DON'T OWN ANYTHING…
Wally knew in an instant that he hated the rain. Just flat out hated it.
It made it harder to dodge since the visibility sucked and he could barely see where Clark was, or Rick for that matter.
"Keep your head in the game, West!" A voice cracked out, and in an instant Wally felt the side of his leg being struck with a heavy foot.
He cried out and tried to fight gravity as he fell towards the damping ground.
Don't fall…don't you dare fall!
His mind was screaming at him as he threw himself onto his hands and flipped back to a standing position in front of Rick.
He had to grin; it was a totally awesome move. He settled his gaze on Rick as best he could through the downpour and decided he was done stalling.
He ran forward, somewhat hampered by his slightly numbed leg but as Rick brought his hands up, he slid across the ground, ignoring the scrapes and water, only focused on kicking Rick as hard as he could in the knees.
There was only one thing wrong with his plan.
Rick didn't fall back and away from Wally as he had hoped. Instead the bigger man fell heavily onto the teen, knocking the wind out of both of them.
"…damn." Wally hissed, gaining back his air faster then Rick and slamming an elbow into his jaw,
"Get offa me!" He muttered, hoping that Rick would roll away after taking a direct hit in the jaw.
No such luck.
Clark could faintly see the two blurs, which he had guessed to be Wally and Rick clash together then both fall over. He wanted desperately to run over there but with Skive's gaze locked on him, it would not be an easy task.
"Feeling worried, Clark?" Skive asked lazily, his eyes following Clark's then returning.
"No. Wally can handle himself." He answered, tensing up.
Skive seemed to tense up as well, "Of course, but can he handle Rick?"
Clark growled at his response and was set to make the first step when Skive moved.
His movements, Clark noticed, were unnatural, like he was double jointed in every part of his body or made of rubber.
He smiled his twisted smile as Clark brought his arms up to block his right fist; he smiled because at the last moment, he brought up his left leg and kicked Clark directly into the chest in a quick and almost impossible move.
Clark stumbled back, his eyes wide and pain filled.
"Crap…"
Skive's eyes seemed to glaze over with a murderer's gleam.
"I'll kill you Clark with my bare hands."
Clark could finally tell the man was beyond reasoning. Instead he decided to do the next best thing.
Kick his ass.
Skive went out again, but this time Clark kept his arms down until he could see the true attack. It was risky and required much more from his stamina but it was all he could do.
"I…I thought you had a gun with you? Would that be easier?" He asked calmly, not even bringing up the fact that the Raven shouldn't even have brought a weapon to this fight.
"I don't have the gun anymore Kent." Skive said as smoothly as his kick. "Rick does."
Clark faltered and was struck.
Although Wally was the first to regain his wind, Rick's weight and position made it difficult for the teen to break free. His back end was soaked through from the rain but Rick's body shielded his face and front from the downpour.
Rick sat back and was fumbling with something behind his back, having difficulty as Wally became closer and closer to getting his freedom. He twisted back and Wally found himself face to face with a sleek black hand gun that Skive had fired earlier.
"Fuck…" He breathed. And Rick took that moment to use his free hand to grab Wally's neck, now only using his body weight to keep the teen from getting up.
Wally could feel Rick's fingers digging into his neck, cutting off his air only slightly, but still forcing him to pant.
He was slowing down his struggles, now focusing on staying conscious when Rick covered his lips with his own.
His eyes snapped to their widest position and he threw staying calm to the wind, thrashing with his arms, punching as hard as he could at the awkward angle.
Rick took the weakened blows and deepened the kiss by leaning forward; the gun resting on Wally's heaving chest and his hand still tightening around his throat.
Wally felt its weight and relaxed again. Rick, thinking Wally was finally succumbing to him, broke the kiss for a moment to gain some air, sitting up a bit.
Wally's hand moved which went unnoticed by the man, who had settled back in for another taste of his prey.
The gun fired into Rick's abdomen and Wally could feel his tongue halt its movements, his mouth gaping a little wider and a warm liquid dripping down onto his hand.
Rick's body became no less heavy but it was a simple matter for Wally to push him away.
He scooted several inches away, still holding the gun as he watched Rick die.
He watched as the life he hated was drained from out of this enemy with none of the satisfaction or closure he had hoped for.
