The shout cut through the ruined street, causing both Tandy and Tyrone to freeze for a moment. Neither of them spoke, but they looked at each-other and nodded, understanding what each-other meant and preparing to have a united front.
They turned around, looking across the street at the people who appeared, silhouettes dropped down from rooftops and streetlights with practiced ease.
It was the Young Justice team.
Nightwing landed first, flipping forward and straightening smoothly, his escrima sticks already in hand but pointed downward deliberately to not seem aggressive.
Zatanna touched down beside him in a soft burst of violet sparks, cloak fluttering as her eyes locked onto Tyrone with open curiosity and a hint of wariness.
Superboy hit the ground harder than necessary, concrete cracking faintly beneath his boots as he straightened, jaw tight, eyes immediately narrowing on Cloak.
Artemis took position on elevated debris, bow already in hand, while Miss Martian hovered slightly above the ground, expression calm but intensely focused.
They had come as a unit.
Tyrone straightened fully. He hadn't wanted to confront this team so early, but the long battle with Conduit gave them the perfect opportunity to approach him. Still, he remained confident alongside Tandy, as he was sure Batman would've instructed them not to engage in a fight.
Tyrone took a slight step ahead of Tandy.
"Careful," he said evenly, voice low and cold, carrying across the street without effort, "You're standing very close to someone I was about to put somewhere safe."
Nightwing raised a hand slightly, "Easy. We're not here to fight."
Tyrone's head tilted just a fraction, "Funny way of showing it." He said as he looked at Superboy, who seemed to be boring a hole through him with how determined his gaze was.
Zatanna stepped forward, palms open, "We saw the explosions and immediately followed the energy spike. You handled Conduit before things got worse, thank you for that."
Tandy glanced down at the unconscious villain, then back up at them, "You're welcome I guess, we're responsible for this City, so it's only natural we came to stop him. Still doesn't explain why you're here, there hasn't been any reports on you guys being active in National City ever,"
Nightwing exchanged a glance with Zatanna before meeting Tyrone's gaze directly, looking at the mysterious Cloaked figure who emitted such a dark aura, "We just want to talk,"
Tyrone let out a soft, humorless breath, "I personally don't have any desire to talk to the Justice League's B-Team,"
The atmosphere shifted when Tyrone said that, and Superboy immediately took a step forward, "Say that again?" He snapped, his eyes flaring red, "You don't get to dismiss us like that,"
Nightwing shot him a sharp look, "Superboy,"
But Tyrone didn't flinch, looking directly at Superboy, his eyes unreadable beneath the Cloak with a calm tone of voice,"All you are is an extension of the League. Training wheels with League branding,"
The silence that followed was sharp enough to cut. Superboy took another step forward, fists clenching, "You think you're better than us? We're both the same, we have the same enemy, we can work together,"
"We might have the same enemy, but there are a-lot of things you don't understand. I value my independence. Besides, it's not like anyone from the League spends their time in National City do they?"
A strange silence fell as the Young Justice members contemplated what he said before Zatanna took a step forward and said, "You're assuming we're here to control you."
"You're assuming we don't know why you're here," Tyrone shot back.
Miss Martian's brow furrowed, "We're trying to understand you."
Tyrone's shadows pulsed once, reacting instinctively to her telepathic presence. He could feel her trying to gently slip her way into his mind, but the DarkForce protected him, and he didn't bother to talk about it.
While he didn't watch much of Young Justice, one of the main things he remembered was Miss Martian was very much abusive with her telepathic powers, and Tyrone knew he had to be on guard when anywhere near her.
"Go back to your normal life and leave us alone. None of you cared to come help National City when crime was rampant, now that we appear and are doing good, you're showing up," Tyrone said, not backing down.
While he was huge fan of the Justice League in his past life, at least for now, he wasn't going to back down on not joining them. He wanted this time to be a Hero with Tandy away from them, without Batman especially breathing over his neck.
"And if the League decides you're a problem?" Nightwing finally asked.
Tyrone met his gaze without hesitation, "We won't back down,"
Superboy scoffed, "You really think you can stand against the League?"
Tyrone didn't answer him. Instead, he gestured subtly to the cracked street, the evacuated buildings, the unconscious villain who had nearly leveled a district, "What happens to all of these people when you make us a problem? Will you leave National City to get ravaged by crime like you all did before we arrived here?"
Zatanna hesitated as he said that, but Tyrone cut her off, "We're not your enemies. We just don't want to become your assets."
Miss Martian's voice was soft. "You don't trust us."
Tyrone's answer was immediate.
"No."
A beat of silence passed before Nightwing exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck, "Then let us say this much: if you keep doing what you're doing, this won't be the last time we cross paths."
Tyrone nodded once, "I know."
He turned slightly, shadows already beginning to fold inward around Conduit's unconscious form as darkness surged, the air folding around Tyrone and Tandy as the duo vanished with Conduit, leaving the Young Justice team standing there.
Superboy clenched his fists, "I don't like him."
Nightwing watched the shadows where they'd been and sighed, "Let's head back, Batman definitely wants a full report about this,"
***
Meanwhile, Tyrone and Tandy reappeared within the basement of the mansion that was their Base of Operations.
The darkness unfolded with a sound like a held breath finally released.
Tyrone and Tandy reappeared deep beneath the mansion, within the sealed lower level they'd claimed as their center of operations.
Conduit hit the floor first. His body skidded across the concrete, armor scraping as residual energy crackled weakly across his gauntlets before sputtering out entirely. The helmet dimmed, the manic glow gone, leaving only a dangerous man rendered suddenly small and silent.
Tyrone didn't hesitate.
His Cloak billowed outward, shadows thickening as the Darkforce answered his intent.
Conduit's unconscious body lifted from the ground, dragged into the black interior of the Cloak as if swallowed by a living void. The fabric rippled once, violently, then settled.
He was now imprisoned within the DarkForce dimension until further notice.
Tyrone exhaled slowly as the shadows receded, though they didn't fully release him. His shoulders were tight as he took some deep breaths.
Thankfully,Tandy noticed immediately, stepping closer and pulling Tyrone into her arms, her fingers delicately pressing where the darkness clung to him heavily and shining her LightForce energy there to soothe his hunger.
The effect was immediate and Tyrone calmed down, the tension in his stance easing as his hunger was stopped temporarily, his forehead resting briefly against hers.
"Thank you," he murmured, voice low as he still took some deep breaths.
Tandy smiled softly, eyes glowing faintly behind her lenses, "Always."