TSF 11 – Pulling the Wool
"Well, well well if it isn't Lex Luthor. Tell me, what do you plan to do now that you've gone trough all the trouble of catching me?"
Shadow asked as she smirked through the glass of her confinement at Lex Luthor. The only reason for why she had slipped up and gotten caught was because she didn't know his building, but she wasn't worried. And she had a plan; he was growing suspicious of the connection between Shadow and Catarena and she planned to stop it.
"I'm going to study you."
Lex responded and Shadow's eyes twinkled with amusement.
"Is that right? Do you think you'll be able to open this thing with someone strong enough to hold me? You have no idea who you're dealing with do you?" Shadow said with a grin that showed her sharp canine teeth.
"I know you don't want to let me see what you can really do." Lex said, feeling he had the upper hand.
Shadow was now leaning against the glass with her arms folded and her back to Lex as she examined the glass tube she was in, debating weather or not she wanted to break out and beat Lex up or see what he had in store for her. Shadow knew he had no exact plans, only ideas or possibilities on what he could do to her depending on what she showed him she could do. Upon hearing his words she looked at him but then looked away, acting uninterested.
"You know… I really don't care what you see any more." She said and then turned to face him.
She got close to the glass with her hands on either side of her head, touching the glass. Her claws tapped the glass.
"You wanna know a secret? The only one who can hold me back is Superman. Does that tell you the level of my strength?" She asked as her tail swished behind her.
Lex seemed surprised but questioned her truthfulness.
"Then why don't you break out. I'd like to see that." Lex said, and Shadow turned up her nose in a cat like manner.
"I don't feel like it. Besides, when I get out of here I'm going to break your arm in four places so that you'll have to have it up in the air, like this." Shadow said as she demonstrated his arm in a full arm cast sticking out in the air.
Lex was not amused.
"You know, you're being very rude to someone who's taken a bullet for you. I'm starting to regret my decision… What do you want eh? I'm getting tired of being in here." Shadow said as she used her claws to cut the top layer of the glass.
The sound made Lex flinch, but he grinned at her.
"I want to see what you can do and I want to know who you really are." Lex said.
"You should know this already. I'm the Shadow." She said to him.
"You don't have a real name?"
"No, she died when I became like this."
"When did you become like that?"
"On my 17th birthday." Shadow said sadly, her back was to Lex.
"How old are you?"
"17." Shadow replied and Lex became furious.
"Don't play games with me!" He yelled and Shadow turned on him.
"I'm not! Look… I will tell you who I am if you really want to know so badly." Shadow said and then there was a long pause.
"Well?"
"Oh no not yet. Before you die." Shadow said, Lex looked angry again. "Before you die I will tell you who I am."
"Won't you be a little old?"
"Oh no not at all. You'll know it's me."
"You're immortal?" Lex asked.
"Might be."
"Why are you telling me this?" Lex asked and Shadow shrugged.
"I don't know. Maybe I just don't care. You can't hurt me. No one can hurt me."
"How do I believe all this? How do I know you're not lying to me?" Lex said and Shadow laughed.
"That's the fun part, you don't. But you should know how this works. You do it all the time. Especially to that young Wayne girl. Poor girl if she only knew how wicked you really are. Why are you so interested in her? You sure are bordering the pedophile line you know. Or is it she reminds you of someone special to you? Your mother, or an old girlfriend?" Shadow could tell Lex was getting very angry at her. "You love her without even knowing her. You love her knowing you can never be with her. You love her because it's safe, because she will never know who you really are."
"Shut the fuck up! You don't know a damn thing about me and Miss Davis!"
"Apparently you're not up on the times… she's married now. Could you imagine what she'd think of you if she knew who you really are. She would never speak to you again. Maybe I should tell her all about you."
"You do and I'll..."
Cat enjoyed provoking him, she wanted to see just what he'd do to her. She wanted to see if he'd kill her.
"You'll what? Kill me? Go ahead. I dare you." Shadow said darkly.
Lex sneered.
"As you wish." He said.
