Silver.
The boy in me who grew in a dysfunctional and poor household would never understand the appeal of the metal, but now, in a world filled with wonderous science and actual aliens, a world also inhabited with monsters and demons. The precious metal certainly has grown an appeal now.
Yet what doesn't bode well for me is the stinging, burning pain as I gave myself a small cut by running a finger against the edge of the blade.
"It's just a small cut. Man up." Damian rolled his eyes as I let out a small hiss.
"Nothing worse than a papercut." Tim supplied.
"I could stab you, so you may rethink that statement."
"Charming kid you got there, Bruce." Dick grinned but Bruce mostly ignored him.
Before Tim could retort, Batman gave both boys a warning look. He turned back to me only when did they relent and shut their mouths, "All of the weapons the assassin's that attacked the Batcave were made of silver."
"So, what does that mean?"
He sighed as he sat in front of the Bat-computer, he typed away, and a still of myself appeared, followed by a DNA sequence, "You're human."
"but?" I guessed as my hands covered my face.
"Half." Bruce gave a nod as he allowed the not so shocking news linger.
"So what? Most of the people you work with aren't human," Damian said as he looked at his father, "what difference does this make?"
"Because of the weakness. A base vulnerability to silver narrows the list down to a few creatures that I am." I said in a morbid voice.
"Half of what you are." Tim corrected.
I sighed as I turned to Bruce, "So come on, Bruce, what freak of the week am I?"
"I don't know." He grunted.
I gave him an odd look, and I wasn't the only one, "Seriously," Dick let out a bark of laughter, "I bet you're so irritated about that."
"I don't have a catalogue of DNA sequences of creatures with a weakness to silver." He said in an emotionless voice.
"Not yet," Tim whispered under his breath not so subtly.
Despite my forearms stinging in pain, I refused to cry out. Instead, I gritted my teeth and latched onto Dick's wrist, stopping him from swinging one of his Escrima Sticks, with the opening clear, I sent a sidekick to his hip.
"You kick like a mule." He wheezed as he swung his free remaining arm, I raised mine to block while I released my hold on him. I punched the right side of his rib cage, and as he flinched, I hooked my knee behind his, dropping us to ground.
I rolled us over and yanked his arm into a lock, under the threat of a broken arm he tapped out in an instant.
With us standing, Dick rubbed his sore muscles as I drank deeply from my water bottle, "You're good. Like insanely good."
A snort escaped me, "To be honest, it's completely unfair. It's like a backlog of ever-rotating different types of fighting styles, commanding my body to act as it adapts on the fly."
"Bah, don't kick yourself." He grinned a toothy smile, "Your skills may not have been taught to you in a conventional sense, but they're yours and yours alone."
"Well," I cocked my head to the side, "not entirely mine alone," I said with a slightly crooked smile.
'You're goddamn right.'
Dick let out a snort, "It's good to have a sense of humour about yourself."
"Still, I can't help but feel scummy when I beat Tim. I mean he was pretty much an ordinary kid, who worked incredibly hard to get where he is now."
Dick let out a small chuckle as he leaned against the railing of the sparing ring, "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." Dick patted my shoulder, "Don't worry about Tim he'll do just fine as Red Robin with his team." Dick referred to the massive blow out involving Tim, Damian, and Batman.
When Tim found out Damian was outfitted with a Robin suit of his own, the third and then-current Robin voiced his concerns of being replaced with outrage. After the screaming match and threats of beating each other, Tim turned his attention to Bruce.
The stoic man did what the stoic man always does, he stood there and gave the young boy an uninterested look and dismissed Tim's concerns while sharing little to no information.
Tim lost his patients that he held had been holding onto for the last couple of weeks prior. He quit his role as Batman's sidekick and even went as far as to move out of the manor and take up residence at the base at Happy Harbour.
Though I don't think I'll ever make sense on why he would call himself Red Robin, hey-ho continuity.
"I know he'll be fine, but I still can't help but feel worried."
"Aww, is someone worried about his big brother?" Dick teased as he tussled my hair.
I gave him a dull look, "You know I can kick your ass, right?" He made a mock fearful sound, "I'm pretty sure I'm physically older, plus, we're not brothers."
