"Am I….being hunted?" Tobi muttered to himself.
While sitting on the top of the Alps mountain range, he took a drag from his cig. The smoke mixed with the endless snow. His gaze went to the sky before scanning the base of the mountain he was on.
It was a lovely place. He'd been able to enjoy it for about a couple hours before he realized he wasn't alone anymore. Bodies kept entering the perimeter of his scanning sense. Thinking he couldn't see them.
This was the third time. First in Bora Bora, second in Belgium. Now it was the Alps. Heroes were gathering at the bottom of his snow mountain. There weren't any cameras that located him. Nobody had snitched. He hadn't been around people. Just Tobi and the snow filled nature. He couldn't figure out how they located him.
So he was going to find out right now. He saw everything. Superboy was staring up toward the peak of the snowy mountain, his eyes burning with rage. Green Lantern was rubbing his neck and complaining about shoulder stiffness. Martian Manhunter was staring back at Tobi as if he could see him.
Black Canary was there. Every time these heroes made an attempt to capture him, the team was always well thought out. Green Lantern to keep Tobi in place. Black Canary to test his defenses with sound. Manhunter for the mental offense. Superboy…for strength. Hmmm. That didn't make sense.
What could Superboy possibly do? Why did he look so angry? Did he think he would suddenly be able to match Tobi now? The League couldn't have possibly entrusted the boy with responsibility. Something was off here.
WOOSH
"Bad guy spotted!" A voice broke Tobi from his thoughts.
Floating above the mountain peak was a man in a red and gold costume, white cape and a lightning bolt on his chest. Eerily similar to Teth-Adam. Ahhh. Shazam. A fairly new hero that had only appeared in recent years. Always smiling and seemingly cocky.
"........"
Now it made sense. Superboy had probably just asked to be taken along. Looks like the angry boy was the weakest link. Most likely to talk as well. Either him or Black Canary. Tobi decided he would interrogate Conner first.
"Not one to talk, are you? Then let's get straight to fighting! Don't be a scaredy-cat. I know you like to run away." Shazam mocked.
"You speak like a child. Do better next time." Tobi scoffed.
"What?! Hey! I'm not a-"
ZMMM
By that point. Shazam was yelling at an empty space. Due to his own emotions, the hero had fallen for Crosscut's words. He was a simpleton. The esper was already gone.
Tobi appeared in front of Superboy. The other heroes were already expecting him. A powerful sound wave was on its way. Manhunter was already reaching out mentally. Green Lantern pointed his ring at the villain. All too slow and ineffective. A hand pat Superboy's shoulder.
ZMMM
Tobi and Conner appeared in a vast open plain. Deep in the eastern lands of Prussia. Realizing the touch on his shoulder, Superboy swung with all his might. Air currents swirled around his fist…almost like Superman…wait what?
Dodging out of the way, he watched as the pressure from Conner's punch threw the surroundings into heavy winds. The guy seemed much stronger than last time. Looks like Tobi wasn't the only one evolving.
"You brought me here by myself. Are you calling me weak? Sorry but you're wrong." Conner growled.
"...Why are you here?"
"You know why I'm here, you bastard. I'm going to flatten you!"
He dashed forward and the ground behind him shattered. At an incredible speed, he arrived in front of Tobi. Another powerful fist ready to destroy him…if only Conner could gain a bit more speed. Speed was king, after all.
ZMMM
Tobi blinked into the air behind Superboy. His feet came down for a power landing. As soon as he landed on Conner's back, he flared his mental energy. A crushing force passed through the boy's body and into the ground.
CRUNCH
Blood spurted from Superboy's mouth and nose as his face slammed into the dirt and grass. The ground sank inward and a crater formed. All during a small earthquake. Tobi's foot was on the back of his head.
"...I don't get it. There's no enmity between us. Why are you after me? Why are the heroes still chasing me? Stop wasting time and just spit it out."
His foot pushed Conner's head further into the ground. Taking the cig in his other hand, he brought it to his lips and inhaled. Smoke soon left his lungs.
"I've been minding my business. Why can't you all do the same?" He continued.
Superboy shifted violently and launched high into the air. Tobi didn't hesitate to blink away. The two landed on the ground across from each other. Conner spit out a wad of blood.
