#long story short i love ak!red hood

[heavysighing-dreamyeyes]

Hi there! It's my first time asking a question here, so I hope I'm not bothering if someone else has already asked a similar question.

I genuinely wanted to know how you feel about arkhamverse Red Hood. I've had my own thoughts and curiosities that I haven't been able to fully answer, so I wanted to get some insight on someone who genuinely seems to understand his character pretty well.

We know that after Batman's/Bruce's death, Jason took on the mantle to protect Gotham City in his own twisted way. But I was curious as to how he would go about it, since he's not the only crime fighter around. There's Robin and occasionally Nightwing that comes around to help.

Do you think Red Hood would be interested in speaking to them or interacting with them? Even if he didn't, how do you think it would go if he did somehow encounter them. We also know that Barbara Gordon/Oracle knows about his real identity and that he's still alive. Do you think she would somehow try to get into contact with or something?

Do you also think that over time, the civilians of Gotham City would be comfortable with him? Or respect him in some way?

I'm just curious as to how his dynamic would work after the whole incident blew over and time went by. If you answer this question, I'm very grateful for your time and thank you for being nice enough to do so!

Hi Nonnie!! Pls, I'm literally always so excited to talk about The Arkham Knight and I would looove to deep dive into this one, so buckle up besties and brace yourself for an essay, which I broke into part because honestly, I overwhelmed myself

Lore

I think what we gotta clear first is how much you take Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League into the Arkhamverse canon. Personally, I haven't played the game, BUT there is a message that Bruce leaves for Tim that tells him to team up with Jason, if he can find him. (Once Batman goes rouge or whatever) It's not much, but it hints that Jason would be killing to work with them in a crisis situation, if they can convince him

But that's an apocalypse level event years down the line, and doesn't necessarily mean he would work with them on a 'normal' Gotham night. So other than that throwaway line, the only information we really have of Jason post the main story line of the game is the Red Hood DLC (at least that I'm aware of) where he kicks Black Mask out a window

Again, not really giving us a lot to go off of when it comes to his relationships or mental state post game. (Other than that he's willing to kill) But here's the thing, we have an entire game of his actions to analyze

STICK WITH ME, it takes barely a minute for Batman to convince The Arkham Knight to give up his revenge. And not only does Jason abandon his militia and his carefully crafted plan, but he actively goes against it to save Bruce. That alone screams to me that, despite everything he's feeling, he's not going to abandon any one of the Gotham vigilantes

Dick

But not letting someone die doesn't necessarily mean he's willing to work with them, let alone be friendly with anyone. So let's take a look at what, Jason didn't do that night. Wild, I know, but hear me out, but Dick Grayson isn't really accounted for in his plans

Sure, he's Blüdhaven based, but of course he's going to come help in Gotham when the entire city is evacuated. The Arkham Knight has a plan for Tim (ie: Scarecrow knows where Robin is, which leads to Tim's capture), he has a plan for Barbara, (ie: personally kidnapping her), but for Nightwing he has nothing?

And yes, Dick is busy with the whole Penguin thing, but Jason doesn't confront him once? It just makes me wonder how close the two of them were before the Asylum, and if The Arkham Knight thought involving Nightwing was more trouble than it was worth

Unfortunately there's really nothing I can think of to base their past relationship on. But the lack of interaction between them in the game, when Jason is carrying out his meticulous revenge, makes me think that Jason doesn't exactly hate Dick and that Red Hood would be willing to work with him/share information in the future

But the thing is, Nightwing is focused completely on Blüdhaven post game. I think he only returns to Gotham to help the GCPD stop Penguin from escaping. From what I remember, Dick basically says his presence in Gotham isn't permanent and that he's sticking to Blüdhaven. So even if Red Hood would begrudingly work with him (which I think he would) there isn't really any opportunities for them to do so

Barbara

Oracle is a lot easier to answer for. Jason opens up to her rather quickly in the game, as much as he's able to at least

I think they definitely work together, especially since Batman is for all intents and purposes, dead. He won't call it a partnership and she definitely doesn't approve of his killing, but they have an open line of communication when needed

They share information, she keeps track of his movements, he'll do her a favor if she needs it. I think she worries about him, even if she doesn't like his methods, he's still someone she cares about, and she'll hack into his comms to check in once in a while

I think they tend to stay out of each others way though, until there's a reason to contact each other (if that makes sense) But I feel like there's a form of trust between them, an idea that they're both trying to save the city in their own way

Tim

Robin is a little harder to figure out than the other two for me, there's no prior relationship between Tim and Jason that we know of, and the plan doesn't even seem to include him until he's needed as bait to draw Batman out

Yes, The Arkham Knight accuses Batman of replacing him with Tim, but every time he brings up the new Robin, it sounds like he's placing the fault entirely with Batman. His revenge is completely centered on Batman, and everyone else is just a piece in the puzzle being used to hurt him

So post game, where does that leave them? I think it's rocky. I mean, Tim is with Barbara (which should be an essay of it's own because I hate it) and Jason kidnapped her. Even if Jason never hurt her, Tim thought he killed her, and I think it takes a lot of convincing from Babs to get Tim to even consider trusting him

Jason has his own issues with seeing another Robin running around, but I'm not sure how he directs those feelings at Tim specifically? I think they just avoid each other completely. It's a big city and they're pretty much the only two vigilantes left, and they have different methods of dealing with criminals

Any information they could share with each other is easily passed through Oracle, and there really isn't any reason for them to team up. I think at some point there is an event/villain big enough for them to put their differences aside for one night and work together though

But I only say that because of the Suicide Squad game. If Bruce thinks that Jason would willingly work with Tim, it's because they've proven at some point in the past that they could

Civilians

Honestly, Gotham citizens put up with A LOT. So a masked vigilante that kills criminals doesn't change much for a day to day life for them. There's people on both sides of the argument, as there is with everything. There's people that like what he does. There's people who think he should be in jail. Some people love him, some people hate him

At first he scares people, since they don't know where he draws his lines for killing. But I think the average person treats the idea of him the same way as they do Batman, really, once Red Hood has been around for a while. He's a conversation point, a debate topic, but he doesn't really affect their lives because the only time you see a vigilante is if something bad is a happening (and at that point you'd be thankful for anyone's help, killer or not)

If crime rates do end up going down because of his methods, I think there'd be a begrudging respect from the average person, but there's probably more unease than a big sense of comfort. Because even if you're a good person, and even if he only kills criminals, who says The Red Hood wouldn't kill you if he just felt like it? If he thought you didn't live up to his idea of being good? Who could even stop him if he tried?

Anyyway, that's all I got rn, hope this made sense and I answer your questions, nonnie! I know that was a lot of reading, but it's always fun to talk about him

[mistymisfit]

Mobile masterlist! All fics are fem reader unless stated otherwise and I mostly avoid using y/n. For desktop masterlist head here

Jason Todd

Series:

So long, Marianne: ak!Jason x reader. +18!!! Please read series warnings in its own masterlist and every chapter.

4/5 chapters posted on ao3

Summary: Reader is a spy working undercover in Gotham when she meets Jason Todd, who despite her better judgement she forms a very close friendship with. This story follows their escape from Arkham asylum, their fall out and the times they run into each other as they get older.

