Things had been easy in the period following my escape from CADMUS. Batman had introduced M'Gann to the team, and explained we'd be doing 'covert' missions for the Justice League. The unique nature of my powers and the appearances that came with them had also been cause for a talk with Manhunter a day after, requesting that I avoid public heroics, unless using a human-like transformation. If I had any intention of publicly hero-ing, I'd have brought up the fact that those terms stop me from using the majority of my aliens, but since I had no such intentions I let it be.
After we had settled in, I had decided to test out my various forms in order to familiarise myself with their powers. It would help, knowing which alien was best for which situation before we went on missions, rather than figuring it out through trial and error during the mission. Most importantly, I now had a designation for each transformation.
{RECOGNIZED. AQUALAD. B-0-2.}
At the sound of someone- well not someone, since it very clearly said Aqualad, arriving via the Zeta-Tube, I fluttered over casually to greet him, leaving behind small puffs of mist in my wake as I exhaled. While some of my forms didn't need to breathe, such as the Necrofriggian I was currently transformed into, I often found myself doing it anyway as a habit.
"Greetings, Ark. What do you call this form?" Aqualad asked me genially as the glow of the Zeta-Tube faded, smiling politely at me. Out of him, Robin and Kid, he had the greatest presence within the mountain, having visited a couple of times since M'Gann and I moved in. Usually he just showed up to check how we were doing and then ask if the team had any missions. After tensions had risen during the CADMUS escape, he had turned out to be a very easy-going guy when not in the costume. And, presumably owing to the various different species that he interacted with down in Atlantis, he was quite nonchalant about transformations like my current one.
"Frostfright." I replied in a befittingly chilling tone, my mouth remaining stationary as I spoke. The first part of the name was obvious, but I noticed that between the form's intangibility, and the pale blue- almost white shade of its skin, this form was rather ghostly in nature, hence the 'fright' part.
"Ice powers, then? That would be a first, most of the people I have met on the surface world with ice powers have been supervillains." He remarked absent-mindedly, "Have you received word from Batman about any missions?" He added hopefully, only for me to shake my head.
"Red Tornado should be coming later today, though," I added, and he perked up slightly at that. Honestly, I couldn't understand his and everyone else's obsession with missions. In my opinion, getting all the perks of working for the Justice League while not having to do actual superhero-ing or whatever 'covert' stuff Batman was thinking of, was a pretty sweet gig.
"I see. Is Miss Martian around?"
"Yeah, she was just in the kitchen. Kid Flash and Robin?" I answered, turning in the direction of the aforementioned location and landing back on the ground. My wings wrapped back around my body, forming a cloak as I walked off.
"They should be arriving later today, how has life here in Mount Justice been treating you?" Aqualad asked as he followed behind me.
"Good. Nothing really happens, which is nice."
"You have settled in alright, then? I have tried to visit frequently, as I feared you may not acclimate well to being in another world, especially if you left behind people you care about." I glanced back and saw him stare off into the distance as he said that last part. Guess he must have left behind some people in Atlantis, huh?
"CADMUS was merciful." I replied, trying to make my scowl audible as well as visible, "They may have taken my freedom, but they took my memories as well. For all I know, I left behind dead parents, dead siblings and a life of misery, poverty and disease. Unless someone figures a way to return me to where I came from, it's just a waste of time and energy to lament what I may have had."
I stiffened slightly when I felt a webbed hand on my shoulder, and I glanced back again to see Aqualad smiling reassuringly at me, "You have us now, and I promise we will all support you in this trying time."
Hearing him say that… I was grateful that I didn't have tear-ducts, and I quickly turned back around with an attempt at a cough. "The kitchen's just this way…" I muttered quietly, and we both continued on in silence.
M'Gann perked up immediately as the two of us walked in on her making a batch of cookies, "Hi Frostfright, hi Aqualad!" She greeted energetically, using her telekinesis to finish the dough and then scoop out parts of it onto the tray before finally opening the oven and depositing the tray inside. I wasn't transformed into Trippilex at the moment but seeing that level of telekinetic coordination still made me feel insecure.
"We're off duty, call me Kaldur'Ahm. Actually, my friends call me Kaldur." Kaldur informed her with a smile. "Are those for the team?"
"Oh, yes! Since Red Tornado is coming today, I thought maybe Robin and Kid Flash would visit as well? And my name is M'Gann M'orzz! But you can call me Megan since it's an Earth name, and I'm on Earth now." M'Gann replied happily, her voice developing a slightly dreamy tone at the last part.
"Thank you, M'Gann, it was sweet of you to make them."
~No problem, Kaldur. I just hope the rest of the team likes them.~ M'Gann's voice chirped in my head, and presumably in Kaldur's as well, prompting the Atlantean to place a hand to his temple uncomfortably.
"M'Gann, stop." I requested calmly, "Other people on Earth probably aren't as comfortable with telepathy as I am, and as Martians are." Kaldur lowered his hand, and I turned my impassive expression to him, "Sorry Kaldur, I should have explained this to her before. Since everyone on Mars communicates telepathically, it's what she's more used to."
"It's fine. I also experienced some difficulty coming to understand the customs of the surface world, so I can empathise with your situation, M'Gann." He nodded at her, a smile on his face.
"Thanks, Kaldur. Should we go see when Red Tornado is arriving?" She asked, upbeat as ever. He nodded and turned to head back to the central chamber, with M'Gann and I flying leisurely after him.