Noises part 11
Damian Wayne x Smallville!Reader
Content warnings: Use of fem pronouns, stalking (not Damian), violence, kidnapping, guns, attempted murder, paranoia, cops, blood, asphyxiation, nonconsensual touching (purely platonic but still a warning).
Masterlist
Word count: 11448 (it’s like a two in one because it’s been two months since part 10.)
Part 10
The first time James had visited you at work had been under invitation and although some people might have viewed the invite as a polite passing gesture to a friendly stranger he thought of it as you offering him a piece of your world. When he arrived you greeted him with recognition and a courteous smile while you took his order but that was all. All he needed to fall for you.
Completely unaware of how he spied on you whilst you attended to other customers.
Despite your lack of attention to him you still remained considerate enough to check on him every now and then. Sure he despised the other patrons of the restaurant but he admired your commitment to your family business.
Throughout that summer James continued to his visits, sometimes he would go inside and you would greet him with a smile and other times he would watch from across the street for mere minutes before rejoining his room mate at his house where he had kindly let him spend the summer, unaware he had brought a monster to Smallville.
Inevitably the summer ended and he went back to MetU but he didn't forget about you and one morning in the Fall he grew restless and travelled to see you, following you from your house all the way to your campus to watch you study for hours.
Even under the harsh fluorescence of the library where everybody else looked dull and worn you looked ethereal.
The next time he saw you he came prepared with a cloned computer and for the first time he allowed himself to get close to you again, he got just close enough to allow him remote access to your phone and computer and he smiled to himself as he watched all the information he wanted loaded onto his screen and like the animal he is he retreaded back to his burrow with what he had stolen from you.
James couldn't comprehend the idea that you would be so welcoming to just anybody because although he saw you as perfect believed you reserved your true self for him.
That was until this summer. He wrote it off as boredom when you first met Damian but then there was the lake and the night of the party when you let him kiss you. All white James watched enviously from the sidelines.
He couldn’t think of any better reason to kill somebody but for your love.
Maybe in the one simple meeting the two of you shared you had given him enough fall in love with you.
[Jon]
Jon’s brows furrow and he pulls his phone away from his ears to check that the line hadn’t dropped. The call was still on so he brought the phone back to his ear.
“Damian..” He frowned at the phone, then the call dropped. In that moment Jon realizes that the situation must have changed but whatever it was Damian was skilled enough to deal with it.
Sure Jon didn't know where he was right now but one quick call to Tim could change that, so that's what he did. He called and he called and there was no answer.
He didn't know where Damian was or what the situation on his end was but he knew where you were and that was all that mattered right now because you were safe. Even if his best friend was in the lions den, he’d faced much more dangerous beast.
Jon took off flying past Metropolis city limits at super speed with one goal in mind. It was a matter of minutes when he arrived back in Smallville landing not so gracefully on the gravelly roads now running the last few miles to your house only slowing his pace as he reached your neighbourhood as to avoid a sonic boom. He stopped running in the driveway letting his pace fall into a small jog to close the distance to the door.
Five ground shaking knocks rang out through the house and you immediately reach for the remote to mute the television.
You squint as though that will help you see through the wall better, Scarlett peers over at you watching as your breaths become shallower. She reaches over to place a steady hand on your shoulder but before she can the door to the dining room swings open.
Your dad marches through the living room to the door and on the way he orders. “Don’t move.” He points but you follow despite his instruction.
You trail behind your dad to the front door, standing just a few feet behind your him with Scarlett right by your side hugging your arm against her chest seemingly more anxious than you were.
Your dad notices the sound of your combined breaths. He turns to you looking annoyed that you didn't follow his instructions but he lets his attention go back to back to the door, squaring his shoulders and opening it. At first just a little but when he comes face to face with a familiar blue eyed young man his guard drops just a fraction and he pulls the door open fully for you and Scarlett to see who was there.
“Jon, what are you doing here?” He asks with annoyance dripping from his tone.
“Hey, Mr Y/L/N. I uhh..” Jon said, clearing his throat and peering over his shoulder to get a glimpse of you and Scarlett awkwardly huddled together behind him. “I just came to talk to Y/N.” He adds, waving over to you.
“Where’s Damian? Is something wrong?” You ask, stepping toward the door.
“No.” He smiles unconvincingly. “Everything is A-okay. I just wanted to check in, that's all.”
Your dad begins. “Now really isn't the right time-”
You cut him off sensing the obvious tension and more so that Jon had something to say that he couldn't in front of your dad.
“Can we have a moment?” You ask politely stepping forward.
Your dad stands down, moving out of the way so you could greet Jon properly.
“Okay, just yell if you need me.” He smiles and turns away not before giving Jon a neighbourly nod that comes across more like a warning.
Your dad didn’t go far, he stood right at the door that connected the kitchen to the living room just out of sight but Jon knew he was there, he could see him through the wall. Jon nods his head for you to come closer so you do.
“Hey, I just wanted to come and check how you were doing.” Jon said, trying not to alert your parents. “Can we uh.. Talk in private?” He then asks in a hushed tone, careful that you dad couldn't hear.
“Come on in!” You say so unnaturally it feels like a mistake but when neither of your parents react you head up the stairs leading your friends up to your bedroom leaving the movie you were watching with Scarlett playing on mute down stairs.
You knew your dad had a thing or two to say about having boys in your room but your mom had always opposed the no boys rule and instead she sat you down to have the talk, going into detail about how to be safe and not to give in to pressure or coercion.
You watch to make sure Scarlett has closed the door behind you before you speak. “What's going on?”
Jon walks to the window, he looks cautious and you can't help but let your gaze follow his only to find one of your neighbours pulling into their driveway.
“Y/N, I’m sorry but I’m gonna need you to be cool, okay?” Jon says, speaking in a hushed tone.
“What's going on?” You ask, watching him attentively taking in the way his eyes never fully met either of you like he was nervous.
Jon turns back to you and finally you make eye contact. “I can explain everything, just promise me you’ll be chill about it?”
“I am chill.. You're the one who nearly knocked the door down with your fist.” Your voice is calm but you can already feel annoyance bubbling up.
“Dude! You're freaking her out..” Scarlett warns, stepping between the two of you.
“No he is not.” You say through gritted teeth. “I just want answers. So start explaining!”
Admittedly you weren't chill and that was obvious and was exactly what your friends were expecting, for you to respond with melodrama which was true most of the time but it still never failed to be patronising.
