The "World of Heroes" DC RPG Season VI

[Shlee]

Lian just lay in the bed, one hand still clutching Roy's hand, the other moving to rest on Dinah's leg, her fingers opening and closing against Dinah's fishnets.

She closed her eye and sighed, just laying back on the bed. It was just a comfort to have her family near her, and safe. That was the thing she worried the most about; but at least for tonight, she didn't have to worry about them never coming home again.

 

[Eddie Brock]

SUPERBOY

Teenagers are about as subtle as a sledgehammer to your nose. I mean, I wouldn't really know what that would be like, but...you get the idea. Bottom line? We're not so subtle. In fact, in pulling their ridiculous charade, the guys have managed to make an already awkward situation worse. For that, I commend them. On the bright side, it's taken my attention off the awkwardness.

But now that I've thought about the awkwardness, it's come back into focus. And with everyone else out of the room, there's no place to hide. It's time to confront this.

So why do I feel like I'd rather confront Doomsday?

It's a strange feeling. I would like nothing more than to bolt out of here at superspeed, yet I can't move a muscle. So rather than doing anything, I stand completely motionless by the door. I must look like such an idiot, but what does one do in this situation? 'Sorry' clearly isn't going to cut it.

"I'm...uh...I'm sorry," I croak. The lump in my throat feels like a piece of Kryptonite the size of a fist. I wish I could just slink through the floorboards. I even look up as if to will some greater being to just kill me. Did I not just remind myself that 'sorry' wasn't going to cut it? I swear, I am such a humongous idiot.

Cassie looks away from me. I can't blame her at all. I would, too, in her position. This guy - who you were so close with - cripples you, and all he has to say is 'sorry?' I'm sure if she could, she'd get up and slap me. I would, anyway. "Sorry?" she repeats. I can almost taste the pain in her voice.

I throw my hands up in defeat. "Well, what do you want me to say? What can I say?" I ask frustratedly. Wow, this is going just swell. Let me just say this, Con, your responses? Stellar. Really, where are you getting this from?

Cassie looks up and makes eye contact. I imagine that this is something like what heat vision feels like. In fact, I'd prefer if it were heat vision. Then I'd just melt away and stop ruining all the good things in my life. I want to look away - I really do - but I can't. "You can say a lot of things, Connor!" Cassie snaps. "You can say that everything's going to be okay!"

What if it isn't?

"You can say that we're going to make it through this!"

What if we don't?

"You can say that you still love me - even though I'm..."

She falls apart. It's not an easy thing to watch, but Cassie literally falls apart right before my eyes. Here I am, feeling sorry for myself, treating myself like I'm the scum of the Earth - and she's not even mad at me. Quite the opposite, actually! She's afraid that her condition somehow...lessens...her in my eyes. Here I expect her to want me dead, and she just wants me to be there for her.

Well, I can do that.

I think.

...

I hope.

"Cass..."

The next thing I know, I'm kneeling at her side. I don't know if I ran over here at superspeed or what, but I just find myself looking at the most beautiful girl in the world. She glances over at me through tear-glazed eyes, and I gently brush away strands of hair from her face. She sniffles softly, and my heart breaks for it. I smile faintly at her.

"Cassie, don't you ever think that something like this is going to change us," I assure her calmly. Gee, now you're a regular charmer, huh? I look down at her wheelchair. That's when it dawns on me. From the moment I walked in, I haven't once paid any attention to this wheelchair. It may as well have not been here at all.

Wow. Maybe it really didn't change anything.

I reach out and grab her hand. As soon as we make contact, that's when I know. I'm falling in love with her all over again. "I will not rest until I set this right," I promise her determinedly. I hold her hand a little tighter. "I promise you this."

"You do?" she whispers, closing her eyes.

I bite my lip. "I do."

She opens her eyes, and the tears are all but gone. However, a lone tear still rolls softly down her cheek. "And you still--?"

I nod before she can even finish her statement. "Yes, I absolutely do."

And as I close my eyes, Cassie rests her head on my shoulders. I turn slightly and kiss her on the cheek. And for the next few moments, we remain completely still - our breathing synchronized like we're one being.

It's still one of my favorite memories.
​

 

[wiegeabo]

Orin walks over to the school bus, and starts to remove the rubble from the destruction. He doesn't have to put much work into it, because seconds later, Black Adam bursts out of the rubble and dirt, his teeth gritting against each other and his blood hot with fire. Before he can rise any further and fly into battle, Orin calls out to Adam.

"Black Adam, no. We have already tried to fight that--that thing single handedly. And each and every one of us, has failed. We gave it everything we got. Now we must work together, as a team, and put an end to it all."

Orin turns, spotting the two Flashes, along with Superman and Booster Gold. Orin starts to walk slowly over to them, and after some thought Black Adam follows. He catches up with Aquaman, flying low and slow as he travels along with a fellow Monarch. The two finally meet up with the other heroes who continuing discussing things amongst themselves.

"I don't know what the plan is exactly...but could you care for some assistance?"

Orin swings Poseidon's trident over his shoulder. His smirk vanishes as he sees Jay Garrick slipping on Booster Gold's belt. He can notice Wally's uneasy face, and there are only so few things that they could be planning when the one who has to face the danger head on is one of the scarlet speedsters.

"Oh no. Don't--don't tell me you are going to do what I think you are going to do. Jay...you could die. You could die if you do that."

"He does what he feels he must do, to save the ones he cares about. I admire that greatly."

"It isn't always about honor and valor, Adam. Jay, think about Joan for a minute. Okay? No, not just that. Think...think about Bart. You want him to lose the only father figure he has? And Dinah...she's already lost Ted. This has to be another way."

Black Adam descends onto the ground and walks onto Jay Garrick just as he gets the belt on right.

"Command me, and I will aid you in your heroic trial."

"There probably is another way, Arthur. We just don't have the time to find it."

"And speaking of time, Wally and I need time to get me up to speed. So we'll need you three to buy us all that you can get." I look at Wally. "Shouldn't need more than, what? A few seconds?"

I turn to look at the monsters, whose attention has turned to us. "If this doesn't work...don't let up. Don't give him a chance to get back on his feet. We need to make this count. Now...let's get moving."

 

[Blacklight]

"There probably is another way, Arthur. We just don't have the time to find it."

"And speaking of time, Wally and I need time to get me up to speed. So we'll need you three to buy us all that you can get." I look at Wally. "Shouldn't need more than, what? A few seconds?"

