Jamila looked down at her son and compared him to the boy she saw earlier. Her little boy. Her little demon… angel. He looked so much like a mixture of his father and her father that it was shocking. It was terrifying.
But the thing that scared her the most?
He looked so much like her.
A demon before a human.
A weapon before a person.
A solder before a child.
What the hell happened for her to allow that? Was she that bad of a mother? By the demon, she could almost see the blood on his hands.
A small thought crossed her mind, and her facial features turned cold and unforgiving. Vandal Savage. It was his fault also. The blame for her son's life couldn't lye solely on her.
She was his mother, but she didn't have the best parental figures. (Who was she kidding? Aunt Talia was the best.) She did however know that they were supposed to protect you with their life and keep you safe from harm. (Then again, no one in her family had good parental figures. Not even grandfather).
Either way, she was going to rip that asshole into so many pieces that even traveling back through time couldn't save him. She was going to make that bitch hurt so much that he'd feel it across the entire multiverse.
How dare he go against her family? Her people? Her clan? She may not bear the title of the Demon's Head, but it doesn't change what she is.
It doesn't change that she is the Demon.
He would harm her people. She will make scream.
This war of his was already adding to so much stress to her beloved cousin. Jason hasn't even healed completely. No. She won't stop until she bore Vandal's skin like a cloak.
Jamila could feel the rage building up in her as her thoughts turned darker. She wanted his head. She wanted his blood. His soul. His very essence. She wanted to paint the oceans red with his and his allies' blood.
She braced herself against her son's bassinet as her anger threaten to consume her. She tried to count to ten to get herself under control.
But how dare he?
They were trying so hard to turn away from the terrorism Grandfather sought.
So, how dare he?
Her put her people in danger. Her friends. Her family.
How dare he?
He killed Shisui. Aunt Talia. Her brothers.
HOW DARE HE?
He killed Jason.
Jamila felt a faint flicker of something not quite human flicker within her before her world went dark.
Jason was typing away on the laptop in his room. He was getting in some last-minute planning in for the war council on tomorrow evening. Kyle was cuddled into his side. He had flown in earlier today (with more metals that made Roy and the R&D department weep). He took his future death with ease. Though that may be because Jason himself was about to pass out.
Moving the laptop from his lap and careful not to dislodge Kyle, Jason ran his hands through his hair in distress. Kyle died. Taliadied. He died again. Fuck, Jamila damn near reverted back to who she was before she died. Small shudders ran through his being. It was too much. It was all too much.
Didn't he suffer enough? Didn't his family, both of them, suffer enough?
And those kids… All five of them had the world resting on their shoulders and Jason wasn't even sure if he could help them bear the weight of it.
What the hell was Jamila thinking?
But he knew didn't it? Jamila was trying to save them in the only way she knew how.
Jason pressed his hands into his eyes. Jamila didn't know though. That timeline she was so desperate to save them from was still going to be there. They were going to have to go back to that time and learn how to live without them. They were going to rebuild the league all on their own.
A new timeline was constructed sure, but the one that they originated from was still going to be there. She saved them, yet all she really managed was to buy them some time.
Jason's shoulders shook with grief. He didn't want this for them. He wanted them to be able to live. They were all finally free of the Al Ghul legacy and their destinies. It was time for them to grow on their own, and yet they failed them.
They failed all five of them.
He didn't understand how the five of them could look at them with such awe, trust, and love. They all left them!
Jason didn't startle when he felt hands wiping away at his cheeks. He leaned into the arms wrapping around as he tried to muffle his cries. How could he look at miniature version of those soldiers… those killers and not feel like a failure for not stopping their futures? How could he look at them and not feel like he was leading them down a path of blood and mayhem.
He was supposed to be their leader. Their older brother figure. Their godfather. He was supposed to make sure nothing ever hurt them.
Jason said nothing as self-hatred poured over him in waves even as Kyle just held him and whispered sweet nothings in his ear. Jason choked back a sob. He got Kyle killed. It was his fault. He just knew it. Everything and everyone he learned to love died on him.
Kyle didn't say anything, and Jason didn't offer any explanations. But if Jason clutched closer to Kyle, because he couldn't let the man go. He had to protect him even if it meant dying himself. Well only the two of them needed to know.
They had long since pass reached the place where they needed to talk to know what the other was thinking.
Jason woke up tangled in Kyle's arms. His head was lying on the other's man chest directly above his heart. He laid there for a little while longer just listening to his heartbeat. He knew that he needed to get up soon to get the meeting hall ready and make sure everything was going to prepared. Everything had to be perfect if he had to convince the symbols of goodness to team up with criminals. Especially those that had Bruce whispering poison into their ears.
Yet when Kyle's arms tightened around him, Jason said nothing but relax deeper into his arms. He trailed his gaze up towards his face and took in every detail. He couldn't lose this. Vandal couldn't win. And if he knew which exact Lantern from the other corps that took Kyle away from him… he'd shoved that damn mood ring up that bastard's ass and make them choke on it.
Jason thought about the ring that he had hidden deep into the floorboards of his quarters back at the Outlaws HQ. The one made from that damned crowbar that Joker kept around for jokes. He once thought that he'd give that ring to Roy until reality crashed for both of them and they realized that the love they shared was brotherly. Roy slipping into his life and being the brother to him that Dick never managed. And yet, it was different when he first met Kyle. Mainly because the first thought was that yes, he was attractive, but the urge to punch him in the face quickly bypassed that.
Then he met Artemis and he thought about the ring again. But he saw her (and Kori) as the older sister figure that Babs could never be. (And no offense to Barbie, but he never wanted to be Dick Grayson in the first place).
