Chapter Thirty-Nine: Son of Wayne
"When he returned to Metropolis it was destroyed. All I remember is seeing him in the middle of a crater where the city use to be, holding your body. I won't ever forget the look on his face. I've never seen anyone in so much pain, I don't think I ever will again." Barry gave a heavy exhale and Silvia felt like she could almost see his memories. "I know it's hard but we're running out of time. If there's anything else you want to know ask it now."
Silvia racked her brain but the reality of what she had just heard stung in her chest. A little of the fear she felt for the Superman of this world changed into sympathy. She wanted more answers though so she pushed herself to speak. "Okay... What happened to Dick Grayson?"
Flash fell silent but it wasn't clear if it was because of the grief or if he was afraid to tell her.
"I know that he's dead, Barry, and I know that Damian Wayne killed him. I want to know why, I need to know."
"Well that makes things a little easier then..." He said lowly. "But not much."
"I'm sorry but I can't stay here without knowing... He was important to me."
"I know he was." Barry's shoulders slumped forward, red costume so flexible that it didn't even leave a crease. "And you were to him. I know that there were some of us that never accepted you even when you changed sides; Batman, Cyborg, Raven, Hawkman, Batwoman, even I was guilty of invalidated scepticism. But when you died it didn't just effect Superman."
"It's funny that most of them ended up doing the same things they hated me for... I'm sure Batman and Cyborg didn't shed any tears."
"Cyborg... no. He was respectful enough to keep his mouth shut though. Batman swallowed his pride and attended your funeral but I couldn't tell if he was just doing it for Clark or if he really wanted to be there." Flash shrugged. "Hal and Billy were pretty messed up though. They joined The Regime to honour your memory, Hal even turned to the yellow power core because he thought your death could have been prevented if they'd killed Joker when they had the opportunity."
Guilt swirled in Silvia's stomach sickeningly. She gulped it back down in hopes that the nauseous feeling would leave her. "And Dick?"
"He actively spoke out against Superman's changing ideals. He was just as messed up by your death, probably even more so than Hal, but he dealt with it in a different way. He knew that you wouldn't have wanted any of this." Flash paused for a second, building up the will to speak about Richard's death out loud. "His death... it was a complete accident."
An accident? Silvia couldn't believe it... It couldn't have just been some small insignificant moment. If anything, knowing that he hadn't died in a blaze of glory like he should have made the pain even worse.
"There was a breakout. A whole bunch of us had gone to Arkham to protect the inmates from the more violent among them. Damian was being a little more brutal than the rest of us, and when Dick called him out, Damian started talking about how Superman was right. We shouldn't be defending criminals, we were meant to save the innocent."
"Doesn't sound like Batman's kid."
"They never had a close relationship. There was always a drift between them. Nowadays he says that Superman's more of a father than Bruce ever was. Might be the reason he started following him." Flash looked so hurt with every word. They'd all been torn apart by this. Family and friends all fighting against one another. "Anyway, Dick told him that a Robin never hits a man while he's down and he certainly never kills. To do so would be a disgrace to the uniform. Damian got worked up, mentioned that if they'd killed before then you would still be alive."
Silvia's arms instinctively wrapped around herself. She couldn't imagine what she'd do if someone said that to her about Clark... or Richard for that matter.
"Dick got angry, told him that if we killed we'd be just as bad as the ones we were killing, in less polite words. The last thing I remember is Damian screaming at Dick to stop telling him what to do, to stop acting superior. He threw one of his batons at Dick and it hit him in the temple... hard. He was knocked unconscious, and the next time I turned around he was dead, fallen on a rock and broken his neck..."
"It can't be as simple as that... H-He wouldn't die that easily!"
"His senses weren't what they use to be. To deal with your death he drank more than ever, I don't know what else he was on but whenever I saw him he looked unwell." The man shook the image out of his head. "The fall broke his neck, that could happen to any regular person. I think we forgot a lot of the time that Dick was just human, like Batman he had no special powers. He could die as simply as any other human."
"But... to go that way... because of some kids stupid temper tantrum."
"We've lost a lot of good people to this war. Green Arrow was also killed... and Kori."
Silvia froze, her lungs sucked up air until they felt like they were going to explode. "K-Kori?!"
"Not only had she just lost her best friend, she lost Nightwing as well. She went back to Tamaran and brought a small army to fight against the regime. She died in the chaos."
"G-God... not Kori... please not her." Silvia shivered out. She felt her legs give way beneath her and dropped to her knees. It was all because this damn version of her couldn't stay alive! She had never felt such hatred in her life... and the worst part was it was herself that she hated. "She... She shouldn't have died. N-Not her..."
"I'm sorry, Silvia..." He muttered, leaning down to rub her back. "I know it's a lot to take in but you might be able to stop anyone else from being a casualty of this useless fighting."
"I... I'll try... but I'm doing this for them not for-" She glanced up to speak the next word but Barry was already gone, and so was the dome silencing their conversation.
Seconds later Superman swung the doors to the room open, finding Silvia still kneeling on the floor with tears glistening in her eyes. His expression turned to one of surprise and faster than Silvia could blink the tears away he was at her side.
