Chapter 47: CHAPTER 43
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[David Lance POV]
Time went by rather quickly after Rachel's incident, with the weeks going by feeling as if they were seconds.
For the most part, the League remained distant but always watching, always behind Rachel's every move. It wasn't the best outcome, I was aware, but it was what it was, and I was okay with it.
Because despite the constant surveillance they had on her, they were letting Rachel be, and she was content with this arrangement.
As for me, well. With Rachel's situation fixed, for the most part, I continued with my therapy, dealing with one problem at a time; it also helped a great deal I had Rachel to talk to or sign to in my case.
It was different talking with someone that could understand you without pity.
I was glad to have her as a friend in more than one way. And deep within, I hoped she felt the same.
It was, after all, a two-way street; you can't expect someone to help you without being open to helping them as well in any form, that kind of thinking would make me a leech, and as the world is right now, we already had enough of those walking around.
"Oh, David! I'm respecting your privacy by knocking," knocked Oliver at my door three consecutive times.
I narrowed my eyes at the door, feeling a sense of Deja vu… "But asserting my authority as your big brother by coming in anyway!" At this, I realized what was happening, memories of my first childhood flashing by as Oliver broke the door open using a green battering ram that was conveniently shaped like a quiver.
I sighed, rubbing my temples. ~Why did you do that?~
Oliver grinned, dropping the battering ram to the ground. "Didn't you hear my clever words a few moments ago?"
I quirked an eyebrow at him.
"Fine…" sighed Oliver, tossing a pamphlet my way.
I grabbed the pamphlet mid-flight before opening it. It was the plans for a house, a manor, a big one at that, but what did that have to do with him destroying my door?
It was here when it hit me.
~Already?~ I asked with a smile.
"Yep," He grinned, like a kid on his first Christmas Eve, too enthusiastic to display any other emotion besides utter elation.
To think that in less than two months since their official engagement, they would take the next step, living together. ~Why the new manor, though?~
"I want us to begin our new life with new things," replied Oliver, nodding as if his answer was nothing but logical.
Now that I think about it, this feels like something Dinah would tell me in person; after all, this was the kind of event she would love to be the one to break out to me, so I wonder why she sent Oliver instead… Ohh, I see what happened now… time to mess with Oliver for his terrible mistake.
~She doesn't know you are telling me this, right?~ I asked, sporting an impish grin on my face.
Oliver froze in place, sweat magically materializing on his forehead as he came to realize his terrible mistake. "I… well… I mean…"
I smiled, my grin growing ever so large. ~It would be a darn shame if I… told her, wouldn't it?~
"What's your price," muttered Oliver in clear defeat.
~I won't be easily bought, Oliver,~ I replied with a nod. I would probably torture him for a bit longer before asking for a cheeseburger or something.
"I will give you a four-story private room just for you in the manor, with a movie theater, a game room, and a library so massive Batman will have to get a library card to have access to it, only when you permit, of course, you will also have your own pool," offered Oliver, his voice firm like that of a businessman.
I blinked two times before thinking to myself. What?
~I… I was gonna ask for some nuggets or something similar…~ I signed.
"You drive a hard bargain," sighed Oliver. "I will add two cheeseburger meals to my offer, one extra max per meal. That's my final offer, so… do we have a deal?"
How the hell was he a billionaire?
Wait a second…
Suspicious of this offer, I grabbed the pamphlet to read over the plans for the new manor, to find an area called David's Cave, which was a four-story private room with a movie theater, a game room, a private library, and a pool.
He was planning on giving me that regardless of anything all along.
~I will tell Dinah,~ I signed, eyes narrowed at him.
Oliver panicked, "Wait, wait! Let's not get hasty… I'm sure we can work this out…"
I narrowed my eyes even more. ~I want three cheeseburgers meals now, two extras for each meal, and four extra-large sodas…~ I paused to think if I wanted something else, oh right, the dessert. ~And up to three desserts of my choosing in any place.~
"Deal," nodded Oliver, shaking my hand.
We both knew this was all in good fun and that it was pointless in any case. I mean, I had a credit card he had given me, with no limits. But, when it came to family, it wasn't about the money; it was about the respect.
And I had won today.
"But seriously, don't tell your sister I told you before her," muttered Oliver.
"Don't tell me what?" asked Dinah, entering the room as if on cue, hands resting on her hips.
Oliver smiled, giving me a pleading side look.
~A surprise we are planning for you. So don't ruin our plans by asking,~ I replied, hiding the pamphlet before she could see it. I was a man of my word, the cheeseburgers had been my price, and for my price, I would complete this deal.
Dinah hummed, looking at the bits of my broken door on the floor, before glancing at the quiver-shaped battering ram laying a few feet away from my bed. "I had a long day; I won't even ask…"
With that said, she walked out of the room. Leaving us victorious. She knew nothing; she was totally in the dark.
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[Dinah Lance POV]
I knew.
I was totally not in the dark.
But I would let those two have their moment. I was a benevolent goddess after all.
