DAMNED GODS,
chapter three: the enemy's move!

Two years later.

          OLIVIA WAYNE DIDN'T BELIEVE THE SIMPLE FACT OF HAVING CREATED SUCH A STRONG BOND WITH JASON PETER TODD. It was impossible, like climbing Mount Everest without an oxygen tank. However, something had changed between the two of them. That challenge that both started that day was the beginning of something new, something that evolved and became a new goal: attraction. Olivia was trying to treat Jason as if he were her brother, but that didn't help since he was mature enough to understand that no role and even blood would link them as siblings, because they didn't share blood ties, not even last name. They were two completely different people, under the tutelage of the same mentor: nothing else.

          And that, for Jason, was enough.

         He developed a friendship like Atlas Eisley had with her and that didn't stop him. Atlas and Dick knew it, protecting Olivia wasn't an option - the girl knew how to defend herself - and so they both stood aside but always alert. Bruce Wayne noticed it too, but he never saw Olivia feel as comfortable as she was (which really surprised her). They were both almost adults now and Bruce was confident that Olivia would make the best decision. The bond grew and grew for two more years, with Olivia graduating at 19 and Jason at 21. Dick Grayson was already the new vigilante in Blüdhaven and Jason Todd was Batman's new partner.

          Olivia really was living the life of her dreams.

          The young woman didn't believe that she was already graduating, nor did she believe that she would be a Wayne. Fate had played her cards in her favor and she couldn't help but be grateful. Even though the nightmares continued every night since the last day she saw her family, Olivia always knew that she was safe. And most of all, that Jason and Atlas were there with her - but she always feared that they would just disappear if a new nightmare to break into her subconscious. It was almost ironic, considering that she always talked about her nightmares, she didn't keep anything and that was reflected in her attitude. Jason could see through Olivia, read her like a book, and even see what was bothering her and what wasn't - he was still trying to get to the point where Dick and Atlas were, because they had already covered a long stretch with the blonde but he still needed time and more patience.

          So Jason settled for understanding Olivia and would see later if he decided to exude that limit himself. Olivia was graduating now and he was watching her from the seats, a sideways smile, just like the one Bruce Wayne was outlining at the time. It was incredible to see that nine years have passed since he met Olivia, a helpless ten-year-old girl, who came out of one hellish hell and went to another, just to avoid burning her. And at that very moment, she was receiving her diploma with great joy and grace. All the students applauded, along with the families present in the place and that jovial air that was there was enough. No one could ruin it.

          Except for an explosion that burst into the great ceremonial hall, allowing men armed with clown masks to enter. For the Wayne family, that was the last straw. Olivia understood that the relationship between Batman and the Joker was something peculiar, not only because of hating each other, but that for the Joker it seemed very fun to disturb the peace of the Dark Knight. Considering that Roman Sionis, the Penguin and many slags that ruled crime in Gotham were already a nuisance almost every night. However, Joker was able to get into the second skin of Batman, to Olivia's surprise and that really bothered her. Jason, his current patrol partner, strongly questioned him about permanently eliminating the Joker from his path.

          But Olivia knew perfectly well that Bruce Wayne wouldn't be able to kill him.

          That was something that set her apart from Jason: she really knew Bruce and also Batman, she knew that the strict rules - despite that dark desire for revenge - were strict about something, because Bruce Wayne would never be the same again. Kill those you hate the most. However, that was something Jason didn't understand and somehow Olivia saw it when she followed his every move when Batman and Robin were out on patrol. Jason Todd was different from Dick in many ways: Violence was one of the many traits that characterized Jason, also the simple fact of being careless and reckless during patrols. Jason was rough with his punches, he had no mercy in giving them and ending up breaking an enemy's bone or worse.

          At that very moment, Jason Todd could do nothing. Not even Bruce or Alfred, who were there - watching the chaos break out among the students in the great room. Olivia looked up at Atlas with her gaze and found him being hit by a couple of thugs - the blonde ran over to them and grabbed a chair to smash it against the back of one, throwing a kick at the other and using her assault rifle against the third, thus injuring his leg. She held out a hand to Atlas while she ran next to him and they hid behind a column, the blonde turned to look at her friend. "Are you okay?"

          Atlas nodded. "Thanks to you."