"What happened?" He said darkly. "Who upset you?"
Silvia shook her head, sniffling and rubbing her eyes with the palms of her hands. "No one... I'm just not use to this world, that's all. I don't like it. I don't like all of the fighting, or the death."
Kal-el's expression softened, something no one had seen for five years. He pulled her into his chest, running a hand through her hair so delicately and lovingly that she felt her heart swell. "It's alright, the fighting won't go on forever. The ones that don't join me won't be around much longer then we can work on maintaining the peace."
Though Silvia didn't want to argue, not after hearing what he'd gone through, she knew that she had to. The Clark that she loved would have wanted her to. "That's not what I want..." She said quietly. He killed people that fought against him or disagreed, but she knew he wouldn't lay a finger on her. "Kal-el, what you're doing... It's not peace. No one's free to make their own decisions or think their own thoughts. I know that you think you're doing the right thing but you're only creating more fear."
His muscles twitched around her. She could tell he was fighting back anger. "You're just upset. In time you'll understand-"
"No, I won't. I don't agree with any of this. I never will." Silvia felt the man shift and his jaw clench. "My Clark still believes in second chances. That everyone is worth saving... and so do I."
Superman's hands grasped her shoulders tightly. The fact that they hadn't been crushed under his grip proved that he was still trying to hold back but Silvia could feel his hands pinching her skin.
"He's not your Clark anymore!" He sneered, eyes blazing in fury. "You're here. You're mine. I'm your Clark now."
"No... you're Kal-el."
"Stop calling me that!" His shout echoed through the room so loudly that Silvia thought she might go deaf. "It's Clark to you."
Silvia's heart beat picked up, pounding painfully in her chest. Superman could hear it... It seemed like she became more and more scared of him every day. He let go of her with a sigh of defeat. He stood up and walked towards the open door.
"Come out with me. If you speak to more of the regime you might change your mind." He said lowly.
She didn't want to go out, she'd already spoken to anyone she cared about that joined him. Silvia wasn't willing to reject his offer though, not with how angry he already was. "Alright..."
The Fortress hadn't changed at all since yesterday. It was still dark and gloomy, a base for planning not relaxing. It was no longer a memento of his origin planet. Silvia was lead into a room where most of the regime were training and left standing near the wall.
Superman looked slightly uncomfortable, either because he knew Silvia made him vulnerable or because he was guilty about how he had spoken to her... He hadn't felt any form of regret in five years so it wasn't an emotion he was use to.
"I'll give you some space..." He said semi-calmly but it was apparent that he didn't want to leave her. "I'll be back soon."
Silvia nodded but said nothing as he left her there. The Regime apparently were going out of there way to not look at her. They focused on their training and ignored her presence... All except one.
"Silvia!" A voice said in an upbeat tone.
The blonde turned around only to spot Shazam running over to her. She wasn't sure whether to be happy that she was seeing him or upset that he was following Superman. Either way she felt her lips twitch into a smile with the knowledge that he was alive.
"Billy!" She called back happily, almost tackling the large boy into a hug. "It's so good to see you!"
His massive arms squeezed around her as he laughed (a little less childishly than in her world). "You too. I missed you so much!"
Silvia couldn't withhold the snort that sounded when he lifted her from the ground. It was always amusing to her that he could turn into someone twice his own age. When he put her back down he grinned, face turning slightly pink at his previous excitement.
"Well, since we're both from different worlds, we should try and get reacquainted." Silvia returned his smile. "How old are you now? In my world you were only twelve."
His arm flew up to rub the back of his head sheepishly. "I'm definitely older than that now."
"And how old would that be?"
Shazam rolled his shoulders. "I just turned twenty-four, actually."
Silvia's eyes nearly popped out of her skull. "What?! You're... the same age as me?"
Billy too looked a little shocked before realisation crossed his face. "Oh, well if you were from this world you would have been about thirty-six by now... I guess your world is a bit earlier than ours."
"Still that's just weird... I've known you since you were a kid." She shivered uncomfortably. "I watched you grow up, dude, and now we're the same age?"
"Maybe we shouldn't think about it too much." Shazam laughed. This form of his was still much older than twenty-four. It made her wonder what he looked like now in his regular body, and how much he had grown. "Not that I didn't wish I was your age when I was younger."
Silvia shook her head. "Bet you're regretting that now. Being an adult isn't as great as people make it out to be."
"You can say that again." The man agreed. "I can't get away with anything anymore."
Silvia hadn't felt so relaxed in a while. Billy always did have that effect on her, that childishness still hadn't disappeared and it reached into the child that she never got to be when she was younger. Somehow though, he was simultaneously more mature than most older people she knew. She hadn't laughed so genuinely since she'd arrived there, unfortunately this sound silenced abruptly when her eyes landed on a familiar costume.
There was a man in that room. One with long hair... and wearing Nightwing's costume, or something very similar. Her gaze sharpened like blades, and before Billy could figure out what was going on, Silvia was marching in the importers direction. The man was bashing a dummy in multiple places with two batons. He heard her approaching and paused.
"Hey, asshole." Silvia hissed. She was so upset about Richard that anyone wearing his old costume felt like an insult. Even if there was a good explanation it would never sufficiently calm her rage. "That costume isn't yours."