I turn to look at the monsters, whose attention has turned to us. "If this doesn't work...don't let up. Don't give him a chance to get back on his feet. We need to make this count. Now...let's get moving."

"I'll see if I can find J'onn and ask if he can help. He's disappeared on us. SKEETS!"

"Yes, sir?" He said floating up from behind me.

"Skeets, see if you can find J'onn and ask if he can help. He's disappeared on us."

"Yes, sir."

He then jetted off as fast as his thrusters would let him, and then I turned back to the League, dusting off my hands.

"Now that that's taken care of...who wants to come with me to make sure I don't die trying to distract that thing?"

 

[MaskedManJRK]

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuh..."

The Joker lurched back into consciousness, finding himself lying on the floor of the spaceship. Struggling up onto his knees, he spotted Batman at the controls of the ship. Then he looked through the front window.

"No..."

Before him was not the deep darkness of space, lit by the fast-approaching beacon of the sun. No, before him was daylight, clouds. They were back in Earth's atmosphere.

"No!"

All his plans, all his aspirations... it had all been so perfect, but Batman had taken it from him. It was the kind of thing he should really find funny. But he wasn't laughing.

"You...ruined...EVERYTHING!"

With a feral roar of rage, The Joker lunged at Batman knocking him away from the controls. The ship immediately veered to the side, now heading back down to Earth at a steeper, faster incline.

"But we can still die together in a blaze of glory, right?"

I try to think of something snappy to say back to him, but the ship scrapes over a building and starts to plummet faster.

My plan was to land this on the edge of Gotham, right in the in-between point of GCPD and Arkham Asylum. From the looks of it, we're now dropping like a stone into the middle of Gotham--

*****

I wake up, dazed with my head screaming in pain. I look up, amonst the scrap metal that used to be a ship, and see an opening above me. It only takes me a full minute to stand up, and I look down to assess the damage.

No vital wounds or injuries, thank God. The armor is a lost cause, though. I'll have to make a new one when I'm done here--a lone finger poking into it can probably break it. At least the mask still covers enough of my face.

I thrust my hands out of the hole, grab onto the edges, and pull myself out. I lift my legs out of the hole and fall a few feet right on my ass. God I hope no one saw that. I relish the victory that I was able to get back on my feet in 35 seconds and saw where I was.

Crime Alley. Where it all began.

Now there's a batch of twisted metal that used to be a spaceship in it.

Things certainly can change in a few decades...

 

[Keyser Soze]

I try to think of something snappy to say back to him, but the ship scrapes over a building and starts to plummet faster.

My plan was to land this on the edge of Gotham, right in the in-between point of GCPD and Arkham Asylum. From the looks of it, we're now dropping like a stone into the middle of Gotham--

*****

I wake up, dazed with my head screaming in pain. I look up, amonst the scrap metal that used to be a ship, and see an opening above me. It only takes me a full minute to stand up, and I look down to assess the damage.

No vital wounds or injuries, thank God. The armor is a lost cause, though. I'll have to make a new one when I'm done here--a lone finger poking into it can probably break it. At least the mask still covers enough of my face.

I thrust my hands out of the hole, grab onto the edges, and pull myself out. I lift my legs out of the hole and fall a few feet right on my ass. God I hope no one saw that. I relish the victory that I was able to get back on my feet in 35 seconds and saw where I was.

Crime Alley. Where it all began.

Now there's a batch of twisted metal that used to be a spaceship in it.

Things certainly can change in a few decades...

Things can certainly change in a few minutes...

With a sharp intake of breath, The Joker lurched back into consciousness. He had been jettisoned from the ship in the crash. He was bloodied and battered, his clothes torn, but he was still alive. Every bone and muscle in his body screamed in protest as he forced himself back onto his unsteady feet. His right leg almost caved in under his own weight - obviously he'd done some kind of damage to it in his bumpy landing. Looking around, it seemed like he was back in Gotham City. Crime Alley, to be precise.

And then he saw him. Batman. He seemed banged up too, his armor in tatters. But he was alive. The Joker wasn't one for organisation. But he'd spent a lot of time organising this, preparing for it. His grand finale. His punchline. And Batman had taken it from him. So, what now? Did he start again? Go back to the drawing-board? No. To hell with that. He was tired of waiting, tired of all these setbacks. This ends here. Batman dies, right now.

The Joker reached into the inside lining of his purple coat. Good, it was still there. He drew out a formidable knife, twirled it in his hand. Luckily, it seemed like Batman hadn't long regained consciousness either, and hadn't gotten enough sense of his surroundings to be aware that The Joker was behind him. Grim-faced and angry, with silent determination, The Joker limped towards his mortal foe.

He didn't make a sound, as he inched closer and closer. The nearer he got, the more he honestly expected Batman to turn around, disarm him, knock him out, and send him packing back to Arkham. But he didn't! And so he kept approaching, ever so quietly, until he was right behind Batman.

"Hey!"

As Batman turned around, The Joker plunged the knife deep into his left side, slicing through his kidney, piercing his gut. No quips, no laughs, no great, symbolic, poetic victory. In short, no joke. Just a blunt, messy killing.

What struck The Joker immediately, was the surprise. The utter shock that filled his features. He just couldn't believe that, after all these years, it was finally happening to him. The cold, hard inevitability of death.

Coughing up blood, Batman collapsed forward onto The Joker. Both of them fell clumsily onto the ground. Propping himself up into a sitting position, The Joker pulled Batman into an embrace, plunging the knife in deeper in the process.

"Sssssssh.....it's okay. Don't be afraid. It'll all be over soon..."

 

[MaskedManJRK]

Things can certainly change in a few minutes...

With a sharp intake of breath, The Joker lurched back into consciousness. He had been jettisoned from the ship in the crash. He was bloodied and battered, his clothes torn, but he was still alive. Every bone and muscle in his body screamed in protest as he forced himself back onto his unsteady feet. His right leg almost caved in under his own weight - obviously he'd done some kind of damage to it in his bumpy landing. Looking around, it seemed like he was back in Gotham City. Crime Alley, to be precise.

And then he saw him. Batman. He seemed banged up too, his armor in tatters. But he was alive. The Joker wasn't one for organisation. But he'd spent a lot of time organising this, preparing for it. His grand finale. His punchline. And Batman had taken it from him. So, what now? Did he start again? Go back to the drawing-board? No. To hell with that. He was tired of waiting, tired of all these setbacks. This ends here. Batman dies, right now.

