Hello again!
In case you didn't realize, I am adding this chapter so quickly because it's been so long since the last one and even longer since the last actual chapter.
Just so you know, Morgan will refer to people differently depending on whether they are in the costumes or not. For example, she will call dick Robin, unless he has his mask off. The same thing goes for everyone else.
Anyway, without further ado, the disclaimer and story!
DISCLAIMER: If you can recognize the character, place or scene, it probably doesn't belong to me.
When we arrive in the Batcave, Batman turns to Artemis.
"I am going to entrust you with the identities of Robin, myself and A."
"W-Why?" She asks, shocked.
"Because of the way you acted today. You gained the trust of A, who does not trust easily. You have also gained the trust of Robin, and through both of these people, you have gained the trust of me. Also, you respected and trusted my decision to bring A with me to Mount Justice."
"I-thank you." she stutters slightly "No one's ever trusted me before."
"There's a first for everything" Robin says happily.
I step forward and introduce myself, pulling off my sunglasses as I walk.
"Hi! My name's Morgan Cavett." I say and then hold out my hand. Artemis takes it and smiles.
"It's nice to meet you Morgan, my name's Artemis Crock."
Robin takes off his mask and grins impishly.
"I told you that we'd laugh about it someday!"
"I- wha- it was you!" Artemis splutters.
"Guilty as charged" Dick grins.
"So that means that Batman is-"
"Bruce Wayne" Bruce says, pulling off his cowl and holding out a gloved hand. "It's nice to meet you."
"Wow. I honestly didn't expect that, but thinking about it now, it's actually kind of obvious."
"That's the beauty of it." Dick says.
"Oh and this is Alfred Pennyworth" I say as Alfred comes down the stairs into the Batcave, "He's Bruce's butler and is one of the coolest people I have ever met."
"I'm flattered" Alfred says.
"Now that the pleasantries are over, I believe that we have a bit of researching to do." Shayera cuts in, and we all readily agree.
Bruce gestures towards some chairs in front of the Bat Computer and we all move towards and sit down in them. Unsurprisingly, they are extremely comfortable and support the back properly.
When we are all seated, Bruce types up three key words for the Bat Computer to search; Slade, Wilson and Deathstroke. Surprisingly, not much comes up. But then again, I guess that Slade would never leave much evidence for anyone to find unless he wanted them to find it, which then makes that evidence useless. And believe me when I tell you that Slade doesn't miss much.
"Well that's disappointing" Shayera says with a small frown.
"Um, doesn't the Bat Computer have as much information as possible on everything?" Artemis says, confused "Why isn't there anything on this Slade person?"
"Because Slade is like the evil equivalent of Batman" I state simply.
"If there's any evidence left behind from him, it is pretty much guaranteed that is purposely left, therefore making the evidence useless. He doesn't miss much; in fact, I don't think he misses anything. He's always prepared and it's difficult to surprise him." Dick adds for Artemis and Shayera's benefit.
"Ok, other than you being Robin, how do you know so much about Slade?" Artemis asks.
"I was forced to be his apprentice for a time; he had a serious obsession with me, and apparently Morgan as well."
"Oh, sorry"
"It's fine"
"Morgan, I'm sorry to ask this of you, but can you please tell us as much as you can about Slade?" Bruce asks, obviously not wanting to any stress on me.
"Sure. I don't actually know much about Slade himself other than what you know, his name is Slade Wilson and he has a missing eye. Or maybe he just hides that eye, I really don't know."
"I don't know if or what he does for a job other than being a criminal mastermind. Though I don't doubt that he could pull off anything. He is bigger built and is quite strong, so he would stand out if he was in civilian clothes. I don't know what colour his hair or eyes are. Or even his skin for that matter. He could be bright purple for all I know."
"As a person, he is more evil than evil and is extremely smart, so smart and evil that it's scary. I sometimes wonder whether he even has a soul, let alone a conscious."
"He is brutal about all he does and doesn't leave things unfinished. I don't know what happened in his life to make him the way he is today. Maybe he was just born this way. I don't even know how old he is. I'm sorry I can't help you much at all"
"That's fine Morgan. Every little bit helps" Bruce says kindly and I can't help but smile.
"So now that we know that he is an insane, psychotic freak who no one can find, what are we going to do about him?" Artemis says sarcastically.
"You should be careful about what you say, you never know who's listening" Comes a voice from the darkness. A voice I know very well.
Dick and Bruce immediately pull on their disguises and Robin moves to stand in front of me.
"Is that-" Artemis whispers
"Slade…" I breathe.
"So now you know why you've grown wings do you my pretty little angel" he says, knowing how terrified it makes me when he says things like that for fear of what he may do.
