Injustice: The Path To Hell (DC Comics)

Thursday, 23rd October, 16:40

Rhode Island,

Happy Harbour,

Mount Justice

Leaning back into his chair, Esau stared at the woman seated across from him. Dinah Lance—Black Canary. She sat comfortably, one leg crossed over the other, wearing the same gentle, reassuring smile she always did.

The room was designed to put him at ease—soft lighting, quiet atmosphere, everything carefully arranged to encourage openness. But Esau still felt uncomfortable. He didn't want to be here.

It had been almost a week since the simulation ended, and tensions within the team had never been higher. Nearly all of them had been 'killed,' and worse, they had later discovered that it had all been because of M'gann's powers spiraling out of control.

She had lost control in the moment Artemis 'died', overwhelmed by the trauma, and without realizing it, her psychic abilities had overpowered Martian Manhunter himself. The simulation had stopped being just a simulation. It had become reality to them.

'I always knew something was off… So why couldn't I figure it out?' Esau thought bitterly. 'Are her powers really that strong?'

The answer was obvious now—yes, they were. The Justice League had known this fact all along but had kept it hidden from them. M'gann's true psychic potential was something beyond what any of them had imagined.

But knowledge didn't make things better. If anything, it made them worse. M'gann had completely withdrawn into herself, devastated by what she had done. Others blamed their own weaknesses for failing. As for some…they blamed Esau.

Honestly, he couldn't blame them.

He blamed himself too.

As leader, his first and most important responsibility was to protect his team. He had failed. Failed completely. And the result of his failure was their deaths—even if it had all been fake, it hadn't felt fake. Because of M'gann's powers, the pain had been real. The fear had been real. The loss had been real.

They should have figured it out sooner. From the start, something had been wrong—like how they felt nothing when the Justice League had died. That should have been their first clue. It had been right in front of them, but the sheer weight of the situation had distracted them from seeing it.

Esau hated himself for not figuring it out sooner. 'If I had…maybe we wouldn't have gone through all of that.'

"How are you feeling?" Dinah finally asked.

Esau exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand across his face. "We've been doing this for days, and my answer hasn't changed."

Dinah kept smiling, patient and unwavering.

Esau frowned at her persistence. "Why are we still doing this?" His voice was flat, edged with irritation. "I've killed people before, Dinah. Looked them in the eye as they died. Had nightmares about it. Still do." He leaned forward, locking eyes with her. "That doesn't go away, you just get used to it. So, when I tell you I'm fine and that I can deal with it, I'm telling you the truth." His fists clenched against his knees. "This? This is a waste of time. Both of ours. There are more important things to do."

"Like what, exactly?" Dinah asked, tone even. "You might think you're fine, but what about your team? Are they fine? Can you confidently say that M'gann is ready to go back into the field? That Wally is? That Artemis is?"

Esau's jaw tightened, eyes narrowing. "What's your point?"

Dinah tilted her head slightly, studying him. "What's yours?"

That made him chuckle—a dry, humorless sound. "Is this how it's going to be?" He gestured between them. "You answering a question with a question? Because if so, I'm done here." He started to rise from his seat, but Dinah shook her head.

Esau paused, waiting to hear her out.

"Not if it has to be." Her tone remained calm, steady. "You don't want to talk about the simulation? Fine. I can't force you to discuss something you're not willing to. But is there anything you are willing to talk about?"

Esau sat there for a moment, considering her question.

Finally, he nodded. "Yeah. There is." He took a breath, voice steady. "I want you to let Batman know that I'm leaving the team."

Dinah's calm mask faltered for a split second. "Esau…are you sure about this?"

"I've thought about it for a while," he admitted. "And it's something I need to do." She studied him, trying to gauge how serious he was. "Joining and leading this team…that was always temporary for me."

Dinah leaned forward slightly. "And you really think now is the right time?"

Esau sighed, looking away. "Kaldur's more than capable of leading the team. He should've been leading from the start."

Dinah remained silent for a moment before exhaling softly. "Alright. If this is really what you want, I'll inform Batman."

Esau gave her a small nod, but his expression remained unreadable.

