Chapter 10:
– Titus –
I pushed myself up from the pile of shattered concrete and splintered wood, dust and bits of drywall clinging to my costume. My jaw ached from the punch that had sent me flying, but I was more pissed than hurt. I wiped the sweat from my face, brushing off the debris clinging to my cheek, and shot a glance through the mess with my x-ray vision. The building I crashed into was empty, thankfully I didn't crush anyone.
I looked across the street, locking eyes with the woman who just sent me on an impromptu flight. She stood on a rooftop with her arms crossed. She was tall, with skin that had a strange grayish tint, long black hair cascading down her back, and eyes that glowed red. She was strong, and she knew it.
"The hell was that for?" I shouted, wiping more dust off my suit.
Her lips curled into a smirk. "Hello, son of Superman," she said.
I scowled. "Can you not call me that? Superman and I don't exactly get along. He's kind of a dick."
Her expression flickered with surprise before she chuckled. "What a coincidence. My father's a bit of a dick too," she said, the word sounding awkward on her tongue, like it wasn't her usual vocabulary. Her fingers drifted to a black collar around her neck.
"I've been sent here to kill you," she added, a grimace crossing her face like she didn't exactly relish the idea.
"Wait, wh—" I didn't even get to finish the question before she moved. One moment she was on the rooftop, the next she was in front of me, her fist cutting through the air towards my head.
I ducked, the wind of her punch ruffling my hair as it whistled past my ear. I twisted and lashed out with a kick aimed at her ribs. She blocked it with an arm with almost practiced ease.
"Damn," I muttered under my breath. She was good.
She didn't give me a second to catch my breath. Her other hand came up in a blur, aiming for my throat. I batted it away and pivoted, launching a rapid series of punches. She moved just as fast, blocking each hit with ease. We were a blur of fists and elbows, both of us matching each other blow for blow.
The street looked like a war zone, cracks splintering out beneath our feet, chunks of asphalt and debris scattered like confetti. The air was sharp with the sound of shattering glass, every window within blocks reduced to shards from the force of our blows. The people around us weren't stupid—they screamed and ran, tripping over each other to get away. I could hear their panic even over the noise of fists slamming into skin and bone.
I wasn't going all out, but neither was she. There was an unspoken understanding between us, like we were both sizing each other up, figuring out just how far we could push. When my fist finally connected with her cheek, she was sent skidding back, her boots carving two deep trenches into the asphalt as she struggled to regain her balance. She wiped her cheek, eyes narrowing, but there was a smirk tugging at her lips.
"You're pretty good," I said, flexing my knuckles. This was the first real fight I'd had since becoming Titan, and it felt good, even if she'd nearly driven my head into my spine with her first punch.
"And you're not a coward too scared to hit a girl. I guess you're not like your old man after all," she said, chuckling darkly.
I rolled my eyes. "Any chance you can tell me who you are before we go back to rearranging each other's faces?"
The smirk slipped, replaced by a scowl. She clenched her fists so hard I could hear the creak of her leather gloves. "My name is Grail. I am the daughter of the ruler of Apokolips. Darkseid." The way she said it sounded forced, like she wasn't sure if she should be proud or ashamed.
I shrugged. Shitty fathers weren't exactly a foreign concept to me. "So, what, did Daddy Dearest tell you to come beat up Superman's kid?"
Her eyes darted to the black collar around her neck, fingers brushing it lightly. She shook her head but stayed silent. That was odd.
"Not really big on sharing, huh?" I said, tilting my head.
Her jaw clenched, and she took a step forward, the pavement cracking under her boot. "I'm not here on his orders," she said finally.
"Then whose?" I took a cautious step back, my eyes flicking to the collar. It looked sleek, high-tech, and I was willing to bet it wasn't just for fashion.
Grail's face hardened, and she shot forward without warning. "Enough questions, Titan."
I blocked her first punch, the impact jarring up my arm, and grinned despite the sting.
Our punches landed like small explosions, sending shockwaves rippling out that cracked the ground and shook everything around us. Buildings creaked, bits of brick and glass fell, and I could feel the concrete giving way under our feet. This place was going to fall apart if we kept it up. I had to get us out of here.
