Malcolm Merlyn (m_merlyn) wrote in newalliance, @ 2015-07-23 16:24:00 |
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Entry tags: | captain marvel, merlyn, nyssa raatko |
Who: Carol, Malcolm, and Nyssa
NPC: Some LoA members
What: Time to go rescue Carol
Where: League safe house in an undisclosed location
When: July 23rd
Status: Complete
Rating: High, torture, talk of death
Malcolm had been in a cold, controlled state of fury ever since he discovered that Carol was gone. She had been checking in twice a day to let him know she was safe. He'd appreciated it and the gesture gave him at least a scrap of hope that she still loved him. But after missing the next check in and not answering her phone, he'd gotten worried. It had taken him nearly a day to find out where she had gone to. Then another two before he and Nyssa had finally tracked her to the location where Ra's was holding her.
They'd scouted the area, made a plan, and now he was mentally preparing himself to either rescue the woman he loved, or die making the atttempt. "You don't have to do this," he said quietly to Nyssa. The consequences of this were far greater for her than they would be for him.
Nyssa looked over at Malcolm. "I am committed to this," she returned. "You remember that time when I was missing from the League for several years?" She bowed her head to hide any tears. "I fell in love with a man and had a child. Father...did not approve and threatened their lives if I did not return so I did. Yet they died anyways."
"I had wondered where you were. Your father was his usual vague self when I asked, at least until I was firmly told by Talia that it was a family matter and none of my concern." While this wasn't the time for comfort, there also might not be another chance. Malcolm placed a hand on hers and and gently squeezed, his blue eyes softening and showing his sympathy for what had happened. "Ra's was interested in Cissie when we met, but I didn't want this life for her. And now he's taken Carol to make his point even clearer. Tonight this ends, one way or another."
"That is why I did my best to hide my family from him. I did not want my son's hands to be stained with blood like Damian's." The comfort was welcome even if she didn't react to it. She nodded her agreement. This was going to end. One way or another. She reached down and lifted up her mask. "May you find peace Al-Saher, be in this life or the next," she murmured. She shifted and began heading in.
"Because we both know how well adjusted Damian is," he commented dryly. "Makes me grateful that Tim was the Wayne boy Cissie fell for, rather than the little brat is he had been older." Beneath his mask, Malcolm smiled. "I remember when you first gave me that name... you were just a child at the time. May you find the same." He readied his bow, gave a single nod, and followed her inside.
Nyssa smiled slightly before she slipped inside and began seeking out her father. Along the way she began taking out his guards she encountered, making sure none were alive to raise the alarm. She hoped Malcolm had luck in finding his fiance.
Malcolm parted ways from her and was doing much the same. Most guards were easy enough to dispatch with a single well placed arrow, and he made certain to replenish his quiver from his fallen foes. If need be, he had his scimiatar with him for close quarters attacks. He crept silently through the building, keeping close to the shadows and disappearing from sight.
For the first day or so, Carol had managed to keep from screaming or showing she was in pain. Mostly because of how stubborn she was but also due in large part to how much endurance she had (given she could go into space and fly at speeds that could kill a person without protection). But eventually the pain had been too much. Feeling the metal spike enter her shoulder and the electric current she cried out in pain, too weak to try to take in the energy from the current to do anything.
The scream caught his attention and Malcolm began tracking in the direction of the sound. Everything was still going to plan, until the moment he sensed someone behind him. He caught the arrow in one hand, quickly knocked it, and fired it back at his attacker. And that was when all hell broke loose. The room began to fill with League members, dropping from the rafters, leaping over railings, and down into the room Malcolm was making his way out of. He fought his way to the door, ignoring the pain from his mounting injuries as he dispatched each of them. The moment it was clear, he yanked the door open, making sure to stay behind it for safety.
The violent yanking out of the metal rod had her gasping and looking up as the guards readied arrows at the door. What the hell was going on? She was only going to get one shot though. Summoning what energy she had left, she managed to form a small energy blast in her hand before letting it loose at one of the guards causing him to cry out in pain.
Malcolm stepped into the doorway and fired an arrow, killing the second guard instantly. When the other two rushed forward, he dropped his bow, yanked the scimitar out of the sheath, and killed another. He could hear one of them yelling in Arabic over his radio, no doubt alerting Ra's to their presence.
With the masks she couldn't tell who was who. But she'd bet her favorite fighter jet that she use to fly that the man coming towards her was Malcom. "M...Mal...com..." she whispered, her voice ragged.
