Xcalibur Xc
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[Shazam] Ch: 20 [Truth]
🕑 Added 2025-08-31 23:38:27 +0000 UTCAN: I read this one after writing and I am on 50/50 with this chapter. 🤔🤔
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The clock above the counter ticked past nine, and the streets outside had gone quiet. Harley had already dragged the mop bucket out, humming to herself while she swished water across the tiles.
Maureen stacked the last of the clean plates, glancing every now and then at the window table where Diana still sat. The golden-jacketed woman had not budged in hours. She ate six large pizzas and four garlic breads.
When Maureen timidly set the bill down, Diana had paid without blinking, sliding the money over with a smile that made Maureen's fingers shake. 'What is Wonder Woman doing in here? She ate so much. How is she not fat? Arg! Don't overthink, Maureen; she must be here on her secret mission. Wait! Should I get an autograph? No way, I'm too nervous. Let's get out of her way.' She took the money and ran away to the counter.
Harley kept whispering like a gossiping aunt, ducking close to Maureen's ear whenever John's back was turned. "She's here for me. Gotta be. It must be because of that time when I threw stink bombs on her head and into Bat's car. I knew it would come back to bite my ass. Bats probably sent her as payback. Or maybe she's mad 'cause I called her a 'shiny gladiator Barbie' on live TV. Think she remembers that?"
Maureen tried not to laugh but failed.
"Live TV?" She asked.
"Yeah. I used to run with Livewire back then, and she had this news channel where she trolled Superman. So, I kinda made fun of her on live TV. Hehehe. It was so fun back then," Harley whispered as her eyes went toward Diana. "But not so much, right now."
Meanwhile, the last customers trickled out. A group of college kids had taken pictures of Diana but dared not approach her. Dakota City rarely saw Justice League members up close, and their curiosity buzzed through the air. Well, Diana ignored them and remained in her seat with a calm face.
Finally, John got out of the kitchen. His jaw was set like stone, his patience worn thin. He flipped the sign on the door so it read Closed, slid the bolt in place, and crossed the room. He pulled out the chair opposite Diana and sat down.
"What do you want?" he asked with cold eyes and a hint of annoyance in his tone.
Diana met his stare without flinching. "I did not mean to disrupt your life. That was never my intent. But ever since I first saw you in that crowd, and again when you saved me during the bomb incident, I have sensed something about you. Power. Not ordinary power, but something old and divine. I feel the presence of multiple gods within you. My instincts are rarely wrong. So I followed what I felt, and it led me here. I only have questions. Once I hear your answers, I will leave you be."
John leaned back slightly, folding his arms. "And why should I tell you anything? Did Batman send you even after that warning? Is this his game now? Find out what makes me tick so he can write me down in one of his little files? Countermeasures against me, like he already has for all of you? Or do you have some other agenda you are not admitting?"
Diana's eyes narrowed, but she kept her composure. John leaned forward, voice dropping lower, each word edged with warning.
"I do not care what you want. I have built something here that matters to me. Now, you are here trying to interrogate me, next I know your Justice League friends or Waller or the JSA might come here and destroy my peaceful life. You think I will just stand by? Hell no. I'll fuck them up. And do not mistake me. I might not be able to take all of you down, but I can kill half of you before I fall. That is not a threat. That is a fact."
The air between them grew heavier, Maureen frozen in place behind the counter, Harley clutching her mop like it might double as a weapon.
John's gaze locked with Diana's. "So I will ask you once. Are you ready to take that risk? Because this is your first and only warning. Do not interfere with my life. Keep your little bands of heroes in check."
"I heard from Batman about Khandaq and your hatred for us. I understand your pain and..." Before Diana could finish...
John slammed his fist on the table and said, "You understand nothing, Princess. Not a fucking thing. We suffered while you so-called heroes were playing politics. Everyday I watched those bastards kill so many people... Man, woman, children... Old... Young... The burning smell of flesh... There was barely any food for us to eat. Dry bread, rotten food, stale water and they'd beat us everyday. Some thought the heroes would save them one day and end their sufferings, but no one came. Haha. You think you understand me? You know nothing of suffering. Heck, your kind live on others' misery, so how could you know what real suffering is?"
Diana didn't say anything, but clenched her fists.
"Looting ships, fucking the men and killing them after having your fill, then sinking those ships. That's how you Amazonians get knocked up, don't you? When a girl is born, you girls brainwash them, mold them according to your visions, and in case a boy is born, don't you just kill them or send them somewhere to die? Oh, your mom must have gone on a lot of raids, right? So, here's a quick question for you..." John leaned forward with a cold smile. "Who is your daddy?"
"ENOUGH!" Diana, unable to hold back her anger anymore, threw a punch, but somehow stopped her fist right before John's nose.
