AN: This chapter carried an heavy sense of foreboding in my opinion.
Enjoy.
#Rosha.
Thanks for reading.
#MusicMovesMe
The 60th chapter.
Shout out to BlueFood101 the 60th follower.
××
Though it seemed impossible, Shadow appeared in front of Robin the moment Deathstroke's sword came down, preventing the mercenary from reacting in time to redirect his attack.
××
Shadow
Relief.
That is what I felt when I stared into Deathstroke's widening eye as he staggered back, his gaze falling to the needle impaling his chest.
"You—" As he fell to the floor, he pulled his sword out of me.
I almost didn't notice the stabbing, burning pain in my chest. And I couldn't bring myself to pay attention to the fact that to breathe was excruciating.
I could only feel Robin's arm around my waist, stopping me from collapsing when my legs went soft as blood gushed out of my new wound. I watched the red pool beneath our feet grow in diameter before forcing a hand against my torso to apply pressure and give my bio suit time to patch me up.
'Shadow, you—' Robin's voice was filled with panic as I turned to him, my heart twisting uncomfortably, making breathing even harder.
His face was riddled with scratches and his expression contained a trace of worry and a hint of fear.
'I'm fine,' I said softly, despite myself, swallowing down the blood that coated my tongue.
He pulled me closer to his chest as I trembled slightly, a chill running up my spine as I set my gaze on the assassins surrounded us.
'We have to get out of here.' he said, his arm tightening around me in a protective hug as he threw down smoke bombs to buy us time.
I leaned into him for a moment closing my eyes, and let him embrace me, knowing that he was prepared to fight his way out while carrying me.
This is was worth it. I had decided.
Pulling gently on his sleeve, I asked him to put me down.
'I will only be a burden.' I told him quietly and seeing him about to argue, continued, 'If you take me, none of you will get back safe.'
Steadying myself on my feet while trying not to wince at the pain, I turned to the spot Slade had fallen to. The mercenary was no longer present but the golden needle was on the floor, still stained with his blood.
My eyes finally settled back on Robin and I took in his resolute expression. A smile found it's way to my lips despite the situation and I found my hand brushing away the blood on his cheek.
'You don't know how glad I am to know that you care about me so much.' I told him.
He looked at me, his expression solemn, and grabbed the hand on his cheek.
'Don't,' Robin said bitterly, 'Don't say it like it'll be the last time you see me again. You'll come out alive, both of us will.'
Did he forget about his team? I almost laughed at his words but this was no time to joke. I needed to make a path for him to leave.
'I don't want to leave you. If I knew this would happen, I would have never forced that promise on you,' was all he said as he pulled me into another hug.
This was the second proper hug we've ever shared, and as he held me in his arms, my heart grew calm, my thoughts clearing.
I slipped my ring into his palm and whispered into his ear. 'Give this back to me when we next see.'
'You're coming with me!'
I ignored him, sighing in my heart. 'I'll meet up with you later.'
Pulling away from the hug, I turned around and saw that the smoke was fading. The assassins didn't dare to fight me with hindered sight.
'Robin, you still have teammates that need your help. Go, I'll cover your retreat.' I tried to make my voice as appealing as possible.
Still he didn't move. 'Promise me you'll escape.'
I stayed silent and nodded. And he finally left, looking visibly relieved.
He didn't think I would lie to him.
My mouth felt sour.
But I didn't lie. I never made promises I couldn't keep. And I promised him nothing.
The assassins didn't bother making a move at Robin, keeping their focus on me.
'Aren't you going to leave with your lover?' One of them taunted.
I felt the blood drain out of me at the question, flustering thoughts racing through my head for a split second . . . then everything stopped.
I let out a low chuckle and stepped out of the smoke screen. 'You are all going to die.'
'Says the one bleeding to death.' It was the same voice that had spoke earlier.
My expression turned frigid.
The owner of the voice laughed, jumping out of the crowd to land in front of me.
'He's not going to make it out alive.' The black haired teen said in a singsong manner as he casually threw a punch in my direction.
Narrowing my eyes in anger at the extremely snail-like pace of his fist, I extended two of my fingers to tap his chest and whispering to him. 'Maybe next time you shouldn't curse my lover to die then waltz up to me.'
I grabbed the arm still suspended in air and tossed him behind me. Walking towards Robin's needle, I swept it up in my arms along with Slade's blood covered sword.
Not bothering with the stares directed at me, I stepped over the body of the teen and the enclosure of assassins split into two, opening up a path for me to walk out unhindered.
I would have smiled if not for the fact I had already decided to kill them all.
Cowards.
I really hope Robin can make it far enough without me.
Even with those thoughts in mind, I still kept walking towards him, the needle in my hand making repeated and swift appearances, silently killing the assassins before me before they realized I was there.
With each step I took, I could feel the wound on my torso itch in pain, the freezing burn caused me to shiver and I took a look at the sword. Though it was covered in my blood, it hadn't corroded.
Nice sword.
At least I know that Slade's stab was clean, I felt it.
Was this sword really meant for Robin? Or was Deathstroke intended to finish me off if I got out of hand.
Laying my arm across my stomach, I sighed, looking straight ahead, he should have never tried to trade Robin's life for mine.
He must have thought I would be overcome with grief and not put up a fight when I was captured.
He was wrong though, if Robin had died by his hand.
