*BANG* *BANG*
Blake leaped between shipping containers, avoiding the gunfire of the White Fang. Landing on the ground, she bolted forward, passing a variety of containers before diving behind one. She sat tight, carefully listening as the thud of footsteps thundered towards her before fading. She took a deep breath, relieved.
"Got a plan?"
Blake quietly gasped, being taken off guard by Sun, who had snuck up behind her.
"Sun! What the hell were you thinking?!" said Blake.
"Hey, you're the one who decided we were gonna take down the big scary gangster all by ourselves!" said Sun, "But now, we're in a good position to get the hell out!"
Blake frowned, her initial plan had failed to bear fruit. As much as she wanted to take Black Mask down, she had gained all the information she could.
"Fine," said Blake, "We get out, call Bruce and tell him what we figured out."
"Sounds good!" said Sun, "Now let's-"
*BANG*
A gunshot rings out, startled the duo.
"What the hell was that?!" exclaimed Sun, "They obviously didn't find us."
"Hold on," said Blake.
Blake listened in with her cat ears, listening as the sounds of glass breaking and strikes being thrown. The sound of heavy breathing combined with the *Thud* led Blake to conclude that a physical fight was occurring.
"Oh no," said Blake, turning to Sun, "someones out there, fighting all by themselves.."
"What?!" said Sun, "Why would the White Fang just gang up on some random guy?"
"It might not be some random guy," said Blake, "It could be Bruce."
"What? Why would he be here? Wouldn't he be at the Chemical Plant?" said Sun.
"That was hours ago." said Blake, "He could have heard the explosion, come to help us."
"Well it's fine then!" said Sun, "If Clark is there too he should have no problem, assuming the stuff you said about him was true."
"I only heard one person fighting the rest of them," said Blake, "I think he's all alone."
"Is he crazy?!" said Sun, "Taking on so many at the same time?!"
"Oh, he's definitely crazy," said Blake, "But we have to help him, I don't think he'll last long."
Bruce landed on the rooftop, the shattered moon casting his shadow. He looked over the shipping area of Vale, observing the chaos below while still clad in the Red Hood gang tuxedo.
Blake, Sun, I swear if you got yourselves hurt.
"Did you find them?"
Bruce's attention turned to the source of the voice, a man in a white suit with a recognizable mask.
Black Mask is here?!
Bruce narrowed his eyes, watching as Black Mask approached a familiar face with ginger hair.
"Torchwick, did the dogs find them?" asked Black Mask.
"No Sionis, they've proven just as lacking as the hired thugs," said Torchwick, disappointed.
"Damn, tell them to check again," said Black Mask, "I won't rest until they pay the price of screwing with my operations."
"Hey, I'm not your personal messenger!" said Torchwick, "I'm your partner."
Black Mask responds by grabbing Torchwick by the collar and yanking him close, putting the barrel of his 50 cal handgun directly under his chin, "Tell them now or I find a new partner!"
"Fine fine!" stuttered Torchwick as Black Mask shoved him to the ground. Picking himself up, dusting himself off, and readjusting his bowler hat, Torchwick stormed off.
Black Mask sighed, looking down at his weapon, "Can't trust anyone but yourself to do the job right, can you."
Bruce leaped to the rooftop behind Black Mask, kneeling over him.
Black Mask raised an eyebrow, "Fool me once, I have the boys beat you."
Black Mask whirled around, shooting Bruce in the hip. "AGH!" Bruce cried out in pain, Falling from the rooftop onto the concrete with a *Thud*
"Fool me twice, I shoot your ass." finished Black Mask.
Black Mask strutted towards Bruce, "Shadows gave you way bitch, now, I'm gonna-"
"Shut up." said Bruce, stumbling to his feet after finishing his sentence, "You're gonna shut up."
Black Mask was taken aback, "You're not who I was expecting….Bruce Wayne."
Before Black Mask can react, Bruce flings one of his bladed weapons, knocking the gun out of his hands. As Black Mask stumbles after the weapon, Bruce dives on him, laying into him with repeated punches to the face.
"BLACK MASK!" shouted Bruce, "These are not your streets, you will not violate, murder, or extort anyone else!"
"Stop screaming rich boy!" shouted Black Mask, "I want you to know something!"
Black Mask pulls out a knife, stabbing Bruce in the hand.
"GAH!" yelped Bruce in pain, stumbling back to pull the blade out of his palm.
"I should thank you Bruce." said Black Mask, rising to his feet, "While you have been one hell of an annoyance as of late, the stuff that happened to you, it was my inspiration to become what I am today."
Bruce breathed heavily, bleeding from his hand and from the bullet wound, "I don't give a damn about what you think of me or what happened. I'm here to bring you in."
"Hah!" said Black Mask, "You and what army?"
Suddenly, the thud of footsteps became audible as a massive gang of White Fang members flooded the area, circling Bruce. Bruce's eyes darted around, taking into account the different rifles and swords involved.
