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BLOODLUST pt. 1

BLOODLUST Masterlist

Prologue Part Two

"Well," Y/N sighed. "This doesn't look too hot."

Icicle Junior had leapt down from the posts of the bridge and had created a steep ramp in the middle of the road, sending cars flying. He threw his head back and laughed manically as the civilians swerved to try and avoid the ice.

Y/N rushed towards the cars as they flew through the air. She heard people's screams from within and ran as fast as she could, whipping out her knife and slashing her palms open. She felt the blood gush onto her skin and shouted, "STRONG!" as she caught the car midair and lowered it to the ground as gently as she could before moving onto the next one.

"Finally!" Junior shouted, noticing her. "I was wondering what a guy had to do to get a little attention around here!"

He lurched towards Y/N, only to be thwarted by an arrow piercing the back of his shoulder. Several more forced their way into his wall of ice.

Y/N scoffed and pressed down on the microphone of her earpiece. "Took you long enough."

"Yeah, yeah, shut up," Roy Harper grouched. "I don't see you fighting Junior."

"Civies are more important than villains," Y/N mused. She stepped a bit farther from Icicle Junior as the arrows began to beep, indicating that they were armed with explosives. "That's my motto, Speedy."

The blasts went off, and Junior grunted in pain as his wall broke apart. He fell back and snarled up at where Speedy and Green Arrow stood atop the bridge, their next arrows prepped and ready.

Junior summoned massive clumps of ice on his arms, then roared with effort as he chucked them up at the two archers.

"Junior's doing all this for attention?" Roy demanded. He let out another explosive arrow.

"I know," Y/N grumbled. "It's odd." She rushed at Junior, bloody hands extended, and ordered, "BURN!"

"Oh, no, you don't!" Icicle Junior leapt back, narrowly dodging Y/N's hands, which had started to smoke with heat. "Nobody told you, pretty girl? Ice and fire don't mix!"

He tossed several spikes of ice at her, but Y/N simply smacked a couple out of the way and they turned to puddles at her touch. The rest embedded themselves in the ground, and Y/N kept running.

Meanwhile, Roy and Oliver had made their way down to the street, and were firing off more arrows at Junior as he attempted to dodge each of Y/N's attacks.

"I'm telling you now," Roy stated. "This little distraction better not interfere."

Icicle Junior saw the arrows coming and quickly put up a frozen shield all around him. The explosive arrows made a hole in his barrier, and Y/N began to punch through the ice as well. Her burning blood splattered across the ice, reducing it to water in seconds.

Trapped, Junior threw one last attack. He punched the air in Speedy's direction and kicked at Y/N, sending massive blasts of sharpened ice crystals at them both.

Y/N ducked out of the way, but felt some of the ice pierce her abdomen as she tried to escape the blast. Pain shot through her body and she yelped.

"HEAL!" she commanded, feeling the cuts on her hands seal quickly. The wound from being impaled began to patch itself up, a bit slower than her hands.

Roy, however, practically smirked as he jumped over his attack, pulling an arrow from his quiver and releasing it mid-air. The arrowhead slammed into Junior's chin hard, knocking him unconscious.

Green Arrow looked down at their adversary and chuckled. "Kid had a glass jaw!"

"Hilarious," Speedy said quickly. "Can we go?"

"Wow, such patience," Y/N teased, throwing her arm around his shoulders. "It's almost saint-like."

"Can you blame me?" Roy asked, quirking a brow at her. "Today's the day."

"That it is," Black Canary agreed as she pulled her motorcycle up to them. "Y/N, you good?"

"Peachy." The girl tapped the mended skin of her abdomen, feeling the newly formed flesh. "No more injuries. I may need a snack on the way, though."

"That's good." She tossed a helmet to the girl. "Get on and grab a bar. You don't want to be late, do you?"

The Hall of Justice was not the main base for the Justice League. Y/N had known that since Canary had elected to go off on a solo mission for a month, leaving Bloodlust to work with Green Arrow and Speedy. After a particularly grueling patrol, Oliver had invited the two of them to his house where he proceeded to patch them up, get drunk, and reveal the truth about the Justice League's headquarters.

"You see," he'd mumbled, "the Hall is just a fro-hic!-a front. We used to be at Mount Justice but then-hic!-our enemies found out about it." He'd spread his arms and eyes wide, looking absolutely scandalized. "Can you bel-hic!-believe that?" He'd shaken his head and returned to his bottle. "I can't believe that. How'd they-hic!-find us? I don't know."

Y/N had met Roy's eyes, sending him a silent question:

Do we ask more questions?

Roy had answered by turning to Oliver, his lips pursed in thought. "So, um. Where is your headquarters?"

"Mm." Oliver had lifted a hand and pointed to the ceiling. "The-hic!-Watchtower." He'd nodded firmly. "It's-hic!-in space. A satellite." Then he'd smiled softly. "Lovely view."