-X-

Thursday, 23rd October, 17:10

Rhode Island,

Happy Harbour,

Mount Justice

Esau zipped up the duffel bag, running a hand over the fabric before lifting it onto his bed. The room around him was nearly empty now—bare walls, no personal items left behind, nothing to show that he had ever really lived here. It was as if he was erasing himself from the team.

He had delayed this long enough.

His time here had always been temporary, and deep down, he had always known it. Even though he had settled in well, gotten comfortable and made friends and bonds, it was always meant to be temporary. Besides, the team had Kaldur now and Barbara and Dick filling in as co-leaders, they didn't need him anymore. They would be fine without him.

The thought made his chest tighten.

Just as he was adjusting the strap on his bag, the door to his room slid open with a quiet hiss. Barbara stood in the doorway, her sharp eyes instantly taking in the duffel bag resting on his bed and the barrenness of the room. Her expression faltered as deep frown formed on her lips before she smiled sadly at him.

"So… today's the day?"

Esau turned to face her fully, nodding once. "Yeah." His voice was steady, but he could see the way her fingers curled slightly, gripping the doorframe. "I've had plenty of time to think about it. More than enough."

Barbara stepped inside, arms loosely crossing over her chest as she studied him. "You say that, but I get the feeling you still don't want to go."

Esau let out a breath, looking away. "I delayed it longer than I should have." His fingers tightened around the strap of his bag. "But I have to do this. I need to focus on my training, and the team…they don't need me anymore."

Barbara tilted her head slightly. "That's bullshit and you know it."

Esau's lips twitched, almost forming a smile. Almost. "Kaldur's got it covered. You and Dick can handle the rest. The team's in good hands."

Barbara sighed, shaking her head. "You still have friends here, Esau. Connor and Kaldur…even Artemis, M'gann, and Dick."

His grip on the bag slackened slightly. "I know." His voice was softer now. "And they're part of the reason why I stayed as long as I did."

Barbara nodded, stepping closer. "And me?"

Esau finally looked at her, a smirk ghosting over his lips. "You left yourself out of that list. Are we not friends anymore?"

Barbara's breath hitched. Her smile turned sadder, more conflicted. For a moment, she hesitated, searching his face as if trying to read something in his expression—something she had been trying to figure out for a while now.

Then, finally, she looked up at him. "Are we really just friends?" she asked softly. "Is that really all you see me as?"

The air between them grew heavier, the tension thick and unspoken.

Esau reached up, brushing a stray strand of red hair behind her ear, his fingers grazing her cheek. Barbara closed her eyes at the touch, leaning into his palm. His thumb rested lightly against her jaw, and he swallowed, gathering his thoughts. "Before the final attack on the Mothership…there was a lot I wanted to tell you."

Barbara exhaled shakily, nodding. "Me too." Her eyes flickered to his lips before meeting his gaze again. "But I didn't…because I thought if I said it, you'd never come back."

Esau's chest tightened.

She wasn't wrong.

"Even then, you second-guessed everything about that simulation." Barbara continued, her voice tinged with amusement. "You were the only one who kept questioning things, even when M'gann took control. So tell me, what's your excuse for not saying anything?"

Esau let out a low, rumbling chuckle. "I was just being stupid."

Barbara arched a brow. "Are you still going to be stupid?"

Esau laughed again—low, deep, real.

Then, before he could second-guess himself, before he could stop himself from doing what he had wanted to do for so damn long, he cupped her face with both hands and kissed her. Barbara froze for a split second, her breath catching—then she melted into it. Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him in, fingers curling into his hair. Esau's hands slid down to her waist, pulling her closer until there was no space between them.

For a moment, nothing else existed.

Not the team.

Not his departure.

Just this.

When they finally broke apart, Esau rested his forehead against hers, his breath warm against her lips. "I wanted to do that a long time ago."

Barbara bit her lower lip, smiling up at him. "Better late than never." She searched his face again before whispering, "Do you really have to leave?"

Esau exhaled, pressing another soft kiss to her lips. "I'm just going to Gotham."

Barbara let out a quiet laugh before Esau kissed her again—this time deeper.