The "World of Heroes" DC RPG Season VIII

[Byrd Man]

"Then, do it," I reply without emotion. "Show us how Superman does it. Take the world and the past and shape it in your image. What gives you that right? Who are you to decide who lives and dies? Do it. Change it all and turn yourself into the God that you were always so close to be becoming. Do it. In the process, you'll prove people like Luthor right."

 

[Andy C.]

"Bruce.....Dick.......," I say, taking in a deep breath. "Go home."

It's not a request, or even an order. With a thought, Batman and Nightwing are gone, transported back to Gotham. They may be right. They may be wrong. Either way, I need to be by myself while I consider it.

What if Bruce is right? What if, by trying to make the world a better place, I become just another tyrant like Darkseid or Brainiac? What if by removing the tragedy and loss that we try so hard to prevent, I end up creating a world of stagnation and dependence? What if I overstep my bounds?

....but then, what are my bounds anymore?

What good is having this kind of power if I'm not going to use it? How can I live with myself knowing that I had the chance to save countless lives, and by my inaction, doomed them to destruction all over again? How can I fight evil, while turning down the chance to stop that evil from ever being created?

I look at the myriad of space and time at my fingertips. I feel the potential to re-write everything that ever was or will be.

I think of what Bruce said. I think of the way Ma and Pa raised me, and the legacy that Jor-El and Lara entrusted with me. I think of Lois and Jimmy, of Lex Luthor and Darkseid, of everything led me here, to this critical point.

This is where I decide the future of reality itself.

I harness the power of the Source, the force of Creation.......

....I gather every bit of my omnipotence......



....I make my decision......







........and then I let it go.

 

[Byrd Man]

​

"Bruce.....Dick.......," I say, taking in a deep breath. "Go home."

"No. I won't leave until you...."

It's not a request, or even an order. With a thought, Batman and Nightwing are gone, transported back to Gotham. They may be right. They may be wrong. Either way, I need to be by myself while I consider it.

"....Hear me out."

I look around, taking in the surrounding. The battle field of the Midwest has become the Gotham skyline. I turn to Dick and frown.

"I tried. Come on, let's go home."

 

[Bounce]

"Heh...I'm here lying in my own ****, and you've barely got a scratch on you, kid. You...you got lucky--"

Things going dark. Feel like I'm passing ou--

"Tt," the boy uttered, clicking his tongue as he rolled his eyes and turned back to face the sudden arrival. The temptation to drop-kick the former Robin straight out of the window biting at him as he caustically began to snap back "Fu..." Before Damian could say it, the Red Hood was passed out on the floor. Damian standing over him, apathetically gazing down on the limp body.

Jason Todd. Another pretend 'son' of Bruce Wayne. Another pathetic life twisted by the symbol of the Bat and a leech upon my inheritance as the true son of Bruce Wayne.

Staring down at still figure on the floor of the cocaine dusted apartment all I can think is... I hope the bastard's dead.

It's a fleeting though. One that I won't apologize for. One thing I've learned is that apologies aren't really worth much. Mother apologized that she didn't make more time for me. Father apologized that he, the world's greatest detective, didn't know about me. It occurs to me that I should apologize to that toddler for letting her down, but it wouldn't mean anything. None of it means anything. But its in Batman's empty apologies that Jason Todd and I have something in common.

Once upon a time, he lay beaten and bleeding to death beside a bomb waiting for Batman to save the day.

He didn't.

Tonight I fought someone who'd worn the mantle of the Bat. And nearly lost my life in the process. Did I pray for father to save the day? Yeah, I did. I lost count of the number of times I checked the horizon for signs of Batman somewhere in the shadows, until I just stopped looking because I knew the answer was that he wasn't there.

And he wasn't coming.

Father was good at saving the world. His family? No so much. It's a miracle Richard Grayson is still alive. Or maybe it isn't. Richard and Tim are both 'true believers'.

Jason's like me though. The only thing we believe is that we're going to hell. And we're going to rule that mother****er, too. So we don't fit in with that 'Batman Family'. There is no golden rule for us. Justice, like righteousness, is nothing but ubiquitous hyperbole.

After a minute, I check his vitals and confirm that Jason Todd is still alive. Not that I really think death could stop him. He'd already been there and defeated that concept. As often as Batman has come up against my 'dead today, back tomorrow' grandfather I can't say I'm all that surprised by a former Robin's ability to snap back from the grave. Finally, I get him up on my shoulders and start trying to think of a place where we can hole up.