          "You are my best friend, Atlas," Olivia replied, her voice agitated and trembling? Even the Wayne girl herself was surprised at the degree of intensity of her actions. "You take care of me and I take care of you. We need get out of here. Have you seen Bruce?"

          "I saw him sitting in the bleachers above, before all this happened," Atlas replied, looking sideways. "Can you communicate with him?"

          Olivia bit her lip and remembered that her earring had a small built-in communicator, so she put it in her ear and called her mentor a few times. Atlas yanked at her to find a new hiding place, and the screams of the people echoed in the great ceremonial hall. The two ran down a hallway and ducked as they heard gunshots behind them. They lunged to the side to crawl toward a small wall, where the blonde tried again to make some connection to Bruce.

          "No pressure, but they'll find us any minute."

          "That's what I'm trying, Atlas," Olivia muttered under her breath. "B, I'm Olivia. Over."

          A couple of screams erupted into the hallways, incessant gunshots were closing in, and Olivia was terrified of being part of the lifeless bodies in the room. The girl swallowed hard and took the hand of her friend, who returned the grip in the same way. The green-eyed girl put her finger to her ear. "Bruce, come in. Over."

          "Bruce here. Tell me your position, Olivia."

          The Wayne girl let out a sigh of relief. "East Wing of the building and I'm with Atlas."

          "Head for an emergency exit," Bruce stated bluntly, time was crucial to keeping the two young adults safe. "Do you remember the garden next to the hall entrance? We will meet there."

          "Okay, we'll get there as soon as possible," the blonde replied and took a deep breath. "Batman will make an appearance?"

          "No, it's not safe," The millionaire said before letting out a sigh. "You have ten minutes to come to our position, time is running out, Olivia."

          Time was running out, that was something Olivia knew very well. Every minute, every second, counted and would alter the future if the blonde didn't act fast. She took the hand of her best friend and guided him around the room, finding a door that led to another hallway, both crossed it and remained alert to any sudden movement: several screams of men were heard in the hallways, some screams of students, among many more atrocities. Olivia and Atlas moved silently until they found an exit sign leading to an emergency staircase. Upon entering, they found someone armed, who was about to shoot, but Olivia kicked him in the stomach, causing him to fall down the stairs.

          "Run! Go to the gardens!" Olivia exclaimed, striking the thug once more.

          Atlas debated whether to help her friend or get out of there and obey; It was clearly for the second option, since Olivia wouldn't be in a good mood to discuss taking into account the situation they were going through. Atlas disappeared between the stairs and Olivia struck the enemy one last time, knocking him to the ground and knocking him unconscious. The door burst open and another thug yelled something that the blonde couldn't hear as she took the courage to run with all her might. The bullets flew behind her, while her racing heart caused erratic breathing as she descended the stairs. She never made sure she collided with another body, let alone Jason Todd's.

          "Damn it!" She exclaimed, shoving Jason down a couple of stairs before looking seriously at him. "What are you doing here?"

          "Rescuing you, princess," Jason replied as if it were obvious. "Do you think I was going to swallow the story of "I let my best friend live and I die"? I don't believe in that shit."

          "Bruce sent you?"

          "Nope. But he will kill me if I don't come back with you in one piece."

          Sudden noises were heard on the emergency stairs and Jason took that opportunity to carry Olivia on his shoulder - thus escaping from that place and go to join Bruce and the rest. Olivia complained all the way but Jason didn't let her go, just ignored her, until the blonde's patience ran out and she made a key with her legs to knock him down without hurting him. Olivia stood up and smiled sideways while Todd, lying on the ground, let out a groan. "You're a cheater and a nagging little girl, you know that?"

          "But you love me and you hate to admit it," Olivia groped as she held out a hand.

          "That...shit, that's true," Jason replied getting up thanks to the blonde's help. "That means I can kiss you, right?"

          "Don't push it, Jason."

          Jason Todd raised his hands in surrender and laughed out loud, until someone behind him pointed a gun at him. Olivia thought that time had stopped abruptly, but she remembered shouting something before swooping down next to Jason to avoid the bullet - which, fortunately, sank into Olivia's shoulder and the sharp pain made her body tremble. She couldn't hear her partner, but seeing the face of the person who shot him, it was terrifying. It was the Joker. Who laughed and laughed, while Olivia lay dying and was dragged into Jason Todd's body heat.

          And simply, she was swallowed up by that darkness.

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