But meeting Kyle again and remembering their adventure across the multiverse. Seeing him decked out like a freaking kaleidoscope. The ring was the farthest thing from his mind and the closest was making that walking glowstick fall in love with him. (Mission Accomplished, Jason.)
Jason swore to himself that after all of this was over… he was going to propose to Kyle. He was going to give him the ring. He was going to put his life in the other man's hand, and he was going to be happy. They'd raise Suren together and maybe adopt a couple of alien babies. They'd live a long and peaceful life and finally retire together and spend the rest of their days on Outlaw Island.
He could see it all now. Jamila and Roy fighting over the spot of being his best man/woman before she judo flipped him and took the spot herself. Connor being the Kyle's best man. Talia walking him down the aisle. Little Theseus being the ring bearer. Jason felt grief twist in his heart because his little Lian would've made the perfect flower girl.
He could imagine how far Talia would go to make it the most extravagant wedding of the century. All the different alien beings coming from across the galaxy to watch them seal their lives with each other.
Jason suddenly surged forward filled with desperation and determination. He planted his lips firmly on Kyle's before straddling him. He tried to pour every ounce of emotion he felt into the kiss. He only pressed his lips firmer on Kyle's when he felt him responding.
"Marry me," he whispered. "After this is all over, marry me. Don't leave me. Please. Marry me."
Kyle didn't even have to respond. His answer had been yes, a long time ago.
Jamila sat on Jason's left quietly. She had woken up this morning in the infirmary after passing out in her son's nursery. Apparently, Shisui had been stopping by for a late-night visit before he left out on his next mission of tracker down her mother when he heard a thump in the room. He had quickly entered ready to kill whoever dared to touch his son when he noticed her sprawled out on the floor.
He sent a crow to summon Itachi quickly to look over the room for anything that could've harmed her and Theseus as he rushed her to the infirmary. Apparently, her rage blinded her to her exhaustion and the lingering aches from her wounds.
Her family almost didn't want to let her come to the meeting, but she had to show her face. The Al Ghuls had to show a united front before clans, and she wouldn't even be able to sneak out afterwards when the heroes came rolling in.
The future versions of her cousins and son sat behind them whispering amongst themselves. She wished she still had Lazarus with her. These weak human ears where horrible. She didn't see how people got anything done with them.
Kyle sat on the other side of her as close to Jason as he could get without destroying the set up, they were going for. Aunt Talia sat on Jason's right with Roy on the side of her. Father, Ubu, and Lady Shiva flanked them from behind. The other outlaws sat around the table as close to Jason as they could get. Their alliance clear as day. A fact not even hidden as the bore the Al Ghul clan symbol on their clothing.
Jamila knew that while others didn't that Shisui was sitting beside her covered by what he called a genjutsu. Even if she looked she knew he wouldn't be there, but every once in a while she felt fingers ghosting along her legs.
She trailed her gaze over the heroes that were being shown into the room. Thank Lazarus, they had the mindset to move any of their less than legal operations to another base. (Thank the demons below, that Jason was looking into a place to relocate the league. That way they wouldn't be sitting ducks for Vandal to pick off.) Her baby was squirming in her arms as he was distracted by all of these different faces.
Don't get used to it son. I've fatally injured more than half the people here. And I'm sure most of them want me dead.
A small smirk pulled on her lips when she saw the way the Blue Idiot was scowling in their direction. She and her family were decked out in their finest clothing looking as if they were getting ready to for a royal portrait. They didn't even resemble the assassins that everyone knew they were.
[She also very pointedly refused to think about the night they shared when her beloved was sitting so close to her.]
(Which also means she struggle very hard to not let her eyes drop from Wonder Woman's face and down to her very, very, very nice cleavage.)
Her gaze flickers across the heroes and she notices the fond smiles the Arrows shoot their direction even as Connor smiles goofily (for him) back at them. She notices the looks her half-brother, Joseph (Jericho) keep shooting her. She smiles softly back at him. Warm and inviting.
She's going to embrace all her family.
She could feel the glare burning into her from the Bats' as Jason leans over to whisper in her ear, "You smile anymore softly and I'm going to you've been an angel instead of a demon all these years."
The scowl of disgust on her features makes him chuckle. It makes them seem more human and the two of them can see some of their guest relaxing in their seats. Some of them even laugh softly or gasp with amusement when she turns to meet the Bat siblings' gazes' head on and promptly stick her tongue out at them.
All eyes flickered towards Jason when he stood up. He trailed his gaze over the masses making eye contact with everyone and no one. Jamila pretended not to notice the pause he had for Kyle or the worried look he spared her.
"You all might be wondering what why I've requested this meeting," Jason started, his voice commanding everyone's attention. Even little Theseus cooed softly as he turned to look at his godfather. "Some of you may already know the basic details."
Jamila reached her hand down and brushed them against where she could feel Shisui's lightly. She bent down a little and pressed a kissed to her son's forehead.
"We've recently acquired knowledge of an upcoming, universe-wide attack that is shortly on its way to beginning."
Jason's eyes were dark and solemn as he looked over everyone before he flicked his gaze back to Kyle. They seemed to communicate without words. Jason took a deep breath and it was like it was struggling under the weight of the world. She reached her hand out to squeeze his bicep in comfort and she could see Aunt Talia doing the same from his other side. She returned the small smile that Kyle shot her way in thanks.
"In a few short months, the entire universe will be at work," Jason continued. Batman's voice cut through the air taking the attention away from her cousin. She could see him relax by a fraction.
"And just how did you get this information? How do we know its trustworthy?"
Jason, Jamila, and Talia all rose brow at the man. Each of them rose a hand to calm down Ubu, Slade, and Shiva at the disrespect being shown. Even managing to calm down the warriors guarding the room. Jason stepped to the side as the future warriors moved forward.
"Everyone, meet the Demon's Fist."
