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Chapter Seven: PTSD

"As soon as we joined this team, we knew it was only a matter of time until this happened," Danny said. "Even if we don't like the reasons, we agree. Just remember that we aren't like the rest of your little 'sidekicks.' We didn't have mentors or anyone to show us the ropes. We learned through our own mistakes and fights. Not like we were able to train our powers after we got them."

"Why is that," Superman spoke first.

"People usually get the choice of fight or flight, no pun intended," White says, most of the team snickered because they knew he had wings. "We didn't get that choice. We had to learn right then and there, or we die. Simple. When we finally got the hang of our powers, we trained when we could. Besides that, we were always fighting for our lives or someone else's."

"None of you have powers, like ours," Danny says. "Ones controlled by our emotions. Even after a month of having them, we hardly had control. I kept phasing through the floor, or became invisible, or turned human again when I didn't want to. My brother would get nervous and whole buildings would shake. Don't try and act all high and mightily with us."

Between the seriousness of their tones, the aura of power they had, and the glares, the twins were a little... okay, a lot... more terrifying than usual. Considering that Batman was in the room, that says something about their glares. The Bat-glares from Batman, Nightwing, and Robin are terrifying enough. But now they have to add Ghost-glares and Siren-glares to their list.

"Let's just get this over with," Danny says, walking onto the platform. "Who's butt will I be kicking, this time."

Batman directed Robin and Nightwing onto the platform. Phantom changed to his ghost form and Siren into his siren form, both going up to the platform.

''I bet you a bag of chips that they're out in two minutes," Gar whispered to Impulse.

"A box of cookies says less than one minute," Bart countered.

"What are you two talking about," Flash asked the two youngest members of the team.

"How long it will take Danny and White to defeat them," Gar innocently said. "Nightwing, Aqualad, and Superboy are the only ones that give them even the smallest of challenges."

"Crash, isn't it," Bart laughed.

Robin pulled out his bow staff and Nightwing had his escrima sticks. Phantom formed his own staff from ghost ice and ecto-energy. Siren brushed off his wings, then held up his fists. Canary stepped up, their usual "referee" for sparring matches.

"This is a no powers allowed sparring match," she explained. "Phantom and Gold Siren against Nightwing and Robin."

"No powers," White says, looking at his wings. "Dang it."

He retracted his wings, causing them to vanish. The league stared at him, not knowing he could do that. They had been on the league with the Hawks for years and neither of them could do that.

"Way to ruin my fun," White said.

"Begin," Canary told them.

Robin wasted no time in charging at Phantom. The two clashed staffs, almost equally matched in their skill. Phantom twirled around his staff, blocking the jabs that Robin sent his way. Nightwing went at Siren. But Siren took his arm and the two spun around and were pushed away from one another. It took a second before Nightwing realized that one of his escrima sticks was missing.

"I thought I'd even the playing field, a little," White smirked, holding up the other weapon.

"Booyah," Cyborg cheered. "I love that kid. He just pick-pocketed Nightwing."