Invaded
Chapter Fourteen: Runaways
Author's Note:
I am super sorry about the late update. My younger brother broke the mouse on my desktop and I had to wait till pay day to buy a new mouse. Enjoy this super long chapter that features Wally x Phoenix/Ashley moments as well as Hunter x Phoenix/Ashley moments.
Sato Residence, Star City
May 13
2:05 PM PDT
"There's no way those kids are coming back to S.T.A.R. Labs willingly." Hunter argued as he typed rapidly on Mr. Sato's home computer.
I sighed, crossing my arms over my chest, arguing, "'Wing said he had Blue on it. Blue does have a connection to Ty Longshadow. I don't think Blue would just let them go, y'know? His best friend's wellbeing is at hand."
Hunter paused, leaning back enough that I could see his dramatic eye roll.
"So you're telling me," Hunter resumed typing, "that if you broke free from being cooped up in a lab where you were treated like a lab rat," Hunter paused, using the mouse to click folders on the monitor, "you'd go back because I said 'pretty please'?"
I frowned, "It's not that simple. They're safe there." I argued. Hunter scoffed, shaking his head as he slowed his typing. "There," he stood from the chair, "all done."
I pushed myself off the metal filing cabinet I leaned against, uncrossing my arms. "How exactly did you do?" I asked, walking towards Mr. Sato's office door.
"Well, I basically copied everything that's ever been on Mr. Sato's computer onto our network. Whatever he searches, we'll know within seconds."
"Kind of like Big Brother," I sarcastically noted. Hunter's lips twitched as he tried to hold back an amused smirk. I reached for the doorknob, immediately stopping as it began turning.
Hunter and I pressed ourselves against the wall. I clenched my jaw as the door opened slowly.
"D-Daddy?"
"Harmony?" I questioned, stepping forward. Harmony inhaled sharply, clutching her chest. "Phoenix?" Harmony breathed out, glancing between Hunter and I. "What are you doing here?" Harmony asked, closing the office door.
"What are you doing here?" I retorted. "You should be at S.T.A.R. Labs," I stated, my voice soft. Harmony's gaze lowered, "I know― and-and I promise I'll go back… I just wanted to talk to my dad."
"Harmony," I sighed, "I don't think that's a good idea. Your father is responsible for the Reach abducting you. Arranging a meeting between the two of you is too dangerous." I explained.
Harmony frowned before brightening up, "What if you were there? And-and Hunter?"
Hunter crossed his arms over his chest, "We don't exactly arrange meetings between families. That's family courts' job."
I elbowed Hunter, hard. "Excuse him. He was born unloved."
Harmony laughed lowly. I furrowed my brow, "Wait― how did you get from New Mexico to California?"
Harmony avoided my questioning glare. "Harmony," I stated firmly, "how did you get from New Mexico to California?"
Harmony opened her mouth to speak before Hunter hushed her. "Listen," he whispered.
Faintly, I could make out different voices and footsteps. "He knows we're here." I hissed.
"He must've caught on from the last time we were here." Hunter added.
"Daddy?" Harmony questioned. I grabbed her, pulling her behind me as the office door was broken down.
First to enter was a female dressed in red and black, followed by a female dressed in ice blue and white. "They're in here!" The red and black clad one yelled.
"That's them," Hunter noted.
"You're coming with us, kid." The ice blue and white one pointed at Harmony.
"I'm assuming that's Aqua?" I questioned, watching her arms encase in water. "And that's Scorch." Hunter noted, as the other woman's fists erupted in flames.
Harmony inched back until her back was pressed against the wall.
"She isn't going anywhere." I retorted, clenching my own fists. Hunter gripped his crossbow, aiming it.
"I can't believe its Phoenix in the flesh," Scorch said, a tone of awe and sadism. My red orbs flickered before glowing bright as they encased my fists.
"Oh this is so gonna get Black F-"
I felt myself getting tugged back as a bright white light encased me. I yelled, turning mid fall to see the Father Box in Harmony's hand.
