OMG HELLO!
I AM BACK! WITH ANOTHER UPDATE! SO SOOON RIIIIGHT?
LOL! I feel like I'm getting my groove back. Which is good. I shall not abandon this story! NEVER! I will see this thing to the end. Because I honestly hate when you find a good story and it's not complete and you really really want a update but it's been 3 years.
Not going to happen!
Sorry for all my typos in the last chapter, I actually fixed a lot of that shit today. No more submitting things when I'm tired, I promise. Because yea... I reread it so many times and still... need to be AWAKE! Reread the cursed thing today and OMG I'm so sorry! XD
Anywho you guys rock, thank you guys so much for the support, yer all amazing and all get GOLD FUCKING STARS OF AWESOMENESS! Especially you reviewers, yer the best!
BTW do people still do challenges? Would anyone be interested in a challenge? To write something cool? Let me know...
Anyways I'm sure your gonna skip this part and be like OMG FANGY ENOUGH! STORY PLEASE! XD So here it is! Much longer to! ENJOY!
EDIT: 02/06/2022 Slowing swapping things over from FFnet to Ao3, also fixed some typos.
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He didn't know what to do.
He remembered sitting there in the helicopter looking out the window down onto the fiery mess below. His mind wandered to all the things that transpired that night, and frowned.
What had he done?
All those people? All of them were meant to live, to walk away from this. But Robin figured a lot of them were dead by now.
Even if he hadn't killed them himself, he did leave them to die. What was the difference? He was a murderer now. He should of just pulled the damn trigger himself. The sad thing was that it didn't bug him as much as he thought it would have. Or maybe he was just really tired. Sleep constantly beckoned for him. And it wouldn't be long before he gave in.
It was odd. Being this kind of tired. He knew all about being sleep deprived, but this was different somehow.
Although he never showed it. Robin was always tired, always up late trying to catch whatever villain was in town. Always thinking of things he knew he shouldn't. His mind always going down a darker path. He was used to being awake. Always awake. But now... Now he was exhausted, mentally and physically. He hadn't felt this tired in a long time. Not since then... all those years ago.
"You should get some rest."
Robin looked up to the owner of that irritating silky voice. Slade... This god damn man always came back into his life when he figured he was gone for good. Regardless, it was that same man that stuck by his side amongst those fiery buildings, and when everything seemed to be falling apart. Slade was there. Even now the man was here. There was a lot he wanted to ask the man, a lot more he wanted to beat out of him as well. The man had dragged him out here to teach him a so called 'lesson'. A lesson that unfortunately he had learned quite well by now. The world wasn't kind. He had always known that... But this... This world was like a cancer. And you did whatever you had to do to cut it out from your life.
"Yea... I will... Thanks" Robin, already seated, crossed his arms and leaned against the wall and left himself drift away.
His thoughts went to the memories and emotions of an all to familiar feeling, the last place he felt he belonged. Jumpy City. Other than Wayne Manor, he called Jump his home. It saddened him when he realized he couldn't just waltz back into Titan Tower. Not now, probably never again.
But upon thinking on it more, did he really want to go back? He knew how much of a lie everything was. Sariel was right. No one was going to come out here and help you. The superheros only take care of their own. Their people, their families, their city. That's it. No one gave a damn about these people out here.
The Justice League? Justice for who? For those with money? Those that lived in America? Did they not even give a damn about the rest of the world? A whole city got burnt to the ground today, He didn't want to think on the death toll. And where were they?
No where.
The mere thought angered him.
He wanted to punch something. He would of, if he wasn't just so tired. So he finally let sleep claim him. Maybe when he had more strength in him, then he could punch a wall. Get it out of his system. Until then he left it up to everyone else to take care of things.
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When he was sure that Robin was asleep, Slade lifted himself from his seat and walked over to Sariel who sat in the co-pilot's seat chatting away to her supposed friend who was currently flying the helicopter.
He was amused at first, this friend of Sariels looked to be much younger then herself. Around the age of thirteen or fourteen he assumed, and he operated the chopper with ease. He seemed to be much more chipper than her other friend, Asif. Who was currently keeping to himself in the back of the helicopter, across from where his apprentice slept. His head was hung low, he was probably thinking on all that which he had done. Regrets? Perhaps.
Regardless, it wasn't his problem. What was his problem was where they were going.
The helicopter was military grade, where from exactly? Well he may have to ask the pilot that later. The cockpit was almost like a seperate room onto that of itself. The back of the chopper was like a step up from the cockpit.
Slade Leaned his arms against each side of the doorway and peered in.
'Where are we going?"
Sariel looked up to him and smiled. "Far away from here."
"Specifically?"
"Gus?"
The pilot answered. "Some place I can get gas next. Running low, gotta fuel up, then we can all decide our next move from there."
The mastermind nodded. These kids weren't half bad. They would get far in this world. Lifting himself up from the doorframe he turned his back to them and walked back to his sleeping apprentice. Gingerly taking his seat next to him.
