Chapter Twenty-six
"My candle burns at both ends. It will not last the night and neither will I, but oh, what a wonderful light!"

The day before Arley and the others were supposed to attack the Light— the day before Arley was going to end Vandal Savage once and for all —she found Titans Tower swarming with not just heroes, but people who were hero-adjacent.

People who were their allies.

On top of several dozen Titans Wally and Dick introduced her too— FireStorm, Bumblebee, the Atlantean who had taken up Kaldur's mantle, Garth —Arley met someone Dick had introduced to her named Tim Drake.

Tim was a tiny genius boy who Bruce had only just recently to take under his wing; Tim had apparently been so annoyingly persistent that pretty soon, once his training was finished, he would be donning a familiarly bright costume.

"You know with that kind of stubbornness you could make a pretty good Lantern," Arley smiled at the young teen. Tim had looked up at Arley with wide giddy eyes, "You sure you want to be a bat?"

"Of course!" Tim had nodded, bouncing on the tips of his toes, as Dick had laughed into the palm of his hand, "Batman needs Robin!"

"Alright then," Arley had shrugged, her hands in her pockets, "Can't say I didn't try."

Lucas Carr and Barbra Gordon, someone who had taken up— and lost —the mantle of Batgirl during Arley's time in captivity would be heading up the coms at Titans Tower.

Carr had taken Superboy, Lex and Arley all off guard when he had hugged them on sight; he'd been worried about them for months. Ever since the Titans had dragged him in for helping them at the start of their war he'd been worried about the Light being right on their heels.

He hadn't thought he'd done enough all those months ago; "I should have gone with you guys," Carr had said.

"You're kidding, right?" Arley had scoffed in the Titans meeting room. Amanda Waller's blood no longer stained the head of the long table. "Snapper, you haven't fought anyone in how long?"

"You were practically crippled when you three left my house," Carr frowned, "I'm sorry. I should have done more."

"Dude," Arley smiled kindly, "You kept your mouth shut when we needed you to. If you'd split everything when Nightwing's teammate picked you up then who knows where we'd be?"

"Arley!" Hal called over as he stuck his head into the room before the retired hero could respond, "Come on out here, I have some people I want you to meet!"

Arley shot Carr an apologetic look as she stepped away, clapping Dubbilex on the shoulder as she passed him, Arley walked out of the meeting and into the hall where not only were Hal and Kilowog but three other Lanterns of various colors.

Two blue Lanterns and a violet one; Arley's eyes went wide at the sight of the woman in front of her.

"Carol!" Arley gasped as she threw herself at the other woman; Carol Ferris didn't hesitate to hug Arley back just as tightly.

"Oh thank God," Carol mumbled into the top of Arley's head. In the heels that were a part of her uniform Carol was half a head taller than the Green Lantern. Carol pulled away, her hands cupped Arley's cheeks, "You're okay!"

Arley's hands covered Carols.

"Hal told me you got a ring, but I didn't realize you were on Earth!"

"I wasn't but when Razer came to Zammeron and told me you'd been found there wasn't any force, in heaven, hell or anything in between that could stop me from coming back to see you kiddo."

Tears welled up in the corners of Arley's eyes.

Katma had been like a mother to Arley before her disappearance but so had Carol; Carol had helped Arley through her first period and given the girl The Talk after she and Wally had gone on their first date and even— because at the time she hadn't known Arley had been a Lantern —shown Arley how to dislocate a man's thumb just in case Wally got a little to handy for her comfort one day.

"I missed you," Arley mumbled into Carol's shoulder.

"God I missed you too sweetheart," Carol said, squeezing Arley tightly before she pulled away. Her hand, though, stayed on Arley's shoulder.

"Arley these are Razer and Saint Walker," Hal introduced.

Arley looked both Blue Lanterns up and down; where Stain Walker had his hands behind him and his heels clicked together like a proper soldier, Razer— the former Red Lantern Arley had heard so much about —had his arms crossed over his chest and a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.

"So you're Hal Jordan's daughter?" Razer asked rhetorically as he stepped forward. Arley did the same, Carol's hand fell as Arley stepped away and towards the blue clad alien.

