Story (continued) | Dream a Good One Tonight
This is a continued post of a previous story (the post was getting to long with lj cuts).
Title: Dream a Good One Tonight
Author: fae_dreamdance
Genre: Adventure, fantasy, mystery, drama, humor, romance, chaptered story
Rating: PG-13
Summary: J'onn receives a request for assistance through unconventional means. When he answers the call he ends up in a world not his own, but not entirely unlike it, and is reminded why he upholds justice and participates in actively protecting those in need. (Will continuously add new chapters as they are written to this post!!)
UPDATED: Added Chapter Six - April 4th, 2011
Chapters:
( One )
( Two )
( Three )
( Four )
Chapter Five
"I am to understand that Luthor is corrupting nature by twisting these people, these visiugo, together genetically?" J'onn asked and Payton nodded. They had all been patched up and were resting as Ash put together something for them to eat. Shiki, however, hadn't returned yet. J'onn wondered for a moment, out of the creatures he had seen, what they had been first-a cat or a bird or a bear. Or, perhaps, if they were so far removed from their original animal form that there was no sure way to tell.
"Yes, that's exactly what he's doing. By any means necessary, he is combining nature against her will, thus defying what she stands for in the first place. They are her children and he is destroying them to create soldiers he can sell. It's an insult to what and who they are." Payton pushed his glasses up more firmly on his nose.
"And you're assisting him in this?" J'onn asked. Though he wasn't entirely skeptical and he certainly wasn't accusatory of Payton, it was clear that the man took it that way as he visibly deflated in his spot, cheeks flushed in embarrassment and shame. J'onn, however, made no attempt to retract what he'd said and instead watched on thoughtfully as Payton clearly wrestled with what he wanted to say.
"When I started, he wasn't doing what he is now. It was purely for scientific purposes. I went for the research and the fascination in understanding the visiugo species. I thought...I thought it would help from a medical stand point. We're so closely related, man and visiugo, maybe we could learn from their make-up and vice versa. Perhaps help us to make better medicine or just learn something about the world. I never expected my research to evolve into this; a way to harness that DNA and alter its pathways. It's a mockery of everything I've done, everything I've lived for." Clearly Payton's passion existed not just in his science but in protecting it's integrity as well. That was something J'onn could easily understand as there was nothing he took more pride in than his work - his promise - for those that relied on him for help.
"That's why we're doing what we're doing; he must be stopped. But its hard when he has what he does and we have so little now, he's taken so many prisoner. If he succeeds we'll all be wiped out by what he will create, animal and man alike." Murphy's normally smiling face was somber as he picked at the edge of the gauze wrapped around his wrist.
"And there are hundreds of these visiugo, half animal and half human beings?" J'onn asked.
"Yes...well no, not anymore." Payton answered. "There were. Most of them lived as animals with their animal brethren in packs or flocks or pods...whatever their animal counterpart was. Others chose to live among humanity. They can appear entirely human or entirely animal, or both, as they see fit. Its partly the metamorphosis that Luthor's interested in. Those ones that attacked in the headquarters were first string attempts; a rough sketch, if you will, of what's to come. He wants ones that can be all of those things simultaneous without looking like they are unless they chose to do so. They aren't nearly as versatile when they can't control how they shift. But if they have the ability of a bear through strength, but can fly like a bird when they need to and slither like a snake - then the possibilities are endless and that's what Luthor is counting on. He can't change humans into these things, he needs a visiugo base and then he can blend their genes from there."
J'onn bowed his head again in thought. "Daichi then is in danger of this? Of becoming one of those mutants? That is what worries Shiki the most? All of those creatures we saw, they were once just one animal base."
"Bingo." Joey added from where she was draped unconventionally over a chair. "Right now he's keeping them all under tight lock and key though. When they come out, the strong ones - like Daichi - they're mind controlled. The unaltered ones at least - the ones he is saving for when its perfected. The weak ones are the prototypes, though 'weak' is relative. Lucky us."
"It's only a matter of time that he starts running out of weaker visiugo." Payton added. "Then he'll start using the ones he's harboring as sources. Ideal candidates to pass on the genetics. I've been doing my best to keep his advances at a stand still, but I can only do so much before it is noticeable. Daichi is strong and can fly. There's a bear visiugo we have called Ro who is an ideal candidate for his species and wolf by the name of Randi, she's our only female. I have stalled as long as I can. That's why we needed help. We've run out of options."
"And we don't have a whole league of justice to step in on our behalf." Joey hoped up and went over to Murphy and smacked his hand where he was still fidgeting with the end of the gauze. "Must be nice with all those people ready to dish out help and stop villainy at every turn." This time, J'onn could tell, she wasn't being playful. She was bitter. It was worrisome to him as he didn't feel right when she reacted in such a way. Her hair still had bits of blood in it and she was, like the rest of them, barely getting by in the clothes on her back.
"I am here." He offered stoically, but honestly. "And I will help, fight with you, until the end - until Lex's efforts are demolished."
Joey's nostrils flared and she seemed to be grappling with the idea that he wanted to assist and her resentment for their situation. He didn't like the idea of being mistrusted by those he was trying to help; he did his best to be understood and accepted for what he could do, for his honesty, and the last thing he wanted was to be at odds with her when his intentions were pure. Humanity confused him often and right then, as she was projecting so many emotions, he was having trouble following their conducive paths. He was, however, intrigued by it as he wanted to see where her outward personality met her inward.
"Earlier, as we descended the hill to this cabin, you said that visiugo may not exist in my home. While that may be true, this was not my first home. I am originally from Mars, a place where visiugo are not in existence either. I understand the pain of losing one's life as they have come to know it. To lose everything that is ever known. If I can help you protect yours, I will. I will help prevent you from the same devastation." He told Joey directly but she still seemed skeptical, her eyes darted away from him.
"Whatever." She mumbled before jerking to her feet and stalking off. J'onn had turned where she went but didn't follow. He could see more to it than her skepticism - he just wasn't sure what role he played in all of it.
"She mistrusts me." He stated and queried in the same sentiment, closing his eyes and fully bowing his head.
"Don't take it personal." Murphy grinned going back to picking at his bandage now that she was gone. "She mistrusts everyone. It sorta happens when you've been through what we have. It's tough to trust. But hey, I'm glad you're here and I think you can help save us." Murphy put his absolute trust in J'onn and J'onn wondered if it wasn't misplaced. However, he also had heard in Joey's mind that she too had hope in him, even if she didn't say it outwardly. He considered that maybe her friends didn't understand that her thoughts conflicted with what she said. Which was even more curious to him as he saw her conflicting facets. "She went to get you, J'onn. She was the only one that could physically breech the separation of our worlds. I made the link - she manipulated it." Murphy tapped his temple. "Turns out I'm pretty good with minds too. We're magic, Joey and me. Ash...not quite, he's something else entirely. He went through a rough science experiment. He's a walking billboard for why lab safety is key. One of his experiments went awry and he managed surviving the electrical surge his body got only because Payton," Murphy paused to clap the doctor on his shoulder, "was there to drain him of blood. Nasty huh?" Murphy grinned. J'onn couldn't help but feel a bubble of amusement fill him - just for how Murphy made light of the situation, somewhat reminiscent of his friend the Flash - though it never showed on his face.
"The blood was a conduit of the electrical charge. I needed to replace it with a lubricant that wasn't capable of sustaining a charge. Or Ash would have been electrocuted to death. So he doesn't really have blood; not like the rest of us. As a result...well, he's overcharged most of the time." Payton explained quietly. J'onn understood the theory; it certainly explained the sparks and the way Ash had traveled.
"Ash is like a human machine." Murphy chuckled. "Once in awhile you have to change the oil eh Payton?" Murphy squeezed Payton's shoulder and gave him a little shake before dropping back into his seat. "Joey and me though, we're just magic in a pretty simple form. Turns out our spirits came from a place that physical bodies can't access; almost imaginary for its elusiveness. The collective subconscious place that all of our dreams live. We call it the Dreaming. Pretty clever, yeah? Its a place where you can do anything; its why, in our dreams, we can fly or breathe fire or read minds. The possibilities are endless. When we were conceived, our spirits decided it would be fun to leave that strange place and come here. And why not? Whatever we can think up, we can do - so long as you can imagine it, its possible. So we bonded with the human bodies growing in our mothers. I guess we're kinda like visiugo in that we're part human and part something else entirely. My magic is in my head. I linked up to you because you're a telepath. Joey, I'm sure you've deduced, can manipulate shadows in various ways. She let her spirit pass through the Dreaming to come get you and lead you back here. She couldn't take a real form over there though, lest she get stuck there, but she needed to draw you to the darker shadows, the more solid ones as her magic is stronger there, so she could bring you through the Dreaming too. You probably saw her shadow on the ground. Don't sit still for too long though, she can see the intent of your soul through the actions of your shadow." Murphy nodded sagely and J'onn tipped his head to look fully at Murphy.
"I have nothing to hide." J'onn explained he said honestly, though he wondered for a moment what would be seen in the large shadow he cast. It certainly accounted for Joey's eyes trained on the ground so frequently. "It seems like her gifts would only be a threat to those with something secret."
Murphy's face turned a little pink and he scratched at the back of his neck shyly. "I guess."
"Food's ready." Ash appeared from somewhere in the depths of the cabin. "As meager as it is - it will have to do. Where's Joey?" Silence filled the room and Ash seemed to understand.
"I will fetch her." J'onn rose gracefully and, just as gracefully followed in the direction Joey had left to. He knew where she was by way of his telepathy, not that she had gone far. Night had come and the land was cast in darkness. The moon was the only bit of light, it was washing the hill in white illumination. It looked beautiful in its own way - somber to some, but J'onn found it peaceful as he approached Joey from the house. She was there, standing on the bottom boarder of the fence that separated the yard from the pasture. "This must be difficult for you." He said. She didn't turn to face him, but he watched her head drop forward. "Ash has finished preparing dinner."
She watched his shadow come up from behind her as it was nearing hers. He saw her head turn a little to watch them, at the angle they'd been cast from where they were situated in comparison to the moon's light source. All he saw was a stagnant figure on the ground, though he wondered what she observed instead. "You will not find anything that I have not already told you." He explained and she finally turned her head to actually look at him.
"Don't think you're so smart. That you get me because they told you what I can do. Your shadow has told me plenty." She pinched her lips together. J'onn pondered her in silence. She had pulled her arms closer to her sides.
"Indeed." He agreed quietly.
"It's against you right now. A shadow that never leaves its owner is just as telling as the ones that move all around. Besides..." I saw your shadow on the ground, ready to catch me, when I was falling."Never mind." She turned her face up to the moon. "It's not important."
"It is very important Joey." He urged her. "Trust is integral in the sort of life you lead, the way you put your life on the line for others. It is important to me as well, it means everything. In order to correct how corrupt your world is, you must trust someone. I know how it is to be alone in your fight, I do not wish it upon anyone. Most definitely not you."
She snorted and twisted around to look at him. Disgust lined her face. "I save myself and look out for me. I'm not like you, ready to just jump at the beck and call of anyone who needs it. Don't take that wrong." She said sharply. "I'm grateful an' all. In fact, I find it enviable to be that self-sacrificing. I'm just not that selfless and I know it; I care about me more than I care about anyone else. I hate you a little for being...well...like that." She gestured to him in general. "All noble and stuff. Doesn't it get exhausting? I mean, like I said, I appreciate you coming all the way over here - to a different world, from Mars even, but damn it, doesn't it seem a little scary? You haven't been scared once, not one time that I can tell, and that's sort of freakish. It must be a burden to be that brave all the time. And I just wonder when you're gonna break. You haven't even said anything about going home. Aren't you worried about it?"
J'onn hesitated, only because she had dumped so many things on him all at once. "I have thought of my home and my friends. I miss them." He agreed. "But I am needed here. I will worry about my return when the time comes. For now, it seems, I have a bigger agenda. Should my path lead me elsewhere I will follow it. I have learned that worry for that which may never be is cumbersome to the present."
"You're doing it again." She frowned.
"What is it that I'm doing?" He asked, truly curious.
"That annoyingly noble thing that can't possibly be for real."
"Why couldn't it?" He asked, his gentle bass voice stoically speaking in a flat monotone. "I have given you no reason to mistrust me. In fact, I suspect, you can see my intention in my shadow. It is why your eyes rarely leave the ground, you are watching everyone for their true intent. You see things there that protect you and your friends. Furthermore I have done nothing that you haven't also done. It appears to me that you have done everything you can to save your own world and all the people on it, regardless of your well being. You asked me to throw you through the air to help a friend when you knew you had no way to fly. These are also noble acts."
For a brief moment J'onn saw Joey's face soften, as if she was either flattered by his words or truly felt important. One corner of her mouth turned up slightly. "Yeah, but I knew you'd catch me. You said you wouldn't let me fall." She grinned a little wider. "So that was only half noble. Where did you learn to fly anyhow? Mars? Seems a little unfair. I don't know anyone that can fly. Ash...sort of. Are you..." she drew back to look at him. Even where she was standing on the bottom part of the fence, that lifted her up nearly a foot off the ground, J'onn was still taller than her, "...really from Mars?"
J'onn felt a meager smile tug at the corner of his own mouth. He offered the slim grin to her. "Yes."
"And here I thought it was just a colorful idiom, men being from Mars and all."
J'onn arched one of his brow ridges.