“You're freaked out.” Scarlett tells you, leaving no room for argument.
“No, I’m not.” You grumble, not even sounding convincing to yourself.
Jon aggressively snapped his fingers to get your attention. “I’m sorry I just need you to listen to me.. Okay?” He asks calmly, heaving a sigh.
You nod as if you were heeding his warning but you can't help but ignore what he had just said. “Whats going on? Where's Damian? He didn't show up today.. Is he okay?”
“I don't know but I’m getting to that, just listen?” You bite down hard on your lip and nod silently, tired of telling him that you're calm as you slowly became more frustrated.
“..Remember how Damian said he would help you track down the guy who’s been following you?”
“Will..” Scarlett interjects, tone absolute.
“Yeah well, about that, Will was set up from the begining.” He says plain and simple.
“No, that can't be right. MetPD’s best Technical Analyst literally said it was his computer.” Scar said, folding her arms across her chest.
“Scar, this is serious. They missed something.” Jon retorts.
“I know it's serious.” She hissed before composing herself quickly and continuing. “..But my dad- the cops wouldn't let the real culprit go free..”
“This time they did.. Damian told me, he saw it all with his own eyes. The cops can look into Wheeler all they want but they wont find anything.” He turns to you now. “Y/N I know this has all been really hard for you but I need you to hold on tight. Act like nothing is wrong, don’t leave the house, lock all the doors and keep a look out.. This guy doesn't have many options left now that we know who he is, he's gonna use Damian as a bargaining chip.” Jon thoughtlessly lets the last part slip out and you hear it clearly and instantly your demeanor changes.
“What do you mean? Where is Damian?” You say trying to keep your voice even but it wavers.
Jon winces. “Y/N.. I’m not sure, it's all a mess right now.”
“..And I still don’t know what's going on.” You let out a fray laugh then continue. “What did Damian find?”
“Damian went to find him. And I think he did, which is great! Like he found a whole apartment filled with.. It doesn't matter.” You catch the hesitation in his voice which only makes you wonder what was so bad that he had to stop himself from saying it. “He is out there, I don't know where he is.” Jon’s face fell, he knew Damian could take care of himself but his mind kept going back to the worst case scenario. “And he hasn't called back yet but he’s probably okay. Which is why I’m here.”
“Can you just tell me straight what the situation is? Who is this guy and why would Damian go out to look for him if he knew it could be dangerous? Why didn't you guys just go to the cops?”
“Theres a good chance this guy has been keeping an eye on the investigation and if the cops knew what we knew he would just run and Damian can handle himself pretty well in situations like this but if this guy got the jump on him.. I don't know.” He groans in annoyance.
“Why did you come here? Why didn't you go to help him?”
“I was just speaking to him right before I got here.. and I don't know where he is..” Jon sighs. “I’m waiting for Tim to send me the list of locations Damian was going through so I can find him. Until then I have no leads.”
Jon pulls his phone from his back pocket instantly getting up the picture of James that Damian had sent. “Just- can you tell me if you recognise this guy? Maybe you've seen him around town or at MetU when you came to visit? His name is James Bower or Jimbo for short, does that ring any bells? Any at all?”
Your brows furrow in confusion because you vaguely recognise the guy in the photo.
“He's from star city and he's graduating MetU next summer and his only connection to Smallville is his roommate William Wheeler.” Jon continues.
You didn’t instantly recognise him but from what John was telling you something seemed to ring a bell.
“He looks familiar.. I think.” You say, shying away from giving a straight answer. You were sure you had seen his face before but the memories were blurred and felt insignificant.
“Where have you seen him before? Anything could help.”
You looked to the photo thinking he looks so ordinary with mousey brown hair and dark brown almost black eyes. But there was something about his eyes that you recognised.
“Just one second..” You say rushing to the other side of your bed before ducking under to pull out an old shoe box.
You open it pulling out a stack of photos that are held together with an elastic band. You flipped through it as you got up. When you find the photos you're looking for your eyes light up instantly and you hand them over to Jon and Scarlett to look for themselves.
“That's him.” Scarlett says stepping closer to get a better look.
That he was just in the background of a photo of you and Denise at the charity food drive you did two summers ago. He was starring right at you.
“When was this?” Jon asked.
You think back to two years ago. “It was summer break after freshman year of college. The churches annual food drive.” You take a quick glance another photo this time he’s closer. “Actually we spoke for a while, he said he was in town staying with a friend because his parents were on a cruise or in the Bahamas.. I don’t know.” Your breath hitches as you remember more of your interactions with him. “I told him to come by the restaurant and he did a few times and he would sit there for hours with a slice of pie just on his computer.. I’d always give him free coffee refils. I didn't think he-” You stop yourself before you can think about blaming yourself. “Are you sure this is the guy?”
“Pretty sure. He cloned Will’s computer, they're roommates back at MetU, that's probably who he was staying with when he first met you.” Jon explained.
“But why would he go through all this trouble for me?”
“Most people- stalkers..” He corrects himself. “..do this kinda thing because they believe they have a connection with somebody but they can't get close enough to live out their fantasies. Seeing you with Damian probably shattered his delusion and made him think he needed to act before he lost you.”
“That’s why he attacked me outside of the restaurant? Because he thought he was losing me?” You scoff at the thought, hating that anybody could view you as something they could claim ownership of.
“Most likely.” Jon affirms.
“I just don’t get it, like I remember him being way more interested in talking with me than I was with him but I thought he was just lonely.. I didn't know he would..” You can’t even finish the sentence your mind is a mess of emotions, you couldn't get your thoughts together enough to understand.
“This isn't your fault, none of it is. He's just some guy who fixated on you after you showed him a little bit of kindness.”
Jon thought if there were anything he could do to make this go away he would have already done it, he felt a level of responsibility for not seeing the signs sooner because if anybody in your life would have it should have been him.
“So what are we going to do about it?” Scarlett asks. “I mean we can't just do nothing while Damian is with that guy.”
“I’m gonna try Tim again. He should be able to find him.” Try again so he pulls out his phone dilling the last number in his recents again. You and Scarlett watch anxiously as he paces the room listening to the dial tone ring once twice then finally an answer. “Thank God, Tim, I need you to find Damian for me. He was going through that list you gave him and he found something but I lost contact with him.”