Not the Batcave, that's for damn sure. We need shelter. Like a Bat-Bunker.

Wait, that's it. A Bat-Bunker. Father's paranoia led him to install and create little hole-aways in the event that he needed a safe place while in or around Gotham.

Jason's a lot bigger than I am, but he ain't heavy.

He's my brother.

 

[Catman_prb]

"No. I won't leave until you...."​

"....Hear me out."

I look around, taking in the surrounding. The battle field of the Midwest has become the Gotham skyline. I turn to Dick and frown.

"I tried. Come on, let's go home."

"I think we got through to him," Dick said to his mentor "The fact that we can still remember that conversation...it's got to be a good sign,"

"I'm going to need to have a word with Babs," he said, stretching his arms to get some feeling back in them "I probably should have taken another round with Darkseid, right?"

 

[Byrd Man]

"I think we got through to him," Dick said to his mentor "The fact that we can still remember that conversation...it's got to be a good sign,"

"I'm going to need to have a word with Babs," he said, stretching his arms to get some feeling back in them "I probably should have taken another round with Darkseid, right?"

"I'd take my chances with Darkseid. At least he can be reasoned with."

I fire a grapnel line into the air and wait for it to catch.

"That was a joke. Goodnight. Thank you for your help."

The line catches and I zip off the building and glide through the night.

 

[J'adore]

Harley took in sharp breaths, slowly stretching her hands over the wounded body of Selina Kyle. She watches as Selina's breath slows down, her heart rate decreasing by the second. Her hands begin to vibrate, glowing a strong and blinding violet. The light shines from Harley's palms, slowly moving towards Selina's bleeding wound. The light increases, making a soft ringing noise. Access the full power!

Come on you stupid thing! Work! Work!

Then, the light explodes, causing Harley to quickly covering her eyes, looking away. The sound increases, a loud ringing buzzing in her ear. She looks back at Selina, her wound had stopped bleeding and her breathing slowly increasing. Love has been restored. You have mended Selina Kyle's heart.

I did it...I harnessed the power...

The Star Sapphire leaves the room, but not before she quickly glances back at the unconcious female. I'll talk to her after the operation.

She releases everyone from their crystal cases, jetting off down the halls of the Hospital and up in to the sky, breathing in the fresh air. She looks around, her eyes letting off pink energy by the second. Her hands burst with energy, the ring glowing heavily. Don't stop, Harleen! You have the power, use it. Find your first love and destroy him! Murder him, like he murdered your unborn child.

"YES! I AM THE STAR SAPPHIRE!"

"Woah, slow down there soldier. I'll have the ring back now..."

"STAND BACK!" Harley growls, rocketing three blasts towards Carol Ferris, who narrowly dodges the attacks. She looks down at the floor and nods her head slowly. Soon, Arisia hovers up next to Carol, accompanied by Poison Ivy, Holly Robinson and Zatanna, who all stand on the solid green platform. "Give her the ring, Harley. For your own good, before it manipulates you forever..."

Ignore her! Convert the females by encasing them, quickly! Let them realise the error of their ways...Flicking her wrists, Holly quickly shrieks as a pink crystal case engulfes her. Soon, she is just a solid statue, frozen. She targets Zatanna, who quickly deflects the incoming attack with her chants.

"It's okay to hurt, Harley. It's okay to hate! Hate him, hate him! Hate that sick son of a b**** for what he did! Embrace it!"

Arisia and Carol prepare for action, watching as Poison Ivy shakes Harley consistently. A powerful blast of pink energy knocks Poison Ivy back and sends her propelling towards the ground below. Harley shakes violently, clapping her hands together.

"NOW!" Carol blasts Harley from her ring, which is joined by Arisia's powerful green blast. The long blast merges together, forming a white light. The light slowly burns the ring, allowing Harley to let out a loud shriek.

Fight it! Fight it with your heart!

NO! I SUCCUMB TO HATE! LOVE IS NO MORE

The ring explodes off Harley's very fingers, the blonde female falling unconcious instantly. She flies to the road below, Arisia quickly catching her in a basket of green energy. "She is back..."

***

​

 

[wiegeabo]

Despite the majority of Garrick's lightning surge being deflected by Kyle's surrounding force field, it was still quite the shock. But as he heard Wally's screams in pain, he got back up and willed up a construct of a giant ram that headbutted Jay so hard he was skidding across the ground.

"I don't think so, old-timer!"

