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As Blade walked slowly among the wreckage, biting down on his unlit cigarette, he suddenly felt a faint vibration in the air...
He wasn't surprised when Raven appeared beside him, with her usual calm, as if she were a piece of the shadow itself.
She stared at him with her dark eyes, gazing at a face that always hid more than it showed.
Then she said in a low voice, filled with suspicion:
"How did you know Superman would lose control? That's only happened once… years ago, when he was at his worst."
Blade stopped, turned his head slowly toward her, then removed the cigarette from his mouth and pointed it like an imaginary orchestra conductor's baton.
He smiled his usual mocking smile and said, with his typical theatrical flair:
"Ah, my dark lady, the simple truth is... I didn't know! All I wanted was to challenge Superman in a fair fight—or rather, an unfair one, since I had kryptonite gloves and some cute little weapons."
Raven waved her hand in the air, signaling that she expected more of an explanation.
Blade sighed and continued, this time with a tone more genuine:
"I intended to provoke him with everything I had… make him focus solely on me. And if he didn't lose control, I would've fought him with all I've got.
But..."
He paused for a moment, glancing up at the gray sky above them, as if searching for the right words among the clouds,
then gave a small smile and said:
"Today, it seems luck—or fate, or the universe's little joke—decided to smile on me. It was nothing more than a lucky break."
Raven remained silent, studying him as if trying to read what lay behind his words.
She saw something else, something deeper than the sarcastic jokes and constant laughter.
Something broken, yet still fighting.
She took a small step closer and said with a softer tone:
"You're risking your life more than you should, Blade… not just for jokes or show."
Blade smiled lightly, a smile tinged with something like sadness, and answered her:
"Maybe… because a life without risk isn't worth much.
Or maybe... I just don't know how to live any other way."
He turned afterward, giving her his back, and said with a light sarcastic tone:
"Now, would you like to celebrate my little victory with me? I've got a half-opened box of cookies and a cherry-flavored energy drink in my room!"
Raven shook her head slightly, a half-smile forming on her lips, then quietly followed him while Blade theatrically waved his hands as he entered the base, still playing the part of the clown...
But this time, Raven alone could see that behind every laugh… there was a heart fighting to keep beating.
—
A few moments later:
Blade and Raven were walking down the long hallway toward the meeting room,
the atmosphere a bit tense. The sound of their light footsteps echoed off the quiet walls of the base.
Inside the meeting room, Robin, Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Starfire were waiting, their faces full of questions and concern.
As soon as Blade entered, he placed his hands on his hips in an exaggerated manner,
then shouted in a loud theatrical tone:
"Ladies and gentlemen! I have returned from my heroic adventure, where I conquered the forces of nature, physics, and common sense!"
They stared at him blankly, until Robin spoke firmly, folding his arms:
"Blade, cut the jokes. We want an explanation about what happened with Superman."
Blade sighed deeply, then began pacing back and forth across the room, as if delivering a grand heroic speech.
"Alright, picture it like this: Superman was... very angry, like a kid who just had his favorite toy taken away.
And I, the beloved protagonist, was merely there to restore balance in a friendly manner... with a little bit of lovely kryptonite that villains adore!"
Beast Boy raised an eyebrow and said:
"Did you... actually shoot him?"
Blade answered without hesitation, placing a hand dramatically on his chest:
"I fired the shot, yes!
But it was a loving bullet!
A bullet that screamed: 'Stop this lovely destruction before we turn you into a museum exhibit!'"
Cyborg chuckled quietly, while Robin's face remained stern.
As for Raven, she stood to the side, watching Blade with deep eyes that missed nothing.
Robin stepped forward and said:
"And how did you know Superman would lose control? That's not information just anyone would have."
Blade smiled mischievously, then turned his head toward Raven as if hinting that it was something between them:
"Let's just say I gambled on chaos... and won."
Silence fell for a few seconds, then Cyborg stepped in, trying to ease the tension:
"I guess what matters is that everyone's okay now...
And by the way, Blade, those gloves were genius!"
Blade nodded proudly.
At that moment, the internal alarm of the base rang out.
Red lights began flashing, and the warning voice of the automated system echoed through the place:
"Alert! Unusual activity detected in the eastern industrial zone!"
