Outsiders
Chapter 13; Returning
Pacific Ocean, coast of Japan
Joshua slid through the water slowly spiralling his length to propel himself along faster than even a dolphin could swim. He was simply exercising himself. Josh was drawn to the peace of the water, even with the chatter of marine animals that always kept him company. This time the normal dolphin pod and Orca family had been joined with a creature far closer to Josh's own size. The great Blue Whale with its constant slow speech provided almost as much entertainment for the dolphins as Josh did. They had run into each other a few weeks ago and the huge creature had stuck around whether they stayed.
Josh swam gently beside the Blue Whale while the Orcas and Dolphin scurried around them making far more trips to the surface to breathe than Josh or the two hundred ton whale beside him. A small form flickered in front of Josh's nose and since it had appeared so fast Josh knew that is was Arthur. The form lingered for a moment before darting out of the way as one of the dolphins tried to ram him. It was being playful but sometimes they forgot that Arthur was human.
Josh snaked out his neck and jabbed the dolphin reproachfully in the side. It stopped and stared at him a moment before meekly approaching the hanging Arthur who stroked it's nose gently.
"Josh, I've found another one, about fifty miles north of here." Arthur told him, his words rippled through the water and were picked up on Josh's scales just like dolphins picked up their own ultrasonic impulses on their noses.
"Let's go play." Josh slid around and using his inert sense of direction turned due north. They'd been staying on a small volcanic island just North East of Japan and Josh and Arthur spent a lot of time hunting Whalers or polluters and putting a stop to their activities rather permanently. Bart spent most of the morning relaxing on the beaches of the island or visiting Japan with Josh and Arthur in the evenings. Josh also spent half of his time working in his book. His powers had rapidly advanced in the four months he'd been gone and he was confident that he'd be able to at least sent a Wizard running back across the globe if it came to it.
The book had taught him hard and fast. His mind was protected as far as he could tell. He could transport himself to anywhere he'd visited before. He could shield from other magic and had an armoury of some ten or so very violent spells that he could cast if need be. He was only a fifth of the way into the book and it would take several years before he could call himself an accomplished Sorcerer but he'd soon be at the point where he could return to Smallville and risk the Wizards. Then he could be back with Ryan again, and not just like the two trips he'd made since the court session.
Josh and Arthur came across their quarry not too long afterwards. They'd kept their speed down to let the Blue Whale, Orca's and Dolphins keep up with them since it was easier to hide when they had so much around them. If somebody happened to spot Arthur in the water they might call search and rescue but if somebody spotted a huge Sea Serpent there'd be mass panic until the authorities spotted a massive Blue Whale and its entourage.
Even so, Josh spoke through the water to his impromptu companions impressing the need for them to stay together out here where it was safe. They did as they were told though Josh knew that they'd follow if they thought Josh was in danger. It was surprising the damage a Blue Whale could do to a ship.
Josh gaze up out of the water at the ship cutting through the water. It was a heavy, cumbersome thing that sent spray up into the air each time it came down on a wave. It's cranes made a horrendous noise as they jerked around in their restraints but it was the smell of the ship that caught Josh's attention and spurred on his Leviathan's instincts. It was the smell of an Orca. Josh's vibrating call sounded to human ears to be very much that of an Orca and Josh slid smoothly back under the water as humans ran to the edge of the boat looking for another whale to prey on.
They water however wasn't an impediment to the answering call from the Orca that told Josh that it was still alive. Josh turned to look at Arthur who was steadily breathing in oxygen through the gills behind his ears. "Let's get that Orca off before the boat sinks." Arthur told him. He would have been able to hear the Orca's return call as well.
Josh rolled into the water, coiling his length into a tight spiral before propelling himself forwards. To the men on the ship all they saw was a streak of black approaching the ship. Josh grew longer as he approached building in size as he always did when the creatures of the sea were at threat. His two metre diameter body struck the side of the ship and he scrapped his way down the side tearing off barnacles and the plating that protected the iron hull. The ship lurched violently and Josh heard a sudden splash. He coiled around again and turned to avoid the rotating propellers before striking out with his jaws. They crunched through the prop shafts and he yanked his mouth away as the starboard propeller fell into the depths.
He attacked the second one and the boat shuddered to a halt as Josh's tail crossed it's bow and slowed it suddenly. A shape caught his eye from where the ship had been before and he could just see a person treading water. Josh struck out towards it and though he'd never killed any of the whalers that didn't mean he hadn't scared them. His head reared out of the water as he dove passed the human in plain sight of those on the ship. Josh ducked back into the water easily dodging the harpoon that streaked passed the human and sunk into the water.
He nudged the ship again but this time he held it on one side. He felt the ship lurched as something heavy slide down the down and then after a moment a loud splash that couldn't be a human.
An overjoyed Orca cry echoed through the water and Josh released the boat and swam under its precariously rolling keel as he bit his way through the rest of the netting holding the rescued Orca trapped. He nudged the creature to leave as soon as it was free and called to the other Orcas to come collect her. When a Leviathan requests that you take a stranger into your pod you don't even think about arguing.
"Time to sink this bastard of a thing." Josh declared to Arthur who Josh knew was standing well clear. Before Josh had joined him, Arthur had contented himself with upsetting the Whalers, snarling their propellers with cables, cutting their nets free, sneaking on board at night to cut their catches free and so on, but with Josh around they could permanently put Whalers out of business. Arthur was safer staying away from the scene.