Wally, now free ran to safety and as his bones healed in seconds, he summoned forth his Blue Lantern of Hope, and began to recite the Blue Lantern Corps. oath.

"In Fearful Day, in Raging Night
With Strong Hearts Full, Our Souls ignite
When All Seems Lost in the War of Light
Look to the Stars... For Hope Burns Bright!"

Power levels at 100%

Wally then raced to his friend's aid, helping him get back up after he almost collapsed from the surge.

"Thanks for having my back, Kyle. But I can take it from here..."

Speeding up to where Jay landed, Wally stood ready to face his former mentor.

"You don't have to do this anymore, Jay. Anti-Life has lost," Flash began, pointing his ring at Jay, a bright blue light engulfing him, "Look into the light, Jay. Remember who you are..."

"NOOOOOAOAAAAHHHHGGHGHH!!!!"

I'm blasted away from Wally, my mind and body burning in cold flame.

I fight against the light, embracing the darkness within me, and inch my way back towards Wally, step by step. "Never...disrespect...your...elders..."

So close. So close. Almost there. Almost... I reach out and grab Wally's ring hand with my fist.

And then pull him into a tight hug.

"Thank you Wally. Thank you. I knew you could stop me."

When I let him go, he can see my uniform is back to normal, my eyes no longer black, and my soul once again my own.

I punch a bit of Wally's uniform between my fingers. "I gotta say, the blue doesn't say 'Flash' to me."

 

[Catman_prb]

Dick walked down the street, one arm in a black sling, the other holding a wicker basket. The sky was a sharp blue, startlingly clear in the way that very cold days can be. Birds sang, kids were playing in the road, various public servants were clearing up the debris left over from Darkseid's invasion. They'd saved the world. Again. And just for this one day, it seemed like nothing could ever change that. Dick Grayson smiled. He walked into the apartment complex and pressed the button on the elevator. The doors pinged open and a middle-aged woman walked out, eyeing him suspiciously.

"Good morning Ms. Robinson," Dick said, grinning cheerfully "Wonderful day isn't it?"

The woman glared at him then walked along wordlessly. Dick stepped into the elevator and waved manically at her. He would've sworn that he saw a smile pass over her face as she left. He pressed the button and the doors shut. He leant on the mirrored wall and whistled along with the cheery tune that played tinnily over the speakers. The doors opened for a third time, and someone he vaguely recognised nodded in recognition, before pausing.

"Hey, Dick, you're a cop right?" the guy asked.

"I quit man," he said, a nervous smile on his face. He couldn't quite place the guy.

"Aw man, that's too bad. I got broke into last week," the guy said.

"That's bad luck," Dick said, walking backwards down the corridor.

"Sure is," the guy said "see you around,"

Dick walked down to the apartment and knocked smartly on the door three times. He fished the first item out of the wicker basket.

"Hey," Babs said, opening the door "Long time no see,"

"It hasn't been that long," Dick said quietly.

"End of the world. Long enough," she said, in a voice that was clearly holding back tears.

Dick held the flowers out. Babs ignored them, pulling him into a bone-crushing hug that squeezed the breath out of him. He hissed a breath between his teeth.

"Oh my god, your arm! I'm so sorry!" she said, moving back slightly.

"Hey, I went mano e mano with Darkseid, I can take a little rough love," he said, winking "Anyway, I've got something planned. You're coming with me for the day,"

A perfect red eyebrow raised.

"I've got Oracle stuff to do. And you should be resting," Babs said, putting on her matronly tone.

"The world can wait for a day. Besides, you're hardly Killer Croc. I can take ya," he said, grinning. Babs rolled her eyes.

"Fine! But not for long, Dinah needs me," she said.

***
​

The sun was setting over Gotham Memorial Park, and setting over the young couple who were laying on the blanket in the middle of it. Dick was absent-mindedly playing with Babs red hair whilst she rested her head in his lap, reading a book. The wicker basket lay open, revealing the leftovers of a veritable feast.

"I've had a wonderful day, Dick," Barbara said.

"What can I say, I'm a master planner," Dick said, picking up a strawberry from the hamper.

"Be serious for once!" she admonished, sticking a bony elbow into his side.

"Hey I was being serious! My planning skills are unparralelled! Look, serious face and everything!" Dick protested loudly, offering her the strawberry. She smiled, and he fed it to her, wiping the strawberry juice off on the grass.

"Dick..."

"Yes?"

"What were you thinking? I mean...the whole Darkseid thing. Apocalypse now. What were you thinking?" Barbara asked, putting the book down and looking up at his eyes.

