So Many Things To Talk About

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"You could have stopped that you know?"

"Shut up"

Your eyes slowly opened, as the haziness covering your mind lifted. Only the feeling of fatigue remained as the world around you groggily came into view.

Everything ached, the feeling of soreness mixed in with pain filled your entire body.

'How many times have I woken up here?'

The voice in your head sounded dejected, and a little disappointed. Still, you pushed yourself to sit up in your bed. Your arms shook a little due to the strain but you managed to do it.

'Green. Presence. Zatanna. Auction. Static. Just what in the hell- ow'

Your head began to hurt as you tried to process the events of last night- 'Was it last night?' or the events before you collapsed.

'How long have I been asleep?'

You pushed down the numerous questions in your head, for now at least. Being mentally overloaded wouldn't help you currently, so it was best to try and process your thoughts later.

You looked at your hands, specifically the one that had a blade attached to it. Fresh stitches were embedded in it, although despite that it almost looked completely healed.

'Having a doctor in your group is surprisingly helpful, even with the speed at which my body recovers. Although it'd be better if said doctor wasn't so good at reading other people's psyches'

You grabbed the IV attached to your arm and ripped it out, not caring enough to cover it since 'It'll heal soon anyways'.

You slid your legs off the bed, allowing for them to hit the floor with some authority. A quiet but echoey thud followed. One that you could hear.

'Quiet, but at least I can still hear. I should be good after a few days. I thought I'd be deaf after hearing that last Cry'

The stress of your body truly kicked in when you stood up, an aching pain spreading throughout your body. You flinched, before forcing yourself to walk out of the room.

After making it through a few more long hallways, you entered the entrance to the employee lounge room.

Hugo was standing behind the bar, an empty glass beside him while he was scribbling something down on a clipboard he was holding.

"Good morning"

"Morning?"

"Yes, you were out for the night"

Making it or the couch, you allowed yourself to sink into it. A more relaxed expression crossing your face.

"How much longer until the auction"

"Let's see. On the seventh day before the auction we got drunk and you and Static fought. Sixth day you guys spent recovering. Fifth day you raided the museum. And now we're on the fourth day"

"So around three and a half?"

"In short"

"That's too little"

Hugo looked up at you from his work with eyes that looked like they could see right through your soul.

"Then why go through all the trouble L/N?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm asking you why you even agreed to "save" Gotham in the first place. I went along with it but a proper answer would be nice"

Your gaze shifted from Hugo to the couch, a sigh leaving your lips as you did so.

"He saved my life twice so I owe him for that. And shouldn't I take a bit of responsibility for Gotham's current state?"

Hugo stared at you a few moments longer, before turning his attention back to his work.

"If that's what you think"

"Well, if you're done questioning me, then mind telling me what's going on with- where's the pouch!?"

It had just hit you that you woke up without the pouch, the very thing you and Static suffered for.

"I already sold them"

"Excuse me?"

"Do you honestly think I'd sit idly by? If this.....group of ours is going to work then we all need to contribute, I'm well aware of that"

You turned your body so that you were once again facing the doctor.

"That's not what I'm concerned about. What I'm concerned about is how and who you sold those jewels to in such a short amount of time"

"I see"

Despite what he said, Hugo made no effort to continue the conversation, which started to make you a little annoyed.

"You keep mentioning "connections", but it would help me sleep better at night if I knew who said connections were"

"Alright then, that's fair. Why don't we come to an agreement right now then"

"Agreement?"

"Yes. I will only tell you the identity of our informants, or people I make contact with if I know it won't put you in a moral dilemma"

"And before you ask, it's because I don't need you hesitating to receive help from someone that doesn't fit into the belief system you created"

You narrowed your eyes as Hugo continued. Your face going stiff.

"I'm fascinated by you L/N, but I'm not going to cut off my network of information just because you don't find my contacts morally right. Because if I am being honest, most of them are people who would or have commuted the worst sins one could think of"

You felt your hand tune into a fist, but you quickly relaxed it as you took a deep breath.

"Now for this particular situation, I met Magpie"

"............Magpie?"

The name was familiar, but you couldn't quite put your finger on who exactly it was.

"Yes. She is completely obsessed with shiny objects to the point of insanity. Hence how I know her, since due to this she was put in the Asylum for some time for rehabilitation"

"So that's how you were able to sell them so fast"

"Correct. According to what I know she's already collected every jewel accessible in her turf, so she was quite happy with the results"

"Her turf?"

Hugo looked at you quizzically, before understanding dawned in his eyes.

"For someone who seems to know so much about things you shouldn't, you know quite little about what you should"

Shaking his head, the doctor turned back to his work as he spoke.

