I slept on a rooftop a few blocks from Artemis's place. Concrete didn't make for the best bedding, but back cramps or long-term concerns weren't really a factor when you regenerate from pretty much everything.
The air was sharp up here, sitting on the edge. I had a good vantage point of the skyline. The pristine towers of Gotham were breathtaking—a far different sight from what I was used to.
After a week of hard training, bashing skulls, and subterfuge, I was ready to talk to the only real friend I had left, even if the content of our conversation might change everything.
Pulling my phone from my open travel bag, I called her. She picked up.
"How've you been, Art?" I greeted her with a chipper smile I didn't quite feel.
"Really? After a week of radio silence, that's what you're going with?"
"There was no cell service in the fighting pits," I shrugged. "Called you as soon as I could."
"Wait, fighting pits?" she asked, caught off guard. "That was your mystery road trip?"
"Yup. Turned out pretty productive. I'm on top of that old factory near your house. Come with coffee and donuts, and I'll tell you all about it."
"Uugh. You're really gonna make me drag myself out of bed and stand in line for coffee and donuts?"
"I would've gone myself if it wouldn't draw attention from CGPD—and god knows who else."
She muttered something under her breath. "I'll be there in ten."
The call cut off abruptly. I sat there for a moment, wondering if I could've handled that better. Probably. But I wasn't one to dwell—especially not with Artemis. I got up and turned to something more pragmatic: exercise.
I was strong enough for more complicated calisthenics like pistol squats, planche push-ups, and handstand push-ups. With my stats, they were a breeze, but still hard enough to break a sweat by the time Artemis showed up.
She had a paper bag in one hand, a cupholder in the other, and a slightly impressed look on her face.
"You've gotten a lot better."
"So I have." I flipped over, dismounting from my handstand. I couldn't help but notice her gait.
She was slower than usual and favored her right side. She looked like me minutes after a hard fight—when the healing hadn't quite wiped everything away yet.
I met her halfway, took the bag from her, and steadied her arm as she climbed the last few steps of the ladder.
"I kind of feel guilty now," I winced. "Training accident?"
"Not ready to talk about that yet," she said with a small grunt as she sat beside me. "You're lucky I like you," she smiled. She smelled like hazelnut coffee and trouble.
The hug caught me off guard. She just leaned in and held on. I didn't pull away.
Artemis told me everything—about the kidnapping plot disguised as a meeting, about the inevitable backstab, and Blockbuster's fate.
My jaw dropped when she described the figures she encountered and the burly man behind it all.
What I found most interesting was the existence of the actual cure—and Artemis's mother refusing to accept it.
On some level, I got where Sportsmaster was coming from. It was a chance to set things right. In his own twisted way, he meant well.
But Mrs. Crock knew the cost of accepting his gift. It would've sent the wrong message: that she was okay with his methods.
I didn't share my thoughts with Artemis. She was too raw. No telling how that conversation would go.
"I'm sorry. You deserved better than him."
She gave a half-hearted shrug.
"With a father like Lawrence," I added, "I'm almost glad I never met mine."
Her laugh was brittle. "That's morbid."
"It's true."
Apparently, my father disappeared from Gotham just before I was born. The only thing he ever gave me was my Cursed Technique and the system. I wondered if there was more he could've taught me. Screens were nice, but nothing beat the real thing.
I looked over at Artemis. Her eyes were red, rimmed with sleeplessness and pain. "When you're ready... I'll help you find Mark Desmond. And your family too."
She nodded. "Thanks."
Then her tone shifted, lightened, maybe even teasing. "So. You're a pit fighter now?"
I let out a long-suffering sigh. "I almost wish I never told you."
It was my turn to tell stories while we sipped cold coffee and ate donuts. I sped through my time in Ivy's domain—its scale, the fantastical nature of it all, the fights.
She nodded along, giving me one of her unreadable looks—until I got to the part about Zsasz.
"You're lying," she said flatly.
I shrugged. "It's true. I really beat Zsasz doped up on Venom."
She looked me up and down. "How?"
I tried not to take offense. I was very different from the last time she saw me.
"Would I lie to you?"
"Yes," she answered without hesitation. My stomach flipped.
"How about a demonstration, then?" I said with a grin. "I try to boop your nose, and you try to stop me."
She made a face. "You know I hate when you do that."
"All the more reason for you to stop me."
She turned toward me, arms folded, eyes narrowed. I smiled and tapped into my Cursed Energy. The difference was immediate.
My effective agility jumped from 41 to 75. My hand blurred forward before she could react.
Her eyes widened as my finger settled on the tip of her button nose. With a smug smile, I pulled it back just as quickly.
"What—?"
"That's how I beat Zsasz," I said, grinning. "He literally didn't see me coming."
She stared at me like I'd grown horns. "You actually did it, didn't you?"
