Welcome to the 2022 April A to Z Challenge! Each day (minus Sundays) in the month of April will feature a short work of fiction based on a random word beginning with the corresponding letter of the day. Those random words will be provided by various friends and family members throughout the month. Today’s word, lemonade, was provided by my blogging friend, T. Go check out her blog! Then come back here… Each story is loosely connected to the one before but will make more sense if you read them all in order. To go back to the beginning to see where this madness began, click here…

Things were a little crazy inside Titans Tower. After a short, albeit intense, battle with Red Volcano, each of the Teen Titans were doing whatever they could to help out as Superboy lay unconscious on a sofa.

Red Robin was in the communications room attempting to reach out to Dr. Mid-Nite for his medical expertise. Beast Boy and Kid Flash were still outside, probably getting Aqualad caught up on the afternoon’s insanity. Wonder Girl was monitoring Conner, ready to take care of his needs should he wake up. Starfire sat with Wonder Girl, providing the kind of emotional support that only she could give.

Leaving Miss Martian to wonder how she could possibly help with anything.

M’gann made her way to the tower’s kitchen and started mixing a pitcher of lemonade while using her telekinesis to pull out the ingredients needed to make a batch of chocolate chip cookies. As the newest member of the Teen Titans, Miss Martian was still unsure how well she fit in with the team.

She thought about the Martian Manhunter and his place with the Justice League. Technically, J’onn wasn’t family but she thought of him as an adoptive uncle nonetheless. M’gann was aware of how important he has been to the League throughout the years in nearly every incarnation of the superhero team. She wasn’t as strong as J’onn and her telepathic abilities weren’t quite as disciplined, but she was learning. And she hoped to find her place with the Titans soon enough.

But on a day like today, it seemed like everyone had a role to play. Except for her. So she made lemonade and cookies. Something she knew she couldn’t screw up.

“M’gann,” said a voice that came from the kitchen doorway, “what are you doing?”

Miss Martian looked up to see Starfire approaching her. “I don’t know…”

“You’re baking again.”

M’gann’s green cheeks may have turned a little red as she could feel herself blushing. “So?”

“You bake when you’re worried.”

She looked at Starfire and sighed. “I just wish I knew how to really help everyone out. This is what I know how to do. Everyone knows their place here. I still feel so lost.”

“M’gann, everyone is doing what they can. There’s no superhero handbook,” Starfire said, trying to provide some encouragement to her Martian teammate. “We have good days and bad days. I think today is both at the same time. If you feel like it’s your place to make snacks for everyone, then that’s what you should do. Please, don’t feel lost. You’re a part of this family.”

Starfire put an arm around Miss Martian’s shoulder and pulled her in for a hug.

“So you’re not upset that I’m making cookies again?”

“I’m only upset that you’re not making Snickerdoodles,” Starfire joked, causing M’gann to laugh.

“Will Conner be okay?” asked Miss Martian.

“I’m sure he’ll be fine. Here, let me give you a hand with these cookies.”

Twenty minutes later, Starfire and Miss Martian emerged from the kitchen with a warm batch of chocolate chip cookies and an ice cold pitcher of lemonade. Looking around, M’gann was both encouraged and confused.

She was encouraged because she saw Superboy sitting up. He had a bandage around his head and Dr. Mid-Nite checked his eyes with a small flashlight. Apparently Red Robin was able to convince the good doctor to teleport over from the Justice Society headquarters in New York.

She was confused because she saw a strange man with a goatee wearing a lab coat tied up on the floor. Aqualad and Kid Flash stood guard over him.

“Cookies!” shouted Beast Boy as he ran up to Starfire, who was holding the plate.

“Try not to eat them all, Gar,” she said, “they’re for everyone.”

“Mmmkay,” mumbled Beast Boy through a full mouth.

“Who is that?” asked M’Gann, still looking at the new guy on the ground.

Beast Boy started to explain while spitting cookie crumbs but Starfire stopped him. “That’s T. O. Morrow. He’s the mad genius who built Red Volcano.”

M’Gann walked around the room making sure anyone who wanted a glass of lemonade had one. Finally, she approached Morrow. “Lemonade?”

The scientist silently glared up at her.

“Okay, maybe later,” Miss Martian said cheerfully as she walked away.

These characters are not my own. The Teen Titans and all related characters are the property of DC Comics. This is a work of fan fiction and is just for fun. Please don’t sue me.

Feature Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash