Take Me to Church

Al's pov

"I'm going out Mr. Fries!"

"Be careful Al, don't cause too much trouble."

"I won't!" I lied.

Going up to the hatch I flew to my safe house checkpoint in Gotham's United Catholic Church. It was a Saturday and there was no scheduled mast, there were none of the priests assistants preparing for it either at this time. The Cardinal was likely inside the parsonage in the back of the building. I let myself in through a stained glass window that swiveled enough for me to get in. However, passing the prayer candles the feathers on my back rose on edge with an audible hiss like a knife.

Two candles were lit.

Who's here?

"Hello?"

No reply.

I slowly stepped forward, my weight eventually causing the wooden floor to creak under me here and there. Peering around, I didn't see anything so I assumed it was just inherent superhero paranoia. Up on the altar I went to a groove in the wall and pushed a hidden block that acted as a button. Activating a hidden door that pushed back and slid up, I grabbed my Judge revolver and bottles of holy water to gear up for the day. Then an old, familiar voice of a young woman purred behind me.

"I told you I'd find you."

I pivoted on my foot quickly and was shocked to have Ms. Laurie Juspecyzk's lips colliding with my own. Her arms rapped around me in an embrace and my tense body began to relax as she deepened the kiss. Only after enjoying her tongue in my mouth again did a gnawing pit of guilt begin to eat me. I had a meeting... and another girl.

Breaking the kiss, I gripped her shoulders, asking urgently, "Laurie? What are you doing here?!"

"I came to see you. You were the one I ran away from my parents with after all."

"Laurie, I-I need you to wait outside."

"Why are you stuttering?" She smiled deviously, "Afraid the priest would call down lightning if he found us?"

I honestly forgot what dimension I was in for a second.

"Laurie-"

A new male voice cooed monotonously, "Fear not them which kill the body," she and I glanced at the stranger in a suit walking down the aisle, "but are not able to kill the soul: but rather-" he stepped up onto the altar and bore his eyes into mine, "fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell."

"Who the-"

"I am Belial. Son of Trigon. Your failures disappoint Al."

"Laurie, you need to go."

There was a fwap of wind slapping the doors around the church shut.

"You shouldn't have brought your girlfriend, Angel-Boy...this is between you and me...or at least it was..." He smiled tensely and picked up a crucifix and tested the weight in his hand, walking a circle around us, "where is the Red Baron and the Heart?"

"The-the Titans conscripted him and the Heart's location is still unknown."

"Ohhh," he groaned dramatically, touching his head briefly as if he had a headache, "you know what that would normally mean, don't you?"

I gulped and nodded. He continued to circle us like a tiger, like a shark.

His voice contorted demonically, "That would mean you DIE."

The final note shook the room, released a murmur of whispers, and put out the candles lit in the front of the church. Finally he tossed the crucifix back onto the priest's table and put on his strained smile. His voice was... normal when he spoke, "But I'm feeling magnanimous today, you can merely forget about the protection we have given you. The forces that be will be left to their own devices and if you and them come into conflict?" He spat, "You were a bad, bad investment."

With a snap of his fingers he disappeared and Laurie and I were alone.

"Al, what the heck was that?!"

A/N: I know it seems that I'm all over the place and it's because I am. The climax (without spoilers) is the culmination of like three or more arcs. While this may seem to be completely off from the current arc it plays into another part of the story. I hope you enjoy complex stories and mystery! What did Belial mean by the Heart? Do you think he was talking about Raven? 🧐🧐🧐😈 (He wasn't, did you think it was that easy?)

Fun Fact: Laurie (aka Silk Spectre II) in the comics did run off with a boy at 16. By 18 her and the like... 40 year old Dr. Manhattan were a thing. Sure Manhattan is immortal... but he was married to I think. Yeesh XD