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Chapter: 21

Livia trotted along with Tim and Stephanie to the front of the school where ambulances, fire trucks and police cars all stood crowded along the block. Students, teachers and other staff members stood in a large crowed, babbling and gossiping about everything that had happened. Pedestrians milled about slowly, hoping to catch a bit of the conversations being tossed around…creating more traffic and annoying the native Gothamites who were trying to hurry past to wherever they needed to be. They should put screens up, so people stop trying to look Livia thought to herself. Parents were arriving, desperately weaving their way through the crowds trying to find their child,

"I think you kind of owe us an explanation," Tim stated finally, breaking the silence between the three of them. Livia frowned,

"There isn't really anything to explain," she replied, "I used magic to save our lives. You're welcome," she might have stated it plainly, but she was wary of their reactions. What would they say…what would they do? Would they believe her…or would they reject her, call her crazy and ruin her life with the knowledge they'd just gained,

"Thank you," Stephanie said, "We appreciate it…Tim is just paranoid. There are a lot of magic users in the world, they're hard to keep track of and more often than not they don't tend to be on the side of good. There are only two that we know of who are truly good…maybe three…or is Constantine too iffy?" she looked at Tim for an answer. Tim wasn't paying attention, he looked thoughtful,

"That book…the one that fell out of your bag when we were working on our project, that was a spell book wasn't it?"

"Yeah," Livia replied guiltily. Frowning when she remembered her bag was still in the classroom with the body of that Talon, "It was stalking me because I was ignoring it,"

"You were ignoring it so it started stalking you?" Tim sounded like he couldn't really grasp that kind of imagery. To be fair, ignoring books and then having them following you around because you were ignoring them wasn't really a common thing people dealt with,

"You think I wanted these powers? They only just showed up and I don't know why or how they did," Livia said, exasperated, "I only just got the dang thing open too,"

"I…just…we got you pegged so wrong," Tim stated, shaking his head in seemingly disbelief,

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing," Tim insisted. They continued in silence before Livia stepped in front of them making them stop in their movement,

"You know…I don't usually tell people these sort of things. I don't just share my secrets lightly…I only tell my friends my deepest darkest secrets,"

"Well then, I guess we're friends," Stephanie stated, a sly smile on her face,

"Do you know anything about the Court of Owls?" Tim questioned, suddenly,

"No…I have no idea what that is. I mean I know it's some nursery rhyme but that's it…though I guess it's the people who attacked us today," Tim looked relieved, "But that is besides the point. Don't share this with anyone…please. I don't want to be the bad guy,"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Stephanie demanded, a slight glare on her face,

"I'm a magician…I can—,"

"—make us disappear?" Tim deadpanned, Livia rolled her eyes at the joke,

"No…well actually yes…but that's not what I meant. I can tell people that you're Red Robin and Spoiler," they stared at her in shock before their glares rivaled any guts she had left,

"What makes you think that?" Tim asked carefully, Livia had to smirk,

"I read your mind a few days ago…you were thinking about insulating Renegade's suit differently,"

"So you know all our identities," Tim growled, he seemed pissed that it was him who gave her the blackmail she just used,

"I do,"

"Who would believe you?" Stephanie pointed out,

"They may not believe me…but they would believe it if you took your masks of mid fight and yelled it to the whole world. I could do that if I wanted to…and I really really really do not want to," They relaxed somewhat,

"Well…I mean it's only fair that she has something on us as well," Stephanie replied,

"But us knowing she has powers doesn't bring any danger on her or her family if we do tell someone. If our identities are revealed then everyone we know is in danger," Tim muttered,

"Then don't give me a reason to reveal them. And yes it does put my family at risk. Magic is no joke," Livia insisted, "My mother was killed by magical interference. So was my uncle, and my great-grandfather back and back all significantly young…we've had a series of unfortunate deaths in the Baudelaire family. And I don't know why. But it's clear some other magician has it out for us so anyone knowing that I have magic can and probably will be dangerous for my entire family,"

"Hm…looks like we have a mystery on our hands," Stephanie replied, "We won't do anything to put your family in danger. We promise…we'll even help you investigate these unfortunate Baudelaire deaths," Tim nodded, ignoring Stephanie's obvious attempt to connect the Baudelaire name to the book series,

"Your secret is safe with us. It did save our lives afterall," he added, Livia beamed at them and they all hurried to get to their parents amidst the crowds.

