Author's Note: Hey guys. I'm still on my vacation and I do find some time to write stories-I usually write it on my phone so I can quickly update them. Heh and I wrote this when I was listening to Ode to Joy Ochreastel XD And now we get to see what kind of deal Lex wants! Let's get going!

Summary: Knowing that it might be possible to save Wally, Lex offers a deal knowing Tigress can't refuse. Meanwhile, Darkseid visits Inertia for an offer.

Chapter 12: Offer

Tigress narrowed her eyes, still having her guard up.

"Oh yeah? And what's that?" the archer sneered. Nightwing gave a suspicious look between the conversation.

"I can show you how to save Wally." seeing the distrust look in her face. Lex smirked. "For real."

Nightwing placed a firm look on his face, not accepting what he had just said. Not after what he had just witnessed. He turned his head to the side to his friend slightly lowering her guard. She's going to buy it. He knows it.

Tigress, don't be fooled by love. You're stronger than that. Dick thought.

"Tigress, don't." Dick said in a low voice.

Lex smirked. "Naturally, the previous Robbie disagrees with my idea."

Grayson bared his teeth, letting out a small dangerous growl.

"Watch it, baldie."

He sneered.

Lex then pulled out from his drawer yet another vial of bottle. This made Nightwing widened his eyes as he knew exactly what that is. He guesses that there's a little bit of truth behind this evil little twit.

"Judging by your partner in crime's face, I would say he would know what this is and can tell that I'm telling the truth." Lex responded.

In the vial, it had a red-orangey color while sometimes it had a streak of red flash. Upon seeing the flash, Tigress widened her eyes as well.

It's the real thing alright.

The thing which Tigress wanted so desperately.

"You know what this is." Lex smirked, enjoying the crestfallen face of Tigress. "With this, you can save Wally."

"Velocity 9." Tigress mumbled, eyes still on the substance.

"Yes..."

"Tigress, don't do this. There's another way. Don't take this path. That stuff is dangerous; it will kill you." Nightwing responded, trying to talk his friend out of it.

"Oh you mean there's another way of destroying her heart? Is that it?" Lex laughed, cruelly.

Dick refrained himself from striking this twit into oblivion even though his body was tensed just by refraining himself.

Curse him.

He carefully studied his doubtful friend. To be honest, Dick was worried for her. He knows how manipulated Lex can be and how easily he can make a person go down the wrong path.

That's what he worried the most is that if she chose the wrong path, then he or even their other friends might not be able to bring her back.

Dick locked his eyes on his troubled friend. "Tigress...don't do this. That's all I'm asking. However, this is your choice. Your boyfriend's life. I can't force you what to do. The choice is yours."

:(/\):

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION

Curse this forsaken place.

How he loathed this place. He wanted nothing more than to get out of here and cause havoc like how he did before...

Before he was stopped by that wretched speedster.

Inertia angrily stared at the ground as the chains were tugging on his wrists. He could break throught them but he doesn't have his speed.

Speed is essence.

He scoffed. Right now he need speed but that his something he doesn't have. His angered glare deepened as more thoughts ran through his head; some automatically started to a form on how to kill that brat if he ever escapes this cold dull prison.

As he was thinking, he suddenly sharply snapped his head back and stared ahead with narrowed eyes.

That was odd.

There shouldn't be anyone here but him.

He stared at the empty area, trying to make out whatever it was.

"Where are you? I know you're there. Come out if you dare." Inertia replied, baring his teeth a little.

From the front, slowly but surely a figure started to emerge from the shadows, speaking as he walked.

"You know, that would be a really good threat..." it paused. "If you can actually manage it."

"Who are you?" Inertia demanded.

"Ah, forgive me for being so rude." and out into the light revealed Darkseid who had a sinister look on his face. However, something was odd about the evil creature. Instead of being solid, he was distorted, resembling something along the lines of a projectory.

"Darkseid." Inertia narrowed his eyes.

"Oh good. Even in this isolated place, I'm still well known."

"Obviously."

Inertia couldn't help but to stare at the odd figure. He knew who Darksied was only...he didn't expect for him to visit or to look like this.

Catching his gaze, Darkseid grinned. "Admiring my new form, aren't you? You see, the reason I'm like this...all distorted and all...is that I'm not really here. This is just a hologram of my real self. Trust me, the real self is more..." he paused, grinning cruelly as he agreed with himself. "Frightening."

"So that explains that form." Inertia muttered before he locked his eyes on him. "But why are you here? What do you want with me?"

