Asking for forgiveness

Finding the address wasn’t hard, Alfred had been very helpful after Dick called him for the directions. Stopping at a parking lot just outside the narrows port yard, Dick could spot an alley that led towards a gated factory property, he turned off the ignition to the car and stepped out.

“Heh, figures he’d pick this place to settle down in.”

“Why is that lover Dick?” Asked Kori, helping Talia out of the car and keeping her close while they made their way across the street to the looming building in the distance.

“This is the place that Lucius Fox had off the books to make Bruce’s Batmobiles, looks pretty good despite the locale.”

“I could understand my former beloved’s choices. The League of Shadows taught to leave no trace before and after a strike.”

“It looks lovely!” Stated Starfire, seeing the building in the middle of the day and finding it was nearly enveloped with plant growth and trees framing the entrance and block it sat in.

Making their way across the street, the trio were aware that they were being watched. A homeless man ranting near a bundle of blankets and personal goods ranted and mumbled to himself, but his eyes remained fixed on them, even if he didn’t face them. At the other end of the street, Dick could see a drunk stagger about, window shopping and taking a swig from a bottle covered in a paper bag, but at close inspection, the bottle was full.

“Oh, we’re in the right place alright, these guys are playing by Bruce’s bag of tricks.”

Heading through the alley, they could see the old factory up head, and could hear footsteps in the distance behind them. Not looking over his shoulder, Dick told the other ladies to do the same. Up ahead they could see the chained fenced with two men posing as security guards look their way and stop them as soon as they came to the drive through booth to be let in.

“Sorry you three, we’re not scheduled for any visitors. I’m afraid you are just going to have to go back.” Said the one guard, his hand outstretched to stop the three where they were.”

Smiling, Dick stepped forward with his hands up to keep the attention on him, noticing the guard darted his eyes towards Talia. “We’re here to see an old friend, have a chat and talk about old ti…”

“We have NOTHING to say to that fanged deadhead pretty boy!” Growled a voice behind them. Turning his attention back behind him, Dick found the homeless man, the drunk and a couple others behind him and his compatriots, their facades gone and staring daggers at the pale woman he was with. The one that looked like a prostitute in a short pink skirt and matching high heels glared back at Nightwing, FAR too healthy looking to look like a burned-out hooker. “So, take your vampire slut and whoever this bitch is out of here. Before I put my heel up her ass.”

“Excuse me? Are you referring to me?”

Wincing, Dick gave the security guard an apologetic look as everyone’s attention fell on Starfire, her hair billowing as a sharp green glow emanated from her eyes and hands. “Whoops! Now you’ve done it.”

An airburst blew out from Starfire’s feet as she began to hover off the ground, the light at her hands intensifying to create a green glow encompassing the entire street.

“My NAME is Koriand’r of Tamaran! Princess of the first house, second born of King Myand’r and rightful heir to the throne of my world. And unlike YOU, female dog, I do not need to threaten to let you know how dangerous I can be when upset!”

Seeing everyone back away from the display, Dick could only whistle, impressed. “So… Do you mind giving us an invitation, she get’s Prickly when you upset her like this.”

A haunting dirge of a roar echoed out from the factory structure the two guards protected, the two looking back in trepidation as the group of disguised guards stepped back, knowing full well what was coming. The roof exploded out with the launch of a red blur the quickly fell like a rock and landed at the feet of the terrified vampire as she found herself looking face to snout to the red wolfess herself, her eyes an intense glowing green as everyone scattered for safety.

“DID YOU REALLY THINK YOU COULD HIDE FROM ME? SMELLING LIKE HIM?!” Roared Aloe Vera, the Red Queen of the werewolves pointing accusingly towards Dick Grayson.

Neither Nightwing or Starfire were fast enough when Pamela Isley snatched the woman up in just one of her claws and threw her across the street, ricocheting off a parked car to tumble to a stop near an intersection that fell to a screeching halt to the sight of the pale woman stopping in her tracks against a taxi. Stunned, struck by vertigo and unable to move, Talia looked up with blurred vision to the sight of a red shape charging towards her. The owner of the cab got out and fled from his vehicle just in time for the red wolfess to slam into the vampire, grab her by the waist and legs and slam her down on the roof of the car with enough force to fold it.

“Did you think I had forgotten? That I had FORGIVEN?” Seeing Talia cough up blood but amazingly still animate despite her injuries, the woman’s presence only made Pamela’s rage intensify as the plant life around her bristled. Grabbing Talia with one claw around her slim waist, Aloe Vera opened her fanged jaws wide, planning to bite the vampire’s head clean off and do away with Dracula personal assassin.