When Grail's next punch came straight for my face, I didn't dodge. Pain shot through my head, but I gritted my teeth and grabbed her around the waist. She let out a surprised squeak just before I hurled her straight up. I didn't give her a chance to recover before blasting off after her, the ground cratering beneath me as I shot into the sky.
We clashed again midair, fists flying, but it was obvious neither of us was great at fighting without something solid under us. My punches were off balance, her kicks missed more than they landed, and we were basically swinging like two kids on a playground—except that every hit would probably kill a normal person.
She swung wide, missing entirely and sailing past me, her expression a mix of frustration and confusion. I couldn't help it. A chuckle slipped out of me, totally unplanned.
"What are you laughing at?" she snapped, pouting. She looked annoyed as hell, which only made me laugh more.
"I don't know," I said, shaking my head and laughing. "I still don't even know why you're trying to kill me!"
Her scowl deepened, and she gritted her teeth. "None of your business." Her red eyes flared, glowing brighter, and I had a pretty good idea what was coming next.
"Alright, fine," I muttered, letting my own eyes heat up. The air around us started to shimmer and crackle as we squared off, our powers building up in our stare-off.
She unleashed her red-colored omega beams, which collided with my own heat vision. The air boiled around us as we tried to overpower each other, but we were dead even. I could tell she was pushing herself hard with that blast. I was still holding back a little, but this was starting to feel like an actual fight.
Somehow, my earpiece still held up through all of this, and Martian Manhunter's voice crackled in my ear. "Titan, what's going on!? Are you alright? We just picked up a massive heat surge above Gotham."
I clenched my teeth, still struggling to hold back Grail's beams, and managed a quick reply. "I'm fine, Manhunter. Just fighting Darkseid's daughter, who may or may not be mind-controlled. I'll fill you in later. Right now, she's glaring at me like she's about to bite my head off."
I cut the line just as she narrowed her eyes, fingers once again going to that black collar around her neck. "So, you figured it out," she said with an embarrassed scowl.
"That collar's controlling you, isn't it?"
I saw the conflict in her face—like she wanted to say something but couldn't.
I braced myself as Grail slammed into me at supersonic speed. The impact knocked the wind out of me—not that I really needed to breathe—as she dragged me down toward the ground. I forced myself to focus; Gotham had taken enough hits already. With a burst of strength, I managed to steer our descent, and we crashed into Gotham Bay, water erupting around us.
Even underwater, she was relentless. Her fists pummeled me, her kicks hit like battering rams, and her nails sliced at my skin. I felt the rush of my Kryptonian and godly blood surging with the thrill of combat, but it cooled when I remembered why she was fighting. She wasn't doing this of her own free will.
Mind control. It made my skin crawl. The scientist who created me from Diana and Superman's DNA had tried to plant mind control commands in my head. The thought of what could have happened if he had succeeded always haunted me.
I grunted as her teeth sank into my left arm, biting down hard enough to draw blood. For the first time, I saw my own blood—gold, not red, streaming from the wound. It threw me off for a second, but I shook it off. While she was still latched onto my arm, I reached out and grabbed her collar.
It started to glow an ominous green beneath the water. Kryptonite. The whole thing was laced with it. Whoever was controlling her clearly didn't know that kryptonite barely affected me like it did Superman. I squeezed the collar hard, crushing it in my grip and watching as it sparked and shattered. I tossed the pieces into the dark water.
Her eyes widened, even as her teeth stayed clamped on my arm. A flicker of realization crossed her face. I wrapped my arms around her and shot us both out of the bay, water streaming off us as we burst back into the cold night air.
Grail looked surprised when I ripped the mind-controlling collar from her neck. My gold blood still stained her lips as she pushed herself out of my arms and floated a few feet away. We hovered above Gotham's bay, the city sprawled out beneath us, dark and restless.
She licked her lips and smirked. "Thanks for getting that disgusting collar off of me… Titan."
I glanced at my damaged costume and the teeth marks on my left arm. The wounds were already starting to heal, the stinging fading with each second. I shrugged, playing it cool. Fighting her had been a rush, and I wouldn't mind doing it again—but only if she was in full control of herself.
Grail's smile softened, and her red eyes gleamed a bit brighter. "You are a very interesting man. When I conquer this planet, I'll be sure to leave you alive."