The man turned. He had the same dark hair and blue eyes as Richard but his features were more like Bruce's. That only made her hate him more.
"It is now." He said indifferently.
"Fuck off!" Silvia could feel a growl rip through her chest, reaching her vocal chords like a snarling wild animal. "I saw you training. You're not worthy of wearing Nightwing's armour... In fact, you're not good enough to wipe the dirt from his boots!"
He didn't answer her but his body language said it all; white knuckles from clenching his fists too hard, and gritted teeth from effort to remain silent. His hunched form exuded an animosity that was like acid - burning.
"Heh, pathetic." Silvia spat. "Dick would be rolling in his grave if he knew someone so timid had taken on his mantle."
The impostors teeth made an audible gritting sound and he almost lunged for her, the only thing that stopped him was Shazam. His hand was on his chest, keeping him in place. "Come on, Damian. This doesn't have to turn physical. Besides, you'll have to face Superman if you hurt her."
Damian looked like he was rethinking his actions and stepped back. Silvia, however, was sent into full-blown fury. Damian?! It was him. He was the one that killed Richard... and he had the nerve to take his place. Her face was red with rage and when her eyes landed once more on Damian she mentally snapped.
Hatred hissed through her body like deathly poison, screeching and demanding release in the form of violence. It was like a volcano erupting; fury sweeping off her like ferocious waves. The wrath consumed her, engulfing her restraint and destroying any boundaries she had set for herself.
She pounced at Damian and Billy only just managed to get out of the way. Her fists collided with the man's face more times than she could count. She could feel fresh tears running down her cheeks every time her hand connected with his jaw; the pain of Richard's death coming in fresh waves.
Damian only barely managed to throw her off of him. Her sorrow left her vulnerable and blind to attacks, otherwise he knew he had no chance. Despite the crowd forming, telling him not to retaliate, he wasn't the type to just sit back and take a beating.
He swung his arm heftily at her head but she ducked under and cut his right leg with the shiv she had stolen from a guard. Damian let out a groan of pain, looking down to see the red liquid pouring from his thigh.
Damian's whole face darkened and he took a swing at her. She was so lost in her own anger that she didn't even try to dodge the incoming attack and before she knew it a baton was whacking her across the face. Once. Twice. Thrice. The pill increased the users strength a little as well, apparently, because typically Silvia wouldn't have felt the first few blows. This time she did. She finally snapped her mind into action and rolled backwards, spitting out a mouthful of blood when she got back to her feet.
Damian moved again.
Silvia jerked back aside. The blow meant for her throat whizzed by in a blur of knuckles. From the corner of her eye, she saw her opponent's other arm begin an upward trajectory. She ducked this time, and felt her hair ruffle with the force of it.
She charged with a roar like a bull. Damian sidestepped, whirling to face her. Silvia lunged again. He avoided one flying fist, only to collide with another. The blow bounced off his ribcage, a sharp sting piercing through his body. He was already bleeding from both his nose and mouth but this blow made him stumble back, coughing.
"Dick would have dodged that. You couldn't win even if I let you!" The taste of metal was still filling her mouth, staining her teeth as red as her tongue. "First you kill him then you disgrace his memory. How fucking low do you have to be?"
"Shut up!" Damian snarled, unsheathing a sword from his side and running in her direction.
Silvia was ready to dodge it. Ready to take the sword and lunge it into his shoulder. She wouldn't kill him... but she'd make him hurt. Neither of them got the opportunity to try. When Damian was only inches away he was pulled back by someone... a very tall someone.
Those in the room either gasped or fell silent. Superman was clutching onto Damian's arm, eyes burning red. He looked at Silvia, covered in blood and a cut above her right eyes, then back to Damian with a sneer. "Didn't I tell you that no one was to lay a finger on her?"
"She started it." He mumbled like a spoilt child.
Superman's muscles rippled under his suit, tensing and tightening at the anger boiling through him. He let go of Damian's arm only to clasp him around the throat. Choking sounds filled the room, Damian clawing at Superman's hand but with little success.
Silvia hated to admit it but the darkness that still throbbed inside of her enjoyed seeing him in pain. He'd killed someone close to her... and for the first time she could understand how Superman felt. She fought off the feeling. After seeing what similar hatred had done to their universe she knew it would only end up in everyone else's suffering.
Superman's grip on the boys neck tightened and for a minute it looked like he was contemplating killing him. His gaze flicked to Silvia once more, and though she didn't want to, she shook her head. "It was my fault... Please, let him go."
Superman's eyes narrowed at Damian, fading from red to their usual blue. He didn't kill him but he did kick him in the stomach hard enough to puncture something. "If I ever hear that you've even considered hurting her again I won't be as merciful."
The atmosphere was heavy, almost suffocating. It was then that she realized that some of the Regime members were just as scared of him as she was. Maybe they joined for that exact reason... It wasn't any excuse to sit around and watch the world burn though, and least of all to watch someone like Superman destroy everything they once stood for. If there was one good thing she could say about Batman, it was that he was trying to stop all of this... even if his methods sounded extreme.