Cutting Ties
Nina was so grateful she took those cardio and track exercises......because she's never ran so fast before in her life!
Erik was chasing after her, he was slowed down by his injuries, but honestly, she would be happier if he wasn't chasing and trying to kill her!
"Stop running!" Erik yelled, "You must die to help our love grow!"
"Do you not hear how unnecessarily violent you sound!?" Nina asked as she ran, "You need therapy more than Bride!"
"Do not speak her name!" Erik yelled in rage, "You are unworthy to speak her name or even feel her beautiful lips!"
"You two never kissed before!" Nina states, "She tells me all you ever did was follow her and wreck her life non stop, you need to understand she's her own person and you need to respect her opinion!"
Erik wasn't listening anymore, the pain from that damned fire and laser, and his intense hatred for the fish girl who could accomplish making fins look wonderful! Why couldn't he have fins!
Nina soon ran through the kitchen doors, which Erik slammed through and destroyed the wall........and not find Nina anywhere!
Nina kept herself hidden in one of the cabinets, her hands over her mouth. She could feel him stomping around, his massive weight shaking the ground.
Shit, shit, shit........what can she use, what can she use to defend herself with.......wait, what's that her foot is hitting, she reaches for it as quietly as possible.
It was flour! It might help!
"There you are!" Erik yelled as he swung the cabinet doors open, and Nina immediately threw the bag of flour into his face, "Aaaah! My eyes and wounds!"
Nina jumped from her hiding spot and ran around the kitchen, turning on the heaters and blowing out the flames, letting the gas leak out. She also kept cutting other bags of flour.
She had to stay low as Erik kept flailing around. He was destroying everything with blind rage!
Nina then grabbed all the silverware and shoving them into the microwave and setting the clock. Now........how does she get out!?
Erik was in front of the massive hole he made.......but she was behind the servant's elevator. It's going to be snug, but she really didn't care!
Nina got in the small elevator and had it go down......just as Erik finally got the flour out of his eyes and the first thing he saw......was the timer reaching zero.
"Ah fuck....."
BOOM!
The explosion rocked the elevator Nina was in, and she accidentally lost her grip and the elevator dropped at a dangerously fast pace!
Not wanting to die, Nina grabbed the rope as kept her grip......even as the rope was tearing and burning her scales and skin off her hands. The elevator soon finally came to sudden stop.......near the ground level of her stop.
Nina let's out a breath she didn't even know she was holding, which soon turned to hissing in pain as she let go of the rope.......that was covered in her blood.....and felt a sudden thud as the elevator finally hits the ground and Nina crawls out.
She stands up and slowly looks at her hands.......they were horribly burned by the rope. Her nerves must've been in seering pain since it took her such effort to simply open her hands. Good thing she had a slight healing factor......not advanced enough like how Bride can heal minor bruises in seconds, Nina's would take the next 24 hours.
It would've been useful if her healing factor could've revived her when she was........it could've been more useful.
It didn't matter! She had to find Bride and the others. Yes, her lungs and legs were burning and exhausted, and her hands were in extreme pain, but the team had to find the others and Nina was part of the team......
-With Humanite, Phosphorus, and Medusa-
The three supervillains were being more cautious than their colleagues, who either panicked or tried fighting the League or the Titans, they kept to the shadows and only moved when the coast seemed cleared.
"We won't be getting any farther if we stay together....." Humanite explains to the others, "We need to separate and stay out of sight."
"Oh yeah, cause we blend in so well....." Phosphorus responds in sarcasm, "A gorilla with his brains showing, a snake headed lady, and me.......a flaming skeleton. Don't you have a teleporter or something?"
"Sadly, my teleporter is supposed to have a connection with our getaway vehicle. For some reason, the connection is unavailable, complicating our situation greatly." Humanite explains.
"I'm well experienced with these types of situations.......and Humanite makes a point, we'll have to escape separately and regroup." Medusa agrees, earning an appreciated smile from Humanite and a groan from Phosphorus.
"Fine........" Phosphorus literally couldn't find any way to argue as the others soon went their own way, "Okay, fuck it."
Phosphorus placed his hands on the wall behind him and moved forward as a hole was being melted through. It wasn't subtle but it worked.......if he knew where he was going!
He finally made it to where he could only guess was the lower food storage to make these fancy pants clients their high-class food.......what was that!
He was sure he heard some kind of groan.......and did he see someone there?
"If that's you, Bats, it's payback time!" Phosphorus said to himself as his hands ignited.......until he saw Nina with her back against the wall and her hands looked hurt, "Kid!"
He put out his hands and knelt down, checking her hands........"Holy shit! The fuck happened!?" Phosphorus almost yells.
"Erik........destroyed the truck......all the chaos separated us.....Erik chased me......barely able to escape....." Nina explained as best she could, it was obvious she was exhausted. He's definitely not leaving her here.