"Never mind." She chuckled to herself and shook her head, hopping off the fence back to the ground. She reached forward and took his hand. He glanced down where their hands were joined. He had not expected her to put her hand in his but he didn't draw back either. He wasn't alarmed by her attempt to bodily move him, just surprised by the sudden contact. "Come on, lets score some grub." But she paused, jerking him to a stop with her hand still in his. "J'onn, I think you should know if they didn't tell you already. I don't mean half the junk that falls out of my mouth. At least not as abrasively as it comes off."
J'onn nodded slightly. "I know." He, perhaps more than her friends, knew that her thoughts and words conflicted whether he meant to know that or not. He understood that her exterior shell was a protective covering, he knew others that possessed the same traits.
"Good. Just so we're clear. I'm not going to ask how you know, but I'll just take it for what it is." She gave his hand a little tug to press onward. Once they started moving again she pulled hers free from his. "Thanks. I don't know if I told you that yet but you should know I mean it. Not in one of those junk-falling-out-of-my-mouth things. Thank you for coming, for that annoyingly noble thing you do." She laughed a little and peered at the ground briefly to hide the width of her smile.
"You're welcome."
Chapter Six
"Stop." J'onn came to a sudden halt, the farm house was a good distance away from them still. There was a sharpness to his voice that hadn't been present before; a tone unfamiliar to J'onn himself as very rarely did he become startled as he was right then. When Joey turned back, his eyes were lightly glowing against the green of his skin.
"J'onn...what is it?" She asked, concerned as she furrowed her brow before looking back to the house. The lights flickered out in the square windows and then went out just as the house burst into wild flames. The explosion of heat from the fire was strong enough to radiate even as far away as they were. "ASH! MURPH!" She started to sprint forward in a panic, but something caught her ankle and she went sprawling to the ground instead. She twisted over swiftly, ready to attack whatever had caught her - sure it was a villain, but it was then that she realized it was J'onn, who was on his knees, that had grabbed her ankle. One hand was on his bald head, the other was still holding her ankle tightly. He appeared to be in pain as he coward for a moment in his spot.
"Too late." He murmured. J'onn, though not nearly as weakened and terrified of fire as he had been previously in his life, was still affected by it. Beyond that, his mind had reached out to connect with Ash just in time for the sparky man to be consumed by panic and fear. The flames had broken out, both in realty and in the link between J'onn and Ash, in that instant. The sensation scrambled J'onn's sense as fear, that he could normally contain, and Ash's thoughts exploded in his head - thus creating an intensity unlike anything he'd ever experienced.
"What do you mean 'too late'?" Joey's voice was shrill and her eyes popped wider than it seemed like her face should allow. J'onn felt her jerk her foot away, though he tried to grip tighter while his words couldn't quite make it from his brain to his lips. "Let me go! What the hell happened? Damn it, J'onn! What's going on!" He could still hear her, but didn't lift his head to see her.
"Luthor..." J'onn spoke, his deep voice vibrating around the inside of his head though he knew he'd actually spoken it as well. He was sure it had to do with Luthor. Something in Ash's mind, before it had all gone very south, had indicated that he was alarmed by something of Lex's present in the cabin. He tried to climb forward on his hands and knees, but he was weakened by the psychic burst in his mind and the fear that radiated around him. He felt suddenly very alone, certain that Joey had abandoned him for the flames and her friends. It was a terrible idea for her to go into the house, he knew that much but he couldn't muster the strength to call after her. Instead, he tried to inch closer to where the house was and where she'd gone.
However, he felt hands on his shoulders. He stiffened a little, all his muscles responding on reflex. "Come on big guy, we gotta get out of here then." If you're the only one I can help stay alive, then so be it."The landing might suck. Hold on." She warned him before giving him a hearty shove and it felt like he was falling off a cliff, though he knew there was only solid ground all around him. It even sounded momentarily like wind was whipping around him. But, just like when he'd initially arrived and when they'd escaped the main headquarters of these misfits, his stomach turned and he felt dizzy. Earth came up on him quickly and, as it seemed like he fell, he hit the ground in the same instance.
He felt Joey's hands under his armpits as she tugged him up to lean against a nearby wall, his height weighing heavily on her much smaller frame. "Come on...sit up." She managed getting him there, sitting but resting back against it, and then she dropped down next to him, leaning heavily against his side. "What the hell J'onn? You're supposed to be super." Once more he could tell, by the sound of her voice, that she was doing her best to joke. She was panicked though, that much he knew too. She was shaking next to him, as she tucked herself under his arm and pulled her knees up to her chest, hugging them tightly to herself.
"Thank you." He told her plainly. Just being separated from the pasture and the flaming farmhouse was enough to lessen the pain in J'onn's head. That which was causing the turmoil in his mind, the combination of so much fear and panic at once on top of his own horrors, was waning the longer he was disconnected.
"Don't mention it." She said breathlessly, panting as she was still trying to bring her racing heart down to a normal pitter-patter. Oh God...they're gone...oh God...oh God...oh God...
J'onn dipped his head down, his own senses coming back to him slowly. Her thoughts were wafting into his mind more readily and without his control to stop them from doing so. It was worse when he wasn't of sound mind himself. "Are you familiar with Bruce Wayne?" He asked, hoping to address her fear not with answers, but with actions.
"What?" She seemed to be snapped out of her own mind by the way her voice chirped her answer, her face suddenly looking up to J'onn. "My friends, my family, just died and you ask me if I know about Bruce Wayne! Are you serious? What sort of ridiculous question is that?" She huffed but made no move to lean away from him.
"I assure you, it is of utmost importance. It has everything to do with you and your friends, with all of this. Do you know of him?" J'onn asked again, pushing harder as he didn't let her anger affect him right then. He had the hope that where they might not know if Batman was alive, Joey might know more than she was even aware she did in regards to were the man could be found.
"Yeah, of course. Everybody does. He lives in Gotham and has a business there. Almost everything bought, stolen or traded is made by some subsidiary of Wayne Enterprises. Apparently you know him too." Joey wasn't pleased, nor was she pleasant with her words. She snapped them in a defensive way, as if she was annoyed by the question all together. And, J'onn knew, she was.
"Joey," J'onn said looking over to her quickly, "they are not dead. I don't know them well enough to fully reach out to them and this place has a way of causing interference with my telepathy at long distances, but I can hear them still among the other echo of voices of those living on this world. They were no longer in the cabin before the explosion. Had we remained there any longer, we would have been discovered by whatever Luthor sent after your friends. For now, we must gain access to Bruce Wayne."
"How could he have possibly known where we were?"
"That is unimportant right now. Now we must -"
"Yeah! I heard you the first time! Bruce Wayne, I got it." She snapped, her eyes darting away from J'onn. She was clearly preoccupied. However, her eyes swept over J'onn's shadow, next to hers. It wasn't uncommon for her shadow to disgust her. She hated to so outwardly see what her innermost soul wanted. It was like a constant reminder that she couldn't ignore. It was why she often avoided looking at her own shadow. J'onn's, however, cast by the moonlight washing over the random alley that her connecting two shadows had brought them, one at the farm and the other in the city, was doing exactly as he was - sitting perfectly poised. She closed her eyes for a moment before taking a steadying, deep breath.
"He can help. I assure you. Perhaps you could take us to him." J'onn said.
"Oh yeah, right - because I often make it a habit of finding the edge of shadows in people's bedrooms. Come on J'onn! It's night, most of the world is in shadow right now. We could get lost, I can't always see where we'll end up. The shadows have to be more defined and it's best if I've been there before. Furthermore, it's sort of invasive just cruising up in someone's house." She seemed frazzled.
"We haven't much choice and very little time. Your friends could be in grave danger. Scheduling a meeting with him may take days, weeks even - if he'll see us at all. You must trust me." He urged her, as he had in the pasture not more than an hour ago.
"Fine." She bent to his suggestion easily enough, her tone dipping down as she yielded. "But don't say I didn't warn you and I expect you to be my meat shield when that rich man's body guards try to shoot me to death. And none of that phasing crap so I get hit even though you're in front of me. While we're at it, you can tell me what the hell happened back there that had you crumpling to the ground like a four-year-old-girl-with-a-skinned-knee." She smirked. Please help me get them back. Don't let my friends die.
... ... ...
Joey's skepticism was becoming natural for J'onn. She had said at least three times that she hoped he knew what he was doing and he had patiently assured her that he did. That was even the case as she held his hand when they passed through the shadows on the ground and into Bruce Wayne's abode. The sick and dizzy feeling was starting to become customary to J'onn now that he was ready for it. He also noticed that she had to have contact with him when he first entered the shadow and when she was still holding onto him with clear and thoughtful intent, as he was prepared this time and so was she, that it was less alarming. It was as if he could feel her control over it and when it was a rockier instantaneous trip, as she bent the shadows edges to meet, was when she was frazzled or distracted.
It felt like a cool breeze passed over him, the way it felt to phase through a wall, when she stepped him through the end of one shadow in the heart of Metropolis to walk out the edge of another in Wayne manor.
"Have you ever gotten lost?" He asked her quietly. Curiously.
"Oh yeah, tons of times." She smirked. "You're lucky I'm more experienced now. I can do lots of things with them now, not just travel. Traveling's just the thing that I do the most. I don't really get in fights a lot. Contrary to popular belief I'm sure." He lifted a hand and Joey fell silent.
J'onn had heard something and he barely swung around in time as a fist nearly collided with the side of the Martian's head. J'onn had ducked a second attempt and managed catching the third but, as his opponent had two hands, J'onn felt a rather hearty blow to the gut which made him slam back into the nearest wall. The back of J'onn's bald head smacked into the hard surface. His narrow red eyes squinted a little as he was thrust into the white moonlight from an adjacent window when he was pushed back against the wall. It was then that the two shadowy figures saw one another. J'onn and Bruce locked gazes.
"J'onn?" Bruce's gruff voice was even more coarse than the alien was accustom to. He was no older than the Batman that J'onn knew, but stress lined his face and bits of silver speckled his hair. J'onn wasn't used to seeing him out of his suit and had only actually seen him as such a handful of times. He had no need to see him as the man under the mask and didn't care to worry with which was Batman and which was Bruce as they were the same to him. Both were J'onn's friend and if Batman was who he wanted to be known as then the Martian embraced that. "This is impossible, you're dead. I saw you die."
"As unlikely as it may appear, I assure you I am here. Let me explain." J'onn felt Bruce loosen his grip. It took him several seconds before he actually let J'onn go.
"So you two know each other." Joey stepped forward. J'onn watched her eyes sweep over the shadows on the ground, as vague and undefined as they were J'onn watched her mouth dropped slightly and her narrow eyes slim some. She made no outward indication of what she saw, but her eyes turned back up to J'onn, who was momentarily concerned about what she might have learned and how she would react. "I'm Joey. Real nice to meet you Mr. Wayne." She reached forward and took his hand shaking it big and showy. J'onn knew she was mocking him, it wasn't all that different from how he had met her.
"Friend of yours J'onn?" Bruce asked and the Martian nodded a single time.
"Indeed."
"So yeah, he's not the only thing you watched die huh?" She said to Bruce directly after rolling her eyes at J'onn. "Truth, justice and all that B.S. too. If he was part of your league of justice," she told J'onn, "I'd rather stick it out here. There's no justice to be had from a man who hides when things get rough and a little scary."
"I beg your pardon?" Bruce temporarily forgot J'onn and turned his attention to Joey.
"Why do you still pretend?" She scowled. Her head nodded to his shadow. "You still believe you're him, don't you? You're not, just because your head thinks your Batman doesn't mean you are. The world gave up on him just like he gave up on the world."
"I don't have to defend my choices to you." He told her shortly. "But you should know that I have been doing what I can from where I can. I see what's happening beyond these walls and I am doing my part to stop them."
"Right." Joey hissed in a mocking snarl. "This is unbelievable. You sit up here in your mansion on your hill and watch the world die around you! While you were doing your 'part', the people lost hope because they lost their only surviving thread of optimism. Sorry J'onn, you were never known here but he was. He was a hero. Hell I looked up to you! Had I known you were tucked away in some palace, probably being fed caviar straight from the fish, I wouldn't have wasted my time." Her eyes went down to the three shadows on the ground. Hers was crying, cowering and sobbing with her face in her hands. J'onn's shadow had moved between them and Bruce's, a perfect silhouette of Batman, was facing away from the two of them despite the fact that Bruce had brought his own face inches closer to her. He too was obviously furious with her accusations.
"Not all fights happen in the open." He told her sharply. "Lex must be stopped and I have the power to do that, from here." He gestured around himself, indicating the very house itself. "As I've said, I don't have to explain myself to you. But you should know that your quick jump to accuse only clouds your vision of the truth."
"No, I think you're the one who's lost sight of what's important. Hundreds of visiugo are in hiding if not dead, dozens of people with special gifts - powers - killed because they were too afraid to use them after what happened to Superman, the Flash and then you! So they were killed when they could have saved themselves. There were so few of us left willing to risk anything that there just wasn't enough of us left to fight. For all I know, I'm the last one because the others I was with burst into flames not more than an hour ago. Lex has been hunting us to extinction and half of them let him because they thought there was nothing stopping him from winning -"
"Joey." J'onn's voice cut in amid her verbal assault. "I asked you to trust me and you agreed. I'm asking for you to extend that trust just a little further." He turned to fully face her. J'onn didn't often invade other's personal space by touching them without being invited, even close friends, but he reached forward and placed a hand on either of her shoulders. "Please." It was the softest he spoke, with his deep voice, as his red eyes trained onto hers.
He felt her shoulders sink some, under his hands, but she didn't divert her eyes from him. "Fine." She folded her arms over her chest and hissed, in direct relation to his own words earlier that day, "Don't make me regret this."
