Come With Me Now

Chapter 1: The Hunter

Description: DCU Destiny AU. A Bounty gone wrong leads Clark Kent and Diana Prince to suddenly have a young Hunter named Bats enter their lives. As this mysterious stranger slowly recovers from his injuries, they all must work together in rescuing Bat's lost Ghost. Will the Light prevail, or will the Ghost be lost to the Darkness?

A/N: I really love Destiny, and Destiny AU's are really great... byeeeeeeeeeeeeee


It was, when you first left, meant to be nothing more than an everyday Bounty. Diana and you have been a two person Fireteam for about five years now, and so far so good. Well, for the most part it's been good. You're both Titans, which, really, is one Hell of a combo, but being without any other class or partner really takes it's toll after awhile. Can't count how many times you both could've used a Sunsinger. The Cosmodrome has been with little activity over the last few weeks, so little that the Speaker had feared that something of the Darkness was coming. In a moment of worry, he'd made the Cosmodrome off-limits... when a distress signal came through to the Tower. It looked to have been on for more than a week, leading to you and Diana being sent out to find the source.

"Sure we shouldn't have brought Barry?" Diana asks you over the ship's intercom. "Really, I don't doubt that we can handle ourselves but I've got a bad feeling about this."

"Don't worry about it, Diana." You foolishly suggest, shrugging off Diana's worry without much of your own. "It's a really simple Bounty, what could go wrong?"

A lot can go wrong, Clark Kent. A lot.

You both land on the Earth's surface within a few minutes of entering the atmosphere, the nighttime shrouding the area in darkness. It's very quiet. You won't say it's too quiet, as that would be lame. Diana turns to you, adjusting the hand-cannon that fits so well in her hands. She reloads it, sighing to herself as she finally signals out her Ghost again, Steve Trevor. The Ghost hums before pulling out Diana's Sparrow, painted red, white, and blue. Just like your's. She hops on as you get on your own Sparrow, trying hard to ignore the tight knot in your stomach. Something hasn't been right, but you've never really believed in all that magic junk the Warlocks go on about, so you refuse to believe it's anything 'magical' or 'mystical'.

"I'll scout ahead, try to see if any Fallen are readying for an ambush." Diana offers, revving up her Sparrow somewhat anxiously. "If something happens, and you can't revive me, call Barry and his Fireteam." She orders, before speeding off to scout.

Alone, you pullout your own Ghost, a blue one named Lois. The Ghost blinks at you, seemingly waking up. It's late for you to be out and about, you remember, but the Bounty is a rather urgent one. "Sorry to wake you, Lois." You apologize, smiling at the small Light. "Any scans of anything nearby? I'm not picking up anything on my radar."

Lois whirls, trying to find something, anything really. "Sorry, Clark. I can't find anything around here... almost like they're jamming my signal. I can't even-" She stops, and you feel your heartbeat slow. "-Clark, go get Diana." Her tone has gone from neutral to concerned at the drop of a hat, sending chills up your back.

"What, why? I haven't even gotten a report from her yet!" You'd insist, perplexed by your usually courageous and sometimes headstrong Ghost suddenly acting very, very scared indeed.

"Clark, there's no time. Go!" Lois yells, disappearing as you speed off, trying to find Diana.

At first, there's nothing unusual around, save for the darkness of the nighttime stretching over the Cosmodrome, but just in time, you manage to dodge a spray of bullets. Spinning out of control, you slam into the ground, being sent rolling off your Sparrow. On your feet without hesitation, you gaze around, Auto Rifle primed and ready to fire, only to find nothing but the grass and snow of Old Russia staring back at you. You breathe heavily, trying to strain your eyes and ears to listen and see for something, anything that could attack you. Lois remains in your armor, a dull warmth that flows like tidal waves through you to accommodate your increased stress levels. You wait maybe two full minutes before the creature shoots at you again.

