The city skyline stretched before them, a jagged silhouette of glass and steel. From the rooftop of a mostly abandoned office building, Zane leaned on the low brick wall, taking in the view of Washington at night. Streetlights pooled in golden puddles on empty streets, and the occasional distant honk sounded in the distance.
They had dropped Serling off yesterday already, near the Hall of Justice, which Artemis thought was risky.
But Zane already knew that the Hall was just a Public front, not just from previous Rewinds but also from watching Young Justice.
After dropping her off, the two quickly left and decided to hang around in the city for a while to rest. They were quite tired after all.
Artemis perched beside him, knees drawn up, scanning a tablet. "We can't stay in one place too long," she said, her voice soft but insistent. "Even here, someone could see us."
Zane smirked. "Relax. It's called downtime. You'll survive, if you let yourself." He waved a hand at the sprawling city. "Besides, strategic hoboing has its perks. Look at the view."
Artemis raised an eyebrow. "Strategic hoboing?"
"Yeah. It's a thing," Zane said, leaning back, hands behind his head. "We hide, we plan, we figure out our next moves without Cadmus breathing down our necks for a few days. That's all."
She let out a sigh, half exasperated, half amused. "Fine. But don't think this is permission to slack off."
"I wouldn't dare," he said, grinning.
They sat in a companionable silence for a moment. The wind carried the faint hum of the city, a gentle counterpoint to the tension that usually clung to Zane like a second skin. Artemis finally spoke, her tone quieter now, reflective.
"You know… part of me is proud," she said, eyes on the glowing city below. "We did something great you know....we helped take down a organization like Cadmus...even if we were just the catalyst. "
Zane tilted his head. "I guess your right. It probably feels better than beating up some gangsters doesn't it?"
Artemis let the thought linger, allowing herself a small smile. "Yeah… I helped make a difference, a big one. Maybe there's more to being a hero than just fighting."
"You helped topple an entire shadow organization," Zane said, grinning. "That's a bigger win than most people ever get."
For a few minutes, they watched the city, each lost in their own reflections. Zane meanwhile reflected about his powers.
'In just one day I managed to heal all my injuries, If it keeps going like this I may just be able to have Wolverine level self-regen.' Zane couldn't help but think excitedly.
'The only problem is, I dont seem to be healing my scars, but that makes sense. I think the chronos seed is just accelerating my healing and not rewinding my injuries.
But does that mean my cells can only split a certain amount of times just like normal people? So does healing technically speed up my age? I need a lab one of these days to run proper tests on me.'
Artemis, meanwhile, cleaned her weapons carefully, her mind elsewhere. "I keep thinking… what's the point if we just survive? I wanted to actually make a difference, help people. Not just run."
Zane shrugged, not looking up. "You'll get there. Surviving is step one. Everything else is step two."
Artemis gave a small laugh, almost wistful. "And step two starts when?"
"When we figure out who's worth helping—and who's worth worrying about," he replied, his voice softer than usual.
She nodded, the wind tugging strands of her hair across her face. "You think about this a lot, don't you?"
"Of course," he said, smirking. "Some of us are born to think, some of us are born to survive… and some of us do both."
Zane's attention shifted to an old tv they had set up nearby, barely picking up a local news broadcast. He adjusted the dial.
ive feed; camera shows rubble, broken cars, and scorched streets.]
[ Reporter (on scene): "I'm here in downtown Washington DC, where last night an alleged escaped meta-experiment caused significant damage. Behind me, you can see streets still blocked by authorities, vehicles overturned, and debris scattered across the sidewalks. Emergency crews continue to secure the area. ]
[ Eyewitnesses describe the individual, a Pirple Monsterous Individual, moving quickly through the crowd, creating panic and putting civilians at risk. 'It was terrifying,' one resident told us. 'I didn't know what he was going to do next.' ]
[camera pans over shattered glass and scorched pavement]
[ Reporter: "Authorities confirm that this individual remains a serious threat. Streets in this area remain closed as investigators review surveillance footage and civilian recordings to determine the full scope of the incident. ]
[ Officials also report that an unknown hero, dressed in white, appeared briefly on the scene. While details about this individual are limited, authorities emphasize that the primary concern remains the alleged meta-experiment's actions and the danger posed to the public. ]
[ Residents are reminded to stay away from the area and report any suspicious activity immediately. Washington DC remains on high alert as investigations continue." ]
Zane looked more annoyed than anything. "Of course… they make me the villain. Connor gets the hero headlines. Nobody mentions that I helped the civilians too. Wanna bet someone want me to be the Villian?"
Artemis glanced at him, her expression unreadable. " I dont take lossing bets, and 'Connor' where'd you come up with that?"
"...I've heard about him before I broke out way back then, but nevermind that," Zane cursed himself for accidently running his mouth.
"We need to focus on whos trying to attack my name. Someone's pushing the narrative… trying to make me the enemy."
"Then we just make sure the truth doesn't matter," Artemis said, firmly. "We survive first, just like you said."
Zane leaned back again, letting out a low whistle. "Yeah… survive. Step one. Step two… figure out who's writing the story against me."
Artemis smirked faintly. "You always make it sound dramatic."
"Dramatic is my specialty," he replied, mock bowing.
The wind shifted, carrying a faint smell of street food from below. Zane sniffed dramatically. "Almost makes me want a hot dog."
Artemis shook her head. "You're impossible."
"Maybe," he said with a grin. "But I'm alive. That's what matters."
The night stretched on, quiet except for the occasional distant siren or car horn. Artemis sipped a cup of lukewarm coffee she had salvaged from a 24-hour convenience store, letting herself relax just enough to feel the city around her. Zane started fiddling with his Robo-Arm, which has been more than a little useless in his fights recently.
If only he had a super intellegent Echo Form, maybe he could make himself some cool tech for his human form. Afterall, his Echo Form takes quite the toll on his body and he can feel that it seems to drain his stamina quickly.
Training his human form harder seems to be the answer.
"Even if Cadmus is down," Zane said quietly, "I have to get better. Stronger. Faster. I need to know what I can really do before someone else decides to make me the villain permanently."
"You've always been careful… in your own way," Artemis said. "But maybe now you can be smart, too. Not just reactive."
Zane chuckled. "Step one: survive. Step two: power evolution. Step three… figure out the rest later."
Artemis allowed herself a small, genuine smile. "I like that plan."
For the first time in weeks, they let themselves linger in the stillness. No alarms, no gunfire, no screaming. Just the city breathing beneath them, a momentary reprieve.
---
Patreaon
/Williamstewart