"I am," Arley nodded. "So you're the dude that tried to kill my dad's?"

"I am," Razer parroted. "But to be fair, have you met them?" Razer smirked.

Arley smiled widely as she stuck her hand out in front of her.

Razer excepted the handshake fairly quickly.

"It's nice to meet you Razer, Hal and Kilowog told me a lot about you. Thanks for keeping them alive out there." Arley wasn't sure what she would have done if she had escaped the Light and Hal and Kilowog had been dead.

Truthfully, she didn't even want to think about it.

"Don't be thanking the Pozer!" Kilowog chortled from behind Arley, "It was a team effort, we saved him just as much as he saved our skins!"

Razer heaves a heavy sigh, "The Sergeant is telling the truth. I would have never survived if not for them and Aya."

"Hal said she was great," Arley nodded at the alien; Hal and Kilowog had told her all about the former Red Lanterns' feelings for the Lantern-powered AI.

"Aya was-is—" Razer corrected himself, "—Amazing."

Arley couldn't help but beam at the alien; everyone from Hal to the Guardians were all sure Aya was dead. Everyone except for Razer.

"Right," Arley corrected herself, "Is."

Razer shot Arley a gentle smile only for it to quickly dissipate when Dick barreled through the door he'd been behind.

Both Superboy and Dubbilex seemingly rushed out passed Dick without a second thought; Arley didn't hesitate to follow.

As she turned the corner after the clone and genomorph Arley heard Dick tell the various colored Lanterns; "There's a Yellow Lantern on the roof, he has Luther."

Arley's pace nearly faltered. A Yellow Lantern?

Arley recalled what Cameron Mahkent had told her back in that abandoned building's basement; the Light was working with Sinestro.

Arley's eyes closed for half a moment; Sinestro was working with the Light which meant that by betraying the Light, Luther was betraying the Yellow Lantern Corps.

Which meant Savage knew what they were up to. He probably had Project Prime.

Fuck.

Arley's feet picked themselves off the linoleum flooring as she shot herself forward. She grabbed the genomorph in her arms while a construct wrapped around Superboy's waist.

"Lex!" Arley ordered as she, Superboy and Dubbilex began to shoot up the gap in the rectangular stairs, "Get Meg's to set up a mind-link!"

No sooner than when the words were out of her mouth was the link-set up. Arley, Dubbilex and Superboy all burst through the rooftop door.

The construct that held onto Superboy dispersed and instead reformed into a bright, glowing green knife all the while Dubbilex rolled out of Arley's arms and into his feet.

Jesus this feels weird, Jade thought.

Arley didn't need to close her eyes to know that Jade already had her sai out; that she and Artemis were taking two stairs at a time to meet the rest of them on the roof.

Artemis don't come up! Arley thought as she took three large steps forward towards the yellow draped alien.

Luther, bound in yellow rope-like constructs, knelt before the alien. There was blood still freely flowing from the cut on the side of his bald head.

What!

I need you to get in contact with Constantine and Nabu-that magician down there should be able to help. Arley's mind raced the way it had before she had grabbed Superboy and Dubbilex; We need to go as soon as this is taken care of! Make sure everyone's ready to move when I say!

It was quiet throughout the link for a moment; Fine. On it.

Arley didn't glance backwards as Hal and the other Lanterns pushed past the rooftop door. Arley could see Starfire, M'gann, Raven and a green pterodactyl all hovering behind the Yellow Lantern.

"Oh fuck," Hal swore lowly.

"Hal?" Arley hissed. Superboy and Dubbilex moved onto both sides of Arley, posed for attack. Arley could hear heavy metal sheets slamming down onto Titan Towers windows locking it down. A final sheet of metal slammed down in front of the rooftops door.

The aliens' bright— practically glowing —yellow eyes locked onto Arley.

"Gluck-Green-meat?" The alien questioned. The alien was tall and gaunt looking. It had horns protruding from the top of its forehead. It's blue skin, like cling wrap, stuck to its bones and muscles.