Josh reared out of the water and swiped his bulky neck across the back of the ship tearing all of its cranes and nets off of the deck and into the water. A harpoon gun followed quickly as Josh's jaws ripped it out of the deck. The sound of a gun being cocked reached his ears and he jerked his head to the side as a shotgun bullet passed his ear with metres to spare. He didn't like being shot, it left a scratch on his own body, so Josh slid back into the water and hid in the shadow of the boat.
He waited a few metres before his tail slipped up over the bow and down into the water on the other side. It took a moment for them to realise something was happening but by the time they did Josh was already tightening his coils adding another length to the vice until with a massive crack that echoed through the water the bow broke away from the rest of the ship. Josh dropped it instantly and slipped deep into the ocean before turning to head towards where Arthur was watching.
He rippled back into his human form, treading water beside Arthur even as the rolling waves threatened to overcome him along with the cold that Arthur was build to withstand. He shivered but didn't have to worry about staying afloat when a dolphin popped up under his arm as a lifeboat.
"I'm not all too sure I like watching you get shot at." Arthur told him.
"It's all proportional. A shotgun bullet would be like a paper cut to the Leviathan and when I shrink back to human so does the wound." Josh shrugged.
"That doesn't make me like it any better." Arthur studied the scene before them with a grin of pleasure. The ship was settling in my the ruined forecastle, they had maybe five minutes to get into their life rafts and call out a mayday. It wouldn't take a genius to work out they were whalers by the equipment floating around them.
A massive hulk surface slowly beside Josh and he turned to look at the gaping jaws of the Blue Whale. It dove back slowly into the water but as its head came completely clear a jet of water exploded upwards from its blowhole before Josh heard it taking a huge gulp of air. "Let's get back to the island." Josh suggested and started to transform again. It was about a hundred miles back to the island and would take them several hours if they let the Blue Whale stay with them. They'd really do it faster and let the Blue Whale reach them that night. If it wanted to.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
When they got ashore a few hours later it was already noon and surprisingly Bart had already been to shore and back again. Josh pulled on his jeans but forewent a shirt for the time being. "Where have you been?" Bart demanded.
"The same place we usually are." Arthur stepped in with a frown.
"You could have been here sooner!" Bart narrowed his eyes but it little to cover his concern. Josh hugged him letting Bart fold himself into his arms.
"What's the matter love?" Josh asked.
"I saw a big ship on the way to shore. Luthor Corp emblem on the side and it's packed with men. Took a spin around the inside and there's pictures of Josh as a Leviathan." Bart tumbled through the words.
"Maybe letting them see the Leviathan wasn't a good idea. Obviously Luthor Corp wants to study it." Arthur sighed as Josh let Bart go.
"I don't fancy being dissected." Josh told them both. "We'll be able to keep clear of something that big easily enough though."
"Maybe you should just take it easy for a while?" Bart suggested.
Josh sighed and sat down on the sand. It had been four months now since his Uncle had died but whenever he found himself with nothing to do it started to creep in on him. If he worked on his magic for too long it crept in on his concentration so the only thing he could do was to keep himself active and when he was a Leviathan it was easier to get distracted and it gave him a purpose that started to make up for leaving Ryan behind to keep himself safe. Even sleeping didn't help all that much. He and Bart always slept curled up together and while that was pleasant compared to their normal separation, Josh still always seemed to wake up with tears on his cheeks, even if it was one of the odd nights that he didn't dream about either his Uncle or the Wizards that had killed him.
He realised he'd been staring out to sea for a few minutes when Bart sat beside him with a sigh to match his own. Arthur sat down on Josh's other side silently. "I'm sorry, Bart. But when I'm hunting Whalers I feel useful." Bart made to interrupt but Josh beat him to it. "I have to feel useful, Bart. It's the only way I'm staying sane right now."
Bart and Arthur knew everything about how Josh felt. They knew that he suffered from nightmares, had only a few hours sleep a night, worried constantly about Ryan and they knew he was pushing his training too far but they accepted that without that distraction he'd simply lose his mind and then the Wizards would win. They weren't ready to accept losing Josh in any way and if that meant letting him tackle the small evils in the world then they'd let him. They'd protect him until he could obliterate his enemies and when he could do that they'd be at his side.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
A week later
Josh surged through the water after destroying the latest polluter of the ocean. It was about time they returned to the island they were camping on and Josh was about to suggest it to Arthur and their dolphin companions when a low pitched echo reverberated through the water. It was a dull cry of anger, fury and pain but Josh and Arthur knew what it was in an instant. Their Blue Whale companion, Ajax as Bart had named him when he'd beached himself in the water around the island to meet him, was being hurt and calling out in pain.
Josh's Leviathan side snapped into action and his great length coiled tight before sending him streaming through the water leaving not only the dolphins but also Arthur trailing behind him. Ajax was around a hundred miles away from them, his voice spreading out so low that only marine animals could have heard it. It took a few minutes to cover the distance and as he slipped through the water he picked up all of Ajax's cries like he was skipping through a CD.
Ajax was lying on the surface in the rough weather of a storm that had been travelling north along the coast of Japan. Josh couldn't see anything attacking him even though he could faintly hear the sound of a Blue Whale pair off to the East calling back. Josh slowed his approached and stopped under the crippled whale and ran his scaled over Ajax's belly. His own voice rippled through the water asking what attacked him. Ajax's primitive reply told him that a giant bird sent pain through him and he felt in the message the fear Ajax felt toward the bird as it took away Ajax's control of his fins and tail, not letting him dive.
