Chapter 66: 66

The hum of the Zeta-tube faded as the teleportation sequence completed. "Nova B-08," the system intoned. Joseph stepped forward, clad in his full Nova suit, helmet securely in place. But as he took in the room before him, a sense of discomfort settled in his chest. The other protges—Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, Superboy, and even Kori—were all dressed casually. Only the mentors, alongside Captain Marvel, Black Canary, and Red Tornado, remained in their heroic attire. Why hadn't Batman mentioned this? Now he felt stiff and out of place. Kori floated over to him, her vibrant hair catching the light. Her green eyes sparkled with amusement as she addressed him in Tamaranean, ensuring the others wouldn't understand. "Joseph," she said softly, "why are you suited up?" "No one told me to come in casual clothes," he admitted, feeling awkward. "And I'm still not sure about revealing my identity." She tilted her head slightly. "I believe we can trust them. They have saved the Earth many times and are our comrades." Joseph hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright then." He reached up, removing his golden helmet revealing his long brown curly hair. He hadn't cut it since his hair had been burnt alongside his body when he saved a child from a burning building in what felt like years ago. Floating forward with his helmet tucked under his arm, he scanned the room, noting the reactions of those present. His gaze found Captain Atom, his mentor, who gave him a subtle nod of approval before he turned to the rest of the assembled heroes. "Hello," he greeted, his voice even. Though he had been under the League for months, his interactions with them had been minimal. Robin and Speedy had crossed paths with him when he was still operating as Flux, and Wonder Woman, as Starfire's mentor, had offered him pointers when they trained together. Then there was Batman, who had an uncanny ability to appear silently when he least expected it. "Nova!" Captain Marvel's voice boomed with enthusiasm, startling him. "Man, I am a huge fan! You're super cool!" Joseph blinked. "Uh... thanks?" He wasn't sure how to react to the large, imposing adult acting like an excitable kid. "I'm a fan of you as well." Captain Marvel grinned and gave him a thumbs-up. The rest of the League gave him polite nods, and the sidekicks followed suit. Kid Flash, was the first to speak. "Dude, the whole suit thing? Very dramatic. You totally missed the memo on casual Thursday." Joseph smirked slightly. "Apparently." Robin's eyes glinted with amusement behind his sunglasses. "No worries, man. It happens to the best of us." Aqualad inclined his head respectfully. "It is good to have you with us, Nova." Superboy barely acknowledged him, arms crossed and gaze fixed on something distant. His posture screamed quiet rebellion, as if he was still trying to figure out whether he even wanted to be here. Joseph took note but didn't press. He wasn't the type to force conversations. Then Batman entered the room, commanding silence without uttering a word. His gaze swept over them before he spoke. "Since you have all decided to continue fighting the good fight together, you will operate as a team. This location, the Secret Sanctuary, will serve as your base—provided you adhere to League regulations." He paused. "Red Tornado has volunteered as your supervisor. Black Canary has offered her expertise as a trainer. The Team will focus on covert operations; the League will still handle high-profile cases." Joseph nodded. It made sense. He had no issues with working in the shadows—he was already used to operating outside the spotlight. Batman's voice continued, unwavering. "Now, let me introduce the seventh member of your team." A girl with short red hair entered the room, looking normal at first glance—until you noticed her green skin. "This is Miss Martian, Martian Manhunter's niece." She beamed at them. "Hello, everyone! I'm so excited to be here. I've always wanted to be part of a team!" Kid Flash wasted no time, immediately adopting what Joseph was starting to recognize as his usual flirtatious tone. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Martian! And might I say, you are looking—" Robin elbowed him in the ribs. "Reel it in, Wally." Wally winced, rubbing his side. "Come on, I was just being friendly!" Wally then continued, introducing the other proteges. When it came time to introduce him, Kid Flash simply gestured vaguely. "This is Nova." Joseph raised an eyebrow. "Charming introduction." "Figured you could do the brooding mysterious thing yourself." Miss Martian studied each of them with curiosity but seemed particularly drawn to Superboy. She stepped closer to him, her expression soft with understanding. "You're... different," she said, her voice gentle. Superboy tensed. "What's that supposed to mean?" "Oh! I just meant—I feel like we have something in common," she rushed to explain, her enthusiasm dimming slightly. "You know, being new here... and learning about Earth?" Superboy didn't respond right away. Eventually, he just muttered, "Sure." Miss Martian's smile returned, though slightly subdued. Joseph observed the exchange, was that a crush? The League members left through the Zeta beam so that they could socialize. As the League moved toward the exit, Joseph glanced back at Batman. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, Joseph wondered if Batman thought he was a good fit for the team. Then the moment passed, and Joseph followed the others, stepping into his new role—not just as Nova, but as part of something bigger.