I scoffed, crossing my arms. "Conquer the planet? Really? Why bother?"
She tilted her head, like I'd asked the dumbest question imaginable. "Because that is the reason my father sent me to this world," she said, her voice sharp and certain. Then her eyes darkened, and her jaw clenched. "Although… I admit I wasn't expecting to get captured and have that collar slapped around my neck. I will have vengeance upon them!" There was raw anger in her voice.
After the chaos we left behind in Gotham, I knew the League would demand answers. The damage was bad, and I could already hear Batman's sigh of disapproval in my head. The silence between me and Grail hung in the air as we ascended into the sky.
"Are you hungry?" I asked, breaking the tension.
Grail glanced at me, her eyes wide for a moment before she recovered and nodded stiffly. I almost laughed at how surprised she looked, but I kept my expression neutral.
"Follow me then," I said as I tapped my communicator and sent Diana a quick message.
We flew north. Metropolis was too close for comfort—I didn't want to chance an awkward run-in with Superman right now. So, New York it was.
I chose a small, quiet place on the outskirts—a restaurant that wouldn't attract too much attention. We touched down in front of it, my boots landing softly on the pavement. Diana was already there, leaning against the side of the building with her arms crossed. She looked upon Grail with a very conflicted expression. Everyone in the Justice League hated Darkseid but that didn't automatically make his daughter a criminal…not at least until she actually started trying to conquer the world.
Noticing Diana, Grail's eyes narrowed instantly, her lips curling in suspicion. "Is this some kind of ambush?" she snapped, her gaze darting between me and Diana.
"No, no ambush," I said, holding up my hands. "Just food and a chance to talk."
Grail's scowl deepened, but she didn't argue. Instead, she scoffed and pushed past us, striding into the restaurant. "Servant! Bring your finest food and refreshments immediately!" she commanded the bewildered host, who stared at her as if he'd just seen a ghost. To be fair, seeing Wonder Woman, Titan, and a gray-skinned woman with a sharp glare would probably throw anyone off.
I chuckled softly and stepped up, placing a hand on Grail's arm. "Easy there, Grail. Let's sit first, yeah?" Her eyes flickered to my hand, then to my face, and she reluctantly let me guide her to the largest empty booth near the window.
The moment we sat down, whispers erupted around the room. Kids pointed and squealed in delight. "Mom, it's Titan and Wonder Woman!" one little boy said, practically bouncing in his seat. The adults were a different story. They exchanged nervous looks, shifting in their chairs like they expected a battle to break out at any moment.
Diana sat across from us, her gaze steady on Grail. "Thank you for coming," she said, her tone even.
Grail didn't respond immediately. Instead, she stared at the table, her jaw clenched, before finally muttering, "I didn't come for you. I'm just here for some food."
Diana cracked a wry smile.
A waitress, looking both starstruck and terrified, approached our booth. Her notepad trembled in her hands. "C-can I get you all something to drink?" she stammered.
"Three waters, please," I said with a smile, trying to ease her nerves. "And maybe a menu?"
Grail leaned back, eyes narrowing at the waitress. "Make it quick."
The waitress swallowed and hurried away, leaving a tense silence in her wake. I could feel the eyes on us from every corner of the room. I glanced at Diana, who met my eyes with a slight raise of her brow.
"So," I started, looking at Grail. "Why don't we take a moment to breathe? We're not in Gotham anymore."
Diana leaned forward, her eyes on Grail. "Why don't you tell me a bit about yourself?" she asked, her voice steady but curious. The air in the booth felt tight, like everyone was holding their breath.
Grail crossed her arms and leaned back, a scoff escaping her lips. "I've already told Titan everything I care to share. I'm Darkseid's daughter, and I'm here to conquer Earth in his name." Her voice was sharp, daring anyone to challenge her words. "Then I will finally have his approval!"
Diana's brows furrowed, a subtle crease appearing between them. "...Why?"
Grail glanced at me, rolling her eyes. "That's the same question he asked…" she muttered.
I couldn't help but chuckle, which earned me a glare from Grail. She turned her whole body toward me, eyes narrowed. "Is something funny about that?" she asked, irritation lacing her tone.
I shrugged, holding her gaze. "It's just… you're a beautiful and powerful woman, Grail. You don't need Darkseid's approval." I paused, letting that sink in. "I don't give a fuck about Superman's approval anymore. Why should you give a fuck about Darkseid's?"