Title: Dream a Good One Tonight
Author: fae_dreamdance
Genre: Adventure, fantasy, mystery, drama, humor, romance, chaptered story
Rating: PG-13
Summary: J'onn receives a request for assistance through unconventional means. When he answers the call he ends up in a world not his own, but not entirely unlike it, and is reminded why he upholds justice and participates in actively protecting those in need. (Will continuously add new chapters as they are written to this post!!)
UPDATED: Added Chapter Six - April 4th, 2011
Chapters:
( One )
( Two )
( Three )
( Four )
Chapter Five
"I am to understand that Luthor is corrupting nature by twisting these people, these visiugo, together genetically?" J'onn asked and Payton nodded. They had all been patched up and were resting as Ash put together something for them to eat. Shiki, however, hadn't returned yet. J'onn wondered for a moment, out of the creatures he had seen, what they had been first-a cat or a bird or a bear. Or, perhaps, if they were so far removed from their original animal form that there was no sure way to tell.
"Yes, that's exactly what he's doing. By any means necessary, he is combining nature against her will, thus defying what she stands for in the first place. They are her children and he is destroying them to create soldiers he can sell. It's an insult to what and who they are." Payton pushed his glasses up more firmly on his nose.
"And you're assisting him in this?" J'onn asked. Though he wasn't entirely skeptical and he certainly wasn't accusatory of Payton, it was clear that the man took it that way as he visibly deflated in his spot, cheeks flushed in embarrassment and shame. J'onn, however, made no attempt to retract what he'd said and instead watched on thoughtfully as Payton clearly wrestled with what he wanted to say.
"When I started, he wasn't doing what he is now. It was purely for scientific purposes. I went for the research and the fascination in understanding the visiugo species. I thought...I thought it would help from a medical stand point. We're so closely related, man and visiugo, maybe we could learn from their make-up and vice versa. Perhaps help us to make better medicine or just learn something about the world. I never expected my research to evolve into this; a way to harness that DNA and alter its pathways. It's a mockery of everything I've done, everything I've lived for." Clearly Payton's passion existed not just in his science but in protecting it's integrity as well. That was something J'onn could easily understand as there was nothing he took more pride in than his work - his promise - for those that relied on him for help.
"That's why we're doing what we're doing; he must be stopped. But its hard when he has what he does and we have so little now, he's taken so many prisoner. If he succeeds we'll all be wiped out by what he will create, animal and man alike." Murphy's normally smiling face was somber as he picked at the edge of the gauze wrapped around his wrist.
"And there are hundreds of these visiugo, half animal and half human beings?" J'onn asked.
"Yes...well no, not anymore." Payton answered. "There were. Most of them lived as animals with their animal brethren in packs or flocks or pods...whatever their animal counterpart was. Others chose to live among humanity. They can appear entirely human or entirely animal, or both, as they see fit. Its partly the metamorphosis that Luthor's interested in. Those ones that attacked in the headquarters were first string attempts; a rough sketch, if you will, of what's to come. He wants ones that can be all of those things simultaneous without looking like they are unless they chose to do so. They aren't nearly as versatile when they can't control how they shift. But if they have the ability of a bear through strength, but can fly like a bird when they need to and slither like a snake - then the possibilities are endless and that's what Luthor is counting on. He can't change humans into these things, he needs a visiugo base and then he can blend their genes from there."
J'onn bowed his head again in thought. "Daichi then is in danger of this? Of becoming one of those mutants? That is what worries Shiki the most? All of those creatures we saw, they were once just one animal base."
"Bingo." Joey added from where she was draped unconventionally over a chair. "Right now he's keeping them all under tight lock and key though. When they come out, the strong ones - like Daichi - they're mind controlled. The unaltered ones at least - the ones he is saving for when its perfected. The weak ones are the prototypes, though 'weak' is relative. Lucky us."
"It's only a matter of time that he starts running out of weaker visiugo." Payton added. "Then he'll start using the ones he's harboring as sources. Ideal candidates to pass on the genetics. I've been doing my best to keep his advances at a stand still, but I can only do so much before it is noticeable. Daichi is strong and can fly. There's a bear visiugo we have called Ro who is an ideal candidate for his species and wolf by the name of Randi, she's our only female. I have stalled as long as I can. That's why we needed help. We've run out of options."
"And we don't have a whole league of justice to step in on our behalf." Joey hoped up and went over to Murphy and smacked his hand where he was still fidgeting with the end of the gauze. "Must be nice with all those people ready to dish out help and stop villainy at every turn." This time, J'onn could tell, she wasn't being playful. She was bitter. It was worrisome to him as he didn't feel right when she reacted in such a way. Her hair still had bits of blood in it and she was, like the rest of them, barely getting by in the clothes on her back.
"I am here." He offered stoically, but honestly. "And I will help, fight with you, until the end - until Lex's efforts are demolished."
Joey's nostrils flared and she seemed to be grappling with the idea that he wanted to assist and her resentment for their situation. He didn't like the idea of being mistrusted by those he was trying to help; he did his best to be understood and accepted for what he could do, for his honesty, and the last thing he wanted was to be at odds with her when his intentions were pure. Humanity confused him often and right then, as she was projecting so many emotions, he was having trouble following their conducive paths. He was, however, intrigued by it as he wanted to see where her outward personality met her inward.
"Earlier, as we descended the hill to this cabin, you said that visiugo may not exist in my home. While that may be true, this was not my first home. I am originally from Mars, a place where visiugo are not in existence either. I understand the pain of losing one's life as they have come to know it. To lose everything that is ever known. If I can help you protect yours, I will. I will help prevent you from the same devastation." He told Joey directly but she still seemed skeptical, her eyes darted away from him.
"Whatever." She mumbled before jerking to her feet and stalking off. J'onn had turned where she went but didn't follow. He could see more to it than her skepticism - he just wasn't sure what role he played in all of it.
"She mistrusts me." He stated and queried in the same sentiment, closing his eyes and fully bowing his head.
"Don't take it personal." Murphy grinned going back to picking at his bandage now that she was gone. "She mistrusts everyone. It sorta happens when you've been through what we have. It's tough to trust. But hey, I'm glad you're here and I think you can help save us." Murphy put his absolute trust in J'onn and J'onn wondered if it wasn't misplaced. However, he also had heard in Joey's mind that she too had hope in him, even if she didn't say it outwardly. He considered that maybe her friends didn't understand that her thoughts conflicted with what she said. Which was even more curious to him as he saw her conflicting facets. "She went to get you, J'onn. She was the only one that could physically breech the separation of our worlds. I made the link - she manipulated it." Murphy tapped his temple. "Turns out I'm pretty good with minds too. We're magic, Joey and me. Ash...not quite, he's something else entirely. He went through a rough science experiment. He's a walking billboard for why lab safety is key. One of his experiments went awry and he managed surviving the electrical surge his body got only because Payton," Murphy paused to clap the doctor on his shoulder, "was there to drain him of blood. Nasty huh?" Murphy grinned. J'onn couldn't help but feel a bubble of amusement fill him - just for how Murphy made light of the situation, somewhat reminiscent of his friend the Flash - though it never showed on his face.
