In the Golden Light - A Justice League AU

Chapter 23 - Alone

! Before You Read Act 3 !

{Act 3 has been branded with a content warning for containing the following topics: depression (moments of emptiness and hopelessness), alcohol abuse, verbal abuse, physical abuse, manipulation, gore, death and trauma. Please protect yourself first if these topics will upset you/cause a trigger.}

{This particular chapter deals with: Depression}

Clams and pearls... I need Starshern to help me with this pain. It's definitely what I think it is.

Lazuli laid on the small island that arose from the ocean far from the bright surface world, laying on her side. She knew the pain, the one thing she was unprepared for: she was going to having Goldwath's children. Small little puppies. She pressed her paws gently on her not yet swollen belly, closing her eyes as she imagined the little pups. It was too early to feel them, or even tell for that matter, but Lazuli began wondering who would look like Goldwath, who would look like her, who would look like the both of them combined, or who would look like nothing like them and take genes from either her side of the family or Goldwath's mysterious lineage. The possibility was endless. While she was full of pure soft love for them, she couldn't help but let her mind wander to her father.

What would he think if he found out the puppies, and that they were half breeds, not pure blooded Atlanteans?

If he found out Goldwath was their father?

I don't care what he thinks, she thought to herself bitterly. Whatever he says won't deter me on these little ones. I'll figure it out.

She curled up safely with her tail covering her belly, a smile across her face. 

I wonder what Goldwath's reaction would be.

✰✰✰

I wonder how Lazuli is doing.

Goldwath had managed to find himself another abandoned alleyway house, without help from Braaqi. It was far from Suizul's territory. That was the good part. But he didn't want Braaqi helping him because he didn't want anyone by his side right now; his heart hurt too much. After dusting away cobwebs and debris from the old house and cleaning his paw of the webs, he plopped himself to the ground, hugging his tail to his body.

It haunted Goldwath to be so alone, as though he had returned from a war and came back a changed man. His eyes were wide and unblinking, no expression written on his lonely face.

I have to find a way to see her again, he thought to himself. He rolled to his stomach and lifted his head up. That's something Lazuli would do, right? What is it she's told me once? Find a way? Yeah, find a way. She's feisty after all. A faint smile appeared at the memory of the princess. Feisty and rebellious but with a good-natured heart, you'd think she would be a snobby, proper and pristine princess. No, but she had her own personality; she's her own person. I bet she even escaped again right now to try and find me again. ...

He shook his head, getting to his paws. 

My thoughts and instinct are right; I should stop moping around and find a way?

Are you sure about that though?

Nightshadow-? He snarled. Get out of my head--

Would you really believe you two could be a thing? How pathetic...

You don't know Lazuli like I do.

Oh I do....You should give up... It's over...

✰✰✰

Would Goldwath try and go out of his way to find me again?

The first signs of sunrise were giving way as it rose from the horizon. Lazuli had slept on the island the whole night, curled up with her nose in her tail. She never stopped wondering about the unborn puppies, and she also didn't stop wondering about their father.

I'm so afraid. I never done anything this drastic. But also...Does he even love me that much that he'd go out of his way to try and sneak back to Atlantis despite the looming threat of my dad? she asked herself. ... Hmmm. Well, he didn't rat me out when he was found out and captured, even under his pressure. I think he's reckless enough to do something like that again. That's what makes him really cute and admirable.

Her cheeks grew pink.

I should find him though! I have to find him before he sees I'm not in Atlantis and possibly getting killed on the spot.

Stretching once the sun was fully out of the sea, she slid down the island carefully and dove into the water, swimming for the shores.

----

He ran to the shore. She swam to the shore.

He stood there on land. She stood there in water.

Little did the two of them know, they would finally meet again.

{To be continued. . .}