“Yeah sure, uhhh.. I’m kinda in a bad spot right now.” Tim said in a hushed tone, he must have been out on a mission. “..His phone hasn't moved in the last half hour he's on Miller street. That was on the list, 64D Miller street.”
You and Scarlett watch, holding your breath trying your best to listen to what was being said on the other side of the call. It was hard to make out but every other word was coherent enough for you to understand.
“Thanks, I’m heading there now.”
“Okay, call me if you need anything else. Calls are being diverted to my coms now, good luck.”
“Thanks man.” Jon said, ending the call and before you have a chance to react he's making a B-line for the door.
“Wait, let me drive.” You offer.
Jon’s already shaking his head before you can finish the sentence. “No, you should stay here, it might not be safe.” He says, already pulling your bedroom door open.
“Jon that's my point exactly, you can't go into this alone if it's not safe.”
“Just trust me. I know what I’m doing, okay?” You don’t believe he can handle it no matter how adamant he is but you can tell arguing with him would only serve to delay things further in this situation as he seemed to have his mind made up
“At least take my car?”
“No it's cool, I’m parked down the street.” Something in his tone told you he was lying but much to his satisfaction you didn't argue. “Just wait here?”
You nod, suggesting that you were receptive to his request but your eyes drift over to Scarlett who is staring right back at you with a knowing look. That doesn't go unnoticed by Jon.
“Guys, I'm serious. Don't follow me.” He warns.
You both look back at him straightening out your expression and Scarlett replies. “It's not like your parents would let us go anywhere right now.” She says to you casually.
“Yeah, just keep us updated?” You ask.
Jon smiles. “Okay.”
Your face drops as soon as he exits the room and you wait a minute until you hear the front door shut. “So, I heard Miller street. But how do we get out of here without your parents noticing?” Scarlett asked, looking at you hopelessly.
“The guest bedroom. We can climb out onto the roof and jump down, it's like ten feet.” You cross the room to the window checking the street to confirm Jon was gone, when you see no sign of him you gesture for Scarlett to follow and she does cautiously.
[Jon]
When Jon arrived at the apartment the door was left unlocked, like whoever was there left in so much of a hurry that they neglected to check behind them.
Jon used his X-ray vision to scope out the place before he entered, it was empty much to his disappointment but he could see the room Damian had described during their call.
He slipped in closing the door behind him while trying to stay alert of his surroundings. He looked around the front room only taking note of the lack of furniture then he moved toward the kitchen scanning each cabinet and the refrigerator with his X-ray vision, it was all empty aside from a single box of rat poison in the cabinet beneath the sink.
The apartment was dead silent save for the sounds echoing from the stree of cars passing as people made their way home completely unaware of the secrets hidden up there.
Jon pushes forward entering a room that looks almost unlived in aside from a few pieces of furniture, a desk and computer with three monitors, next to a printer a filing cabinet and on the other side of the room there were maybe fifty or so photos of you with annotations pinned to the wall and right below that was a wooden cabinet.
“This guy is messed up.” Jon whispers to himself and as he steps toward the cabinet his foot hits something sending it skidding a few feet away, spinning from the impact he follows it with his eyes as it slows down and that when he realises it's Damian's phone. He picks it up carefully analysing it. It was caked in dust picked up from the floor, the simple black silicone case had seen better days but despite that the phone was intact.
Jon pockets the device and does a quick once over of the room with his X-ray vision trying to find the best place to start before speeding over to the desk pulling open one of the drawers and sifting through the papers in super speed. He found nothing useful, so he moves to the next drawer tossing the papers back where they were before moving on to the next two and then the filing cabinet sending papers flying in every direction.
Finally he opens the cabinet, what he found inside seemed to exceed his already low expectations of the kinds of depraved things he would find but there were things Jon couldn't even think about touching even if they were in sealed bags it still felt like he was violating your privacy.
There was nothing useful that pointed to where he could find Damian and from the way he found the apartment he could only assume that Bower caught him off guard and got the upper hand.
It had been almost half an hour since Jon had spoken to his friend, Damian could be anywhere now. The town was small but there were so many places in and around Smallville that Bower could have taken him.
This place was close to where you worked so he could keep an eye on you but it was bare bones with no food and nowhere to sleep so he wasn't living here.
Jon tried to think of all the places they could have gone, somewhere isolated on the outskirts of town maybe or an abandoned building.
It made sense that Bower had a second hide out somewhere away from the town's center where he was unlikely to run into more people. Jon tried to focus his listening for anything that sounded similiar to Damian even just a heart beat but he had yet to completely master his super hearing the way his father had and he came up short only hearing a mess of voices, vehicles and clashing. It was like he could hear all of Kansas but Damian wasn’t there.
“If I were a stalker where would I hide out?” Jon asks himself, looking around the room then he looks down at the worn floor boards X-raying through them taking extra time hoping to find something there that he might have missed.
[Damian]
Damian finds himself suddenly coming back to consciousness in a position he wasn't entirely unfamiliar with. He was sat up in a chair with his wrists and ankles bound, his head throbbing in a way that told him exactly how he got here.
His eyes slowly opened to find he was in a much smaller room than before, his neck craned back in an uncomfortable position that made it hard to move due to the strain but as he readjusted turning his head and cracking his neck in several spots to work out the kinks in his muscles he was able to take a look at the room.
He was in a small dark room only lit up but a singular red bulb hanging from the ceiling. He can smell the chemicals, it's really the only thing he can smell and there is no sound other than a light electrical hum.
“I was wondering when you’d wake up.” Ignoring the throbbing pain Damian’s head tilts up, searching around for the source of the voice. “You're probably really sore. Am I right? I did have to hit you twice.” The stranger chuckles, his laugh mixing with the sound of static like he's talking over a radio.
The sudden raised volume has Damian groaning in pain and as he goes to protect his ears he remembers his predicament. He is bound, essentially helpless.
Damian rolls his neck, tilting his head back to take a thorough look at the room as suspected when his vision briefly focuses he could make out images of you hanging from the ceiling and a walkie talkie now silent on both sides.
He halts his attempts to check the rest of the room when he hears the sound of a door opening and closing, then footsteps approach and the door in front of him folds in on itself, leaking cold blue fluorescent light into the room.
The first thing was Bower’s shoes caked with dust and leaf litter like he had travelled through the forest quite a distance. Bower had been trekking through the woods checking their perimeter.
Bower finally speaks up, pulling Damian's focus to look at him.
