Mates: The Sequel
Chapter 14
Even though An hour had passed up on Mount Olympus, it seemed that almost an entire day had passed on Earth. They had been teleported back to where they had been before being snatched. Flash appeared in the medical wing. Green Lantern had been put back in his apartment. Hawk Girl was returned to her room, Superman to the Fortress, Bruce to his den and Wonder Woman to the Monitor Room.
Tick...
Unfortunately, J'onn had been in the middle of teleporting to Bruce's place. So he appeared in the freaking cave, scaring the crap out of Dick and Tim, who had been suiting up to go out as Nightwing and Robin. They stared at him with wide eyes, and he was starting to think he had scared them to death.
Knew he should say something or preferably phase through the floor and leave while he still could...but he couldn't even think, much less move or talk. And it seemed they were in the same boat, for they was just as frozen.
Eons seemed to pass, until suddenly Alfred was there, materializing out of nowhere like usual.
"Ah, Master J'onn. Good to see you."
That seemed to snap the Martian out of his stupor. "Alfred. I was just..." He bit his lip. "Leaving."
A raised eyebrow had J'onn suddenly feeling like he was a child. "I...that is...the League is very busy and...they..." Why was it so hard to lie to the man?!
"Master Bruce is upstairs. Allow me to show you the way."
...tock...
And why couldn't he say no? He didn't-couldn't-wouldn't see Bruce. Not after what he'd done. Opened his mouth to say so, but the butler was already halfway up the stairs. "Try not to fall behind, Master J'onn."
It was so tempting to phase through the floor but he felt powerless to defy the man. It wasn't possible.
Dick gave him a consoling pat on the shoulder. "It's okay. We can't say no to him either."
Sighing, he followed Alfred up the stairs, stopping just outside the den, where he could sense Bruce.
Gave one last try at gaining his freedom. "The League is probably expecting me back by now--"
"I trust you can see yourself inside?" His efforts were in vain. Dread seeping into his very being, he entered the room, wanting to turn around and run.
Except he couldn't because Alfred was standing behind him and it wasn't possible to say no.
()
Bruce stared at J'onn, then turned to glare at his butler, who was now leaving the room.
"You do realize that you're fired again."
The door shut and he tugged on the handle, growling when he discovered it was locked.
"I'll let you out when you talk to one another Mater Bruce, and not a minute sooner."
The locked door wasn't really a problem. He could pick it in under ten seconds. But instead, he slumped back down on his couch. One day he was going to find a way to tell Alfred to shove it and when that happened...
A mental snort. Hell will freeze over.
......tick...
Glanced over towards J'onn and saw him staring at the door, no doubt wondering why he couldn't just make himself phase through it and leave.
"It's impossible to say no."
The glare that was thrown his way quickly had him lose what small sense of humor he'd been gaining about the situation.
Why was J'onn mad at him? If anything he should be angry at Diana.
Watched the Martian continue to stare at the exit for a few more minutes, until he decided that the sooner they got everything all out in the open, the better.
"J'onn, it was just a kiss. Nothing happened."
"A kiss." His voice was flat, managing to sound emotionless and full of rage at the same time. "Are you aware that what you did is the equivalent of cheating?" He smoothly walked over to face his mate, who was narrowing his eyes.
"What I did?"
...tock...
"YES!!" J'onn exploded, his head reeling from all the emotions spilling out of the small bottle he'd kept them in. The hurt, humiliation, betrayal and anger. It was all boiling out and soon he didn't have any control over what he was saying or doing, as his hand snaked out and slapped Bruce, wanting him to feel some of the anguish he'd felt that night. "You betrayed me! You've tainted our sacred bond! How could you do this?!"
No answer. The silence only served to fuel his rage. How could he not say something?! How could just sit there without feeling anything?! Again, he lashed out, his anger fading when this time he was rewarded with a painful grunt. But still, his mate said nothing, just staring at him with an unreadable expression in his eyes. Until he slowly up and walked past him the door, grasping the handle.
"Diana kissed me. I pulled away and told her I was your mate. She apologized and left. That's all."
...tick...
J'onn was completely stunned. He'd just assaulted his mate for something he didn't do, which if the alien had thought about it, rather than letting his emotions cloud his mind, made sense. Bruce was nothing if not loyal. But he'd just seen the lipstick, smelled the perfume and thought...
His anger had made him act without thinking and now... now there was this big aching rift between them that had been caused by his doing. Not Bruce's. His.
Six seconds later the door was opened. "I think you should leave."
The closed off tone in his voice made him wince. Bruce had let down his barriers and had allowed him to see a part of him that was shown to a select few. And J'onn had returned the favor with accusations and blows.