He helped her up, holding her shoulders and staying far from her hands.
"Alright kid, we need to get ya out of here....." Phosphorus says as he helped her walked.
"No......what about everyone else, what about Bride?" The very reason he loved the kid, she was just so kindhearted and generous. She's the same age his kid would've been if........Phosphorus and the rest of team vowed to protect her.......
"Kid, you're not in any shape and if that stalker is here, all the more reason we gotta get you out of here." Phosphorus explains as he keeps helping Nina walk........until he sees the last person he ever wanted to see........and that bat symbol on his chest, "Shit......"
Batman slowly walked out the shadows, just as intimidating as ever, but it looks like he upgraded his costume, armor plating instead of fancy clothe.
"Dr. Alexander Sartorius," Phosphorus didn't know why, but he almost hated being called his old name, "I don't have time to waste with you, so do me a favor, release your hostage, and surrender."
While the Bat pissed him off, Phosphorus knew the League were Nina's best......why is the ground shaking?
"Ah shit......" Phosphorus mutters as Erik, covered in a whole lot of burns, Phosphorus almost woo winders if he did that.....until he remembers Nina's hands......no way.....
"You will die for my love!" Erik yelled, before something hit his head.......Erik growled as he turned and glared at the Dark Knight, "You also stand in my way of clearing away all obstacles so my love can love me!"
Batman stayed silent as he brought out more batarangs, silently challenging the iconic monster.......only for him to start screaming as two skeletal hands wrapped around his neck!
Batman at first was confused until he watched as Erik turned and Batman saw......Doctor Phosphorus?
"Go! Get her out of here!" Batman was confused, wasn't Phosphorus a sociopath? Batman decided the girl who was having a hard time moving was first priority!
The Dark Knight moved around the two grappling monsters and approached the young.........girl? The detective wondered if she was a kidnapped Atlantean? Then why was Phosphorus risking his life for her.......it didn't matter, Batman had to get her out.
"Come on! We have-" Batman's order died mid sentence when he saw her hands, ropes burns! Just what has this girl went through, "We need to get you somewhere safe, can you walk?"
The girl grunted and groaned as she used the wall to slide up......
"Been running hard......from him," She must not be used to being on land, however much running she did must've pushed her past her limits.
"Put your arm over my shoulder and put your weight on me......" Batman explained as he helped her.
As they walked away, Erik was slamming his back against the walls to get Phosphorus off his back! He soon noticed the girl who took his bride is escaping with that Bat-DILF with the strong jawline are escaping!
"No! I must kill her and prove my love she only needs me!" Erik then slammed against the wall so hard, it actually hurt him.......but he felt better when he felt the arms around his neck fall and something thudded against the ground.
-With Nina and Batman-
Batman knew carrying a civilian out would slow him down.......but it's who he is to always help someone.
"Stay calm, we'll get you out of here." Batman said in a soft voice, trying to comfort the aquatic female.....until he felt her trying to stop.
"No.........my friends, my girlfriend....." Dammit, how many kidnapped Atlanteans were there?
"When we get you somewhere safe, I'll contact Aquaman and he'll help free your friends and loved ones and he'll get you back home!" Batman knew Aquaman would help his people no matter what.......as long as the King of Atlantis agreed to not kill anyone. The Dark Knight became confused when he heard her chuckle.
"I'm not......an Atlantean......" Nina knew who Aquaman was, bit she also knew she didn't belong with Atlanteans as much as she didn't belong with humans, "I used to be human....."
Before Batman could ask, the wall next to them collapsed, Batman needing to use his grappling hook to get Nina and himself out of the way and get some distance from Erik......
"That girl must die!" Erik yelled, only for Batman to set Nina against the wall and brought put his taser knuckle-dusters.
"Why are you trying to kill her!? What has she done that you believe deserves death!?" No matter how many times Batman had to fight mentally disturbed individuals, but none of them ever killed without some kind of reason!
"She stole my Bride!!" Erik yelled, "And the only way for her to love me, I have to get rid of her!!"
"She's not yours!" Nina yelled, still unable to move, "She never loved you and you still don't get it......you don't respect her, you never asked her what she wants, and you destroyed everything good in her life......she makes me happy and I make her happy........so please......stop....."
No one ever thought Erik could ever feel this angry........
"I'll kill you......" He says in a quiet, menacing manner. Batman immediately put himself between the exhausted Nina and the obviously enraged patch-work monster, "Please move......."
Batman responded by throwing his batarangs at Erik, who ignored when one bounced off him and the other was embedded into his shoulder. Erik then slammed his palm on the ground where Batman was standing, who leapt out of the way and started peppering Erik with electrified boxing techniques he learned from Wildcat.......which showed no effect.
Erik simply swiped his hand and sent Batman flying to the other side, before stomping his way to a still exhausted Nina. Nina did nothing.......simply let her tears fall.