And so Y/N knew they were being played when Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado greeted her and the rest of her colleagues.

"Robin, Speedy, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Bloodlust," Manhunter listed off, "welcome. You now have unlimited access to the gym, our fully stocked galley, and of course..." He trailed off as the doors to the library opened up. "Our library."

"Make yourselves at home," Flash offered, gesturing to the armchairs scattered about near the large computer screens beside the Zeta tubes on the far side of the library.

Robin immediately flopped into one seat, as did Kid Flash. Aqualad instead gestured for Y/N to take the remaining chair, and she did with a polite smile, kicking one leg over the other. Speedy rested his hand on the back of her chair, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Don't tell me," he whispered, barely audible to anyone but Bloodlust, "this is the end of the tour."

"It better not be," Y/N hissed back.

But much to her disappointment, their mentors huddled close together, physically cutting the protégés out of the conversation even if they could still hear.

"Quick debrief to discuss the coincidence of four ice villains attacking on the same day," Batman explained, turning his head back to the sidekicks. "We shouldn't be too long."

With that, the adults turned to the Zeta tubes. Batman typed in his command into the computers, and the tubes whirred to life.

"Recognized: Batman, 0-2," the automated voice rang out. "Aquaman, 0-6. Flash, 0-4. Green Arrow, 0-8. Black Canary, 1-3. Martian Manhunter, 0-7. Red Tornado, 1-6."

"That's it?" Roy demanded, standing up straight. "You promised us a real look inside! Not a glorified backstage pass!"

"It is the first step," Aquaman replied calmly. "You've been granted access few others get."

"Oh, really?" Bloodlust growled. She gestured up to the windows, outside of which several civilians watched with cameras flashing. "Who cares which side of the glass we're on? This is insulting."

"Y/N," Canary began, stepping closer, "I understand your frustrations. Both of you," she added, nodding to Roy. "But you need to be patient."

"Patient?!" Y/N scoffed.

"What we need is respect," Roy scowled, crossing his arms over his chest. He looked to Robin, Aqualad, and Kid Flash, who seemed appalled at the outburst. "They're treating us like kids. Worse... like sidekicks. We deserve better than this!"

But to Y/N and Roy's shock, none of them said anything. Then it hit her.

They don't know about the Watchtower, do they?

"You're kidding, right?" Roy seethed. "You're playing their game?! Why?!"

"Wait, Roy." Y/N tried to reach out for him, but Speedy shrugged her hand away.

"Today was supposed to be the day! Step one in becoming full-fledged members of the League!" Roy shouted.

"Well," Kid Flash muttered, "sure. But I thought step one was a tour of HQ?"

"Roy, they don't know," Y/N said softly, her anger slowly ebbing away.

Roy just leveled her with a cold look. "Then it's about time they learn." Then he turned back to the other protégés. "I bet they never told you, huh?"

Y/N didn't miss the way Oliver stiffened, nor the way Dinah's head shot over to him, the unmistakable air of fury about her.

"This place," Roy began, "the Hall of Justice, isn't the real thing. It's a false front for tourists and a pit stop for catching zeta beams to the real thing; an orbiting satellite called the Watchtower."

Batman, Aqualad, and Flash all rounded on Green Arrow. Canary's fingers twitched, like she was seriously considering strangling the man.

Oliver sighed and raised his hands in surrender. "I know, I know, but I thought maybe we could make an exception!"

"And you told Y/N, too?" Dinah growled. "Without my permission?"

"He didn't even tell us on purpose," Y/N reported. "He was drunk."

"Regardless, you are not helping your cause here, lass," Aqualad said. He tried to step closer to Y/N and Roy. "Stand down, son, or—"

"Or what?" Roy interrupted him furiously. "You'll send me to my room? And I'm not your son! I'm not even his," he snarled, turning to Oliver. "I thought I was his partner. But not anymore."

Y/N froze. "Roy, what—"

But he plucked his cap off of his head and dashed it to the ground. He turned his back to the Justice League, and shook his head disapprovingly at the protégés, who sat in stunned silence.

"I guess they're right about the three of you," he said coldly. "You're not ready. C'mon, Bloodlust."

But Y/N didn't move. She stood still as the world seemed to pause around her. She felt the piercing eyes of Dinah on her back, the bated breath of Roy before her, both eagerly awaiting her decision.

And what would her decision be?

They don't fully trust me, she noted. The League, at least. I'm only sixteen, I don't know my way around this line of work as well as I act like I do. Of course Dinah didn't want me finding out about the Watchtower. I could never make it on my own at this level. Petty thieves are one thing, but now the world associates me with Justice League-level threats, and I'm just not there yet. Not by myself.

But with Roy? I wouldn't be alone, I'd have someone with the same level of training as I. He trusts me, he's shown that time and time again. We're friends. He's my best friend.