The Joker reached into the inside lining of his purple coat. Good, it was still there. He drew out a formidable knife, twirled it in his hand. Luckily, it seemed like Batman hadn't long regained consciousness either, and hadn't gotten enough sense of his surroundings to be aware that The Joker was behind him. Grim-faced and angry, with silent determination, The Joker limped towards his mortal foe.

He didn't make a sound, as he inched closer and closer. The nearer he got, the more he honestly expected Batman to turn around, disarm him, knock him out, and send him packing back to Arkham. But he didn't! And so he kept approaching, ever so quietly, until he was right behind Batman.

"Hey!"

As Batman turned around, The Joker plunged the knife deep into his left side, slicing through his kidney, piercing his gut. No quips, no laughs, no great, symbolic, poetic victory. In short, no joke. Just a blunt, messy killing.

What struck The Joker immediately, was the surprise. The utter shock that filled his features. He just couldn't believe that, after all these years, it was finally happening to him. The cold, hard inevitability of death.

Coughing up blood, Batman collapsed forward onto The Joker. Both of them fell clumsily onto the ground. Propping himself up into a sitting position, The Joker pulled Batman into an embrace, plunging the knife in deeper in the process.

"Sssssssh.....it's okay. Don't be afraid. It'll all be over soon..."

The pain is what strikes me first. I've felt it before, obviously, but never this acute, never this...quick. What scares me is what I don't feel. My legs fail me instantly and Joker pulls me towards him, ripping me apart and embracing me at the same time. I see black slowly coming into my eyes and I realize it.

I'm dead. There's no way out of this. I'm going to die, right here, where it all began.

Dead. Oh God. Can't believe--so much--I'm dead--

Joker.

If I'm dead, he'll escape. He'll kill more and I won't be able to stop him. Have to...stop him now.

I pull every ounce of strength I have left and my arms thrust towards his scrawny, pale neck and squeeze. If I can't kill him, I'll at least knock him out until the cops or the Justice League make it. I have to stop him from killing anyone else.

I have to.

I have to.

His eyes open wide in surprise, then the gagging starts. I grip onto his neck as hard as I can, as his hands move to mine, trying to pull me away. I see veins of blue forming under his pale skin. It's over. It's finally over.

I see (not feel god I can't feel) my fingers being pry-ed away. No. No. It can't end like this. I can't let this happen. God please let me be his last victim--

My hands are pulled away and I crash onto Joker's chest.

It's going black.

It's all going black.

No. Please. God.

I look at the alley around me. Where it all began. It feels like they're around me, their bodies, long dead. The mugger's bullet has finally hit his mark.

Mom. Dad.

I'm coming home.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Batman is dead.

That earth-shattering concept was becoming increasingly clear now in The Joker's mind. The limp, lifeless body lay pressed facedown against his chest. Muttering inarticulately to himself, trying to process and make sense of the infinite car-wrecks exploding in his brain at that very moment, The Joker lifted up Batman's body, and pulled out the knife with a rough tug, bringing with it one last spray of blood.

He checked Batman's neck for a pulse, but he already knew there would be none. The way the mouth hung open, as if he was about to utter something profound that now nobody would ever hear, told him everything he needed to know. Underneath his mask, his eyes would be empty, soulless, like glass. He'd seen it so many times before, on so many corpses. And now Batman was one of them. The Joker let this lifeless bag of skin, blood and bones slump down onto his lap.

"Hmmm. Uuuuuuuh? AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA......."

The noise built up from the back of his throat, building in force and volume, until it made his whole body shake. He grabbed fistfuls of his hair in his hands, and his face lit up into a crazed expression of raw, savage triumph.

"...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! I DID IT! HA HA HA! I KILLED THE BATMAN! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

He arched his neck upwards at a painful, unnatural angle, his vile laughter pounding upwards into the heavens. It actually hurt, his laughter so wild and unstoppable that it felt like it was ripping his insides apart.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

This was it. This was his moment. At last, after all these years of never-ending combat, he had finally won. He had finally succeeded in killing his greatest foe. The ultimate victory! Everything, his whole existence as The Joker had been building to this one moment. Every hour, every minute, every waking second of his life had been dedicated to Batman, to how one day he would make him fall at The Joker's hands. And now, it was done. Now, it was over.

The laughter withered and died within him.

He looked down at the corpse that lay before him. He had been so special, so unique. And now look at him. All used up. Just another dead body.

Then, something strange happened. A drop of water fell on Batman's face. It took a moment for The Joker to realise it had come from him. He rubbed a trembling hand across his face, and sure enough, a tear had streamed from his eyes. Before he even realised what has happening, he did something he hadn't done in a lifetime.

The Joker wept.

It was a lot quieter than the laughter, his body convulsing and his face twisting in near-silence. But, in its own way, it was even more violent. And it was certainly more painful. Then, he let out a single, inarticulate, almost feral moan of pure, unfiltered grief. The enormity of what he had just done only now becoming fully apparent.

"No..."

He grabbed Batman's corpse by the shoulders, hauled it up into a sitting position. He shook it wildly, as if trying to shake some spark of life back into it.

"Come back! Don't you leave me! I can't do this on my own!"

But it was no good. The magic was gone. The Joker had broken it, and what was done could not be undone. Batman is dead. Batman is dead.

"I... I need you."

The Joker pulled Batman's body forward into a hug. He lost track of how long he knelt there, hugging his lost friend. However long it was, it would never be long enough to say everything he felt he should have.

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

Then, he did the single hardest thing he'd ever had to do. He let go. Batman's corpse flopped uselessly back onto the mud and grime of the Crime Alley ground. It was so vulgar, so undignified, so beneath him. Covered in Batman's blood, The Joker forced himself to stand up, struggling to catch his breath. He looked down at what was left of The Dark Knight, The Caped Crusader, the only being in existence who ever truly understood him. There was only one thing left to say.

"Goodbye."

The Joker turned, and limped out of Crime Alley, still sobbing. He didn't have a clue where he was walking. For the first time since his rebirth as The Joker, the path that now lay before him was vague, uncertain, empty. And it held no joy for him.

 

[Andy C.]

​

1 minute and 30 seconds until now...​

Arthur, Black Adam, Wally, Jay, Michael, and myself. That seems to be all that's left here. While we're busy comparing game plans, Brainiac is willing Doomsday's body back to its feet.

"I'm going to buy you guys enough time for one shot at this. Then I'm going to end it. Good luck, everyone."