One-shots and drabbles:

Birthday: Jason wakes up reader on her birthday with flowers (fluff)

How he show he loves you: 3 short blurbs on how Jason shows reader he loves them. (fluff)

Hounds of love: Jason wakes up from a bad dream, lucky for him he's got you to make him feel better. Based on the song Hounds of love by Kate Bush (Hurt/comfort, GN!reader)

Short hurt/comfort blurb

A leaky faucet and other problems (or how he asked you to move in together): 3 in one of moments that led to his decision of asking you to start living together. (fluff, mostly)

How they met: When Poison Ivy takes Gotham's central park hostage reader gets stuck with Red Hood and accidentally saves him. (fluff and bad jokes)

Headcanons:

Dirty A-Z headcanon game

Dick Grayson

One shots and Drabbles:

Cuddling: Request "cuddling with comic dick grayson when you have to leave for a mission and he just keeps delaying it by saying “a few more minutes won’t hurt” " (Fluff)

Date night in: Request: Reader and Dick decide to spend the night together but they keep getting interrupted by their siblings (Fluff)

[iwritethat]

Jason Todd: Walking Dead

A/N: I know some of the plot points aren’t factual in the DC universe but I got creative with Jason’s character, hopefully it’s a nice read though. 🎃

>>>>——————————>

Jason’s flatmate was weird.

He was never quick to judge someone and after all of the characters he’d encountered in his life , to reach such a label so fast was saying something.

In the beginning of the arrangement the two got along swimmingly, but soon enough the dynamic became rather ambiguous. (Y/n) was a friend of Roy’s and as such couldn’t be all bad - sure, they had their peculiar introduction but once out of the way it all seemed too good to be true. Roy brought up the proposal of living with one of his old friends when Jason needed a new temporary place to stay, he’d said (Y/n) had been there through his worst and helped him with recovery -?that no one was more loyal and reliable than them.

However, it grew considerably weird with the startled scream his sharer released when seeing him in the dark, now this was perfectly normal as maybe they weren’t used to having someone around quite yet - at least that would’ve been the explanation if they weren’t 2 weeks into their deal. Not only that but (Y/n) scrambled back to their room at record speed and slammed the door behind with no justifiable means.

Strange? Yes.

Next he noticed how they had an obsession with the heating, whenever he was around it always seemed to be on even if the weather of late October miraculously didn’t call for it. It had only begun after they’d cooked breakfast together, maybe they enjoyed the heat of the oven? He’d tried giving them blankets or even his hoodies and yet it wasn’t enough to break their odd habit. Again, weird.

Luckily he wasn’t staying for long...

———

Your new housemate was insanely weird.

Of course you had Roy Harper to thank for that, the only time he pays uninvited visits is when he wants something, your assumptions proven correct with his hinting text message.

[Katniss: U know how much u love me...]

Although his proposition was rather enthralling, his friend needed a place to lay low for a while and with your newly rented 2 bedroom apartment, you were his first choice and thus agreed.

He brought ‘Jason’ over a few days later so you could be introduced - and upon seeing him a vast sea of varying thoughts raced across your mind.

‘He’s hot.’

‘No he’s going to live with you.’

‘Is he one of those friends?’

But then another momentarily fleeting option halted your positivity - is he one of Roy’s older friends, the ones from his rough days of addiction and before you could even register your next actions you’d already subtly voiced such concerns.

“Please don’t bring any dodgy things here, I can’t have the police sniffing around.”

“Like what?” Jason turned to you, brow raised in curiosity.

“Drugs?”

“Oh no, I don’t handle that - I have people to do it for me.” Jason calmly replied, like it was the most normal thing in the world as he took in your kitchen whilst you shot a look that roughly translated to ‘you better be joking’ to a sheepish Roy.

“But I have guns and other weapons, are they okay?” Jason once again faced you with a serious expression, genuinely asking your permission and honestly you could not deny that beautiful man.

“Yeah, I mean sure. You’re not gonna use them right?”

“Not in the apartment. Unless someone breaks in obviously.” The ravenette was confident in his statement, now checking out your living room leaving you slightly baffled.

“Obviously. So um, why do you have them, and why do you have drug runners?” Intrigue burned in your veins, you couldn’t help but strive for answers given the causal circumstances of the contrastingly deadly topics.

“He’s a Crime Lord.” Roy smugly cut in, an immediate expression of concern shot at Jason who you’d hope would deny the allegations.

