Mates: Book Three

Chapter 8

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The pond, despite there being no sun whatsoever, was a pleasant temperature. It seemed to be a light purple color, no doubt reflecting the vibrant sky. The blood itself washed off, but not completely. It had actually left stain-marks on J'onn's skin. It looked like he had some sort of diseased rash. Weird, yet in this strange dimension, kind of understandable.

Batman sighed. It would be so much easier to understand if he knew the rules of this place. All dimensions had laws that they followed. Be it ones of physics or magic quality... Considering how they were brought here, through magic, then it stood to reason that the laws here would make zero sense whatsoever...

Great.

Just what he needed.

"How could you let him touch you like that?!" J'onn hissed out, voice full of malice.

A deep part of Batman was tired of it all. Of all the anger, the accusations...yet that part was wrapped up in layers of indifference and apathy. "I didn't have a choice."

"I bet you liked it, didn't you Bruce?"

J'onn didn't care about being logical or reasonable. In his hate-ridden mind, all he could think about was Superman touching what was his. And how his Mate, instead of letting him kill the oaf had dragged him off.

Batman had defended Superman.

He didn't get an answer, just that stony silence that he really hated. Hated how Batman just kept staring, refusing to answer because he didn't care. No, he was the solid, frozen statue. Nothing ever phased the human.

The bubbling rage had surged through J'onn's veins, clouding his vision until the next thing he was aware of...was his mate was on the ground and his fist throbbing.

Yet he couldn't snap out of it. Couldn't drop to his knees in shock like he so wanted to. There was something...there...or maybe it wasn't there....maybe it was missing...But whatever it was, was keeping his anger in place. Was making him think good, he deserved it.

"Why don't you care about anything?!" And why couldn't J'onn stop shouting? Why was he still glaring, when all he wanted to do was sob at the futility of it all? A sharp pain flared up in his head and it was J'onn's turn to writhe, to sink to the ground, as the Bond decided that it didn't find the Martian's abuse to be fitting.

By the time the pain cleared enough so he could sit up, Batman had returned to the group.

He hadn't even stayed to make sure he was okay.

J'onn wanted to scream.

()

If thy mind be

Both naive and weak

Thy shall not find

What thy dost seek.

Those were the glowing letters that were currently floating in midair. Given the state of the dimension, it wasn't really that weird. It was just...

Incredibly vague.

No other directions were coming forth, just that stupid poem-puzzle-riddle thingy, that was in a strange archaic language but they were all somehow able to comprehend. Obviously there would be some test of wits or knowledge but what about?

"If it's brains they want...then....well Batman's kinda smart..." Flash muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, trying to get some of the stiff muscles to loosen up. The crick he had was killing him. He wasn't particularly a big fan of the Bat right now, but he had to acknowledge that the man's mind was certainly sharper than say...his own.

"The most obvious answer is seldom the right one," came the monotone reply from big, dark, and creepy.

Before he could get angry over those words, the glow from the letters suddenly spread to all of the Leaguers, making them stiffen up as an uncomfortable feeling washed over them. The glow was...scanning them?

Ironically, Batman was the first one to stop glowing.

Obviously he wasn't smart enough for this one, and it made Flash feel unbelievably smug in a juvenile twelve-year old kind of way.

J'onn stopped glowing also.

Then Lantern...and Supes...and Shayera....

Until just he and Diana were left standing in the strange glowy-substance. Wait....

If thy mind be both naïve and weak...

So it didn't want smart minds...it wanted....weak ones? Well in that case, Flash could kind of understand why he was a suitable participant.

As far as mental shields went, the speedster's were kind of weak, but there was seldom a telepathic who could listen to his thoughts whirl around without getting dizzy after a few minutes, much less try and control them. But naïve? He wasn't naïve...optimistic maybe, but that wasn't the same thing.

Stupid poem-puzzle-riddle thingy..how could it not understand the difference?!

Didn't have enough time to get any angrier though, before the glow started to increase, getting brighter and brighter until...

Darkness.

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"It's about TIME you got here! I've been waiting for you guys for like ever!"

The chirpy voice belonged to a small...form.

It kept shifting, seamlessly gliding from shape to shape, as if It couldn't quite make up Its mind on what It wanted to be. They couldn't focus on It either, for It seemed any time they tried, It would disappear. Instead they had to kind of glance, without trying to really look at It. Incredibly frustrating, especially to those like Batman, who couldn't help but want to focus on It. To observe It with his analytical mind and drink in all the details he could with those sharp eyes.

"Who are you?" Shayera demanded, rather than asked, eyes flickering with the strain of not looking. She too, found it frustrating. "Better yet, what are you?"

It made a little hmm noise, as if having never considered the question itself. "That's kinda hard to explain. Cause I dunno either. But once I find out, I'll let you know, kay?"