Josh looked up through the water as he slid out of the shadow of his companion and saw a strange black shape hovering without the use of wings. He approached the surface to see through the stormy waves and recognised the 'bird' for what it was. The black body and stream lined structure was that of a helicopter and he could hear the vibrations of the rotor blades as they buffeted at the seas.
The helicopter swung slowly, it's tail grew longer as it turned to the side away from Josh. Josh didn't managed to coil and dodge in time and felt something sharp dig into the side of his face. Anger roared inside him and even as he struck up out of the water he grew in length and width. Without the water though he was as slow as a normal snake and while that wasn't that slow it was slow enough that the helicopter managed a rather clumsy manoeuvre to dodge him.
Another sharp stab made him hiss in pain and this time his fangs managed to gain purchase for a moment when he struck out. His jaws refused to maintain their grip though and Josh was surprised when he fell back into the water with a crash. He coiled to strike again but felt his anger fading. His body started to shrink as his world began to darken around him. He dimly realised he'd been tranquilised and that only Ajax had witnessed it.
The sleeping three metre long Leviathan was picked up by the shaken helicopter crew a few minutes later.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Pacific Ocean
The Queen Enterprises Northern Pacific Conservation Ship, the Gavial, wasn't all that subtle as it crept up on the huge tanker belonging to Luthor Corp. It sat at anchor off the east coast of Japan and while it's radar could clearly see the approaching ship it couldn't see the small shape of a black rib with a single occupant slid across the storm surface of the water.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
The Imdagud
Josh woke very slowly but it was only his serpentine eyes that became aware to his surroundings. His tail and body were unresponsive for the moment and even his hearing took a moment to come to him. His eyes could see out of his small tank quiet easily but the sounds were muffled by the thickness of the glass. He was in some sort of lab and his cylindrical tank was fully sealed as it sat in the centre. About half a dozen men in a variety of colours milled about the room but one person caught his attention in his bleary state. Lionel Luthor.
His focused the hearing of his three metre long body, using his scales to pick up the vibrations like he usually did. He could feel the hum of a generator of some kind beneath them so realised he was still on a ship. The sound of waves against a hull confirmed that but they were muffled which mean they were on a big ship, possibly the tanker that Bart had warned him about.
"It it alive?" Lionel asked. A technician said something but Josh couldn't catch it since the man turned away. "And we're safe?"
"We're not sure." This time the technician who spoke was facing Josh's prison and he understood the words. "It was far bigger than this when it defended the Blue Whale but it hasn't moved its body since awakening which suggests the sedatives being pumped into it are working."
"Any idea what it is yet?" Lionel asked.
"In six hours, no." The technician shook his head not seeming that afraid of the billionaire. "Given a few days we should know a bit more about what species it could have evolved from."
"What about stimuli?" Lionel asked. "What does it do when angered?"
"We were about to test what it does against pain." The technician said.
Josh didn't like the sound of that and his mouth emitted a cry before he could react. It was a low one that vibrated through the tank and into the decks making them vibrate. "Perhaps it understood us. Interesting." Lionel tapped at his chin.
"It's calling for help." The technician muttered. "Sonar picked up the same call outside the ship. It has remarkable vocal abilities."
"Let's see what it calls." Lionel gestured to the technician who nodded at another. A spark danced across the top of his water prison and an instant later Josh shrieked in pain as electricity darted over his body. His previous numbness vanished as adrenaline filled him and his body writhed within the cage. He grew larger and snapped out of the leather restraints that he hadn't even noticed held him floating in the middle of the water. Wires snapped free of his scales and he coiled up defensively near the base of the tank as the electricity stopped.
"It grew by half a metre." A new technician told them as he squatted in front of the cage. Josh lashed out violently slamming his fangs into the glass. The inner layer cracked slightly but it was obviously made of tough stuff and of several layers. Josh would kill himself before he got out. The technician had thrown himself back though. Josh didn't hear the rest of the discussion since Lionel and the other man turned away so he turned his attention to his own body. He had a nasty wound on his left side just below where his ribs would be as a human and already his body was going numb again. He laid his head down on his coils in the water and shut his own letting his world turn black again.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Josh was woken up by the sound of an alarm that rang through his water making his scales vibrate uncomfortably. He opened his eyes and forced his head up and realised with a shock that his body couldn't take much more of whatever they'd been doing to him. He was once again connected to wires and something had stabbed between two of his scales on his neck and burrowed deep into his spinal cord. If he didn't find a way to escape soon he'd die.
He grew slightly larger at the thought and he twisted his body into a weak knot that forced the wires off of him. He turned to the room and could see the technicians running around frantically. They barely spared him a glance before the door smashed off its hinges with a solid kick. He half expected it to be either Arthur or Bart but the man who came through the door seemed slightly older than Arthur and was covered with a dark green leather ensemble and dark sunglasses that covered his eyes.
In a single smooth motion he pulled up an expensive bow and fired an arrow clear across the room hitting a junction box which exploded a split second later plunging the room into emergency lighting. Another arrow sent the six technicians scampering away through another door which the man locked before scanning the rest of the room.
He'd obviously come looking for something as he nodded happily when he saw Josh curled up in the tank staring at him. He walked over and stopped on the other side of the glass. "You don't look as nasty as the news suggests." The man noted with a sarcastic note in his voice. "Either way I don't think a nice creature like you should be trapped up in here and there's a thousand people that would like to see Luthor go down for illegal experimentation."