And with that, I take to the air again, rushing towards the monster, ready to go another round with him while Ray gets things ready back at the Hall of Justice. What I've got planned will probably take me with him, but it'll be worth it if I can stop this pointless fight.

As the monster readies to intercept my attack, he's caught from the side by someone I thought had been taken out of the fight.

----------------------------------------​

​

1 minute until now...​

As the other heroes talk about whatever plan they've got in mind, I do what I can to keep the Brainiac/Doomsday horror at bay. With every scrap of strength I have left in me, I lay into the beast with a thunderous blow.

To my own surprise, he is knocked back. Still, he's hardly phased.

"Not...another step...forward," I manage, between ragged breaths. "This place is where your reign ends."

As he prepares to respond in kind, the battle is interrupted by a deafening roar, a ball of flame streaking down from the sky...

Great Hera, it's coming down on this city!

---------------------------------------​

​

45 seconds until now...​

I see the Apokoliptian warship coming down, and can't help but grin. Bruce did it; he's saved the world.

I turn towards the ship, hoping to catch it and prevent the crash, but Doomsday's fist sends me tumbling back down to the pavement. The shockwave from the ships' impact washes over me, and for a moment, I can only presume the worst.

As the dust begins to settle, I tune my hearing to Bruce's pulse, and hear that he's still alive.

-----------------------------------​

​

30 seconds until now...​

The crash is hideous, a roiling orange fireball rising over what remains of the Gotham skyline, belching black smoke as it rises higher into the air.

Even as the tide of dust and debris sweeps past us, the monster fights on. I put up my gauntlets to deflect its attacks the best I can, but a shot finds its mark, and slams me back into a nearby building.

My every muscle burns. Every nerve in my body is exploding with pain. I can't go any further.

The creature rears back to kill me...

....before Kal knocks him off of his feet, a look of bitter triumph on his face. I get to my feet, and steel myself once more.

Whatever the explosion was, it appears we've finally started winning.

----------------------------​

​

15 seconds until now...​

"You've lost, Brainiac. Your plan's failed, and what allies you have left are running scared. Your weapon's been brought down by a human being, one of the very people you hoped to exterminate. All that's left is you. And we're going to finish the--"

Then the world stops dead for me.

"Kal, what's wrong?"

I can't hear Bruce's pulse anymore.

--------------------------------​

​

5 seconds until now...​

"Batman...he..."

And it hits me. Bruce was on that ship.

"Go. We'll hold the line here."

I barely finish the sentence before he's off like a shot. When you move as quickly as we do, though, the ticks of a second might as well be an eternity.

The monster swings at me again, and my attention is once again on the fight at hand.

Kal is going to have to find Bruce on his own. I just pray the gods will show us a little mercy today.

----------------------------
​

2 seconds until now...​

Gotham City blurs beneath me as I race to the site of the crash. God, please, don't let me be too late again.

Flames lick upward from the old movie theater.

The alley is filled with debris, both from the wrecked ship and the ruined buildings around it.

A lone figure walks down the street, his white skin and green hair vaguely familiar, but the soul in him completely unrecognizable, barely even there.

That's when I see him, there in the middle of the rubble.

No. Not him. Not like this.

-----------------------------------​

Now...​

"Superman to all points...Batman is dead."

Words I had hoped I would never have to say, but in the back of my head, always halfway expected. Brainiac had just killed my worst enemy. Now, his war has killed my best friend.


I can barely stand to look at him; the tears blur my vision anyway. I want to scream...to curse Heaven for taking my friend...to break this planet in half and be done with it...but all I can do is drop to my knees and cry.

Bruce was everything the human race was capable of becoming, had worked to stand up to gods while the rest of us pretended to be normal people. And while he never allowed to admit it, I could see his soul was fiercely bright, beaming with the best of his people's potential. I'd like to think that if I didn't have my powers, I would still have been even half the man that Batman was.

Now, all I see is his remains, and so much blood spattered across the ground...

...and the knife that had been discarded at the scene.

Then I remember the man in the street, and it finally sinks in what he had done...and why he wasn't smiling anymore. If Bruce's war on crime was at an end, I'll be damned if I'm going to let him get away.

I get up and walk out into the street, calling out to the shriveled husk that was once the Joker.

"I've got every reason in the world to kill you. Just give me one reason why I shouldn't.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Now...​

"Superman to all points...Batman is dead."

Words I had hoped I would never have to say, but in the back of my head, always halfway expected. Brainiac had just killed my worst enemy. Now, his war has killed my best friend.


I can barely stand to look at him; the tears blur my vision anyway. I want to scream...to curse Heaven for taking my friend...to break this planet in half and be done with it...but all I can do is drop to my knees and cry.

Bruce was everything the human race was capable of becoming, had worked to stand up to gods while the rest of us pretended to be normal people. And while he never allowed to admit it, I could see his soul was fiercely bright, beaming with the best of his people's potential. I'd like to think that if I didn't have my powers, I would still have been even half the man that Batman was.

Now, all I see is his remains, and so much blood spattered across the ground...

...and the knife that had been discarded at the scene.

Then I remember the man in the street, and it finally sinks in what he had done...and why he wasn't smiling anymore. If Bruce's war on crime was at an end, I'll be damned if I'm going to let him get away.

I get up and walk out into the street, calling out to the shriveled husk that was once the Joker.

"I've got every reason in the world to kill you. Just give me one reason why I shouldn't.

The Joker stopped in the middle of the street when he heard the voice calling behind him. For a moment he just stood there, hovering on the spot, his back turned to the source of this challenge. As if he had to summon the will to even turn around. But eventually, he did, and faced the owner of the voice.

Superman. The Joker had killed hundreds of people in his city. Not too long ago, he'd found that funny. Now, he felt nothing. With utter indifference, as if in a trance, he stared unblinkingly at The Man of Steel. He took a moment to ponder his request, as if giving it serious consideration. Then, he slowly shook his head, defeated.

"I...honestly can't think of a reason. Not a single one."

 

[Catman_prb]

"All safe?" Tim said, poking his head around the door, looking at Con and Cassie. He stepped back into the room, shortly followed by Rose and Zach, who was looking slightly peeved.

"You said there'd be blood! I want my fight!" Zatara said, smiling broadly. Tim joined him, grinning as he looked at two of his best friends holding each other.

Aw, will you look at that! Really confirms your faith in humanity, when a girl is so dependent on a guy that she'll forgive him even though he paralysed her for life.
You shut up and let me enjoy this.
You're enjoying this? Wow...you really are sad.