"Get out" Batman growls
"I will on one condition, you give me Morgana"
"I'm sorry, I don't believe that anyone here knows a Morgana. I do believe that you're in the wrong place" Alfred says in such a mocking and sarcastic tone that I flinch slightly. Oh Slade is not going to like that.
"I didn't think that you'd be willing, luckily I brought back up." Slade says, anger filling his voice and he pulls a little girl out of the shadows.
She is about the same age as I was when Slade first captured me. I recognise her from the circus as one of the acrobats. She is someone that Slade could use for his own purposes. Tears are streaming down her face, but she is trying to stifle her sobs. It's obvious that Slade has threatened her.
"Come with me or I take her instead."
"No!" I say and shove my way past Robin ignoring him when he tells me to stop. "Take me instead, just don't ruin that little girl's life like you ruined mine."
"Then it's all settled, I take you and they can safely deliver her back to her parents."
"No way!" Artemis says and raises her bow.
"Don't-"
"Shoot it and she dies" Slade says and holds a gun to the little girl's head.
"Just let me go with him" I say, desperately hoping that they agree.
"Fine." Batman says. I know he doesn't want to, but he knows that Slade won't hesitate in killing the girl and he knows that I can hold my own if I need to.
"I'll leave her outside, don't follow me." Slade says and he grabs my wrist, hauling me out of the Batcave. True to his word, he leaves the girl at the door and then throws me over his shoulder and grapples away.
I watch the streets fly by down below me and a growing sense of dread fills my stomach and almost seems to choke me.
Before I know it, we're back in Slade's lair, which now has added security. I can honestly say that I won't be leaving anytime soon. I think it's in a different place too...
I gasp as my body makes contact with solid concrete as I am thrown to the floor.
"Your disobedience this time rivals that of when I last asked you of their identities. Do not think that you will be getting off lightly."
"I'm insulted. You truly didn't think that I could figure that out for myself?" I say while I get up again.
I'm pushing it, we both know it, but I'm not going down without a fight.
He just looks at me and then knocks me to my feet again, sending a brutal kick at my side that throws me across the room. I have at least one broken rib from that.
I manage to keep silent and get to my feet again. He throws a punch at my face but I dodge it. Unfortunately for me, I don't get very far. He was prepared for me dodging and held me in place by my now long hair, hence why I had it short before.
More punches hit my face and everything dissolves into a blur of blood, tears, pain and screaming. I didn't remember much else in the morning.
When I finally became conscious, it was to him standing over me. I flinch back in fear and then scream. My body is still extremely 'tender' from the treatment I received who knows how long ago.
"Moving would be unwise" he says
"No duh" I mutter, but of course he heard me.
Pulling me up by my hair, I find myself face to mask with Slade.
"Did you learn nothing from last night? Obviously I have to teach you again, and really ingrain the lesson."
I swallow my protests, I can survive this, I have before. I will NOT let him control me, never again.
At my lack of response, his eye narrows and he throws me to the floor, further aggravating all my wounds. Unable to black out for some reason, probably drugs, I fall into the same pattern as before – Blood, tears, pain and screams.
When I next wake up, he's not there. I don't bother even trying to move. Even blinking hurts and from what I can tell, I'm lying in a pool of blood.
I lie there for days while my body recovers. When Slade brings water and stale bread in, I somehow manage to reach and consume them. Eventually, I'm strong enough to move.
Slowly, my strength grows and I'm able to move better. I slowly get more and more food, better food as well. Eventually, I'm able to stand, walk and even run without too much difficulty. I lose track of how long I was stuck on the floor but I in the end it doesn't matter and I don't waste my energy thinking about it.
Slade comes back for me when I'm able to move decently, and training starts again.
I'm stiff and unpractised for a while, but within a day or two, I'm back to my full strength and potential. I finally earn a shower and am able to clean off all the tears, sweat and blood. After that, I feel much better.
The training continues and soon I'm able to manoeuvre myself so that my wings don't get in the way, but never once do I learn anything about them from him. I can't help but think that he knows somehow, but won't tell me.
I slowly give up hope on ever being rescued as the supposed days, weeks and months blur together. They are all filled with pain, sadness and hopelessness.
If only I weren't so weak.
If only I could break free.
If only.
So yeah!
I hoped you enjoyed this double chapter special! Please review, favorite and all that jazz. Also, please check out the trailer I made for this story and like and subscribe to me on YouTube. All you have to do is remove the spaces and follow the link. While you're there, I would appreciate it if you checked out my Batman tribute as well.
www. youtube watch? v=cz5v 9se5F gw
Have a lovely rest of day/night!
JuliaPossum