Darren jerked awake as the Batmobile arrived at the Cave. Dick had probably giving him the Cure on the way to the Cave,

"Welcome back to the living Sleeping Beauty," Dick said with a smirk. Darren rolled his eyes and forced himself to move over to where Alfred sat at the medical table. Needle and thread, tweezers, sanitary swabs and bandages out and ready. He did not look happy about it and glared at Darren when he sat down across from the man and offered his injured hand to fix up. Darren was wary of the silence and the glare. The butler must really be mad at him…or upset that he didn't tell him what he intended to do…or worried he'd almost been killed again…or all three which seemed to be the worst option. But Darren didn't care, he appreciated Alfred's concerns, though his mind was occupied by a different course of action for a certain Talon he had thought to call friend.

Darren stomped into his room once Alfred had finished, slamming the door closed and locking it as he marched out onto the balcony, the dagger Malik had given him to contact the older man with in hand. He had yet to use the dagger and the granite of the balcony railing cracked as he plunged it downwards. The evening light glinted off of the metal and Darren waited. He did not think of the cold and he did not go back inside…his anger was absolute and made it impossible to feel completely cold at the moment. He simmered with the rage. Malik had told the Court about Livia…Malik had betrayed him…Malik had used his trust and endangered an innocent person…he had allowed the Court to mark her and possibly her family. Once Malik was dealt with, Darren needed to warn Livia. She needed to understand the consequences of knowing him.

He waited a few more moments before Malik finally landed on the stone railing of he balcony. The older Talon leapt lightly to the floor,

"What is it Nov—," he didn't get to finish his sentence as Darren grabbed him by the front of his suit and slammed him into the side of the house. The building shook from the force of it,

"Why did you do it?" Darren growled, the promise of death in his voice,

"Perhaps you could be a bit more specific?" Malik bit out, anger in his brown-black eyes at the sudden act of violence,

"Why did you tell the Court Livy's…Livia Baudelaire's name? Why did you put her in their sight!" Darren yelled, he slammed him into the wall again adjusting his grip when the newly sewn stitches pulled slightly. Knocking sounded on his door from inside, Darren ignored it…he'd deal with whoever it was later, Malik let out a laugh,

"You must think very little of me to consider that it was I who brought her to the Court's attention," Darren's glare darkened,

"What do you mean?" He bit out,

"The Court has eyes and ears everywhere. Who was it that talked to her? Who was it that passed by her house every chance they got? Who would sneak in through the window recently to talk as if they were friends? It was not I who brought the girl to the Court's attention, you did that well enough on your own," Darren clenched his teeth…he should have known, he should have considered and while he had, he apparently didn't heed his own warnings to stay away. He'd been enthralled with the idea that Livia was a spy for the Court that he hadn't considered how such attention would look in the Court's eyes,

"You go back to the Court and you convince them that she means nothing to me, you take their attention away from her,"

"And how, pray tell, will I be able to do that?" Malik asked dryly, "If I even try they will then know I have been in contact with you. That can end very badly for both of us,"

"Just do it!" Darren snapped, "I don't care how, just get it done. Tell them she means nothing!"

"What a lie that is," Malik muttered, Darren let out a growl,

"Get it done, get their attention away from her," Malik rolled his eyes,

"It's amusing how such an infatuation can cloud your judgement. Did you really think she was a spy for the Court? Is that what really snagged your attention?"

"Yes," Darren stated curtly. There hadn't been anything else…he was sure of it, he'd been wary of her because of the possibility that she was a spy, her continual involvement with his and Tim's lives had solidified that as well as how she managed to be everywhere something bad happened. It wasn't until the graveyard that Darren learned differently. Malik stared at him bemused before letting out a laugh,

"Whatever you say little Talon, you seemed so convinced of that. Now let me go before I hurt you. I can see you've already had a bad day. You don't want to turn it into a very terrible evening," Darren glowered but let the Talon go,

"Get out of here Malik, before I kill you myself," he didn't turn to see if Malik had left before stepping inside and hurrying out his bedroom door. Dick was on the other side and he started as Darren surged past him,

"Darren, whoa slow down. What was all that slamming before?"

