#The League sensed a large source of magical power and decided to interrogate it

[nelkcats]

Refuge

Danny was not retired, technically he came when people needed him, he helped or protected them as the case may be. It just turned out that over the years they stopped needing him.

And that was fine, it meant humanity could take care of itself, it meant they were safe. That was what had to matter, no matter that deep down, the halfa was hurt by the information.

It was harder to accept change when you weren't part of it. Danny was immortal, eternal, and powerful, things that no longer fit the world. Not with all the heroes and wizards running around, not with Amity Park fading away, becoming nothing more than a part of his memories.

He fit in perfectly in the Realms, sure, but he knew that if he stayed there too long he'd stop feeling human, and that was dangerous.

So, no, Danny wasn't retired. But he lived in a simple house in Metropolis, though sometimes he got tired of Superman being able to hear literally everything and moved to his house in Fawcett. He used to switch between the two houses frequently, not that it was difficult since he had figured out how to make portals.

He had a few friends, like the orphan boy who lived at the train station and Conner, a teenager who sometimes just needed a house to stay in when he couldn't stand his father.

Neither Conner nor Billy minded his age, which was comforting, although they both got curious when he visited the other house. Danny didn't know how to explain that Eternity Rock and Superman made him nervous if he stayed too long (he didn't like feeling watched), so he just shrugged and told them he had two houses.

Neither of the kids understood but they accepted it. They both had a habit of calling him "Uncle", Danny thought it was odd, given that his appearance wasn't exactly...adult, but it seemed they were comfortable with that, and he left them alone.

Apparently his house (occupied or not) had become a haven for them. Danny always greeted them with a sandwich, or cookies, even though he felt like a grandmother doing so. He smiled for the first time in years, feeling happy to fit into someone's life.

That's why it was quite disconcerting to find the Justice League outside his door asking him to join them. Danny chuckled internally, because the current heroes actually believed they could force him into something, but he accompanied them anyway.

Superboy and Captain Marvel scowled at the League as soon as they entered the Watchtower, when they were told they were bringing in a "dangerous individual" they didn't expect to see their unofficial uncle.

[rosymiz]

Like A Rose, CH 3: Catharsis

Title: Like A Rose By: ArisuChanSenpai (Visit my blog for AO3 link!) Fandom: League of Legends Ship: Jhin x Sona

“Good morning, Sona,” Lestara pecked Sona’s forehead as Sona slowly sat up from bed. “You must be exhausted, dear. I can’t imagine how much you must be going through. Being famous can’t be very easy.”

Sona gave her mother an admitting smile. But she did enjoy playing her music for people. It brought her happiness, especially knowing that many admired her skills. Of course, she had to thank her mother for teaching her all she knows about her instrument. “I do love getting to know my fans, so it’s not as difficult,” she signed.

Lestara chuckled and sat by Sona on her bed. “If you’re happy with what you’re doing, then I’m always more than happy.” She set a cup of warm tea on the dresser next to Sona’s bed. “You must really love this city, telling me you wanted to stay here for a couple of days.”

“It’s small, but it has its charm.”

Her mother was combing out the tangles in Sona’s long hair. “I can understand. Ionia has such beautiful scenery here. But it’s still nothing compared to my daughter.”

Sona’s shoulders slightly shook, as if Sona was giggling.

“I still remember the day I adopted you.” Lestara started to style Sona’s hair into her usual hairstyle, picking up the hair ornaments she uses. “You tried to communicate with me with your etwahl and a paper and brush.”

Sona sighed, reminiscing back to her childhood at the orphanage. “It was so difficult to continue writing my words. There’s only so much I can say just through paper.” She smiled as she looked to her mother. “Teaching me how to sign made communication so much more convenient. I couldn’t have come this far without you, mother.”

“I’m happy I was able to attend the lesson with you, dear. I think I got to know you so much better since then.” Lestara brushed the tips of Sona’s hair after she finished clipping the hair ornaments. “Will you be going to the grove again?”

“Yes, I like going there. It’s peaceful,” she signed happily.

Lestara stood up from Sona’s bed and went around to sit on her own. “Cherry blossoms are wonderful, aren’t they? I was thinking of possibly planting one in our backyard someday.” She then shifted her position. “I got a message from a potential sponsor from the capital city last night. They’d like you to hold a concert there within this month while we’re here. Would you like to?”

She played in the capital city of Ionia many times before, but she was never sponsored by someone from the city itself. Sona decided to give it some thought first. She did want to stay in Ionia for a while to practice her magic away from Demacian walls. However, Ionia was a place full of magic. Her mother wouldn’t be comfortable with that, would she?

As if Lestara knew exactly what Sona was thinking, she reassured her, “Sona, dear, don’t you worry about me. I may have Demacian ideals, but that certainly didn’t stop me from accepting you for who you are.” She took Sona’s hand into her own. “You say the word, and I will make it happen.”

“I would like to perform in the capital city, mother.”

With a smile, Lestara gently patted Sona’s cheek. “Of course, Sona. Getting to the capital city and back will be a two day trip, so you will be alone here. Will you be okay on your own?”

