FOUR BOYS: The Path We Seek
Chapter 19: Wise Words, Wise Acts
"Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced."
...Mount Justice...
Superboy had left to the gym ignoring L's shouts. He first needed to clear his mind, order his thoughts and break something.
Artemis exhaled, tension leaving her body. She turned to the ginger who had yet to move.'That hadn't gone as she planned it. They were close friends right? They had been working as a team so why were they so alienated towards each other.'
"We don't know each other that well, we were just kinda put together." Wally confessed.
'Oops had she said that out loud?'
Wally looked at her, his expression grim, "Aside from S. Water, R and myself, we had a family before we were taken to to Cadmus, a family that was either killed or they abandonde us."he shookhis head, "In any case we were trained individually day after day, tested time after time and then brought together from one day to another to form our team. It is obvious we were gonna have misunderstandings, we don't know much about each other, we don't know what the other is thinking, we are humans or I hope we still are. What I mean is I hoped it wouldn't have gotten to this."
"The lack of communication is the mayor cause of insecurities and doubts within a team." Flash said as he had zetad in without them noticing.
The young speedster turned to Flash for him to elaborate. Flash smiled and shrugged, "Sure within the League most members are known to keep secrets, mostly Batman. But we've had time to get to known each other and trust each other as well as respect each other's opinion."
Flash patted the ginger's head, "You are still young, but you'll surely learn from each other as time goes by and grow closer eventually."
Artemis nodded.
Wally looked surprised, he was thankful for the support from the Scarlet Speedster and the archer.
As tension left his body he had begun to feel a little light headed Artemis took notice and went to grab his arm and put it around her shoulders, "Alright carrot-head let's take you back to the med-bay before you fall over."
"Wa-wait what about Ren and Supey."
"You will have another opportunity kiddo, let them cool off. Just remember to always keep your calm and an open mind for their's and Water's sake." Flash said giving him a reassuring smile.
He had to. He was the only one who could bring them together again.
Wally sighed and let himself be guided to the med-bay.
...Mount Justice, The grotto...
R stood staring at the holographic effigies of fallen heroes. He rubbed his eyes in an effort to erase any trace of weakness. He was thankful nobody had follow him, they gave him space to calm himself.
The cut on his cheek had vanished completely leaving a small smudge of blood he easily wiped off.
'This place... it was dark and humid, but it was peaceful and safe. The lightened statues were beautiful and imposing he couldn't help but admire each and every one.'
Soft but steady footsteps sounded as the Batman descended to the place, not looking directly at the boy but rather at the statues as he walked past his side.
"This is a place of contemplation that had been there since the League's first days. It became a memorial for-"
"Heroes... I know." R supplied trying to hide his longing. However nobody could expect to hide anything from the Bat.
The hero pointed to a statue in particular, signaling him to follow.
"His name was Grant Wilson, also known as Ravanger. He was on the wrong side of justice." that got the raven head's attention, slightly red rimmed eyes turning to Batman before once again turning to the figure.
"Despite being born to a family of assassins, and he himself being known as a one, he ended up sacrificing his life trying to protect his younger brother, his team, the Justice League, and even an entire nation with his sacrifice."
"...He was not a bad person." R whispered 'That's why he was here.'
"You are not a bad person yourself, Richard." 'How could the hero read him so easily.' "We are not perfect, not even one of us is villain or hero. But anyone who is trying to be better can't be a bad person."
Richard looked at the statue contemplating it. Hearing the soft echo of running water and calm waves, feeling the protective presence at his side.
A good person. He wanted to be better for his teammates and for the world.
A thought suddenly entered his mind, he smiled, "...So if I sacrifice myself and save you all, will I get a holographic statue too?"
Batman looked taken aback which rarely occurred, he turned to face the boy, "I hope not." Richard's face fell as the hero started walking back upstairs.
"I would hope there will be no need of a sacrifice for you to consider yourself a good person... or a hero." R eyes widened.
Batman cleared his throat, "Everybody would miss you, i'm sure."
At the boys silence, the vigilant turned to look above his shoulder.
"Richard as I said, I'm leaving to the bat-cave... you coming?" Shock.
"...Why?" 'Was he really allowed back at the manor?'
"...Alfred will miss you at dinner."
.
"Sure." R replied as he followed back, he smiled to himself. Maybe he could also read the Batman's thoughts.