“Dude, way to sell me. I run a drug ring, you can never stop crime but you can control it so that’s what I do. None of my people sell to kids so that’s a start. So, what’s our rent?” He playfully punched his partner before elaborating and oddly enough it made sense to you.

It should’ve been a warning sign, what normal person makes a first impression by telling you he has people who handle his drugs so don’t ever worry about them being in your apartment. No one.

Although that wasn’t why he was so damn weird. No, far from it. You didn’t know what he was.

One night, you’d awoken to grab some water and tiredly walked out to the kitchen only to meet Jason who possibly just showered after patrol but as it was basically pitch black you couldn’t be certain. You met his gaze - his irises illuminated green - and you instinctively screamed, stopping short as he tilted his head slightly silently asking why you’d done so. Now you thought it was a misunderstanding, a trick of the light maybe, so you stared a few seconds longer and yet they remained dazzlingly bright like fireflies. It was then that you scrambled back to your bedroom slamming the door behind you and sliding down it to the floor with your hand over your mouth, water long forgotten. Safe to say you didn’t sleep that night, demons have vibrant irises don’t they?

It was unknown whether he knew about his glowing eyes, nor could you find an appropriate time to bring it up. You’d built up the courage to do so a few days later over breakfast which you’d opted to cook together.

He hovered over the oven, yourself standing beside him admiring his work until he turned to you with spoon in hand insisting you try some. You did so, holding his wrist steady - his skin beyond freezing - he’d been right next to the oven, how could he be so cold?!

You’d approved of the taste, even if he’d dabbed some on your nose simply for amusement and straight after you switched on the heating to hopefully warm him up a bit.

You continued this procedure whenever you felt he radiated unhealthily low temperatures and occasionally Jason offhandely mentioned that the weather wasn’t cold enough for such measures but you simply shrugged with a smile. Although he would throw a blanket over you, or even offer to lend you one of his hoodies to warm you up and yet you couldn’t understand why he thought you were cold when he was icy to the touch. Ghosts were inhumanly cold...

Plus, although the white streak was quite attractive on him, it was apparently a permanent characteristic but whose hair is naturally white in only one place at such a young age? Frankenstein maybe? But wasn’t he a zombie?

Luckily he wasn’t staying for long...

———

Halloween was upcoming so the TV stations traditionally broadcasted relating titles and it seemed the Sixth Sense was one of them.

Jason hopped through the window, fully clad in his Red Hood armour as the film was finishing, he’d gone to get changed and by the time he’d returned another horror was beginning. He’d joined you on the sofa, resting his legs over you purely for annoyance but you found entertainment in your playful dynamic.

“Hey (Y/n), do you think yelling at a guy holding an AK-47 is a stupid way to die?” It was a random but relevant start to a story he’d intended to tell.

“Oh god you don’t want me to solve cases with you do you because I’m not ready for that man. Like I thought I might be seeing dead people but this is too much.” That particular Sixth Sense related comment surfaced after he’d brought up vigilante related drama - of which he assumed you already knew about due to your relationship with Roy.

“Okay, what is with you? You’ve been acting so weird!” He finally needed answers, the unexplained oddities becomoning too much for both parties involved to the fact Jason was compared to a horror film character.

“Me? I’m not the one with glowing irises!” You sarcastically counter after Jason’s quizzical remark.

“Glow- What?!” He shut his eyes, fingers resting on the bridge of his nose before he looked up to again with a confused glance.

“Your eyes... they glow green in the dark sometimes, didn’t you know that?” Your tone was softer now, the sincerity in it making him want to believe your claims even more.

“No I didn’t... Are you sure? I mean it could’ve been a mistake if -“ Before he could finish, you turned off the lamp beside you and held your hand mirror in front of his face, low and behold they lit up.

“Lazarus green...” His voice was much quieter, tone holding a hint of pained disappointment as he spoke with an almost frustrated expression.

“A-what green?”

“Lazarus, like the Lazarus pits. It doesn’t matter (Y/n), you don’t need to worry about any of that, it will always haunt me by the looks of things.”