“You gave me this shiner. Don’t worry though, I’m not mad about it anymore but I thought it was only right to return the favor.” He grabs Damian’s jaw tight forcing their eye to meet his black abysses. “Tell me how it feels..” James laughed as he roughly pushed Damian’s head back pulling a groan from the restrained man as the back of his head pulsated with pain.
Damian takes a moment to process the pain radiating from the base of his skull, closing his eyes tight as he takes a deep breath before slowly peeling his eyes back open. Bower is looking right at him with a cold glare that gives him away– he is cocky but he was not prepared for this turn of events. That is why he had Damian tied up in the darkroom he had constructed in the closet of an old hunting cabin.
“I’m not the only one who knows your secret now, there is no point in hiding any longer.” Damian says trying and failing to alarm his captor.
“I’m surprised you found me, not even the cops could do that but you've been unconscious for a couple hours, pal. Nobody’s coming for you." He pulls out his phone, turning it horizontally for Damian to see what was on the screen.
A video of a very distressed Jon plays. He is in the very same room that Damian had been in before he lost consciousness, the first thing Jon does is pick up Damian’s phone which had been abandoned on the floor then Jon proceeds to look around the room in superspeed pausing every now and then to think, drawers flung open and papers flew around the room while Jon remained just a blur on the screen.
“Just so you know it's not sped up, although I’m sure you're not surprised your friend can move like that.” James turns off the phone, returning it to his jacket pocket. “Too bad he didn't get there in time, he's a good friend though. He gave me just enough time to move you when he went to check up on Y/N.”
“Don’t say her name.” Damian can feel the ropes cutting into his skin as he shifts in his restraints and James can see the pain in his features and it seems to only amuse him.
“I don’t understand why she would shut me out when I know her better than anybody else does.. I told her everyday how beautiful she was and right when you showed up she stopped reading my messages.” He leaned his back against the doorframe. “Why are you so special?” He asked.
The more James talked, the more it became obvious that his mind was corrupted by delusion and obsession.
Damian rolls his eyes. “Tsk. Should I pity you because you were too much of a coward to tell her how you felt? You knew she would reject you.”
“I’m talking!” James growled, pushing off the door frame to meet Damian at his level. “You wouldn't understand, you've gotten everything you've ever wanted.. Even her.” He spat. “You didn't even have to try did you? Your life must be so easy taking whatever you want but she's not yours to take!”
His patience was wearing thing and Damian knew that because if he had a plan he would have done something by now.
All damian needed was to keep Bower distracted for long enough so that he could come up with a plan or at the very least for Jon to find him however he preferred not having Jon save him from so pathetic.
“You're correct, she is not mine but consider this if she had to choose one of us do you think she would pick you? Now that she knows everything that you’ve done? Stealing her personal items- did you go through her dirty laundry?” Damian scowls. “That is disgusting.. How do you think she would feel if she knew? The right thing to do is turn yourself in.”
Despite his attempts to keep the situation from escalating Damian could not bite his tongue and he could tell that Bower was seething with the way his eyes widened and his jaw would clench as if he was hardly holding down his rage.
“No.” He was in full denial, the reaction was visceral head shaking like he had lost complete control of his body and he was at a visible loss of words.
Damian changed his aim to prey on Bower’s loss of composure, he thought he could break him. “You attacked her..” He continued calmly.
“No.” He continues shaking his head, no longer in control of that action as he began to. “I just wanted to talk to her. I-I love her. Really love her! You just see her as a conquest.” His voice was shaky as he spoke but he continued. “I know your type, you're just like your father. You see women as play things. You’ll go back home and move on to the next and leave her tainted.”
Damian’s head spun as he tried to keep up with the man pacing in front of him and now that he thought about it he couldn't remember when the pacing started but it was dizzying and now that he thought about it he thinks his head had been spinning since he regained consciousness.
“You treat her like prey.” Damian spits back, voice weaker but still full of arrogance. “She will never love you.” He looks James right in the eye with a wicked grin.
James was visibly enraged. “You don’t know what you're talking about!” His voice raised an octave, he was losing whatever semblance of control he thought he had. “If she would just-”
Damian cut him off. “No. She is afraid of you.” He clarified, speaking as if he was spelling it out to a child.
“No.” James ran his hands through his hair slightly tugging on the ends as he did so.
“Yes! She told me. She wants you gone and now that she knows who you are she’ll never look at you again.” Damian spoke slowly, tone condescending in a way that made Bower grind his teeth.
James made a move toward him as if he were going to throttle him with his bare hands but he hesitates and instead mutters out as pathetic; “Shut up..”
“You never had a chance and you know what?” It was rhetorical of course but Damian pauses just for a moment to create agonising suspense. “..I think she loves me.” He confessed with a smile and what James had thought was unnecessary relish.
“I said SHUT UP!” James screams in his face and this time his words are followed by a punch right to Damian’s gut winding him and causing his stomach to curl and bile to rise up his throat as he coughs harshly. “You don’t deserve her..” He seethed pulling Damian by the collar of his shirt so hard that the chair made a earsplitting screeching noise below him then without warning Bower struck him again sending blow after blow without remorse bruising his face and stealing his breath and between each punch he reiterated his previous words like a mantra. “You. Don’t. Deserve. Her.” He repeated until they were both exhausted from the assault.
If it weren't for his own first hand experience Damian would have actually believed that Bower’s words were true just from the way he spoke but James had internalised his desires so much that they became the undoubtable truth in his mind.
Damian takes a moment to recuperate, his eyes drifting around the room noticing how it appeared smaller than as the edges of his vision began to blur.
“..It's not about what I deserve, it's about what she wants.” His words came out forced and breathless as he had yet to recover from the punches.
James turned away kneading his bruised fists. “What makes him so special?” He asked himself and before Damian could give a snarky answer he was slamming the door shut behind him, leaving Damian in the silence of the small red room listening to his frantic mumbling through the door as it became a distant murmur.
[Jon]
Jon couldn't think of what to do but to call Tim, again
Jon pressed his phone to his ear with almost too much pressure and with the other hand he fisted his hair. “Damian isn't here, but left his phone behind and I can't find any clues of where he could be. Don’t- don’t you have one of those trackers on him?”
“Those are installed into our suits, not our bodies. Who do you think we are? The KGB?” Tim says, sounding offended.
“Okay, sorry. Uhh.. any ideas on where to find him? There is no bed or couch in the house so Bower wasn't living here.”