"Gothams underworld at the moment is more than the Zones and the Lords. New turfs and groups have formed among the chaos, and without a doubt more individuals who don't belong in Gotham have come as well"

"The place you infringed on was Catwoman's turf, hence why Magpie was excited to get her hands on it. And even willing..........."

Hugo reached under the bar, and pulled out a black suitcase from the bottom drawer. Opening it, you could see stacks and stacks of cash.

A golden light seemed to shine from the money, as a holy feeling began to emanate from it. You thought you were going to cry out of joy.

"To pay quite the hefty amount"

"Its beautiful"

"Hey guys I just wanted to say- my EYES!"

A third voice interrupted your guys' conversation, as a wide-eyed Static also stared at the high amount of money. It seemed he could also see the blinding light as he half-heartedly attempted to cover his eyes, although he still allowed for them to peek at the moola through his fingers.

"It's beautiful"

You merely nodded your head, and both you and Static just continued to stare at the pile of cash with expressions of relief and hope. All you both had suffered through meant something, you guys' earned that, and that was why you were both so caught up in a trance.

Or maybe you both really like money, I don't know.

Hugo, seeing as this was going nowhere, shut the case and put it back in its previous spot.

As if a switch had been flicked, when the click of the case sounded both you and Static snapped out of your awed expressions and took a moment to come back to reality.

Your face went back to complacency, but also thoughtfulness due to you thinking about what Hugo said, while Statics face became determined.

Walking over to the couch opposite of you, he sat down with certainty.

You tilted your head to the side at the Hero's actions, a curious expression on your face.

"I want to apologize"

And with just those two words, the memories of last night hit you like a brick, or more precisely your memories when you'd just landed at the Asylum.

An enormous wave of guilt washed through your body as you remembered your outburst, and the fact Static was apologizing now didn't help that feeling.

"After last night I-......it hit me that I'm in over my head"

"Maybe the League were right about me or the Titans not being ready"

"I froze. We had a chance to escape and I......I couldn't see through the red- his red I'm....I'm sorry"

Static's head turned towards the floor, silence filling the room after his statement.

Hugo was looking at you, interest visible in his expression and his eyes ever so analytic.

"I can't forgive you Static"

The Hero flinched as you spoke, but didn't say anything to try to plead his case.

"Because if that were to ever happen again, chances are one of us would die. Believe me, I would know. So I can't move on from that and accept your apology"

Static's head tilted towards the ground even more, his body language being that of dejection.

"So instead of apologizing with words, prove you're sorry through your actions"

Static finally looked up, confusion but also hopefulness in his eyes.

"Wait so you're not"-

"Static, the facts are, your slip up almost cost us. But it's also a fact that you saved my life, twice"

"I pay back my debts. So don't make me regret in the future not giving up on Gotham at this exact moment"

"I won't"

"Just this once, I will trust you again- believe, in you again. So swear to me a moment like that will never happen again"

"I swear"

That hopefulness in his gaze was gone. So was the shock. There was no gratitude or happiness. Only the look of pure seriousness and sincerity could be seen on his face.

"Well then"

Hugo's voice joined in with your guys' conversation, a small smile on the doctor's face.

"Now that the animosity between you two has been solved, we have 3 days until the auction, any suggestions on some sort of plan would be well appreciated"

"Before that, there's something I need to do"

Static brushed off Hugo's comment and stood from his spot on the couch. He walked over to the board where The List was.

The Hero squinted his eyes, one of his hands glowing a faint blue.

"We need to destroy this"

Static reached his hand up to touch the board, but you grabbed the limb before he could do so.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

"WE NEED TO DESTROY THIS"

"THE LIST STAYS"

"WE JUST MADE IT AND WE'VE ALREADY MET CANARY. IT'S CURSED"

"NO!"

"IT'S JINXING US Y/N LISTEN TO REASON"

"IT STAYS!"

Hugo looked at the argument you both were having and shook his head, a dejected look on his face.

"Gotham's saviours huh?"

Hugo chuckled a little, as if he could barely believe the statement himself.

"I wonder how far we'll go before we all die"










"How........she doing?"

"She should be waking up within the next few minutes. Whatever happened to her appeared to have no permanent damage"

"But you know how different magical injuries can be compared to physical, so we aren't 100% sure"

Canary continued to pace around the bed her friend was laying in. She has arrived at an area run by someone named Lucius Fox and hadn't had a wink of sleep since they arrived.

Lucius himself, who had just entered the room with a tray with an assortment of breakfast dishes, looked at Canary with a hint of worry.

"Mrs you've barely slept and your voice still needs rest. Your friend will be taken care of properly I assure you"

The female Hero nodded to what the man was saying, but it appeared she wasn't really paying attention to what he was saying. It wasn't that she didn't trust him, I mean if Batman trusts someone then they have to be trustworthy, it's just that she felt a hint responsible for her friend's condition.

"Soon. Bats contact Fate?"