“It does matter, please tell me. I’m here for you, that’s what flatmates are for isn’t it no matter how temporary we may be.”

Surprisingly, after a long period of contemplative silence he began his turbulent tale of life, death, vengeance, villains and vigilantism leaving you rather speechless. It was certainly a befitting horror film script.

“...now I’m here, but hopefully one of my safe houses will be clear soon and I’ll be out of your hair.” He finished, shifting his feet that were now entangled with yours as you sat opposite one another on the couch.

“That revival pit, do you think that’s why your eyes glow? It would explain why you’re always cold, and your physical abilities too.” With a finger to your lips you calmly thought aloud, Jason also captivated by the concept.

“I’m cold too? That’s why you insist on keeping the heating on?” Despite his jest, he withdrew himself from you at the thought of affecting you with his apparent side effects of coming back from the dead.

However you shook your head, shifting forward and placing your hand against his, of course his own towered yours in comparison and he was a contrast of bemused and skeptical with your actions. You felt his skin warm up with your touch, the result bringing a smirk to your face.

“I don’t mind it. Your skin might be cold but your heart isn’t, and besides, I can always warm you up Jason.”

“Oh can you now?” He raised a brow at your unintentional suggestive statement, cocky but flirtatious smirk dancing across his lips.

“I - that wasn’t - I was trying - you know what, I’m just glad we’ve solved our differences.” As you attempted to justify yourself, Jason only laughed much to your feigned aggravation.

“True, I’m calling Roy over tomorrow. How could he not notice?” Jason managed, his he argument raising distinct confusion.

“This is Roy we’re talking about.” Was your only reply, though you would acknowledge just how incredibly smart and tactile Roy was any day of the week much like Jason would - but being apart the Outlaws meant subjugation to a few friendly insults.

“Point taken.”

———

Both Roy and Kori had dropped by the next morning to discuss your recent discoveries over breakfast which was a revolutionary one for all of you in some way.

“Glowing eyes? Ah, to be fair you usually wear your mask and helmet so I don’t normally see them and it’s not like I sleep with you so how the hell would I know? As for the cold thing, we’re always outside - if anything I just envied how Lian would always stop crying around you.” Roy calmly sighed, the revelations intriguing to him also and you suspected that he knew more than he was letting on. For a start, keeping such a thing to himself if only to freak you out once he moved in.

“Oh! They say that babies can see the supernatural, like when they just stare into space and people say they can see ghosts. It might be like that.” You laughed, although your comment caused the boys to consider the possibility as it would certainly explain why Lian ceased in her crying around Jason.

“I didn’t say anything as I thought you were trying to match me.” The goddess Kori giggled, her eyes aglow in emerald for demonstration.

“Anyway, is everything set?” Jason nodded to the alien, now concerned with leaving you in peace.

“Sorry Jaybird, gonna need another few weeks before you can leave.” Roy haphazardly shrugged, looking between Jason and yourself as he gazed to you with a sympathetic expression.

“You don’t mind do you? It’s already been 6 weeks, I can -“

“Jason, it’s fine. You’re too weird not to like, but we should stock up on food if you’re staying.” With a wave of your hand you cut him off and smiled, gesturing toward the cupboards as you mentioned them.

The Outlaws were all equally grateful, and soon Roy and Kori headed out meanwhile Jason began writing a shopping list.

“I thought that everything was in order for Jason to come back today?” Kori politely inquired once the pair had left, the previous information contradicting with her current knowledge.

“Shhh, it is but they get on so well, a few more weeks and they both might finally have a place they can call home for once.” Roy carefully explained, a hopeful glint in his eyes mixed with that of sorrow considering what his two friends had gone through.

“I see, as long as our friends are happy then I shall ‘shh’.” The Tamaranean joyfully agreed, all too chipper with the plan.

