"Ugh," Kid Flash agrees.

"When we're ready? How are we ever supposed to be ready if they treat us like - like sidekicks?"

He seems to have caught Speedy's habit of saying the word like it's something he found under his shoe. 

"My mentor...my king..." 

Aqualad looks grave. "I thought he trusted me." 

"Trust us?"

Kid Flash is getting increasingly worked up.

"They don't even trust us with the basics. They've got a secret HQ! In space!" 

"I don't mind so much about the lack of trust as the lack of respect."

"That, too, is galling." Aqualad nods. 

"But...what else aren't they telling us?" 

"I have a better question," Robin says, looking away.

"Why didn't we leave with Speedy?"

"Because he was being a brat about it even if he was right?"

"Hey, that's our friend you're talking about," Kid Flash complains. 

"But...yeah, you know, for someone older than any of us, he was acting kinda childish." 

There are a few moments of contemplative silence, then Aqualad looks up. He still looks sad, but there's a glimmer of something else, too.

"...what is 'Project Cadmus'?" he wonders. 

"I...don't know," Robin admits.

"But I can find out!" He turns to the nearest computer, and starts looking through the Justice League's files for any mention of the name.

*Access Denied.*

Robin scoffs. "Wanna bet?"

He starts hacking at lightning speed, a smirk on his face.

"I like the way you think."

"Whoa..." Kid Flash apparently knows enough about computers to be impressed with Robin's skill.

"How are you doing that?" he asks.

Robin grins, basking in the compliments. "Same system as the Batcave," he explains smugly. 

*Access Granted.*

"Alright, Project Cadmus...genetics lab, here in D.C."

He pauses.

"That's all there is. But if Batman's suspicious...maybe we should investigate," he suggests, looking pleased with his own logic. 

"Solve their case before they do," Aqualad adds, with an answering grin. 

"It would be poetic justice." 

"And hey..." Robin smirks.

"They're all about justice."

"Damn straight. I'm in!"

Aqualad sighs, face falling.

"But they said stay put." 

"For the blotting-out-the-sun mission, not this."

Robin isn't letting this idea go. 

"We're not trained to work with them," she points out, "so they didn't want us potentially getting in their way. We can't get in their way if we're working on something completely different."

"A-are you going to Cadmus?" Kid Flash asks her eagerly.

"Cause if you're going, I'm going." 

Robin grins at him, and they turn identical pleading expressions on Aqualad. 

"Did I or did I not already say I was in?" she asks Kid Flash.

Aqualad regards the three young heroes opposite him, united in their purpose.

"Just like that, we're a team on a mission?" 

"What better way to prove we can handle teamwork?"

"We didn't come for a play-date," Robin adds. 

He's grinning, like he knows they've already won the argument. 

Aqualad's only reply is a slow smile, the most unambiguously positive expression he's worn since they arrived.