"The blood was a conduit of the electrical charge. I needed to replace it with a lubricant that wasn't capable of sustaining a charge. Or Ash would have been electrocuted to death. So he doesn't really have blood; not like the rest of us. As a result...well, he's overcharged most of the time." Payton explained quietly. J'onn understood the theory; it certainly explained the sparks and the way Ash had traveled.
"Ash is like a human machine." Murphy chuckled. "Once in awhile you have to change the oil eh Payton?" Murphy squeezed Payton's shoulder and gave him a little shake before dropping back into his seat. "Joey and me though, we're just magic in a pretty simple form. Turns out our spirits came from a place that physical bodies can't access; almost imaginary for its elusiveness. The collective subconscious place that all of our dreams live. We call it the Dreaming. Pretty clever, yeah? Its a place where you can do anything; its why, in our dreams, we can fly or breathe fire or read minds. The possibilities are endless. When we were conceived, our spirits decided it would be fun to leave that strange place and come here. And why not? Whatever we can think up, we can do - so long as you can imagine it, its possible. So we bonded with the human bodies growing in our mothers. I guess we're kinda like visiugo in that we're part human and part something else entirely. My magic is in my head. I linked up to you because you're a telepath. Joey, I'm sure you've deduced, can manipulate shadows in various ways. She let her spirit pass through the Dreaming to come get you and lead you back here. She couldn't take a real form over there though, lest she get stuck there, but she needed to draw you to the darker shadows, the more solid ones as her magic is stronger there, so she could bring you through the Dreaming too. You probably saw her shadow on the ground. Don't sit still for too long though, she can see the intent of your soul through the actions of your shadow." Murphy nodded sagely and J'onn tipped his head to look fully at Murphy.
"I have nothing to hide." J'onn explained he said honestly, though he wondered for a moment what would be seen in the large shadow he cast. It certainly accounted for Joey's eyes trained on the ground so frequently. "It seems like her gifts would only be a threat to those with something secret."
Murphy's face turned a little pink and he scratched at the back of his neck shyly. "I guess."
"Food's ready." Ash appeared from somewhere in the depths of the cabin. "As meager as it is - it will have to do. Where's Joey?" Silence filled the room and Ash seemed to understand.
"I will fetch her." J'onn rose gracefully and, just as gracefully followed in the direction Joey had left to. He knew where she was by way of his telepathy, not that she had gone far. Night had come and the land was cast in darkness. The moon was the only bit of light, it was washing the hill in white illumination. It looked beautiful in its own way - somber to some, but J'onn found it peaceful as he approached Joey from the house. She was there, standing on the bottom boarder of the fence that separated the yard from the pasture. "This must be difficult for you." He said. She didn't turn to face him, but he watched her head drop forward. "Ash has finished preparing dinner."
She watched his shadow come up from behind her as it was nearing hers. He saw her head turn a little to watch them, at the angle they'd been cast from where they were situated in comparison to the moon's light source. All he saw was a stagnant figure on the ground, though he wondered what she observed instead. "You will not find anything that I have not already told you." He explained and she finally turned her head to actually look at him.
"Don't think you're so smart. That you get me because they told you what I can do. Your shadow has told me plenty." She pinched her lips together. J'onn pondered her in silence. She had pulled her arms closer to her sides.
"Indeed." He agreed quietly.
"It's against you right now. A shadow that never leaves its owner is just as telling as the ones that move all around. Besides..." I saw your shadow on the ground, ready to catch me, when I was falling."Never mind." She turned her face up to the moon. "It's not important."
"It is very important Joey." He urged her. "Trust is integral in the sort of life you lead, the way you put your life on the line for others. It is important to me as well, it means everything. In order to correct how corrupt your world is, you must trust someone. I know how it is to be alone in your fight, I do not wish it upon anyone. Most definitely not you."
She snorted and twisted around to look at him. Disgust lined her face. "I save myself and look out for me. I'm not like you, ready to just jump at the beck and call of anyone who needs it. Don't take that wrong." She said sharply. "I'm grateful an' all. In fact, I find it enviable to be that self-sacrificing. I'm just not that selfless and I know it; I care about me more than I care about anyone else. I hate you a little for being...well...like that." She gestured to him in general. "All noble and stuff. Doesn't it get exhausting? I mean, like I said, I appreciate you coming all the way over here - to a different world, from Mars even, but damn it, doesn't it seem a little scary? You haven't been scared once, not one time that I can tell, and that's sort of freakish. It must be a burden to be that brave all the time. And I just wonder when you're gonna break. You haven't even said anything about going home. Aren't you worried about it?"
J'onn hesitated, only because she had dumped so many things on him all at once. "I have thought of my home and my friends. I miss them." He agreed. "But I am needed here. I will worry about my return when the time comes. For now, it seems, I have a bigger agenda. Should my path lead me elsewhere I will follow it. I have learned that worry for that which may never be is cumbersome to the present."
"You're doing it again." She frowned.
"What is it that I'm doing?" He asked, truly curious.
"That annoyingly noble thing that can't possibly be for real."
"Why couldn't it?" He asked, his gentle bass voice stoically speaking in a flat monotone. "I have given you no reason to mistrust me. In fact, I suspect, you can see my intention in my shadow. It is why your eyes rarely leave the ground, you are watching everyone for their true intent. You see things there that protect you and your friends. Furthermore I have done nothing that you haven't also done. It appears to me that you have done everything you can to save your own world and all the people on it, regardless of your well being. You asked me to throw you through the air to help a friend when you knew you had no way to fly. These are also noble acts."
For a brief moment J'onn saw Joey's face soften, as if she was either flattered by his words or truly felt important. One corner of her mouth turned up slightly. "Yeah, but I knew you'd catch me. You said you wouldn't let me fall." She grinned a little wider. "So that was only half noble. Where did you learn to fly anyhow? Mars? Seems a little unfair. I don't know anyone that can fly. Ash...sort of. Are you..." she drew back to look at him. Even where she was standing on the bottom part of the fence, that lifted her up nearly a foot off the ground, J'onn was still taller than her, "...really from Mars?"
J'onn felt a meager smile tug at the corner of his own mouth. He offered the slim grin to her. "Yes."
"And here I thought it was just a colorful idiom, men being from Mars and all."
J'onn arched one of his brow ridges.