"Is that why we can't really...see you?" J'onn hazard a guess, finding it actually easy to just glance at It. He didn't have to know, unlike some people.

"Yeup!" It chirped out, bouncing slightly, as if finding endless amusement in such a simple conversation. "You know what trees and flowers are. What a pond is. But you dunno what I am. So I kinda...shift and slide around, because you can't make up your minds. I'm actually kinda pretty, really. And a bit pointy..." As soon as the Leaguers heard those words, the image brightened and gained sharper points, until It added, "Then again....maybe I'm round...like one of those toys...And tall! Maybe I'm hideous!"

The image shifted accordingly and there were quite a few growls of frustration. Just when they'd thought they had it.

A bubbly noise, similar to laughter, rang out. "Okay okay, I'll stop. But only because I might sorta actually not really like you guys!" It sounded so..bright.

How could it be unaffected by all the madness that was going on?

It grinned. Clark wasn't sure how he knew, since he couldn't even look at it, but he just...did. "Are you responsible for all this?"

More bubbling. "No! I'm just...kind of...a guide? For you. And once this is over, we'll leave and it'll be really fun!" The image darkened slightly, as if in disagreement.

Interesting.

Lantern turned his eyes away from It and towards Flash, who was slumped on the ground, unconscious, next to Diana. "What's wrong with them?" Had It done something?

"They're in the middle of a challenge. Duh. It must be the very beginning. Usually there's a lot more screaming by now!" It brightened, disgustingly happy at the thought of the speedster and princess writhing in pain.

As if on cue, Diana let out a choked sound, her features contorting in pain.

"Oh! It's starting! You might want to sit down...because usually they start bleeding and well...You'll probably do something annoying like try and help them so...Oh! Gotta go!" With that, It blinked out. Leaving the rest of the Leaguers staring down at their two teammates...

Wondering just what the hell was going on.

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For the longest time, Flash and Diana just kind of...drifted around. Everything had faded away after the strange glow. But no further letters had appeared; no instructions. Unaware of what they were supposed to do...they just started...walking.

Well, that was what Diana thought they were doing.

It didn't feel like they were moving. She knew they were moving...they had to be, because the stars were getting brighter. The stars, in the far distance. That were kind of...weird. Different shapes. Some brighter than others, some different colors...

But all still beautiful.

As they neared the first of the stars, Flash found that they were actually orbs. Small ones, about hand-sized...and as his gloved-hand reached out to touch one, images fluttered through his mind. Soft sensations. Innocence. Love. Curiosity. His hands itched to pluck one of the orbs, to hold it to his ear and just listen to one of them...

But he knew it wasn't right.

For he was looking for just one orb, and these weren't it. So with extreme reluctance, he glided away from them, and headed towards others, in the far distance, noticing that Diana was already far ahead of him. "Slow down!" he shouted at her. "You're going too fast!"

She didn't answer.

Flash glided a little faster (it wasn't walking, it felt too weird to be), and almost stumbled as he came across the next gathering of orbs. More sensations. Not as innocent. Louder. Crude. Tainted slightly. Some left a sick taste in his mouth. They felt sour. Wrong. Flash let out a shudder and forced himself to continue on, having no urge to listen to any of these. Didn't even want to touch any of them, and he flinched every time he came close to.

Diana hadn't moved too far ahead, in fact it looked like she hadn't moved at all, and Flash quickened his speed. Only the next orbs, seemingly appeared out of no where, and he tumbled into them. These were even louder than the last, like a blasting stereo that's volume was just a tad too high. Their taint seemed to crawl over his skin, sinking deep into his pores. No shame. These orbs were dark and crude and proud in their madness.

The things they whispered of...

Murder. Death. Destruction. Chaos. Mutilation. Rape.

Had Flash choking as he struggled to get away, only the more he struggled the longer they seemed to want to hold on, seeming to giggle at his misery. They liked his discomfort. Reveled in his fear.

It made him sick.

"The more you fight, the more they resist," came a chirpy voice, as Flash's stomach decided to empty its contents. There was no vomit, but he'd felt it leave...It should have made him feel better, but it just increased the feeling of slime that was covering his body.

"You know, your girlfriend's not doing much better. It's kind of sad. In a really funny way!" There was a sound of bubbling water, and Flash dimly realized that the voice was laughing at them.

Girlfriend...Diana?

That's right. She'd been farther ahead.

Struggled against their hold on him, seeing nothing but Diana's motionless form ahead, and finally, finally managed to wring himself free of their slime.

Glided forward slightly, only to freeze in terror.

More orbs.

These orbs were glinting wickedly, as if snickering at his reluctance to enter them. Diana was just on the other side...but maybe he didn't have to go through them? Maybe there was a way around--

"No, no taking the boring way out! Be fun!" Hands were suddenly on his back, shoving him into the orbs and he was lost to agony.

