014
— promises, dreams and regrets —

IT DIDN'T MATTER HOW MANY TIMES COLE HAD REASSURED HER, HAZEL'S HANDS STILL GRIPPED THE SIDE OF THE CLEAR TANK, ANXIETY PULSING THROUGH HER. Dick stood close to her, sharing the same fear as he stared at the orange gooey liquid. Cole checked over Conner's vitals one last time before tossing the tablet aside, on top of the desk Tim sat at. "Any updates on Conner?" Dick questioned, his arms crossing.

"Sleeping like a brick," Cole said with a nod. "Is that an expression?"

"Can be," Tim shrugged, making Cole smile.

"But uh," Cole turned back to Conner and looked over the tablet. "Vitals are steady and internal organs still. . . internal and intact."

Cole stepped up to the clear box, looking at the monitor and the tubes on the side, giving everything a once over. "Is this gonna work?" Hazel asked, her eyes moving to look up at Cole.

Cole nodded softly, "I double checked everything with Bernard. And Kruger."

"Did— Did you triple-check?" Hazel stammered.

"Haze," Tim said, kneeling beside her. He squeezed her shoulder, "It's gonna work." Hazel nodded softly and Cole a sequence into the computer. A small whirring of the motors made Hazel jump slightly as the green virus was pumped into the orange goo, swirling through the orange ripples.

Something tapped the side of the glass and Cole leant closer. "Something's definitely happening," Cole stated with uncertainty, making Hazel's stomach twisted in knots as she stared at her brother. "Uh, a hand? No! No, it's a foot!"

"Better be more than a foot," Dick hissed leaning on the box.

Hazel dropped her hand onto her hands, "Please Gar," she pleaded, her jaw tightening. She looked back at the box, lifting her head, eyes filled with both desperation and hope. The water churned, the motors working harder. Then Gar's hand slammed against the glass. Then both hands were gripping the sides of the metal framework, his body forming as he hoisted himself up.

The orange goo covered him entirely, dropping from his hair as he stared forwards. "Gar?" Hazel called, shuffling closer.

"Now that. . . was a wild ride!" Gar shouted before laughing.

Hazel released a relieved breath and threw herself at Gar wrapping her arms tightly around him. She squeezed him tightly before cringing, "This orange shit is sticky." Gar ginned and wrapped one arm around her, pulling her closer.

"Jesus!" Tim shouted in relief, his hands tugging at his hair and Hazel released Gar.

Cole smiled and exhaled deeply and looked up at Dick who smiled proudly. "Good to have you back."

"How's Conner?" Gar asked looking up at Dick.

"He's all healed up," Cole confirmed with a nod. Gar laughed in triumph and stood, gripping Cole into a hug. His face twisted as he cringed, "Christ, it is sticky."

❁

Gar found himself in the Pyrotechnics wing again, standing in front of the mirror as he tried to fix his hair before he put his shirt on, not wanting to stain it with the orange goo. "Knock, knock," Hazel called out, gently knocking on the door. Gar called out to her and she pushed the door open, smiling at him. "Any luck getting the organ goo drink out of your hair?" Hazel questioned, trying her hardest to ignore Gar's bare chest.

"Well—" Gar cursed as the comb caught in his hair, pulling at the roots. He dropped it in the sink and shrugged. "No luck."

Hazel laughed softly before tossing a shirt his way. "Fumbled around your bags, found this," Hazel said as Gar flicked out the dark blue tie-dye shirt.

"Thanks," Gar nodded as Hazel stepped up to him.

She tilted her head, looking at the globs of orange goo slowly hardening in his green hair. "Sit down," Hazel ordered, motioning to the edge of the bath. Gar sighed and sat down, looking up at Hazel as she grabbed the comb. "I'll try not to hurt you," Hazel assured, running her hand through his hair. "Or bald you."

Gar laughed softly, closing his eyes as Hazel combed through his hair removing the goo left behind. "What happened to not sitting around and watching me die?" Gar asked, opening his eyes just enough to stare up at Hazel.

Hazel's hands faltered for a moment as she stared into his sad eyes. She fluffed out his hair and turned, grabbing his shirt. She handed it to him, but refused to meet his eyes. "I wouldn't— I mean. . ." Hazel sighed and Gar pulled on his shirt. "I wouldn't actually leave you. I thought. . . maybe if I convinced you not to do it, I could buy time to figure out another way."

"You didn't think I could do it?" Gar asked furrowing his eyebrows.