Josh stared at the man with renewed concern. If he was just going to put him on display and use this to take down Luthor than Josh really couldn't stick around to help him. Josh tightened his spirals and lashed out at the crack he'd already formed. The glass cracked a bit further but it made Josh far too dizzy. His body sagged and floated in the water limply and the man on the other side, who had flinched away, put a hand on the glass. Josh lifted his head and knew he only had one hope. He needed to turn back into a human and get medical treatment and to do that he needed out and he knew of only one way to do that.
He was a Leviathan and that meant he wasn't just a simple beast. He struck out with his mind like he had the first time he'd spoke to Arthur in this form. "Please, help me."
The man jumped back in shock. "You did not just talk!"
"Dying. Get me out." Josh was forced to pull his mind back due to his exhaustion and the drugs still floating around in his blood.
"I'm going to regret this." The man shook his head but stepped back and pulled up his bow. Josh drew himself up into a tight ball at the side of the tank with some of his remaining energy and the man fired an arrow straight through the glass shattering it. Josh landed heavily on the floor of the lab with all the water around him and felt darkness creeping up on him. If he wanted medical treatment he'd have to trust this strange man even though his common sense screamed that it was too much of a risk.
Josh's form rippled as he bent the last of his strength and concentration on turning himself back into his human self. His snake body slowly shifted back until he lay on the sharp glass in his swim shorts. His eyes looked up and his eyes met the face of the strange man who was staring at him without moving. "What the hell?"
Josh just let his head drop back and slipped into unconsciousness.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
The next day
Josh woke and knew instantly that he was somewhere different. He was lying in sunlight for a start and the steady rock of the bed told him he was on a ship much smaller than the huge tanker ship the lab had been on. He let his eyes wander around the room until they settled on a man sitting silently in a chair in the corner of the room. He had rather unruly blond hair which showed the signs of constantly having a hand run through it, sharp angular features and he was still wearing his sunglasses. Josh vaguely thought he should recognise him from a picture but without the eyes he had no chance.
"You're up I see." The man observed and gracefully stood. Josh noted dryly that the man's bow and quiver were leaning up against the table within easy reach and he wondered how long it would take him to draw and fire it. "About two and a half seconds."
Josh jumped and realised his curiosity had been clear on his face. The man moved towards Josh and helped him up against the headboard. "I could be out of here in a fraction of that time." Josh told him.
"Please don't." The man sighed. "You've peaked my interest and I think you owe me for patching you up."
"Who are you?" Josh asked. "You came bursting into a Luthor Corp ship to what...? Rescue a new species and incriminate the Luthors? Are you still going to do that?"
"Whoa! Easy." The man grinned slightly. "I heard Luthor was up here trying to capture a new species that was destroying fishing boats and I took the opportunity to cause him irritation. Rescuing the new species was just a bonus. Finding out you were a human that can turn into a snake was a surprise though."
"Leviathan." Josh told him. "I turn into a Leviathan."
"As in the mythical creature?" The man looked surprised.
"You're dubious about me turning into a mythical creature but not that I can turn into an animal?" Josh raised an eyebrow at him.
"Yeah, I suppose you're right." The man shrugged and pulled off his glasses to rub at his nose. "So what's the deal?"
"Oliver Queen?" Josh asked. "I thought I recognised you."
Oliver glanced at the glasses in his hand and then back at Josh before he placed the sunglasses on the table next to his bow. "Don't tell anyone."
"You're talking to the guy that turns into a Leviathan. We'll keep each other's secret I think."
"Deal." Oliver nodded. "I still don't know your name or what it was you were doing out here. You're definitely American or at least you live there but beyond that I know nothing."
"My name's Joshua Ackervey. My Uncle was recently murdered and since the men that did it were after me I'm taking a prolonged leave of absence. I have a few abilities that help me out at times and one of them is turning into a Leviathan." Josh told him bluntly. "I was irritating polluters and whalers when a helicopter shot me full of sedatives."
"Abilities?" Oliver asked.
"I can heal people." Josh told him knowing he owed the man something more at least.
"I knew there had to me more of you out there." Oliver muttered. "Do you know any others?"
Josh drew his hands across his bare chest. "Why do you want to know? And more to the point what are you going to do with me?"
"I thought you said you could leave whenever you wanted?" Oliver asked. Josh narrowed his eyes at him. "I could give you a place to live, safety, legal protection. Anything you want and if you know of others I'd protect them too."
Josh eyed him but his instincts told him to trust the man. "I know of a few others but it isn't my place to talk about them." Oliver's face fell and that proved more than anything that the man was sincere. "You've met my boyfriend though."
"I have?" Oliver seemed surprised but not by the fact he was gay.
"He broke into your personal library and stole a book for me." Josh told him.
"Bart?" Oliver asked. "Wait, could you read the book?"
Josh nodded. "It's written in the languages snakes talk in."
"You can read that?" Oliver asked shocked.
"I can talk it too." Josh told him with a grin. A deep rumbling vibrated through the hull of the ship and Oliver frowned and moved to the intercom built into the wall. "It's a friend of mine."
"There's another like you?" Oliver asked without pressing the button.
"No." Josh laughed. "He's just probably worried that the Leviathan he plays with has disappeared onto the ship."
"Plays with?" Oliver frowned. "What are we talking about here?"
"A Blue Whale." Josh told him before forcing himself out of bed. His hand came up to hold his left side as pain lanced through him. "You'd better help me up onto the deck."