So it's true, these White Fang bastards are here.
"You were one dumb bastard to come here alone, not to mention tuckered out and shot to shit with no aura to protect you." said Black Mask, "I'll make it more fun for you, no guns."
The White Fang members around Bruce dropped their rifles and drew their swords. Bruce turned to Black Mask, who stared him down.
"...Kill him, drag it out," said Black Mask.
The White Fang enveloped Bruce, swinging their swords and kicking at him. Bruce ducked under the initial attack, watching as they strike each other.
I'm in no state to fight them all at once, I'll single one out and move on from there.
Picking a single target, Bruce tackles the White Fang member, sending them both into the side of a shipping container.
"W-Wait!" stuttered the White Fang member.
Bruce grabbed him by the helmet, slamming his head repeatedly against the container, shattering the visor like glass on the final impact. As the White Fang thug falls unconscious, a boot strikes Bruce from behind, sending his head into the container and dazing him.
"Ugh." groaned Bruce as he fell on his side.
The White Fang descended on him, dozens of boots laying into him. Bruce felt each individual foot strike, each bruise form, each bone break.
Damn, too many, I...I shouldn't have kicked the door down like I did.
A blade pierces Bruce's skin, stabbing right where Red Hood shot him.
"RRAAGGH!" screamed Bruce, in excruciating pain.
"Get him up," said Black Mask.
The White Fang steps back, revealing a mangled and heavily bruised and bleeding Bruce. Two White Fang members pulled Bruce up by his arms, his face badly bruised and bleeding.
"You've made a lot of trouble for yourself rich boy." said Black Mask, loading a new clip into his handgun, "Why are you messing with me, not that the reason matters since I'm about to put a bullet through your skull."
Bruce looks up at Black Mask through bruised and swollen eyes, "I made a vow, no one has to watch their parents die in an alley for the interests of men like you."
Black Mask chuckled while pulling the hammer back, "Heh, and how'd that work out for you? Goodbye Wayne."
Bruce closed his eyes, accepting his fate.
Let me be the only one who dies for the cause.
*CRACK* *BANG*
"AAAAGH!"
Bruce opened his eyes as he beheld a sight he never wanted nor expected.
Blake had swung in from the darkness, kicking Black Mask and breaking his hand, causing him to drop the gun before striking him across the head. The force of the strike shatters the mask, knocking him out while revealing his face. Sun had also leaped from the shadows, sending what seemed to be physical clones that beat back the White Fang members.
Bruce could only stutter as Blake walked toward him, "W-Why-"
"We need to get out of here now!" shouted Blake, grabbing Bruce's arm and slinging it over her shoulder, "C'mon!"
"Right behind you!" shouted Sun, scooping up Black Mask's body as the clones faded and the White Fang began to pursue.
The two sprinted as fast as they could while lugging the bodies, footsteps chasing them through the shipping containers.
"They're too heavy!" said Sun, "We won't make it!"
"We can make it," said Blake, "trust me!"
The 2 skid to a halt next to an open container when another group of White Fang turns the corner in front of them, boxing them in. The duo turns around to discover that the other group has caught up, effectively surrounding them.
"Consider my trust in you revoked." said Sun, "Not that there was much, to begin with since we just met-"
Blake grabs Sun, flinging both of them as well as the bodies they carried into the open container. Grabbing the doors, Blake quickly closes and locks them, sealing them inside.
"What the hell are you doing!" shouted Sun, dumping Black Mask's body, "You trapped us!"
"It was that or get caught," said Blake, "at least I had a plan."
"Sure, grab the unconscious gangster and the wounded hero and waltz out alive!" said Sun.
*KAFF* *KAFF* *KAFF*
The two were interrupted by Bruce, who began coughing violently. Sun runs over to Bruce, placing a hand on his throat.
"His pulse is kinda wonky." said Sun, "He doesn't look too good either. Jeez what did they do to him"
Blake kneeled down next to Bruce, looking over his wounds. The tuxedo he was wearing was torn to shreds, stained with blood from bullet holes and blade cuts. Most of his body was also beginning to turn purple as bruises formed.
"Bruce, what the hell were you thinking, you could have died!" exclaimed Blake, "What happened to Clark, or the girl?"
"*KAFF* coughed Bruce.
"Bruce please," said Blake, "What happened at the plant?"
*KAFF* "Blake," groaned Bruce.
"What?" said Blake, worried.
"You, *KAFF*," said Bruce, "You shouldn't have come back for me."
Clark clutched his side, using protruding pipes to drag himself to his feet. Stumbling down the hall, Clark groaned.
Bruce is gonna get himself killed, I can't let him do this.
Stumbling to a nearby wall, Clark clenched his hand into a fist, striking at the wall in an attempt to break it down. Unfortunately, while he made small cracks, he was unable to make much progress.