"So you two are all made up then?" Tim said with a knowing smile. He walked over to the screen which the Shadowpact members had been gathered around, pulling up a seat and sitting down. He watched as the heroes battled with Doomsday, and his jaw dropped slightly as a ball of fire hurtled through the sky. The camera followed it as it fell through the air. As it impacted into Gotham City, a shockwave knocked the camera out, and all that was being received was static. A scared looking news reporter came onto the screen, talking incoherently. Tim paled, and tuned the Titans communicator to the frequency the League was using.

"Superman to all points...Batman is dead."

"No," he gasped, his voice barely above a whisper. He stood up, knocking the chair over and sending it flying. His pupils were mere dots, his eyes wide. He didn't know if it was terror, or anger, or revulsion. He paused for a second and looked around at the people in the room, who were all staring at him. He didn't care. He let out a feral scream, and pushed the tv off of its stand. It crashed down onto the floor, glass scattering everywhere.

"NO!" he screamed, ripping the communicator off his uniform and throwing it into the wall, smashing it.

"He's not dead. He can't be," he said, breathing heavily. The Titans all looked at him with wide eyes. He screamed again, smashing the glasses off of the bar and onto the floor. He looked at his friends.

"You," he said, pointing at Zach "Your friends brought us here. They brought me here, and I could've been out there helping him. I could have..."

He stopped, looking at him.

"Where are they?" he said calmly. Zach didn't say anything. Tim dived at him, but Connor was there first, holding his old friend's arms behind his back.

"WHERE ARE THEY!" he screamed, fighting to get free of Con's grasp. Eventually he stopped struggling and fell to his knees, weeping silently. Connor let go of him, and he curled into a ball, rocking backwards and forwards.

"He's not dead. He hasn't left me. He's not dead," he muttered to himself, over and over again.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Dent had already tossed the coin and held it in his hand, which made the probabilities even harder. However when he opened it I gave a sigh of relief.

Geez, I hate this job sometimes. I walk over to Oracle.

"Oracle, I presume."

She looked at me and gave a weak smile.
"Sometimes." We study each other for a few moments. She knows everything about me. It's how she roped me into this. However I hadn't had the leisure of studying her myself and I took the time too. She could carry herself, and I'm sure in a fight could defend herself just fine. So how had Prometheus gotten the jump on her?

I turn at Gordon's question to Two-Face and wait for his reply. Not like they needed him, they had me. However...my time with them was coming to an end...

Without saying a word, Two-Face stood up, and motioned for them to follow. He took them back down into the hallway where the fallen Nightwing still lay. Together, Gordon and Dent hoisted the unconscious crimefighter up onto his feet, and each of them supported one of his arms on their shoulders.

From there, Two-Face guided them through the quickest way out of the asylum. When they were all safely outside the limits of the foreboding steel gates, Dent and Gordon lay Nightwing back down on the grass - Gordon panting and holding his chest. He looked up at Hazard.

"Now what?"

 

[twylight]

Without saying a word, Two-Face stood up, and motioned for them to follow. He took them back down into the hallway where the fallen Nightwing still lay. Together, Gordon and Dent hoisted the unconscious crimefighter up onto his feet, and each of them supported one of his arms on their shoulders.

From there, Two-Face guided them through the quickest way out of the asylum. When they were all safely outside the limits of the foreboding steel gates, Dent and Gordon lay Nightwing back down on the grass - Gordon panting and holding his chest. He looked up at Hazard.

"Now what?"

I eyed him, and then looked away. Most of the high level villainy was in motion. I turned to Two-Face.

" You better scoot. I doubt the Alliance will take your choice in chance easily."

Oracle looked around, the look on her face was mixed relief and annoyance.
"I need to get back to the clock tower. Now."

Well, when you have a world to monitor, who has time to mince words?
"My car is at the curb and I can get you there pretty fast." I wink at her before looking up at the sky.

My job is done, finished, now where to go....

"Let's go." I lean over Nightwing, once a probability hits, it's out of my hands, so he was truly and honestly passed out. I begin to formulate a probability to revive him when she puts her hand on my shoulder.

"Let him be, I'll take him back to the clock tower with me and let him revive on his own."

I hoisted him up and carried him to the car, draping him over the back seat. Turning I saw Oracle put her arm around her father and gave him a kiss on the cheek. I spin back around to the car and walk around it to the drivers seat, sliding in. It's been....so long since I did the same to my own father.

I turn to them.
"Hey! We going or what?"

 

[Keyser Soze]

I eyed him, and then looked away. Most of the high level villainy was in motion. I turned to Two-Face.

" You better scoot. I doubt the Alliance will take your choice in chance easily."

Oracle looked around, the look on her face was mixed relief and annoyance.
"I need to get back to the clock tower. Now."

Well, when you have a world to monitor, who has time to mince words?
"My car is at the curb and I can get you there pretty fast." I wink at her before looking up at the sky.

My job is done, finished, now where to go....

"Let's go." I lean over Nightwing, once a probability hits, it's out of my hands, so he was truly and honestly passed out. I begin to formulate a probability to revive him when she puts her hand on my shoulder.

"Let him be, I'll take him back to the clock tower with me and let him revive on his own."

I hoisted him up and carried him to the car, draping him over the back seat. Turning I saw Oracle put her arm around her father and gave him a kiss on the cheek. I spin back around to the car and walk around it to the drivers seat, sliding in. It's been....so long since I did the same to my own father.

I turn to them.
"Hey! We going or what?"

"One minute."

Gordon pulled Barbara close, and hugged her once more. He kissed her on the forehead, and whispered to her.

"I'm so glad you're okay. You're my life, you know that?"

The two of them then got into the car. Gordon turned to Hazard.

"I'm coming to the Clocktower too."

He eased into back into his seat, and felt relief wash over him. Nightwing was okay. His daughter was okay. For once, tragedy had been averted, and it seemed like Gotham would manage to salvage a happy ending out of this mess.

 

[twylight]

"I'm so glad you're okay. You're my life, you know that?"

Oracle smiled, "Your mine as well." She straightened his collar before turning and walking with him to the car.

I glance away, only looking at them as they get into the car.
"It's about time, where too?"

Oracle looked up and straightened her glasses after inspecting Nightwing for other injuries.
"The GCPD, and then the Clocktower."

Gordon turned slightly in his seat to look back at her.
"I'm coming to the Clocktower too."