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The second It had winked out, Flash's body started to gain mysterious wounds. Slashes appeared on his arms, ripping through the skin with such vengeance, several of them had hit bone, and all were bleeding quite profusely. Lantern had snapped to action, using his ring to try and contain the bleeding. J'onn was probing Flash's mind, as well as Diana's, trying to figure out what was causing the attack, but he was hitting a block, a wall that was impossible to breach, every time.

That's when Diana's body had decided to join in. Deep gashes appeared across her face, neck and chest, hitting several major arteries. Add on to that, she started to have seizures, jerking so wildly that it took both Batman and Shayera to hold her down, both trying to apply pressure to the wounds, to keep her from bleeding out.

Clark had started to burn the wounds closed with his heat vision, only it was so hard to focus, with all the chaos that was going on, that he slipped up a few times, burning them slightly. Add onto the fact that it seemed more wounds were opening than they could contain...

And the blood...

That was when the screams had started....

()

This was different. A different type of madness. This was the thick, hatred laced, insanity that plagued only the darkest of souls. The lost ones. It felt like Flash was drowning. They'd pull him deep under, shrieking at him at such high-pitched levels, clawing at him in places that he hadn't even been aware existed. And he'd struggle, kicking, biting and cursing until he'd be able to get his head just over the surface, enough to breathe, then he'd be yanked back.

Relentless.

They didn't care about anything. It was just one huge fucking joke to them. It was funny. Hearing him scream and beg and plead to let go. They loved every second of it.

Flash hated it.

Wanted to kill them all.

"But see, that's the thing. They're kind of...difficult to kill. Because...you can't even really kill them. They can die, and fade and people will forget, but another will come along, just as terrible. Just as wicked. And the cycle will start all over again. There's never an end, really! Isn't that funny?"

The stupid chirpy voice was back again. Mocking him.

"No, not mocking. Just...trying to get you to realize the stupidity of it. The horribleness of...well..everything. Because it's not just human nature. It's really the nature of everything. The core of all beasts."

So what was the point?

"Exactly!"

No, what was the point of the challenge?

"Oh, that. Well, it's simple. You have to find his orb. Or his mind, really."

Who's mind?

"Ares' mind, silly! Don't tell me you've forgotten why you're here."

Where's it at?

"Oh well see...that's the thing. It's waayyy back there. It's the darkest one yet. He is the God of War you know."

So all he had to do...was find this stupid orb..and the pain would end?

"Hmmm...mmm...yes, I suppose."

Sounded easy enough...

"Ah-ah-ah, no, not really. Because, like you said, what's the point?"

Flash didn't understand. What's the point of what?

"Well, you'll have to go through even more orbs to find his. And really, isn't it quite sad? The way things are? The madness and killing and suffering...haven't you been through enough? Hasn't EVERYONE been through enough?"

Enough of the killing. The rape. The murdering. The world was an incredibly dark place. It wasn't just the world either. Other planets he'd gone to, other race's wars...

The Universe was a dark place. There never seemed to be any light at the end of the tunnel. Never ending battle. Why? Why was he doing this?

What was wrong with just giving up?

"Nothing. There's nothing wrong with it at all."

Weak...that was being weak though. Giving up, letting Them win. ...wasn't it?

"Letting Them win? Who exactly is Them?"

Evil dudes. The people he fought against. The reason he was in the hero buiz.

"Well, you're not really giving up in this case. It's more like...you're refusing to save it anymore."

That's the same thing.

"No, it's not. It's not. Why save this universe? Why save people who only kill themselves in the end? You know what happens if you give up? Nothing changes. The Universe will continue to cave in, until it's finally quiet. There will finally be peace. For everyone."

Peace. What was peace? Such a foreign concept. People talked about it...but Flash never really saw it in action...never really felt it.

"Peace...is freedom."

Freedom?

"Yah. You know...there's this...urge inside you. All you Superheros, and regular hero guys. It's like....you guys just can't be observers. You can't stand by and watch bad things happen, and mourn the destruction after wards. You have to go out there and stop it. Or at least try. You have to fight back. You can't just ever accept it. Accept the darkness that's out there. You keep fighting, never knowing why, refusing to give up, because of that urge. Imagine the freedom, if that urge is no longer there. Because you don't need to have it. Wouldn't that be beautiful?"

Urge? Yes, Flash knew that urge. It was why...he'd put on the costume. Why he'd joined the Justice League. It was what made him answer each call...

Imagine the freedom, if that urge is no longer there. Because you don't need to have it. Wouldn't that be beautiful?

God yes. It would be....so peaceful. No more darkness. No more death, sickness, rape, murder, suicide, destruction, bombings...

No more Diana.

Her beautiful smile. The way her hair fell gracefully around her shoulders. How it smelled of green apples and honey. How she was really quite clumsy if she didn't get enough sleep. She tended to trip over air. Only she'd try to cover and act like she meant to do it..