"Rule number one: you do not, under any circumstances, take gifts― or anything for that matter― from Lex fucking Luthor!" I shouted. Harmony flinched, leaning as far back as her seat would allow.
"I think the kid gets the point." Hunter said, placing a firm hand on my shoulder. "Ash, relax. Nightwing's taking care of the Father Box."
"That's not the problem!" I jerked my shoulder from his grasp. "Your father works for Lex Luthor! Do you know what Lex does? He cuts off arms and harvests the DNA to make clones!"
Hunter gripped both my shoulder, shaking me. I glared at his unmasked green eyes; I noticed my heavy breathing and a tension in my face from glaring.
"I said," Hunter's voice was low, calm, "relax. She got us out of there; I made sure the Father Box couldn't be tracked before I sent it to 'Wing." Hunter explained. I nodded, allowing for Hunter to guide me to a chair in the Quiver.
"I-I'm sorry," Harmony stuttered, "I panicked. I-I didn't know Lex― I don't want him to cut off my arm. I-I don't want a clone."
Hunter slowly backed away from me, responding to Harmony, "No one's gonna cut off your arm. Listen, if Luthor gave you a Father Box, its cause he knew you would go somewhere specific. He sent two assassins from the Red Lotus, which means Luthor's after something your father has." Hunter theorized.
I remained silent, slumping in my chair.
"Which leads us to the million dollar question, what does your father have that Lex Luthor wants?" Hunter asked, rubbing his stubble covered chin in thought. Harmony crossed her arms over her chest, leaning back in thought.
"Wait," I stood from my seat, "not just Luthor but The Light, too. Black Canary told me about the katana blades your family owns that are connected to the Underworld."
Harmony nodded, explaining, "Our blades were gifts from Shinigami, the God of Death. A fatal wound from our blades sends the soul of the unfortunate directly to the Underworld."
"So, your family works as part time Grim Reapers. Nice." Hunter commented. "No, you don't get it," I argued. "The blades are a connection― a two way door into the Underworld. The Light has Klarion, which means they have figured out a way to open the door from the other side."
"That cannot be good." Harmony shuddered. "They would be able to bring back the dead at will, essentially." Hunter marveled.
"The dead meaning anyone: Amazons, heroes, villains, entities. The list is really endless." I concluded.
"Right, I'll relay this information to Nightwing. Maybe Nightwing can find something in Batman's archives?" Hunter suggested, typing on a holographic keyboard.
"Don't," Harmony instructed, "I know where my grandfather kept the blades."
Palo Alto
May 13
03: 49 PM PDT
"The blades are in a safe deposit box inside a bank in Palo Alto, California. What a let down." Hunter sarcastically complained as he pushed his sunglass higher on his nose.
"Are you sure they're in there?" I questioned, scanning the traffic of people coming in and out of the post office. Harmony nodded, "Yes," she stated firmly.
"My grandfather used to take me to this coffee shop all the time. Looking back, I realized he always sat facing the post office." Harmony explained.
I exhaled slowly, leaning forward in my seat, "Okay, fine. Here's the plan. Harmony and I will go inside and I'll establish a link. Hunter, stay here and scout."
Hunter nodded, agreeing, "Copy."
Harmony stared at the metal box. I glanced over my shoulder at the male bank worker in a cheap, knockoff brand suit.
"That'll be all," I dismissed him. He nervously nodded, walking backwards out of the room. Harmony lifted her hand to open the metal box; her hand shook as she touched the metal clasp.
Slowly, Harmony lifted the lid open. I stood in silence, waiting for a reaction as Harmony merely stared at the contents.
"It-it's…" Harmony paused, "it's not here."
"What?" I breathed out, confused. "I thought… I'm sorry…" Harmony reached into the metal box, shuffling through what was inside.
"Um," Hunter interrupted, "we have company."
"What? Who is it?" I questioned.
"Your ex."
Hunter rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly as Harmony and I approached him. Wally stood beside him, green eyes filled with skepticism. Beside him, a tall blonde almost hovered over the two men.