They exchanged looks, and it was almost like metal meeting metal in an amicable fashion.

I look forward and grip the steering wheel, geez...no wonder I prefer to work alone, it takes forever for anyone to do anything.
"Right." I step on the gas and peel out, heading down the hill into town. In the distance a fire burned in the city and I could see Oracle out of the corner of my eye, studying it, before giving a slight jump

She leaned forward,
"Get us there as fast as possible."

I glance back at her, I was already doing 75 on a semi-suburban road...

Whatever. Throwing a few pre-made probabilities out I clear the roads ahead and hit the gas.

We make it there in half the time it took us to get to Arkham and She was out of the car and up the stairs before I could blink. Gordon left the car, his daughter's worried expression transfixing to his own as he walked quickly after her, gasping a few times and gripping his chest. I studied him for a moment before realizing they'd left me in the car with Nightwing.

.......damn it. I was supposed to be able to slink quietly in the night. Pulling him out I draped him over me and dragged him inside, sliding him into the elevator I hit the top floor and start for the door. And stop.

Gawd..I'm such a sap. I look up the nearby stair's as the elevator pings it's leaving and the doors close. Biting my lip I force through probabilities, not..ones to use, just.....if I go up there, it could change my plans. Oh frack.

I race up the stairs, hitting the top of them I---

"Hold it right there Missy!" I freeze at the sight of a tall blonde, in the shortest Japanese Schoolgirl skirt I've ever seen, holding a huge whopping gun in my face. Behind her Oracle is flicking on monitors, and putting on a headset.

"She's fine Zinda. It's already been compromised." The elevator pinged open revealing a limp Nightwing. The Zinda eyed me threateningly before walking over and heaving him out, placing him on a nearby couch. I peer into the other room, Oracle was seated now, her fingers flying over the keyboards and talking a mile a minute as her father stood behind her.

"Gypsy, I'm fine let Dinah know."

"Robin, I need the status of the Titans."

She covered the mic and leaned bac to her father. "Patching into the GCPD radio." She flicked a switch and the room erupted in sounds from the Police radio's.

"JLA this is Oracle, what's your status?"

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Now...let's get moving."

"You got it", replies Wally to Jay as he and Garrick dart off into the distance, building up speed as they go.

"I'll run with you most of the way, Jay", spoke Wally as the pair looped back around towards Gotham.
"Right at the end I'll give you a little nudge. Should give you even more of a boost."

Not even a second later, Gotham rushes up to greet them and the pair draw closer to the action.

"Ready, Jay?"

Wally begins to slow, but, as he does, he reaches out and takes hold of Jay's kinetic energy through the Speed Force. The Flash concentrates and, through force of will, pushes the energy as though it were some tangible thing.
Jay's speed doubles suddenly, as though he had another person pushing him faster from behind.

And Wally slows down and the world comes back into focus.
But the red streak that is Garrick presses on towards Doomsday.

But Wally's attention is quickly taken as a heart-wrenching message comes through over the JLA communicator.

"Superman to all points...Batman is dead."

The Flash's eyes go wide with astonishment as his heart drops. His mouth opens, as if to scream in protest, but no sound escapes.

 

[Catman_prb]

Tim's eyes were red and bloodshot, and he sniffed heavily. Rose, Cassie and Zach were looking down at him with something approaching pity, while Con seemed to be looking with sympathy instead. He hated that. He covered his face in his hands, wiping his eyes nad nose. He blinked, trying to recover himself. The communicator started squaking and vibrating, even though he had thrown it at the wall. It had been built to survive assualts from supervillains such as Captain Nazi he supposed. He walked over, moving past the Titans quickly so they couldn't see his face. He picked up the communicator, and cradled it in his hands.

"Robin, I need the status of the Titans."

Oracle's voice came, sounding metallic and distorted.

"We're...we're fine Babs," he whispered, not able to stop himself using her real name.

"Bruce...Bruce is...he's gone. Tell Dick," he gasped, his eyes widening as he said it. He dropped the communicator to the floor again, and turned away as fresh tears filled his eyes.

 

[Eddie Brock]

SUPERBOY

Batman is dead.

Three little words that are impossible to comprehend. Had they not come from Clark's mouth, I might not have believed them. This is beyond surreal. Sure, Batman was just a man. He didn't have any of the fancy powers the rest of us have. He was a mortal. The same bullet that would bounce off my chest would pierce his. But wasn't that part of the appeal? Batman was the ultimate hero. He rivaled even Clark in that department. I'm not downplaying Clark's heroics - don't get me wrong. But it's a whole different thing to risk your life when you actually can lose it. Batman did that. He did it better than anyone else I've ever known.

Listen to me. I'm using the past tense already. God, I really can't believe myself sometimes. I just found out, and I'm already treating it like it's over. What happened to blind optimism? What happened to hoping for a happy ending? Would the old Connor have been content to lie to himself? Would he have been content to think that this must be a sick joke? What happened to the denial that kept me from falling apart?

I've become a realist. Can you believe that? This whole experience has changed something inside me. I no longer view the world as this pretty little place you see in Disney movies. Birds don't sing. The grass isn't green. There's no triumphant savior who protects you from all harm. Black and white have become just two shades of gray. Life and death are as real as the air we breathe and the water we drink.

Isn't that terrible? Is it wrong that I'm having these thoughts? For crying out loud, I'm Superboy! I'm supposed to be the strong moral foundation. When the world comes crashing down around me, I'm supposed to stand strong and instill hope in those I care about. That is my legacy. That is the legacy of the shoes I am destined to filled. And right now? I am completely unworthy.

What do I say to Tim? What do you say to someone who basically lost a father? I find myself asking what he might say to me if it were Clark who died. But that doesn't help any. Tim and I are not the same person. He would know what to say. He would know how to say it and when to say it. We're not the same person. Maybe that's why I don't feel I can reach out to him. I don't know what's going through his head. At this point, I don't know what's going through my head! How can I offer comforting words to anyone when I am unable to do so for myself?

So rather than being the supportive friend that I'm supposed to be, I just take my place alongside Cassie, Zach, and Rose. Rather than offering condolences, I stand completely still - hoping that everything will fix itself without my help. I'm tired. I'm tired of always putting on a happy face. I'm tired of always feeling like it's my responsibility to set things right. Let Zach say something. Let Rose say something! Let someone say something! But don't let that person be me.

I wouldn't know what to say.