"Nothing," Darren snapped, he needed to warn Livia, "I need to go,"

"What, no! You literally just got injured again, you're not going out tonight!" Dick cried, hurrying after him down into the Cave,

"I need to warn her! She's in danger!" Darren called back to him as he grabbed his suit and went to the changing rooms. He knew he couldn't stop Darren even if he wanted to…and he didn't seem to want to attempt such a thing,

"Warn who? You're making literally no sense! What is going on?"

"Tim will explain," Darren replied, exiting the changing area and hopping onto a motorcycle,

"This is not what I meant by opening up and talking to me!" Dick exclaimed after him,

"I know! Sorry! I'll work on that!" Darren yelled back as he sped out of the cave.

Darren leapt up to the little balcony thing Livia had outside her window, balancing on the wrought iron railing and knocked on the window. There was no answer. Biting his lip he knocked again before opening the window himself and sliding inside, careful not to step on her bed with his slushy dirty boots. The room was dark and empty and Darren didn't know what to make of that. Suddenly he detected movement in the corner of his eye, he whirled around and started at seeing a black cat eyeing him with either curiosity or hostility…Darren couldn't be sure,

"Renegade?" a voice asked, Darren looked towards the voice and saw Livia standing at the door to her room. She quickly shut the door and locked it behind her,

"You do have a cat," he stated, rather dumbly,

"He's a secret cat…my dad doesn't know he's here," she stated with a shrug. The said cat approached Darren with a hiss, "Plagg, be nice," she scolded lightly,

"He probably smells my dog," Darren replied before he could stop himself. Well technically it was Damian's, but Titus didn't play favorites,

"Hm, you have a dog," Livia echoed with a grin, "What are you doing here? If it had been anyone else coming into my room you'd have been done for,"

"You and your family are in danger," he said, "The Court of Owls has targeted you, you all need to leave," Plagg was winding himself around and through Darren's legs, rubbing his face to them and purring,

"He likes you," Livia stated with a grin,

"Did you not hear what I just said?" Darren demanded,

"I did hear you and I'm not concerned,"

"You should be,"

"Trust me on this Renegade. They can't and won't try to hurt me or my family. Not again," Livia stated,

"You can't know that. They are dangerous…they control all of Gotham. The authorities and the rest of the populace of the city are oblivious to their influence and reach…even the ones who try to interfere are grasping at nothing significant or helpful," Livia sighed at that,

"Renegade. I understand that you're worried, but I can take care—,"

"—I know you can take care of yourself my lady. But because of me you and your family are in trouble. By knowing me you can get hurt or killed or used as some pawn to get me to become another Talon in their arsenal to use against Gotham,"

"I didn't think your regard of me was high enough for blackmail to be effective," Livia stated mutely, crossing her arms,

"You're an innocent person caught in the crossfire of my mistakes," Darren growled, "Of course blackmail would be effective,"

"Believe me…trust me when I say they will not bother me. You said they have eyes and ears everywhere, then they know this as well,"

"You're not making any sense," Darren felt wary about her confidence regarding her and her family's safety. Had she made some deal with them that he didn't know about? Had she actually been in cahoots with them like he'd originally thought? Malik claimed he didn't know her, but he could lie and misinformation was easy to plant within the Nest. Darren didn't know what to make of this, not at all,

"You wear a mask to keep your secrets safe, I speak cryptically to keep mine. I don't want to freak you out…not just yet," she picked up the cat, stroking his fur as she did so,

"You wouldn't freak me out. Tell me,"

"I can't…not yet. You're…I, I care what you think of me Renegade," she said looking at him meaningfully, "I care what your opinion of me is and I don't know what you'll think when I tell you the truth,"

"So you won't tell me how you're so sure you'll be safe?"