The silence that followed was heavy, like we were all waiting for something to break it. Grail's eyes widened slightly before narrowing again. She looked away, her expression shifting into something different—maybe doubt?
Diana placed her hand on mine lovingly. She smiled at me, a look of pride in her eyes. "I wouldn't have put it that crassly, but I agree," she said, turning back to Grail. "Why should you live for someone else's approval?"
Grail's frown deepened, and for a moment, it seemed like she might snap back. But she didn't. She stared at the table, fingers drumming against the wood as if she were trying to sort out her thoughts.
The waitress returned, balancing a tray with a nervous smile. She set down three menus and a small plate of appetizers. "These are on the house," she said quickly, stepping back like she expected us all to burst into flames.
"Thank you," Diana said, giving the waitress a reassuring smile. The woman relaxed a bit before heading back to the kitchen.
Grail reached for an appetizer without even looking at it, her fingers brushing against the plate as she took a bite. Her eyes were distant, as if she were somewhere far away. I glanced at Diana, who met my eyes with a subtle nod. We didn't need words to know we were thinking the same thing—maybe, just maybe, we'd broken through the smallest crack in her defenses.
The meal had been quiet and filled with tension, but it was progress. We stepped out of the restaurant, the cold New York air hitting my face, but it didn't feel refreshing. It felt like the moment before a storm.
Diana had left a generous tip, a small gesture that felt oddly normal given the weight of everything happening around us. Just as the door swung shut behind us, I felt a shift in the atmosphere, like the world was holding its breath. I glanced up and froze. Multiple members of the Justice League stood in front of us, their faces hard, their postures tense. Superman was at the front, his cape fluttering behind him.
"Hand her over, Titan. Now," Superman said, his voice low and commanding. "She's responsible for the destruction in Gotham."
I felt Grail shift behind me, ready to spring into action, but I stepped in front of her, raising my hands slightly. "Hold on. She was under mind control. She hasn't done anything to actually deserve being captured by the League."
"Come on, man. She's Darkseid's daughter," Green Lantern said, arms crossed, his eyebrows drawn together like he couldn't believe what I was saying.
"So what?" I shot back. "Being born isn't a crime." I glanced at Superman, catching his eyes and holding them. My subtle glare was enough to make him flinch, his jaw tightening.
Diana stepped forward, placing herself at my side. "Titan is right. Grail might be aggressive, but she hasn't broken any laws. And let's not forget, every member here has been mind-controlled at some point. We've all caused damage."
There was a moment of silence as Batman stepped out from the shadows, his eyes narrowing as he looked between me and Diana. "Do you know what you're doing by standing up for her?" he asked, his voice even, masking whatever thoughts he had beneath.
"Kind of…" I admitted, my voice sounding a little too casual.
Batman sighed, but I couldn't help but feel a rush of relief when he said, "I'll trust your judgment, Titan. Especially after you saved my son from the Joker just a few hours ago."
Superman's scowl deepened, and I could tell he wasn't convinced. "This is a mistake. We should take her down while we have the chance. She's surrounded and outnumbered," he said.
Grail's eyes flashed with anger, and she stepped forward, pushing past me. "Try it, Superman. I'll take you on any day. And unlike my pussy old man, I'll actually finish the job!"
The shock rippled through everyone. Green Lantern's mouth dropped open, Flash blinked rapidly, and even Batman raised an eyebrow. For a moment, the air was heavy with silence. Then I couldn't hold it in anymore—I burst out laughing, the sound breaking through the tension.
She paused, as if realizing her own words, and muttered, "I just called Darkseid a pussy…"
I reached out and clapped Grail on the shoulder, shaking my head. "You did. And it was amazing."
Superman's eyes narrowed as he faced Batman, arms crossed and jaw set like he was holding back a storm. "Batman, this is reckless. She's dangerous, and you know it. Letting her go is a mistake we can't afford."
Batman's eyes, cold and calculating, met Superman's without flinching. "We don't imprison people just because they're a risk. We do it because they've committed a crime. She hasn't."
"She's Darkseid's daughter!" Superman snapped. "You know what she's capable of! Look at Gotham! We have to act now before she becomes a threat."