Chapter 48: CHAPTER 44
If you want to read up to 20 chapters ahead go to https://www.patreón.com/cornbringer
Discord invite: https://discord.gg/XHduApz
Enjoy!
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[Vandal Savage POV]
I waited in my office as a portal appeared, one from Klarion letting Deathstroke and Ra's al Ghul into my office. For a second, both of them stood quite; still, almost as if having a small but meaningful exchange of words, then they turned towards me, walking.
"Deathstroke, Ra's al Ghul," I greeted, offering them a seat, which they both refused to take.
"I brought them here, just like you asked," Klarion said, sounding annoyed as his familiar Teekl meowed at him, making Klarion grow red, as he opened another portal, leaving my office. "I know, I know!"
"Savage, is there a good reason you called me here? I assume it's not for socializing," Ra's al Ghul spoke, breaking the ice with a small frown on his face.
"You are right," I nodded. "I need you to eliminate a few undesirable cults here and there, and for that particular mission, the shadows will be compensated handsomely."
Trigon was a threat I didn't have the luxury of letting be. With the help of Klarion and Black Adam, I had located all the cults on earth that worshiped him and were actively trying to bring him into this world.
That, I would not allow.
My goal, my sole purpose in this universe, was to further human evolution to the heights I knew we could reach as species. Trigon, and the total annihilation he represented, were factors I simply couldn't allow to come by any means necessary.
Thankfully, most of the cults worshiping him were on earth. The rest, well, they were being taken care of at the moment.
"How handsomely are we speaking of here?" Ra's al Ghul asked, his eyes filled with greed he pitifully thought he could hide. He was good at it, but I was better at reading people. He wanted a seat in the Light.
I could accommodate him temporarily.
"The shadows will get more than money out of this deal; they will get a seat in the Light," I offered, tone even.
"Most wonderful," Ra's al Ghul smiled. "Then, I accept. The shadows will eradicate these pesky pests that trouble you."
I nodded, handing him a file with detailed information about the targets I wanted to be eliminated as soon as possible, as discreetly as possible, in order to avoid the League's intervention.
"It shall be done," Ra's al Ghul smiled, taking the file before taking his leave, leaving me alone with Deathstroke.
"Deathstroke," I spoke as the mercenary drew near, taking a seat on my desk out of all places.
"Was there any particular reason you called here, with Ra's al Ghul?" Deathstroke spoke, his voice hard.
"There is, and there isn't; I simply had two important tasks that required both you and the shadows, and Klarion thought best to bring you both, but that's neither here nor there," I replied with a small nod.
"So, who do you want me to kill?" Deathstroke asked, glancing in my direction.
"No one. I want to support you on your quest to recruit Black Bolt," I replied, placing a folder close to him.
Deathstroke stood still, quiet, before grabbing the folder and reading its contents. "I see…" he muttered with a stifled chuckle under his mask before placing the folder back on my desk.
"As you can see in the folders, we estimate his power will reach unprecedented levels before long. His powers, whoever will stagnate or rot under the League's watchful eye, you, on the other hand, would present an opportunity for improvement within him," I replied, being fully aware I was dealing with possibilities that could backfire in the future, but be that as it may, I preferred dealing with a failed experiment that with a hero of his skillset.
"According to those figures in that folder, you estimate he will have the power to blow the earth up in a few years… I don't know much about your goals, but I know the earth's survival is in them…" Deathstroke replied, reading between the unwritten lines.
"You would be correct," I nodded, rising from my seat. "So, are you up for this task, Slade?"
Deathstroke laughed, jumping to his feet. "I am, Savage."
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[Deathstroke POV]
Vandal Savage thought me an idiot.
I really couldn't fault him for that. He was a man with more than forty thousand years of experience in his arsenal, so for him, most were undeveloped creatures.
He had done it all, and he had seen it all.
Be that as it may, he was severely underestimating me.
It was true he was a master of the long game, playing with everyone ten different games at the same time, always being ten steps ahead of every contender at all times.
Including the Witch Boy, Vandal's nuclear deterrent.
Right now, he was playing with me. And he was winning, but oh, I would play.
This deal he had offered me was nothing more than a warning that carried a double meaning.
One.
They would pursue Black Bolt regardless of who wanted him on their side. So if I wanted him, it would be best to cooperate with them.
And two.
They knew what I was doing at all times, which on its own meant nothing, but for those capable of reading between lines, it meant something rather simple: Do as we tell you to do, or face the consequences.
They were, in other words threatening me.
It had been a while since someone did.
Good.
They wanted me to play the lapdog? I would play my part, and when the time came, I would bite back.
I was honestly, in an almost childish sense, thrilled with this development.
Now, the main only problems on my side table were Savage and Klarion, two immortal beings.
Savage could be contained. But the Witch Boy, he was a player in his own league. One, not even the Kryptonian had a chance to face.
I really hated magic. It made all things a bit more complicated than they had to be.
But I suppose that's part of the fun.
Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
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