Darkseid still kept grin. "It's simple, really. I'm making an offer you can't refuse. See? I already caught your attention, haven't I? You see, I know that you know that we both hate the so called "good people"-the heroes who are saving the Earth from evil. They go by...Young Justice-I'm sure you know them."

Inertia made an angry scowl as he remembered the last visit with two of their members.

"Yeah, I know them."

"Good. We can skip the introductory then. What I want from you is for you to be at my side. I can give you the things what you wanted so much. I can give you your speed and your freedom but only if you agree to work with me and my plan. My plan which is..." he gave a dark malovelent chuckle. " To destroy the good. To destroy the heroes of this planet."

Inertia never left his gaze at the hologram figure. Thoughts ran through his head.

He would finally be free of this place.

Free...

Darkseid gave a crooked grin. "Well? What do you say? Are you ready to have your freedom to cause havoc once more?"

:(/\):

Luthor frowned. It was taking longer than it should've. He for sure thought that she would've said yes into saving her boyfriend's life.

But no.

Things got complicated all because of this...twit that was in the way and he needed to get him out.

"Tigress-"

Unexpectedly, two arrow whizzed by and it pinned Nightwing to the wall after he got dragged from them. He grunted when his back was slightly slammed into it. It wasn't too soon that his legs were also pinned, having the arrows be attached at the edge of his suit's fabric.

"Tigress?" Nightwing replied, eyes wide. If Tigress was still "there", she would've saw the slight hurt that was in his eyes but it quickly vanished.

"Sorry, Nightwing. But I have to." Tigress replied, putting away her weapon.

"No! Don't do it!" Grayson exclaimed, trying to lift his hand up so he can take the arrow away.

If he could...

Luthor didn't wiped off that evil grin that eteched on his face. Things went...well, much to his surprise. Even he, himself, didn't saw that coming. He saw the young fighter walking up to him, hope in her eyes and had her gaze locked on this bottle that was causing so much trouble.

Once she was close, she tore her gaze away and stared at Luthor.

"I've made my choice. The deal is closed."

"Then to my very word, I give you this." Luthor responded, handing her the bottle.

To the side, Grayson was still struggling, still trying to be free. Damn, she got him good. Gritting his teeth, Grayson started to pull forward, not caring that his fabric will be ripped from the arrow's tip.

All he care was about saving his friend. Finally, Nightwing managed to have one of his arms free and he swiftly snatched the other arrow.

Without a second thought, Tigress grabbed the bottle, opened the lid and stared at the liquid. For a minute, it felt like it was calling to her but noticing her small hesitation and the running out of time (due to Nightwing), Luthor continued to persave her.

"Go, Tigress. Do it. If you drink this, you will have the ability to save Wally. If you drink this, you will have all the power you need."

As the words sank in, Tigress brought the bottle to her mouth and downed it in one gulp just as Dick freed himself and ran towards her only to stop halfway.

"No..." Grayson replied, watching with wide eyes as the horrible substance started to destroy his friend.

That liquid...that substance...it's going to kill her...

When the last touch of liquid escaped the bottle, for a minute, the time froze and both of them were staring at the scene with wide eyes. Eyes were filled with horror and with satisfication.

Tigress gave a strangled gasp as she started to sway left and right, already feeling the substance starting its course. Nightwing gave a cry, being worried to the bone about his friend.

The fighter continued to sway left and right in an ungraceful way until she was pulled backwards, hearing a sickening crack and had widened her eyes from the unexpected move. For a minute, she stayed in that awkward position until she was slumped forwards, falling to her knees.

"Tigress?" Nightwing whispered, his eyes never leaving his friend. He cautiously walked towards her but he stopped when he noticed the slightest movement she had made.

He drew in a sharp breath as Lex took all this in a horrid triumph. His plan worked.

Worked better than he would've thought.

And then, Tigress slowly got up but she didn't around even when Nightwing called her name. But after the third call of her name, she slowly turned around and Dick felt a lump in his throat, unable to swallow.

When she turned to face him, the two stared at each other. One thing for sure is that her aura felt different...it was no longer filled with happines or warmth...

It was now filled only with a strange feeling of dullness.

"Tigress?" he said, hesitantly.

A second passed and then Tigress wore the smirk on her face as she cockily leaned her head to the side.

And it was there in her eyes, there was the familiar speed of the scarlet lightning that flashed...

Author's Note: Ohh...Lex, you evil evil little bastard. He managed to once again turned a friend against another...without the potion, of course. What will happen to Nightwing? Will he ever have his friend back to "normal"? Note: Tigress isn't possessed, no not at all. She merely took that potion and that bottle simply made her different. What will happen next? Find out!