Lex stared in fear at the lifeless Shadow floating in the water filled chamber. Her lips were already turning blue, but Lex had to check her. He had to be sure. Though he had never witnessed Shadow's great strength he would never know her hidden talents now. Lex hit a few keys on a computer panel. As the water drained from the tub Shadow was drawn to the bottom, her body still limp. As the water was almost empty her body was drawn to a sitting position, her knees bent upward. When the water was completely drained he hit another button and the tube began to retract into the ceiling. Her confinement gone, Shadow lay awkwardly on the floor. Lex cautiously approached her. He was compelled to confirm her identity, so fearful that it was who he thought it was. But the more his eyes ran over Shadow's body he convinced himself it was not. Kneeling by her he held out his hand, moving it toward her exposed neck, but before he could touch her a hole was busted through the wall. Superman, The Flash and J'ohnn rushed in, only to stop cold when they laid eyes on Shadow. The rarity of rage filled Superman's eyes and in an instant he had Lex by the throat, hanging in the air. For the first time Superman wanted to kill Lex, but J'ohnn's voice calmed him. Superman released his grip on Lex, letting him fall to the ground. Lex coughed, but before he recovered Superman punched him, clearly holding strength back but enough to bust Lex's lip and giving him a pretty black eye. Superman then looked back to his companions. The Flash was by Shadow confirming their fears. Hot tears filled Flash's eyes as he looked up at Superman.
"She's gone."
He said, trying to keep his voice from breaking. Superman's heart shattered at hearing those words but he then noticed Shadow was soaking wet and he remembered the rare talent she had learned from Cassandra Cain, aka Batgirl. Shadow knew how to stop her heart, putting herself into a state of suspended animation. He noticed color had slowly returned to her previously blue lips. Superman then turned unnaturally darkly on Lex, who cowered. Superman pulled him close to his face.
"I wish I could kill you but I may get my wish… You have no idea the hell fury you've marked your head with. You killed Batman's Shadow, and I cant say how he'll react when he sees this. If you run… I hope you plan on not sleeping for the rest of your life. A life you'll live in fear."
He said and then threw Lex across the room roughly. Superman went to Shadow. The Flash stood and backed away. Superman then lifted Shadow's lifeless body into his arms. Though he knew she was not dead, he couldn't help but let the thought torment him as a few tears escaped his eyes.
Once they were out of the building Superman turned to J'ohnn.
"Contact Batman, tell him and Dark to go to the JLA head quarters. Don't tell them what's happened. I only hope they haven't seen the news yet…"
Superman said as he looked to the many cameras outside Lex's building. He had to stand there for a minute or two so that the world would see Lex for what he really was. It was Shadow's idea, she had been building up to it for some time and only a few were in on it. Lex needed to be fooled, and his name tarnished. It might not stop him but it would prevent him from doing a lot of things in the future.
Batman expected the worst when J'ohnn contacted him. Dark was suspicious when they arrived at JLA HQ. There was an unnatural silence when he and Batman were told to wait in a medical room. Dark rounded on Batman once they were alone.
"They're acting unusual. What's going on? I know you know something. Does it have to do with Shadow?" Dark asked.
Batman knew what had happened, having kept tabs over Shadow. He turned to Dark, his face un-telling the truth.
"Do you trust me?"
Batman asked and Dark looked shocked at the absurdity of the question.
"Of course I do." Dark replied.
"Then trust me that Shadow will be fine."
Batman said, but his words made Dark feel worse.
When Superman was informed Batman and Dark were at JLA HQ he brought Shadow to them, still carrying her in his arms, his costume damp from her soaking clothes. J'ohnn and the Flash followed at his flanks. Passersby stared in shock; others in immediate sadness. Whispers quickly spread the word of Shadow's death in Superman's wake. Some argued that she was merely knocked out, for she remained as beautiful in death as she is in life.
As more time passed Dark became more agitated with worry and anxiety. Just as he thought he were going to go crazy from waiting the door opened and Superman walked in with J'ohnn and Flash. When Dark saw Shadow limp in Superman's massive arms his heart sank into his stomach, instantly making him sick. He didn't notice Superman move to place Shadow on the medical table in the center of the room. Dark snapped out of shock and turned to look at Shadow. She didn't look dead but his sensitive ears told him her heart was not beating as it should be. Batman could see Dark was going to lose it any moment.