[darkagesreloaded-blog]

Dark Ages Reloaded - Reenactors sixth side story

- Stop… - panting the injured officer. – I can’t take any more steps… - You must! – replied the helmless soldier, while he was searching for enemies in the lights of the flaming buildings. His face was flooded with sweat. His short hair was smelled from smoke. – I won’t let you die here! - I said stop! – hissed the major. – It was an order! The soldier obeyed. He was dragging his superior through a broken glass door to a small market that seemed empty. They had found shelter behind the desk. They were the last survivors of the elite squad ordered to guard the terrorists in the Puskás stadium. - This was a hell of a day… - whispered the major while he was freed from his sand colored bullet proof vest. He had hissed up while the soldier has touched his shot, then his bitten wound. - Okay, first I will cleanse the wounds then I will try to stop the bleeding… - Mountvalley started to search for alcohol and bandages, but his superior stopped him. - It is too late. – He said. His head had freed from the helmet, and now his red hair had clung to his forehead from sweat. – The infection got into my blood. I have no chance to survive… - What are you talking about? – asked back Mountvalley. He felt confused. - It was neither a terrorist attack nor an accident… - the red haired major tried to tell the truth, but had to stop because he had coughed up a lots of blood. – The blockade, the evacuation, the searching for the „terrorists” just were the disguise for a greater plan. – He panted. – The citizens were infected with a deadly virus, but something went wrong… - By Whom? Why? – Mountvalley was an experienced soldier, but he felt, that this is getting too much for him. – What the hell are you talking about, Kassák? - The mankind had been betrayed… - the major coughed again. – The governments, and the lodges that controlled them… The genocide was planned a long time ago… We overcrowded the world… The world wars had done too much collateral damage, with so less success… - he panted. His face getting paler and paler with every breath. – The nuclear war could destroy the whole nature, so they needed a sophisticated solution… Please tell Ilona that I loved her so much… I loved her all the time… Please don’t let me to turn! – He had coughed once again and then got stilled forever. Mountvalley had closed the eyes of his superior and said goodbye to his friend. The soldier unsheathed his dagger and prepared to stroke down. If someone would have seen him, could glance the mirroring of the fires, that raging in the streets. The reddish flare was just as torrid as the sand of Afghanistan that day, when they had met at the first time. Their friendship had begun fifteen years ago on those deserted land. Mountvalley was as green as the grass at spring, who had ordered to join the company of Kassák who was a litenaunt at that time. - I will not lying to you from glory and fame… - the middle aged officer welcomed his rookies with these words. – You are no more than cannon-fodder, and will lie in unknown graves. The rookies had to notice, that the litenaunt told the truth. The company had ordered to hunt down the famous warlord Dilam Raghib Mazali. They had got a few veteran legionaries as support. Mountvalley remembered only the name two of them: one was Jean-Phillip Fourier, the other was Fourier’s step daughter, the blondish, deadly chick Josephine, nicknamed Joe. Mountvalley was still shuddering if he think to the nights, they had spent together. The mission was a well-organized trap. The convoy was attacked. Mountvalley got a shoot, as he tried to protect the litenaunt, later Kassák got a bullet as he tried to save his soldiers life. They were the only four survivors of the massacre. They had a long way back to the camp. Thanks to their luck they have also an occasion to deal with Dilam Mazali. Since that mission Mountvalley and his superior were not just colleagues but friends too. The sod thought that Kassák, who promoted to a major, was honest to him, but he has to realize, that he never really knew the man behind the uniform. Mountvalley was shaking his head to dismiss the bad thoughts. As he raised his head the dead was glanced back at him. The major has had brown eyes while he stayed alive, but that turned into veiled white in his death. The undead takes a deep breath with a loud growl. His lips has revealed that his palate turned into grey. His always smiling face transformed into a fearsome snarl. His blackened fingers were getting curved into claws. Before it could attack the dagger flashed and stroke down to the weakest part of the forehead. Mountvalley stroke as he had learned from