"And you won't tell me who you are. It's only fair," Darren glowered, fairness doesn't matter when the Court was concerned,

"Do you want to know who I am?"

"Not at the moment…or maybe I already do?" She shrugged playfully and Darren had to roll his eyes,

"This is serious Livy," she grinned even more at the nickname,

"I rather like that name. Only my closest friends back in Boston used to call me that…not even my dad is allowed to," she said it so seriously, like that only truly mattered and not her own safety,

"I shouldn't be one of your closest friends, that's dangerous," Livia frowned, she didn't seem to agree…or care about any kind of danger. The fact annoyed and worried Darren even more but he held his frustration back,

"What would life be without a little danger?" she replied. Darren bit back a groan. He instead pulled out her backpack that he managed to snag from police custody,

"I got this back for you," he stated, holding it out to her. Maybe a little misdirection will get her to see his side of things,

"Thank you…though I wish I still had an excuse not to do my homework," she muttered. Taking it and tossing it against the wall behind her,

"You could claim you were traumatized by the Talons chasing you throughout the school," Darren stated. Livia let out a hum of agreement before a comfortable silence bled out between them,

"What did you think of Charlotte's Web?" She questioned a moment later, Darren groaned. It was a book she lent him a few days ago. Malik had been right about him sneaking through the window to talk…he needed to be more careful,

"I haven't finished,"

"Well hurry up. I have a pile of books for you to read. Clearly you have not had a proper childhood,"

"So I keep being told," Darren muttered, Livia rolled her eyes this time,

"What was your childhood like?" She asked innocently. Darren jerked his attention away from a new painting hung on the wall to look at her, surprised by the sudden question. It was then that he noticed a silver chain around her neck, it wasn't there the last time he'd seen her, or maybe he just never noticed it before. He frowned, unsure of what to say,

"It mostly revolved around training," he replied after a beat of silence, "Not much time for relaxation or fun,"

"Well Batman doesn't seem like a 'fun' kind of guy,"

"I wasn't trained by Batman," Darren stated flatly, Livia gave him a small sad smile,

"I know…I was trying to be funny. I know you're a Talon and he isn't. You were trained by someone though…someone you don't like," she said it like she knew it to be true. It was true but how would Livia know that, he'd never spoke of his past with her,

"I don't want to talk about this," Darren said, trying not to snap at her, but he probably did and he didn't really feel bad about it. He didn't want her to know of William…or what life within the Court of Owls was like. She didn't deserve anymore nightmares than she probably already had because of him,

"As I said, it's never too late for a proper childhood. What about Harry Potter?" She asked, continuing a conversation from last time about books he has or hasn't read,

"I haven't read it either," she thrust a book in his hands, "I can't read this and Charlotte's Web!"

"Why not?"

"I have literally no time…and I'm dyslexic,"

"Oh…I have the audio-books then. They're quite relaxing, it's like you're being read to. You can borrow them!" she said brightly ruffling through the boxes she still had scattered throughout her room,

"Livia, this is serious! The Court is no joke!" Darren exclaimed finally, refusing to be distracted by Livia's enthusiasm for literature any longer,

"And I told you Renegade, I have that covered," she snapped, eyes narrowed. Darren sighed, seeing that he would not get through to her or win this argument,

"Fine, just take this then. It's a GPS device and it only activates when the button is pressed. I'll know if you're in trouble…just keep it on you, for my sanity more than anything," Livia pursed her lips before taking the small device from his hand,

"Fine," she stated, clipping it onto her backpack's zipper,

"Thank you," Darren stated slightly exasperated as he jumped up onto the ledge of the window,

"Finish that book!" she called after him as he leapt down to the street below. Darren rolled his eyes before grinning to himself and hurrying off back home to probably deal with an angry and worried Dick.

A/N: Well hope you liked this chapter! Any questions or concerns please leave a review or PM moi. Also just because I'm getting kind of worried that you guys aren't actually liking this story and how it's going, please please please give me some love through reviews. I really would like to hear what you are thinking about how the course of this story is going. I'd like to hear what you like or dislike. It would really help me.

Next chapter on Thursday! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!