"I was...well part of me wasn't thinking. That was the part of me that was still fighting, on instinct. The part of me that was thinking? I was thinking about what a waste it all was...how I wouldn't have accomplished anything if the whole world had ended there. And I was thinking that I love you," he said, then paused, obviously waiting.

"I love you too," Babs said softly, taking his hand.

"And I was thinking that I've loved you for a long time now. Maybe always. That this last month or so that we've spent together, finally given in to all the things that I know that we both always felt, that it was the best time of my life. That we could be together, and stay together, without anything changing. That I want you to marry me. That I want us to build a life together, like we could've done years ago. And it's not like we have to stop doing what we do, it's more like we'd be doing it together. Because it means something, and I love you,"

"Wait, what?" Babs asked, her eyebrows shooting up into her hairline.

Dick took the tiny box out of the hamper and flipped it open. Diamond sparkled.

"Marry me,"

A beat.

"Yes,"

They kissed.​

 

[Byrd Man]

The cave is silent as I walk through the shadows, my mask off and hanging down my back. The past few hours have been excruciatingly long. There's more work to do, but my night is drawing to a close. There's always more work.

"I'm glad to see you safely home," Alfred announces from the top of the steps. "I trust the same applies to Master Richard."

"Dick's fine."

"Excellent. Sir...I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but..."

"What's wrong?"

"It's Damian, sir."

I turn and look at Alfred, a bit of anger in dread in my voice. "What is it?"

"He left the mansion and then called me earlier this evening. He has indicated his wishes to not return him."

I turn Alfred's words over in my head. Damain, my son, ran away from home. It's common for children to try to rebel, but most children weren't raised by an insane cult of assassins.

"Give me the number he called you on."

Looks like my night isn't over yet.
​

 

[wiegeabo]

The former Sea King stood by, marveling at the sight before him as enemies of enemies and friends stood by of different colors and power rings to bring the large Black Lantern Battery down. Then, out from the darkness came a purity in a white ring that found its way to Guy Gardner; which could only be a good thing. White has always and will forever remain a sign of good, life, and humbleness. So whatever that ring has in store for Guy, the Marine Marvel taps his proverbial hat off to.

But then he witnesses the confrontation between Hal and Sinestro. The Aquatic Ace was in the dark about the bad news about Hal's son, and he has lost far too many loved ones--two being sons of his own--to want to imagine what Hal is going through. It's the worst feeling in the world. In fact...you lose your world. For your children are your world. Nothing is quite like having a child. It changes you. Changes everything in how you perceive life and the future.



"Hal won't go after your family, Sinestro. He won't go to such depths and cruel lengths. He will want to, and the bitter seed of angst and anger and evil will try to grow within him but in the end he won't."

"He will. I felt great Rage in Hal Jordan's heart. Why, it wouldn't surprise me if The Beast itself went after him. And what will you do, Orin of Atlantis, if that happens?"

Atrocitus smiles as he interrupts and walks up to Aquaman.

"Yes, I know you. For a brief time, unknown to you, you were my Red Lantern of this Sector. You have great Rage in your heart, Orin. So if you could not control your rage--"

"Had rage."

"...then what makes you think Hal Jordan will be able to control his?"

They stare each other down for a brief moment, Atrocitus just barely towering over Orin by a few inches. A smile of glee across the survivor of the slaughter of Ysmault and a stern look across the former Sea King. Atrocitus wants Orin to give into the rage again, but the brute simply doesn't understand: Orin has been cleansed. A changed man.

He simply walks away from the two, slowly, as he talks back to Sinestro with his back still turned.

"I don't know what has transpired exactly, but it sounds like if I check the League records looks like your name will no longer be on the list of clearance. So whatever you did, you lost everyone's trust...again, Sinestro. More importantly, you regained Hal's and then lost it again. And now, you are somehow responsible for the death of his son? Do you know what it is like to lose a child, Sinestro? You need not answer that. I have lost two of my own. Consider yourself no longer a friend of mine."

And then, the Marine Marvel escapes into the sea.

I cross my arms over my chest and stare into the water. "I do know. And I won't go through it again."

"What was that?"

"I was saying that you smell like a 5 day old corpse and need to bathe for a week straight."

Atrocitus glares at me. "...hahaha. I may just kill you last."

"I may just let you. Saves me the trouble before I free the universe from your unsightly presence."

Atrocitus growls. "Last...but slowest." He flies off into the air, and a trail of countless red flames follow behind him. The red lantern corps creating a swirling vortex of fiery rage as the leave the planet.

