"I could just leave, you know?" I pointed out. "My threat is still very real, Batman. Don't force my hand."
"Batman told us of your threats," Zatara said, stepping forward. "Fifteen caches filled with audio and video files set to be released by a lawyer on retainer should you not check in once every month?"
My eyes went wide. How did he know? I'd paid in cash. Found a lawyer in Seattle. Opened a fake bank account. Batman was good, but there was no connection.
"Don't tell you plan to rob the bank I put them in?"
"Unnecessary," Batman said. "We can go through the proper channels once you're prosecuted for your cris."
I looked at Zatara, impressed. Sure, Sorcery was strong, but it wasn't as versatile as pure magic.
I laughed. "So, you magicked the answers. Not bad, Batman. I expected more sleuthing. Can't say I'm not disappointed. But if you think that'll get to cooperate, you don't know very well."
I held up a phone and loaded a local social dia app, finger hovering over the Live feature. "I think Supervillain Max will be safe and cozy enough. Plenty of ti and freedom to tell all sorts of important people what I know about you. Wonder Woman could still lasso , sure, but then she'd have to explain why to the rest of the world."
I smiled. "If we're done with the dick-asuring, let's really talk. No threats, no jail ti, and I don't spill all my secrets."
Batman exchanged looks with Wonder Woman and Zatanna. Flash whistled.
"A compromise then," Batman finally said. "I will use the Lasso. I'm not immune to its effects. We keep each other honest and avoid questions neither of us wants answered."
"Not good enough," I shook my head. "That Lasso is going nowhere near my skin. I have intel. You need it. The fate of the world is at stake, and you don't even know where to start looking. You'll just have to trust that I like breathing as much as you do."
A mont of silent conversation passed between the Leaguers as they exchanged looks.
"Against our better judgnt, we're choosing to take you at your word," he said. "But understand this: there won't be a third chance, Julius. You burn this bridge, and I'll co for you personally."
I gulped involuntarily. The desire for a more potent alternative to my defense-heavy fighting style had never felt more urgent. A robust body was a start, but I needed a more diverse trick bag. Like Batman and Robin. Poison grenades, chloroform, acids, and anything else I could get my hands on. I needed to be untouchable when shit hit the fan.
"ssage received," I said. "I guess you'll be moving the family out of Austin."
"We already have a place picked out," Batman said. "Sowhere close to a few Leaguers, should you need help."
"That sounds suspiciously like house arrest," I muttered.
"Ideally, we'd like to keep you safe," he replied. "But you've always made your own choices."
I grunted, catching his aning. My mobility was going to be hampered now that they were actively monitoring . All it would take is one spy under a Binding Vow, and I was done. I didn't like this. Not at all.
But I refused to be hunted and herded like prey.
"We'll play by your rules for now," I said. "Now let see my family."
"Bedside manner of a porcupine," Flash muttered, low enough that most people wouldn't have caught it.
I moved on.
"So, you blew things up again," Sasha said, almost casually. We were driving down a long winding road headed toward so place called Happy Harbor. Apparently, it used to be an old Justice League base abandoned since the early days. So old and counterintuitive that it was the last place anyone would think to look.
I raised a brow when Batman ntioned it, but Shazam chid in, explaining the new hero team they were forming used it as a base too. Made sense now why they'd ship there. Free healing. Leaguers nearby. Constant monitoring.
"Really? You're not going to say anything?" she pressed. "What finally did it? Was it the vigilante stuff? Or did you just piss off the wrong people again?"
"None of the above," I said. "This is family business. My dad's old sort-of-lieutenant slash killer wants to work for her and take over the world."
"What!" The look on their faces was priceless.
I leaned back, eyes drifting up through the sunroof. "If I'm being one hundred percent, I think sothing might've been going on between them," I added, then shook my head.
"I nearly died to the batshit British girl they sent after . Cut her up good, but I suspect death didn't quite take."
The more I revealed, the paler they got. Candace especially.
Candace looked downright maudlin. I'd taken great care to hide things from her, but now it was all out in the open.
"Jesus," Sasha muttered. "It's always one thing after another with you, isn't it? You have all this money, and apparently a super brain, but you can't just seem to take the fucking win and walk away."
"It's not that simple."
"It's simple enough when you have a family," she yelled. "It wasn't enough when you had ten bucks to your na. And it's not enough now that you have a million," she said, glaring at through the rearview mirror. Her mascara was smudged. Eyes red. "You're why Eddie is dead."
"Sasha!" Candace snapped.
"This again," I said, so anger slipping into my voice. "Eddie wasn't so innocent spring chicken, and you know he's even more bullheaded than I am. He did what he did because he thought he was helping you. If that's eating you up inside, that's on you. But don't make this about ."
"Fuck you, Julius," she said, folding her arms, looking straight ahead.
"Fuck you too."
A long silence lapsed between us before she spoke again.
"I won't do this a third ti. Start over. Spend every waking day looking over my shoulder. I want out," she said and touched Mom's shoulder.
"And you should too. Things were finally going well for you in Austin. Even managed to wrangle a promotion out of your asshole boss. You'll start again in bumfuck Happy Harbor," she intoned with air quotes.
I raised a brow. "So that is what it is about? You want money, don't you? Enough to make a clean break and do whatever it is you want without us judging you."
"I can't say so distance away from your brand of crazy won't do so good."
She was an asshole, but she was right.
This wasn't sustainable for Sasha or Mom. They needed their own lives, untethered from . And Happy Harbor seed as good a place as any to make a clean break.
Sasha was probably going to piss off the money I gave her, but Mom could really use the fresh start. She'd done what she could. And I didn't really need supervision.
"I know tensions are a bit high right now," Mom began, ever the diplomat, "but we're all we've got left. If we start leaving now—"
"Sasha is as subtle as a hamr, but she has a point," I said, unintentionally cutting Mom off. "I'm a magnet for trouble, and it'd be irresponsible to tell you that my ssiness won't get you killed."
"Julius," Mom began, but Sasha had a smug look on her face.
"At least he's self-aware."
"I'll have to give you the cash and trust that you're smart enough to not get robbed or worse."
"Deal," Sasha said rather quickly.
"Julius, wait!" Mom began. "Don't do this. Don't send us away again. You need people in your corner. That's how you stay grounded. Otherwise—"
"I'd lose myself?" I asked. "That ship has sailed, Mom. I'm acutely aware of what I am. And I'm not afraid of it. The question is, are you?"
Mom opened her mouth and noises ca out. Sasha was rcifully silent.
"I guess that answers that question then," I said, nodding to myself. "I'll tell Batman to make other arrangents. The world is your oyster. Choose wisely."
"I'm just worried about you," Mom finally managed.
"You and both," I chuckled, "but don't worry. I'm not exactly starved for conversation. I've got an entire team of people my age to bug."
I didn't realize I was smiling until I looked into the rearview mirror. It wasn't the usual sort I had when I tried to say sothing witty, or I had sothing evil on my mind.
I was genuinely looking forward to seeing them. Artemis especially. I wonder how pissed off she'll be.
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