He stared into his blank eyes and shook, whether from the cold or from this feeling, he did not know.
Was this what revenge gained him?
He looked down and saw the blood covering him.
He held his throat and still felt Rick's hands around it.
He could even still taste Rick in his mouth.
He was so deep into his thoughts that he could not even see that Rick was attempting to speak as blood ran from his mouth.
He died before Wally got the chance to ask him what he had said.
He shuddered for a second, trying to sort out everything, but found it too much for him to sort out himself.
'I…I killed him.' He told himself, 'I…' He couldn't bring himself to repeat it.
Not just yet anyway.
"Gyah!"
He wasn't sure if it was Clark's yell or if it was instinct that got him back up on his feet, but something did, and, leaving the gun where it lay, he ran over to his friend.
"Clark?" He turned and was sent falling back into his leader by Skive. Skive seemed confused by Wally's presence and glared at him,
"Where's Rick?" He demanded and Clark looked down at Wally, noting the blood but not saying a word,
"Like I'd tell you!" Wally shot back, his natural defense systems kicking in. Sarcasm and out right defiance.
Skive was piecing together the story for himself, recalling that he had heard a shot during their fight.
Wally watched them both, each battered and cut, and both still ready to go. He had to give it up to Clark. Skive was faster and still Superman had held his own.
"Need a hand?" He asked with a placed on grin. Clark looked down at him,
"You sure?"
Wally actually thought about it for a moment. He knew that Skive was fighting to kill. He knew that he might actually try to kill him, and that he would have to fight back.
And he was ok with that.
It was his life to do whatever he wanted. Sometimes things went wrong and sometimes things went great. He had gotten to where he was by never backing down, by always getting up when he fell. And he would never stop.
"Let's do this."
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Clark had to admit, the fight was less strenuous with Wally now involved. The teen was faster the both he and Skive, even if his punched had less affect he could still gain more hits then either of them.
Skive simply seemed to be biding his time, waiting until Wally came back for another punch, he twisted his arm as soon as he caught it and put enough pressure that Wally was forced to sink to his knees or let the limb snap.
Skive's lower body twisted and he rotated it quickly, snapping his leg across Wally's face, sending him into the concrete with enough force to knock him out.
"Wally!" Clark watched Wally's head bounce against the street, his body curling up and his movements stopping, the water barreling down on him.
Skive laughed at the look in Clark's eyes,
"Not easy watching family getting hurt is it?" He stepped near Wally, "I could kill him now…and all you could do is watch, Clark."
"Get away from him. Now."
He ran at Skive, who turned and side stepped him.
Lighting cracked across the sky now, and it grew colder, the lack of moon not helping any of the visual problems.
Clark took two hits in the neck before he even pin pointed Skive's position.
He did, however, manage to clock him with his fist, knocking the Raven into a light pole.
Skive fell forward a bit. His body shaking. He knew he couldn't keep this up for much longer. But he had to kill Clark…he had to.
He was getting to his feet when he felt Clark grab him by the shoulders and kneed him in the gut.
Skive soon realized Clark was not going to give him an inch, not after threatening Wally.
He had wanted to avenge his brother, but he could barely protect himself.
His mind seemed to go blank as he felt Clark's fist slamming into him. One rib snapped then another, then nothing.
"Put him down Clark." It was Bruce? Bruce Wayne was coming to his aid? Skive thought wildly, no…he wasn't. He was coming to Clark's. Stopping him from making a mistake.
Clark glared at Bruce,
"I'm not finished."
The other Leaguers came up behind Bruce, Wally being held by John.
"Yes, you are." Bruce challenged him.
"It's over Clark." Diana said, making a motion to the others, who were all injured in some manner.
"Leave him the cops, Clark. He's got a few things to answer for." Shayera told him sharply.
Clark sighed. He wasn't going to win this one. He stood up from Skive and looked down at him, no words he could think of would do any justice to the events that had occurred, so he turned towards his friends and walked away, leaving Skive to be bound to the pole by Bruce.
"Let's get going."
Wally stirred against John's shoulder, his mind groggy and still aching.
"Whazza…" He slurred out and Shayera pushed back his hair gently,
"Shh…we're going to Bruce's…get some sleep." She told him quietly. The other Leaguer's watched Wally, the car ride silent without his wit, as they drove towards Wayne Estate.