"Bruce--"
"Now."
...tock...
()
Weeks passed by without anything from Rao. It was unnerving with the dark god being so close by, yet doing nothing other than watch. Didn't get close to Clark or the Gods protecting him, seeming to be more interested in observing the other Leaguers. Didn't go anywhere near Batman, which was something none of them could quiet figure out. The one who posed the least threat to the god had to have been the human.
......tick...
Yes he'd made Rao withdraw his attack on Clark's mind but only because Rao had realized the human was right. They even tried to lessen the protection around Batman, to see if perhaps he was merely faking, but still he payed almost no attention to him. He spent a lot of time watching J'onn. Why, they didn't know, but they were determined not to take any chances, so L'Zoril, H'ronmeer and Athena were guarding the Martian.
But perhaps the biggest mistake they made was not challenging the god head on.
...tock...
()
Because he hates you.
His God hated him...his only God...hated him.
Kal wasn't sure how he felt about that. After all, until a few weeks ago, he hadn't even been aware his god was real. He didn't give much thought when saying Rao's name, it was just something he felt made him closer to his people.
To Krypton.
......tick...
Rao had left.
How was he supposed to feel about that? Hurt? Rao left. Abandoned the planet. Okay, he got that, he did, but it still didn't make him feel anything.
Because he hates you.
It was that one sentence that made him sad, made a part of his soul that he hadn't even known was there, cry out in agony. It caused thoughts to run through his mind, thoughts that were so weak and pathetic...but he couldn't stop them.
Hates me...? My God hates me? Why? What did I do wrong? Why doesn't he love me? Why'd he leave? Why'd he come back?! Hates me. Why? Why why why why why? What did I do? Can I fix it? Have to fix it. Can't hate me. Why does he hate me? Why?
He closed his eyes tightly as he tossed and turned in his bed, trying to make it stop. It wasn't right. Didn't make sense. He didn't know anything about Rao and Rao obviously didn't care anything for him if his actions were anything to go by. Weeks ago he had been blissfully unaware of his god's existence and he had been just fine. So why was it...
...tock...
That he couldn't get over it? Couldn't stop thinking about the fact that his God hated him?
It wouldn't leave him alone, eating away at his mind until it was practically consumed his thoughts. Something in him just rebelled at the fact that he was hated by Rao. It screeched at him, saying that it wasn't right. His god was supposed to protect and love.
His god wasn't supposed to make him feel this pain. Wasn't supposed to try and make him kill his teammates. So why?
What had he done to deserve such scorn? Such hatred?
......tick...
Rao was the God of Krypton. Krypton was home. He was Kal-El, the Last Son of Krypton. Without Rao...
Yes, he was useless without Rao.
Curling into a ball, Kal let out a whimper, trying to fight the tears that threatened to break loose.
Don't hate me. I'm sorry. Don't hate me. Tell me what I did wrong...so I can fix it.
Tell me how I can make you love me again.
...tock...
()
They didn't talk.
Didn't say anything as they sat next to each other in the monitor room, staring out over Earth.
...tick...
Her lips were pulled down in a sign of worry and Flash hated the way it made her look.
So he took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze to let her know that he was there, and that he wasn't going to go away.
tock...
"Something's going to happen, Flash."
...tick...
"Probably, yeah."
...tock...
Diana pulled her hand away. "I mean it. Some-someone's going to die."
His heart seemed to drop down to his feet at hearing those words.
...tick...
"Don't..." His voice shook slightly and he cleared his throat to get rid of the annoyance. "Don't say things like that."
Tears slid down her cheeks. "Flash, I don't want to be right but this feeling is telling me that I am and I think it might be--"
A blink and suddenly he had her in a painful embrace, but she didn't try to get out of it.
"Don't."
...tock...
"Flash..." Her voice was pleading with him, asking him to let her talk. She needed a friend right now, needed someone to confide to. And he knew that asking her to keep this to herself wasn't right but...he didn't want to hear this. Didn't want to have her confirm what he was already feeling in his bones. If it was just him, then he was merely being paranoid. If it was her too...
So he shoved away the part of him that wanted to tell her to let it all out, the part that wanted to be a friend.
"Please."
She nodded and he let her go, slumping back into his chair. Neither of them said a word for several minutes, until Flash whispered, "I'm sorry."
Diana gave him a bitter smile. "So am I."
()
Unknowingly to Kal, Rao was quite aware of what was going through his mind. He was a god after all. Such information was quite easy to get a hold to. Hermes had been so foolish, really, to tell him the truth. What did he think would happen? That Kal would just be able to accept it? Really he thought that Zeus would be smarter than that...There was still a bond between him and his Child. One that caused him much aggravation but for now was coming in handy as Kal's soul began to cry out. It was natural for someone to want their god to love them. Only very strong-willed people could handle such the fact that their God hated their very being.
