The next morning. Black Canary stood in the center of the sparring mat, her arms folded. She wasn't wearing her hero gear—just a black tank top and athletic pants—but she still looked like someone you didn't want to cross.
The rest of the Team sat on the bleachers, watching. Robin had a tablet out, likely tracking my biometrics.
"Vex. Superboy. Front and center," Canary said. Her voice was calm but carried through the cavernous room without effort.
Conner stepped onto the mat with a heavy, deliberate stride. I followed, keeping my movements light. The Power Ring felt steadier today; though a 9% charge from his willpower wasn't much, the green glow had finally stopped flickering.
"I've seen the mission reports from Santa Prisca," Canary started, looking between us. "Power is useless if you don't know how to direct it. Today is about leverage. Vex, you can't use your ring for this spar. You need to learn how to face stronger opponents without it. Conner, we'll focus on getting you to use more than just strength. Focus on how your body moves and try not to choreograph every attack."
Conner scoffed. "I don't need to think so much just to hit something."
"You do if you want to hit it once and be done," I said, catching his eye. I didn't activate the Sharingan, but I kept my focus sharp, recalling the exact way Canary had shifted her weight when she took down a practice dummy yesterday.
Canary circled us. "Vex, you've been learning quickly for someone who was thrown in the deep end. Let's see what you've picked up so far. Spar with Conner. Use his momentum against him."
I took a stance. It wasn't the rigid, formal posture of a student. I mirrored Canary's own relaxed, slightly bladed stance.
Conner didn't wait. He lunged, a straightforward grab that relied on his speed and size. In the past, I would have panicked or tried to throw up a green shield. Now, I saw the opening. He was top-heavy, leaning too far into his strike.
I stepped to the side, my foot pivoting just an inch, and caught his forearm. I didn't try to stop him. A simple tug, and he was pulled in the direction he was already going while stepping behind his lead leg.
Conner's own weight did the work. He stumbled, his shoulder hitting the mat with a dull thud. He was back on his feet in a second, looking more confused than hurt.
"Again," Canary commanded, a small, knowing smile on her face.
This time, Conner was more cautious. He moved in, throwing a jab. I ducked, the air from his fist whistling over my head. I moved into his guard, my palm striking his chest right on the solar plexus. I didn't do it to hurt him, but to disrupt his breathing. His chest felt like a wall, completely solid. The Ring pulsed, feeding off the proximity to his resolve.
"Focus, Conner," I muttered. "Watch my hips, not the hands."
We traded blows for five minutes. I wasn't winning—he was too fast and too durable—but I wasn't losing. Every move I made was a calculated echo of Canary's training. I was using his strength as the fuel for my own defense.
"Enough," Canary said, stepping between us.
She turned to me, her eyes narrow and curious. "Your technique is eerily precise for someone who's only been here a week, Vex. It's almost like you've been doing this for years."
"I'm a fast learner," I said, wiping sweat from my lip. "And I had a good teacher to watch."
I looked at the bleachers. Robin was staring at his tablet, then at me. He knew I was doing more than just "learning." But there was, of course, no way to prove that.
"The Ring stayed stable the whole time," Canary noted, glancing at my hand. "No blue spikes or flickering, like what was stated in the Santa Prisca briefing. What changed?"
"I found a better way to... ground it," I said, nodding toward Conner.
Conner just stood there, breathing hard, but the look of raw frustration in his eyes had been replaced by something else. A flicker of respect.
"Good," Canary said. "Class dismissed. Get some water. Robin, stay behind. I want to go over these recordings."
I walked off the mat, the Ring glowing a steady, confident green. I had more power now, I had their trust, and I had their moves. I was becoming part of the Team, which made me the most dangerous person in the room.