This time, you're ready, crouching and firing off an entire magazine into the full-bodied shimmery figure not ten feet away. A Stealth Vandal falls, lying dead at your feet. Unsure if anything else is coming, you step a bit closer, looking the motionless corpse over. It wears the standard array of Vandal gear, though, it notably has the remains of a very weathered and once beloved Hunter's cloak. Pulling off the garment, you tuck it into your inventory, holding your Auto Rifle steady again after reloading it. You don't waste time in staying put, preferring to seek out Diana instead. Something definitely hasn't been right, Clark. Stealth Vandals are very, very rare in the Cosmodrome.


Time goes faster when you're running for your life, when you're desperately searching for your best friend in the galaxy. Your feet aren't even registered as you run and run, unable to think clearly enough to pull out your Sparrow. Lois isn't really there in your mind either, only the idea that you're too late remaining, that you might just lose her. You can't bear the idea of losing Diana. After more running than you've ever done in your entire life, you find yourself in The Divide, a place you haven't visited since you were first Revived by Lois. You breathe deeply, hands on your knees as you double over, exhausted and worried.

"We'll find her," Lois promises, coming to life in your line of vision. "Don't worry, Clark. I promise you, we'll find her safe and sound."

"Lois, something more is going on here. This isn't your average bounty." You say, sounding a bit dramatic, but hey, Diana could be dead for all you know!

"I know, Clark. We just need to keep a level head." Lois replies, suddenly blinking her light on and off. "Hold on!" She orders, turning away from you, towards one of the rusty buildings nearby. "She's there! Clark, Diana's in there!" She promises, making you run towards the building.

By the time you notice the incoming pack of Shanks, it's almost too late. You can feel Lois's sudden distress increase, worried that she's just killed you. You trip yourself backwards as you came to a halt, managing to take out two of the Shanks before going down to the ground. Nearby, you hear Dregs and Vandals incoming, along with what sounds like a Captain leading them. You sit up, ready to fight to tooth and nail, only for the remaining three Shanks to be shot down with a hand-cannon. You startle, then swing your head to face the building you'd been heading to in the first place. There, standing tall and proud, is Diana Prince in the flesh, a downed Guardian held graciously over her left shoulder as she holds her Primary Weapon with the other.

"Diana!" You scream, jumping up and shooting at two incoming Dreg, not daring to run to her just yet. "Hurry, call the ship!"

"On it!" Diana grits out, pulling out Steve for assistance. "Steve, get us out of here!" She orders, adjusting her hold on the Guardian over her shoulder. "Inform the doctors in the Tower that we have injured on-board in need of medical assistance."

"Will do." Steve promises, blinking rapidly while whirling as a large light engulfs you and Diana. "Hold on tight, folks. This is gonna be a bumpy ride!" Is all the warning you get before the world turns completely white, then descends into a calming blackness.


You awake with a yell, nearly rolling right off of the recovery bed. You look around, unable to see much from your position. Your armor has been removed, along with your weapons, leaving you feeling naked and unprotected. "Oh, thank God, you're awake." A familiar voice says, making you blink before meeting Diana's eyes as she stands above you. "And here I was thinking you wouldn't wake up until tomorrow."

"What happened?" You demand to know, trying to get up, only to have Diana force you to sit down on the bed.

"We went to the Cosmodrome after a distress signal came to the Tower last night. We got separated and had to have Steve fly us out in the middle of a fight. You were knocked out in the process, but we all made it back, safe and sound." Diana explains, smiling down at you with a hint of worry in her eyes. "When we were separated... I found the distress signal. It was coming from a Hunter whose ship crashed when it's engines failed above Earth."

"Are they alive?" You ask, softer this time, now that you know everything has seemed to turn out well. "For that matter, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Clark. Just a few scratches, nothing I can't handle." Diana tells you proudly, smirking before it disappears, the concern returning again. "As for the Hunter... the Speaker and a few others are trying to find any relatives, maybe Fireteam members if they can. No such luck yet, no one has even reported a missing Hunter with his description."