How she'd eat just about anything if hungry enough. And make some really disgusting combinations. Like pancakes with syrup...and ketchup.

She tended to mumble in her sleep. She'd end up shouting something really loud, loud enough to wake him up and send him tumbling off the bed, expecting an attack, and she'd just roll over, still snoozing...and he'd try to go back to bed, only to realize she'd stolen the covers. All of them. Even the blanket that he'd brought in as a backup. And he'd think it was all some sort of elaborate plan to horde the blankets only he could never be sure...

Because Diana would get this cute confused look on her face anytime Flash tried to ask her.

How he'd tried to be romantic, and plan a picnic for the two of them, only for it to rain. And it rained hard. Yet instead of shrieking and running for cover like the others...she had laughed and tackled him into a large mud puddle. He could have totally dodged that, no matter what she claimed.

The way she would make him coffee sometimes. Cream, thirty-seven sugars and all. He'd take a sip and usually end up wanting to spit it out because no matter what she did...it ended up tasting bad. Only he couldn't spit it out because then she'd know and it would hurt her feelings so he usually ended up swallowing it down really fast, hoping that the taste would go away if he burned his taste buds...It never did.

How could someone so beautiful....

That filled him with so much hope...

How could he even for a second, be willing to give up on that?

It wasn't possible.

So he opened his eyes, and struggled out of Their hold and kept on towards Diana's, reaching his hand out for hers.

"You're willing to brave all that...for her?" Chirpy-voice asked, and It sounded kind of amazed, and a bit sad.

He grinned, "Duh."

The bubbling sound returned. "I think I kinda like you guys."

()

It was gone.

The insufferable, bubbling rage that had been smothering Flash for months...was gone. There was still something missing...Something that wasn't quite right, but it was enough of a change that he could finally breathe. Could finally feel something other than anger, or hate.

"I make you laugh?! You want a joke princess? How about a riddle?! There's a bitch in my bathroom who's outstayed her welcome. Here's a hint; it's you." Oh god, had he really said that to Diana?

He really did owe her an apology. There were so many things he had to apologize for... Things he'd said and done...that had made sense at the time but now, that his mind was clear, the memories made him wince in regret. Which was a beautiful thing. He could feel regret now.

Ow.

And pain. He could also feel pain.

A lot of it. His arms...and stomach...unnng...breathing hurt too. Wow. That had taken a bit to catch up on. And his skin was tingling, like a bad case of sunburn. When had...?

Must have been the challenge...when they were attacking me...I guess they really were doing damage after all. Ohhh he could smell vomit too. Ew.

There was something in his hand. It was small and round..oh.

His fingers tightened around it. The orb. Ares' orb. How....? Flash didn't remember finding it. His last thoughts were of getting to--

"Diana! Is she okay?"

Gingerly tried to sit up, despite the muscles in his stomach screaming at him. But he had to know, because if he was this badly hurt and she had been so far ahead of him then it could only mean--

"Don't move."

Cool, emotionless—Bats. Oh man. He owed Batman an apology too, come to think of it. For the whole...punching him thing. "Sorry about...earlier," he murmured out sheepishly, almost afraid that the Dark Knight would try and take his revenge. And most likely it would hurt a hell of a lot more than his had. But when three seconds passed and nothing happened, Flash figured he was in the clear.

"So, ah, Diana? Is she okay?"

Superman came over, eyes looking tired and trembling just ever so slightly. "She lost a lot of blood but she pulled through. She probably won't be awake for a while..."

He nodded in understanding (how awesome was it that he could think clearly now?!). "Kay, I'mma konk out in a few seconds....but um....this is.....Ares' mind...be careful....s'if you lose it.....I'mma hurtcha..."

For the first time in forever, he was able to dream.

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A/N: This chapter is kinda full of wtfkery, ya know? Just loaded with it. I dunno where It came from. She kind of just popped in there, when I realized that the leaguers had no idea what was going on, and it'd get pretty boring if it was just them going, 'okay...what now?' So she popped in there, my fingers moving before I realized it, and well, here we are! Woohoo! Chapter 8! About freaking time, yeah? I finally realized why I wasn't typing as much.

Because I was pouring all of my creative energy elsewhere! Photoshop! I'd spend hours, just messing around, making different things, and then the itching need to create wasn't there, because I was, creating. So I had no drive to write. But once I took a break from photoshop, dude! Like I've written like three chapters for different stories already. And it's only been two days. How AWESOME is that?! I missed it, man!

Dude it was so freaking HARD to combat It. Because It was making a lot of good points. When she was done talking, I felt kinda like a douche for having them save the universe, when really it seemed more merciful to let it die, ya know? I was like, 'but um.........love! Flash! Save it for love!' and Flash was like ':sobs: okay!' …...sooo yeah. Tricky. Anyway, review~!