No one slept that night. Some stayed with Cassandra until the porters from the Hall of Justice took her away. Others retreated to their rooms for various reasons. I wanted to stay, but I felt like I was taking up space from those who knew her longer.
I just laid in my bed, waiting for the sun to rise. That was until the door to my room opened. A woman was in the doorway, the dim light reflected off of her red hair and her footsteps were completely silent… for a now walking cripple. Oracle was certainly an uncanny stealth for someone who just got healed by the blue lanterns not hours ago. I turned away in my bed and groaned, "Leave me alone."
Actually, maybe I shouldn't turn my back to her. I wouldn't know if she left or not otherwise. Turns out she stepped inside, her voice a mix of firm and tentative, "Kevin, I need to know something."
"Did I bloody invite you into my room?" I growled.
She ignored me and asked pointedly, "I saw you holding your nail over Raven, the knife-like one."
I let out a sigh, so that's why she's here. I probably looked like I was going to kill her. Yet, her voice wasn't accusatory when she added,
"I just wanted to clear up what I saw. I don't know your abilities or what was going through your head at the time." She pulled my ottoman from my lounge chair in my study and sat next to the bed. "So, educate me."
I groaned, told her to turn on the light and sat up on my bed. In display, I elongated my nail, and said, "I kindly request that you don't tell anyone what I am about to tell you. As I feel like Batman and the team will have to hear it once I explain how I beat Osiris later. I received my powers from a hellish heart of some kind and with this I can do what I call a power transfusion, like a blood transfusion but different. The body can only accept certain blood types during a transfusion. The body is fickle. Once inside however, that blood coexists with the other blood cells indefinitely. What this power does is copy certain abilities from gods, demons, or those under their power like blood cells that indefinitely become a part of me. This thumb is merely a magical IV, that's indestructible, and can copy trinkets like rings and stuff."
"How does that relate to what I saw with Raven?" She asked.
"I wondered at the moment if I could copy her healing powers but feared her ties to Trigon could have made me implode or something, okay?"
She huffed a laugh, "Don't get so defensive. You holding up okay?"
I looked away and sighed, "This ain't my first rodeo."
"Well, try and get some sleep. See ya tomorrow."
"Yeah… see ya."
***
The sun woke everyone up rudely. Too cheery. Too bright. It was like Providence was spitting on our grief. Like God, or fate, or fortune didn't care. Time would go on. The sun would continue to shine regardless.
I rolled out of bed and grabbed my phone and I had several news alerts. Black Adam had executed ambassadors from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kor*, Markovia*, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan, Thalarion*, Themyscira*, the United States, & Venezuela. Only Pokolistan*, Atlantis*, China, Russia, Syria, Gamorra Island*, and Oolong Island*, Black Adam's closest allies or most feared enemies were spared.
(DC Comic's fictional countries are marked with a '*'.)
I sighed, a sinking feeling in my stomach as the realization of WW3 hit me for the third time. However I kept thumbing through the news and came across an image. He had painted a quote on the American flag from the Khandaqi embassy in the diplomat's blood: "The game was rigged from the start. -Kevin Grant"
Pundits were already putting theories out there about who I could be. The populace doesn't even know why he's angry but wants me-or the image they imagined to be me-to be handed over to Adam. Fights on live news broke out, if I were innocent, then I shouldn't turn myself in. No, if I were any semblance of a human being then I would turn myself in for the sake of world peace. Several news stations went back and forth with logic similar to that.
It was only a matter of time. My brothers will come. Agents from all over the world will come. I leapt out of bed, yelling a curse before calling some of the few people I care about. I called Sharon, the old lady who takes care of my old safehouse. After the fourth ring she picked up, her voice the normal ninety-year old Sharon I remember,
"Hello?"
"Sharon, have you seen the news?"
"No, the paper hasn't arrived with my word puzzles yet."
"Look, tell Tom to be extra careful and extra vigilant for me please, I might have done something that could get you guys into trouble."
"Oh Kevin," she dismissed, "everytime you say that nothing has happened in the seventy years I knew you."
"This time it's serious," I warned, "Tom probably already knows what's going on. Call him for me ok? Keep my distant relative safe."
She laughed, weak with age, "Tom, my husband and I will be fine."
"Thank you," I let out a sigh of relief, "thank you Sharon, goodbye now."
I left my room to see everyone dressed in mourning clothes. All the girls except Megan were in black dresses. She wore a black dress shirt, slacks and suspenders. Beast Boy help up a plastic bag and said,
"Get changed."
Taking the clothes, I changed into a black-on-black suit. Feeling a bit like that John Wick guy I followed the guys down. The girls were already going down the elevator and we waited for it to return.
"We're not riding together?" I asked everyone that was left at the elevator.
"No," Robin answered, "Cyborg's car-"
"Don't-" Stone growled, "say anything."
Everyone was silent as the elevator groaned open and we stepped inside. We were all huddled inside with matching suits when Jericho sighed and typed into his device,
"Gentlemen, may Kevin and I have a moment?"
I glanced at him, curious as to what he could want.
"Don't lag behind," Grayson said, "you got less than sixty seconds when we get off the elevator."
The others left and Jericho started typing almost frantically,
"What happened to the armored man who attacked us?"
"Why do you want to know?" I asked, somewhat annoyed. Why can this wait?
"I think I know him."
Looking into the blonde kid's eyes, he really wanted to know, and it wasn't something to do with petty curiosity. There was intensity there. I let out a sigh and tried to answer as we walked towards the helipad outside of the garage,
"I don't know, it was hazy and happening so fast. I thought I heard Deathstroke yelling 'Grant, my son' or something before carrying him out. I might've misheard, I was beating Diesel within an inch of his life."
At this, Jericho grew pale and tried to smile. Saying thanks before we all hopped onto the chopper he seemed deep in thought the entire ride to Wayne Manor. Arriving at the lavish home, the girls were waiting for us by an old butler. Oracle gave us a weak smile,
"You're late."
"Seventeen seconds Barbara." Robin said, "What is it you like to say? Fashionably late."
"Late is still late, Master Grayson." Alfred said before he added, "All you young men look sharp. If only the occasion was less dour."
"Yes," I replied, "if only."
"Ah and you are Master Grant I presume?"
"Don't call me Master. Kevin is fine."
"'Tis a pleasure. I hear you are quite talented."
"Right." My mind turned him off, remembering how messed up I've made things. "I'm assuming Osiris and his sister are here as well?"
"They are, there are quite a few visitors here on Cassandra's behalf. I hope you all are ready."
"Ready as we'll ever be." Raven droned.