The aliens' teeth— Arley noticed —were yellow and sharp; broken in some places and replaced with metal in others.

"That's me," Arley responded, the grip on her construct tightened with every beat of her heart.

"Gift-meat," the Yellow Lantern rasped once more, motioning to Luther.

Arley's brows shot up.

"Gift?"

"Master-meat was betrayed by Savage-meat, sends meat to delver."

"Sinestro was betrayed?" The Yellow Lantern nodded.

"Master-meat made it clear, Jordan-Green-meat was not to be touched. Gluck-Green-meat was to be free. Betrayer-meat did not."

"You telling us—" Kilowog said loudly from behind Arley, "—Sinestro wanted Arley free from the Pozers who had her?"

The alien nodded; "Meat for meat, Master-meat said. Master-meat said he owed Gluck-Green-meat kin-meat. Demanded betrayer-meat to let Gluck-Green-meat go."

Arley felt the air she'd breathed in leave her lungs; as odd as the aliens' meat-suffix was, Arley understood clearly what the Yellow was saying.

Sinestro knew Arley had saved his daughters life years ago and for that— saving Soranick from the mob of aliens who had wanted her head in place of her father's —once he had found out it was her that the Light had had, he had— must have —demanded her return from the Light.

Sinestro had always been a lot of things but one thing Arleys had always heard about the Yellow Lantern was that he was noble.

"But they weren't going to," Arley said, "They planned on killing me."

The Yellow Lantern nodded slowly.

"Master-meat found out when human-meat told betrayer-meat what Gluck-Green-meat plans."

"Is that so Luther?" Dubbilex asked; the genomorph took a single step forward and Luther flinched. The bald man nearly toppled over trying to get away from Dubbilex.

"Right," Arley said tersely, "So Sinestro is giving us this as what, a gesture of good faith?"

Once more the Yellow Lantern nodded.

"Master-meat will not work with betrayer-meat; Yellow Lanterns will not stay. Master-meat is remorseful he failed Gluck-Green-meat, hopes this makes up for it."

"So your Corps mates, they're leaving?"

"Meat was sent while fellow Yellow-meat leaves."

Arley chewed the inside of her cheek, "You know," she said after a moment, "You won't walk away from this meeting right? You came here to deliver Luther and to die?"

Hal had said that the Guardians had placed a kill on sight order in regards to Yellow Lanterns.

He was sacrificed and yet he had his head held high while he stood before her and the others, if she hadn't understood the implications of the ring on his finger Arley would have found it in herself to respect the alien before her.

"Meat will have meat. Meat should have delivered Gluck-Green-meat to Jordan-meat but meat didn't. Meat failed meats mission."

"Oh."

Arley's gaze fell to Luther who with wide pleading eyes looked up at Superboy. It was clear that if the Yellow Lantern didn't have Luther gagged the man would be begging for his life.

Supes? Lex? What do you want to do here? Luther's betrayed us, he's right here.

Same thing we've always done with the Light, Superboy snapped through the mind-link. The clone's lip tipped upwards into a snarl.

I agree with Superboy and as it happens, this Yellow Lantern is right, Lex thought darkly with a nod, Meat will have meat.

Okay, Arley thought. A glowing green construct burst from Arley's ring, enveloping herself, Superboy, Dubbilex, and the Yellow Lantern and Luther.

Trapping them.

"Megs!" Arley told the Martian, "Head inside and help Artery and the magician if they need it!" She then turned to Hal, "What's the protocol with their rings?"

"Catch and destroy!"

The rooftops doors burst open; both Superman and Batman stood in the doorway and Luther— after all these years and everything he had done —looked relieved to see the caped men.

"Superboy!" Clark shouted, "Don't do it! You're better than this!"

"He's a monster! He's Light!" Superboy snapped at Clark, pointing downwards at Luther who wriggled in his Yellow confines.

"If you kill him you're proving what he thinks about us, right," Clark said not unkindly to Superboy. "Luther thinks aliens are evil, he's always made that clear. By killing him you're proving that to, vindicating him."