Robin had been through a lot more then he had originally planned, but it seemed to have a good effect on the boy. He wondered what Robin was thinking, what was going through the boys head these days. But for now he'd let the boy gain the much needed sleep he craved.
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It had been a couple hours of silence now, albeit their quite conversations. Slade didn't even come to pester them anymore. He had come back and started asking questions on his second round. All of which Sariel had answered to his expectations. Or so she hoped. She had to admit she had been cautious around Sergei, knowing full well that was not exactly who he actually was. But she thought she'd leave it be and see what would come of it. Sergei being Slade, the infamous Deathstroke. It didn't surprise her, especially with his interest in Robin.
Gus was a bit off on having Deathstroke of all people among them, but Sariel wasn't to bothered about it. It wasn't the first time she had the man around, although she never really talked much to the mastermind. Still though, she respected him enough not to run him around the bush on things. That and... well her grandmother would be disappointed with her if she did. And her grandmother being the only family she had left, well she didn't want to distance herself from that. Her times spent at that little cottage in the woods in France were some of the best times she ever had in her life when she found out she actually had family that was still alive.
She often wondered why she never knew about her grandmother as a child, but as time passed and the more she knew, the more she understood why. Her grandmother was a dangerous woman. Even at her age she still commanded a few small unites throughout France that took care of things when shit got to far out of hand.
They were there to defend, although many would disapprove of her methods.
The woman however was sad to see how her own granddaughter had gotten herself involved with so many various violent activities. First a child soldier, and now all this. She always repeated herself every time Sariel visited that little cottage. "Be careful with the games you play."
Perhaps she should of taken her advice more seriously. She sighed, nothing she could do about it now.
"Sar..."
She looked behind her half expecting Slade to be standing there wanting to know more about locations and whatnot, but no, it was Asif. She still wasn't to pleased with him, but in the long run it seemed he had come back to his senses.
She really shouldn't be giving second chances, she should of shot him back there, he'd be dead and gone and out of her life. But... she just couldn't. Not Asif. She had to many memories with him, good memories. If he decided to do it again, well that would be a different story, but at the moment she doubted his mind was on betraying them.
"What's up?" The co-pilot seat creaked a bit as she turned her body around in the chair to face him. He looked somber. Maybe he was still feeling sorry for himself. She didn't mind really. After betraying her he can feel bad about it for awhile. Maybe learn something from all this.
He sighed, his gaze didn't leave her eyes and Sariel for the first time felt the regret he was enduring. "When... when we get back..."
"I won't say a word."
"What!? But-"
"You gotta promise me though that this shit will never EVER happen again, mkay?"
His shoulders slouched and he only nodded. "I don't understand."
"There isn't much to understand Asif, I'm giving you a second chance. And it's the only one your going to get. Clear?"
"Crystal."
Asif knew damn well she should of shot him back there in that burning town, should of left his body to rot in the sun. But she didn't. She was willing to cover for him, and in return he would never break her faith in him ever again. He owed her his life. In more ways than one. Asif just turned from her and left her behind only to take up the seat he had just left a few minutes prior. Sariel let out a sigh. It was never going to be the same between them again. It was a sad thought. But time would move them all forward, and there was little control she had over that.
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Slade usually did everything on his own. He never asked for help, and why would he? The man had an entire military at his disposal. He gave the orders and they followed them. A military without a nation, much like this ben Elohim it would seem, although they were something else entirely and completely off the radar. He would have to check up on everything soon, the last he spoke to Wintergreen was a couple nights ago and everything was going according to plan. Although he also had to endure Wills rants about keeping everything organized. He had left Will in charge while he was away and while he knew Will could handle it, it didn't stop that man from complaining about every little thing whenever he called to check in. If it wasn't the soldiers or the recruits or any various missions, then it was Will being a nick pick on how terribly dirty the place had gotten since he had very little time to clean. He remembered his old friend ranting on and on about how filthy the new boys were. Slade shook his head and took a deep breath. Things were going to be chaotic whenever he got home.
Looking over to Robin, he noticed the boy was sound asleep. Not having much rest the night before and coming down from an adrenaline rush seemed to tucker the boy out completely.
He briefly wondered what he was going to do now. Slade would obviously not allow Robin to contact the Titans or Batman. That was out of the question. But the boy had been through so much, and not only was Robin drained physically, but also mentally. Pushing the boy to far may mean a mental break down and he already saw him on the verge of one back in that forsaken city. Robin had been so angry, so much so that he just outright attacked him with no thought to what the circumstances could be.
That rage.
That drive.
That skill.
All so promising.
Robin was determined to put an end to this. He then wondered if the boy would want to continue this path. If he did, than there would be no going back to the Titans, nor to the Bat, nor to basically any of the heros.
In the end, all he would have left would be Slade.