Or would have… If a blast of green lit plasma had not burned her back and shoulder. Roaring out in pain and darting her lupine head behind her to see who was attacking, Pamela snarled at Starfire throwing bolts of solar energy at her, burning her fur and flesh enough to make her drop Talia.

“You will leave friend Talia alone!”

“WHY?!” The Red Wolfess roared, her injuries healing almost instantly as her attention was distracted. “Do you even know who she is? The friends and loved ones she’s killed? The graveyards she’s filled, and for WHAT?!”

“That is not my friend Talia.”

Stunned in complete disbelief even as she guarded herself with her forearm to block out the energy blasts, she realised she didn’t see Nightwing and looked down behind her to find Talia Ghul was already gone. Beyond livid, she looked around to find the man cradling the vampire in his arms, trying to bring her into the shadows to heal herself.

“NO!!!!!”

Launching herself on all fours towards the two, Dick could only make out a blood red blur heading his way in the corner of his peripheral. The wolf’s tunnel vision so narrow, she barely registered Starfire’s blasts trying to slow her down. Putting down Talia, Dick pulled out a pair of truncheons in either hand ready to deal with what now seemed like a terrible mistake. When a black mass appeared between the two and stopped Pamela in her rampage dead in its tracks. Slowly opening one of his eyes, Dick found the black wolf crouched in front of him, with both hands on Aloe Vera’s shoulders and keeping her there.

“Stop.”

“She’s THERE, RIGHT THERE, we can get her everyone she took from us.”

“Pamela.” He said firmly, his expression calm. “Stop.”

Unable to push past him, Pamela eyes were the picture of blind rage before she collapsed into a heap and slowly broke down into tears. Bruce sat and pulled her close, cradling her massive form in his large arms as she sobbed, looking up at the terrified vampire woman being held the same way by Dick.

“She killed so many of us…” Whimpered the red wolfess, clinging to Bruce tightly as she glared back at Talia. “Tried to kill me so many times.”

Exhaling as he stroked his fingers through her hair, Bruce could see Starfire land nearby while the rest of his pack in human form gathered around their wolf king.

“I’m sorry…” The crying stopped, leaving un uneasy silence as Pamela raised her head to stare back at Talia speaking so low only the wolves present could ever hear her. “I’m so sorry for everything I ever did to you, to all of you.”

The hackles at Pamela’s back rose as her ears darted back, baring her fangs, and growling back at the injured and defeated looking vampire hiding under the shadow of the man cradling her like a child. Pamela sat stunned when Bruce slowly brought a massive, clawed hand to rest on Talia’s shoulder and head and gently stroked his thumb over her cheek.

“I forgive you.”

Gobsmacked, Pamela could only blink, looking up to her mate who gently soothed the vampire, just as Kori knelt to join the two she cared for on the ground, and wrap her arounds around the couple. Looking up, Talia blinked back tears. “You do?”

Sitting up, Bruce exhaled, looking between the confused wolfess and the trio under his arm. “I forgave Zatanna a long time ago, and she had done far worse. But in the end that was never her. Even she could admit to that. It’s good to see a conscience in… Pam!”

Pulling free of Bruce’s gentle embrace, Aloe Vera grabbed hold of Talia and pulled her face close to look deep into her eyes, sensing into her aura. The woman was… Empty… There was nothing there. There were memories, experiences, even emotions, but those were all echoes of her living life. Looking deeper into the dark, she found something. Crouched and laying like some sleeping dragon was what looked like a bat, a bat the size of a city bus and showing polished black skin like the scales of a viper. Curled up like a cat in rest, she found Dick Grayson and Koriand’r there with it, resting by its head and gently stroking the fur of its head.

Exiting her mind, Aloe Vera found Nightwing and Starfire in the same position she found them in Talia’s mindset, only instead of the terrible bat-gryphon she found, it was the weeping pale vampire who collapsed back into their arms when Pamela let her go. Stunned, Pamela slowly smiled and pulled the trio close to her, her body shrinking and changing back until she had returned to her human form, hugging the three in her arms as she rested her head on Talia’s. She was empty… Except for them. THEY were her conscience, her empathy, her soul. With them, she was a completely different person, one that only felt guilt and shame for all the bad she had done. Hugging them closer, Aloe Vera kissed Talia on the forehead.

“I forgive you too.”

“HEY GUYS!” Called out Harley as she stumbled onto the scene. “Can you believe it? I’ve NEVER seen Pam that angry before, fwoo! We’re gonna need to make a skylight for the hole she made in the roof.” Seeing the red-haired woman hugging Dick Grayson, Koriand’r and Talia Ghul in her arms while Bruce in his wolf form sat behind them, Harley wrung her hands together and practically danced towards them to join in the hug.

“Daw… Pam made new friends!”