"Think what you like," I say to myself. "But I'll still be the hero this universe needs."

I float up into the air, sending a signal to my corps to rendezvous back on Qward. But I won't be following them. Not yet.

There's somewhere I need to be...

 

[trustyside-kick]

Jason's like me though. The only thing we believe is that we're going to hell. And we're going to rule that mother****er, too. So we don't fit in with that 'Batman Family'. There is no golden rule for us. Justice, like righteousness, is nothing but ubiquitous hyperbole.

After a minute, I check his vitals and confirm that Jason Todd is still alive. Not that I really think death could stop him. He'd already been there and defeated that concept. As often as Batman has come up against my 'dead today, back tomorrow' grandfather I can't say I'm all that surprised by a former Robin's ability to snap back from the grave. Finally, I get him up on my shoulders and start trying to think of a place where we can hole up.

Not the Batcave, that's for damn sure. We need shelter. Like a Bat-Bunker.

Wait, that's it. A Bat-Bunker. Father's paranoia led him to install and create little hole-aways in the event that he needed a safe place while in or around Gotham.

Jason's a lot bigger than I am, but he ain't heavy.

He's my brother.

Jason Todd- 'Sculpting'
-------------------------
I wake up, and it is still nighttime. Not sure how long I passed out. Turning my head as I lie on a bed, with one crappy ass matress by the way, I see Damian sitting in a chair a few feet away. The kid is knocked out cold. As he should be. He just experienced Hell in Gotham; not even being trained by the League of Assassins prepares you against zombie-like fiends.

Trying to get up, and then the pain in my ribs reminds me that I'm not healed just yet. I lie back, and give another look at Damian.

"That kid's got quite the future cut out for him."

Not too long ago, I finally found out how I came back to life. Darkseid brought me back for a mission to kill Bruce Wayne, because of some freaky vision dream he had that some dude named Metron told him could be more than a dream. My plan, was to torment Bruce just enough to the point where he will beg for me to kill him, by sculpting his actual real soon--blood and all--into what the League intended him to be that I knew Bruce wouldn't want. Course, those black zombie creatures put a dent in that plan.

I haven't heard from Darkseid since. Boy do I hate being someone's pawn. These injuries...I cannot let them stop me. Darkseid didn't make any threats, he knew he wouldn't have to: he is a god. I am just a man. A man who wouldn't be here were it not for him. So if I don't kill my former mentor, my guesses are I go back to the grave.

"Ugh...stupid...damn...zombies."

Forcing myself to sit up, I take a deep breath. Try to not do it but I look over at the kid again. Damian Wayne. I came to him, and he vented about his lack of love for his father and mother. He talked the talk, like I used to, and he definitely can walk the walk...but does he really want to? Or is he just trying to fool himself.

I mean...I was more of a snot than he was, thinking I can do fine solo and on my own...and then the first second I got a glimpse of an idea of where my mother was, I went searching for her in a hearbeat.

These feelings I'm...geez I cannot believe I'm thinking this but...these feelings I'm developing for Damian, like he's in a way my little brother...will he hate me when I do it?

Risk the chance of dying again by failing your mission or breaking a little kid's heart.

Yup, Jason. You've gotten yourself into another f***ed up mess. Way to go.

 

[Byrd Man]

The only sound in the cave is my fingers furiously typing on the keyboard in front of me. The computer has managed to trace the number Damian called on. All that's left is to redial. The computer will scramble any caller ID, just in case the phone line he called on isn't secure. With Alfred looking on, I dial type the number into the computer and dial.
​

 

[trustyside-kick]

Jason Todd- 'Sculpting'
-------------------------
*RING RING RING*

The phone goes off. I didn't even notice there was a phone in this place. There's barely a couch or table or any furniture but the damn place has a telephone.

*RING RING RING*

I wanna shout at the damn thing that 'I'm coming' as though it can speak back to me, but the kid's asleep. Geez, am I goin' soft? Making my body deal with the pain I manage to stand on my own two legs and make over to the telephone.

*RING RIN--*

"...who the hell is this?"

 

[Byrd Man]

"...who the hell is this?"

I grasp to find the words, unsure if the person on the other line is who I think it is. No, it can't be. I saw him in the hospital over a year ago, brain damaged and unable to remember anything.

"Jason?"

 

[trustyside-kick]

I grasp to find the words, unsure if the person on the other line is who I think it is. No, it can't be. I saw him in the hospital over a year ago, brain damaged and unable to remember anything.