You sit up, not allowing Diana to force you down this time, then again, she doesn't try to. "I want to go see him." You announce, looking intent on meeting the rescued Hunter. "Has he woken up yet?"

Diana shakes her head. "Not yet. The doctors say he's lucky to be alive; he snapped his leg in the ship-crash and was stranded in that building I found him in for what the doctor thinks was three days at the very least. He's a bit underweight and hurt right now, but they think he'll make it." She explains, helping you to your feet, an arm wrapped around your waist. "Can you stand alright? Those Fallen almost killed you."

"I'm fine." You promise, letting go of Diana, the space she'd held you around growing cool from the intense air conditioning above your head. "Come on, we should go meet this Hunter."


By the time you both arrive there, the doctors that've been monitoring the Hunter are taking a coffee break, nodding at you both as they stand outside the room, allowing you both to enter. The room is one of those more classical hospital rooms, like the ones you see in old movies. The window is open, letting fresh air flow into the hospital room, but the Hunter is completely motionless on the bed, save for his steady, rising and falling chest. Now that you have a full view of him, you look the Hunter over. His eyes are closed peacefully, not allowing you to see their color, but his hair is jet black like you and Diana's. He's very young looking, almost too young, but you figure it's because he might be recently revived or something along those lines. You sit beside the bed in a small chair, staring at the young Hunter.

The Hunter's various gear is set up at the foot of his bed, arranged most likely by a fellow Hunter, as the torn-up looking cloak looks to have been lovingly folded up. His weapons are stacked over the cloak, beginning with a Scout Rifle, a Sniper Rifle, and a Machine Gun. All are in pretty bad condition. You rest one hand on the side of the bed, exhaling slowly as you watch the Hunter sleep. He looks peaceful, in a sad sort of way, but at least he's not dead. That's always a good sign. Diana leans on the wall, and you move to offer her the chair, but she shakes her head at you, signaling for you to stay seated. After a moment, one of the doctors comes back in, yawning as she sets her empty coffee mug on a counter before facing you both.

"So sorry to have kept you waiting." She's an Awoken, you note, and her hair is cotton candy pink. "Me and my colleagues have been very busy taking care of your friend here along with other patients. I'm afraid we have had no time to sleep, so, forgive me for my fatigue."

"Thank you, all of you. It's good to know we have people like you here willing to put in the time to help us." Diana explains, smiling warmly at the Awoken doctor. "Any news on locating family or relatives in the Tower?"

"None so far, but I have hope." The Doctor promises, smiling before she starts getting herself more coffee from the coffee pot on the counter, pouring the warm liquid into her mug. "He was in bad shape when he was brought here, but is recovering quickly. He should wake very soon. I'll leave you to stay with him for as long as you wish, please warn us however if he awakens." With that, she leaves you both alone with the Hunter.

You sigh, looking from the Hunter, back up to Diana, whose arms are folded as she locks her eyes on the Hunter. "... Think he has anyone up here?" You finally ask, feeling like someone has to sooner or later.

Diana shakes her head, frowning more deeply. "I doubt it. Honestly, I'm not that surprised. Someone would've reported him missing days ago if he knew anyone. I know Hunters are natural loners, but... you'd think he knew somebody up here."

"Yeah, I know." You agree, sitting somewhat awkwardly as the minutes tick by, trying to look anywhere but at the unidentified Hunter. "... Should we go? I mean, I want to meet him, but... I feel like it's wrong if we stay here and aren't family or friends."

"Let's go then." Diana replies, unfolding her arms and heading to the door. "I'll ask the doctors to phone us when he wakes up so we can meet him." She walks out, talking softly to a doctor as you stand awkwardly in the open doorway.

Diana leads the way out after speaking to the doctors, and you follow her, sending one last look over your shoulder towards the sleeping Hunter. "See you later, Hunter." You mutter, before leaving beside Diana and back into the City.