Dick shrugs his shoulders, "Eh, even if Bruce doesn't officially adopt you, you're already one of his 'brood' now." He says with a teasing voice.
"Oh yeah, a dream come true," I said in an amused voice.
"And why would that be so bad, cousin?" Damian said as he appeared out of nowhere with Bruce beside him.
"Well, I mean just look at ya." I waved at the two, causing Dick to snicker.
"Nightwing take Robin and show him the ropes of a patrol." Bruce 'asked' Dick.
Dick's teeth grinding could be heard as his jovial mood disappeared, whenever the two interacted directly, there was a sense of tension in the air, "Come on, kiddo." He said after a while leading Damian away.
Damian muttered under his breath, not liking being taught the basics.
"So, the obvious segway to get me alone?"
He slowly nodded as he led me to the Bat-computer, "With the aid of a few colleagues,"
"Is that really the right word?" I questioned which he promptly ignored.
"We were able to identify the rest of your DNA."
"Oh, joyous news heading my way." He once again chose to ignore my comment. His eyes conveyed slight distress, "Fucking hell. What am I? I'm clearly ain't part Kyptontian, right?"
"It's demonic." He stated.
My mind whirled to Rachel Roth, and her cunt-waffle of a father, the fucking monster hounding her, the struggles and fight Rachel had to go through to just retaining her humanity.
My back leaned against the railing of the ring as my mind wondered.
A morbid chuckle escaped me, "Could you clue me on what the hell was the League of Assassin's thinking? Honestly, fucking idiots. Let's make a weapon capable of free thought with the side effect of a second consciousness in him, coupled with demon DNA. Do demons have DNA? Apparently so. What were they thinking? Let's see how long this ticketing time bomb will take before he explodes and kills us all." I was breathing hard at the end of my rant.
Bruce hopped into the ring and placed a hand on my shoulder, "You'll be fine, Two. I have faith in you."
'Odd from what I fished from your mind, he is being quite tender and empathetic. Though I suppose you categorise as a child, thus you fall under his soft spot.'
'…That is a lot to unpack, but first of all, you can fish around my mind?'
'Yep. What else do you expect me to do in here? Your past life is nothing but a bore, but I do find the information about this 'universe' quite interesting. Continue talking to the Bat, I'll be shifting through your mind.'
One cut off the mental link we communicate through.
I rubbed the bridge of my nose.
"One?" Bruce questioned.
"Yeah," I sighed as I pulled out the bottle of meds in my hoodie pocket draped across the railing, "These dull his voice, but I can still hear him."
I could see Bruce was running a game plan in his head as he gave me a curt nod.
"Why do you have faith in me, Bruce? I was given a profile of you and the Justice League; I know the type of person you are."
In a baffling moment, he gave me a crooked smile, "This doesn't sound like it's going to be a compliment."
I couldn't help but snort, "No seriously, you're the type of man who has contingencies after contingencies. Why take a chance in a psycho, half-demon, weapon?"
"Because," He took a deep breath showing despite his softer side he had just shown he still has difficulties with connecting on an emotional level, "despite having everything going against you, waking up and finding out that your sole purpose is to kill. You're a good person. Two. You're right, I do have contingencies for many scenarios, but that doesn't mean I want them to happen, but life…"
"Is unpredictable."
He nodded, "I will admit, on paper you'd be a threat. First time I was informed about One, I was worried, but-"
"Let me guess, it's my dazzling personality that won you over?" I said with a sardonic grin.
He let out a subdued chuckle, "Yeah, let's say it's something like that."
"So," I sighed as I tried to find the right words, "any chance you know who my, uh, 'father' is?" I air quoted.
"No." He shook his head, "The only thing we can confirm from you DNA is that you're not a sibling of Rachel Roth, the young hero known as Raven, that's about it."
"Why do I get the feeling that's not exactly a good thing?"
"Better the enemy you know than the one you don't." He grunted.
"What happens now?" I said something I've continuously been asking lately.
"You train. Raven is a friend of Dick's; we can arrange for her to train you."