"...Megan hasn't woken up since you attacked her. She squirms all day and night in pain…and you tell me there's no enmity?"
"......."
Tobi frowned. Megan? Who the fuck was that? A girl Conner cared about? Ahhh. The kind green-skinned girl. Must be her. Nobody else fit the bill.
"She's in a coma?" He muttered.
"We won't be alone for much longer. The others will catch up. No matter where you go, we'll find you. It's too late to hide."
"How. How are you finding me?"
"Like I'd tell you."
"Let's make a deal. I'll help Megan, you answer my question."
"I don't trust you."
"...Instead of trusting me, trust that I like to be left alone."
Superboy clenched his fists for a second. He grimaced. Thinking about the drawbacks of revealing such intel. The possible results. The possible casualties. Then…he thought of Megan. Conner steeled himself.
"Deal. Help Megan first then I'll tell you."
"If you lie to me…" Tobi appeared directly beside Superboy and put an arm around his shoulder. Tobi's eyes glowed red as he stared at the kryptonian hybrid. His expression was dim. "I'll kill you."
"Let's move." Conner answered immediately. The threat made the hair on his skin rise a bit.
"Where is she?"
"Mt. Justice."
ZMMM
They vanished. Not even five minutes later, Shazam arrived on the scene. He looked around before clicking his tongue. The man seemed very annoyed.
"Ugh. That guy is too shifty! Slippery like an eel." The hero tapped his earpiece. "He's moving again. Send his new location!"
…
…
…
The two arrived on Mt Justice. The security system immediately recognized Tobi as an intruder. All of the lights turned red and everything started flashing. Superboy led the way with a brisk pace. Aqualad and Artemis caught a glimpse of them moving through the halls.
Recognition dawned on their faces but they didn't act. It didn't take long before they reached the medical bay. Miss Martian was there. Sleeping with an uncomfortable face. Clammy with sweat and pale.
Tobi raised an eyebrow. He could sense a wisp of his energy inside her. The crushing aspect of it was probably too much for her brain to handle. Or so he thought. Placing his hand over her forehead, he collected all that was his.
For some reason his emotions flared slightly as the energy returned to him. He thought nothing of it, assuming that it was another occasion of memories fighting to surface. The color soon returned to the girl's face.
That was when the young esper turned to Conner. His hands went back to his pockets. Cig still hanging from his lips. The kryptonian hybrid spoke.
"It's Doctor Fate. He keeps leading us to you." He revealed.
"...The magic hero."
So it was magic that kept them coming. A tracking spell perhaps? Looks like a visit to Fate Tower was on the list.
'If they want to make life difficult for me…I'll do the same for them.' Tobi thought.
He was done playing this game of cat and mouse. If a devastating blow was needed to get them to back off, so be it. Doctor Fate's life was now on the hit list.
It was at this moment that Megan woke up. With an exhausted stretch, she sat up on the bed. Her gaze went to Conner and Tobi. Then she heard his words.
"If I run into any members of Young Justice in the future, I'll be gentle."
ZMMM
Tobi vanished. Megan reached out where he used to be. There were things she wanted to say.
"Wait!" Miss Martian was too late.
The young man appeared in the sky above the clouds. Everything was quite peaceful here. A lovely breeze…the endless blue canvas…the white swirls. He took a moment and closed his eyes.
'Time to take a risk…the risk being my life.' He thought.
If he wanted to successfully raid a magic hero's headquarters, he needed to attack on two different fronts. First thing to note. This manhunt was an organized team effort. Doctor Fate would most likely be protected.
Two. An ambush could be waiting for him. It's said that the hero could tell the future. As soon as Conner spoke Fate's name, plans had most likely been set in motion. Tobi needed to scramble their unity.
His gaze rose toward space. The Watchtower. Hmmm. He pulled out his pistol from his waistband…then he aimed.
"It's war from here on out." He muttered.
Any clouds beneath him were blown away by an unseen force. His overcoat rustled in the breeze. Flapping in the air like a cape. A quiet hum grew louder and louder. The surrounding sky started to warp.
Finally, Tobi pulled the trigger. Railgun. Something powerful was launched toward the Justice League Headquarters.
BOOOM
They'd brought this on themselves. Couldn't leave the esper alone. The time for tolerance and games were over.