Superboy's face twisted into a snarl. He looked down at Luther who looked ready to cry and then to Arley.

The Lantern hadn't needed the mind-link to know where the clone was going.

She wasn't an alien.

Arley grinned at Superboy. She drew her knife from her boot and twirled it as she glared down at the Light Member.

"Arley!" Bruce snapped, "Luther is a human being, he's been handed over to us—"

"—To be let go Bruce. I give you Luther and he walks free and who knows how long until I have him here again. Meat's right Bats, meat will have meat."

"Don't!—" Whatever else the Knight had to say caught in his throat as Arleys brought the knife clean across the alien's throat.

Blue blood— the color of robins eggs —sprayed across the inside of Arley's glowing construct. Almost instantly— as soon as the Yellow Lanterns' knees hit the Titans Tower rooftop —did the alien's ring fly off its finger and the constructs that bond Luther disappear.

Razer caught the Yellow Lanterns ring in a bright blue— the same color of the aliens blood and robin eggs —construct shaped like a square.

Arleys then turned to Luther. The flat of her knife bared for the billionaire; tears leaked down Luther's face.

"Please, please I didn't—"

"—Didn't what?" Arley snarled, "Betray us? The hell you didn't."

"I didn't!" Luther pleaded, he was on his knees if only because Superboy's hands pressed down on his shoulders. "That alien—" his spat,

"What you're fucking tone! In case you forgot, some of my favorite people are aliens," Arley snapped. "Besides, it's fair."

"Killing me is fair!" Luther bared his teeth. Though there were tear streaks down his face, there was an indignant light in his eyes.

"Yeah asshole, in case you forgot, I told you what would fucking if you told Savage, didn't I? I gave you fair fucking warning."

"You're a hero," Luther whispered. Arley snorted.

"No I'm not, I haven't been in years thanks to you." And then she pounced. Superboy side stepped and Luther struggled under Arley, trying to buck her off as she stabbed at him only for his hands to be pushed flat against the roof by an invisible force.

First Arleys stabbed the man in the face, through the mouth. Several teeth came out as Arleys pulled the blade as roughly as possible. She wanted her attack to hurt.

Then Arley, slashing the man, cut not just his nose but his ears. The loves laid next to Luther in tiny pools of blood.

Then she, leaving his neck alone, moved to Luther's torso. He was screaming his voice raw as he tried to beg for help from Superman or Batman— who was shouting at Hal or John or Kyle to stop her —or anyone else who would take mercy on him.

Arleys sliced the man from chest to navel. Blood leaked everywhere, over her and the construct.

"Please," Luther begged, his teeth soaked in his own blood, "Please don't kill me."

"Tell me," Arley asked, her voice shaking as her knife stilled at Luther's neck, "Does Savage have Prime?"

"Yes. But-but he doesn't have his code words. Prime's useless without them. I-I know them. I'll use them if you let me live."

Arley snorted. Despite the fact she was straddling Lex Luther and covered in his blood— despite the fact Vandal Savage has one of the most dangerous weapons on the planet —she laughed. If it was possible Luther turned whiter than he had already been; though perhaps it was more due to the blood loss than the throaty cackle that escaped the teen.

"Why do we need you when we have Lex and Megs? Face it Luther, it's over."

Lutheran dark eyes— the same ones he shared with Superboy —widened. It was clear he had been floundering, he hadn't thought of the Martian or genomorph.

"Please!"

Arley ignored the man's pleas as she brought the knife up and over her head before bringing it down upon his throat. Arley then used her own weight to leverage against the knife as she tore through Lutheran neck, slowly but surely separating it from his body.

"I'm going to be sick," Kyle murmured from behind his hand. Arleys, with Luther's head in her hands, stood as her glowing green construct receded into her ring.

She looked at the people on the roof and felt the pads of her bloody fingers dig into Luther's head. The old her would have been revolted at what she had done. The old her would have shirked back under the disgusted looks Kyle and Batman and Superman were all giving her.

But that girl was gone. Because of the man whose head she held. Because of the Light.

