A Twist of Fate

Chapter 30

!Trigger Warning! for this enter Chapter. Sorry to those who read this before my Warning!

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Dick stumbled back with a strangled cry. Kid Flash ran over trying to protect him but Klarion flicked his hand and Wally went flying. Dick scrambled back with his hands but it was pointless. Klarion raised his clawed hand grinning bigger than Joker.

"Now what should I do to you?" Klarion mused, "So small but you can't be any younger than twelve. Such a runt." With a quick move of his hand, Klarion's claws slashed right through the kevlar protecting Dick chest.

Dick hissed trying to kick out at the Witch Boy. Klarion avoided each of the blows with a high laugh. Blood seeped out of the torn skin to pool on the concrete floor. Superboy was the first of the others to get there. Conner charged at Klarion with a yell of rage.

"Teikle." Klarion called to his cat.

The cat ran at Conner, growing nearly a hundred times his original size before crashing into the half kryptonian.

"Now where was I?" Klarion mused, "Oh right. What should I do? Take an eye? Or maybe we should see what will make you scream."

Dick felt the panic rise into his throat ready to spill over but he tamped it down. No, he would not give the Witch Boy the satisfaction. Dick kicked again, this time connecting with his target's jaw. It was also a good hard kick that had Klarion taking a step back holding his jaw.

"You will pay for that boy!"

Dick bolted his few desperate feet before getting grabbed again. Dick turned, his breath hitching as the claw hand came towards his face. The claws were dull, digging into his flesh just above his left eye. With one swipe the claw went over his left eye, over the bridge of his nose, and nearly all the way down to his neck. Dick screamed.

Klarion laughed. Dick kicked, punched, anything he could to get out of the Witch Boy's grasp. A black object inserted itself into Dick vision and fear clouded his mind.

~ ~ ~

Batman woke up with one major headache. Then he realized that he was awoken by screaming. He sat up abruptly doing a quick assessment of injuries and noted the cracked lip that looked to have clotted. He glanced over and saw Superman leaning against the wall groggily waking up himself. The scream came again but this time it was far more terrified.

Batman and Superman came to their feet abruptly, the muscle memory of helping the rush of adrenalin. They took one look at each other before rushing towards the screams. Superman few ahead but was stopped abruptly when one Superboy was thrown at him by one huge ass saber tooth cat.

Batman paused taking in the scene. Wally was passed out next to a crater in a wall. Aqualad, Rocket, and Magan were completely knocked out in a dog pile. All of Zatanna's spells were being countered. Artemis and Conner were getting their asses kicked by the Saber Tooth tiger.

He also saw what really needed attention. Renegade, or who he assumes is Renegade, was held by the collar of his suit, with bloody lines coming across his face. He was struggling with all his might but the Witch was stronger.

Batman moved like shadows, bypassing the guardian cat rushing towards Klarian and his out screeched hand preparing to claw the boy's face again. Pulling back his fist, Batman waited for the moment he was in range.

Klarian didn't even notice the punch coming but he felt as the reinforced fist connected to his jaw. He dropped Dick before going flying back into his own barrier. The other man that had been watching it play out, snatched Klarian before calling the damn cat back. Klarian was fuming, spitting curses, and threats even when he opened the portal for them to leave.

Batman watched them leave with a scowl etched deep on his face. When they left he looked back for Renegade knowing that the boy needed to be treated fast but he wasn't there. There was a pool of blood and leading away was a bread trail of blood. Batman followed the trail all the way to the computer panel, where it disappeared under it.

Batman frowned, striding over to the panel. He could hear the slight whimpering of the boy underneath. With caution and a hint of weariness, Batman crouched down to look under the panel. Renegade had shoved himself into the smallest place he could, curling himself up. When the boy heard him, he looked up.

Batman's heart sank with dread, horror, and concern. The boy's eyes were blown wide but unfocused. His breaths were coming in short uneven pants. And every so often the boy would flinch.

"Clark." Batman called out softly.

Superman rushed over peeking under the desk, "Yeah? He doesn't look good."

"Go get my phone."

Superman glanced at Batman, noting the soft calm voice when clearly he was agitated. He didn't question the Bat and rushed to find his phone. The team woke up their unconscious members before heading towards Batman themselves. Batman pointed at them and they froze.

"Don't come any closer." Batman told them.

The team looked at each other with worry clear on their faces.

"Batman, we wish to help." Kelder states.

Batman shook his head, "You can't. I can't. Nobody here can help him right now." Cutting off any argument they would have presented.

"What's wrong?" Wally asked the same time Superman came back with Batman's phone.

Batman took the phone, not answering the teen's question, scrolling through his contacts before pressing the number under the Z file. The phone rang three times before someone picked up.

"Jericho."