Sona nodded. She would make sure her mother properly relaxed once she returned.

“Alright. I should get going now then, to save time in the day.” She stopped Sona from hurriedly getting out of bed. “Oh, take your time, Sona. We can part ways at the gates. I still need to get dressed and pack.” Her mother disappeared into the bathroom.

Not knowing what to do in the meantime, Sona brought her etwahl closer to the foot of her bed and softly strummed the strings. Perhaps she can make a new song to play at the capital as a token of her gratitude to her sponsor. If only she knew their tastes in music…

After an early breakfast, Sona saw her mother off by the city gates. She waited until the carriage was out of sight and started heading to the grove. For such a beautiful place, there was a lack of people there. But then again, the residents must have been used to the grove by now. And they didn’t seem to get many tourists compared to the capital city. Oh well, she was going to make the best of her time here.

Being in the grove gave her the inspiration and practice she needed. She would miss this grove when she headed back to Demacia.

Once she reached the center of the grove, she paused to take in the scenery and the scent of dew on the trees. Today was another beautiful day.

Sona brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes as she tapped her finger on her etwahl in thought. She wondered what kind of song she should make. She had asked her mother to ask the sponsor for their tastes in music before she left. She hoped that she’d be able to make a new song in time.

By the time she chose the key of the song, she heard familiar footsteps. She had recognized them since two days ago, when she heard the scraping of petals against dirt. The same footsteps that walked to a 4-beat rhythm.

She had thought they were a resident of the city, who had come to find some peace and quiet in the grove like Sona had. Wanting to provide a bit of music to go along with the ambience, she played the song she planned for the concert that evening. The resident seemed to have left early that day, perhaps not wanting to bother her.

This time, it sounded… different. She heard clinking of metal between each step. Plates of metal. Perhaps it was an instrument of some sort. A duet?

Smiling, she decided to play a song. If he wanted to be discreet and give her a surprise, she would gladly give him the benefit of the doubt that she hasn’t caught on.

Ah, the footsteps stopped again.

Was he going to try playing there to gain her attention?

She continued to play anyways. The resident must have been getting a case of cold feet.

A low growl was followed by a sound. Click.

Sona’s eyes widened. It was a gun. She immediately whipped around to the source and strummed a powerful chord to make him freeze in his place. A dull, metallic thud sounded on the ground. Her fingers started trickling over the strings, her magic spilling into the music to force him to walk into her line of sight.

Gold-plated greaves stiffly walked out from behind the tree. Slowly, a white cloak appeared, followed by a mask and a noticeably large shoulder piece.

In that moment, Sona felt chills going down her spine. Only through drawings has she seen Jhin’s appearance, thanks to Shen’s warnings. But to see The Golden Demon, in his full attire, in person was almost bloodcurdling. But Sona had to stay calm. The music then changed into a faster tempo, each note precise and piercing, like she was interrogating him.

Who are you?

Jhin cursed in his head. He couldn’t break out of Sona’s spell. Her music was overwhelming his thoughts, isolating an answer out of him. He resisted at first, but her magic slowly sapped at his resistance.

“Kh… Khada… Jhin…” he choked out.

Why are you here?

He was reaching into the nooks and crannies of his mind, where he thought her music wouldn’t reach. But every chord followed him, trying to pull out the information Sona wanted. He couldn’t stop it.

“Gh… Your… your music…”

Sona narrowed her eyes, her magic spilling out of her fingers.

What about my music?

Jhin couldn’t hold his thoughts back anymore. His mind was filled with nothing but the melodies of Sona’s music. “Your music… brings me peace. I can’t… bring myself to kill…”

A pang of suspicion. But this time, she softly strummed the strings in curiosity. Was it you who was playing yesterday?

He gave in. “I… yes… I heard that song two days ago when I happened to encounter you by chance.” Standing still, letting the hum of Sona’s etwahl overtake his mind, he continued his answer. “When I heard it, something happened. I eventually discovered that your music provided me the peace I’ve been looking for.”

There was a pause. Jhin finally found his head and wiggled his fingers to feel the control of his body again.

“I tried to recreate it with an instrument closest to yours. But it didn’t feel the same.” He let out a sigh. “I do apologize if you didn’t feel comfortable with me trying to play your song.” He then saw Sona lift her hands from her etwahl and start making gestures with her hands. It took him a moment, but he realized that she was signing. “Would you repeat that again?”

“You… hold a strong dissonance within you,” she signed slowly, spelling the word ‘dissonance’ by letters. Did Jhin even know sign language, she wondered. “As if you’re torn between two forces, with one constantly trying to drag you in.”

She spoke through sign language. She wasn’t deaf, since she was able to hear Jhin speak. But he asked her in sign language anyways. “Do you speak?”

Surprised by Jhin’s knowledge of sign language, she signed back, “No, I am mute. But I can still hear.”

Sona’s use of her etwahl in her concert that night clicked. He realized his impression of her was wrong. “Ah, I see.”

The two stood still in their place, not knowing what to do. Jhin couldn’t possibly pick up his gun and simply walk away from Sona. She wouldn’t let him. Sona also couldn’t let him go after one of Ionia’s most wanted criminals tried to shoot her.