"Must you be weak?" Razer snipped at Kyle, "It was a beheading, not a disembowelment."

"What is your problem, I told you to stand down!" Bruce snarled at Arley, standing toe to toe with her. Clark hovered behind the cowled man.

"And you're not my boss asshole," Arley growled out, "This is war and this—" Arley motioned to the head in her hands. Luther's blood dripped freely onto Arley's foot. "—Is a message. Either get on board or get out of my way."

"I could never get on board with this. It's murder."

"Think of it as a form of self defense Bruce, either we strike now and take a few very bad people out or the Light strikes later when they're good and ready and who knows how many innocent's die."

"I don't condone murder."

"And from my understanding that's why your kid is dead." Though Arley saw it coming— Bruce's closed fist —didn't mean her heart didn't jump into her chest as she leaned back to avoid it.

Superboy leap in front of Arley and Superman in front of Batman.

Several glowing constructs— Green, Pink and Blue —shot out and wrapped themselves around Bruce.

"Hal!" Clark snapped.

"He took a shot at my kid!" Hal snapped. Clark shot Arleys an exasperated look.

"You know that was uncalled for," the Man of Steel said rather than asked Arley, though the unsaid rhetorical 'Don't you?' Hung in the air nonetheless.

"The hell it was," Arleys scoffed. "Vandal Savage and the Light are going down, what the hell do you think that means if not permanently?"

Superman hugged a sigh, "The same way we've always brought the bad guys down before."

Anger simmered in the pit of Arley's stomach. All those nice words Clark and Bruce had said after she had come to in her post near-death days filtered through the forefront of her mind.

Bastards, Arley thought. If Bruce and Clark had meant anything they had said to her after she had found herself in Titans Tower they would have understood.

"Don't you get it Supes, that's the reason we're in this mess. That's why I was stuck in a cell and Megs was strapped to a table and Superboy and Lex were created. The old way might work for petty crooks and those freaks Barry fights in Central, but people like Luther and Savage, people who will never feel the real weight of their actions? There's only one way to end it because it's the only way they'll get it."

"I can't be part of that," Superman said firmly.

"That's pretty last minute Clark," Superboy said, annoyance evident in his voice.

"You shouldn't be either. Look Superboy the world looks at us and knows the power we hold is great and they expect us to missue it—"

"—Except I'm not," Superboy said. "Like Arley said, prison works for car jackers and muggers no one here is saying to put them down. But prison will never work against someone who offered themselves up for Light-level lab testing. Those people don't want a cure Clark. What we're doing is preempted protection."

"I can't support that."

"You misunderstand," Lex spoke up. His arms were crossed over his chest, "No one is asking for your blessing."

"You won't get the Leagues either," Batman, still wrapped in several different constructs, said petulantly.

"Somehow I doubt that," Lex snarked. "Between everyone the Light has hurt here alone, and everyone in this tower that knows what they can do, you truly think no one here will leave with us?"

"They'll no longer be welcomed in the League."

"Guess we'll have to drop the moniker of Teen then," Dick Grayson's voice rang out. Arleys peered past Superman and Batman and saw the heroes who had been in the Titans Tower War room standing in the stairwell.

Dick walked out onto the roof.

"Hal, let him go," the Boy Wonder ordered the Lantern. Reluctantly, with a deep seeded grimace, Hal— and the other Lanterns —did as Dick instructed. Dick looked to Bruce who he stood next to. "Anyone here today knows they'll always have a spot on the Titans, B."

"You're condoning murder," Bruce spat.

"No I'm not, but I'm not stopping it either," Dick told his adoptive father, he than turned to Arley. "I'm going to stay back and be heading the coms here with Carr."

"What?" Superboy mocked, "Backing out now." Arleys hit the clone in the ribs with her elbow. He could take as many potential shots at Bats as he wanted but the boys— her boys —were different. He knew that.

Dick just shrugged. "If you're planning on killing members of Light I can't join. I nearly took one life already and I don't like how that made me feel. Who that nearly turned me into. I'm sorry."

"It's fine," Arleys sniffed, "At least your reason isn't fucking sanctimonious," she said pointedly, her eyes never leaving Bruce.