"Never mind." She chuckled to herself and shook her head, hopping off the fence back to the ground. She reached forward and took his hand. He glanced down where their hands were joined. He had not expected her to put her hand in his but he didn't draw back either. He wasn't alarmed by her attempt to bodily move him, just surprised by the sudden contact. "Come on, lets score some grub." But she paused, jerking him to a stop with her hand still in his. "J'onn, I think you should know if they didn't tell you already. I don't mean half the junk that falls out of my mouth. At least not as abrasively as it comes off."
J'onn nodded slightly. "I know." He, perhaps more than her friends, knew that her thoughts and words conflicted whether he meant to know that or not. He understood that her exterior shell was a protective covering, he knew others that possessed the same traits.
"Good. Just so we're clear. I'm not going to ask how you know, but I'll just take it for what it is." She gave his hand a little tug to press onward. Once they started moving again she pulled hers free from his. "Thanks. I don't know if I told you that yet but you should know I mean it. Not in one of those junk-falling-out-of-my-mouth things. Thank you for coming, for that annoyingly noble thing you do." She laughed a little and peered at the ground briefly to hide the width of her smile.
"You're welcome."
Chapter Six
"Stop." J'onn came to a sudden halt, the farm house was a good distance away from them still. There was a sharpness to his voice that hadn't been present before; a tone unfamiliar to J'onn himself as very rarely did he become startled as he was right then. When Joey turned back, his eyes were lightly glowing against the green of his skin.
"J'onn...what is it?" She asked, concerned as she furrowed her brow before looking back to the house. The lights flickered out in the square windows and then went out just as the house burst into wild flames. The explosion of heat from the fire was strong enough to radiate even as far away as they were. "ASH! MURPH!" She started to sprint forward in a panic, but something caught her ankle and she went sprawling to the ground instead. She twisted over swiftly, ready to attack whatever had caught her - sure it was a villain, but it was then that she realized it was J'onn, who was on his knees, that had grabbed her ankle. One hand was on his bald head, the other was still holding her ankle tightly. He appeared to be in pain as he coward for a moment in his spot.
"Too late." He murmured. J'onn, though not nearly as weakened and terrified of fire as he had been previously in his life, was still affected by it. Beyond that, his mind had reached out to connect with Ash just in time for the sparky man to be consumed by panic and fear. The flames had broken out, both in realty and in the link between J'onn and Ash, in that instant. The sensation scrambled J'onn's sense as fear, that he could normally contain, and Ash's thoughts exploded in his head - thus creating an intensity unlike anything he'd ever experienced.
"What do you mean 'too late'?" Joey's voice was shrill and her eyes popped wider than it seemed like her face should allow. J'onn felt her jerk her foot away, though he tried to grip tighter while his words couldn't quite make it from his brain to his lips. "Let me go! What the hell happened? Damn it, J'onn! What's going on!" He could still hear her, but didn't lift his head to see her.
"Luthor..." J'onn spoke, his deep voice vibrating around the inside of his head though he knew he'd actually spoken it as well. He was sure it had to do with Luthor. Something in Ash's mind, before it had all gone very south, had indicated that he was alarmed by something of Lex's present in the cabin. He tried to climb forward on his hands and knees, but he was weakened by the psychic burst in his mind and the fear that radiated around him. He felt suddenly very alone, certain that Joey had abandoned him for the flames and her friends. It was a terrible idea for her to go into the house, he knew that much but he couldn't muster the strength to call after her. Instead, he tried to inch closer to where the house was and where she'd gone.
However, he felt hands on his shoulders. He stiffened a little, all his muscles responding on reflex. "Come on big guy, we gotta get out of here then." If you're the only one I can help stay alive, then so be it."The landing might suck. Hold on." She warned him before giving him a hearty shove and it felt like he was falling off a cliff, though he knew there was only solid ground all around him. It even sounded momentarily like wind was whipping around him. But, just like when he'd initially arrived and when they'd escaped the main headquarters of these misfits, his stomach turned and he felt dizzy. Earth came up on him quickly and, as it seemed like he fell, he hit the ground in the same instance.
He felt Joey's hands under his armpits as she tugged him up to lean against a nearby wall, his height weighing heavily on her much smaller frame. "Come on...sit up." She managed getting him there, sitting but resting back against it, and then she dropped down next to him, leaning heavily against his side. "What the hell J'onn? You're supposed to be super." Once more he could tell, by the sound of her voice, that she was doing her best to joke. She was panicked though, that much he knew too. She was shaking next to him, as she tucked herself under his arm and pulled her knees up to her chest, hugging them tightly to herself.
"Thank you." He told her plainly. Just being separated from the pasture and the flaming farmhouse was enough to lessen the pain in J'onn's head. That which was causing the turmoil in his mind, the combination of so much fear and panic at once on top of his own horrors, was waning the longer he was disconnected.
"Don't mention it." She said breathlessly, panting as she was still trying to bring her racing heart down to a normal pitter-patter. Oh God...they're gone...oh God...oh God...oh God...
J'onn dipped his head down, his own senses coming back to him slowly. Her thoughts were wafting into his mind more readily and without his control to stop them from doing so. It was worse when he wasn't of sound mind himself. "Are you familiar with Bruce Wayne?" He asked, hoping to address her fear not with answers, but with actions.
"What?" She seemed to be snapped out of her own mind by the way her voice chirped her answer, her face suddenly looking up to J'onn. "My friends, my family, just died and you ask me if I know about Bruce Wayne! Are you serious? What sort of ridiculous question is that?" She huffed but made no move to lean away from him.
"I assure you, it is of utmost importance. It has everything to do with you and your friends, with all of this. Do you know of him?" J'onn asked again, pushing harder as he didn't let her anger affect him right then. He had the hope that where they might not know if Batman was alive, Joey might know more than she was even aware she did in regards to were the man could be found.
"Yeah, of course. Everybody does. He lives in Gotham and has a business there. Almost everything bought, stolen or traded is made by some subsidiary of Wayne Enterprises. Apparently you know him too." Joey wasn't pleased, nor was she pleasant with her words. She snapped them in a defensive way, as if she was annoyed by the question all together. And, J'onn knew, she was.
"Joey," J'onn said looking over to her quickly, "they are not dead. I don't know them well enough to fully reach out to them and this place has a way of causing interference with my telepathy at long distances, but I can hear them still among the other echo of voices of those living on this world. They were no longer in the cabin before the explosion. Had we remained there any longer, we would have been discovered by whatever Luthor sent after your friends. For now, we must gain access to Bruce Wayne."
"How could he have possibly known where we were?"
"That is unimportant right now. Now we must -"
"Yeah! I heard you the first time! Bruce Wayne, I got it." She snapped, her eyes darting away from J'onn. She was clearly preoccupied. However, her eyes swept over J'onn's shadow, next to hers. It wasn't uncommon for her shadow to disgust her. She hated to so outwardly see what her innermost soul wanted. It was like a constant reminder that she couldn't ignore. It was why she often avoided looking at her own shadow. J'onn's, however, cast by the moonlight washing over the random alley that her connecting two shadows had brought them, one at the farm and the other in the city, was doing exactly as he was - sitting perfectly poised. She closed her eyes for a moment before taking a steadying, deep breath.