“Yeah, it's a good thing you called. I can't pin his location but Bowers is probably hiding somewhere on the outskirts of town where nobody else is likely to see him, maybe an abandoned shack but get this; Turns out the reason Bower doesn't go back home is because he was involved in a hit and run his sophomore year of high school.”
Jon cleared his throat and swallowed hard before speaking again. “Why wasn't that in his record?”
“He was the driver. He killed the other kid and got off scot free because the judge said he was a promising young mind and his record was expunged but some people suspect it wasn't an accident.” Tim tries his best to get to the point fast. “He finished high school in Metropolis and nobody really knows what happened.”
“Why would people think he killed that guy? Besides the obvious.”
“The details are a little blurry but the general consensus is a girl. I’ll send you the unredacted case file.”
“Yeah, thanks man. I’ll look around town.”
“Good luck.”
What John took from their conversation was that Bower is a threat to everybody around him and especially Damian right now. So he needed to act quick.
As he was making his way to the exit he hears muffled whispers through the door and a clicking of the lock, he X-rays through the solid wood to find you and Scarlett forcing a bobby pin into the keyhole. He grasps the handle pulling the door open which causes you to scramble backwards into the opposite wall leaving Scarlett crouched with the Bobby pin in hand.
“Holy shit, Jon!” Scarlett yelps and jumps up from the floor clutching the bobby pin to her chest.
“What are you guys doing here?!” He whisper yells.
“We couldn't let you do this alone.. and this is all my fault.”
“Y/N, no. It's not your fault.” He held out both of his hands for you and Scarlett each to take, pulling you both up as if you weigh nothing. “And you shouldn't have come here.”
“Did you find anything? Is Damian in there?”
“No, there’s nothing.” The way his eyes look anywhere but at you, gives you doubt.
“There has to be-” You attempt to get past him but his arm bolts out blocking the door. “Umm.. What are you doing?!” You ask pushing at his arm that he was using to block the door. “What's in there?”
“Nothing, let's go.”
“No.” You cross your arms in defiance. “I wanna see what you found.”
Scarlett looks to Jon, noticing the clear tension. “Y/N, maybe maybe we shouldn’t..” She grabs your shoulder but you shrug her off coldly.
“Is it that bad?” You ask, looking Jon dead in the eyes but you can see that he can't find the words. “I’m not going until I see it.”
Jon knows full well you he could stop you if he wanted but he lets you push past him and he watches for a second as you walk in with quick confident steps. He looks over at Scarlett and she stares back, neither of them knowing what to do but follow.
You see that the living room is bare of any furniture so instead you head straight for the kitchen practically tearing open the drawers and cabinets hastily. Jon could hear your heart beating a hundred beats per minute.
“Y/N we shouldn't be here, what if he comes back?” Scarlett whispers.
“Then- then we make him tell us where Damian is.”
“He’s dangerous.” Jon warns.
“I don’t care.” You mumble as you open the last cabinet that contains nothing but that same box of Rat poison that Jon had found earlier but that doesn't deter you.
“He’s not afraid to hurt people to get what he wants.”
You push further into the apartment and when you find the door Jon stills.
“Wait!” He calls as you push open the door to the bedroom with shaking hands.
Scarlett is right on your tail but she pauses at the entrance and Jon knows exactly why. You were both seeing exactly what he had minutes ago. He is frozen in the hall, guilty he didn’t stop you.
“The hell..” Scarlett mutters to herself.
Jon enters the room behind Scar slowly, holding his breath like it could change the outcome. He watches as you approach the wall opposite the computer desk, your eyes scanning over the images pinned to the wall.
You're so still that he almost thinks he's seeing in super speed, he sees every microscopic twitch of your face and how your expression changed from fear to recognition and back to fearful.
You catch sight of one photo in particular, in which you are looking down at your phone with tears in your eyes.
“I don’t understand.” Your head tilted so slowly that it almost looked mechanical, you didn't look like yourself at all.
“I don’t think you should be seeing any of this, maybe-”
“I’ve seen it all before. It just feels real now..” You say softly, eyes drifting toward the cabinet and before another thought could enter your mind you opened the drawer and your face twisted in horror and tears blurred your vision.
Your face drops to one of morbid terror and Scarlett finally makes a move toward you glancing into the drawer.
“We should go.” You say, blinking away tears letting them fall to the ground. “Now. I wanna leave now.”
[Damian]
Damian heard a loud crash from the other side of the door.
“No!” He heard Bower yell then the sound of a door slamming shut that rattled the walls in a way that made the space seem alive.
James had seen you on his security cameras and as distraught as you seemed in the footage he couldn't imagine you being as upset as he was right now.
Damian focused his hearing on the commotion coming from the outside; there was Bower’s low muttered voice and what sounded almost like dried leaves breaking under the weight of his boots.
The knots that bound his wrists to the chair were secure enough to ensure he wasn't able to get out of them even if he dislocated every joint in his hand. He thought maybe he could move his legs enough to get out of the binding around his ankles but he would still have his hands tight behind his back.
He hated being like this, in this position, completely at somebody else mercy. Damian didn't know what had set off Bower but it could have been the last thread that held his sanity together.
The door to the small red room slammed open once again folding in on itself, this time Bower stood in the doorway, chest rising and falling rapidly and his eyes held an emptiness to them like a rabid animal lost to its condition. Damian didn’t need to look at the bat in his hand to know that his anger would turn to violence.
“She saw everything!” Bower raved, pointing the bat right at Damian’s face. “This is all your fault- If.. if you had never come here, none of this would have ever happened. She would love me!”
“Whatever happened was out of my control. Maybe you were reckless.” Damian suggested trying to give the other man some clarity.
“No! No.. everything was good until you came. You lead her there.” The bat shook in his hand as he spoke.
Damian shakes his head. “She has always been afraid of you.”
“No, you got in her mind and made her afraid of me.” Now he had the bat pressed to Damian's chin forcing him to look up at him.
“There is nothing you can do now to change that but if you turn yourself in she would not be so afraid anymore.”
Bower shakes his head again as if in a state of constant denial. “No, I need to talk to her! She will listen.” He said frantically, only convincing himself. “..She listens.” He told himself now as he paced into the other room glancing at the source of the blue light.
Damian recalled helping you unload baked goods from the back of your car onto the Kent’s kitchen and how when prompted by Jon you willingly gave up details of your life like it was nothing. Maybe that's what made you such a target for Bower. You did listen and you asked questions and you let yourself be an open book for whoever asked.