"No!" Hazel shouted suddenly. Hazel wrung her hands together and clenched her jaw again. She took a deep breath and kneeled in front of him, resting her elbows on his knees. "I knew you could do it, I've been connected to you, I know what you can do but. . ." Hazel trailed off, losing her words on her tongue.

"Everything else was a gamble," Gar nodded. "I didn't want to scare you, Haze." Gar shook his head and grabbed her hands, "I'm sorry for making you cry." Hazel tried to stand but Gar grabbed her arms and held her in place. "Just talk to me. Don't ask me cryptic questions, don't make stupid jokes just. . . please."

Hazel took a deep breath, her chest tightening so much it hurt. "Micheal was going to put me to auction, called me his sweetheart."

Gar's eyes sunk, "Hazel—"

She shook her head, "You asked me to talk," Gar shut his mouth but intertwined his hands with hers. "When I disappeared, I didn't just run away. I went back to CADMUS. There's a reason they haven't come for us." Hazel chuckled softly but quickly lost her smile. "All they did, all they made me see was you. I hurt you, I— I killed you. And even though I knew it was fake—"

Hazel shuddered and Gar pulled her into his arms. "Please don't scare me like that again," Hazel pleaded.

Gar slid off the tub, sitting on the tiles and pulled Hazel into his lap. "I won't, I swear," Gar whispered. "I promise."

❁

Kory drove in silence, chewing on her knuckle as the dim streetlights flashed above them. Terran and Rachel sat in the back of the car, Rachel leaning against Terran's shoulder. Terran held Rachel's tight in hers, tracing the skin of her knuckles. "What are we gonna do?" Rachel asked, keeping her voice soft.

Kory hummed, drumming her finger against her lip. "We're gonna go back to S.T.A.R Labs and tell them what happened," Kory said, nodding softly.

"Everything?" Terran asked.

Kory took a deep breath. "Terran I know you wanna talk to Hazel and Cole about this in private. But this— This isn't just an us issue anymore. Videl's involved which means the Gold Council is and that's too complicated and dangerous to even tell you about it."

"We know what the Gold Council is," Rachel said quickly. "A teacher on Themescyria told Terran and Terran told me."

"So you understand this is dangerous?"

"I don't think they're involved," Terran mumbled. "If that man really was a guard he would be wearing symbols of Videl."

Rachel's eyebrows furrowed, "So he was lying?"

"Or Videl knows and no one else does," Terran offered, "He wants to help but he can't so he sent someone."

Kory sighed softly, "That would be nice." Terran sunk into her seat, her eyes drifting to look out the window. She tapped her hands against the wheel and sighed. "Talk to Cole and Hazel first, see what they want to do. For now we'll. . . keep this between us." Terran and Rachel nodded softly, and Terran continued to trace her fingers along Rachel's skin.

It was silent for a few moments. Terran watched the lights blur as they passed them, the rain had stopped but the roads were still damp. Rachel looked down at her hand intertwined with Terran's and took a deep breath. "Hey, that vision you had. We were there too. Like we saw it," Rachel spoke up.

"The field with the red balloons," Terran echoed.

"All of us, together at the park?" Kory asked and Rachel nodded.

"Yeah. I know this is, like, none of my business, and there's a lot going on right now, but I think that's why I need to say something," Rachel said in a rush. She pushed herself to sit upright and took a breath. "In Gotham, in the Lazarus Pit, when I was sucking up all the nightmares, I saw what Dick saw."

"What are you talking about?" Kory questioned.

"Dick had a vision, too, and it was, pretty much exactly like yours," Rachel explained.

Kory turned her attention back to the road and licked her lips, "The little girl?"

"I don't know if he's talked to you about this. . ." Rachel trailed off.

Kory pursed her lips as she sighed through her nose, "No, he hasn't," Kory said.

❁

Hazel held the coffee tight in her hands, warming her freezing hands. Cole rushed over to her, mumbling a thank you as he took the second coffee he had asked her to grab. Everyone had cleared out of the Lab but Cole had stayed back to clean up the orange goo and sort the desks out again. Hazel walked down the stairs watching him rush around, a large smile on his face. "You're chipper," Hazel mused, smiling behind her cup.

"I have reason to be," Cole said with a laugh. "I was the lead operator on the first magical snake abortion performed by a boy who can turn into a virus." Hazel grinned and sat on the table as Cole flopped into a rolling chair. "I'm feeling pretty good."