"He is trying his best, but you know how hard it can be to reach out to an individual like him without him contacting first"

"I...see"-

Their conversation was interrupted as the figure in the bed sat up in a panic, startling both Canary and Lucius.

Instantly, Lucius was in front of the panicked Hero, grasping both of her hands gently.

"Mrs. Zatara, I'm a friend of Batman and I'm here with Mrs Lance""

"D-Dinah?"

"Yes, Dinah's here right now. You are safe"

Zatanna's widened eyes morphed into a look of recognition, but her hands were still trembling.

"Mrs. Lance please comfort her while I go inform Batman about this development"

"Yes"

Trading places with the butler, Canary heard the shutting of a door behind her as she began to focus on her friend.

"Hey"

Zatanna didn't speak, but instead nodded at Canary's words. It seemed she was still trying to find her voice.

"What happ...ened to. You"

Canary pointed to her own nose with one of her hands, which caused Zatanna to instinctively check if there was any more of that black liquid.

Finding nothing, Zatanna looked back to her friend and shook her head.

Deciding to change the subject, Canary filled the magician in.

"Can't report. Cause v........ce. Need. You"

"Alright"

Zatanna still seemed very shaken up, but Canary decided not to pursue the reason as to why. If she wanted to talk about it, she would bring it up herself.

Lucius returned, but this time with a screen in his hands, one that displayed the face of Batman.

"Barbara updated me, so before you ask, she's fine. Now, Zatanna, an explanation of what happened last night"

"You were right. Y/N and Static went to the Museum we were stationed at, and didn't deny it when I brought up they were there for the auction"

"Good, we know they'll be there. But how did they get away in the first place? I wouldn't expect someone like you or Dinah to lose, much less both of you"

Canary's expression turned a bit sour as she glared at the man in the cowl.

"Yeah. Static seems to have found a new way to use his powers and Y/N seems immune to electricity or at least resistant to it, so a little knowledge of that beforehand would've been helpful"

"Did you at least try to convince Static to come back"

"Yes, I shut off his coms and we asked him, but he refused"

Batman didn't respond, but instead asked a different question.

"Why were you unconscious"

"I tried to activate a teleportation spell on Y/N and Static. But when it began everything just........."

Her voice trailed off, as a foggy look formed in her gaze.

"Just?"

"I can't talk about it with you, I need to talk to Fate. This is something beyond probably all of our capabilities"

"And what makes you say that"

"The fact I just met-.............please just trust me on this"

Batman just blankly stared at the magician, which made her start to squirm in her bed a little, her eyes cast off to the side.

"You will not be participating in the auction infiltration"

Zatanna's mouth opened in protest but- "It's not because you won't tell me what happened, it's because if you go unconscious again during a mission like this one, you will die. So until we figure out how Y/N's doing this, you will not interact with him in any way"

The magic user shut her mouth and looked off to the side, a frustrated expression on her face.

"Dinah, are you sure you'll be good enough to use your Cry by the date of the mission"

The Hero nodded.

"Good. I'll inform the rest of the team of what you all learned. For now just recover from your injuries"

The tablet Lucius was holding shut off, a sound fitting of such an action following.

Lucius chuckled a little, before holding the device in a more comfortable manner.

"I apologize if he seemed hostile. Sitting back like this is probably eating him up inside. I mean you saw what happened when his vehicle was spotted...."

"Yes, thank you for everything by the way"

"Of course Mrs. Zatara. I will contact you if there's any word on Doctor Fate"

"Yes. Uhm, by the way, who are you?"

"Lucius Fox, but you can call me Lucius. It's only fair since I know your real names. By the way, I was only told in case of situations where you couldn't get to the Batcave such as this. So you can trust your secrets are safe with me"

"I see"

Nodding his head, Lucius walked out of the room the  pair were in and shut the door behind him.

Immediately Canary turned to Zatanna.

"I know. Wh......you're thinking"

"I don't know what you're talking about"

"Zatanna!"

Canary managed to croak out her friend's name quite loudly, before she grabbed her throat in reaction to the pain coming from it.

"C'mon Dinah, you know I don't like sitting back like this. We're doing the world a disservice by hiding someone as magnificent as myself"

She winked a little at the end to show she was joking about that last part, but Canary wasn't taking the deflection of her question.

"Promise"

Zatanna stared at her friend, annoyance visible on her face before she laid back down on the bed.

"Get some rest, and stop talking so much"

Closing her eyes, the magician knew she wasn't going to get any sleep after what she saw. But, it was the best way to avoid answering Canary's questions.

And answering said question, was something she did not want to do.

























Ow. That one hurt.

Sorry for the almost two week chapter post, it was my birthday and a whole bunch of crap happened and I've been really crammed for time. This won't become a regular thing again I swear.

Anyways bye.


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