...The Batcave...
Bruce Wayne stared at the bat computer. As soon as they had gotten back Alfred had ordered them to change into civies, dinner would be ready soon.
R came back changing into a light blue set of pajamas. Even if he was not used to wearing loose clothes, he did not deny they we're comfortable.
He noticed the incessant typing as Bruce worked on the case of the Fog.
In the screen to the right there was a display newspaper article and videos of Star Industries and Orch Tech being torn down after a mysterious mist appeared. The heroes had kept track of the Fog hoping to catch onto it before it destroyed and collected data.
R hoped that with the Dr's diary they would be able to find a way to trace the Fog.
Bruce turned as he felt the presence behind him. Looking at the sad grim expression of the young one. It was clear the boy was still sad for what had happened with S and L.
Bruce managed to stifle a sigh as he stood up and headed to the elevator, "Come on Richard, Alfred will be upset if we take much longer."
Richard nodded albeit sully.
...
After the delicious dinner, Bruce excused himself and went to his study, he was still Bruce Wayne, billionaire philanthropist and ceo or Wayne Tech after all he had work accumulated.
The butler stared at the small figure still in the dinner table as he moved a piece of carrot around the plate for an entire minute, "Young Richard, I will have to tell you that food should not be played with."
The boy stopped immediately, "Sorry."
"..." Alfred move to retrieve the other's plate seeing as he was finished.
Once he returned he was not surprise to find the small charge had not moved from his place. "Is something the matter?" He couldn't help but ask.
The pale blue eyes turned to regard the butler for a minute as if debating if he should tell or not. It seemed he had deemed it fine as he said, "I just...don't know what should I do now. About Water, how to bring him back. About L and S how to fix things. About everything else, the Light and us, how to end it all... if its possible."
The butler turned the chair to the side and sat gracefully, his attention to the thirteen year old in front of him.
Alfred's eyes softened. "Perhaps 'end' is too much of a strong word."
"Its the only way this will stop." He whispered.
The old man's eyes softened, 'how could he not, the lad was 13 years old and already facing many horrible things'
"Young man, death and chance stole everything from you, but rather than become a victim, since the beginning you've done everything in your power to fight back."
He looked strictly at the boy's eyes, "For what reason have you fought if not an effort to master the chaos that sweeps our world. To free your love ones and yourself from the fate somebody else settled upon you."
Alfred smiled, "I'm sure your friends by now have seen reason and agree. You were never wrong, Richard. You just need to believe in others to carry the burden you've wanted to carry alone. So promise me you'll share it and trust your friends as much as you seem to trust our Dark Knight of Gotham."
'In fact having learned almost all there is to know about Batman, his achievements his training background his power and influence, Richard had deemed the man the only one capable of helping him.'
'Why hadn't he look to trust his friends? The others?... He had been afraid. After all what he had ever feared the most was being alone.'
Richard wanted to cry, to laugh, to say something and nothing at the same time. As he felt relief instantly wash upon him after hearing the words of the old butler.
He took a deep shaky breath, determination in his next words, "Alfred, do you know if there is any spare computer I could use."
The butler smiled, "Perhaps there is, young sir."
Soon enough Richard sat in the living room typing faster than what Alfred thought it was humanely possible.
Seeing the boy, the memory of a young Bruce Wayne, made his way to his mind, the time when he vowed, 'You are as precious to me as you were to your own mother and father, I swore to them that I would protect you.'
With Richard... It was definitely the same vow.
-.-.-.-.-.-
Next morning Bruce came down looking worse for wear, Alfred looked at him slightly amused.
"Alfred have you seen Richard?"
"Yes indeed, he woke up early today, though I may suspect he did not sleep a single blink last night."
"Was there something wrong?" Bruce asked a bit worried.
"On the contrary Master Bruce. The lad has decided not to give up. He will fight for what he feels is right, and this time he shall come victorious."
Bruce stared agape at the butler and his devotion. It was rare to hear Alfred so determine and excited.
He nodded, as he had no doubt that the butler's words were true.
...Mount Justice...
The zeta light deemed, L and S were each eating an insane amount of sugary cornflakes. They stopped as they both stared at their guest.
R stood in light blue pajamas, carrying a laptop. L and S shared a look, the boy seemed younger without all the deadly weapons and neutral colors he usually had to wear.
