"Watch it!" I yelled, body checking Kaldur out of the way, before blocking a strike with a piece of pipe. I gritted my teeth, forcing my powers to stay where they were. I couldn't put them in more danger. Not now. Shoving against the monster, I didn't hesitate to hit it in the head with the heavy metal. It wouldn't be enough to kill, but even if it was, I couldn't. 

They don't know what they really are. 

"Thank you." Kaldur straightened. His hand tightened around a water bearer as he looked down the street. Monster ran amuck, setting fire to buildings and tearing into mortals. I swallowed and reached my hand into my pocket. Is this- Is this what Manhattan would have been if Morpheus hadn't put everyone to sleep? "This is...not good."

"You think?" My voice was higher than I would've liked it, and Kaldur picked up on that, reaching over and squeezing my shoulder. 

"The League should be on their way. Wonder Woman and my king will be able to help."

"That won't matter much if we can't stay alive." If I couldn't stay calm. If I couldn't keep my powers in check. What use would any of this be if all I end up doing is causing more and more destruction? My hand tightened around the cold, blood slicked metal. Golden flecks mixed with it. "We need to find the others."

Kaldur grimaced. His water bearers clicked back into place. "That is easier said than done. These creatures are ancient. They-"

"Are mythological monsters. I know." My mouth went dry as soon as the words left it. Shit. I didn't- I shouldn't have said that. "My cousin's a demigod," I said, trying to work my way out of this. "And I'm clearsighted. Which by the way, absolutely sucks. I can't even pretend that the last birthday party I had was interrupted by a gas leak. Some giant guy came crashing through the wall and tried to eat him. But we have to try right? Follow the angry screaming instead of the terrified screaming?"

"Kaldur? Bluejay?" Megan called, desperation lacing her voice. Kaldur started to rush forward, but I grabbed his arm and held him back. My heart hammered against my ribs. She'd be using the mind link. She- She wouldn't be yelling, or using Kaldur's actual name. 

"What are you-" Kaldur hissed, only to have his words cut off as I slapped a hand over his mouth. I didn't respond to him. Too much of my attention went towards the cyclops. Because it had to be a cyclops. Tyson might use his to help us, but the mimicry is to lure people in. Lure food in. 

"We need to go." 

"We cannot leave-"

"She's dead. She's dead. And we're going to be too, if we don't get the fuck out of here." Desperation laced throughout my voice as the harsh truth met the air. The panic and horror threatened to choke me, only held at bay by adrenaline. I dropped my hand from Kaldur's face. "We need to go." 

My hands were shaking. They shouldn't have been. This is normal. I'm a demigod, and this is just part of my life: the screams, the fighting, the fires, the deaths. I clenched my hands, and I started deeper into the alley. I hoped Kaldur would follow me, because I wasn't sure I could make him. He's a hero; people are in danger. However much I want to run out there and help the mortals, the ones being ripped to shreds, burnt, eaten, Kaldur no doubt wanted to do it more. 

He'd die.

"We cannot leave the civilians-"

"We very much can." I gritted out. "It's not the best choice, but we don't have any good choices. Any other time, I'd be more than okay with throwing myself into a fight. But this fight? We don't have any chance of winning unless we can find the others. There's no use in sacrificing ourselves when it won't do anything." My hands curled, knuckles going white around the pipe. I was more than willing to lay down my life, but not when it would mean absolutely nothing. If I die, they die. It's not the same. It's not, it's not, it's not. 

"Then what do you suggest?"

"We find the others, and we get to the Bat Cave. Batman's probably out here already, but..." 

"But?"

"How long do you think a man without powers and without proper weapons can last?"

Kaldur was silent after that, falling into step alongside me. We snuck through the back alleys of Gotham. The stench of death and decay permeated the air, even more than usual in Gotham. I'd risk glances into the main streets before we had to dart across. Windows burst out of a nearby building. I grabbed Kaldur's arm before he could react. 

Selfish. 

"Leave it," I said. He looked at me, conflict clear in his eyes.  There was a part of me that wanted to kiss him. Just in case. And I maybe I would've if only he knew who I was. "It won't change anything."

The ground rumbled. It shook and stopped, before shaking again. Footsteps. Footsteps of something, very, very big. Dragging my tongue along my teeth, I listed through the things that big. None of them were good. All of them should be dead. A loud laugh echoed through the streets. I froze. It rang in my ears, mocking me. 

He needed to be dead.

He wasn't. He wasn't, and he was here and there's no gods. I couldn't feel my arms, and everything else filtered out. All I could feel was pure terror. We're dead. He'd track me down, collar me, and kill me in front of my dad. Kaldur wouldn't get that. 

"You- You need to get to the Bat Cave." I shoved Kaldur forward. "I can- I can try to hold them off for a little bit. I won't be able to, but it should be enough for you to get a call out." Tears were slipping out from behind my mask. "Go."

"You tell me not to sacrifice myself, and yet you are doing the exact same."

"Just hurry up and go!" I lunged forward and pushed him. "I- I hang out around my cousin enough that monsters come after me. If they think a demigods here, then they won't pay attention to you."

"You will be-"

"I know. I know, okay?!" I sobbed. "I told you, we don't have any good options, and right now this is the one that makes the most sense. So get out of here." Kaldur stared down at me. I couldn't look him in the face. It wasn't fair to him. It wasn't, but he'd never let me do it if he knew who I was. He heaved out a shuddering sigh. Arms wrapping around me in a tight hug, he pressed his head against mine. 

"Please leave this alive," he said, before breaking away and running. I swallowed, watching his retreating back. Riptide pulled free from my pocket, blade settling into my palm and shining with a brilliant glow. I walked out the other end of the alley. And I knew...

I wouldn't be. 

Welp, hope you enjoyed!

this was supposed to be with the other chapter, but then this didnt want to cooperate at first so...this!

See yah