Jean-Philip Fourier on that long gone days. As he pulled back his weapon it had took out some blackened and addled brain smells like a rotten corpse. Mountvalley spent too much time with his dying friend. Growls had sounded up just right from the street. The sod checked his AK-47 rifle and his side arm a PA-63 pistol. He wasn’t happy after all. He had only twelve rounds left. - I would pay everything if I had my sabre just right here. – He whispered as he thought about his chosen hobby, the reenactment. The market suddenly crowded with undead. Outside, at the street there were even more zombies. Many of them seemed unharmed, only they faces were streaked with bloodstains. The other part of them were torn and mauled. They were different in many, but the same in, that their eyes were veiled and white, just like Kassák’s eyes were. Their jaws were clicks together, and clicks together again, like the cats jaws, when it saws a bird flying, but he felt the taste of it in their mouth. An average every person should have break in this situation, but Mountvalley was a though warrior. After he had shoot his last round he kills with his gun-stock later with his dagger. Gore and brain sprays in the air as the soldier were made his way to the open. As he had reached the streets, his short hair was blown by the wind that smells from smoke and decay. New Zombies were approaching. - It’s high time to leave. – He thought. He were left over the dead and jogging toward his home. Despite Mountvalley didn’t living far from the place where he left over the corpse of his friend and superior, it takes three days to reach the desired place. He had hindered by the zombies, ferocious gangs and strange shadows, whom only approached when the sun went down. It was night fall when he reached his homestead. It seems, that this area was less suffered the apocalypse. He had met with the last zombie about two hours ago. The house was seems the same as he left it a week before. There were no sign of zombies. The lights were on. All suffers he must bear in the last days seems only the part of a nightmare. This was too nice to be true. Mountvalley had waiting about an hour before he sneaked closer. The door wasn’t closed. It was opened as he pushed down the handle. His bride were sitting in the kitchen, accompanied by an unknown man. The soldier almost get smiled, but then he noticed the veiled eyes of the beloved woman, that seems like faintly smoldering in green. Flora was dead. She had been killed by the voice, but her face was cleansed from the bloodstains. - Oh my God… - whispered Mountvalley. The soldier’s armour were standing right beside the door. He had took up his sabre. The blade slid from the scabbard. He almost moved on to kill his beloved one, the stranger, and then to throw away his own life, but he stopped, when the stranger raised his voice. - I wouldn’t do that… - he whispered. His voice was alike the sound of the rusty hinges. Mountvalley had paralyzed. This was the first time when he truly surveyed the stranger. The man wore a long cloak with coif. The clothes were almost hide his entire body, only his mummy-like hands were left visible. His skin was grey and tattooed with ancient symbols. In his left he was holding a staff as high as a tall man. The staff’s head was a skull, that gleaming in a golden color. The eyeholes of the skull were smoldering in green and the top of the head were sparkling in green time to time. The stranger had lifting up his head and the sabre almost fallen out of Mountvalley’s hand. The eyes of the unknown man were firmly blazing with green fire. He had been surrounded by the aura of malice. - Sit down! – ordered the man in the hood. – Your bride is alive, she just reached a new level of existence. - She is dead… - whispered Mountvalley. His sabre was lifting up to strike down to the dreadful stranger. The hooded man nodded. The smolder was getting stronger, transforms into glowing in the eyes of Flora. - I’m alive… - whispered the woman to his groom. – Marcus, please sit down. The necromancer wanted to tell you something important… Mountvalley released his saber and obeyed to the orders. The apocalypse, the zombies and the fact, that he didn’t sleep in the last ninety hours were drained his strength. The soldier sat down. The necromancer was nodded again and the glowing tamed back to faint smoldering again. - Very good… Now please let me to introduce myself. – said the necromancer. – My name is Rasid Ibn Hammad, nowadays called as the Thousand Years Old. - Rasid… Ibn… Hammad… - repeated Mountvalley in astonishment. The name was so familiar, but he couldn’t remember where he had heard that. The recognition was coming abruptly. – King