Across the compound, Nyssa stared at her father, her eyes narrowed. "You are a disgrace to the League Father. You have endangered it and it's members with your obsession over the Batman. No more."
Malcolm nodded and carefully unbound Carol and removed the drip from her arm. "It's okay... I'm going to get you out of here. You're safe now," he promised, gently gathering her up in his arms. He couldn't stop at the moment to do an inventory of her injuries. The sooner they escaped, the better.
She hated how weak she felt. But she made herself wrap her arms around Malcolm and bury her head against his shoulder. It hurt to be held with the arrows still partially in her but she didn't care. "I love you," she whispered, her voice raspy from a lack of water. "And I will marry you..."
He didn't date try to remove any of the items impaled in her. For now, they were stopping massive amounts of blood loss and were better left in place. "Love you too," he replied, smiling beneath his mask. "Just hang on to me, no matter what happens. Nyssa's dealing with Ra's and I hope we'll have a clear path out of here. If there's any reinforcements, we're in trouble."
Carol rested her head on his shoulder. "Never letting you go," she murmured, closing her eyes. She needed to focus and regain her strength. "Ra's is a real prick y'know..." she mumbled. "I hope she kicks his ass for me..."
"She's going to kill him. If Ra's still lives after this, he'll never stop coming after any of us." He paused only just long enough to grab his bow, hooking it over the top of his quiver. "We're going to move fast and this is probably going to hurt," he warned her. Malcolm checked the door, paused for a moment, then took off running as fast as he could while carrying her. The time for subtlety was over... now he needed speed and a direct route.
There was a lot she wanted to ask him. If Ra's died who controlled the League? If he lived would he still have control of the League? But thoughts were pushed out as he ran and jostled her injuries. She managed to keep from crying out though and closed her eyes. It was going to take time for her to heal after this. If they got out okay.
Malcolm turned the corner and barely sidestepped in time to avoid the arrow heading directly towards him. He narrowed his eyes and continued to run, curling his upper body around Carol to better protect her. He lowered his shoulder and charged forward, catching his attacked off guard before the man could nock another arrow. Instead, the man swung his bow, catching Malcolm across the head with it. Beneath his hood, blood streamed down from the cut, being absorbed into the neoprene mask. Malcolm blinked to clear his eyes and kept running, barely stumbling under the assault.
As a few more League members swarmed out to try and stop Malcolm and Carol, Nyssa emerged and loosed a few arrows before pulling her own sword free and began attacking. Her movements were a bit more stiff and not at graceful.
"Thought you were going to miss the fun," Malcolm called out to her. He reached the door to the outside and kicked it open with his heavy boot, pausing for a moment so Nyssa could catch up to them. The car was a short run from the building and hidden off the side of the road. "Is it done?"
Nyssa smirked a bit and followed him out. "Ra's al'Ghul is no more." At least not for a while. No doubt he had men who would always remain loyal to him in the League who would revive him but until that time, Nyssa needed to move and quickly to secure her place as the new Demon's Head and ruler of the League.
"Long may you lead with wisdom and justice over the earth whose ocean-mantle is creased by the wind," he replied. Malcolm blinked again and stumbled, catching his balance and continuing forward. "We need to get her to a hospital... quickly."
Nyssa glanced over and nodded. She fired off two more arrows to stop pursuers before sliding into the car. "I have a place set up that can tend to our injuries and get her stable," she returned. "I trust the man there. He will not let her die."
Malcolm opened the back door and carefully rested Carol on the back seat. He yanked down his hood and removed the mask, using it to wipe the blood from his face and tossing it onto the floor. After getting into the passenger seat, he handed Nyssa the keys and closed his eyes as he said, "Drive."
Nyssa took the keys, started the engine, and sped towards the safe house she had arranged for them if this had been successful. "I've never seen anyone survive League torture for so long. Especially when it was my father delivering it." The admiration for Carol was clear in her voice.
"She's an amazing woman," he murmured, eyes still firmly closed as he focused on his breathing to control the pain. Even his high pain tolerance had a limit and Malcolm had more than exceeded it tonight. It didn't matter though... Carol was their priority at this moment. "Are you injured?" he asked.
"Nothing life threatening," she returned. "Tricking Ra's into believing I was dead to draw him near was the hard part." She took a few turns before tugging out a small first aid kit from the glove compartment and handed it to Malcolm. "You, however, almost look as bad as your love."
