“I feel this would be a wise moment to remind you that it has been more than a century since I last held a bow. Please adjust your expectations accordingly."

It turned out that suggesting that she brush up on her archery was more of a trial than Diana had anticipated when she’d first spoken to Kate about it. Just to begin with, she’d discovered that even finding a bow that she could draw without fear of snapping it was an unexpectedly difficult undertaking. Even the one she’d eventually settled on had to be treated with care, and she was beginning to think that she should have consulted with Green Arrow before making this attempt.

The problem with that, of course, was that allowing one of her colleagues to know that she had allowed some of her training to lapse was a vastly different situation than telling a young hero the same, and allowing it to build trust between them. She didn’t have to command the Young Avengers, nor did she want to. Occasionally leading League missions was enough. No, she had a different ulterior motive in mind for this outing.

Blindfolded, bound and feeling nauseous, Gracie waited in silence.  She'd tried speaking back at the kennels, calling out to Lorenzo in fear when the guards approached, unlocking the kennels and pulling everyone out.  It didn't take long after the shock of the cattle prod for her to catch on.  She wasn't meant to talk.  Even though they hadn't put that nasty cloth back in her mouth, she didn't dare say a word.

Instead she focused on the silent hum of the engine as the vehicle wound its way through the city and the silent whoosh coming from the car vents.  Gracie was wondering just who she'd be met with.  A friend?  Her father?  An unfamiliar and unfriendly face?  The possibilities were limitless weren't they?  In a city like Launceston, these were things that were never really guaranteed.  Some people got a happy ending, but most got the other end of the deal.

Part of her wished that Lorenzo was right.  That her father had feverishly been bidding and was able to buy her back.  But so many bad things had happened over the last 24 hours, that she couldn't hold on to that idea, no matter how much it comforted her.  And what was a girl like her to do when her heart was telling her one thing but her gut was telling her something totally different?

The vehicle stopped, and Gracie could feel her stomach tighten.  Everything about this felt wrong.  Of course, she had no earthly idea what ‘this’ actually was, but it didn’t stop the worry that flooded her senses nor did it ease her mind.

Sliding of the van door made her jump, but the hands gripped her and pulled her out of the van made her whole body freeze.  At first she couldn’t move.  Not because she was refusing to or because there was nowhere for her to go, but more along the lines of her physically not being able to put one foot in front of the other without her legs giving out.  The fear rolling off of her had to be noticeable just by her shaking frame

“Move!” one of the men gruffly said from beside her, pushing her forward.  It took a lot of effort on Gracie’s part not to fall over, but when she regained her balance, she shuffled forward slowly.  Soon there was a tug on her arm and she was going in a slightly different direction.

Where was she?  It wasn’t exactly outside because she could still feel the wintry chill of the wind passing through, but the cold didn’t surround her like it would’ve if she was completely outside in the open.  Maybe a tunnel.  Maybe a parking garage.  She couldn’t tell.

Suddenly a large arm stopped her.  There was a dull sound of the grinding of metal and something that dinged in front of her.  As she stumbled back a bit, someone tugged the blindfold off, taking a few hairs with it by the tingling sensation at her scalp.  Blinking a few times, adjusting to the overhead light, Gracie stared ahead.  A service elevator.  The doors were open.  Once thrown into the elevator, Gracie began looking at it to see if she’d been in it before.  This elevator looked nothing like any she’d seen before.  Was this a business building?  She couldn’t tell and the more questions that cropped up with no way of answering them, the more anxious and frustrated she became.  The elevator doors closed, sealing her in the small space as she watched the numbers light up, indicating the floors she was passing.  When the elevator stopped, she took in a deep breath.  Whatever was on the other side, she was hoping was friendly.  Even if she didn’t know the person, she was hoping they were friendly.  Perhaps even friendly enough to let her shower and hopefully let her go home.  But hopes were becoming a bad habit for her.  She wasn’t in a safe place anymore.  And because of that, she had to accept that whatever happened from this point forward, it wouldn’t be for her benefit.  Gracie needed to shed that crippling layer of hope.  

You won’t see your father any time soon.

You are not in a safe place.

This person probably hates your family and hates you too.

They don’t care if you live or die.

The ding silenced any other thoughts she may have had, and just as the doors opened, she closed her eyes, waiting for something bad to happen, possibly someone to jerk her out of the elevator and push her down the hall.  Her cheeks glistening with tears as she tried to let go of all the optimistic thoughts that still flooded her despite her wish for them to leave, she waited.  What could come of this?

Nothing good, her mind interjected.

Luke was a man who loved a good joke here and there. He believed being able to relax and laugh was just as important as to maintain a well run well controlled government- or group in their case. On the other hand, he honestly didn’t believe Kate had ever had a day of real fun in her life. She wasn’t a bad person, she was just too serious. He doubted he could really completely change that, but he was making it a personal goal to see if he could manage to make her laugh. It was just in his nature. He liked making people happy, and Randall the Hardass was no exception.

He finished the last food off his dinner plate and stood, cleaning away the place he sat before he headed towards the trails. He had been challenged, and it was a challenge he would take. He could handle himself, there was no doubt about it. Piper wasn’t the classic trainer, and he hadn’t certainly hadn’t applied himself in the past. It may have saved his life, but it didn’t help his reputation. However, when he did apply himself he was very capable and powerful at that. He would prove it to Kate, too.

Bobby usually wasn’t the type of person to skip class, but today he felt like he just needed to. He was exhausted from all of the stress from teaching, and was especially still jetlagged from a trip to Albuquerque to get a student to join the school. He didn’t get back in until 3:30am and classes started at 7:45. He didn’t know how the other teachers could teach on such little sleep, but there was no way in the ninth layer of hell that he was going to sit in the class and talk all day. So Bobby decided he could miss one day of it all. Someone could cover him, right?

Ken smirked to himself as he looked over his outfit he had chosen for his late lunch with Kate. He was wearing a black button down shirt and a pair of jeans. He usually didn't care what he wore but today he did. He was interested in her. More then he should have been for her being someone he hadn't met and all. Looking over himself once more he smirked. He was satisfied with how he looked. Leaving his room he soon headed outside. He decided to walk to where they were going to be having lunch. He liked walking because it gave him time to think.