Stephan, the Saint… - He had become a saint? – asked the necromancer. – Yes, we had a minor conflict with that bumpkin. He didn’t tolerate the ideas that I spread in his newborn kingdom, and he had buried me alive… But this was an old story, and I have come for other reasons. – Ibn Hammad changed the topic. – It would be hard to understand young friend of mine, but all that happening around you is a must. My mistress, the Forsaken, had awaited almost fifteen thousand years for the occasion, and now it is arrived. Her war for save the earth had just begun. The army of the undead has more soldiers than you could imagine, and getting stronger with every fallen enemy… but as any army, this is also needed an experienced… How did you say nowadays? – asked Rasid, then answered his own question. – General… Yes, a general! - Why me? – asked back Mountvalley resignedly. - Your blood has an ancient origin as all of the survivors of the scream of doom. – said the necromancer. – There are a lot’s of them, but only a few left with pure blood. To tell the truth, there was another candidate, but that fool, Darel, had refused us… - Darel… - Mountvalley has known well this name. - Yes Darel, the man who was your apprentice one time… - Ibn Hammad had getting angry. It seems, that the he had felt the failure to his own shame. – Take an oath to my mistress, and I promise that you will be the ruler of the world beside her! - And what will happened with Flora, if I accepting your offer? – Mountvalley’s broken soul were drifting between the possibilities. He glanced to his bride and he knew there is no other way to help her, than the acceptance. - She will be yours forever. – Ibn Hammad also glanced to Flora. – She will forever remain as you see her now. She will be young and beautiful, and do anything you want and never tried before. She will be the part of you like never before. “Until death do us apart.” I heard, that the spouses taking oath with this phrase to be one forever… - the necromancer laughed. – Please, tell me young friend of mine, how could be this oath truer, than you and Flora unite in the eternal service of the Queen of the Undead? The silence was long, but Mountvalley had finally accepted his fate. - What should I do? - He asked. - Just straighten your arm. – The necromancer get smiled under his hood. – I will do the rest. Mountvalley obeyed and outstretched his arm. The necromancer unsheathed his sacrificing dagger, a cruel, wicked, old piece of bronze. The edge were blackened by infected gore. The wound that cut with it, was so small. It contains four slices and form the vulva that had decorated the necromancer’s robe and pale skin. Mountvalley has closed his eyes. He felt cold as the decay has spread all over his body. As the newborn general opened his eyes, it blazes with green fire. Mountvalley had realized, that what he felt the aura of malice was an ancient force what came from the necromancer. He had drained this force and had become even more powerful, that he could ever imagine. Thanks to Ibn Hammad, Mountvalley had felt the necromancers all over the world. He felt their creations, the keepers, the officers of the undead army. And he felt the billions of plain zombie soldiers, the possessed who had ruled through the officers painted with blood. They were a horde without leader. They act separately, as the necromancers ordered to them by their free will. Despite they number they were vulnerable. They had become stronger with every fallen enemy, but there were survivors who destroyed hundreds of the undead. And, as it was promised, Mountvalley felt his bride as never before. He saw the hidden thoughts of the beloved one: the love that she felt toward to him, and the fraud, that she had committed many times with their neighbor. The saber stroke down. The top half of Flora’s head flew across the kitchen in a spray of gore and brain. - Yes, she had deserved this. – whispered Ibn Hammad. – Just as all the living. Open your mind and see the truth. It is high time to got the world burned down into ashes! The general opened his mind as the necromancer said. He had been rushed by the memories of the undead. He almost overloaded by the waste and grime. The sins, that had committed by the zombies had forgiven, but the living must purified by death. This was the thought of Mountvalley as well as his mistresses too. - Do as you will. – whispered the Forsaken in a velvety, but icy voice. - As you wish my mistress. – Mountvalley nodded. It just takes a simple thought and the horde of the undead had become a killing machine. He gave his orders, and his soldiers had gone to get the mankind extinct.

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