Vigilante Struggles

chapter 34

It started with a sheen of sweat on his forehead, a single bead of sweat traversing the wrinkles in his face and getting stuck in the eyelashes of his single eye. A subtle shake in his right hand and a twitch in his shoulder, the sound of a growl in the back of his throat. It could have been mistaken as discomfort from the tension in the room, if the alien behind him hadn't placed a slender hand on his head, his eyes hardened with determination and fear, a will to survive this forced partnership.

His whole body was shaking now, the tremble in his hands were now paralyzing cramps that stretched all the way up to his shoulders and into his chest. His throat tightened and his voice was caught in angry, stuttering hiccups. The mental onslaught continues, the alien barely breaking a sweat, smirking lightly. Forced onto one knee Slade breathes deep, calling back almost desperately on his training, searching for something to grasp at and prevent the situation from being ripped completely from under him. Holding his breath he trys to clear his breaking mind, ignoring shattered fragments of his personal life and places himself on grounds he was comfortable with. A small dark room he recognised as the room he became 'Deathstroke' in. Exhaling as he stood, he turns and faces his attacker.

Grayson stood watching, unsure of his position in this situation. His eyes strained with his pounding headache, a hand wavering at his temples. He wanted to leave, go anywhere that wasn't here. He didn't know who he could trust, whether the people in his head were real or simulated. Each individual was vague and had two very different sides to them and honestly Dick was tired of it. He was always being used and now he was going to change that. The hand trying to ease the pressure in his head moved slowly towards his belt. He allowed his index finger to pull at a smoke grenade. It was small and light with a little S on it. It wouldn't be hard to throw it and get away, but the room had no obvious exit and Dick wasn't sure of the alien's capabilities.

Dick dug around his belt more, his gaze never leaving the two figures in front of him. His face doesn't change as his fingers grasp at a small charge, his body position doesn't shift when he places the explosive on the wall behind him. His breathing doesn't change in anticipation as the little beeps start to sing behind him. It was now or never.

For Slade, everything happened at once. Suddenly he couldn't see as smoke curled up around him, suffocating him before he was flung forward hitting the alien on the way down. The presence in his mind receded briefly before returning in full force, flooding Slade's mind with a primal fear. The surge was ripping him apart, his memories flashing in his eyes before disappearing in little explosions of photons and swirls. His face was frozen in a silent scream, his nails digging into his skin. The damage was done, the mirakuro was already healing his body, but his mind was still as human as anyone.

Dick released a breath he was holding as he steps away from the wall he pressed himself against. The charge was stronger then he expected but the result was the same. A hole in the wall, an escape. He never looked back as he stepped into the corridor and broke into a light jog. He would never look back.

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Damien ignored the little red bat signal on the wall beside him. It was the third one they had seen in twenty minutes. They were going in circles.

"At this rate, we will never get anywhere" he scowled, kicking his foot at a little stone that skittered down the hallway.

"I agree with the tyke, I say we start blowing through walls" that was Jason of course, the explosives already at hand.

"And if Nightwing is on the other side?"

Jason sighed. "Then he can move"

Damien tutted, "you are ridiculous Hood. He will be caught in the debris. Honestly, why are you even here."

"Its better than walking in circles like some lost soul. I'm sure Red Robin will let us know if Nightwing is behind any walls" Jason mumbled, rolling his eyes as he stuck a small wad of semtex to the wall. "Stand back or you'll be caught in the debris" he mocked.

Pulling himself away from the wall, Jason shields Barbara while Batman grabs Robin. A small thud deeper into the complex was almost masked by the bang of the wall exploding, rubble shooting outwards and damaging the wall on the other side of the hall.

"There was another explosion in the north of the maze Batman" Tim informed, the slight click of his fingers typing echoed in the background of the comm. "You need to break three walls east, on your right, and five walls straight ahead after. The cameras in that section have been damaged, I can't see what's happened."

"Acknowledged. Good work Red Robin"

"I'll let you know when I spot something else."

"Alright, let's get Golden boy. I'm itching for a fight."

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Ok so I don't know what's Slade's origin is in the comics but in Arrow he has mirakuro in his blood, so imma use that😂😂 thank you for all your support!!