"Jason?"

Jason Todd- 'Sculpting'
-------------------------
I go silent. Speak of the devil and my dilemma.

"..."

Covering up the phone, I take a look over my shoulder and from what I can see Damian is still slumped on that wooden chair. Turning back around I'm about to answer Bruce but wait...how did he get this number? I checked my tail the entire time I had Damian under my wing. Granted, we got separated after those zombie things attacked still there were no signs of--

I look back at the kid.

He...called him? He must've. What, does Damian suddenly miss daddy?

"Depends who is asking. I've got a good guess though. Sounds like a man who abandoned me yet again, this time at a medical treatment facility for who knows how long. So tell me, Bruce...after you get over the shock of hearing my voice that is: what are you doing calling this damn number?"

 

[Byrd Man]

I look back at the kid.

He...called him? He must've. What, does Damian suddenly miss daddy?

"Depends who is asking. I've got a good guess though. Sounds like a man who abandoned me yet again, this time at a medical treatment facility for who knows how long. So tell me, Bruce...after you get over the shock of hearing my voice that is: what are you doing calling this damn number?"

How did he get better? It's no use asking questions like that, especially in this world we live in.

"You know what I'm calling for, Jason. Where is Damian? Where's my son?!"

 

[trustyside-kick]

How did he get better? It's no use asking questions like that, especially in this world we live in.

"You know what I'm calling for, Jason. Where is Damian? Where's my son?!"

Jason Todd- 'Sculpting'
-------------------------
Suddenly he cares. I swear, for as long as I have known him I will never understand this man; not completely.

"Hey hey hey, no need to get rowdy. Seeing as how we are both Black Sheeps of the family, we've just been hitting it off. You know, bonding. Funny though, you have to admit. All the kids you have taken in and the one that is actually yours is a spitting image of me."

I let that sink in for a little while. Then I continue.

"He's gonna make for one hell of a villain, Bruce."

 

[Byrd Man]

"Hey hey hey, no need to get rowdy. Seeing as how we are both Black Sheeps of the family, we've just been hitting it off. You know, bonding. Funny though, you have to admit. All the kids you have taken in and the one that is actually yours is a spitting image of me."

I let that sink in for a little while. Then I continue.

"He's gonna make for one hell of a villain, Bruce."

I swallow hard and take a deep breath to calm myself. This is how he wants to play it?

"I'm going to say this once: If there is any shred of decency left in you, if that little boy I took into my home is still somewhere deep inside of you, you'll give me Damian back and then you'll be free to go your own way. You keep him, and then I'm coming for him and I will take down anyone who stands in my way. Last chance, Jason. Give me back my son."

 

[trustyside-kick]

I swallow hard and take a deep breath to calm myself. This is how he wants to play it?

"I'm going to say this once: If there is any shred of decency left in you, if that little boy I took into my home is still somewhere deep inside of you, you'll give me Damian back and then you'll be free to go your own way. You keep him, and then I'm coming for him and I will take down anyone who stands in my way. Last chance, Jason. Give me back my son."

Jason Todd- 'Sculpting'
-------------------------
I chuckle.

"Haha, wow, Bruce. Using words like "keep him"? Oh, and "give me back my son"? Time to shed some light on you, my dark rodent friend. I'm not doing anything with Damian. I haven't done a single thing recently to keep him here, though this place pales in comparison to my own."

"Let me paint you a picture here, Bruce. I'm sure you are more than aware of that little...zombie invasion that just happened all over Gotham yes? Well, let's just say I got a little cocky and got a bit torn up. Damian got away safely and then I tracked him down here just before I passed out from too much blood loss. And what I do realize as I wake up, just minutes before your phone call? The kid patched me up."

I grunt a bit, as I lean against the wall trying to shift my weight to nullify the pain a bit.

"He took care of me."

"Me. Fully aware that I'm as likely to backhand him as I am to give him a pat on the back and he looked out for me. How does that feel to know, Bruce? That your only actual child has connected with me in ways, you can only dream of? Time to stop cutting corners and get to the point: all Damian has talked about, when mentioning you, is your disapproval of him and your lack of caring. As for me?"

"I'm simply being the big brother he never had."

 

[Byrd Man]

I chuckle.

"Haha, wow, Bruce. Using words like "keep him"? Oh, and "give me back my son"? Time to shed some light on you, my dark rodent friend. I'm not doing anything with Damian. I haven't done a single thing recently to keep him here, though this place pales in comparison to my own."