Blade grinned widely as usual and said while tightening his gloves:
"Here we go, right back into the heart of the storm! Who needs a vacation when you can face lunatics every single day?!"
Robin looked at everyone and said firmly:
"Titans, get ready to move!"
Everyone rushed toward the elevator, while Blade walked lightly, humming a random song to himself, surrounded by his new friends and potential enemies... ready for whatever fate had in store.
Blade sprinted through the corridors, his steps quick and calculated, his eyes focused as if he knew exactly what he needed to do.
He slipped into his room, closed the door behind him, and headed straight to his metal locker.
He opened it quickly and pulled out the green kryptonite gloves and bullets, placing them carefully into a special metal case, locking it tightly.
Blade muttered to himself as he worked:
"No need for these now... playing with the big leagues requires different toys."
He then moved to the weapon rack, grabbed his dual pistols with endless magazines,
then picked up a sleek black MP5 submachine gun that looked like an extension of his arm,
attaching a few specialized magazines to it.
He checked his readiness quickly while muttering sarcastically to himself:
"Alright... Cool look? Check. Loaded weapons? Check. Unlimited recklessness? As always."
He rushed out of the room, closing the door behind him with a light kick,
then sprinted through the long corridors toward the others, who were already gathering near the base's entrance.
Blade jumped into the vehicle next to Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Robin,
while Raven and Starfire floated slightly off the ground beside them.
As the vehicle sped toward the eastern industrial zone,
Blade gazed out of the window, his eyes burning with caution and excitement.
His gut clearly told him:
"Tonight's not going to be ordinary... something big is coming."
Suddenly, amidst the relative calm that filled the vehicle, Blade muttered softly, a dangerous side-smile crossing his face:
"Let's dance with chaos..."
—
As the vehicle raced toward the industrial zone,
Blade was checking his weapons when suddenly his communicator started emitting strange static noises.
He raised an eyebrow in surprise, then pressed the talk button and said sarcastically:
"Hello? Is this superhero customer service? I need someone to send me a pizza."
But a deep, cold voice came through the speaker, like an echo from an endless darkness:
"It's been a long time… boy of chaos."
Blade's gaze froze for a few seconds,
then a twisted smile spread across his face as he replied with the same mocking tone:
"Oh… a mysterious voice, with a killer vibe. Let me guess, Slade? Or maybe a home delivery service for the dead?"
Slade chuckled lightly, but it was a laugh devoid of any warmth:
"You're as sharp as ever... but your wit won't save you from what's coming.
Whether you like it or not, you'll come to me tonight… alone."
Blade raised an eyebrow mockingly and tilted his head back against the seat:
"Oh, alone? Sounds like you're planning a boring wedding… Sorry, pal, I'm already booked tonight fighting criminal organizations. You know… the usual stuff."
Slade was silent for a few seconds, then replied in a sharper voice:
"You want to play with heroes? You want to mess with demons?
Then come to me, and I'll show you how the big boys really play...
Meeting point: Warehouse 47, in the heart of the industrial zone."
Blade blinked slowly, then leaned toward the communicator, pressing the button and saying in a cool, sarcastic tone:
"Should I bring a white dress since all you ever wear are tight purple and black outfits? Or maybe two coffins… one for you, and one for me?"
Slade went silent for a moment, then spoke with clear menace in his tone:
"Don't disappoint me...
Hell awaits you.
And if you don't come, I will... and everyone you care about will pay the price."
Blade's eyebrows shot up with childlike excitement, then he muttered with a grin glowing with madness:
"Alright then… I have a date with destiny tonight.
And I hope you're wearing your best outfit, Sladey, because I'm coming, bringing a high-class catastrophe party with me."
Then he ended the call with a dramatic flourish,
setting the device aside as the team turned to him in confusion.
Robin, eyeing him suspiciously, asked:
"Blade… who were you talking to?"
Blade let out a mocking laugh and waved his hand theatrically:
"Don't worry… just an old friend who wants to play hide and seek with me…
but he forgot I'm the best at that game."
Raven, Cyborg, and Beast Boy exchanged quick, wary glances,
while Blade was already starting to prepare his plans for the coming disaster...
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
If you liked the story and want to read more
or just to support me, copy the link below.
You will find a special membership for:
3 chapter
and another one for:
7 chapters.
patreon.com/zakx205
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