Hazel laughed and leaned back on her hand. "You know when I got mad earlier it was because I was looking out for you, you can't be that stupid," Hazel hissed, but ensured to keep her voice light.

"So there is some leeway," Cole laughed, sipping his coffee. "But yeah I know. It was pretty stupid. But like I told you, it was Tim's idea." Cole dropped his head slightly, his smile growing as his cheeks went red.

Hazel gasped.

"Holy shit! You kissed him!" Hazel shrieked, her grin spreading to match his.

"Technically he kissed me!" Cole corrected. Hazel set her coffee aside and dropped her face into her hands, trying to hide how giddy she was but it was entirely useless as Cole shared the same look. Cole burst out laughing at nothing in particular, for a couple of moments there wasn't anything magic or evil happening. Hazel laughed with him, nearly snorting as she did, for a moment they could just laugh.

"Hey— Whoa!" Tim shoted, stopping in the doorway. Cole and Hazel froze and stared at Tim. "You good?"

Cole couldn't help but laugh again, slipping further into the seat. Tim walked over to them, staring down at Cole. He looked up to Hazel for answers but she just grinned at Tim, "Nice job Robin."

Tim stared at her with wide eyes when Jinx strode in, taking the coffee from Hazel. Jinx sipped it and grinned, "Thank you, I am quite thirsty." Hazel shook her head and jumped off of the table, pulling Cole from his chair so she could sit down and start spinning. Cole huffed and leaned against the desk, pushing Hazel in a circle.

The doors beeped as they opened and Jinx set the cup down, staring to clap. "Oh, hey! Look at you!" Jinx called. They all turned to look at Gar and Dick as they strolled through, Gar smiling brightly.

"Hey, Gar-virus," Tim cheered, standing up from beside Cole.

"Almost human-sized again," Jinx teased.

"Yeah, yeah," Gar scoffed. Gar took Tim's hand and pulled him into a quick hug before thanking Cole. He moved to rest his arms on Hazel's shoulders and they all looked up at Dick.

"How's Conner?" Dick asked.

"I'm not sure, he keeps calling me home slice," Tim scoffed.

"He's dropped Hazel Frazel, thank god," Hazel said grimacing before leaning over to snatch her coffee. Cole acted quickly, pushing Hazel from the chair and flopping down again. She scoffed and grabbed her phone from the table. "Although he has started calling me your Grace." Hazel shrugged and sipped on her coffee.

"Well, he said I'm hotter than last July, so, I'd say he's fine," Jinx shrugged.

"Are you sure he's clean? From the curse?" Dick asked, turning to Jinx.

"Mmm, he's clean, all right," Jinx confirmed. "I checked him up one side and down the other."

Tim laughed softly and Cole shook his head softly, "Good for you." Tim peeked over Hazel's shoulder as she typed quickly on her phone. "Who's that?" Tim whispered, leaning closer.

"Old friend," Hazel muttered before quickly turning off her phone and tossing her coffee.

The doors beeped as they opened again and before Gar called out happily to Kory, Rachel and Terran, he froze. Their faces had turned down, a mix between guilt and worry. Terran dropped Rachel's hand and rushed to Hazel. Terran threw her arms around Hazel, squeezing herself tight against Hazel. "Whoa, are you okay?" Hazel asked, running her hands through Terran's hair. Terran clutched Hazel even more tightly, pressing her face deep into the comforting curve of Hazel's shoulder.

"Where's Sebastian?" Dick asked and Kory took a deep breath.

"He sacrificed himself to save us," Kory admitted and the room shifted to defeat. Everyone slumped, and Terran pulled herself from Hazel, sitting on the stool beside Cole. "She has him now," Kory continued.

"We have to get him back," Rachel pleaded, walking over to Dick.

"As far as we know, this temple could be on the top of Mount Everest," Tim groaned, slumping back against the desk.

"And even if we do find it, how would we get him out?" Cole asked, looking around.

"We could teleport," Gar suggested, biting into a banana. Jinx sent a side glance at him and his face dropped. "Or that's not a thing?" Gar muttered when no one answered him.

"And this is all assuming the ritual hasn't already happened," Kory sighed. "If it has—"

"It hasn't," Hazel spoke up and the others turned to her. "Something would shift. I uh. . . How do I explain this?" Hazel groaned before shrugging. "When Trigon was here and he started to kill all of the life at the house I felt all that death, and the mark of his magic. If this ritual goes through, I will feel the demonic energy. . ." Hazel trailed off as the doors opened and Conner walked through.