I stood there, watching the argument unfold. The tension between the two unofficial leaders of the League was thick. Diana remained silent beside me, eyes darting between them as she considered her words. I glanced at Grail. Her fists were clenched at her sides, and though her face was composed, I could see the tension in her jaw.
Flash shifted nervously, looking between Superman and Batman. Finally, he cleared his throat. "I hate to say it, but Bats has a point. If she hasn't done anything yet, we can't just throw her in a cell. It's not right."
Superman's eyes darted to Flash, betrayal flickering in his expression. He opened his mouth to argue, but Flash interrupted, speaking faster than usual. "Look, I get it. She's a wildcard, but we can't just lock people up for what they might do."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the gathered League members. The argument lost its steam, and Superman's shoulders tensed, but he finally stepped back, glaring at me. "You better be right about this, Titus." He was not even saying my hero name at this point.
The league members left, leaving me and Diana with Grail who was looking like she had a very long day at this point. "How did you even get captured in the first place, Grail?" I asked her. She put up an incredible fight against me after all.
"I was attacked the moment I stepped out of my boom tube," she admitted to being caught completely by surprise.
"And you didn't consider that suspicious?" I asked. "How did they know where you were going to appear? How did they have that collar ready?"
Grail's eyes widened, uncertainty replaced the anger in them. "...My father sold me out to them?" The words fell from her mouth slowly, like she was testing them for the first time.
– Grail –
Titus smiled at Grail, his eyes warm despite the long day they'd had. "So, what do you want to do now?" he asked, his voice light but genuine.
Grail crossed her arms, the familiar weight of her armor pressing into her skin. The offer of peace, of camaraderie, felt foreign and uncomfortable. She met Titus's gaze, her expression hardening. "I'm thankful you saved me and stopped them from capturing me, but that doesn't mean I'm going to be a hero. I might not have done anything on Earth yet, but I'm not innocent." She straightened, eyes narrowing. "I've conquered other worlds. I have a lot of blood on my hands."
Diana stepped forward, her expression softening, but Grail's gaze stayed cold. "So have many of my sisters," Diana said. "The Amazons are warriors. My mother, Queen Hippolyta, has led armies and killed thousands. You're not alone in that."
Grail's jaw clenched, the words not having the intended effect. She didn't need comfort. "I don't need sympathy," she muttered, eyes darting to the ground for a moment before locking onto Diana's face.
Diana didn't back down, her eyes warm but determined. "It's not sympathy. It's understanding," she said calmly. Her eyes flickered down to Grail's battle-worn armor. "Your armor—it looks like it has Amazonian influence. Was it inspired by them?"
Grail's lips twitched in a smirk that didn't reach her eyes. "Yeah," she said, her tone sharper now. "My mother was an Amazon. She ended up in Darkseid's harem."
Titus and Diana's eyes widened, the shock on their faces clear. Grail stood her ground, daring them to comment. The silence stretched for a moment before Diana spoke, her voice softer but still steady.
"As the daughter of an Amazon, that makes you one as well," Diana said. "You should come to Themyscira and get to know your people."
Grail's eyes narrowed, the offer making her bristle. The idea of Themyscira, a place she had only heard whispered stories about, made her feel more exposed than she wanted to admit. "I'm not looking for a family reunion," she said, the edge in her voice returning. "Maybe, someday. But not now."
Titus glanced between the two of them. "It's getting late," Titus said. "It's been a long day. Why don't we call it a night?"
Diana nodded at Titus and turned back to Grail. "You probably don't have a place to stay, do you, sister?"
"I'm fine," Grail said quickly, a touch of defensiveness slipping into her voice.
"Stay with Titus and me," Diana offered. "Just for the night."
Grail hesitated, every instinct telling her to refuse. But she glanced at Titus, then at the city around them, and relented with a short nod. "Just for tonight," she said, her tone making it clear that this was not a habit she intended to keep…
XXX
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Here is the list of Current Advanced Chapters:
The Fallen Gamer ch 296-300
The Titan 12
The Blood Queen 15
The Fox Hole 22
The Blood Queen 14
The Titan 11
The Fox Hole 21
The Blood Queen 13
The Supe Devil 11
The Fox Hole 20
The Fox Hole 19