Bab 16: CHAPTER 13

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[David Lance POV]

The golden light of late afternoon settled over Star City. Its warm tones shone into my room as I sat on my bed, eyeing the files I had about the case I was currently working on.

Besides the files, at an appropriate distance, a warm cup of coffee rested next to me. About half full, the sweet steam of its aroma gently floating above the cup.

"David, you can't only work," Dinah sighed as she entered the room, her attention falling into the files as a frown formed on her face.

"I know, I know," I nodded, my shoulders tensing as my hands moved to reply, my eyes glancing at her. "But I can't let this go. Something about it… doesn't feel right," I added, signing quickly, while giving her a warm smile.

"I know, but overworking yourself won't do you good." Dinah replied, her eyes becoming soft as she tossed me a bag filled with hot bagels. "Eat."

I smiled, grabbing one of the bagels out of the bag.

"The case won't go anywhere, so take a break. I'll even help you, the awesome Lance siblings working together, how does that sound?" Dinah winked at me, a playful smile adorning her face.

I smiled, rolling my eyes at her antics. Giving her a look that said, sure, why not?

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[Deathstroke POV]

The night had come to downtown Gotham, and my prey, the court of owls, were finally making their move, inside an abandoned shelter near the docks.

"Owls." I boomed at them, as I walked out of the shadows, bowing ever so slightly for the dramatics. "I've been looking for you little birds, all over Gotham. For a bird of prey, you guys really like to a hide."

"Deathstroke, we mean you no harm, leave and let us be," The main talon replied "We do not have fight."

"We don't have to fight? I'm sorry, but we do. You are unfortunately targeting something that belongs to me." I almost chuckled at that, a fight would imply they would make this encounter worthwhile. I was not one for egos, or bravados, but compared to them, a small organization to scared to even face others, I had no fears, I had defeated Gotham's Bat, faced Metropolis golden boy in combat, and had plenty of times out-maneuvered the speedsters this world had to offer, for me, this battle would be a stroll in the park.

"Leave alive or in a body bag," The Talon replied, as his body sank into a defensive stance.

"Very well then," I smiled under my mask. "Do your worst, little owl."

Without another word, weapons l came to bare as the Talon sprung towards me. Satisfied with his course of action, I caught his initial strike with my blade, before twirling around, throwing a kick at the Talon's face, knocking the owl back staggering, as he dropped his own blade on the floor.

Then, before the Talon could recover his bearings, I dug a punch into his solar plexus, before slamming him to the floor with a kick.

"Quite the disappointment. And you wanted to take him under your wings? So wasteful,", I muttered, looking as the owl struggled to get back up.

"If it's the kid you want. Rest assured we no longer want anything to do with him, therefore… this is unnecessary." The Talon replied, getting back into a defensive position.

"Unnecessary? My dear owl, I know you no longer want anything to do with him. This isn't about keeping you away from him, this is about sending a message to whoever thinks they can steal from me." I bellowed in a cold tone, taking slow, heavy steps toward the owl.

"Very well then." The Talon nodded, before rushing toward me, baring his claws.

I smiled, darting towards him, dodging his attacks before gashing him with quick cuts of my blade that made the owl roar in pain. Streams of blood dripping from underneath his suit.

"Your court, your people has settled for mediocrity. I have not," I spoke, grabbing the owl by the neck. "While you battled rich petulant kids, I battled the best this world had to offer." I added, slamming his head on the cement floor, breaking his mask.

"You can't kill me… I'm already dead," The Talon muttered, straining to even speak, adorable.

If I wanted him dead, he would be already, what part of sending a message wasn't clear?.

"You won't die today, not because I can't kill you, which believe me, I can, but because it serves me no purpose." I replied, carving a line on his body with my blade.

"Ahh!" At this, the owl winced in pain, his leg bleeding profusely thanks to the newest cut.

"Now, tell your friends. Everyone you know, the kid it's mine, you can try to kill him, hurt him, anything you wish. I won't even get mad if you or anyone kills him, if anything it would show he wasn't worth my time, just don't try to steal him, is that clear?" I muttered into his ear, ploughing my blade into his gut.

Pools of red liquid dripped from his mouth as he tried to reply. Until I decided to pull my blade out, allowing his broken body to hit the ground with a thud, to a pool of its own blood.

Immortality truly was a curse in the face of greater power.

"Crystal…." The Talon muttered, his voice muffled in pain.

I smiled, wiping the steel of my blade clean with a small towel, before placing my weapon back to its sheath. "I'm glad we had this talk."

With that done. I had nothing else to do in Gotham, save perhaps for visiting the Bat, it would certainly be more enjoyable than this pathetic excuse of a fight I had.

It had been a while since I last fought Gotham' Knight. Last time we left things on a draw, when he interrupted my get to know with my future pupil.

I chuckled, I suppose I might as well treat myself while I'm here, and fight the bat. I had allocated more time for the owls, time I had not used, and could use something worthwhile.

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next chapter

Bab 17: CHAPTER 14

If you want to read up to 20 chapters ahead go to https://www.patreón.com/cornbringer

Discord invite: https://discord.gg/XHduApz

Enjoy!