"Why?" Oliver asked.
"Because he'll ram us to get to me." Josh told him. "It's what Blue Whales do when their pods are captured by fishermen."
"Er, right." Oliver was at his side in a minute. "What about Bart? Is he around?"
"I don't know. He was on the island last I saw him." Oliver shot him a confused look. "You're the one that wants to know us all, you'll have to accept that we're weird."
"Very weird." Oliver nodded.
"You were the one shooting up a tanker ship with a bow and arrow." Josh told him.
"It's a good thing I was." Oliver shot back. The ship lurched violently and Oliver shut his mouth and helped Josh out of the room and out a doorway onto the quarter deck. Josh looked down at himself taking in the cotton trousers he was wearing before making Oliver take him down onto the swimming platform sitting gently just above the water. He rolled up his legs and let Oliver lower him down so he was sitting on the edge of the platform with his lower legs in the icy water.
He splashed the water with his hands and feet and after a moment he saw the shadow slowly rising towards him before all of a sudden Ajax's head slowly broke the water. His nose pushed up at Josh's feet and Josh rubbed his rubbery skin in greeting.
"Oliver, meet Ajax." Josh introduced. "He's a friend Ajax. You don't have to hurt the big seal."
"Seal?" Oliver looked offended.
"The ship, Oliver. Most large marine animals view ships as Seals that haven't worked out how to swim underwater yet. Sometimes they decide to help them out by sinking them." Josh told him. "It's actually rather hilarious."
"Oh yes, really fun." Oliver muttered.
"Come and say hello or he won't leave me alone with you." Josh told him.
"You can understand each other with turning into a Leviathan?" Oliver asked.
"No." Josh shook his head. "I just know what he wants. I'm like a temporary pod member and he's the bull. He wants to know everybody I am with to make sure I'm safe."
Oliver knelt at Josh's side and tentatively reached out to touch the huge creatures nose. Ajax snorted as he felt it before ducking back under the water. A few seconds later his tail struck the water and showered them both. "He accepts you." Josh told Oliver.
"And I suppose he's a good judge of character?" Oliver asked.
"Not really. But he realised you're just a human which means I can take you." Josh laughed. "He's not worried about me now."
"You could take me?" Oliver asked.
"How long do you think you'd be able to stand up to a two hundred metre long Leviathan?" Josh asked.
"Point taken." Oliver nodded. "What now? Are you going to stay with me? I was serious about giving you a place to stay."
"Oliver, I'm really grateful for the offer and everything and you have no idea how useful that book is but I have a little brother living in America that I need to get back to. We miss each other and the only reason I'm not there is because I wanted to learn from that book so I could defend myself better." Josh told him. "I'll give you the book back as soon as I've finished it and maybe in time I'll come find you but right now I have to think about my little brother."
Oliver sighed and sat next to him letting his trousers soak in the water as his legs went into the water. He didn't seem bothered. "I don't have any younger brothers but I think I can understand what you're saying. I'll give you a number, if you change your mind or you need help you can come to me."
"I think I'll take you up on that." Josh nodded.
"What now?" Oliver asked.
"We wait here." Josh told him. "Ajax will tell my friends where we are and Bart will come."
"Friends?" Oliver asked.
"I'm sorry, Oliver." Josh shook his head. "I like you and everything but it's not my place to tell you about them all without their permission. If he comes then I'll introduce you."
"Ok, I can accept that." Oliver nodded. "How will Bart get here?"
"Run." Josh shrugged knowing that Bart had admitted that much to Oliver before.
"Run?" Oliver frowned. "As in across the water?"
"If you run fast enough." Josh laughed. "It's a bit tiring keeping your balance across waves though, or so I'm told."
Oliver had a look of confusion on his face when Bart came to a stop behind him. His eyes widened as he took in the seated man. "Oliver Queen. You get around." Bart spoke up making Oliver turn to face him but Bart had already move and was next to Josh drawing him into a hug. Josh hissed in pain and Bart frowned at him.
Josh hugged him back gently. "Just a little cut. Oliver patched it up for me."
"Bart?" Oliver smiled at the younger boy. "It's good to see you again."
"You seem to have arrived at the perfect time." Bart pointed out.
Josh frowned and nudged the now sitting Bart. "Ease off Bart, he's been very helpful. Ajax even approves."
"Ajax is a whale, Josh." Bart told him. "I'm not trusting his judgement."
Josh turned to him and spoke simple. "I'd be dead right now if it wasn't for Oliver. The least we can do is trust him." Josh told him. "And according to Simon he never once tried to find you after you stole from him."
"You checked up on me?" Oliver asked.
"You knew about Bart's secret. I wasn't going to take the risk of you trying to track him down." Josh told him.
"I can understand that." Oliver nodded.
"AC's getting slow." Bart suddenly said.
"He's coming?" Josh asked.
"In case we needed to break you out." Bart shrugged.
Before anything else could be said Arthur was hauling himself out of the water and onto the side of the swimming platform. "You look wet." Josh told him.
"Funny." Arthur eyed him, then the wound at his side, the plaster on the back of his neck and then finally settled his eyes on Oliver.
"Arthur, this is Oliver Queen." Josh told his older brother. "He rescued me from the lab on Luthor's ship."
"I suppose I owe you my thanks then." Arthur told him and offered his hand. Oliver stood up and shook hands. Oliver was obviously in his early twenties and at least three years older than their eighteen year old friend but they were much the same size. Arthur pulled him away to talk to him, probably finding out what Oliver had planned but Josh let his head fall onto Bart's shoulder.