The small raven haired flushed at the attention and went to connect the laptop to the mountain's main screen. He beckoned the other's to follow.
S eyed him with a bit of hesitance and shame, Wally looked curious. They followed him, leaving the empty plates behind.
"Ren... about what I said." S began.
R sighed, "Its alright. I said many things I shouldn't have. I'm sorry S, L." he muttered back.
L smiled, S seemed to cheer up as well.
"What are you doing?" S said crossing his arms, as he watched the boy placed the laptop on the keyboard and connect a port to it.
"I'm fixing the Fog fiasco-" he said shortly.
"So we still have a chance?" S said, R shrugged.
"Supey." L said trying to stop another scene. The clone shrugged as well.
R turned to them, he looked tired but determined, "Listen guys, I can't change what I've done in the past, and I'm sorry for leaving you in the dark till now, but right now I am not here to debate or fight against any of you on who is right."
At the other's silence he continued, "You are free to choose whether you trust me or not , whether you are going to help me or try to stop me, in any case I will try to follow what I think is right for us, as it has always been...but before you choose. Please, hear me out." R half-begged.
S and L frowned but nodded willing to listen to R. 'R was really going to talk to them? Explain everything?'
He started once again to type on the computer, Lightning and Superboy looked closely at the insane amount of coding that deployed on the screen.
The speedster zoomed and grabbed his shoulder stopping him from continuing any further.
They were cautious, they had to be cautious.
'Flash was nowhere in sight and how had R gotten here? It was sketchy to say the least.'
He looked at his teammate, "You can't expect us to follow you blindly, we are not mind readers, so we are listening."
R turned to the two teammates. 'This was not how he was taught. As a leader his commands were to be heard efficiently and without opposition, talking and debating was something he had never thought he had to do before... but now things were different, as A had said, he needed to trust his friends.'
R sighed as he turned to Superboy hoping to finally explain more calmy everything that had happened. "As I told you before, you were right Supey, I allowed Water to win that time... Water proposed that with him being the leader it will make the Light focus more on him than on me, thus allowing me to move a bit more freely."
His eyes turned grim, "What we didn't know at the time and soon learned was that the Light had yet another plan for us, they have been working on 'The Last Substance.'"
"The Last Substance?" L pondered.
R nodded, "'The Last Substance.' Is the last phase, a volatile chemical that will turn us into the perfectly obedient and powerful weapons they need to reach their goal. Water ended up sacrificing himself he gave us time, he gave us an advantage, as to now along with the League's support." R started typing again. A bar suddenly started loading.
He showed then the screen, "We are devising the counter tech that will stop the Light's final plan, although we could only deduct as to what it'll be."
"Deducting, are you betting on that R?" L asked a bit hesitant and half teasing the younger as he always liked to have absolute control of the information.
R smiled, "We can only believe." S and L nodded returning a smile of their own.
'This communication was better, it was much better this way.'
"So with the Fog, you have any deduction?"
R nodded displaying an image on the screen, "With the help of Dr. Sterling's diary, Batman was able to device a code that would track the Fog. I kind of changed it into a virus." He paused feeling a bit of regret at having gone behind the man's back to create it. "This virus will hopefully be able to hack the Fog and destroy it."
Silence reigned as they stared at the loading bar. Soon enough it was ready to transmit.
"Dude you created a virus... That's awesome. Will it work?" L said as he looked up at the screen hopefully and in admiration.
...
"I'm sure it will." Batman said startling the three boys. Flash stood their as well arms crossed and a teasing grin on his face.
"How did you find me?" R said as he turned to the dark knight, still feeling a bit guilty.
"When we couldn't find you home, I did hope this was the place you would have come to."
'Home.' He smiled warmly at the word it felt right, and 'We' he knew it meant the man and the butler.
The Bat's lips twitched, "I see you've come with a better permanent solution to this problem. Very good Richard."
Batman was not upset, in fact he even looked proud as to why R beamed with a newly regained confidence.
Renegade received a nod from his friends and the heroes present. He turned to the computer smirking and launched it.
...
Batman started tracking the Fog as the boys waited for result Flash stood by their side reassuring them.
After some minutes the Dark Knight declared The Fog as neutralize.
They cheered, R smiled brightly eyes beaming hopeful.
"Good job." Flash said, he looked at the three boy's "good job all of you."
They smiled they were together and ready to take on the next challenge, getting Water back.