Chapter 11
Wally woke to the sound of his wife screaming. He sat up sharply, twisted. Leia was writhing in the bed, twisted up amongst the sheets, soaked in sweat. In a flash, his hands were on her shoulder, shaking her slightly.
"Leia! Leia!"
Her eyes snapped open; a scream choked off. For a moment, she looked lost, drowning in a memory. As it faded before her eyes, she saw him and silently, she leant into him, taking deep breaths. He felt her heart racing but, after a few silent minutes, it slowed and she finally drew back. Like usual, her eyes were dry and gaze steady.
"The same dream?" He asked quietly.
She nodded, her gaze flickering to the window. "It's been two years since she had me for that month and I can't shake her."
He sat up against the bedhead, closing his eyes for a moment. Old memories haunted them both; if she wasn't waking up screaming, he was. At least, that's how it had been for the year after she was taken. Then, it seemed to dwindle down; not erased completely but it was rare enough they were actually getting sleep again. Since moving into the apartment, a month ago, the nightmares had returned, at least once a week. His, too.
"I should've found you sooner," he said, a harder edge to his voice than he expected.
He heard her move off the bed, footsteps to the window. When he opened his eyes, she was leaning against the window, the moonlight framing her body. All the scars and well-toned muscle. A body that had been beaten, starved, tortured.
"You found me," she said quietly. "I was never getting out of there on my own."
She turned to him. The sight of her, achingly beautiful, as she walked towards him and returned to the bed, straddling him. She cupped his cheek, looking at him steadily in the eye.
"You're beautiful," he said.
With a roll of her eyes, she started to pull away but his hands fell to her hips, holding her there. She stared at him steadily, her dark gaze burrowing right through every defence he had. It was always useless against her. Yet there was no judgement in her eyes, never any judgement.
"You need to talk to them," she said. "You can't avoid what happened forever."
"I'm not," he said stubbornly. "I just need-"
"Time? They're not mad with you. They love you and they're just a little confused. I know Artemis would've spoken to them, smoothed over a lot but they're worried about you. The longer you stay away the more you're hurting them."
His brow lifted. "You've seen them?"
"No but I know how I'd feel in their shoes. Besides, I've seen the missed calls on your phone. I wanted to answer but when I saw the name, I decided not to. You have to be the one to take the hand they're offering," she said reasonably. "I'll just be behind you, giving you the shove you clearly need."
"I'll talk to them," he said, with a harder edge.
He didn't want to talk about his family or the multiple calls. All he kept seeing in his mind was the sight of Barry, pinned beneath him, his hand around Barry's throat. Leia had probably seen that image, given her power, so she was well aware of his issue. His choking fear of hurting his family again. After all, what other little presents had Hysteria left in his head, just waiting to go off?
It had been a week since Leia had heard from Tamara and Clint, whom were off scouring the globe, chasing down a myriad of leads they had. Feelers were out, trying to catch any hint of Hysteria, whom had been far too quiet for Leia's taste. She hadn't even made any move against the League or Superman, which begged the question if she even knew the device was in his possession. It was a game of cat and mouse, which Leia was, once again, playing blind. She didn't like it, not one bit. Even Wally was growing irritable around the apartment, though half of that was attributed to his refusal to speak to his family.
As Wally slept, she crept from the bed, then scribbled a note that she was ducking out for some fresh air. She changed into a long sleeve top and some black tights, then slipped on her favourite jacket, paired with one of the only pairs of shoes she owned. A solid pair of boots. She quickly dragged her hair back into a bun at the nape of her neck and headed out onto the balcony, letting her eyes bleed to black and her wings unfurl from her back. Without missing a beat, she climbed up onto the railing, stretched out her wings and leapt. For a second, she dove straight down, then shifted her wings. The wind caught her and her wings responded, letting her glide through the labyrinth of streets. She angled up, flapping hard until she rose above the tallest building and then headed off, slowing her wing beats until she was mostly gliding off the steady gusting wind. The cold air washed over her, biting but soothing.
Learning to create her wings had been the most freeing aspect of her power. It let her get away in the nights she struggled to sleep, tired her out enough to catch a few hours of dreamless sleep. It was calming because it focused her powers on one consistent manifestation, rather than leaving her mind unfocused and open to absorbing too many fears at once.
She sailed over the city, which stretched further than any of the cities she'd ever been too, over a seemingly flat landscape. Glittering skyscrapers of glass glittered incandescently against the neon lights thrown off from the streets. Golden squares of light from within the towers themselves offered brief glimpses into human lives. How she envied them, for all their stresses and troubles, not the weight of worlds on their shoulders. Not that she'd trade places. She'd never submit another to the shit she'd survived, simply to evade it herself.
So, she flew on, until she reached a wide river and perched atop a warehouse in a dockyard. Her wings folded at her back, remaining. Her feet dangled over the edge, swinging back like a child. She closed her eyes, feeling content, the stress of Hysteria's lack of action momentarily gone.