And as I stare helplessly at a friend in need, I feel Cassie take my hand. I look down to see tears welling in her eyes. She, too, is staring helplessly - holding onto me for support. As I look at her, I feel something strange inside me. It takes a moment for me to realize what's happening. When I do figure it out, I have a hard time believing it's true.

Tears are welling in my eyes, too.
​

 

[Keyser Soze]

Tim's eyes were red and bloodshot, and he sniffed heavily. Rose, Cassie and Zach were looking down at him with something approaching pity, while Con seemed to be looking with sympathy instead. He hated that. He covered his face in his hands, wiping his eyes nad nose. He blinked, trying to recover himself. The communicator started squaking and vibrating, even though he had thrown it at the wall. It had been built to survive assualts from supervillains such as Captain Nazi he supposed. He walked over, moving past the Titans quickly so they couldn't see his face. He picked up the communicator, and cradled it in his hands.

Oracle's voice came, sounding metallic and distorted.

"We're...we're fine Babs," he whispered, not able to stop himself using her real name.

"Bruce...Bruce is...he's gone. Tell Dick," he gasped, his eyes widening as he said it. He dropped the communicator to the floor again, and turned away as fresh tears filled his eyes.

"N-no..."

Gordon couldn't articulate any other word, the shock hitting him like a punch to the gut. After a few moments, he gathered himself enough to formulate a response.

"Gone? What...what does he mean gone?"

But he knew the answer...

 

[SenseiofCheese]

Zachary Zatara

I look down at Robin, his body shaking with grief and anger. I don't say anything. None of us do. For once, I wouldn't know what to say even if I wanted to.

This isn't fair. No, I don't care about any of this 'he gave his life to protect the innocent' crap; this isn't fair. This isn't what's supposed to happen. The heroes are supposed to win. The bad guys are supposed to go to jail. Batman isn't supposed to die.

"When I was younger, I really wanted to be a superhero." I say out loud, not even aware of why I'm talking, let alone what I'm saying. "Watching guys like Batman save the world on TV never got old, no matter how many different times I saw it. I wanted to be like them. Like me cousin Zatanna, and like my parents. They were members of the Shadowpact, and the way things were going, I'd be too when I was old enough. God, I couldn't wait."

My legs are so tired. It's like they can't support my weight anymore. Before I know it, I'm sitting on the floor next to Tim.

"One day I was waiting at home for my parents. They had gone to prevent some low-level demon from entering our realm. Danny...Blue Devil and Zatanna went with them. And only Blue Devil and Zatanna came back. Turns out.." I chuckle sadly, really just to do anything other than break down in tears. "...turns out they got bad information, and that low-level demon was one of the Lords of the Underworld. Hell of a mistake to make."

"When Zatanna told me, I died. Everything inside me; my hopes, my dreams for the future, my very soul...they all just died. I didn't much want to be a superhero after that."

Robin has his eyes glued to the floor. I look over to him, before hanging my head low. "I know you don't want to hear this right now. I know you just want to curl up into a ball and die. Believe me, Tim, I know. And to tell you the God's honest truth, that's exactly what I would do. But not now. You can't leave us now. Just....just please, take the fact that your dad saved us all, each and every one, and use that to keep you on your feet. Just for a little while longer. Tim, please..."
​

 

[twylight]

"N-no..."

Gordon couldn't articulate any other word, the shock hitting him like a punch to the gut. After a few moments, he gathered himself enough to formulate a response.

"Gone? What...what does he mean gone?"

But he knew the answer...

I don't think the room could have frozen more than it did that moment. Zinda let out a gasp. The police scanner droned on in the background and she sat and stared at the screen before flicking switches. I watched from a distance as she worked, suddenly the blurry scene came up on the green screens, at all different angles she'd pulled as many city camera's and security camera's on the location. I can only guess she covered the trail as best she could.

"Damn it." I looked over at her as she straightened her glasses, fighting back tears.

"Damn it Dinah, why do you have your comm off." She flicked a few keyboard buttons calling the same name over and over, mixing in the name 'Green Arrow' a few times before slamming her fist onto the desk.

"Gypsy."

"Yes?" The voice sounded shell shocked, so...she must know too.

"Recall Dinah. I need her here."

I leaned forward and watched intently, Superman was there, his back to this one and I could barely see The Joker's form on the other side of him, in the middle of the street. So.....he'd done it.


We won. Huh...it felt so....wrong.

 

[Catman_prb]

Robin has his eyes glued to the floor. I look over to him, before hanging my head low. "I know you don't want to hear this right now. I know you just want to curl up into a ball and die. Believe me, Tim, I know. And to tell you the God's honest truth, that's exactly what I would do. But not now. You can't leave us now. Just....just please, take the fact that your dad saved us all, each and every one, and use that to keep you on your feet. Just for a little while longer. Tim, please..."​

Tim stared blankly as Zatara's words washed over him. He turned his head slightly and looked at him with cold eyes.

"Don't talk to me like I don't know death," he said icily "There's no big speech this time. Everyone I have ever loved is dead. Batman wasn't my father. He was my hero,"

He turned away from the Titans, in time for the Shadowpact to reappear.

"Robin, I'm so-" Danny began, but Tim silenced him with a cold look. That look turned to Nightshade.

"Take me to Gotham. Now," he said, gritting his teeth.

"Robin, we can't allow you to-" the chimp started, but stopped when Tim pulled a batarang from his utility belt.

"You're a monkey. Do you think it would be hard for me to kill you?" he stated. He looked at the other Titans.

"You...stay here. I'll be back," he said quietly, before turning back to Nightshade "Gotham. Now,"

The world went black as Nightshade touched his shoulder, then turned to twilight as he rematerialised. He fought the urge to throw up, and instead looked around him. A street, burning wreckage, two figures. Superman and the Joker. Two people he had grown up around, was almost used to by now. He started to run.

You knew it would be him. It's always him.
I'll kill him.
And what would be the point in that?

He reached the two figures. Superman saw him he knew, but he made no move to stop him. Tim span the Joker around. There was blood all down his coat, and down his front, on his hands. There was even blood in his green hair, where he had clutched at it. But he wasn't smiling. He wasn't laughing anymore. Tim drew back his fist and punched him hard across the jaw.

"YOU BASTARD," he screamed, tears forming again in his tired eyes.

 

[trustyside-kick]

"There probably is another way, Arthur. We just don't have the time to find it."

"And speaking of time, Wally and I need time to get me up to speed. So we'll need you three to buy us all that you can get." I look at Wally. "Shouldn't need more than, what? A few seconds?"