Damnit! I'm getting some of my strength back, but not enough.
Clark continued to bash the wall, unable to make any headway. Eventually, his knuckles began to bleed, the wall refusing to give way.
C'MON!
Clark stumbled back, sweat dripping off his brow as he breathed heavily. He looked at the wall, observing that he had made almost no headway.
I..I can't do it. I can't help him, not without my powers.
"Mr., are you ok?"
Clark turned around, finding Lawton's daughter watching him.
"You look frustrated." said the girl.
"I..I am." said Clark, "I got overconfident, I got hurt, and now my friends could die!"
Clark put his back to the wall, sliding down while dejectedly putting his head in his hands, "I don't know what to do."
The little girl walked up to Clark, still holding her disk, "Then don't be underconfident."
Clark looked up at the girl, confused, "What?"
"I mean, like, you thought you could do anything right?" said the girl, "And even if that's not true, that doesn't mean you can't do anything!"
Clark looked at his hands, admiring their bruised and beaten knuckles.
These hands can't break down a brick wall, but they can still do something!
Shoving a hand into his pocket, Clark pulls out his scroll.
Good, it isn't damaged.
Pressing a few buttons on the scroll, Clark stands up, ushering the girl away from the wall.
"You're gonna want to get away from the wall," said Clark.
"Why?" asked the girl.
"Because it's about to open up in a big way!" said Clark.
A loud *RRRRR* sound can be heard as the wall explodes, sending bricks everywhere. Clark puts himself in front of the girl, shielding her as bricks fly by. Luckily for Clark, none of the bricks hit him. Turning around, Clark lays his eyes on his locker, having flown it in.
"Wow!" said the girl, "That's amazing!"
"I know right!" said Clark, "Sit tight, the police will pick you up in a few minutes."
As Clark walks toward his locker, he begins to call someone on his scroll.
As cool as it would be, I don't know if I can do this by myself.
Clark puts the scroll to his ear, "Victor?"
"Hey man!" said Victor, "If you're wondering why we're not at the dorms, Oliver wanted to show me his penthouse so we're crashing there for tonight."
"I'm really sorry to ruin your night, but Bruce is in trouble." said Clark, "He's down at the docks and he's in over his head."
"Woah, slow down!" said Victor, "Bruce is in trouble?"
"He could die," said Clark, "Please, there's no time to explain, just meet me at the docks and bring medical equipment."
"Will do," said Victor without hesitation, "OLIVER WAKE UP! OUR TEAMMATES IN TROUBLE!"
Clark hangs up, inputting the code into his locker and opening it, revealing a variety of farmhouse memorabilia. Clark pulls his T-Shirt off, exchanging it for a clean one, the bright blue still giving off a warm feeling. Clark places his hand on the door, intending to close the locker. However, he sees the cape his mother made for him. Picking it up and letting it unravel, Clark admires its bright red look with the insignia on his chest emblazoned on the back in golden yellow.
Ma said the cape was made from the blanket in the rocket.
Clark cocked his eyebrows, deciding to test the fabric by stretching it at different angles.
Everything in the rocket had been super durable, maybe this cape could help me while I'm getting my power back.
Clark sighed, "Let's do this."
Clark swung the cape behind his back, tucking it into his shirt. Turning around, Clark was now fully dressed in his normal getup. Boots, Jeans, the blue shirt with the S, now complete with the cape. A siren blares, alerting Clark to the police car now entering the alley.
"Wow, Mr.!" said the girl, walking out, "That cape looks really cool!"
"Thanks!" said Clark, a big smile on his face, "My mom made it for me."
With that final word, Clark leaped into the air, just barely clearing the wall to land on the rooftop.
My powers are starting to come back!
Clark began to run, the thud of his boots becoming more and more audible with each step. Clark smirked as he leaped from building to building, his jumps getting higher and longer.
Clark makes a great big leap, his figure casting a shadow over Vale from the shattered moon.
I'm not giving up on you Bruce, not while I'm still alive!
Hey guys! Sorry for the wait, I've been porting my other fic to AO3 and it took a while since I discovered a bunch of errors in the early chapters and had to fix them! I'd also like to mention that I will update this fic with another chapter soon instead of flipping back to Lighting Strikes so I can finish Volume 1 quickly and with a bang so as to not leave you guys hanging!
Reviews:
DCDGojira: I don't read as much as I write, but I'll definitely check them out! Knights and dragons as well as Birds of Prey look great! I have a villain planned for season 4 (My plan for season 4 is pretty crazy!) but it's not Bane. I like the skulls trailer.
On a less Fortunate note, I've realized that These teasers should mostly done through PM's. I'd suggest making an account and PMing these teasers! The reason I say this is because leaving so many reviews artificially inflates my review number. Thanks for reading!
Thanks for the feedback!
Shadow Joestar: Thanks for the feedback!
Next Chapter: The rest of team BSCO pull together to save their teammate!