"Let me paint you a picture here, Bruce. I'm sure you are more than aware of that little...zombie invasion that just happened all over Gotham yes? Well, let's just say I got a little cocky and got a bit torn up. Damian got away safely and then I tracked him down here just before I passed out from too much blood loss. And what I do realize as I wake up, just minutes before your phone call? The kid patched me up."

I grunt a bit, as I lean against the wall trying to shift my weight to nullify the pain a bit.

"He took care of me."

"Me. Fully aware that I'm as likely to backhand him as I am to give him a pat on the back and he looked out for me. How does that feel to know, Bruce? That your only actual child has connected with me in ways, you can only dream of? Time to stop cutting corners and get to the point: all Damian has talked about, when mentioning you, is your disapproval of him and your lack of caring. As for me?"

"I'm simply being the big brother he never had."

"Remember, Jason. When it's all said and done, remember that I gave you a chance to walk away."

I hang up and jump to my feet. I was on the phone long enough to track their hideout. I quickly slip my mask back on as I run towards the batmobile. Jason words are partially true, Damian and I have had a cold relationship at best. But that doesn't matter, he's my son. He's been corrupted by Talia his whole life, only to come to my protection and fall into the hands of another crazed nemesis.

"Don't wait up," I tell Alfred as I leap into the batmobile's cockpit and take off into the early morning.

It's not going to happen again. I'm coming to save you. Damian, whether you want to be saved or not.

 

[Blacklight]

"NOOOOOAOAAAAHHHHGGHGHH!!!!"

I'm blasted away from Wally, my mind and body burning in cold flame.

I fight against the light, embracing the darkness within me, and inch my way back towards Wally, step by step. "Never...disrespect...your...elders..."

So close. So close. Almost there. Almost... I reach out and grab Wally's ring hand with my fist.

And then pull him into a tight hug.

"Thank you Wally. Thank you. I knew you could stop me."

When I let him go, he can see my uniform is back to normal, my eyes no longer black, and my soul once again my own.

I punch a bit of Wally's uniform between my fingers. "I gotta say, the blue doesn't say 'Flash' to me."

"Maybe so... But I find it rather slimming." I joke.

Hope won the day. Jay's back. Everything's back to normal.

All is well.

"Besides, this thing chose me. I don't see the harm in keeping it for a bit."

 

[trustyside-kick]

"Remember, Jason. When it's all said and done, remember that I gave you a chance to walk away."

I hang up and jump to my feet. I was on the phone long enough to track their hideout. I quickly slip my mask back on as I run towards the batmobile. Jason words are partially true, Damian and I have had a cold relationship at best. But that doesn't matter, he's my son. He's been corrupted by Talia his whole life, only to come to my protection and fall into the hands of another crazed nemesis.

Jason Todd- 'Sculpting'
-------------------------
Definitely got to him. Now, he is going to be on the hunt. Guess it is going to go down like this. No way to stop it. I hang the phone up on my end, and slowly head back to the bed. As I pass Damian still passed out on the chair I stop and think for a second.

"...why'd you have to call him? You're not going to like what's going to happen, kid."

Making it to the bed, I sit down and just think for a second more. I start to whisper again as though Damian can hear me as he sleeps.

"Life is life. Put a man in a situation, he will do what he needs to survive. You will understand one day, kid. One day, you will look back and see that the evening I killed Bruce Wayne, was the evening just before the day that I set you free."

...and saved my own ass. I fail to kill Bruce, who knows what Darkseid will do. The time is now, time to nut up or shut up. Straighten up your *****, dude. Just a few flesh wounds. By the end of the evening, the other guy's going to be far worse off.

By the end of the evening, Bruce Wayne will be dead.

 

[Andy C.]

Today is the day.

After so much time away, after all I've seen and done, there have been very few moments I've awaited more than this. After the crisis had come to an end, I of course went straight to Lois, then reunited with Kara, who'd been brought back to life while I was gone. After getting caught up on events alongside Kara and Conner in the Fortress, I headed home to Smallville to see Ma and Pa.......to find that only Ma was still there.

I spent most of that night standing at Pa's grave, telling him how important he was to me and how I'll never forget all of the things he taught me, as well as a thousand other things I'm sure he already knew. It hurts my heart to know that I wasn't there to say goodbye, but I can't help but shake the feeling that I got to in one way or another.


Coming home to my family was a relief that I'd been looking forward to almost from the very second I even left in the first place.

But today is one I've been looking forward to nearly as much.