"He can help. I assure you. Perhaps you could take us to him." J'onn said.
"Oh yeah, right - because I often make it a habit of finding the edge of shadows in people's bedrooms. Come on J'onn! It's night, most of the world is in shadow right now. We could get lost, I can't always see where we'll end up. The shadows have to be more defined and it's best if I've been there before. Furthermore, it's sort of invasive just cruising up in someone's house." She seemed frazzled.
"We haven't much choice and very little time. Your friends could be in grave danger. Scheduling a meeting with him may take days, weeks even - if he'll see us at all. You must trust me." He urged her, as he had in the pasture not more than an hour ago.
"Fine." She bent to his suggestion easily enough, her tone dipping down as she yielded. "But don't say I didn't warn you and I expect you to be my meat shield when that rich man's body guards try to shoot me to death. And none of that phasing crap so I get hit even though you're in front of me. While we're at it, you can tell me what the hell happened back there that had you crumpling to the ground like a four-year-old-girl-with-a-skinned-knee." She smirked. Please help me get them back. Don't let my friends die.
... ... ...
Joey's skepticism was becoming natural for J'onn. She had said at least three times that she hoped he knew what he was doing and he had patiently assured her that he did. That was even the case as she held his hand when they passed through the shadows on the ground and into Bruce Wayne's abode. The sick and dizzy feeling was starting to become customary to J'onn now that he was ready for it. He also noticed that she had to have contact with him when he first entered the shadow and when she was still holding onto him with clear and thoughtful intent, as he was prepared this time and so was she, that it was less alarming. It was as if he could feel her control over it and when it was a rockier instantaneous trip, as she bent the shadows edges to meet, was when she was frazzled or distracted.
It felt like a cool breeze passed over him, the way it felt to phase through a wall, when she stepped him through the end of one shadow in the heart of Metropolis to walk out the edge of another in Wayne manor.
"Have you ever gotten lost?" He asked her quietly. Curiously.
"Oh yeah, tons of times." She smirked. "You're lucky I'm more experienced now. I can do lots of things with them now, not just travel. Traveling's just the thing that I do the most. I don't really get in fights a lot. Contrary to popular belief I'm sure." He lifted a hand and Joey fell silent.
J'onn had heard something and he barely swung around in time as a fist nearly collided with the side of the Martian's head. J'onn had ducked a second attempt and managed catching the third but, as his opponent had two hands, J'onn felt a rather hearty blow to the gut which made him slam back into the nearest wall. The back of J'onn's bald head smacked into the hard surface. His narrow red eyes squinted a little as he was thrust into the white moonlight from an adjacent window when he was pushed back against the wall. It was then that the two shadowy figures saw one another. J'onn and Bruce locked gazes.
"J'onn?" Bruce's gruff voice was even more coarse than the alien was accustom to. He was no older than the Batman that J'onn knew, but stress lined his face and bits of silver speckled his hair. J'onn wasn't used to seeing him out of his suit and had only actually seen him as such a handful of times. He had no need to see him as the man under the mask and didn't care to worry with which was Batman and which was Bruce as they were the same to him. Both were J'onn's friend and if Batman was who he wanted to be known as then the Martian embraced that. "This is impossible, you're dead. I saw you die."
"As unlikely as it may appear, I assure you I am here. Let me explain." J'onn felt Bruce loosen his grip. It took him several seconds before he actually let J'onn go.
"So you two know each other." Joey stepped forward. J'onn watched her eyes sweep over the shadows on the ground, as vague and undefined as they were J'onn watched her mouth dropped slightly and her narrow eyes slim some. She made no outward indication of what she saw, but her eyes turned back up to J'onn, who was momentarily concerned about what she might have learned and how she would react. "I'm Joey. Real nice to meet you Mr. Wayne." She reached forward and took his hand shaking it big and showy. J'onn knew she was mocking him, it wasn't all that different from how he had met her.
"Friend of yours J'onn?" Bruce asked and the Martian nodded a single time.
"Indeed."
"So yeah, he's not the only thing you watched die huh?" She said to Bruce directly after rolling her eyes at J'onn. "Truth, justice and all that B.S. too. If he was part of your league of justice," she told J'onn, "I'd rather stick it out here. There's no justice to be had from a man who hides when things get rough and a little scary."
"I beg your pardon?" Bruce temporarily forgot J'onn and turned his attention to Joey.
"Why do you still pretend?" She scowled. Her head nodded to his shadow. "You still believe you're him, don't you? You're not, just because your head thinks your Batman doesn't mean you are. The world gave up on him just like he gave up on the world."
"I don't have to defend my choices to you." He told her shortly. "But you should know that I have been doing what I can from where I can. I see what's happening beyond these walls and I am doing my part to stop them."
"Right." Joey hissed in a mocking snarl. "This is unbelievable. You sit up here in your mansion on your hill and watch the world die around you! While you were doing your 'part', the people lost hope because they lost their only surviving thread of optimism. Sorry J'onn, you were never known here but he was. He was a hero. Hell I looked up to you! Had I known you were tucked away in some palace, probably being fed caviar straight from the fish, I wouldn't have wasted my time." Her eyes went down to the three shadows on the ground. Hers was crying, cowering and sobbing with her face in her hands. J'onn's shadow had moved between them and Bruce's, a perfect silhouette of Batman, was facing away from the two of them despite the fact that Bruce had brought his own face inches closer to her. He too was obviously furious with her accusations.
"Not all fights happen in the open." He told her sharply. "Lex must be stopped and I have the power to do that, from here." He gestured around himself, indicating the very house itself. "As I've said, I don't have to explain myself to you. But you should know that your quick jump to accuse only clouds your vision of the truth."
"No, I think you're the one who's lost sight of what's important. Hundreds of visiugo are in hiding if not dead, dozens of people with special gifts - powers - killed because they were too afraid to use them after what happened to Superman, the Flash and then you! So they were killed when they could have saved themselves. There were so few of us left willing to risk anything that there just wasn't enough of us left to fight. For all I know, I'm the last one because the others I was with burst into flames not more than an hour ago. Lex has been hunting us to extinction and half of them let him because they thought there was nothing stopping him from winning -"
"Joey." J'onn's voice cut in amid her verbal assault. "I asked you to trust me and you agreed. I'm asking for you to extend that trust just a little further." He turned to fully face her. J'onn didn't often invade other's personal space by touching them without being invited, even close friends, but he reached forward and placed a hand on either of her shoulders. "Please." It was the softest he spoke, with his deep voice, as his red eyes trained onto hers.
He felt her shoulders sink some, under his hands, but she didn't divert her eyes from him. "Fine." She folded her arms over her chest and hissed, in direct relation to his own words earlier that day, "Don't make me regret this."