"Are you really ok?" Bart asked.
"I was just so full of drugs I couldn't concentrate on anything." Josh told him. "They electrocuted me once and took a couple of samples but I doubt they'll get anything from them."
"Did you tell him about your magic?" Bart asked.
"No." Josh shook his head. "I told him about my healing but I can change into my Leviathan form to get out of here."
"Let's go then." Bart told him.
"The least we can do is stay and talk to him, Bart." Josh sighed. Bart sighed but conceded.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
A week or so later
Josh was dreaming and for a change it was just a dream about himself and Bart lying on a sunny beach enjoying their freedom. It was interrupted as Josh gasped and shot upright waking both Bart and Arthur. Bart had been lying on his chest but his pained shout had been enough to wake Arthur who'd been sleeping a little way down the beach. Josh felt cold and clammy and his body shook violently as he felt the echoes of pain trickling through his nerves.
"Josh!" Bart shook him. They knew it wasn't a normal nightmare. Josh always woke from the silently and simply lay there trembling and that was even if he woke either of them. This time though he was panicking.
"It's Ryan. I can feel him!" Josh stood and yanked on his trousers, trainers and the nearest shirt he could find. His eyes were burning in anger.
"What's happening?" Arthur tried to soothe him with his hands on his upper arms. Josh spun to him with wild eyes. "Is he hurt?"
"Somebody's torturing him." Josh hissed.
"Take us with you?" Bart told him.
"No." Arthur shook his head. "We'll follow in a few days. You'll need all the energy you have once you get there and you'll collapse if you take even one of us around the globe."
Josh nodded and looked desperately at Bart. "We'll get there. I promise."
Josh nodded, delved into his magic and let it flow through him using the connection to Ryan forged by this healing powers. "Abige!"
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Smallville
Josh took in the scene even as the green light of his arrival faded into the late evening view. They were in the middle of one of the cattle fields about a third of the way from the town centre and the Kent Farm. It was dark already since it wasn't yet March but even still, Josh could make out the two figures easily.
Standing with a wand outstretched was a tall man dressed in black leather. He looked rather strangely dressed for a normal person but still acceptable. All the Wizards Josh had seen had dressed in similar clothing to this man. On the ground writhing in the after affects of whatever had caused that pain was Ryan. Josh's blood went cold and without even needing to concentrate his magic came to the fore. He held up his fist and the green light spread all around it. "Terra Eruptio!" Josh spat. A flash of green was the only warning the Wizard had before the ground under his feet exploded launching him away from Ryan in a cloud of dirt and stones.
"Abige!" Josh snapped and the world blurred as he transported himself in front of Ryan. He didn't even look down at his little brother, his entire attention was on the Wizard climbing quickly to his feet.
"So the little Potter brat does have power." The Wizard drawled before slashing his wand.
"Contego!" The Wizards invisible spell clanged as it hit the shimmer of air Josh had formed in front of him. The Wizard sneered at him before firing a beam of bright white light at him. Josh's shield collapsed and he felt the spell threaten to crush his ribs as he was sent to his knees.
"As defiant as that worthless Muggle Uncle." The Wizard leered at him. It was his last mistake. Josh saw red at the confession and his magic exploded outwards, barely controlled as it lashed out. The air boiled as green fire flashed away from him striking the Wizard who screamed as his body was obliterated. Josh reigned in his anger and fury and gasped in air that stank of ozone.
"Josh?" The weak voice behind him made Josh spin around and collapse onto the grass beside his little brother. His hands came up to grasp at Ryan's clothing and his hands bled white as his instincts demanded he heal Ryan of every little wound. His right arm was broken and cut open by a spell of some kind. Three ribs had been broken and a number of his muscles were ripped from the pain spell he'd been under.
"Ryan?" Josh let his forehead fall onto Ryan's.
"You're here?" Ryan sounded so desperate. Josh nodded and kissed his nose as he stared into Ryan's eyes.
"I'm not leaving you this time. It's time for me to come back, Ryan." Josh told him. "Now, I'm going to heal you."
"No, you're too tired." Ryan managed.
Josh shook his head and let his powers flood Ryan, healing everything he could. He could take away the lingering effects of torture but his bones healed over and his muscles smoothed over. Josh felt his own bones fracture and his muscles twist but it was such a small price to pay.
Josh sagged forwards as he finished and let his head fall onto Ryan's chest and his eyes shut. "Ryan? Can you call someone?"
"Yes." Ryan nodded letting Josh know he could sleep. Josh did just that.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Smallville Medical Centre
Josh groaned as he woke up in a place he was really beginning to hate. At least he hated being in the beds, he loved working there and he had missed it in the last four months. He couldn't even swear that they always seemed to put him in the same room. He turned his head to see a sight that made him smile. Ryan was sound asleep in the small chair beside the bed with his messy hair flared out over Josh's right arm. It was early morning by the light shining through the half closed blinds, too early for morning rounds, which meant he could annoy the three interns working at the hospital if they were dragged in here.
Josh took stock of himself. His left leg was in a brace holding his knees and ankle carefully still which was a bit overkill for a fracture before Josh remembered his latent injury from the car crash. Of course they would have been far more cautious before of the weakened bones and Josh knew it would hurt far more than a normal fracture. His chest was once again bound rather tightly and he had stitches running up his lower left arm as well as a bandage over the top covering the slash he'd gotten from healing Ryan's far worse cut. He was glad that he was wearing a sweat band around his head and knew that one of his Nurse friends had thought about it and covered it up for him. That made him smile. He was glad to be home.
