Ineffablefandom July Prompt B
July Prompt B: "I know you don't want to hear this..."
I leaned over the railing and seemingly looked at the lake. To any other passerby I was just another guy checking out the natural sights of Metropolis. In reality, I listened to every foot fall behind me, waiting for a particular pair of steps; those belonging to Tom Blake, Catman -a villain, or former villain, depending upon who you asked. Dinah wasn’t happy about me meeting him, but when a man sends you a letter saying he has information about your kid, you agree to meet him.
I can see why Dinah’d be worried. Blake, during the Crisis that had claimed the lives of Connor and a host of others, had been part of a group of villains known as the Secret Six, who had gone up against another group of villains known as the Society. Yeah, it makes your eyes roll into the back of your head.
“Harper,” a low male voice whispered. I turned to face the mystery man. We were around the same height, he had red hair too, but his was lighter and way longer than mine. He also had a fierce five o’clock shadow.
“Blake.”
He inclined his head slightly and moved next to me, resting his arms on the railing. “I have to say, I’m surprised that you didn’t bring the elder Arrow along,” he mused as a faint smile played on his face.
“Considering how you knocked him on his ass the last time you two met, I doubt it,” I fired back. The truth was, I hadn’t told Ollie about the note or the meeting. He would’ve been ape over the whole thing. It was best just to tell him after the fact. To say he and Blake didn’t get along was an understatement.
“Queen had it coming, with his holier-than-thou bullshit-”
“I’m quite familiar with this song and dance, believe me. But, I know you didn’t ask me down here for this.”
Blake instantly sobered and stood up to his full height. “I’m sorry. You’re right- I didn’t.” He sighed and I crossed my arms. “Before the death of Superboy, the Six was made up of myself, Deadshot, Parademon, Ragdoll, Scandal-”
“I know this history lesson,” I interrupted.
“And Cheshire,” Blake finished.
Now he had my attention. Lately, Jade had brought nothing but pain. It wasn’t too long ago that she’d tried to kill Dinah, because she was jealous of Dinah’s relationship with Lian. As far as I was concerned, if Jade wanted to blame someone for her lack of relationship with Lian, she could blame herself.
“Well don’t stop there,” I insisted.
“It’s just-I know you don’t want to hear this.”
“I’m a big boy.”
Blake shifted. “Jade betrayed us-she defected to the Society. We tried to talk her out of it. Mockingbird, some mystery guy who led us, told us that if we disobeyed his orders our loved ones would die. We told Jade to cooperate for the sake of your daughter.” Blake gave me a level gaze. “She said Lian was replaceable.”
I uncrossed me arms and took a step back, using the railing as support. I knew that Jade and I would never see eye to eye. Her being a killer and a terrorist kinda put a hold on that. But, I always thought deep down she cared for our daughter.
“Harper, you’re a good man. The fact that you haven’t slugged me and walked off saying that you could handle this all on your own or that I didn’t know what I was talking about testifies to that fact.” I struggled not to laugh as he said this. He had to thinking of Ollie. “Jade… she’s not stable. Keep a close look on your daughter.” I watched as Blake put his hands in his pocket and removed a small disc. “If you ever need any help, use this to contact me.”
I took the com unit and ran my finger along this side. “Why are you helping me?”
“Because, like you, she has given birth to my child. Jade has my son.” Blake moved to leave, but I grabbed his shoulder. “Is this thing two way?”
“Yeah, why?” he inquired as he eyed me.
“Because, when you go and get your son, you’re going to need help.”
Blake nodded. “Thanks.” He turned and began to weave his way into the crowd of tourists, leaving me alone.
Jade, what have you become?
I leaned over the railing and seemingly looked at the lake. To any other passerby I was just another guy checking out the natural sights of Metropolis. In reality, I listened to every foot fall behind me, waiting for a particular pair of steps; those belonging to Tom Blake, Catman -a villain, or former villain, depending upon who you asked. Dinah wasn’t happy about me meeting him, but when a man sends you a letter saying he has information about your kid, you agree to meet him.
I can see why Dinah’d be worried. Blake, during the Crisis that had claimed the lives of Connor and a host of others, had been part of a group of villains known as the Secret Six, who had gone up against another group of villains known as the Society. Yeah, it makes your eyes roll into the back of your head.
“Harper,” a low male voice whispered. I turned to face the mystery man. We were around the same height, he had red hair too, but his was lighter and way longer than mine. He also had a fierce five o’clock shadow.
“Blake.”
He inclined his head slightly and moved next to me, resting his arms on the railing. “I have to say, I’m surprised that you didn’t bring the elder Arrow along,” he mused as a faint smile played on his face.
“Considering how you knocked him on his ass the last time you two met, I doubt it,” I fired back. The truth was, I hadn’t told Ollie about the note or the meeting. He would’ve been ape over the whole thing. It was best just to tell him after the fact. To say he and Blake didn’t get along was an understatement.
“Queen had it coming, with his holier-than-thou bullshit-”
“I’m quite familiar with this song and dance, believe me. But, I know you didn’t ask me down here for this.”
Blake instantly sobered and stood up to his full height. “I’m sorry. You’re right- I didn’t.” He sighed and I crossed my arms. “Before the death of Superboy, the Six was made up of myself, Deadshot, Parademon, Ragdoll, Scandal-”
“I know this history lesson,” I interrupted.
“And Cheshire,” Blake finished.
Now he had my attention. Lately, Jade had brought nothing but pain. It wasn’t too long ago that she’d tried to kill Dinah, because she was jealous of Dinah’s relationship with Lian. As far as I was concerned, if Jade wanted to blame someone for her lack of relationship with Lian, she could blame herself.
“Well don’t stop there,” I insisted.
“It’s just-I know you don’t want to hear this.”
“I’m a big boy.”
Blake shifted. “Jade betrayed us-she defected to the Society. We tried to talk her out of it. Mockingbird, some mystery guy who led us, told us that if we disobeyed his orders our loved ones would die. We told Jade to cooperate for the sake of your daughter.” Blake gave me a level gaze. “She said Lian was replaceable.”
I uncrossed me arms and took a step back, using the railing as support. I knew that Jade and I would never see eye to eye. Her being a killer and a terrorist kinda put a hold on that. But, I always thought deep down she cared for our daughter.
“Harper, you’re a good man. The fact that you haven’t slugged me and walked off saying that you could handle this all on your own or that I didn’t know what I was talking about testifies to that fact.” I struggled not to laugh as he said this. He had to thinking of Ollie. “Jade… she’s not stable. Keep a close look on your daughter.” I watched as Blake put his hands in his pocket and removed a small disc. “If you ever need any help, use this to contact me.”
I took the com unit and ran my finger along this side. “Why are you helping me?”
“Because, like you, she has given birth to my child. Jade has my son.” Blake moved to leave, but I grabbed his shoulder. “Is this thing two way?”
“Yeah, why?” he inquired as he eyed me.
“Because, when you go and get your son, you’re going to need help.”
Blake nodded. “Thanks.” He turned and began to weave his way into the crowd of tourists, leaving me alone.
Jade, what have you become?