"Hahaha..." John began to laugh, slow at first, but then he laughed louder and louder like a madman.
Harley and Maureen both froze where they stood. He leaned forward, teeth bared in a grin that had nothing of humor in it. His laughter disappeared as quickly as it came and his expression went back to his usual cold self.
“What’s the matter, Princess? Were you trying to silence me just now?” His voice dropped low, almost a whisper. “Is that what this is about? Afraid the truth might spill out? Or tell me, was I wrong in what I said? Can you deny it? Can you swear on your gods that what I just spoke of your people is false?”
Diana’s hand trembled, her fist still hovering in the space between them. Slowly, with visible restraint, she lowered it to the table. Her eyes never left his. “No. I do not deny it. I left Themyscira because of those very traditions. I could not accept them. That is why I turned my back on my home. That is why I chose the world of men instead.”
He sighed and said, “So you ran. You ran away from the rot of your own people and left others to suffer it. And now you stand here and dare to tell me you understand suffering? That is hypocrisy at its highest point, Princess. And judging by your reaction, you don't like to talk about your past, do you? And just like you, I too don't like to remember all those painful memories. And every time I see you and other heroes, it reminds me of my past."
John stood up.
"Khandaq was where I woke up. It was my home, and I saved my home with my own two hands from tyrants. Do the same. Save your brothers and sisters from their cruel fate. Stop your sisters from killing any further. Stop their stupid traditions. Then come back. I'll be here. I'll answer your questions. Till then," He pointed toward the door.
Diana stood slowly. Her chair scraped against the floor, her eyes still locked on John. She said nothing more. There was nothing left to say. She turned and walked toward the door, each step heavy with pride swallowed and anger held tight. When she opened the door, the cold night air rushed inside. The bell above the frame gave a hollow chime as she disappeared into the street.
The silence that followed seemed to stretch forever.
John’s shoulders lowered. His jaw eased back into that blank, guarded mask. Without another word, he walked back into the kitchen, pushing the swinging door aside. Harley gripped her mop tighter. Maureen hurried to gather the plates left on Diana’s table. Both of them worked quickly, almost desperately. Not a single word passed between them. They had never seen John like that. They had never heard that kind of rage in his voice.
By the time the clock on the wall struck half past ten, the shop was spotless and locked. Harley and Maureen climbed the stairs together, their footsteps quiet, neither daring to break the uneasy silence. When they reached the apartment above, the table was already set with three plates. John was waiting for them. He looked tired, the lines around his eyes deeper than before, his hands resting flat on the table like he had forced himself to sit still.
When Harley and Maureen settled in, John let out a long breath. “I am sorry for how I acted downstairs,” he said. “I lost control.”
Maureen looked down at her plate, then glanced at Harley, who gave her a small nod. With a quiet gulp, Maureen lifted her head. "I don't want to make you angry, but..."
"You want to know my story?" John asked.
"Only if you want," She said softly.
So, John told them the story of what happened in Khandaq, skipping the part where he got his power.
The room stayed quiet, only the ticking clock filling the silence.
Maureen’s throat tightened. Her blue fingers clenched around her fork. “I thought my life was hard,” she whispered. “I thought losing my mom and living on the streets was the worst thing that could happen. I used my powers to lash out at others. I wanted them to feel pain because I was hurting. But you… you suffered more than I can imagine, and you used your power to save people instead of hurting them.”
Harley pushed her chair back. She walked around the table without saying a word. She stopped behind John, bent down, and wrapped her arms around him. Her cheek pressed to his shoulder. She held him tight, and for once she had no jokes, no smart remarks, or laughter to fill the air. She just held on.
John let out a slow breath and lowered one hand to rest on her arm.
"Now now, don't get mushy with me. The food is getting cold, eat up," He said with a little smile.
...
[2 AM]
[Winston Bank]
Booom!
A massive explosion rocked an entire block. Flames were rising from the bank's door as someone blew it up. From inside, a guy walked out, carrying a big duffel bag and swirling fire in his left hand.
"Ha! No cops today? Bunch of useless pussies. Always late. Well, whatever. Time to enjoy life a bit," He said with an arrogant smirk.
Comments
Xcalibur Xc
No worries, he'll be there.
CkLance
This is great so far. Can't wait to see him fly circles around Bruce and Waller with his meta-knowledge. Also surprised Joker held off on doing something crazy since Harley is living out in the open.
Xcalibur Xc
Good idea.
Ethan Freeman
Oh by the way if you’re going to have a politics in the story It might be interesting to see why the heroes couldn’t intervene with Khandaq because it’s not like heroes haven’t been known to go rogue and dabble in black op missions from time to time. So why couldn’t they do that then? Maybe they were playing too but there were too many eyes on Khandaq to act maybe? I don’t know your the author I’m just a nerd with too much time on my hands.