Sudden shouts caught her ear. Her eyes snapped open and she moved back from the edge, standing up. Curious, she crept across the roof to the other side and dropped down to her haunches, peering down below.
"Are you an idiot? Watch that!" A burly man snarled to several men ferrying large green crates from a shipping container. "That stuff is worth more than your life."
Leia glanced at her watch. It was two am and the dockyard seemed otherwise quiet, so what were these men up to? She stretched out with her mind, feeling their fears trickle into; the threat of death, failure, cartel retaliation. So, illegal activity then. She looked about, counting at least a dozen men unloading crates into the back of two white vans. There was also a long black car waiting off to one side, the windows rolled up. She sensed two people within but couldn't get a read on their fears. Curiosity stirred. It was rare she encountered minds so well trained.
She rose to make her move when several shadows dropped down into the area below from a stack of containers. They launched on the workers and their guards. Caped heroes, she realised, taking in their uniforms. Chaos exploded before her. Gunfire and a tangle of fights.
The closest one she recognised immediately. The blue symbol on his chest betraying immediately. Nightwing. He was fighting against several armed men, dodging bullets and fists, never missing a beat. He flipped over a stack of crates, ducking as bullets sprayed overhead.
Leia leapt down, dropping down behind the men. She threw her hands up, hurling several black bolts into their backs, shocking them. Gunfire stopped and they spun around, guns raised. Before they could react she summoned a dozen shadow wolves to her side, commanding them forward as she sprinted forward. Ribbons of shadows trailed behind. The wolves slammed into the men, knocking them to the ground; on contact, the men screamed, then fell silent. Her power slid into their minds, paralysing them still. She sailed past them, flipping effortlessly over the crates. She dropped down beside Nightwing, whom spun to meet her, as if she was a threat. He stopped, recognising her.
"You!"
She smiled. "Hello."
A flash of movement behind. She jumped up, throwing her hand to the man raising their gun to him; a wolf slammed into him, dissolving into his chest. The man crumpled to the ground, hitting his head, out cold.
"Let's sort this out, shall we?" She said, glancing at him.
He stared at her, then behind her and smiled. The gunfire had stopped and when she looked around, three other heroes stood over the passed-out bodies of the men. In the chaos, the black car was gone. The heroes approached, staring at her. Beside her, Nightwing stood.
"Nightmare, isn't it?"
Leia shrugged. "Leia will do." Her gaze flickered to the others. To her quiet relief, Artemis wasn't amongst them.
She recognised the rest from Wally's descriptions, however; Blue Beetle, Superboy and Miss Martian. Only Miss Martian recognised her, having seen her previously at Leia's initial arrival at the Watchtower.
"Hello again," she said to Miss Martian, then glanced to Nightwing. "I'd ask what you were all doing here but League Business, I presume."
He nodded. "And you?"
"Couldn't sleep-" She was cut off as her phone rang. With a sheepish smile, she held up a hand and answered the phone. "Hello dear."
"You okay?"
"Oh, I'm fine. Went for a fly. Found some friends of yours in a fight and jumped in," she said casually.
"What?"
She held the phone away from her ear, wincing, then put it back. "I'm not deaf, Wally. I'm fine but you could probably run down here if you want to yell at me."
"I'm coming."
She hung up, looking apologetically. "He's on his way."
Nightwing stared at her; he went to speak but a rush of air stopped him. Wally stopped several feet away, then looked at everyone, whom in turn stared back. Miss Martian shot forward, crashing into him.
"Wally!"
He laughed, hugged her back. As she drew back, he looked at the others, his gaze lingering on Nightwing. "Hey."
"Hey," said Nightwing.
Wally then looked at her, arching an eyebrow. "How is it you find trouble so easily?"
Leia glanced around at the carnage innocently. "I don't know how. I was out trying to find peace."
He snorted. "So, you found a fight."
"Well, I couldn't exactly just fly off," she said pointedly. "And this way I get to meet your friends."
She turned to them all. "A proper introduction is in order. I'm Leia."
They introduced themselves, first by their hero names, then by their true names. By her knowledge from Wally, there seemed no point in hiding identities. It felt nice to have a proper introduction, though she struggled to gauge their opinion of her; not one normally accustomed to needing the approval of others, she felt herself wanting, mainly for Wally's sake. Deep down she knew if they beat Hysteria and somehow tracked down her people, they'd probably stay on Earth. It wasn't something she was averse to, given how few familial connections she had with her rebellion.
Wally and Dick fell into a quiet conversation about what had happened and caught up. Miss Martian went off to make a report to the Justice League; Superboy wanted to check the shipping container. It left her with Blue Beetle, whom was charmingly awkward around her. He'd heard about her powers and was nervous about it.
"It's alright, I don't bite," she said with a smile. "Unfortunately, I can't switch off the part of my power which automatically reads the fears of those around me, so I know you're a bit nervous – or your partner is. Either way, I won't hurt you. Your fears aren't tasty enough."
"Guess that makes you a pretty Pennywise," he blurted out.
She was silent for a split second, then snorted and laughed. "I get that reference!" She spun to Wally, whose attention had been drawn by her laugh. "I got that reference!"