The Hunter wakes up after another five hours, and honestly, you're so thankful when he does. Waiting for a nameless guy to wake up is unsurprisingly boring, and busying yourself is very hard in the Tower. Entering the Crucible or going on a Bounty seems dangerous, as you're still recovering and you don't want to miss it if the Hunter wakes up. You keep stopping by the hospital, checking up with the doctors, which Diana says is 'Kinda cute'. You blow it off though, figuring all this is concern for the stranger. They get a name for you, on your first visit back to the hospital within the second hour of waiting. He's a man known merely as Bats, and as you expected, he's been very recently revived. His crashing in the Cosmodrome had, initially, been what the Speaker reports to be why things had been strange down there.

Crashing into the Cosmodrome, Bats had apparently taken down two of the radar towers, making it nearly impossible to scan the entire area. And since all the radars are on different systems, it was hard to pin-point which radar towers had been taken down, causing the scans to be incomplete. In addition, Bat's crash-landing had attracted numerous packs of Fallen soldiers to his location, leading to why most areas of the Cosmodrome had been silent. Really, it's a miracle he's still alive. When you get the call that Bats is finally awake, you dash like a lightning bolt to the hospital, meeting up with Diana there, who, smartly, had been hanging out with Oliver and Barry all afternoon.

When you reach the hospital room Bats is staying in, you're greeted with a loud crash before a wide-eyed hospital patient slams straight into you. Your reflexes are thankfully fast, and you grab Bats before he can run away. "Whoa there! Slow down, buddy!" You order, holding the man steady in your Titan-strength grip. "Hold on a second."

"Where's Alfred?" Are the first words out of Bat's mouth, and you step back, still holding him, but at a slight distance. "What happened to him?"

"Slow down. Whose Alfred?" Diana asks, taking charge as she too takes a hold of the Hunter, one hand closed around his arm in a vice-grip.

"My Ghost." Bats explains, looking very worried. He has a helmet on now, a Jackknife 3.2 by the looks of it; an odd item for a recently revived Hunter to have on. "He's my Ghost, and he's gone. Where is he?"

"We don't know." Diana admits, taking in the situation. A Ghost, to a Guardian, is sacred and dearly loved. Without them, their Guardian never would've returned to the living. It's no wonder Bats sounds so upset. "But we can look for him. What skin is he using?"

"A custom one, shouldn't be hard to locate..." Bats trails off, and you notice that he keeps holding his hands against his helmet, as if it hurts to think too hard. "It's a black and white one, looks like he's wearing a tuxedo and bow-tie... he made it himself."

"Alright. We'll find your Ghost, but you have to stay put." Diana orders, and before Bats can speak up, she cuts in- "Don't even think about it, kid. You're in no shape to go after your Ghost. You're lucky to even be alive. Let us find him."

Bats looks from Diana, to you, then back to Diana, looking both untrusting but slightly desperate, something you think is uncommon for him. "... Alright. Find him. I can't imagine what I'd do without him."

Diana nods, smiling down at Bats. "We will find him, Hunter. Now rest, you've been through a lot these last few days, haven't you?" She lets him go, as do you, and Bats, very reluctantly, walks back to his room, looking none too pleased with the situation.

"Can't say I blame him." You say once Bats closes his door, turning to look at Diana. "I wouldn't be happy either if I lost Lois. Not to mention what he must've gone through in the Cosmodrome... where should we look first?"

"We should ask the Speaker. The Traveler is connected to all the Ghosts after all. If anyone can find this Ghost, it'll be the Speaker." Diana decides, looking a bit excited to find the Ghost. "If we hurry, we can catch him before he goes home in a half hour."

And once again, you follow after Diana, a pattern you've found familiar and comforting over the last few years. This time, you don't look over your shoulder and say goodbye to Bats.


A/N: End of chapter one, but two will be edited tomorrow after school. Hope you like this, and please review!

~Supercasey.