“She will listen.. If you turn yourself in.” Damian’s voice softened in a way that was unnatural to him, in a way that sounded like he was pleading and this change came because he could see that Bower was wrong move away from making a dangerous decision.
Bower turned his head very slowly and looked at Damian, his face was expressionless and yet his eyes seemed to give him away.
Damian had never done well with consoling others but this reaction was beyond his expectation, Bower’s eyes held a cold uncontrolled rage that as a child Damian often saw in himself.
Damian prepared himself for the worst, knowing that there was not one thing he could say to calm the fire building in the man who stood across from him.
He almost flinched as Bower turned suddenly tossing the bat as he exited the small room again leaving the door open for Damian to watch as he ripped open the zipper of a bag that was sitting on one of the counters and pulled out a large hunting knife then a heavy looking pistol.
When James turned back Damian found that there was no denying what was about to happen. He would have accepted his fate if it were any of the enemies he had faced in the past but he felt a deep shame in his gut knowing what his mother would think if he allowed this kind of low life to get the upper hand on him.
Talia would see Bower as a bottom feeder in the hierarchy of societies underbelly and yet he had overpowered her diligently trained progeny.
His mouth opened, accusations already formed in his mind before he could speak them out loud. “You did this.. You forced my hand.” Bower said as he gripped the knife in his right hand anxiously as he ambled toward Damian’s helpless form, his steps vibrating through the floor until his last footfall when he stood before his perceived opponent. “You-” He stopped himself before he lost control.
Then he dropped to his knees cutting the ropes from Damian’s ankles one at a time watching carefully making sure the large blade didn't cut where it shouldn’t, not yet.
Damian felt as his legs finally went slack, no longer held in place by the restraints but all he could do was watch as Bower moved behind him with the blade as it glinted in the red light above them.
Bower and hide the rope from the chair, leaving Damian‘s hands tied behind his back and he was quick to jabbing the cold barrel of the gun between his shoulder blades.
“Move.” Bower commanded, pressing the cold metal harder into Damian’s back to urge him to his feet. “Can't get blood in this place..” He says to himself.
With that Damian’s knew now that he could not rely on Jon to find him to get out of this situation.
[Y/N, Scarlett and Jon]
It was silent as the three of you walked down to the ground floor of the apartment building. Jon and Scarlett didn’t know what to say to you. What could they say?
Suddenly your voice cut through the stillness. “Jon, did Damian’s brother tell you anything else?”
He ran a hand through his hair, he didn’t think you could handle the whole truth. “He just said Bower’s probably living somewhere on the outskirts of town. I know it’s not much but-”
It wasn’t much, but it did spark something in your mind. “Scar? Remember the day we were at Crater lake? When I got those texts? Well I know he was watching me when I was working, but then I went home and I wasn’t gonna go out and then I got the texts.”
“Okay?” She doesn’t know what you’re trying to suggest but you’re getting somewhere.
“We never saw a car pull into that side of the lake but that doesn't mean he didn't drive.. I think maybe he came the other way. There's some old hunting cabins on the other side of the lake. Most of them are practically in ruins but a few of them could still be in good enough shape to live in.” You pause then look at Jon. “It's just a hunch but maybe he’s been living in one of those old cabins, they're far enough out of town so he would have the privacy he needs.”
“Okay, I’ll check it out.” Jon is quick to answer. It was the closest thing to a lede he had and it narrowed things down for him a lot.
You grab Jon’s arm before he could think to disappear. “I’m coming with you.”
“WE’RE coming with you.” Scarlett corrects.
“No. It's dangerous.” Jon argues.
“And what exactly can you do to protect yourself?” Scarlett retorted.
“Okay, I’ll take my truck and meet you guys.” Jon couldn’t exactly argue back and say he was superman’s son.
“No, we should take one car.. So mine or yours?” You ask folding your arms across your chest in a way that tells him you're not taking no for an answer.
Jon knew he didn't have his truck and he couldn't make a get away while your eyes were pinned to him in the way they were right now, so he gave in, nodding reluctantly then he said; “Yours.. Where is it?”
You point to the van parked down the street. It wasn’t the most conspicuous vehicle you could’ve chosen considering it was covered in ladybug but you grabbed the first set of key you could without your parents noticing.
“Why would you bring the van?!” Jon clamoured, letting his jaw go slack.
“I grabbed the wrong keys, we were in a rush.. Now either suck it up or take us to your truck.” You order, not sure what came over you but you stand by it and keep your chin up.
Jon smooth his hand over his hair to compose himself before he replies. “Okay, sorry. Let's just go.”
“Okay..” You say with a smile then nod in the direction of the van ushering Jon to lead the way which he did reluctantly.
Something told you to keep an eye on him at all times as he had a talent for disappearing without a sign.
“How exactly are we going to find them? I mean there's dozens of trails and miles of forest around Crater lake.” Scarlett queried.
You unlock the van watching as Jon and Scarlett enter before you open the drivers side door to join them squishing Jon between the two of you.
“Theres only one road and one of those trails is going to look more used than the others so we’re gonna find it.” You say sounding so sure of yourself.
“I don't know maybe we would find it quicker if we had help, if we called the cops they could send out a search party to comb thro-”
You don’t let her finish the thought before you're interjecting. “Scar, if we call the cops your dad will make us wait. It could be too late, if you think it's too dangerous you don’t have to come but i’m going.” You say starting the engine.
“No, I’m coming! I just thought we should consider other options.” She explained.
You look over to Scarlett eyes filled with sincerity. “Don’t feel like you have to do this because of me.”
“I don’t and anyways you're my best friend, I'm not letting you do this without me.”
You put the car and drive still looking at Scarlett just to be sure she wasn’t going to back out.
“Okay let’s go.”
Aside from your thoughts the drive was mostly silent but every breath felt like a scream and every time the car jostled felt like an attack on your nervous system. Eventually, Scarlett suggested turning on the radio and you did letting the news play his background noise.
Once you reached the lake you took the narrow dirt track that wound around the water leading you under the dim lit canopy of the trees. Half way around the lake there were still no trails, no sign of where Damian could have been taken, if he was even there.
Not unlike you and Scarlett, Jon focused his sight on finding his friend but unlike you he wasn't looking for a trail that would miraculously lead you in the right direction, he was looking beyond the trees scanning every inch until he found Damian which he did but the he had to find somehow to get away without alarming the two of you.
