16. New life

The sky was overcast as Nokk stood in front of the grave marked with the name "Tom Clancy." The cemetery was quiet, the only sounds being the rustling of leaves and distant traffic. Nokk held a bouquet of white lilies, her expression unreadable. She had been standing there for over an hour, her thoughts a tumultuous mix of grief, anger, and reflection.

For the first half-hour, she mourned deeply, the pain of losing Tom, the only person who had shown her genuine kindness, washing over her like a relentless tide. She remembered his warm smile, the way he always had a kind word or a gentle joke to share. He had seen something in her that she struggled to see in herself—a potential for goodness.

As time passed, her mourning shifted to contemplation. Batman's words echoed in her mind, challenging her to choose a different path. She recalled the conversations she had with Tom, his belief that she was capable of being more than just a weapon.

"You're a good person, Saga," Tom had told her once. At the time, she had dismissed it as the well-meaning words of an old man who didn't truly know her. But now, standing at his grave, she wondered if there was a kernel of truth in his words. Maybe, just maybe, she could become what he had believed she could be.

...

Nokk knelt down and placed the flowers at the base of Tom's gravestone. "I'm sorry, Tom," she whispered. "I didn't get to say goodbye properly. But I'll try to do what you wanted. I'll try to be better."

With a final, lingering look at the gravestone, she turned and walked away, her mind made up. She would honor Tom's memory by striving to be the good person he saw in her, even if she didn't fully believe it herself.

...

The night was cold as Nokk sat on the edge of a rooftop, her legs dangling over the side. The city below was alive with the usual chaos of Gotham. She took a drag from a cigarette, the glowing ember a tiny beacon in the darkness.

"You shouldn't be smoking at your age," came a deep voice from behind her.

Nokk didn't turn around, continuing to puff on the cigarette. "I didn't ask for a lecture, Batman."

Batman emerged from the shadows, his presence imposing yet somehow reassuring. He scowled and reached out, snatching the cigarette from her fingers and tossing it into the wind. Nokk didn't even flinch.

"Does the hero thing still stand?" she asked, her voice steady but tinged with uncertainty.

Batman sat down next to her, looking out over the city. "Of course."

Nokk glanced at him, her eyes searching his face for any sign of deception. "You know everything about me now, right?"

Batman nodded. "I do."

Nokk took a deep breath, gathering her courage. "Can I ask you for one thing?"

Batman's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of suspicion in his gaze. "Depends."

Nokk looked back at the city, the lights reflecting in her eyes. "Can you change my name to Saga Clancy?"

Batman's expression softened, understanding the significance of her request. "That would be doable."

Nokk felt a weight lift from her shoulders. "Thank you."

...

The wind picked up, rustling Nokk's hair as she sat next to Batman, the two of them sharing a rare moment of quiet understanding.

"Tom used to say that I was a good person," Nokk said softly. "I don't think so."

Batman looked at her, his gaze steady. "Believing in yourself is the hardest part. But it's the first step towards change."

Nokk nodded, absorbing his words. "I'll try," she said, more to herself than to him. "I'll try to be the person he thought I could be."

Batman stood, offering her a hand. "You don't have to do it alone. We'll be watching you, but we'll also be there to help."

Nokk took his hand, standing up beside him. "I appreciate that. But don't expect miracles overnight."

Batman's lips twitched in the faintest hint of a smile. "We'll see. Welcome to the team, Saga Clancy."

As they disappeared into the night, Nokk—now Saga Clancy—felt a renewed sense of purpose. She would honor Tom's memory and prove to herself that she could be more than what she had been made into. She would carve out a new identity, one step at a time, and perhaps, one day, she would believe in the goodness that Tom had always seen in her.

...

The team was gathered in the main briefing room, buzzing with curiosity and excitement. Red Tornado stood before them, his metallic face betraying no emotion as he prepared to deliver his announcement.

"Today, you will gain a new member," Red Tornado stated, his voice as calm and monotone as ever.

"Who is it? Where is he?" asked Robin, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"She is already here," Red Tornado responded.

The team glanced around, puzzled. There was no one else in the room. Suddenly, Robin felt something cold and sharp touch the back of his neck. He quickly spun around, instinctively drawing his birdarangs, only to find himself face-to-face with Nokk. She stood there, her expression unreadable, hidden by her gear. a knife held lightly in her hand.

The rest of the team immediately got into fighting stances, ready to defend their teammate.

"Nokk, what are you doing here?" Aqualad demanded, his eyes narrowing.

Before Nokk could respond, Red Tornado spoke up, his voice cutting through the tension. "She is your new member. I have other matters to attend to. I will leave you all to get acquainted."

With that, Red Tornado turned and exited the room, leaving the team in stunned silence. Nokk sheathed her knife, her eyes meeting each of the team's in turn.

"You've got to be kidding me," Kid Flash muttered, lowering his stance but not his guard.

Robin was the first to break the silence. "Alright, let's get this straight. Nokk, why are you here?"

Nokk crossed her arms, her gaze steady. " I'm here because of Batman."

The team exchanged uncertain glances. Superboy's fists were still clenched, Miss Martian's eyes were wide with curiosity, and Aqualad looked deep in thought.

Artemis finally said, breaking the silence. "Well, if Batman vouches for you, I guess we can give you a chance."

"I don't need your approval," Nokk—retorted, though there was no malice in her voice. "But I'll take it if it means we can get to work."

Robin stepped forward, his stance relaxing slightly. "Let's start with introductions. I'm Robin. That's Kid Flash, Aqualad, Superboy, Miss Martian, and Artemis."

Saga nodded, acknowledging each of them. "I know who you are."

(End of a chapter)