If Robin had died tonight. . .
The Light would have met it's end the following morning.
I would have made sure of that.
I kept walking forward, still applying pressure on the wound.
I could see him now.
Robin was in a better situation than when I last saw him, at least there were fewer assassins this time around.
Unconsciously, my eyes trailed away from him to the assassin on his far right, the only assassin I noticed had a gun.
My eyes narrowed for a brief second as I tightly gripped the needle in my hand, plunging it into the chest of the last standing
assassin in my vicinity.
He was in trouble, again.
And I was too far away, again.
It seemed like the fates where playing a game with us.
He was about to get stabbed, now he's about to get shot.
Why is someone trained by the League Of Assassins with a gun anyway?
I threw the sword at the genius, then rushed to Robin without looking at the end result of my assault.
A gunshot rang out in the hall.
I pulled Robin to my side and turned to the man.
He was dead, the sword piercing through his heart.
'Damn his perseverance,' I growled under my breath then turned to inspect Robin.
'It's only a scratch,' he said quietly, brushing aside my concern.
So he was allowed to stare at me like I was about to die but I can't show any concern for him?
'You've been poisoned.' I released his arm and went to retrieve my discarded sword.
The large number of assassins had mostly been done away with by me, and the rest had concentrated the efforts on the rest of the team.
So I and Robin were alone, for now at least.
I took in his features one last time, my gaze slowly turning cold as I memorized the emotions showing through his eyes. 'Let's go.'
He nodded, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he sprinted after me.
In a matter of minutes we had made our way into another sea of assassins and immediately I knew his friends had to be close by.
Testing the weight of the sword, I slashed the chest of an assassin closest to me.
Not caring anymore about precision, I hacked a path through the sea of black clad killers, pushing Robin through to his team and taking one last glance at him before stepping back into the fray.
Who knows if I'll ever see him again. . .
I knew that an assassin with a breath was as dangerous as ever and that I had left a couple alive in my haste, but I didn't have time to worry about that, not now.
Staring at the explosives in my hands, I sighed, feeling extremely content.
I knew my death in the end was inevitable but as long as Robin could live, I would gladly die.
Happiness had eluded me for a very long time. But as long as he was happy, I was happy.
For him to stay safe, I would do anything, because if he died, I wouldn't like who I would turn into.
I can't lose anybody again, especially him.
××
'Robin!' Wally rushed to his side, taking in his friend's flustered expression and bloody appearance. 'W-where have you been?'
'I- I . . .' The boy wonder had no words momentarily, his hand still bearing the warmth from Shadow's hand.
'I got surrounded,' he chose to say, clenching his fists.
'I'm glad that you made it out.' Aqualad told the absentminded bird, his voice laced with gladness.
'Did you get the file?' Artemis asked, dodging a fist from one of the assassins. Her arrows were long spent.
Robin nodded, taking a deep breath, and attempted to look relieved.
'She promised me,' whispering inaudibly, Robin scanned through the room. 'Don't do anything stupid.'
'The exit is blocked.' Superboy growled, throwing a grown assassin into another, causing the rest to stumble back.
'What do we do now?' M'gann asked worriedly, tossing the enemies into one other with telekinesis, using the same tactic as Conner.
'We can created our own.' Robin said grinning as he showed the explosives in his hand, only to be stunned by the explosion that sounded out behind him.
The cool night air flowed through the room from outside.
Aqualad gave the orders for a retreat then nodded at Robin. 'Good work.'
Shadow. The bird thought, a smirk on his face.
'M'gann, call the bioship.'
'On it!' The green skinned girl replied in relief.
'Let's go.'
Robin hesitated at his leader's voice before jumping out the hole in the wall.
She gave me her word.
×××
Shadow
Don't do anything stupid. Somehow, I heard his words as he scanned the room for me.
His voice was so quiet, but I heard him clearly.
Tempted, I was on the edge, using all my willpower not to chase after them as they jumped out the hole I created in Luthor's company wall.
Then he stopped and looked back, and I thought he was going to call out to me, but he followed his team with a small shake of his head.
He still believed what I said. I thought, walking to the spot he was just standing in.
A bitter sweet smile fell on my lips as I tossed the sword in front of me, getting on my knees. I placed my hand behind my head.
'I surrender,' My voice wasn't loud, but it wasn't quiet either, everyone here was a trained killer so I knew I was heard.
Everything stopped as several gazes turned my way.
'You finally decided to give up after your hero abandons you to die'.
'I knew all along that she was a traitor.'
'Killed fellow assassins.'
'Those heroes are also going to die, don't know what she's so smug about.'
I didn't react to the voices, silently counting each second that passed.
Suddenly, like clockwork, a small beeping sounded, followed by an explosion, setting off a chain of similar detonations.
Getting up, I looked around. unaffected by the mangled flesh and blood scattered across the room. The only place untarnished was the spot I was standing.
While scanning the floor for my. . . Robin's needle, I picked up a sword, throwing it with enough force to pierce a nearby stone pillar.
Blood pooled on the floor beneath the pillar, a body falling to the ground.
No assassin was to be left alive.
Bending down, my fingers only grazed the needle when I saw a pair of dark boots in front of me.
A cold blade pressed against my neck as I hid the needle in my sleeve without looking up.
All you need to do is stay alive, Robin. I thought to myself, as though he could somehow hear me.
×××