Star City — Midnight Rooftops
The glow of red and blue lights flickered across the alleyway below. Squad cars boxed in a van full of drug traffickers, cuffed and groaning. Officers swarmed like ants, shouting orders, collecting evidence, and occasionally glancing up — but not high enough.
Perched on the ledge of a rooftop, Zane clicked his tongue.
"Y'know, if we did this for applause, we'd be sorely disappointed."
Behind him, Artemis crouched with her bow across her back, silent for a beat.
"We're not in it for the applause."
Zane shot her a sideways look, his brows cocked beneath the visor.
"Speak for yourself. I was hoping for a parade. Maybe a cake."
"Your ego doesn't need cake."
"Ouch." He placed a hand over his chest, mock wounded. "I save the city and get roasted. You're cold, Arrowete."
She rolled her eyes, but he caught the smile tugging under her half-face mask. Her cheeks flushed the faintest pink — something he never called out loud, but always noticed.
"I'm just saying," Artemis muttered, eyes flicking down to the street, "we keep doing the heavy lifting while Green Arrow and his golden boy are too busy playing tag with our shadows."
Zane smirked. "And losing. Gloriously."
"You realize they've been trying to track us for weeks."
"I do realize. And I'd be impressed if they weren't getting their intel from cereal boxes."
She gave him a look. "They're not that bad."
"Oh please. That last ambush? I almost walked into it just to test their aim. Spoiler: It doesnt suck."
Artemis tilted her head. "You didn't seem surprised when they found us."
Zane leaned back on the ledge, eyes drifting to the moon. "I've got a sixth sense for that sort of thing."
In truth, he had been caught — twice. But both times, he rewound after biting the metaphorical bullet. It made staying a step ahead easy… if you didn't mind dying now and then.
It wasnt technically necessary, they aren't bad people. But he doesnt want to be involved with Justice League, especially when they have a green 'Charles Xavier' with them.
The only thing hes afraid of now, is someone messing with his mind. Because God knows his Rewinds dont heal mental damage....
Anyways...
Artemis narrowed her eyes. "No one's ever that ahead of the curve. It's like you're—"
"Handsome? Dashing? Devastatingly unpredictable?"
"—cheating," she finished, a smirk betraying her feelings.
He waggled his brows. "Now who's cold?"
A faint beep interrupted them. Zane's visor lit up, a notification flashing red. His casual demeanor shifted — just a bit.
"What is it?" Artemis asked.
He tapped the side of the visor. The signal ID flashed across the interface: DR. SERLING – DISTRESS.
Zane's smile vanished.
Dr Serling, someone who he owed a great deal. After their last meeting, he quickly made it his mission to get a phone and get his phone number to her.
She was quite amused when she caught him him on her windowsill with a phone number in his hands.
Now she was in trouble.
"Trouble," he said. "Friend of mine just hit the panic button."
Without another word, he stepped onto the edge of the roof and fired off a grappling hook — not from some bulky device, but from KGBeast's stolen 'Robo-Arm', in its grappling hook mode.
Now that KGBeasts visor is completely unlocked, he could use all the modules of his Robo-arm as well.
The hook screamed through the air and latched onto a distant radio tower.
He was gone a second later.
"Zane!" Artemis called, sprinting after him. She fired a zipline arrow and swung after him effortlessly. "What's going on?!"
"Someone important," he called over his shoulder. "Bad feeling in my gut."
"You always have a bad feeling."
"Yeah, but this one's more... intestinal."
She glared. "Be serious."
Zane sighed, slowing just enough to let her catch up. "It's Doctor Serling. She helped me up remove something from my body. If she's in trouble, I'm not leaving her hanging."
"I'm coming too."
"Nope. Too dangerous. Go home. Eat a protein bar."
"Try and stop me."
He glanced at her mid-swing. "You're aware I'm stubborn, right?"
"I was trained by Sportsmaster. Try me."
Zane groaned dramatically. "Fine. But if we both die, I'm blaming you in the afterlife."
Landing on another rooftop, they shot out their respective means of travel again.
Traveling between buldings, they quickly made it to Serlings home, she's a public figure, finding out where she kivesbis easy.
They landed on the balcony of Doctor Serling's townhouse — lights off. Zane immediately noticed the front door was ajar, barely visible in the moonlight.
He pushed it open. "Serling?"
Silence.
They stepped inside. Artemis kept her bow raised, sweeping the corners. The living room was trashed — drawers pulled out, furniture overturned.
And on the wall, scrawled in blood:
"If you want her back — come alone."
A single address was written underneath.
"Zane..." Artemis covered her mouth as she starred at Zane with concern.
Zane exhaled slowly, fists clenched.
Cadmus! They were the only ones with motive to do this.
But if they already found him, then why not attack directly? Were they afraid of alerting the Leaugue? Wanting to take him quietly?
"I dont know who she is to you, but this is obviously a trap Zane," Artemis said.
"Yeah, I know."
It was painfully obvious, they weren't even trying to hide it. That means that they were confident in taking him down even knowing he managed to take down someone like KGBeast.
Which means they have someone stronger this time.
"And you're still going."
Zane looked at the message again. "I have to. I cant leave someone that helped me to the wolves....I'm repaying a favor."
'There he goes again, making excuses for why hes being a good person.'
Artemis stared at him for a while before letting a smile onto her face.
"Count me In."