"Wha… the… Fu…." Dark stammered.
"Calm down Dark."
Batman aid and Dark turned on him sharply with a vicious glare.
"Calm down?! Like Hell I'll calm down! You call this OK?! I call this dead!" Dark yelled.
"She isn't dead."
"I know that! Why is she dead again!? I have to bring her back to life again!? I already lost her once. How many times do you expect me to be able to do this until it breaks me!?"
"For eternity. You can either let it get to you or know that she will never die." Batman told him.
Dark knew his words to be true, he was in denial. He knew he would have to do this many times in their long lives. He would learn to accept it and bring her back as fast as possible.
"And how do I do it this time?" Dark asked softly.
"Mouth to mouth should do it. There's water in her lungs." Superman said.
"And you waited this long because? You could have fixed this right away." Dark said sharply, letting the anger slip through a snarl in his throat.
"We had to let the world see that Lex killed her. It's what she wanted. You know Lex has always been fond of Catarena since she was a teenager. And he's become suspicious of Shadow. It was the only way to throw him off. She won't be Shadow again until you both return from overseas… If you can't, we'll bring her back for you." Batman said.
Dark gave a seething hiss and looked at him.
"I'll do it." He said flatly.
Dark approached Shadow. He was afraid to touch her but he wanted her back more than anything in the world. He tilted her head back and opened her mouth. He knew she wasn't dead because rigor mortis had never set in but her skin was cold to the touch. Hot tears threatened his eyes. He leaned over and covered her mouth with his. He blew into her mouth and then started the chest compressions. He repeated the actions again and became concerned when he started the third try but Shadow jerked suddenly and started coughing up water. She rolled away from Dark, spitting up water and coughing. Dark and Superman steadied her. Once she had her breath again she sat up and frowned at the concerned faces around her, she had never intended to make them make those faces… She looked at Dark but his back was to her. She could tell the experience had upset him terribly. Shadow saw Flash holding her sword across the room.
"Flash, can you get me a knife, or a scissors?" She asked.
Flash snapped out of his trance and quickly retrieved what she had asked for, finding a scissors. She took the scissors from him and held her hair and using the scissors to cut it off just above her shoulders. Superman and Flash were shocked by her action but then understood it would insure Lex's suspicions would be forgotten. Her hair fell to the ground like black satin. It was a shame she couldn't donate it yet.
Upon now seeing his daughter was well, Batman chose to take his leave to pay Lex a visit.
"Batman." Shadow called before he left.
Batman turned.
"Break his arm in four places." Shadow said, he nodded and left.
Soon Superman and the others left to give Dark some time alone with Shadow before they were transported back to Gotham.
Dark still had his back to Shadow. She could tell he wasn't angry, but the thought of her death had taken a great toll on him.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you my plan but his obsession with me had gone on far too long." Shadow said.
"It's alright. I understand. I'm glad it's over." Dark said.
"We can never die Tim." She reminded him.
"I know. We'll die and yet we won't… I can see it so clearly now. You should have died so many times…" He said his voice breaking.
He turned swiftly and embraced her as she sat on the table. She was surprised as he held her with the Jaws of Life. She gave a light smile and held him.
"I'll never die. I'll never leave you." She whispered.
Dark could say nothing, but Shadow felt him nod as he held her closer.
"Don't You touch me!" Catarena shrieked at Lex in the lobby of the Daily Planet, catching everyone's attention.
Clark Kent was across the room and called out to her. Cat leered at Lex as tears welled up in her eyes.
"What on earth would possess you to kill someone who's saved countless lives, including yours and mine!? How could you! Who are you?" She asked in a whisper as her tears fell. "Don't ever speak to me again!" She said.
She shook her head at him and retreated to Clark, who placed a concerned arm around her shoulders. Lex stood in shock for a while, before he left. Her words rung in his ears.