Today is the day I make my return. It's the day that I really, truly come back to where I belong.

I just hope I managed to get my tie straight this morning.

"All I'm saying is that two hundred thousand people never filled an arena to watch an intellectual debate," I hear Lombard going at it with Troupe for what must be the thousandth time over whose editorials deserve more press.

"And I'm saying that the futures of tens of millions of Americans don't depend on what team wins the playoffs," Troupe says with his usual dryness.

They keep bickering down the hall as I make my way past Cat Grant, who barely raises an eyebrow when I pass, so focused on her sizzling expose on Power Girl's latest developments in her love life. Considering what Power Girl can do when she's in a bad mood, Cat's very lucky that she still has her spine attached.

"CLARK! YOU'RE BACK!" Jimmy practically screams as he sees me. "Mister White told me you were finally coming back from your overseas assignment in....umm, where was it?"

"Querznia, mostly," I answer off-handedly, "but I also covered some of the goings-on in Khandaq while I was in the region. Nothing particularly interesting unfortunately. Besides, I'd been getting homesick."

"I definitely hear you there," Jimmy says with a bit of a sigh.

"So what have you been up to while I was away?"

"....not much," Jimmy lies. He still looks about three years older than he should, what with him spending all that time traveling between universes with all the duplicates of himself, traveling back and forth tens of thousands of years to check on me in the 'Ascension Project' at the heart of the Sun in the Fortress they had gotten from a Superman in a distant future that may not even exist anymore. And now he's back to stumbling around cubicles, getting coffee and snapping pictures.

It's funny seeing someone else struggle to hold up a secret double-life for a change.

"Well, anyway, it's good to be back, Jim," I say, patting him on the shoulder. "I'm looking forward to working with you again."

Jimmy nods and we go our separate ways, until I find my old desk, my trusty old typewriter still gathering dust right where I left it--sometimes using my powers indoors screws with computers, so I stick to writing my articles the old-fashioned way.

I'm just getting settled in when Perry walks by.

"Kent. Welcome back," he says, an uninterested tone in his voice. "We're gonna put you on an easy assignment for your first job back: the strange power fluctuations around the outskirts of the city during the alien invasion. Your wife's already taking care of the big story."

With that, he nods and goes about his business. I know he knows who I really am, but I'm always amazed by the fact that it hasn't changed how he relates to me at all--barring the fact that he's able to give me better alibis now. I think in his way, me being Superman isn't news-worthy news: as long as I make the story happen, he doesn't mind that I report it too.

"Well, well, well," I hear an all-too-familiar voice from behind me. Even though I heard her coming to work from miles away, I like to act surprised when she sneaks up on me. "Looks like Smallville's finally found his natural habitat again."

"Well, you know what they say, Lois," I look at my wife and smile. "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

"Well, I wouldn't say it's all the same," she says. "I finally had to file a restraining order on Lombard for trying to make his big move on me while you were away. You have no idea how much I wish I could've told him that you could incinerate him just by looking at him."

"I still can if you want," I say with a grin.

"Eh, better not. I'm sure the janitors have enough messes to clean up without having to deal with that one."

Lois gets an alert on her tablet and opens it up, letting her know about a breaking bulletin.

"Well, speaking of cleaning up messes, apparently Riot's broken out again. I think that's your cue, honey."

I get up from my desk after having just barely settled in, and give Lois a kiss.

"See you at home after work," I say, before checking to make sure no one's looking and heading towards the janitor's closet.

"You're cooking tonight," Lois says as I go. "And don't forget, you've got a lot of catching up to do to make up for being away."

I smile, then step into the janitor's closet and get changed for work.

No question about it-- it's good to be back.

 

[wiegeabo]

"Maybe so... But I find it rather slimming." I joke.

Hope won the day. Jay's back. Everything's back to normal.

All is well.

"Besides, this thing chose me. I don't see the harm in keeping it for a bit."

"Well, I guess I can get used to it."

I look around, enjoying that feeling of being free, of being myself, again. But my smile quickly fades as I take in all the destruction. I had hoped that sacrificing myself would keep Keystone safe. And buy Wally and Barry the time they needed.

I was partly right.

Keystone is a mess. Darkseid did keep his word and stopped his attack, but I know it's just because he was saving it for last. And all bets were off when Superman showed up.

But I don't blame Superman. It's Darkseid's fault the city, the whole planet, is in the shape it's in. And even though I tried to fight it, I'm responsible as well.

"What did I help do, Wally?"