Josh leant over with his left hand and held it over Ryan's head. It glowed white as his powers reached out to scan his little brother. His muscles still ached a bit from whatever torture he'd been through but it would pass by the end of the day.
The door opened about half an hour later and Doctor Havermire walked in along with the three medical interns he was assigned to look after. The Doctor lifted his chart while one of the women checked his displays though apart from the drip going into his right hand under Ryan's head he wasn't connected to anything.
Josh grinned at the two young men of the group who smirked when they saw him looking at them. He'd shuttered his eyes when they walked in and obviously the first two hadn't noticed he'd been faking it.
"So what did I do this time, Josh?" Jacob, one of the interns asked.
"Oh you know. This and that." Josh smirked as Doctor Havermire jumped.
"For god's sake, Josh!" Doctor Havermire sighed. "You could have told me you were awake."
"I didn't want to wake Ryan by alerting the nurses station that I'm awake. It'd wake the whole hospital." Josh shrugged. "So, what's the verdict? Tell me before Ryan wakes up and finds out the damage."
"A fractured leg which as I'm sure you've realised we've been very careful with because of your old injuries." Havermire started. "Three fractured ribs which just need rest and a nasty incision on your left arm."
"A bit better than the last two visits then?" Josh asked. The first had been an all out massacre of his body and obviously the second time he'd been shot.
"Not funny." Havermire told him. "Ryan's been frantic and refused to go to school yesterday."
"Yesterday? I only got back yesterday." Josh frowned.
"Ryan called an ambulance the night before last after the two of you were attacked. You've been unconscious through yesterday and last night." Havermire told him.
"Damn, and there I was going to go shopping yesterday." Josh sighed and flashed a grin at the doctor's rolled eyes. "What about Ryan? Is he ok?"
"The ambulance treated him for shock and he told us that the man that attacked you shot him. We can't find any entry mark of any kind but his muscles suggest some kind of taser." Havermire told him. "He's on pain meds until the effect dissipates but it was prolonged exposure and he doesn't have complete control of his outer limbs."
"What's that mean?" Josh asked without a trace of his amusement from earlier.
"Yesterday he had trouble balancing on his feet at times and he couldn't hold a pen enough to write." Havermire told him. "It's just a side effect of the shock his muscles went through."
"You're sure?" Josh asked.
"I'm sure. I've had half a dozen of our doctors check him out knowing you'd rip us to shreds if we didn't." Havermire told him. "I'm going to quietly go tell the Nurses you're awake. You'll want some hot food I'm guessing."
"And some for Ryan." Josh told him.
"I know." Havermire laughed and led the interns from the room. Josh turned to look at the still sleeping Ryan and smiled. He nudged him gently and Ryan shot awake.
"Josh!" Ryan launched himself at him rather clumsily and Josh wrapped his arms around him and hugged him tightly. "You did it again!"
"What? Healing you?" Ryan nodded. "Of course I did. I told you I'd never let you get hurt if I could help you."
Ryan pulled away with tears in his eyes and Josh felt tears creep into his own. Ryan smiled at him gently and hugged him again. "I told them you'd just got back and we took a walk and a man attacked us. I told them I didn't see much after I felt pain."
"Oh, Ryan. You shouldn't have even felt pain." Josh told him knowing Ryan had felt a lot more pain then he'd admitted. Enough for Josh to have felt sick from across the globe. "I'll tell the man beat me up and then did a runner."
"Did you kill him?" Ryan asked.
Josh tensed but Ryan didn't let him go. "I..." Josh paused. "I did, Ryan. He admitted to killing Uncle Kev and I just lost it."
"He just grabbed me outside the Talon and we were just suddenly in that field. I felt his thoughts, I heard him thinking he'd draw you back to town by killing me." Ryan sobbed. "He...It hurt so much, Josh."
"What was it?" Josh asked.
"I didn't hear what the spell was but I felt like I was on fire." Ryan told him.
"Shh." Josh hugged him tightly letting himself cry. "It's over now."
"Did you mean what you said?" Ryan asked. "Are you going to stay?"
"From now on you don't stand a chance of getting rid of me. I'll be setting curfews, checking out all your dates, making you do your homework and everything you hate me doing." Josh laughed though he pressed his face into Ryan's hair and cried, ignoring the door as it opened and let somebody in.
Ryan didn't even try to get away for about five minutes when Josh looked up and opened his eyes to see Michael and Annie watching silently from the other side of the room. He gave them a weak smile but any reprimand from Annie would obviously wait until they were alone. "How are your hands, Ry?" Josh asked.
"A bit sore." Ryan told him. Josh leaned away and grabbed Ryan's hands in his own and massaged the cold fingers carefully.
"We've got some more pain killers and relaxants for him to take." Michael told Josh and handed Ryan a tub of small pills as soon as Josh let go of his hands. Ryan settled down into the chair again and swallowed the pills and drunk down a glass of Josh's water.
"Happy?" Ryan asked the three.
"Thrilled." All three said before laughing.
"Today you get to go to school." Josh told Ryan.
"What!?" Ryan stared at him in horror. "I'm not leaving you."
"I'm just going to be in bed all day, Ryan, and if you want to stay with me we have to prove that I can make you go to school." Josh told him. "Now, go call Clark and ask if he'd be willing to drive you in."