And that was something he had no issues with. The boy had already changed his mind on the world itself. He could still see the anger in his eyes. The clarity of the situation he was now in, and while the boy still refused to kill, he had left many behind to die. Knowing full well that things could go to hell at any moment and their lives could be taken in a split second. Even if Robin didn't deal the killing blow, their blood was still on his hands. Robin did what he had to do to survive, and while he still tried to play by the hero's code, he couldn't completely comply. In the end, Robin showed no regret for his actions, although what he was thinking was another story. Regardless, on the outside the boy held himself up as he always had. And Slade knew then that Robin wasn't going to go down without a fight. He'd have to appeal to the boy to get him to work alongside him. In truth, in the beginning of all this, Slade thought he could force the boy into submission. But his will was far stronger than even he thought it to be. And he got away. Twice. Once during his original apprenticeship, then again when he stowed away on that plane. But now... now he saw how truly worthy Robin was. The boy would not break, he would not simply fall apart so easily. Which was good for the both of them. Slade didn't want a broken apprentice, he wanted someone that he could teach, and in the end someone that would stand at his side, that would be his right hand.
He sighed, looking out the window he noticed they were traveling over the desert, which he would presume to be the Empty Quarter. If they were passing over that, it would mean they would be in Saudi Arabia soon. Since the desert itself spanned over 650 thousand kilometers on the border between Yemen and southeastern Saudi Arabia. Most of it actually in Saudi Arabia itself.
Meaning Sariel and her 'friends' were probably going to look for a place to fuel up outside of Yemen, which was good. The sooner they got out of this country the better. They'd have to lay low, perhaps land outside of a village and go in by foot. But leaving the helicopter behind wasn't a good idea either. Sand storms could be a problem. But in the end he figured he'd leave that to them. These kids seemed to have been trapped in this world for awhile now. They knew how to play the game. They knew how to survive, even if it meant backstabbing one another. Sariel befriending Robin was a positive to all this, it was an introduction to this side of the fight. And it seemed to be quite the eye opener indeed.
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He was asleep he knew, but he could still feel the flames, they burned. He was in pain. So much pain. But not from the flames. These faces, they haunted him. Why the hell did he bother to even look at the soldiers that he knocked out. He should of just kicked them in the head and moved on. But no... he looked at them and now their faces plagued him.
He killed them.
He knew, but he didn't want to admit it out loud.
It was just a deeper hole he just kept digging.
He kept telling himself that some must of gotten away, some had gotten out of the fire. But he knew if any did, it would be a small number. The fire took everything with it that night. It left nothing behind.
He had to just accept it and move on...
"No..." he mumbled out in his sleep. "No..."
Slade looked to the boy and shrugged it off as sleep talking, going back to the more important matters he was reviewing on his phone.
Lost in his own mind, Robin felt so out of place, like he was lost to the void. He felt so alone in this world. But at least he knew Slade would always be around. Since the man seemed to like popping up at the most inconvenient of times. It was like a reassurance. Things can go to hell, and Slade will pop up back from the dead, literally.
Maybe he should become the mans apprentice, maybe it was time to end the fighting, the exhausting amount of time he put into trying to figure out what the man was up to, trying to get at least one step ahead of him. Only to fail each and every goddamn time. It was tiring to say the least.
His mind wavered, it kept showing him everything he had done that night, it kept scorching his body with the flames, trying to remind him of the horrors he had seen. But through it all, there was that steady hand on his shoulder. Reassuring him that it was all going to be ok, no matter what came there way. It would be fine. They could handle it.
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He laughed.
And laughed.
She had failed, he had given her a second chance and she carried herself with such a distasteful mocking smirk on her face. She never wanted to complete it. She wanted to remain dead, to forget about her failures. So she went to find it, her second death.
Fool.
It mattered little though. No matter how far she fled, they would find her again. Sariel had the legacy, or knew where it was. Something that must not be placed into the hands of their enemy. The ben Elohim had spies everywhere, it was only a matter of time before they found them again.
Geist looked down to the remains of the reanimated corpse he once called a 'friend'. Perhaps more like a comrade. The two had some history, working together for so long. But nothing significant enough to want to mourn her death. His bosses orders were all he cared for. Speaking of Aurora he'd probably have to report to her soon. She wouldn't like what has transpired. And another plan would be put into motion.
All this action, it was good. It had been a long time since he had seen this much action. And he could only guess there would be a lot more in the future. He knew Sariel wouldn't go down without a fight. It might just get interesting.
He turned and left Madaline's remains behind, he would be boarding a jet himself soon, leaving this dreadful country behind him. Surely Aurora would set an all out war upon her enemies, and he could not wait for such bloodshed. War was always the best of times. There were no rules, just kill or be killed. And he was sure to be the one to kill them all.
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What's gonna happen?
I dunno, you tell me. O.O
LOL Anyways, let me know what you all think. I love feedback! Appreicate it! And it makes me want to keep going! So PLS PLS REVIEW!
Love ya guys, have a good night, take care and BE GOOD!
-Fangy