Bab 46: CHAPTER 42

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[David Lance POV]

For hours, Batman and Rachel talked under the shelter of the cave, with Batman making sure to ask every possible question, and more as Giovanni and I stayed on the corners, watching everything unfold without interrupting them.

I had faith that everything would be alright and that soon this little misunderstanding would be resolved, the fact that Batman had come here with the intention of talking was already saying a lot.

After all, Rachel was being completely honest with Batman, answering all his questions, doubts, and more without hesitation.

Going into detail about her relationship with Trigon, and how she came into existence because of him.

I could see with painful clarity that talking about these things was hurting her, but even so, despite the unmistakable anguish this brought her, Rachel kept on talking, as she was determined to set the record straight.

I wasn't the only one to realize that, her pain. Batman, as expected had noticed it as well, and in a subtle, almost undetectable way to the average person, he had slowly changed the way in which he spoke to Rachel, his voice and questions now carrying a sense of empathy most considered foreign to the Dark Knight of Gotham.

I had no idea how she felt. In many ways, it was true that our circumstances crossed the same spectrum in many aspects.

We both had powers that needed complete and absolute control, powers capable of destroying everything.

We both felt we were in a bottomless pit, dark, with no one who could understand us, we both grieved in hope of a sense of normality that we both knew would never come into our lives.

However, my situation, as opposed to hers, looked bright.

I had people who loved me, people I wanted to protect.

All she had was Trigon.

A constant reminder that haunted her thoughts, her dreams, and her moments of loneliness, reminding her of what would happen if she ever lost her grip.

I had my demons.

I knew that.

But mine, at the very least, were silent.

"Very well," said Batman with a small grunt, giving Giovanni a small nod before turning to Rachel. "Zatara will summon Wonder Woman, with her lasso, we will verify the information you gave us, is that clear?"

I frowned, walking towards Batman.

"It's okay," Rachel replied, stopping me in my tracks with a faint smile that faded almost instantly the moment I noticed it. "If the one you refer to as Wonder Woman will give you the clarity you seek, then I will not object."

I sighed, feeling conflicted about this. I knew Batman meant well, he was, after all, giving her the benefit of the doubt.

Be that as it may, all of Rachel's words had been nothing but the truth. In my limited knowledge about her from the comics and such, I knew her words carried nothing but honesty, and it was because of that, that the Lasso of Hestia felt like a violation for me, for someone who had been nothing but cooperative.

Then again, perhaps I was too involved in this situation to have an objective opinion.

In which case, I was still well within my right of disliking Batman's methods, even if I didn't have an objective opinion.

—---------------------------

With Wonder Woman and the lasso of Hestia, Batman continued to question Rachel for a couple of minutes, before soon enough finishing his interrogation, by removing the lasso from Rachel's hand.

"She's telling the truth," confirmed Wonder Woman, once again. As Batman stayed still, without uttering a single word.

"She's still connected to Trigon, and could one day doom us all," said Zatara, his body tensing.

"By that logic, Superman could one day doom us all," replied Batman, turning around to face me. "This situation is unlike any other we have faced, therefore, we have no clear path ahead of us. Nevertheless, I have confirmed more than a few things today. She's free to go."

Finally.

"Batman, this is most unwise…" hissed Zatara under his breath.

"Maybe," replied Batman with a short nod. "But so would it be the alternative."

"I apologize for all of this, Black Bolt," said Wonder Woman, her eyes gazing upon me softly.

I offered her a smile, a faint one. Out of all the possible outcomes this situation could've had, this had probably been the best one of them all, sure Rachel would be under constant surveillance from now on, but as Batman had said, it was better than the alternative.

"Let's go," said Batman, as Zatara reluctantly opened another portal that went back from whence they came. Leaving only Rachel and me, in the cave.

~Are you okay?~ I asked, approaching her.

Rachel nodded. "It's not something I enjoy talking about. But they had the right to know, after all, they might find themselves one day fighting Trigon, so it's best if they are prepared."

I nodded, that was a very good point.

~Don't worry, if that comes to happen, you won't be alone to face him,~ I signed, taking a deep breath. Was I strong enough to defeat Trigon? No, I wasn't, not even close, would I ever be? Who knows? Maybe? One thing was clear though, if he ever invaded earth, regardless of my power to stop him or not, he would hear me roar.

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[Batman POV]

The moment the portal closed up, Giovanni growled at me in contempt. Angered by my decision to let the girl known as Rachel Roth remain as she is right now. Free.

"Do you have any idea how bad this could end?!" demanded Giovanni, as he passed around the room.

"Enough," I ordered, walking towards him.

"Enough?!" fumed Giovanni, his anger reaching new peaks with my order. "Everyone could die because of this!"

I nodded, after all, he was right. "I am aware of that risk. The thing is, we don't know if containing the girl will do us any favors, for all we know it could be the catalyst Trigon needs to cross to our realm."

Giovanni paused, biting his tongue. "I… so then what? Is inaction our best course of action!?"

I nodded, once again. "Acting against an unknown generates unknown consequences and effects. By letting her continue to be as she is, we have the opportunity to better assess the threat she represents, and plan accordingly should the necessity ever arise."

Giovanni tensed, struggling to find his words. "I…"

"I know you're scared. I know you want to protect your daughter. But acting in the heat of the situation will only result in undesirable outcomes," I added, knowing very well the cause behind his fear.

"Using my daughter against me…" snarled Giovanni, each word dripping with poison.

"I'm not," I replied calmly. Deciding to take a different approach to the situation. "I am simply stating the possible result of letting your impetuousness guide your actions on this particular occasion."

"He's right Giovanni, you know that…" said Diana, reaching for his shoulder.

"I know…" muttered Giovanni, before walking away, anger, fear, shame, and more mixing on his face. I didn't blame him, at times it was hard to keep the lines clear.

The line of a Father.

The line of a Hero.

More than not, when fear was involved those lines had no other choice but to collide, tormenting us with what we should do, and what we want to do.

Sadly, often enough, the correct path it's never aligned with the things we want. It's aligned with the things we dread.

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next chapter

Bab 47: CHAPTER 43

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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[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.

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