When she looked back to Blue Beetle she detected his fear of her had diminished and he was smiling at her.
"No one knew what to make of you. When we all heard Wally was back…and married, plus those other two. Guess everyone is curious but you kick butt, plus you're pretty cool."
"Well, I can say that out of everyone I met, everyone is exactly how Wally described."
"Even Batman?"
"Even Batman," she growled in a low voice. She smiled. "I actually like him."
"You like Batman?"
Her demons let out a sudden squalling cry. She spun to the container. Instinct rushed through her. She threw her hands up, enormous spider-like creatures materialising at the front of the container. They reared up and shot web in; a split second later Superboy was flung from the container. Leia shot forward, putting herself between him and the front; she threw up a wall of shadow just as light slammed into it. The sheer force sent her staggering back with a gasp. Wally was at her side in a flash.
"What is it?"
"Scared kid. Get your friends back, now."
He didn't hesitate, was off to his friends. She heard arguments, then twisted to them, waves of energy rolling off her. Black wings had returned to her back, flared, making her look like some sort of demonic angel.
"Get back now!"
They retreated, though just to the edge of the area. She turned to the container and narrowed her shield, just so it guarded her as she advanced. She was devouring the fear that poured off the girl deep in the container, even as the girl blindly fired bolts at Leia. It fed her as she plunged into the girl's mind, then found her fear – and siphoned it all. The girl started to scream, shrill and panicked, her mind fighting Leia. A quick calming wave from Leia silenced her and as the last trickle of fear bled away, the girl's defiance died away. Leia dropped her shield and looked down. Cowering in a tiny cage, smuggled in the corner of the container, hid well amongst stacks of boxes, was a girl. She was dark and filthy, as scrawny as Leia had been the day she escaped. One of her eyes was swollen shut and there was a crack collar around her neck. She stared defiantly at Leia for a second more, then slumped unconsciousness.
Leia made short work of the cage, cleaving the top off with swords she manifested herself. Dismissing them, she reached down and scooped up the child, barely older than five or so, light enough to pass for half that age. She carried her out where the others had drawn close, their faces shocked. Wally just beamed with pride, which only shifted to concern as he fully registered the girl.
"All that from her?"
"My guess is her collar was damaged and the power returning was too much for her; kindled that with the fear of being moved and shuttled around like an animal? No wonder she lashed out. I've taken her fear for the moment," she said. "I'd suggest taking her somewhere to have the collar properly removed."
"You took her fear?" Miss Martian commented. "How?"
"I slipped into her mind and once I found its source, the trauma of her memories, I simply dampened her response to it. A temporary fix but enough to calm her; the sudden withdraw of fear, however, made her pass out. She's fine though, better now her heart is at a steady pace and the adrenalin can reduce." Miss Martian looked almost uneasy about the mind invasion, so Leia went on. "I can't access thought and only memories if they're linked to a trauma or fear. Everything else I can't touch. I can't help what I am and I only use it in this way for cases like her. Trust me, I take no pleasure in it and at the end of the day, my demons get fed and I'm left with the echo of her fears forever."
Wally's phone rung, drawing Leia's focus to him. He fished out his phone and quietly excused himself off, moving away out of ear shot. She watched him for a second longer, then she looked down at the sleeping girl. There were chain marks on her wrists and ankles, anger rushing through her. If anything pissed her off more it was the exploitation of children, especially powered ones. It was like seeing herself again, especially in the first few months at the lab after her parents sold her.
With a deep breath, she looked up at the others, whom all watched her with curiosity.
"Do you have somewhere safe for her?"
"There's a facility-"
"No labs," she snarled.
They flinched. Nightwing held a hand in peace. "She won't be experimented on. I swear it."
Her gaze remained fixed steadily on him. "Good."
Superboy approached, somewhat cautiously, and Leia transferred the little girl carefully into his arms. She reached out and brushed a few strands of hair from her face, tucking it behind her tiny face. When her gaze lifted to Superboy, a silent conversation passed between, another vow between strangers. With a curt nod, Leia withdrew and Wally returned to the group.
"Tamara just got back. She may have something for us. We should go," said Wally, albeit reluctantly.
Leia nodded, then glanced to Miss Martian. "That car had two people whom guarded their minds from me. I'd hazard a guess they were either protected by a powerful telepath or trained themselves; either way, the training was specific enough to block me, so I'd say Hysteria is somehow linked here. Be careful and we'll be in touch."
Wally moved to her side and met her gaze. She waved her hand over his back and black wings burst from his back, gasps and widened eyes from his team. Her own wings unfurled and, together, they turned to their friends again.
"You can fly?" Blue Beetle blurted out.
Wally smiled. "Oh yeah."
"Come on, dear, best not keep Tamara and Clint waiting," she said and stepped back, turning slightly away.
Wally followed suit, murmured a quick goodbye. Leia darted forward, then surged up into the night sky, her wings lifting her effortlessly up into the night sky. Wally was not far behind.