"Ashley," Wally drawled out my name. "And…" Wally trailed off, motioning for Harmony to introduce herself.
"Harmony Sato," the blonde next to him interjected. Harmony glanced at me, unsure.
"What are the chances?" Wally forced a chuckle. "Well, I was in town handling some Queen Industries scholarships and Harmony wanted someone to keep her company while she checked on a P.O. box she has here." I explained without skipping a beat.
Wally nodded, "And Hunter. You're back."
"I am." Hunter stated flatly. "Well, we were just leaving." I revealed, smiling politely to the blonde. Although she had not introduced herself, I knew exactly who she was.
"Oh, no," the blonde protested, grabbing my hand, "you have to stop by Wally's apartment. We just bought a ton of scones. We'd enjoy your company, right babe?" The blonde turned to Wally, a smile exposing her perfect white teeth.
Wally and I stared at each other. They had upgraded from lab partners to relationship partners.
"I think that's a good idea." Hunter added, placing his sunglasses over his eyes.
"What are you doing?" I snapped. "We do have company. All black SUV with tinted windows just pulled up in front of the post office."
"That might be my dad." Harmony gasped. "Harmony," I warned. "I know. It's not safe."
"I'm just gonna step outside to make a call. Make sure all the paperwork went through." I held up my cell phone in my left hand as I opened the front door with my right. I stepped outside, closing the door softly behind me.
I exhaled slowly, sitting on the top stair. I bit my bottom lip, hard, mentally kicking myself. It didn't matter now; Wally had found someone who can put him first and he deserved that.
The creaking of the front door startled me. I turned quickly, relaxing once I realized it was Wally.
"Those scones were pretty good, huh?" Wally questioned, sitting beside me.
"Amazing," I agreed, nodding as we fell into awkward silence.
"Wally― "
"Ashley―"
Wally and I both chuckled, looking away from each other. "You first," I said.
Wally opened his mouth to speak before exhaling. "I don't know what to say."
"Wow. Wallace West, speechless? What can't I do?" I sarcastically joked, bumping our shoulders.
"You know, you've always been the one." Wally began. I felt my cheeks flush red and my eyes widened. Wally quickly recovered, "I-I mean," Wally stuttered before sighing.
"I've always been able to talk to you because we were always friends before anything. And then… and then I started developing feelings for you and you developed feelings for me. And that was greatest feeling in the world. You were the one. And then we grew up…" Wally trailed off.
"Wally, you don't need to explain yourself to me." I argued. Wally nodded, "I know I don't have to but I want to. I need to."
I remained silent, waiting for Wally to continue.
"You will always be my forever love. I will compare you to all loves, from now until I die. But, see, that's the thing. I don't want to do that. I want to be with you."
I lowered my gaze, "Just not Phoenix." I uttered.
"Just not Phoenix." Wally repeated, agreeing. "We're both at different times in our lives. You're trying to save the world and I'm trying to pass my physics final. I guess what I'm trying to say is― to here."
Mount. Justice
September 1, 2014
05:46 PM EST
"I wonder if Artemis and Kaldur have babies would it be more human-looking or fishier looking?" Wally pondered aloud. We lay on a blanket on the beach that Mount. Justice overlooked, watching the sunset.
The Team had thrown me a birthday party. After an hour or two of mingling, Wally had snuck us out onto the beach for a private viewing of the sunset.
"I don't know," I admitted. "Kaldur is half human. If Artemis and he were to have kids― super cool, ninja fish kids― I think they'd look more human." I explained.
Wally nodded, exhaling loudly. "Agreed."
We fell into a deep silence, watching the sun sink under the horizon. A series of gray clouds littered the murky purple night.
Wally turned his head to stare down at me. I blinked, waiting for him to speak.
"I love you."
My mouth parted in awe but before I could say anything, Wally continued, "You don't have to say anything. Just know that I love you from here on out."
Author's Note:
Did you understand why Wally said 'To here'? Anyways, hope you enjoyed and please, review.