This was it, Nina thought, I die here, doubtful Waller would waste more money and resources to bring me back a second time......I won't see my friends anymore, Phosphorus, G.I., Flagg, Weasel, Humanite, Khalis, Onomatopoeia, I know I'm still getting to know Medusa but I was hoping she and I could be friends, but worst of all........Bride......
Erik stopped mere inches from Nina, his massive size dwarfing her.
"Any last words before you die......" Bride would at least appreciate his sense of honor, maybe.......
"She'll.....never love you.....I'm sorry...." If nothing else, Nina stayed who she was.
Erik sneered as he raised his fist......ready to crush the helpless fish girl who could make fish, fish of all things, look beautiful!
Batman groaned as he struggled to pick himself up......only to watch in horror as someone was about to die.....
"NO!!" Batman yelled as Erik's fist came down, Batman lowered his head in despair......a senseless death......until, was that a grunt from Erik?
Batman looked up and saw as Erik's fist stopped halfway and from what Batman could see.....
"Diana....." Batman muttered before losing consciousness.
Erik struggled to move his now caught attack, which was in a vice grip by Wonder Woman herself.
"Please move, this woman has to die." Erik said to the only woman who could rival his bride's beauty, as she still held his downward strike like it was nothing.
"A big man about to harm a helpless sister in arms." Wonder Woman responds as she squeezes Erik's arm tighter, making the iconic Frankenstein's monster wince in pain, "What part of this looks like something I can ignore."
Wonder Woman raised her free fist and reared it back........and sending Erik, a creature whose size was twice that of Diana's height, flying until he crashed into the wall, causing large pieces of debris to fall on him. Diana then proceeded to approach Batman and helped him up.
"You ok?" Wonder Woman asked, already knowing exactly his answer.
"Fine....." Batman answered, though his ribs may argue, then he proceeded to approach Nina, followed by Wonder Woman, "You alright?"
"Other than I'm pretty sure I saw my life flash before my eyes," she decided to leave out 'again,' "but I'm starting to get strength back in my legs."
Wonder Woman smirked as she approached the aquatic girl, who soon became very nervous.....
"You showed much courage and defiance to such a wretched man," Wonder Woman complimented, "you would make a great warrior with such strength. But tell me, why was he trying to kill you?"
"Uuuh, this'll sound weird......but....." Nina blushed a dark blue, "I'm in a relationship with.....well....."
"Aaah....." Diana put the pieces together, "So you must be Nina."
"Nina?" Batman was sure he heard that name before.....
"Nina Mazursky, daughter of renowned Star City scientist, Edward Mazursky," Everyone turned in surprise when they saw none other than the Question wiping dust off his clothes, "she was born deformed, not like how she is now, her lungs were formed outside of her chest, making breathing nearly impossible. Determined to save her life, her father injected her with an experimental serum that was simply supposed to give her a new way to breath. Unfortunately, there were unexpected side effects......" Diana and Batman didn't need further explanation of said side effects, "He tried sending her to public schools so she could make friends......he never predicted how cruelly the other students would treat her. Nina, feeling like a burden, fled to the sewers to what she thought she was doing was ridding her father of the burden she was. Moronic citizens who caught glimpses of her thought she was some urban legend. They caught her, her father tried to reassure her, to let her know she was neber a burden, but the greatest gift.......only for one of the policemen to shoot an unarmed and harmless man in the back.......in front of his own daughter....."
Batman's eyes widen......a parent killed in front of their child.....no matter the age, the scars are always the same.....
"I've already dealt with those two........and your father......." Question turned his faceless gaze over to Batman and Wonder Woman. Diana took the hint and started to shove the Dark Knight somewhere else, "Nina......your father is alive......"
Nina's head snapped upwards and her eyes widened.
"He's......but I saw him......" Nina couldn't believe that......the why didn't.
"He couldn't because Belle Reeve erases everything," Question continues, "you were never registered on the prison's documents or files, actually made me sweat when I finished hacking their hidden files......their ARGUS files." Question paised as Nina didn't look surprised, but slightly saddened, "Your father kept looking for you.......he never really stopped, he basically devoted his whole life to finding you. He even cut himself off the grid, I'm actually impressed how well he hid himself."
"But.......why are you....." Nina tried to ask why Question found her.
"Because someone else besides your father still thinks your human hired me," Question responded, almost more loudly than necessary, as if Nina just insulted him, "I couldn't care less if you were a human, angel, demon, demigod, cyborg, alien, sentient robot, or just plain freakshow," Question pulled out a type of envelope, "I'm a detective, young lady, all I care about is the truth!"
The Question tipped his hat before he turned around and made his way into the smoke, disappearing like a gust of wind.
All Nina could do is hold the envelope that might possibly give her hope......and fell to her knees, and falling deaf as her team were trying to say something when all she could hear was a blaring white noise. She didn't even feel the hug she received from Bride, whose smile turned to worry.
Her father is alive.....