Washington, D.C. ~February 13, 21:06 EST~
The streets were dead quiet, bathed in the orange glow of streetlamps. Even the winter air seemed to hold its breath as the shriek of alarms shattered the calm.
Glass exploded outward from the bank window as a man leapt through, clutching a money bag tight against his chest. He hit the ground running, boots pounding on the pavement.
An arrow whistled through the night.
It buried into the asphalt before him, releasing a sudden puff of green smoke. The fleeing thief coughed violently, stumbling, then collapsed unconscious as the narcotic gas overwhelmed him.
From above, a shadow dropped.
Red Arrow landed hard, boots crunching against the pavement. His bow dangled in one hand, its string still thrumming from the release. Wordless, he bent and slapped a pair of cuffs on the thief's wrists.
Sirens wailed in the distance, red-and-blue lights dancing closer. The bank's security guard rushed out, pale-faced but relieved.
"You! You stopped him! Thank you… thank you, sir!"
Red Arrow didn't answer. His eyes slid to the thief's dropped satchel. Without hesitation, he dipped a hand inside and drew out a bundle of bills. The stack vanished beneath his armor in a practiced motion.
The guard, too busy hauling the criminal closer to the bank steps and jabbering into his radio, didn't notice.
Red Arrow turned away, cloak flicking in the light, his expression unreadable.
From the rooftop above, another pair of eyes tracked him. Green Arrow stood in the shadows, arms folded, his face grim.
"…his situation is worse than we thought," he muttered into his comms. "We need to talk with him."
Red Arrow raised his grapple arrow, firing. The line caught, and he swung across the street, landing hard on the opposite building. But his footing slipped, he rolled painfully against the gravel rooftop.
A pair of boots approached.
"Hey, Roy… need a hand?" Green Arrow extended one.
Roy slapped it away, forcing himself upright. "I don't need your help."
But he wasn't alone. From the shadows stepped Nightwing, Kid Flash, Jim Harper, and Black Canary. Their eyes held no malice, only concern.
Nightwing's voice was calm, but firm. "We think you do."
Red Arrow's gaze sharpened. "I have nothing to say. And nothing to justify myself to any of you."
"Really? When you're doing that?" Green Arrow's words cut sharper than any blade.
Roy snarled back. "I need it. I need every resource I can get. Because unlike the rest of you, I haven't given up on finding the real Speedy."
Black Canary stepped forward, soft but steady. "Roy… I know you feel lost. But that doesn't mean you're alone."
His laugh was bitter, sharp. "I'm not the one who's lost. What about you, West?" His eyes darted to Kid Flash. "I thought you ditched the hero game."
Wally stiffened but didn't back down. "I didn't ditch. And you know that. You're our friend, Roy. You know it,deep down. The real Roy was gone before we even met you, but that doesn't change the fact you're part of this team."
Roy turned away, teeth clenched. "Are you done? Then leave me alone. I'll find him. Myself."
His boots echoed as he walked into the night, leaving their words behind.
Hall of Justice, Near the Forest ~ February 13, 22:42 EST ~
Trees shook as a monstrous bellow tore through the night. Superboy dug his heels into the dirt, bracing himself. At his side, Wolf snarled, hackles raised, while Blue Beetle's scarab armor glowed with shifting energy.
Lumbering before them was a nightmare from the League's past—the husks of the Appellaxian warriors, fused into a single grotesque golem. Its mismatched limbs dragged earth and stone with each step.
And its eyes glowed with agony.
Blue Beetle extended a sonic beam, his voice strained. "I think it's… it's alive! It's in pain!"
Superboy shouted over the rumble. "Then what does it want?"
The scarab translated, trembling. "It… wants to die. To use the nuclear plant and destroy itself, end the pain."
Superboy's voice dropped. He clenched his fists, but softer now. "Then let us help you."
The golem paused, its hulking form trembling, as though listening.
But from the shadows, a weapon hummed. The Partner raised a sonic cannon, a cruel smile hidden beneath his hood.
The blast struck like thunder. The communication shattered, the golem's cry of agony cut short as its body cracked and then collapsed in an avalanche of stone and alien flesh.
Silence fell. Guards from the power plant arrived, thanking Superboy for saving them, unaware of what was lost.
