyone is so connected, I thought it would be best if I found the mole alone."

The girl hesitated before she talked, not wanting to sound weak as she spoke, "Was I a main suspect?" The answer would probably break her, but it had to be asked.

Aqualad also wavered, "As your friend, I think it's best if I don't answer-"

"As my friend, Kaldur, I would like an answer," Her voice rose, "Please."

Aqualad looked deep into her eyes, trying to understand the need to know if he trusted her, "You were one of the main suspects, yes." Rowan's stomach dropped at his words, "There was nothing in your file about family; your actions in Bulgaria showed past violence and you're willing to kill for your own needs. That day, everyone felt threatened by your movements, so it was evident that you are a danger to others when you desire to be."

Rowan swallowed the bile that was creeping up her throat. Is this how the whole team felt, threatened by her? Scared that she might hurt them? Is this why Robin ignored her this morning? Her heart suddenly felt like it was going to burst out of her chest. She needed to get out of there. 

Aqualad took a step forward, "Are you okay, Rowan?" 

Why was her throat closing in? Is the room getting smaller? Why is the room getting smaller?

Batman walked over to the two, concern covering the features that you could see, "Rogue, what's wrong?"

Her throat burned and her head hurt at the spinning thoughts. But, she couldn't seem weak, so Rowan looked the man in the eyes with an empty stare, "Nothing, I'm fine." With those words, she walked away, trying to use breathing techniques she would use if she was drowning. Rowan felt like she was drowning.

Her feet carried her to the living room, trying to remember to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. Breathe in and out. In and out. In and-

"We're leaving in five." The voice droned out, but then eventually stopped once he saw the state the girl was in, "Are you okay, Rowan?"

The said girl stayed silent. It would probably be better for everyone if she stayed quiet and did everything she was told. Would they trust her then? Would they find her threatening if she stayed quiet? Would Robin-

"Rogue!" She was shaken by her thoughts by Conner who stood in front of her with a worried expression, "Are you okay?"

The brunette nodded with a distant look in her eyes, "I'm okay."

The boy didn't change his stance, "No, you aren't. Did Aqualad say something? Because if he did, I will gladly punch him to-"

"Do you find me threatening?"

Conner was taken aback by the tone of her voice. For the first time ever, she sounded broken; hopeless. Like, she was glass and if he said the wrong thing, she would shatter into a million pieces and he didn't know if he could piece her back together without getting cut in the process.

"No," She finally met his eyes, "I never found you threatening and I never will. You're like a sheep wrapped in a wolf's skin. You may seem scary, but I know you and I care about you, you piece of shit." A small smile took over her face. Her heart slowed down and she felt okay for the first time in a while.

Rowan pushed his shoulder, "I care about you too, you clone."

Without warning, he wrapped his arm around her neck and started rubbing his knuckles into her head. She tried to fight him off, but couldn't stop laughing at the boy she grew to see as a brother.

'I care about you.'

After all, we all eat lies when our hearts are hungry.