The Dark Knight growled at Arley and the Lantern once more peered past him.

"Who's staying?" Several people— some Titans like Raven, Cyborg, Bumblebee, Mas Y Minos, Beast Boy and Hotspot —all raised their hands and while Arley wasn't surprised with the likes of Barry opting out of what would be a bloodbath, the person that surprised Arley the most was Black Canary.

Oliver was Dinah's fiancee last Arleys had checked. Dinah had helped raise Roy and yet unlike Dinah, Oliver hadn't raised his hand. Instead he had seemed to shuffle closer to both Roy's like he was reassuring them.

Arleys raised a brow in the woman's direction.

"I don't think I could do it and that would make me a liability on the field, wouldn't it?" Dinah asked mirthlessly, despite her small smile.

"Probably."

"Diana?" Superman asked, "Aquaman?" Both Wonder Woman and Aquaman crossed their arms over their chests as they shook their heads.

"We're going Superman."

"You're founding members of the League," Batman states, as if it would dissuade them.

"The Light murdered my brother, they have infiltrated my castle. I will not have my family-my children in danger because of your morals Batman," Aquaman, King of Atlantis, said firmly. "I will do whatever is in my power to protect my people."

The Dark Knight visibly grit his teeth at the Atlantians answer.

"And you?" He turned to Wonder Woman.

"I'm a warrior Batman, an Amazonian first and foremost it's what I was trained to do. How can I claim to fight for humanity and then stand by and let the likes of Vandal Savage ravage it."

"Stopping him doesn't mean—"

"—But it does," Wonder Woman cut Superman off. "Vandal Savage predates all written history, he has been alive and seems to have always been partnered with some Agent of Chaos or demon or other forces far beyond your comprehension Clark, and all for what? Death? Power? Men like him need to be stopped in the only way that can stop them."

Arley watched as Superman's face fell at Wonder Woman's speech, disheartened by her stance.

Once more Batman audibly growled, though this time, the Dark Knight barked for Robin— Tim —and Barbra. "We're leaving."

"So long asshole," Arleys mumbled as she watched the Dark Knight shoulder past the group of heroes so that he could leave.

Once he was gone Arleys looked at Superman questioningly. The alien sighed, his hand cupped the back of his neck.

"I'll stay, I don't support what you're doing but if I go home I'll just be worried."

"Thanks," Superboy said softer.

"Well," Arley's ears perked up, "Isn't this touching."

"John!" Arley handed Luther's decapitated head to Dubbilex before she moved around Superman to greet the British magical man.

Under Constantine's arm was the Helmet of Fate.

"Green bean," John nodded in hello, he then produced the Helmet to Arley. "Are you sure you want to do this, wearing Nabu is no joke Zatara can put him back on."

Arley took the Helmet from John. The pads of her fingers ran themselves over the enchanted gold.

"If I'm taking down Savage it'll be with him," Arley said, "Besides it'll work out, Nabu promised me that much."

John's head bobbed backwards, "Fate said you'd be fine?" Arleys hummed; the Brit clapped her on the shoulder. "Well then," John said, there was something funny in his voice— a tight high pitched tone —that made Arley's brows furrow together. "You have nothing to worry about then, do you?"

"No," Arleys said simply. "Guess I don't."

As long as Savage was dead at the end of this— as long as Artemis and Jade took down their father —Arley didn't particularly care one way or another if Nabu had lied to her after her near death experience. All that mattered was finishing what she, Lex and Superboy had started all those months ago.

Arley looked past John to her family, the Lanterns who all looked concerned, and then over the heroes and Titans who had stayed.

Green met hazel and Arley smiled reassuringly at Wally. He smiled back at her, despite the blood that covered her.

Maybe they would never find their way back to one another. Maybe they would. Maybe Arleys would be dead before the night was over and they would never get a second chance to try; she didn't care at that moment.

All Arley thought about as her eyes fluttered down to the helmet in her hands was peace.

By the end of the night she would have some semblance of it.

Arley looked at Lex and Superboy.