Although it was close to nearing three in the morning, Alfred was still dressed in his crisp suit and still very alert.
"I have your rooms prepared." He announced as he held the door open for the weary warriors.
John took Wally to his room and laid him down in the soft linens. Shayera was beside him, eyeing Wally's soaked clothes.
"He'll catch a cold if he doesn't get dry." She muttered and John grinned at her.
"What?" She asked, feeling a blush on her cheeks.
"You might fight like a hawk, but you're just a regular mother hen." He joked and Shayera narrowed her eyes.
"Mother hen, am I?" She ground out, clenching her fist around the first object that she could grab. A pillow.
"Now…wait…don't wake—OOF!" She smacked John with the feather filled weapon and laughed.
"Oh it's on." John told her, grabbing a weapon, his plaid and returning fire.
"Huh?" Wally opened an eye and saw John and Shayera in what looked to be the fight of the century.
Both older Leaguer's were greeted with a pillow, large enough to smack them both by Wally.
"Hey, keep it down…I need my beauty sleep." He cracked, a grin forming around his mouth.
John and Shayera looked at each other, then, without much warning, brought the fight to Wally,
"Hey! Hey! No fair!" He laughed as he got up to retrieve his pillow. They paused as he picked up the object and grinned mischievously,
"Ok, now it's fair."
J'onn was with Alfred in the dining hall, helping to clear away some of the plates that he had set out in case they arrived earlier.
"I wonder…" Alfred started thoughtfully, picking up a set of cutlery, "What will happen now?"
"There are still going to be Ravens to deal with." J'onn told him, "And I'm sure several of the gangs will want some of their territory."
Alfred watched the strange man for a moment, before smiling a bit,
"So, you all still plan to fight the good fight?"
J'onn returned the smile, "Indeed."
"How's your ankle?"
"Fine."
There was pause, awkward silence swirling around them. Diana straightened out her leg and tested the wrap Bruce had done,
"I should let you rest." She told him once she deemed the wrap worthy and she took a step only to find Bruce had grabbed her hand.
"Don't go." He muttered, locking eyes with her, pulling her closer to him. "Not yet."
"Bruce…I…" He silenced her with his lips, conveying to her with action what he couldn't speak.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling through the kiss, keeping the smile even when they broke apart.
"I wanted to give this to you before…but I didn't want it to get scratched."
Puzzled by his words, Diana looked down to see a gleaming diamond winking up at her, held in a small velvet black box.
"Oh…Hera…" She whispered as she pulled the ring from its place.
"Yes would do just fine." Bruce told her as she slipped the ring on, marveling at its beauty and loving the man who gave it to her.
"Yes! By the gods…yes!" She kissed him again and Bruce held her close.
"Several are confirmed dead tonight as police go to inspect the area where a gang fight was held. Among the dead are some of the city's most notorious criminals, including a dangerous sexual predator. The police are stating that the fight occurred between the newly formed Ravens and the League, over turf, but citizens have their own views."
The screen changed from the lovely news anchor to a elderly woman, who smiled and gave a polite wave,
"Ma'am, what are you're thoughts about the Ravens and the League. Both who have been thought to have caused several incidents and deaths in the past few months."
The correspondent questioned Molly with a look of complete seriousness.
"Well…I don't know much about those birdie fellas, but I can tell you that the League has been able to do more then even sometimes our fine police officers can…"
Several other pre recorded clips were played,
"The League chased out some robbers from our neighborhood."
"The League's nothing but good people, just trying to help…"
"Good guys…and the chick's ain't so bad either…"
"They might as well call themselves the Justice League, for all they've done…"
Clark clicked off the screen with a sigh. It wasn't a depressed or even board sigh, it was a content one.
He hadn't sighed like that in a while.
He got up from one of Bruce's many leather couches and walked over to the window, gazing out at the city that lay before him, grinning as an idea waltzed in his head.
'Justice League…heh…kinda catchy.'
O.O IT'S OVER? OH NOEZ…
OH YEAH…I KNOW…GOD DANG, FINALLY!
A SEQUEL MIGHT BE IN THE MIX MAYBE…BECKY'S THINGKING ABOUT IT, BUT LET US KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS THINK TOO!
HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOYED IT