With a sigh, Sona broke the silence. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t report you to Shen or Karma. They’ve told me about you.”

Jhin fell silent. Sona could have ran away and reported him as soon as she arrived to the gates. If anything, she could’ve even killed him on the spot.

But she didn’t.

Even if he wanted to answer her, he didn’t know what to say. This was the best reason he could think of. “Because I don’t know what is a lie anymore. I’ve been pulled into my passion for so long that I’ve lost the truth.”

Sona had sensed something when her magic flooded Jhin’s mind. What she saw was a man being pulled by strings like a puppet. A reserved man who felt like he didn’t have a choice. Against her better judgement, she stepped aside for Jhin to walk towards her.

“You are free to stay and listen, if that is what quells the dissonance within you. But on one condition.” She pointed at Jhin’s gun that had been dropped when she stunned him in place. “You leave that on the ground where I can see it. If you do anything strange, I will stop you.”

Jhin’s desire for peace wasn’t impossible after all. He pondered Sona’s offer for a moment. If he stayed to listen, he would be able to rid himself of these urges once and for all. “And if I try to escape?”

Silence. “I won’t stop you. Do as you would like.”

He closed his eyes, resigning himself to Sona’s offer. “I shall do as you say. I believe it is a fair trade, as I won’t have any reason to kill you.” He slowly walked to his gun and picked it up on its other end. He noticed Sona tensing up, her fingers on the strings, as he approached her. He handed the gun to her, the grip towards her.

Sona shot him a questioning look.

“Take the gun and place it wherever you would like. I will repeat myself again, but I have no reason to kill you.”

Hesitant at first, delicate hands carefully took the gun from Jhin. Sona stared at the gun and then to Jhin, uncertain of Jhin’s motives. She took a few steps back while keeping an eye on Jhin and his movements. Her etwahl followed closely in front of her, as if to protect her. She reached the center of the clearing and set the gun down. It was far enough for Jhin to not reach it without taking a few steps, and it was close enough for Sona to stop him lest he made an attempt.

“Please sit over there where I can see you.” She pointed to a tree opposite of her, to which Jhin complied.

Now that things had finally calmed down, an awkward silence had settled over the two. Sona didn’t know what to play, and Jhin had nothing else to say. A few more seconds of silence passed before Sona broke it.

“Quite a lovely day, isn’t it?” she sighed, with a bit of hesitance to her movements. She couldn't look directly at Jhin. She felt like she was being examined.

Jhin, on the other hand, was in quiet disbelief. Sona had not only subdued him, but she also made him comply to her wishes. Her power was indeed a formidable force to be reckoned with. He didn’t realize Sona was trying to communicate with him until he noticed her glance at him and quickly look away. “I apologize. I am rather taken aback by what just transpired, you see. I didn’t mean to stare.”

Looking slightly troubled, Sona shook her head. “I didn’t know what else to say.” She paused. “Is there a song you would like to hear?”

The first song that played in his head was the song he first heard in the grove. The song he heard in her concert but left early in his panic. He realized he had never heard it in its entirety. “The song you played in the grove two days ago…” He hummed the first few notes. “I don’t believe I’ve heard the end of the song.”

“Do you mean this one?” Sona played the new song she made recently and performed at the concert last night. She glanced at Jhin, seeing his posture relax as his visible eye closed. She had heard of the crimes Jhin has committed throughout his life from Shen, who had seen Jhin’s work at a young age.

A killer whose victims were torn apart. Rearranged. Displayed for all to see. All to satisfy a sick desire for blood, Shen would always say.

But if she saw the man before her, she wouldn’t have guessed it was that same serial murderer. Contrary to what she heard, Jhin had been nothing but polite to her.

It could be a trap , a voice in her head echoed. It could have been. But she gave him plenty of chances for him to flip that gun around and shoot her, point-blank. There was no doubt that the shoulder piece had weapons in there too. Even now, he could’ve attacked her.

But he didn’t.

Sona knew he was honest, or at least, trying to be. Her fingers slowly came to a stop, having come to the end of the song. She looked up to see Jhin looking almost completely relaxed.

“If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought you were an entertainer in costume,” she signed to him.

A short chuckle escaped Jhin. “I used to be a stagehand, an actor.” He glanced at the gun, which reminded him of all the performances he’s done with that tool. “But I suppose I’ve given up that career in exchange for this.”

Growing up mute and with only music and sound to guide her, Sona learned to distinguish each and every kind of voice. Each voice took a different tone depending on the emotion. In Jhin’s reserved voice, she heard something behind it. It was faint, but she heard it.

How could a man who’s committed such atrocities sound so… helpless?

“Are you…” she paused, thinking about her wording, “content with what you’re doing?”

Jhin stared up at the flower-littered sky. The harmony of Sona’s song was still resonating within his mind. It left him feeling like he was floating on clouds, no longer being struck by lightning and hearing the thunder of a gun firing a shot. For once in his life, he felt like he could think without his passion — nay, the urge to kill — whispering in his ears. He closed his eyes, like the curtain call following the finale.

“No. I am not.”