"I'll see you guys on the other side."

"We'll be waiting."

And then she placed the helmet on, over her head and the world went black.

…

Arley smiled at Nabu. The familiar empty mindscape surrounded her and the Agent of Order.

"Ready to end this?" Arleys asked, holding her hand out for the fun luv echo to take.

"Of course. Are you?"

"More than."

"Then let's do this." Arley turned at the third voice. It was her ring; the green woman who looked like her mother stood behind her, her hands on her hips.

"What—?" Arleys looked at Nabu questioningly.

"We're going to need her if we're taking down my father. Magic can only go so far when the man has only stayed alive for so long due to willpower," Nabu explained.

Arleys frowned. "What do you mean Savage has been alive for so long because of willpower?"

Nabu stepped back, he beckoned Arleys to follow. "We have much to talk about before we face my father Arley Gluck. How he came to be will be what helps you defeat him."

Arley felt her ring thread her fingers through her own and intertwine them with hers.

"Lead the way Nabu." Arleys didn't hesitate in following Nabu through a door he had conjured with a wave of his hand.

Peace. She was so close to peace.

…

When a bright light had encapsulated Arley Wally West's heart had leapt into his throat. Worry had shot through him; only for his gut to twist when the light faded he saw Arley, looking more like a medieval knight standing before him and the others.

The cape Arley wore was a construct; the glowing green attached to her back flowed like fabric. The sword attached to her side was also made of green light, though the hilt of the weapon was an ankh.

The symbol of the Lantern Corps was no longer on Arley's chest, instead the white of Arley's outfit had been replaced by black and the green swirled around her body, like vines looking for a place to rest.

"Are we ready?" It wasn't just Arley who spoke. There were two other voices overlaid on top of hers. One deep, a man's. The other was a woman's, the voice was light and airy. "With every moment we wait we lose the element of surprise."

"Yeah." Wally looked to the man— John Constantine —who had given Arleys the helmet. "But before we go Nabu, slight change in plans."

"Is that so Constantine?"

"I'm sticking with you and the Green Bean."

"She'll be fine Constantine, I've seen her fate. She lives." Wally watched as the blonde man's face twisted in disgust; confusion set up on the speedster.

What the hell is that look for? Wally wondered.

"Doesn't matter, I like the kid." Wally saw Arley's eyes narrow at Constantine.

"Go to the Tower of Fate John, wait for me there. Zatara and his daughter will keep you company." John Constantine pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and slid it into the corner of his mouth as he turned at the waist.

"You coming, demon girl?"

"Her name is Raven," Beast Boy huffed. Constantine just rolled his eyes.

"You're with me kid."

"You can't just order her around!" Beast Boy snapped only for Raven to settle a hand on the shapeshifters shoulder.

"It's fine, I'm coming." And with a quick squeeze of Beast Boys shoulder Wally watched as Raven, with her hood drawn up shot Arley— Fate —a look of contempt before she and Constantine stepped through a large fiery portal that dropped them off in what looked like a medieval castle.

Once they were gone Fate surveyed the group; Arley's eyes landed on him. Wally didn't shuffle as she— Fate —stepped closer to him.

Her hand was gloved but even so it was warm against Wally's chest; the speedster couldn't help the dark blush that quickly overtook his face.

"Hi?" Three overlaid chuckles exited Arley. Only one of them helped ease the growing anxiety ballooning inside of him.

"It's odd," Arley voiced. "The bond between soulmates."

Wally felt his eyes widen and his throat dry up. He had always liked to think that he and Arley were soulmates— meant to be —but to hear it, was something else. Was profound in a sense Wally couldn't put words to.

Blood rushed to the speedsters ears.

"The closer you are to her while she wears me, the more I can feel it."

"Oh?" Wally croaked. Arley's hand moved to Wally's shoulder.

"Do not worry, Arley Gluck will live," Fate announced and yet the leaden ball in Wally's stomach seemed to grow at Fate's declaration because it seemed more like Fate was trying to reassure themselves rather than anyone else on that rooftop and that, worried the hell out of Wally.