Blue Beetle stared at the broken remains. His voice was quiet, hollow. "It… it was alive. And someone killed it."
From deeper shadows, Sportsmaster emerged beside the Partner.
"I left Mannheim and Whisper neutralized. A warning." His eyes were cold as he glanced at the wreckage. "But that?"
The Partner's reply was smooth, calculated.
"Better to destroy it than risk it falling into enemy hands."
Sportsmaster smirked faintly. "On that, we agree."
Palo Alto ~ February 14, 00:30 PST ~
The door creaked open as Wally West slipped inside, exhausted. Artemis looked up from the couch, their pit bull wagging at her feet.
He flopped down beside her with a groan. "Tried to talk to Roy. Didn't work." His hand ran through his hair. "He's… worse than ever."
Artemis touched his arm, gentle. "You tried. That's what matters."
But Wally laughed bitterly. "Tried and failed. Story of my life. I should be writing that Vietnamese Lit paper instead…" He glanced at her, hopeful. "Hey, maybe let me copy yours?"
She smirked, shaking her head. "Nice try."
He sighed dramatically, then leaned closer. Their lips brushed in a kiss, soft but weighted. Valentine's Day, but the sweetness was laced with the shadow of their friend's collapse.
Wally whispered against her hair. "I just… I don't think Roy's ever coming back."
Star City – Red Arrow's Secret Apartment
The door slammed as Roy staggered inside. He dropped his bow carelessly, collapsing onto the couch. His breath came in ragged bursts.
From the window, a voice slid through the dark.
"You've wasted away, Roy."
Cheshire stepped out, mask gleaming faintly. She studied him with narrowed eyes. "You're not the man I knew. Your body's worn down. Your mind's breaking."
Roy glared, forcing venom into his voice. "You lost the right to criticize me when you walked away. When you crawled back to your life of crime."
She tilted her head, calm. "That wasn't the reason I left. Not really." She stepped closer. "It was this. Your obsession. The hunt for a ghost that's killing you."
Roy barked a laugh, bitter and broken. "Obsession? He's original. I am just the clone without goals. Who's going to stop my obsession?"
Cheshire's gaze softened—uncharacteristically. "Not even her?"
Roy froze. "Her…?"
From the shadows, she lifted a small bundle. A baby, asleep, swaddled in soft cloth.
Roy's eyes widened, blood draining from his face.
"This is Lian Nguyen-Harper," Cheshire whispered. "Your daughter. She needs you,Roy."
The world tilted. Roy stumbled forward, trembling as he took the bundle into his arms. The baby stirred, tiny fists waving, and Roy's throat closed with emotion.
"I… I'm a father?" His voice broke.
Cheshire nodded once. "Yes. And you need to stop destroying yourself. Not for me. For her."
Roy holding his daughter with trembling hands, said with quivering voice.
"What should I do now? I feel lost and..."
At that time, a third voice cut through the moment. Smooth. Unfamiliar.
"Then perhaps I can offer you… direction."
Roy spun, his bow half-raised—until he froze.
From the hallway stepped Ryotaro, his eyes calm but carrying a weight that silenced the room.
"Who the hell are you?" Roy demanded.
Ryotaro's gaze flicked to the baby, then back. "Are you already forgotten about me? That didn't matter. I can tell you where the real Speedy is. But if you want him back, I need something in return."
Roy's grip tightened. "You are that Rider guy, Ryotaro. I didn't know people can change that much. Also I hate making a deal with uninvited guest."
"You don't have to." Ryotaro's tone never wavered. "I am just giving you a chance. I want you to do only one thing for me inside the Justice League. There's nothing harmful about it. Also I can give you the location of the original Roy. It's not a bad deal for you. Isn't it?"
Roy's jaw tightened. "And why should I trust you?"
Cheshire went near Roy and taking her daughter back from Roy carefully. And then she said with a straight voice.
"You don't need to make a deal with him. I also got the information about the original Roy."
Ryotaro stepped closer, voice low.
"Ohh.. Okay. But my information is straight from the Deathstroke. Also Roy, you don't need to trust me. You are not the only one who is searching him. I'm the only one who can help you with that."
Silence filled the room. The baby stirred again in Cheshire's arms, soft and innocent.
And in that silence, the weight of a choice pressed down harder than ever.
*********
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