I turn to look at the monsters, whose attention has turned to us. "If this doesn't work...don't let up. Don't give him a chance to get back on his feet. We need to make this count. Now...let's get moving."

Orin just stood there, hating every second of the plan that was about to unfold. All the while, Black Adam does what he can to help out and offers himself to become part of this plan as the distraction to Doomsday. Orin would himself, but...he just can't.

"I...cannot help you in this plan, Jay. I won't."

"Then you are not the King, hero, and man I heard about. Death is a part of battle; there is no escaping it."

Orin's attention turns to Black Adam with a firey might inside. Black Adam pays no attention to Orin's reaction, and simply flies off towards Doomsday. He watches as Wally and Jay try to get the finishing touches on Booster's belt.

"Now...let's get moving."

"You got it", replies Wally to Jay as he and Garrick dart off into the distance, building up speed as they go.

As the two scarlet speedsters race off, Orin watches Black Adam battle Doomsday once more. He trades blows, but still the monster does not falter. And even when Black Adam grabs two automobiles, and smashes the villain from both sides, it does nothing more than irritate it.

"Superman to all points...Batman is dead."

The sound of Superman's voice through Aquaman's belt makes it suddenly harder for Orin to stand up straight. He uses the trident to keep himself from falling over in pain and anger, but he just slumps down, his hands sliding down as he is down on a knee.

His head is dipped low, as his mind swims with thoughts. Thought of anger and thoughts of sorrow. Brainiac had been the true mastermind behind this orchestrated massacre, this...slaughter. And now, despite all of their efforts, they have lost a life-long friend and ally.

"...Brainiac."

Suddenly, the strength in Orin's legs are as if he were at the peak of his youth, never with such energy and ferocity as he gets up from the ground and sprints. He is not a man of emotion, but he would be without a heart if he did not shed tears for his fallen teammate now. As Orin pulls his arm back, running with all his might, what tears he has fly back with the same wind that courses through his hair.

"YAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

With such determination and concentration, Aquaman hurls Poseidon's trident, and as the abomination that is Doomsday/Brainiac recovers from one of Black Adam's blows stands up, he is impaled through the chest, dragged back several feet.

Black Adam turns around. He sees Orin still sprinting, getting on top of the hood of a car, and flipping to the side of him.

"This is the man I heard about."

"Let's give Jay all the time he needs."

 

[wiegeabo]

"Now...let's get moving."

"You got it", replies Wally to Jay as he and Garrick dart off into the distance, building up speed as they go.

"I'll run with you most of the way, Jay", spoke Wally as the pair looped back around towards Gotham.

The world becomes a slow moving blur as Wally and I take off into to build up our speed. We've only got one shot at this, and we have to make it count. I pour my own speed into our run. Seemingly in the distance, I can hear the Speed Force whisper to us as our speed climbs to its peak.

"Right at the end I'll give you a little nudge. Should give you even more of a boost."

Not even a second later, Gotham rushes up to greet them and the pair draw closer to the action.

"Ready, Jay?"

I nod. "Ready. And...if this doesn't work...tell Joan..." I can't finish my thought, but Wally nods to me anyway. So I steel my resolve and pour all of my speed into myself, building my own energy. I shove my fear down. No matter what happens next, I have to believe it'll be worth it.

Wally begins to slow, but, as he does, he reaches out and takes hold of Jay's kinetic energy through the Speed Force. The Flash concentrates and, through force of will, pushes the energy as though it were some tangible thing.
Jay's speed doubles suddenly, as though he had another person pushing him faster from behind.

I can tell Wally's released me when the world suddenly becomes a horrifically colored and skewed version of itself. The whole of Gotham passes by almost faster than I can perceive. And suddenly, the monster is there, fighting my friends in frozen fury. I use my anger and focus my mind as the last moments of my journey pass by....

Goodbye...

IMPACT

 

[Eddie Brock]

SUPERBOY

In a flash, he's gone. I don't know where he went. I don't know what he'll do when he gets there. Most of all, I don't know where my friend went. This is Tim. I know that. But it's not my friend. Then again, I suppose we've all changed through this experience. This isn't the kind of thing where you can walk away and move on. This kind of event changes you. What you do, how you do it, and who you do it with...that defines you. This is much bigger than Cassie being able to walk. This is bigger than Batman living or dying. This takes life-or-death to the next step.

And we're standing here. What does that tell you about us?

"Why did you do that?" I ask Nightshade in a sudden burst of emotion. I suddenly realize that it's the first time I've spoken since the news broke. Zach chattered away, but I've kept my mouth shut. And now, as Tim approaches the mouth of Hell, I decide to stop biting my tongue. I never was one for timing, huh? Ignoring my thoughts, I continue, "Why would you take him? He's clearly in no condition--"

"And what would you have recommended?" Detective Chimp inquires cynically.

I stand tall. "Tim needs friends right now. He needs to sit down and talk about what just happened," I explain calmly. "He doesn't need to be out there seeking vengeance. He's letting his emotions dictate his actions, and that can only lead to one thing."

Detective Chimp shrugs indifferently. "He's Batman's boy. He knows how to separate emotion from duty."

"Do you really think he's able to maintain a level-head during all of this? One person can only take so much!"

I turn to Nightshade with clenched fists.

"You have to take us down there," I demand.

Blue Devil puts a calming hand on my shoulder. "I know you only have Robin's best interest at heart, but don't you think this is something personal - something Robin should face on his own?" he asks sincerely.

I shrug off his hand. "You want to talk about personal?" I shoot back. I don't mean to get mad at Blue Devil. After all, what he's saying does make sense. But I don't care. I'm not going to let Tim do this. "That's my friend down there, and I need to stop him before he does anything he'll end up regretting or blaming himself for!"

I stare coldly into Blue Devil's eyes.

"You think it gets any more personal than that?"

Blue Devil, Nightshade, Detective Chimp, and the rest of Shadowpact turn away from me. I can't believe how indifferent these people can be! Why do they refuse to let me help a friend? I'm finally ready to take action, and everyone's telling me to sit it out!

I turn to Zach pleadingly. "Zach, these are your friends. Talk to them! Make them understand!" I demand desperately. I catch Cassie's eye, and that's when I realize it. She agrees with them. The hurt that ripples through my body must be visible because she immediately looks down. With no other options left, I close my eyes and lower my head.

Why is it that I never feel like I know what I should do?
​