And after everything that had happened to Kal so far, with him losing control, almost killing his friends and getting blamed for it...
His will-power was almost nil. Which made his job rather easy.
Rao didn't know why the others were standing in his way of what he was trying to do.
......tick...
He was trying to help Kal. The first time had been an accident; he hadn't been aware of how soft his Child had become from living with humans. Now he'd observed enough to know what it really was that Kal wanted. He was going to make Kal happy and then this stupid bond of theirs would fade and he wouldn't have to return to this droll planet ever again.
()
Something bad was about to happen. Something really bad.
It was a gut instinct that kept nagging at Hawk Girl day and night, never letting her rest. This feeling of dread had seeped into her bones and it wasn't leaving. It wasn't hard to believe. Superman had snapped not too long ago due to a crazy god that was still running around, planning who knew what. So she believed her gut when it told her that the shit was about to hit the fan—and fast. Time was running out and she couldn't stop thinking. About the future, her home planet, Earth, Superman...
...tock...
Green Lantern.
John Stewart.
No matter how hard she tried to stomp out the feelings she had for the man they kept rising up again, more powerful than ever. He was strong, handsome, smart, determined, a great fighter...sane. The only one who really seemed to understand her sometimes. She'd never had a feeling as bad as this one before. The feeling that something was being set to go off and the aftereffects would forever change everything.
The what ifs started up.
What if...she died?
What if...he died?
While the feeling wasn't that precise, and she didn't think either of them would, one could never be sure about such things. The bomb that only she could hear was slowly ticking away, picking up speed as the days passed and making Hawk Girl grow more and more anxious.
I don't want to have any regrets. Shayera realized, as she laid on her bed that night. I don't want...to wonder...what could have been...
A knock sounded out at her door and it didn't surprise her at all to hear John's voice, asking her if she was okay. Because really, no one did know her any better than he did.
Tick...
Whispered for him to come in, her heart racing wildly as she tried to calm down. But her gut was reminding her of how little time she had left.
...tock...
His eyes, those intense eyes, were staring at her with concern, asking her if she was okay. Moved closer to him, needing to make sure that there was still time...
......tick...
Suddenly her lips were covering his, desperate to feel something other than panic and worry. To forget for two seconds who she was and what was going on around her.
...tock...
He went completely stiff and her throat started to tighten. Surely he could give her that? Two seconds? There had to have been enough time left for that.
...tick...
Then the kiss was slowly returned and he didn't make her forget any, but that was okay because he made it more bearable by simply being there.
...tock...
Broke away to gasp for air, running a trembling hand over his face, trying to imprint it to memory. It was important that she remember everything about this moment.
...tick...
"Shayera?"
...tock...
"Promise me..." Her voice faltered. What could he promise? Not to die? He wouldn't be able to keep it. Anything could happen when the bomb went off. Anything. But it wasn't going to be just anything. It was going to be huge. Tears fell and while she knew she had to be scaring the shit out of him right now there wasn't any time to be sorry or ashamed.
...tick...
A surge of desperation crashed into her, causing her to push him towards the bed. If he gave any protests, they were swallowed in another kiss, and then another, until she finally stopped, knowing what she wanted him to promise her.
...tock...
"Promise me that no matter what happens you'll remember this moment, right here. Right now."
...tick...
"Shayera, I don't under--"
"Please. Just...I need you to promise."
He had to promise.
...tock...
Green eyes locked with hers and after a tense moment, he nodded and started to remove her clothing. He still didn't understand at all, but he knew that she needed this...and there was something telling him that it was important that he not let this opportunity pass. That it wouldn't happen again for a long time.
...tick...
So instead of pushing her away and demanding answers, he chose to wipe away the tears. To make this moment, the one that he was promising to remember, as perfect as possible.
...tock...
And it was, in every way.
...tick...
...tock...
...tick...
...tock...
...tick...
...tock...
...tick...
...tock...
...tick...
...tock...
...tick...
...tock...
BOOM!!
The bomb had gone off; time was out.
But Shayera wasn't afraid of what might happen anymore.
Because John had promised.
And he was a man of his word.
()
I hope you guys liked it! o.o I'm sorry if Hawk Girl and J'onn seemed out of character...I just...wanted to include this in there.../ dun hate meh. In my mind J'onn let his anger take over and well... o.o once you see the next chapter...you'll probably understand why Hawk Girl's oh-shit feeling was so strong.