"Yeah," I muttered. "I had that same reaction when it happened, too."
She laughed. "Maybe going underground wasn't such a bad move, considering all the crap happening up here."
My smile faded.
"Yeah," I murmured. "Maybe."
"So, are you headed back?" she asked suddenly.
I looked at her, surprised.
She shrugged. "It's the smart thing to do. Aren't you popular down there now that you've beaten a serial killer?"
"I can't go back," I said slowly. "I don't think they'll let me leave again."
"Who's they?" she asked.
I told her about the League.
"The League of Shadows?" Her panic was immediate.
I raised a brow. "You know them?"
"Jade and Sportsmaster are contractors for them. They're bad news, Julius. Kidnapping, assassinations, weapons trafficking, terrorism. They've been around forever, and they're everywhere."
I swallowed. "Then it's a good thing I said no."
She nodded but frowned. "You might be done with them... but they're not done with you. Be careful."
"Aren't I always?"
She gave me a flat look that slowly turned meaningful.
"Did you kill those people on the rooftop?"
"What!"
"The League doesn't recruit just anybody. Skills and powers are a plus—but they look for a certain edge. People who can follow through."
"Killers," I muttered. Another puzzle piece clicked into place. "That's why you think they approached me?"
She nodded.
"I'm not trying to judge you," she said tentatively. "It's just, with everything that's happened, I'd prefer to know—"
"If I'm on the side of demons or angels."
Artemis's lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm not sure I could handle a repeat of last night."
I sighed.
It was now or never. I did say I wanted this.
"Yes, I did kill four of those men on the rooftop," I said slowly. "They were Black Mask's people. They chased me for blocks, cornered me, and I made my choice."
"Julius…" Her voice was soft. Empathetic.
I could've left it there. But I had to be honest.
"They weren't the only ones," I continued. "There are three more."
She stiffened.
"The first two were Eddie's killers."
Her eyes widened. "The blood on your nails… when you showed up at Lowe's."
My jaw tightened. I nodded. "They... gunned him down like a stray. Then stuffed him in the trunk of their car. Along with me. There was only one way I was getting out of that alive."
My hands were clenched.
"And the last?" Artemis's voice was shaking.
I looked her in the eyes.
"Zsasz."
She gasped.
"How?"
I told her about the fight, about how I tried to surrender, about the punch that triggered a Black Flash of lightning and ended him.
She stared at me for a long time. Too long.
And then it happened. The thing I tried to avoid. Her face changed. Not fear. Not disgust. Just... distance.
"You promised not to judge," I said.
"Your body count is near double digits, Julius. And... and you lied to me."
"You wouldn't have helped me if I told you I'd just killed two people before I showed up."
"You couldn't have known that," she said sharply. "You made that decision for me."
"I wasn't ready to talk about it!" I snapped. "God. I had just discovered my abilities, buried my best friend, and I was trying to keep my mom and Sasha safe."
"And the weeks after?" she asked, rising to her feet. "What stopped you then? Did you even trust me?"
"Of course I did," I growled, standing to face her. "You're the only one who knows about the revenge plan. The only one I've told anything. I went from pickpocketing and scams to a one-man crusade against the guy who killed my best friend and is still hunting me. Forgive me if I needed time to adjust."
"Don't act like you're innocent in this," Artemis shot back. "You and Eddie knew how dangerous Black Mask was. You went after him anyway. Did you really think you'd get away with it?"
Her words cut deep.
"What choice did we have?" I shouted. "You might have it bad, but Eddie and I had it worse. We went to bed starving. We had to turn to crime to survive. Eddie's sister was one bad trip away from the morgue. What we did was stupid—but don't pretend like we had real options."
Silence stretched between us. Her anger faded slowly, replaced with something more restrained.
"You're repeating the same mistake," she said quietly. "Going after Black Mask will either get you killed, or thrown in Belle Reve. You're fifteen, Julius. You have your whole life ahead of you—"
"You should take your own advice," I cut in. "Your father and sister have disappointed you how many times? But you still gave them the benefit of the doubt. Even put off calling in Batman, just in case they had something to help your mom. You're a criminal too, now. And you're still risking everything... even asking for help from someone you just called a killer. So tell me, Artemis—what does that make you?"
"Someone who deeply cares about you," she said, voice soft. "Please. Reach out to Gordon. Maybe work something out with Batman. That's what I plan to do. He could help with the charges. Help you take down Black Mask—for good this time."
I had a snarky comeback. It was right there on my tongue.
But I hesitated.
Cooperating with a leaguer sounded good on paper. But I'd seen how it played out in practice. Black Mask would walk. And everyone I cared about would have targets on their backs.
She knew that. She knew how I felt about all those so-called heroes.
"You could've just told me you were done helping," I said, turning away.
"Julius—"
But I was already gone, shimmering behind Curtain's barrier.
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