"Can I come back here after school?" Ryan asked.
"Sure." Josh smiled at him and glanced at the door. Ryan nodded and stood rather unsteadily. Josh narrowed his eyes at the imbalance but relaxed when Michael went with Ryan to make sure he'd be ok.
"He'll be fine, Josh." Annie assured him. "Most of his weakness is the muscle relaxants we're giving him to let his motor control get back to what it was. In a few days he'll be back to normal."
"Thanks, Annie." Josh smiled at her and accepted the quick hug she gave him.
"When can I leave?" Josh asked.
Annie laughed and shook her head. "Half the people in this place are demanding we keep you for at least a month but it's the sheriff that wants us to keep you here until they've had a good chance to search for your attacker."
"Ryan will be safe with Clark." Josh nodded even though he knew there wasn't a threat to Ryan anymore.
"We're all glad you're back, Josh." Annie told him.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Late afternoon
Josh was sitting in a wheelchair playing a very poor game of cards with a lovely old lady on the top floor when Ryan ran into the door barely following Michael. "Josh!"
"Hello, Ryan." Josh smiled and let the boy hug him. "Pennie, this is the adopted brother and ward I was telling you about."
"What a sweet young man." Pennie smiled. "Though a bit blustery."
"He has far too much energy at times." Josh told her.
"Well don't let me keep you." Pennie told him. "We won't lose much by ignoring this game and starting fresh another day."
"It's a date." Josh told her pocketing the letter she'd written that Josh had promised to type into an email to send to her daughter and son-in-law as soon as he could.
Josh relented and let Ryan push his wheelchair down the hall. He couldn't really do it himself with his sliced up left arm. "I've start driver's ed. soon you know."
"I've been dreading your birthday for months." Josh told him. He'd have to start planning the sweet sixteen soon, it was only a month away. He'd talk to Martha about it later, he was sure she had a few ideas already.
Ryan did a funny wiggle with the chair and Josh turned to look at him. "Alright!" Ryan whined. "I'll be sensible."
They took the elevator back to Josh's room and Ryan wheeled him inside. Josh jumped in the chair as he saw them all in his room. Martha and Jonathan were standing nearby while Clark, Lana, Chloe and even Pete were around the room. "Do I have to be the only one sitting down?" Josh asked.
"Next time don't break your leg." Chloe told him.
"It's a fracture." Josh corrected automatically. He motioned to Ryan to grab the crutch leaning on the wall and with Clarks help he pulled himself up to lean on it. "Thanks, Clark."
"It's good to have you back." Clark told him.
Lana and then even Chloe hugged him before Martha got hold of him and almost crushed him in her happiness at seeing him. "You're staying right?"
"I'm not too sure Smallville's big enough for me but I suppose I'll cope." Josh told her as she pulled away. He shook hands with Jonathan and then Pete. "I'll be back at school tomorrow."
"They letting you out?" Lana asked.
"I'm not all that bad." Josh shrugged but then regretted it as it pulled at his ribs. "A few fractures. The brace is only because of the car accident."
"Well it's good to have you back." Lana smiled at him, kissed his cheek before leading Pete and Chloe from the room.
Josh sighed and sat on the side of the bed. "Are you ok with Ryan at yours for the time being? I'll get the house sorted out after school tomorrow and then he can choose."
"I'm staying with you." Ryan announced. Jonathan laughed.
"I'm sure Clark and Ryan can help you get the house tidied up tomorrow after school." Martha offered.
"Sure." Clark nodded.
"The man that attacked you..." Jonathan started. "Is he one of the ones that attacked your Uncle?"
Josh winced at the mention of his Uncle but Ryan was the one that came to the rescue. "I heard his thoughts, it was him that killed Uncle Kev. He wanted to kill me to draw out Josh."
"But you told the Sheriff the two of you were together." Clark frowned.
"You didn't tell them?" Josh rounded on his little brother who winced. "Ryan!"
"What's he not told us?" Martha asked looking worried.
"These..." Josh motioned at his injuries carelessly. "Weren't originally mine."
"What!?" Clark stared at Ryan in horror.
"I was on my way back into town when I felt my healing powers telling me Ryan was being tortured." Josh half lied and saw the blood run out of all three of the others at the mention of torture. "The guy had already broken his leg and ribs and was torturing him."
"What happened?" Jonathan asked.
"I ran him off." Josh told him shortly leaving no doubt that he wouldn't discuss the rest of that part. "I healed Ryan's injuries but I can't take away the remnants of that type of torture."
"What type?" Martha looked about ready to pounce on Ryan who was looking more and more sheepish.
"The men that want me..." Josh started. "Some of them can cause pain without touching you. I've never seen it done before but what Ryan was under...well it's supposed to be every nerve ending in your body is being twisted with pliers."
Martha couldn't take it anymore and she gathered Ryan up to her. "Ryan..." She clutched at him and Ryan eventually relaxed into the hug.
"That's why Ryan had to lie about how we were attacked. The sheriff wouldn't be able to grasp my sudden arrival and the type of torture and if she tried too hard she'd attract more of them." Josh explained.
"Can we not talk about this anymore?" Ryan asked. "Josh is back and he's not going anywhere. We should be out celebrating."
"Maybe tomorrow, Ry." Josh told him glad for the change of subject. "How about we all go out for a meal. My treat."
"That's sounds wonderful, Josh." Jonathan nodded.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
End Chapter