Avoiding Past And Future

(79) Misplaced 12

 WARINGS
* biblically accurate Klarion pt 2
* blood, still quite some
* self-dehumanisation (danny)

november 6

"Answer me this, witch boy." Phantom's voice echoed more than before. It didn't just bounce off the trees, dancing a tango with the wind. No, it was like there were multiple versions of him speaking at once as he addressed the lord of chaos. "What part of leave them alone did you not understand?" Even though he was levitating off the ground, every step he took froze the grass beneath him. Every crackling of ice refusing to melt even in this mid autumn heat. For the second time within just a few hours, a certain ring manifested on his hand, much to the delight of the brat before him.

Klarion's demonic cackling moved between the trees, echoing it back at them from all directions. Firing off a testing shot, he bellowed out as Phantom morphed a hole into his chest to let it pass through him. "Now this is who I wanted to play with!" Bracing himself for the inevitable impact, Klarion stood ready as Phantom seemed to teleport over to his shield. The only proof of him having walked there being the sporadic patches of ice leaving a trail behind.

The clash of forces was instant, a shockwave so strong bouncing off of the shield it pushed the other heroes away. "Robin, what's gotten into Phantom?!" Aqualad asked frantic, not sure where to remain as anywhere close to the shield just became a minefield of stray energy rays bouncing off each other.

"He cut his fucking collar." Robin spat out, gripping the humming tech in his hand as he helped Zatanna stand. "Guess you got your wish, KF. You better pray he doesn't get more hurt from this just because you idiots refused to listen to our plan." Robin glared at his best friend, trying to hide the ache in his ankle as he walked Zatanna over to a hiding spot.

Kid looked at the ghost, shock slowly dawning on him as the small clearing had already doubled in size as trees perished in the battle. Mind blanking on a response, Aqualad calmed him with a hand on his shoulder. "Then allow us to listen now." He actually sounded like he meant it, but Robin wouldn't believe it until he actually saw them listen.

Robin sneaked a peek at his teammates. Each of them looking in his direction, waiting for his answer as they hid from the ricochet hits Phantom threw out. Crouching back down, Zatanna put a hand on his knee to pull his attention. With a hardened stare and a firm nod, he knew what to do. "Better listen up then because I am not repeating myself."

Sharing a smile, Robin squeezed Zatanna's hand before finding a perch to sit in a hopefully safe tree. "Phantom can handle himself, but there's no telling how long he can hold out. Whatever those stupid flowers Klarion is sitting on are, they have to go before the shield breaks." Robin braced himself behind the trunk as another shockwave tore through the trees. "Zatanna, can you find a weak point?"

"It's," The magi struggled, frustration seeping into the link. "Any point Phantom hits gets weak, but Klarion keeps fixing it before the next hit lands." It was a spectacle to witness, if the situation wasn't so dire. Phantom's speed could very well rival Kid's, but he was slowing down noticeably even to the human eye.

"Good enough." He reassured before looking over to Conner. "When Zatanna finds a new, more permanent, weak point, be ready to jump in." He warned, gloved finger tracing the smooth cut of his brother's collar. "As stupid as it was, Phantom cutting his collar just gave us a ghost powered bomb."

"A bomb." Artemis repeated in disbelief. Not that he could blame her, it was a wild thought to have to willingly walk around with something that powerful. But they were originally Belle Rêve collars, and he knew damn well that for every ounce of genius was in his brother's being, he was just as much reckless.