"I've been better," he admitted with a soft laugh. Malcolm opened the small box and removed an antiseptic wipe, then lowered the small mirror on the visor. He frowned as he took in the cuts and the bruises that were blooming on his face. "I do look a mess, don't I?"
Nyssa slid her eyes over to him. "Nothing some rest and ointment won't cure," she returned. Her eyes moved up to the rearview mirror and she studied Carol. At least her father hadn't taken Malcolm's daughter...
Malcolm nodded, then hissed in pain as he wiped the antiseptic across the gash near his temple. "I'm predicting a long vacation in a quiet, possibly tropical place the moment Carol is healed. The League... if you need my assistance, you know you'll have it," he promised.
"I know. My sister will most likely raise issue with what has been done. But I will handle her." Her eyes glanced over to him. "You know she will try to find my father's body to revive." It was going to be something they'd have to contend with. "Right now though, his body is being taken to a deep ravine to be put in."
"We'll deal with that when the time comes. If need be, Talia can be reminded that her son is well within my reach if she decides to threaten me or mine, including you." He pressed a gauze pad to the wound, holding it in place and putting pressure on it.
Nyssa gave a small smile. "I thank you," she said, her voice sincere. She kept her eyes on the road. "And should you wish it, once my place as the new Demon's Head is secure, I will release you from the League should that be your wish."
The offer took him by surprise and he quickly turned to look at her. "I... I will consider your offer. But thank you, Nyssa."
"You have a daughter and a fiance Malcolm. If I could have I would have left the League behind to raise a family. This is the least I can do." She still had her own hunting to do of those who had killed her family. Perhaps Malcolm had contacts she could use for that.
"If I do accept and officially leave, I will still remain at your disposal. Should you ever need me, you only have to ask. I owe you her life, Nyssa. Carol would be dead if not for your help." Malcolm looked over his shoulder at Carol, reaching behind him to place his fingers on her wrist, checking her pulse.
Nyssa just nodded in reply and focused on the road. Carol stirred some when she felt the fingers on her wrists. She shifted and struggled to sit up, whimpering in pain at the movement.
"Try not to move," Malcolm cautioned her. He shifted sideways in his seat and gently entwined his fingers with hers. "We're taking you to a safehouse where we can tend to your injuries. I know it hurts love, but everything is going to be fine now. You're safe."
Carol gave a weak nod and closed her eyes, gripping Malcolm's hand as best she could. "Cissie...is she...okay?" she asked. She hoped so. If Ra's so much as harmed a hair on Cissie's head...
"She's fine... she's staying with Tim at the moment. Just... just rest, alright? We'll be there soon." He gave her hand a squeeze, swallowing the lump in his throat as he finally had the time to really look at her injuries. "This is all my fault," he murmured to himself.
"Wasn't paying the right attention grocery shopping," she murmured. "Got hit with a tranq..." She winced at a jostle from the turn. "Shoulda tried to fly off..." She gave his hand a tighter squeeze. "M'okay Mal... You came." She closed her eyes, exhaustion and pain starting to send her to unconsciousness. "Bastard...took...the ring though..." she mumbled.
"Of course I came. I swore I'd protect you with my life, didn't I?" He laughed softly when she made the comment about the ring and blinked his eyes to hold back his tears. "Rings can be replaced, Carol... you can't. I'll get you another."
"Neither can you," she whispered. She looked at him as best she could through her swollen eyes. "Didn't realize...how much I loved you until I thought I was going to die."
Malcolm nodded, giving her hand another gentle squeeze. "Thank you... for trusting me, for loving me, and just for seeing who I could be."
Carol smiled and closed her eyes. She let herself succumb to unconsciousness, knowing her body needed it to ignore the pain to heal.
Nyssa did her best to ignore the conversation given it didn't concern her right now. Not too much later she pulled into a nice looking farmhouse and parked just outside the nearby separate garage and shut the car off. "We're here."
"Let's get you inside and patch up," he told her softly as he carefully helped Carol out of the car and carried her into the farmhouse. "Where should I set her down?" he asked Nyssa.
Nyssa opened the doors for Malcolm before nodding at a cleared off table. "Set her there. I will get the supplies and doctor to tend to her." She set her bow down to the side and vanished through a door.
Malcolm did as instructed and briefly returned to the car for his own bow and mask. He set it down on a nearby table and began slowly removing his equipment, gritting his teeth in pain as the rest of his injuries began finally catching up with him. "This was so much easier when I was younger," he muttered under his breath.