I posted an author note will some answers to your concerns. Please check them out.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Gotham City. March 15, 08:35 CT.

David Lance POV]

After having breakfast with my sister, I decided to ask and visit the best detective I knew, Batman, to lend me a hand with my case. I was certain there was something I wasn't seeing, and it bothered me.

Perhaps Batman would offer me a new perspective. He always did.

"You can come out now," Batman said to the seemingly empty cave. "Good job getting into the cave without setting the alarms off."

How the fuck?

I will never believe he has no powers. I waited for him to go out before entering the cave, how the hell did he know? And right the moment he entered?!

"How?" I signed, dropping to the floor in a low crouch. Part of his training for me had always been the task of trying to sneak on him, which I had so far been, painfully unsuccessful. Today I had thought I had finally succeeded, but again, today wasn't the day.

"You need to cover your tracks from the moment you leave your house," Batman replied, his tone even. "That, and perhaps tell your sister not to call me," he added with a hint of humor, cracking the closest thing to a smile I had ever seen him show.

I sighed, giving him a quick nod of understanding. Next time, I would start covering my tracks from the moment I left the house, and I would tell Dinah to avoid calling him while I'm at it.

"Where's Robin?" I asked, tilting my head.

"School," Batman replied, his tone back to his normal monotone. Leaving no trace of the small smile he had shown a few seconds ago.

On a Sunday? I pity him.

"I see," I nodded, before pulling the USB drive with the files I had about my case for Batman to go over.

Batman took the USB without a word, quickly putting it on his PC, automatically opening the files after a quick scan of the contents.

"What do you know so far?" Batman asked, his eyes fixed on the computer.

"Not much. All I know it's someone has started killing mobsters in Star City," I replied, feeling somewhat ashamed that was all I had. "Beyond that, it's all assumptions. I think whoever it's behind this doesn't normally operate in my city."

Batman scowled at the screen. Making a face that said this was all too familiar to him. "I think your assumption it's right," he said, opening a new set of files from his PC.

So I was on the right tracks, good to know.

"I have seen the work of Constantine Drakon before. And more than not, it always leads to one person," Batman said, pointing at the screen. Where an image of Deathstroke was to be found.

Him?

But why would Deathstroke send another assassin to kill simple mobsters? It was way out of his normal modus operandi. Deathstroke worked for money, sure, but above all, what pushed him was the thrill of the hunt, of a good fight.

Then again, the night I met him and we fought, he showed interest in me. So, perhaps he was testing… me.

No…

"I see you came to the same conclusion," Batman said as if reading my mind.

Deathstroke wanted me?!

"First the Owls, and now him?" I signed, a frown of worry forming on my face, my mind racing at what this meant. I had to prepare, I had to train even harder, being in his sight was never a good thing. I had to protect my sister, even Oliver from him.

"Don't," Batman said, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "You are not alone in this. Never forget that."

I nodded, feeling like he was speaking from experience.

"As for the owls. They won't bother you anymore," Batman said, walking back to his computer. "Deathstroke it's not one to share."

Not sure if that makes me feel better, or worse.

"How did you figure out how it was Deathstroke so fast?" I genuinely wanted to know, for me, he looked at my files, opened a few of his own, and boom, he had the answer. I really wanted to reach that level, though I doubted it was humanly possible.

"Constantine Drakon is almost an exclusive contractor for Deathstroke, a fact that narrowed the list of subjects down to five possible targets. However, that doesn't say anything, what actually gave me the answer was the fact I fought Deathstroke last night," Batman replied, taking my USB drive out of his PC. "He told me to teach you well before he took the wheel"

I would never follow him willingly. I would rather die than serve.

Wait a second.

I interrogated Drakon, and he never mentioned Deathstroke.

"I interrogated Drakon, using all the tools you taught me to use," I frowned, looking at my utility belt. "He never said a thing about Deathstroke."

"Because at the time, there wasn't a thing about Deathstroke to be said," Batman replied, confusing me a bit. "Selective memory lost. It ensures the target only remembers what you want him or her to remember. It guarantees to a greater degree the safety net of critical information in the criminal world, without having to trust others. It's mostly used on what others consider disposable pawns, or witnesses when killing them would gather too much-unwanted attention."

So Deathstroke had erased Drakon's memory of him. "I see."

"Most of the time, this process it's preset on the target's mind, with the memories only getting erased after the trigger event it's activated. In this case, I suspect the trigger for Constantine Drakon was getting caught, which fits with Deathstroke's character. Where the weak get disposed of," Batman added, handing me the USB I had given him.

"Do you think he will… try to get me, anytime soon?" I signed, worried about my sister, who undoubtedly would get hurt in the crossfire. No, if push came to shove, for my sister, I would kill Slade, even if that meant becoming a killer, after all, all it would take is a whisper.

"No," Batman shook his head. "He won't kidnap you. When Slade wants something, someone, he prefers the arrangement to be a willing one. Meaning he will try to change you, just enough for you to see in him, not a monster, but an opportunity."

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