But Canary—Dinah—she's like an older sister to me. Without her, I'd still be working three jobs to barely be able to support myself. I'd be broke and alone and I would never have made it this far.

What do I do?

"I..." Y/N swallowed the lump in her throat. "I'm sorry, Roy. But I'm staying with Canary for now."

Roy turned to face her, eyes wide. There was a glimmer of rage in his eyes, mixed with a twinge of hurt. His jaw loosened as he stared deep into her eyes.

"You're joking."

Silently, Y/N shook her head. For the first time in the years she'd known Roy Harper, she had never had him look at her this way. It stung in a manner she didn't know was possible.

"No." Y/N stood her ground. "I-I'm going to stay. With Canary. And them," she added, waving vaguely at the three boys watching this unfold. "I'm not confident in my ability to go off on my own, Roy. I-I don't doubt you. But I'm not strong enough yet."

There was a moment of silence.

"Fine," Roy whispered. "I can't say I'm not surprised. But it does hurt."

And with that, Roy stormed out of the room.

His absence left a bitter taste in Y/N's mouth. She kept her eyes on the doors, even as behind her, a notification alarm went off and the image of Superman projected onto the screen. She kept her eyes on the doors as Zatara, too, joined the call. And she kept her eyes on the doors as Canary walked up to her and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"I know it hurts, Y/N," she whispered, "but you did the right thing."

"It doesn't feel like it," Y/N replied in the same hushed tone, her voice cracking at the end.

"Hm."

"So..." Kid Flash started once the heroes had Zeta'd away to handle the threat Zatara had warned them of. "Are you okay?"

Y/N almost laughed at the question. "Do I look like I'm okay, KF?"

"Right, stupid question, sorry."

Y/N nodded.

Aqualad sighed heavily. "My King, I thought he trusted me. And yet... what else are they not telling us?"

"In Arrow's defense," Robin said, "Bloodlust did say he was intoxicated. But I've got a better question. Why didn't you leave with Speedy, Blood? And why didn't we?"

Y/N did not respond. Instead, after a beat of quiet, Aqualad looked up with a frown.

"What is Project Cadmus?"

"Genetics lab," Y/N replied swiftly. "Based here, in D.C. Don't know much else."

"Well!" Robin stood and cracked his knuckles before marching over to the computer. "Let's see what else we can find out."

"Access denied," the computer replied as Robin punched in some codes.

"Ha! Wanna bet?" Robin smirked and his fingers flew over the keyboard again. Soon, he managed to tear down the encryptions on the file.

"Whoa..." KF mused. "How are you doing that?"

"Same system as the Batcave," Robin replied. He pressed one last key, and the computer screen switched to a file titled 'Project Cadmus.'

"Access granted."

"We can see that," Y/N whispered, turning to see the screen. She skimmed the text, then shook her head. "Yeah, that's all they've got. Genetics lab in D.C."

"But if Batman's suspicious, maybe we should investigate?" Robin prompted.

"Solve their case," Aqualad translated, "before they do."

"We'll get in so much trouble," Y/N pointed out.

"Not like you're not used to that," Robin fired back. "Don't think I haven't seen your file, Bloodlust."

Y/N glared at him. "Alright. I might be fine. But you?"

"I stand with Bloodlust," Aqualad said. "They told us to stay put."

"For the blotting out the sun mission," Robin stated. "Not this."

"Wait!" KF cut in, raising a hand to stop them. "Are you guys going to Cadmus? Because if you're going, I'm going."

"Just like that?" Aqualad seemed surprised. "We're a team on a mission?"

Y/N chewed her lip. "I'm still not certain about this. But..." She turned to the screen, looking long and hard at the Cadmus logo. "I'll admit. Canary and I were worried about Cadmus. Have any of you guys heard of the legend?"

"Yes," Aqualad replied. "The Cadmus of myth created a new race by planting dragons' teeth into the ground."

"Yeah. We were worried that this Cadmus may be more like their namesake than they say," Y/N said. "Like, their genetic experiments may verge into illegal territory."

"I see..."

"Great!" Robin clapped his hands together. "I mean, not great, but great! That gives us another reason to check it out for ourselves! C'mon, Bloodlust! If they're doing what you suspect, we could bring them to justice. Our mentors can't blame us for that."

"They are all about justice," KF mused.

Finally, Y/N heaved a sigh. "You're not going to stop trying to convince me, are you?"

Robin just grinned.

"Fine. Fine." Y/N raised her hands in surrender. "But I'm only consenting to reconnaissance. We go in, collect information, and we get out."

KF and Robin exchanged giddy smiles.

Then Robin turned to Y/N, a sly gleam in his eyes. "Ready to be whelmed?"

Post corrections/clarifications are my favorite genre of humor: a compilation

why not? lol

Oh~

Шикардосный арт

Я тут в уголку поподыхаю немного, лады?