Haze tilted her head, her eyes narrowing at the leather jacket and bald head. "Uh, where's the rest of you?" Hazel asked and the others followed her gaze.

"Something happened to— to your head?" Gar called, pointing at Conner with his banana.

Conner walked past Kory and she coughed softly. "Are you wearing cologne?" Kory questioned as Conner took a spot at the table, standing directly beside Hazel.

"It's Drakkar Noir," Conner explained. Conner turned to Jinx and nodded. "You're welcome." Hazel furrowed her eyebrows and turned to Gar who shrugged. "If you're all done taking in the view. . . Grab a seat." Conner sat on one of the white chairs, kicked his feet onto the table and smiled. "We've got a demon to stop."

Everyone stepped closer to the table, Hazel next to Gar and Terran and across from Jinx. "The Blood Moon sets in two hours and six minutes," Dick reminded, his hands pressed to the table. "What's your big idea?"

"It's a three-step process," Conner said simply. "We find them, kill them, and go have a cold one."

"Hot take," Jinx said with a smile.

"We're not doing that," Rachel snapped.

Conner shook his head softly. "I am done playing demon rescue-and-rehab," Conner snapped, pushing himself to stand. "This bitch killed my dad and put a snake up my guts. It's time for her and the kid to go bye-bye."

"She's on high alert," Dick reasoned. "It's too dangerous. We need to find a way to bring Sebastian back without a head-on battle."

"There's an old saying, Richard," Conner cooed. "He, who doesn't learn from history is a. . . What is it? Oh, yeah, a fucking moron. If we killed him when we had the chance, we'd all be in the RV heading to 'Frisco right now."

"Don't call it 'Frisco," Gar said grimacing.

Dick shook his head softly. "We don't kill people, Conner," Dick said sternly.

"We're not murderers," Rachel echoed.

"Got it. Except for Hazel right?" Conner said with a chuckle before turning to her. Hazel's eyes snapped up to him and he shrugged, grabbing a tablet. "My dad had a list. Jonathan Crane, Micheal Tarves, nearly all 200 members of CADMUS." Conner's eyebrows shot up and he hissed through his teeth. "Wow, intense." Cole and Gar continued to stare at Conner as they others slowly turned their eyes to Hazel.

Hazel felt her stomach churn uncomfortably, a wave of unease washing over her as she involuntarily shrank under the intense gaze of their eyes. Conner laughed softly, "Oh, I'm sorry. . . Did they not know?"

"That was different," Terran snapped, her head spinning to glare at Conner.

Conner raised his hands in defence, "Hey! I'm not complaining," Conner shouted. "Shit happens. Sometimes, people die. It's not always a bad thing."

Rachel shook her head softly. "We're not killing Sebastian," Rachel insisted.

"Let's be realistic," Conner said and Dick sent a glare his way. "Do you know how many people Scarecrow killed since Hazel turned him into a scarecrow? Poetic by the way."

Conner smiled at Hazel and she turned, slipping through the doors and running through the halls. Gar tried to run after her but Dick stopped him before chasing after Hazel himself.

He found her sitting on the roof edge, kicking her legs over the city, a lit cigarette between her fingers. Hazel heard the footsteps and looked over her shoulder. "I get it, if you want me to leave," Hazel called out, turning back to look over the city.

Dick shook his head and slid his hands into his pockets. "Well if you think I'm gonna kick you out, you don't know me at all," Dick said with a soft chuckle.

Hazel hummed, "You do have a thing for broken strays."

"You're not a stray." Dick huffed and walked over to Hazel, sitting beside her on the edge of the roof. He left some room between them, but he was still close enough to hear her shaky breaths. "Hazel your one of us— Would I have preferred you told me you were going to kill Scarecrow? Yeah, a heads up would have been nice." Dick tried to laugh his words off in a breathy chuckle, but Hazel sighed through her nose and turned her head. "Every time I've trusted you, things have gone our way. You decided this was the best option, I'm not going to question that."

Hazel turned back to him, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "You put a lot of faith in me."

"I put a lot of trust in you," Dick corrected. "And yes there is a difference. Trust means I've seen you at your lowest and I would still put my life in your hands." Hazel didn't say anything, just taking another drag of the cigarette as they settled into silence, still looking out over the city. "Can I ask you a question?" Dick asked Hazel hummed. "Afterwards, do you feel like a bad person?"

She nodded softly, "Every single time."

"Good." Hazel's eyes snapped up to stare at Dick. "It means you're still human."

— rapture —