"Is that so wise? Giving me a handle on my 'demonic' powers if I even have any I mean."
"From an outside perspective, I've seen what happens to people like you when they do not get a grasp on their abilities, the best case is that you only hurt yourself."
The beautiful woman tucked a blonde strand behind her ear as she gave me a small smile, "…and so how do you feel, after discovering your abilities?"
My reflex that set after these few months of therapy kicked in, and I shrugged my shoulders, "I don't know."
Diana Lance sighed, "Two. It would mean a lot to me if you cooperated in these sessions."
"You mean Bruce, don't you?"
She gave me a firm expression, "Absolutely not. These sessions stay between the two of us."
"I don't need these sessions," I stated.
"Two, many people benefit from therapy."
"And I definitely would especially, considering I'm nuts?"
She sighed, "You are not 'nuts' as you say."
"I just hear a psychotic voice."
"Speaking of who, how is One doing?"
'See, this is why she will die last. She is only the person to ask how I'm doing.'
'Ignoring you.'
'Stop whining. Did you really not expect me to read your memories. I'm a consciousness you share a mind with, I cannot exactly do anything else.'
'Ignoring you.' I started yet again.
"He's bloodthirsty and a pest," I answered honestly.
Diana sighed as she glanced at her watch, she closed her notebook, "Perhaps it's a good idea that we finish up for the day."
"Good idea."
'Ohhh. You're breaking the rules. Now use your newfound freedom to prep to take on the League.'
'It's hardly newfound freedom. I just need a break from the manor.' I let out an internal sigh weighing the options of confiding in One, well he does know about my past life, and it's not as if I want his advice more like I just want to springboard off of him.
'In my old life I did everything I could to stay away from my supposed home for as long as I could, to stay away from my folks, but here, I've been stuck in either in the manor or cave, constantly watched.'
'You should've killed your parents in your old life.'
'Why did I expect anything different from you?'
'Your mother was a bitch who saw a child as nothing but a carbon copy of an alcoholic cunt, all the while shielding your brother and sister leaving you behind. Your father was said cunt.'
His words brought back memories I wish I could leave behind, 'What is your point?'
'You could've killed them for all the pain they caused you.'
'You're right, I could've killed them,' I thought briefly forgetting I was a feeble twat who couldn't stand up for himself, 'then what? Become a bitter bastard like my father, blaming everything on my past. Become like my mother and aim my hatred misguidedly. Becoming either one of them is the thing I fear the most.'
'So, you do the only thing they can't, forgive? You truly are a fucking fool, Two.'
'Better a fool, then a spiteful bastard stuck in an endless cycle of hate.'
'You think I need anyone? If I was in control, none shall live.'
'And I thought I was the half-demon. You truly are an evil fuck.'
'Forgive me then, I am what I was made to be, the question is, what are you?'
'A fool. You literally just said it a twenty seconds ago.'
'I despise you.' One growled as he cut the link in my mind.
While moved around in autopilot, I did notice that my face was drawing a few pitying glances from the people who didn't keep their head down. I could only guess that they assumed the worst with the lines running down my face. Thankfully these shades cover my now that I think about demonic looking red eyes.
Though not all eyes on me were showing pity.
My feet led me to an alleyway, trekking towards the end, allowing the three men to block the entrance.
"How can I help you?"
"Your coat, all the cash you've got on you, rich-boy."
"Rich-boy?" I looked down at myself, "Oh, right, my threads. Would you believe me when I say I'm broke as hell?" Dammit Alfred, when I said I prefer plain clothes, I sure as hell didn't expect you to take it upon yourself to buy a bunch of designer clothes.
The lead man snorted, "I would say, nice try, but how dumb do you think we are?"
My face scrunched up in a mock fashion as I shrugged my shoulders, "Do you really want me to answer that?"
"You son'av'bitch." He rushed towards me; fist raised, ready to falcon punch me.
My boots scraped across the ground as I dodged his strike, with his back towards me, I gave a light kick to his lower back followed by roundhouse kicking him across his head with my other leg.
"What the-" I rushed towards the closest mugger, picking apart his haphazard defence with ease, landing a solid blow to his gut, forcing the man to keel over allowing me to the soft spot of his head, dropping the man to the ground.