Meanwhile you're eyes were peeled for any signs of life, you were banking on the idea that the area around the lake was not heavily trafficked anymore due to the decrease in hunting around town and from what you could see not many people had been down here any vehicles that had been were definitely smaller than your van and you were sure that you would come out of this whole ordeal with at least scratches on the exterior if you were lucky.
You eased off of the accelerator each time you passed one of the many wooded trails that lead off of the road carefully checking to see if any of them showed the signs of use that you were looking for and it want too long until you found one, the only path that looked used so far.
You pulled the van into where the trail diverged from off of the road.
You were on the right track Jon knew that, you were unsure but there wasn't much else you could do but make assumptions.
“This has to be it..” You put the car in park and turn off the engine.
Scarlett is the first one to exit the car, Jon follows closely after her and you leave through the drivers side now separated from they by the vehicle.
“I don't know, maybe we should split up and check the area.” Jon suggests he knew he sounded dumb but he needed an out.
What was Jon supposed to say? He couldn't tell you that he was going to wander off in a random direction and then explain how he just happened on Damian and took down Bower within minutes and he knew he couldn't realistically do anything with you and scarlett around.
“No, are you dumb? That's like how every slasher starts, we have to stick together.” Scarlett emphasizes her point by looping her arm around Jon’s.
Jon knew you were close, he could hear Damian and Bower marching toward the water but he didn't want you being involved in whatever was about to happen, he wanted you and Scarlett far from any danger.
“Scar’s right. We can't split up.” You call over the car, you don’t look at them, instead you're looking out at the waters edge, it was so close it felt too exposed to be the right place. You didn't expect to see anything, you were just scoping out your surroundings.
Your eyes scanned the perimeter of the lake, taking in every movement of the trees and shrubs, hoping for a sign. Hope was all you had to lean on because you could very easily be in the wrong place and then you didn't know what you would do. It would be out of your hands.
But by some divine chance of fate you saw something. It was just a small movement but you did a double take at where the trees made an opening before the water and there you saw them.
Your initial reaction was excitement at the sight of Damian but then he stumbled. Unbeknownst to you he was pushed but then you saw him, James with one hand on Damian’s shoulder and the other behind his back and if you had to guess the hand he hid behind Damian's back wasn't empty. They were just a few hundred yards away, close enough that they would hear you if you called out.
Jon heard your heart rate spike. He was distracted before but he saw it too, he saw the gun although he knew you couldn't and he saw how your body began to move, like you weren't in control anymore, like you were possessed with one goal in mind.
“Y/N, stop!” He called for you only loud enough for you and Scarlett to hear as to not alert Bower.
Scarlet was none the wiser until Jon called out to you and her head snapped in your direction instantly. “Where are you going, aren't we taking the trail?”
“He’s there.” You don’t know when you started running but before either Jon or Scarlett could do anything you were taking off. Long forgotten was the idea of sticking together.
“Wait, we should- I’m calling the cop.” Scarlett tried to catch up with you still holding Jon's arm against her as she pulled out her phone from her back pocket with her free hand. You ignored her and kept moving, determined to save Damian even if you were taking a chance.
Meanwhile, just a few hundred yards away Damian was being matched to his death feeling more embarrassed than anything that he was in this position.
He didn't struggle and he didn't fight he played weak, not that the beating he had taken didn't affect him at all but he had been through worse, his body could take it.
He knew he needed to play it safe until he could make his move, so he limped and huffed as if he was losing his breath with each step he took but at the same time he kept his eyes up scanning the terrain around them looking fo a distraction.
Eventually they reached the water, the sun was only now beginning to descend upon the tree line so he could still make out the fence between the sandy area and the parking lot across the lake.
It became very apparent to Damian that if James were planning to get rid of him quickly with minimal mess he was going to dump him in the water, it wasn't the perfect crime but it would get rid or most of the forensic evidence. From his view there was no one else around, which meant he didn't have much time but he was struggling to find ways to disarm his adversary.
“She will hate you.” Damian spoke without thinking.
He was running out of time to save himself, he taken down hundreds of more skilled opponents but right now he couldn't see an out. No distractions or weak point to exploit, just a gun pressed between his shoulder blades and his hands tied behind his back.
James cackled, sounding genuinely amused. “..But she’ll be mine.”
“She will never be yours because all she will think about when she sees you is me.”
As you got closer you could hear them speaking, just barely over the sound of your heavy breathing but they don’t care to try and conceal their voices, they had no reason, they thought they were alone.
Suddenly, you could see yourself emerging from the shrubs stopping just close enough that it would only take a few step for you to reach out and grab Damian but you knew that could cost his life. You don’t notice how close Jon and Scarlett are as they appear right behind you.
James reacted hastily, free hand reaching around to Damian’s throat, gripping tightly before bringing the gun up to his temple. Your breath hitches, dread filling you at the at the sight of the weapon.
Your eyes flicker to Damian with his teeth bared and breathing steady but restricted. A dark bruise had formed around the orb of his left eye, cracked lips and nose oozing blood. You wondered how long he had been like that, were there other bruises? Your eyes probed and searched him then James spoke.
“Y/N.. Why are- You shouldn’t be here.” Things were steering further and further off course for James and you being here was a worst case scenario for him.
“James, please.. Don’t do this.” You plead, raising your hands, like he's an animal you're trying to tame.
His black eyes rounded as he looked at you. “I have to.. This is all for you! You’ll understand!”
Tu shook your head. “Please.. Don’t do this because of me.”
“Why?! Why does he matter so much?! ..I did everything I could to make you happy, to make you see me!” He forced a half hearted manic smile onto his face. “You still picked him!”
“I made a mistake..” You inhale slowly and soften your face trying to conceal all the hate and disgust you felt toward the man in front of you and although it killed you you had to make him believe that you meant what you were about to say. “I see that now.. And I should appreciated what you did for me..” You take a step toward him, lowering your hands, guard still up. “You know more about me than anybody else. You know my favorite flower, down to the color.. He doesn’t know that.” You say, pointing to Damian.
“Exactly! I love you! I-I really care about you..”
The confession has your stomach curdling but luckily the adrenalin kept your mind clear enough to hide any sign of how you really feel and as painful as it is for you the smile remains on your face.
