MAELSTROM [femPercy x DC]

Chapter 42 - Nobody's Good at Goodbyes

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Talia coughed up some more blood, staring at Percy as if she was trying to understand something.

"S-Scarecrow, he is dead, then?"

"Talia..."

"Perseus." The shaking girl couldn't help but notice her aunt abandon the code name. It scared her. It terrified her, because she knew what was coming. She didn't want to face it. Not with- not with Talia. Not with anybody. She'd lost so many already, could she even afford losing Talia? 

Easy answer. No. She couldn't.

"Talia, no- my name..."

"Oh come on, Perseus, now is not the time for this."

"I-OH! Oh yeah!" Percy suddenly exclaimed, getting up, trying to life Talia, "where's the nearest Lazarus Pit? We could use that to heal you! It could save you- the Ambrosia, it's all over now..."

Percy would've just mist-travelled to get some more, but... she couldn't. She was trapped with barely a thousandth of her original power, and no ambrosia. She didn't want to leave Talia's side. Not when... so the pit was the only solution.

"Perseus, the Pit won't work."

"Wh-what? Why not? It has to. It has to."

"Percy."

Percy paused. Talia had called her that before. But never in such a way. Never with such vulnerability. Never so softly. 

"Percy," Talia repeated, "Look at me. I'm bleeding out. The L-lazarus increases strength as well. No normal bullet could have affected me in such a way. It's obvious, isn't it? Celestial Bronze, the metal that we use to protect ourselves, can also kill us. It's a d-double edged blade -COUGH- and I got cut. There is nothing we can do about me. Like you said, the ambrosia is over. I need you to promise me something, Percy."

"Talia." Percy's voice was pained. The ambrosia was over, because she insisted they use it after the toxin, "Tals, no..."

"Come on, Percy, get rid of this sentimentality. This is an important conversation. I was mistaken. A-about earlier. The box of memories. It only causes everything to build up. It's w-wrong to hide your fears away. N-no. You m-must overcome them. At your own pace. But at the end of the day, there must be no liability..."

"Talia."

"Promise me you'll teach Damian of his heritage. Take him, to Camp Jupiter. He knows to fight, but teach him of the legends. Help him rebuild the league. You're the s-second in command, after all. D-Damian. I wish to see him."

Percy sniffed, before nodding. She looked around the room, only to find, with a sudden flash of alarm, everybody huddled in a corner. Something was wrong.

There was one more shot.

Where was Damian? Where was Damian?  This was the last thing Talia asked of her. 

He couldn't be- no... not both of them...

"Batman?" Percy called out, her voice hoarse, "Where's Robin? Tals-Talia wants to see him. She's-she's dying. She's dying, Batman. She wants to see him. Let her see him. Where is he? I heard another shot. I can't see him. He's not..."

"I'm not dead yet, old hag." A voice echoed from the middle of the gathering, "Don't insult me so. TT. What did you say about Mother?"

"D-ROBIN! Talia wishes to see you. Please."

"Mother?" the group parted to show a Damian Wayne sitting up, an injury in his thigh. Percy couldn't help but thank all of her lucky stars that the injury was on his leg and not anywhere vital. She'd give him some ambrosia later.