My back was to the third man, and I could tell he was ready to club me with a metal pipe, but right as I was about to duck and slam a fist to the right side of his ribs. A figure jumped down from somewhere and clamped their foot in the man's face, knocking him down to the ground.
I kept my guard up as my fists unclenched at my side, taking in the figure that saved me the trouble of taking down the third attacker.
Combat trousers alongside boots, a form-fitting top coupled with a brown leather jacket, topped off with a red helmet covering the whole head.
A small smile wormed its way onto my face, "I had it under control, Red Hood."
His head jerked to me, and I'm sure he was giving me a questioning look, "You know who I am?"
I really couldn't help myself, "Well we're Gotham, and you're wearing a red hood slash helmet. It's safe to say my shot in the dark landed on point."
"So, who are you?" Red Hood walked over to the groaning mugger who he booted in the face, "The new Robin? Cause I haven't seen nerdy-ass-bitch in a while."
"Nah that would be my little cousin. I'm just you're run of the mill experiment with a consciousness."
"Cool." He stated with indifference as he turned his attention to the mugger he was now looming over, "You hear that. Another freak in our merry little city? And you tried to mug him, who knows what he'll do to you." The man whimpered his previous façade disappeared utterly, "I suppose I could stop him if you give me the name of your broker or else…" Red Hood pulled a particular wicked-looking steel knife.
"I suppose you know where this is going?" I said in a toneless voice, "He ain't the big bad Bat. He'll kill you without a thought. Me, who knows?" I took the shades off, and my red eyes bore a hole in him, "I certainly don't." The subtle twitches in Red Hood screamed amusement and relief.
I'm guessing he's not looking for a fight with someone linked to Bruce, right now. Good to know, despite the mishmash of events and ages of the people around me, it's safe to assume that this is after the events of Under the Red Hood.
The man sold out him broker, but I've got to give him props, the way he was blubbering I'm surprised he didn't wet himself; Red Hood does cut a mean figure when he's putting the heat on the fools.
After Red Hood slammed the handle of his knife directly in the centre of the poor bastard's forehead, he turned to me, "See'ya around."
"Nah, let me help me."
He scoffed, "I don't need one of Bruce's brats to look after."
"I was literally made to kill Bruce and his space dwelling club, I am sure can handle myself."
Not that he has any reason to neither believe me or not, he gives me a nod, "Well if that's the case why is he still kicking it?"
"I said I was made for it; doesn't mean I was going to follow a bunch of misguided cunts like the League of Assassin's." He let out a snort, "Look if you want me to be real, I'm bored out of my mind. The big guy is keeping me housebound, in worries, I lose control and ice someone. Yet he takes my little shit of cousin out on light-patrol."
"So, you just want to bust some heads." He shrugs his shoulders, "Alright, I can respect that. Any qualms about killing?"
"Yeah, I do."
He groans, "If it means the life of innocent or a scumbag, well you best look away."
'Just kill, the scum of this city do not deserve your mercy. It's not as if I'm asking for you to kill your friends or family.'
'And when I kill, what are the chances you end up in control?' The silence was my answer, 'I figured you out, One. You're not as rabid as you make yourself out to be. You can be reasoned to an extent.'
'I'm reasoning with you because I can do nothing else.'
'No, you're trying to get me to kill, so you end up in the driver seat. Fucking Nyssa messing around with dark magic and Dr Frankenstein science bullshit.'
'You should hunt her down and-'
'Let me guess, kill her? You're a one-track disc.'
'Fine, you want me to sing a different tune. What happens when the people you attached yourself to die suddenly, in this unfair, cruel, and I must remind you a now real world? You know the threats out there, the people who will harm all those you'll inevitably love, the monsters.' My eyes snapped to Red Hood who was walking to his muscle car, an image of a bloody mess of a boy and a crowbar came to my mind.
'I'll protect them from whatever else will harm them, all of them!'
One let out a booming laugh, 'We both know that is a fool's endeavour, but I'll enjoy watching you fail.'
'I won't fail.'
'You'll fail or break.'
A/N - 5/02/2021