Carol smiled a little, her eyes closed. She had come to with being picked up and placed on the table. "Do the hero thing well though," she murmured, finally relaxing enough to let the pain show in her voice and how tired she was.
He walked back over to her side after removing the various layers and gently took her hand in his. "I'm no hero... just a man who's made many mistakes in his life."
Carol opened her eyes (one only opened though as the other was fully swollen shut now). "We all do. But no matter what you think, you are a good man deep down. And I love you. Flaws and all."
Malcolm stared at her for a long moment, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He gave her hand a light squeeze and leaned down to tenderly brush his lips against hers. "Love you too. For now, just rest and let the doctor take care of you. Once you're feeling better, I plan on taking you away for a while. Cissie too, if she comes back home."
Carol gave a faint movement of her head in acknowledgement. "Curling up in bed for a week is all I plan to do," she murmured. She could heal quickly but given the amount of damage she could feel (it was the damage she couldn't feel that worried her) it was going to take time for her to be anywhere near okay. "Give her time. I think deep down she still loves you. This was a big shock after all..."
"I meant after that. As for Cissie, I hope you're right." Malcolm looked up as Nyssa returned with another man. He stepped aside to stay out of the way and nodded towards the other room. "I'm going to get myself cleaned up and take stock on how bad the damage is."
"You get looked at too or I'll kick your ass," Carol ordered. The stern effect she was going for was most likely lost as she whimpered in pain as the doctor began examining her wounds and removing the tatters of her clothing.
"You first," he shot back with a soft laugh. "I'll be back in a couple of minutes," Malcolm said, before disappearing into the other room to search out the shower.
Carol smiled a little but soon focused on the doctor as he tended to her injuries. The cuts she endured silently as they were cleaned and stitched but when it came time to remove the arrow shafts that were still imbedded in her she was unable to keep herself from screaming in pain as the wounds were ripped open again.
Meanwhile in the shower, Malcolm squeezed his eyes tightly closed and let the near scalding water wash over him as he listened to every scream. This was all his fault... if it had been a simple matter of completing the contract, she would be dead. No, Ra's had done this intentionally and had made this personal. The Demon knew full well Carol would survive the torture and that eventually Malcolm would coming looking for her. But for now, it was over. Now it was time to recover and look forward to the future.
By the time the doctor was done, Carol had passed out. Very carefully, Nyssa and the doctor transferred the blonde to a bed in a nearby room. Nyssa gently covered Carol with a light blanket and slipped out. The whole process of taking care of the woman's injuries had been well over an hour and she was covered mostly in bandages. But it was over. At least for now.
Malcolm stood in the doorway wearing only his black combat pants and watched quietly. "Thank you," he said to the both of them. "I'll take her back home after she's had time to rest for a while and it's safe to transport her." Which probably wouldn't be for another day or two.
The doctor nodded then began insisting on tending to Malcolm's injuries. Nyssa simply reached out and rested a hand on his shoulder. "I will let you know when it's safe and when there's a reliable transport ready if you wish."
Malcolm sat perfectly still while the doctor tended to the worst of the injuries first, but smiled and placed his hand on top of hers. "Yes, please. I'd greatly appreciate that, Nyssa. What about you? Straight back to Nanda Parbat, or things to wrap up here first?"
"I must return home to ensure Talia does not try to take control. Else all this would have been for naught as she will use the League to avenge Ra's." She gave him a faint smile. "As a child I often dreamed of ruling the League after my father. Yet as I grew older I came to realize he did not see me worthy. Now I realize it is because I did not believe in the same things as he did."
"No, you believed in something far better. He became too obsessed with the Batman, with his vision of how things should be, an was too stubborn to adapt to changing times. And his continued use and reliance on the Lazurus Pits certainly hasn't helped with his mental stability." Malcolm squeezed her hand and then moved his own to rest on his knee. "I meant what I said. If you ever need me for anything, you only need to ask. Both Malcolm Merlyn and the Dark Archer are at your call."
Nyssa nodded. She never wanted to use the Lazarus Pit It was far too dangerous to do as her father had proved. Life without death held no meaning and corrupted those that did not die. Hearing his words about being at her call as both Malcolm Merlyn and the Dark Archer, she gave a small bow of her head as accepting his words. "I shall be in touch. And I wish you both a speedy recovery."
"Safe travels, Nyssa," he replied, giving her a bow in return.