“I wish you told me before I wasted half the summer with the wrong guy.” Your eyes flickered to Damian and your voice broke a little, which to James (if he believed you) showed how vulnerable you were being but for you it was a crack in your armour that meant you didn't have it in you to keep the act up much longer.
“All I wanted was a response! One text!” He yelled, pushing the harder into Damian’s temple. “Why couldn’t you give me what you gave him?!”
You looked at James, really looked at him and you knew that despite how you felt you needed to validate how he was feeling because he couldn't have his delusion broken. Not yet, not until Damian was safe. What you needed to do was make him believe he would get what he wanted, you needed to make everything he's done seem like it was justified, even if that wasn't true to you.
“I was scared- not of you. Never.. But if I just knew it was you- If you told me, we could have made it work.” Your smile drops. “But it's all a mess now, it's gone too far and the cops are on their way..” You let your words trail off like you're at a loss.
“You don’t want him?” For the first time he asked what you wanted but you could tell just from the look on his face he didn't want the truth, he wanted compliance.
You shake your head, finally breaking eye contact to look at Damian’s bruised face. “No.” You answer and when you look back to James his eyes have lit up with hope.
“We could leave together! We could run away together.” James suggests excitedly and the hand holding the gun lowered slightly and your posture became less rigid which to James was a sign that you wanted what he did but he couldn't be more wrong. The moment the gun moved from Damian’s head your mind began thinking of ways to get the gun away from him entirely.
“I’ll go with you but we have to leave now.” You say, trying to hide the panic in your expression however you couldn't control the shaking of your bottom lip, luckily enough he didn't notice or perhaps he assumed it was because his optimism clouded his judgement.
“Y/N, what are you doing?” Jon asks but you ignore him, keeping your eyes glued to James.
Damian on the other hand knew what you were trying to do but he couldn't help but fear that you would actually leave,
“James.. Put the gun down.. And we can leave.” You tried not to sound like you were begging but that is what it you were doing.
“You can’t go!” Scarlett interjects, taking a step forward which was evidently the wrong move as the gun is now pointing at her.
“Shut up!” James yells. Scarlett freezes in panic now staring down the barrel of the gun.
This turn of events gave Jon the opportunity he needed to shoot a singular beam from his eyes at the barrel of the gun causing James to drop it as the metal heated up, searing his skin in the process.
Your brow knit together in surprise and flickers down to where the gun landed in the grass, you don’t know what caused him to drop it but you're relieved that he was disarmed.
Now that James is no longer armed Damian takes a chance, throwing his elbow back into James’ ribs causing him to keel over from the pain of impact. While he was reeling from the pain Damian lifted his arms over his head, shoulders popping in and out of place. He he hadn’t done it so smoothly you would have assumed it was painful.
Damian then brings both arm in front of him catching Bower in a headlock using the bindings around his wrists to drag him away from the gun giving Jon the space to rush over and grab it.
You watch the whole thing stunned and unmoving until you hear Scarlet sigh, at the sound you turn back to her. Tears form in your eyes and despite the small space between the two of you you rush to close the distance holding your arms out pulling her into a tight hug ignoring the commotion behind you.
Scarlett stayed limp in your arms, eyes glued to the gun as Jon kicked the gun away, one at a time they just disappeared into the dirt. Then her eyes drifted over to Damian with his arm wound around James’ neck and how he didn't stop fighting the restraint, hands reaching up trying to relieve the pressure. The distress was clear on his face yet his eyes stayed glued to you even as he lost consciousness.
You pulled away from the hug, letting your hands linger at her sides as you looked over her expression trying to grasp her reaction. She looks disturbed as she turns her gaze to you, brows drawn together, like you had hurt her.
“You were going to-” She began to draw her conclusion.
“Scar, no. I didn't mean anything I said to him, I just didn't want anybody to get hurt.” You frown looking at her hurt expression.
“God, you’ve gotten good at lying..” She cried, pulling you back in for a hug, holding you so tight that it almost hurts. “Next time just wait for the cops.” She mumbles into your shoulder.
Suddenly you sob as the adrenaline finally wore off. “Scar, I thought he was gonna shoot you!” You cried.
“Don- Don’t tell my dad..” She sniffles and releases you from the hug giving you a tight smile.
For a moment there you thought this had all been too much for Scarlett and you should have left he back in town to save her the trauma but then she laughs.
“I’m so happy this is over.” She says chuckling again
“Hey guys?! I think the cops are here!” Jon calls from behind you and you finally look back to see him untying Damian.
Once he was free of his bindings he flexed his hands, feeling the blood flow back into his hands. There’s bruises around his wrist. You can’t help but frown at the sight and you’re being drowned in guilt by your thoughts until Scarlett’s speaks up.
“Oh, there they are!” She is standing at the edge of the lake now, pointing out across the water to the side of the lake closest to town. “How did you hear that?”
The sirens eventually become loud enough for the rest of you to hear and Jon replies.
“I was paying attention.” He shrugs and Scarlett’s response is lost on you as you refocus on Damian.
He looks up from his bruised wrists, features softening as your eyes meet.
“..Damian, I’m sorry.” You can't even look at him as you speak. “I didn't mean for any of this to happen-”
“I know, you didn't ask for any of this.” He says, looking down at you with a crooked smile that seemed so out of character, it felt like he was trying to reassure you more than anything. “It's okay.” Your eyes dropped to the ground, you couldn't look him in the eye after everything that happened.
“You don’t really mean that do you?”
You’re answer come in the form of his hand grasping yours and your eyes drift back up to meet his and without thinking you wrap your arms around his shoulder pulling him down to your level. He doesn't even hesitate to lean into it.
You can’t help but give him a tight squeeze, forgetting about his injuries for a moment until he lets out a pained groan, you pull back, just enough to look at him. “I sorry. You’re probably in a lot of pain.” You babble, trying to pull away in a hurry but he doesn’t let you go.
“Jus’ one minute.” Damian mumbles into your shoulder. “Don’t let go.” He couldn't help but revel in having you hold him, without hiding it.
As you embrace the sirens get closer, now echoing through the forest.
To be continued..
Sorry it took so long for me to get this part out. What can I say? I was in a slump.🩷🙏🏿
Are used to grammar checker for the first time and it was telling me to put commas in front of ands and buts. I did not take any of those suggestions.☹️
@eurydiceknowshesloved @fruttiextra @ahoessecrettxx @yirena4real @reiofsuns2001 @leilei1907 @senseandinsensibility
