Chapter 13
-Dick's POV-
I parked on the corner of the building. It was dark, crummy, and dirty. The grey tall building was crumpling down from age and had dusty windows that were shattered. The street was dark and all the other buildings were in the same condition. Only an abandoned cat's meowing and a dog's whimpers could be heard. Sometimes you could hear rats scurrying around the black pavement ground. I took a deep breath and jumped in a window. "Now, if I was a criminal which room would I be in?" I thought. Then I heard a gunshot echo in the silent grey building. My heart froze. My breathing grew heavy and I felt an all too familiar pain strike at my heart.
I fiercely shook my head and thought, "Snap out of it, Grayson!"
'It takes a lot to kill a bat." Barbara's words echoed in my head.
"Right," I silently whispered. I walked quietly but swiftly towards the direction of the gunshot sound.
I found the place where I heard the gunshot. I found the door knocked down so I silently stepped over it and his in the shadows.
"Like my new gun, Batsy? It can shoot through any Kevlar," Transparent asked while grinning madly. He made a few fake gun shot sounds at Batgirl's broken dismantled body. I stopped myself gasping. Batgirl was drowning in a sea of her own blood.
"Barbara…" I thought. My blue eyes were almost pleading for to get up.
I snapped my attention back to Batman as he growled fiercely at Transparent. He took a step towards Transparent but Transparent grabbed Batgirl by the hair and put the gun by her head.
"I don't think so, Bats. If this baby could rip through Kevlar like yours, what do you think it would like if it went through her head?" Batman growled and scowled but stood in place.
"Actually that might be fun! Just imagine all the blood, the skeleton, and the brains! Imagine it all over you," Transparent babbled happily.
"No, I won't let that happen," I thought. I grabbed aBatarang and silently prayed all that playing with a boomerang with John helped in my aim. With a steady breath I squinted my eyes for a better aim and threw the object with grace. The mad man squealed out of panic as the Batarang hit his hand making him drop the gun.
"W-who did that," Transparent asked.
"I did," I said with an overwhelming confidence as I stepped out of the shadows.
-Bruce's POV-
It was an overwhelming battle. That damn man had the element of surprise on him. I scolded myself for not coming prepared. But then it happened. It dropped my heart. It made everything in me turn into rage. He shot Batgirl on the back right in the spine. She didn't even scream. She just slumped into unconsciousness. A pool of bittersweet red surrounding her.
"Like my new gun, Batsy? It can shoot through any Kevlar," Transparent asked while grinning madly. He made a few fake gun shot sounds at Batgirl's broken dismantled body. I growled as I stepped forward to the damn bastard. He saw my movements and grabbed Barbara's red hair now dripping with her blood and pressed his gun on her head.
"I don't think so, Bats. If this baby could rip through Kevlar like yours, what do you think it would like if it went through her head," Transparent asked me. I growled a response and scowled in deep hatred but I stood my ground. Then, Transparent's eyes gleamed out of mad excitement.
"Actually that might be fun! Just imagine all the blood, the skeleton, and the brains! Imagine it all over you," Transparent babbled happily. His grip tightened around the gun but then a Batarang came hurtling at Transparent. He yelped and dropped the gun. In my gut I had a feeling that whoever threw that Batarang I wasn't going to like it.
"W-who did that," Transparent asked.
I willed down a gulp and ignored the tight feeling in my chest when Dick came out of the shadow.
"I did," Dick said with confidence.
"No…" I thought.
-Dick's POV-
I only knew anger when I saw Transparent. He caused so many to die and go through so much pain.
"Hm, One of yours Batsy," Transparent asked with a playful tone. Soon, Batman was by my side in a defensive position.
"But I have to say poor choice of costume," Transparent added. Both Batman and I growled at Transparent. Then, he grinned and grabbed the gun that he had dropped before. Batman pushed me and he ran off in the opposite direction. I knew better than to sit there like a fool. I tumbled and gracefully got to my feet and without a thought I ran for cover.
"Just like playing paint ball war with Dave. Don't get hit with a paint ball or else you get disqualified and save your injured team mate," I thought as I threw a glance at Barbara. I searched for Batman and I realized he was beside me. It took me a lot to not jump from where I was.
"Would you mind not doing that," I whispered annoyed as I eyed my enemy.
"Why are you here," Batman whispered back harshly.
"Why do you think?" I heard Batman growl softly.
"This isn't a game," Batman again whispered. I eyed his face with a glare. "Don't you think I know that?"
We were silent for a moment as we heard Transparent sing, "Come out where ever you are. You can't hide forever!" I heard him laugh maniacally as he shot his gun in random places.
"What is that," Batman asked as he pointed to my water guns.
"Water guns filled with blue paint," I simply answered.
"Give me one," Batman commanded. I nodded and gave him one of the two water guns I possessed. I took out the other one and readied it for a shooting. I glared at my victim deciding what to do. Then, he came up to both our shooting levels and we squirted him with the blue liquid. Transparent screeched in surprise as the blue substance covered every inch of the body and the gun.
Transparent stupidly grinned and said, "As if blue paint is going to stop me." He turned invisible-or so he thought. What we saw was a blue body carrying a bluish gun. Batman and I threw Batarangs at the crazy felon making him drop the gun. During the turns of event he accidentally turned visible and was clutching his now bloody hand. He had fear in his eyes and tried to grab the gun again but this time Batman was prepared. He ran up to Transparent and kicked the gun and beat up the man to a pulp. Unknowingly Batman had kicked over the gun towards me. I shakily grabbed the gun and took a glance at Barbara's body.
"He did so much. He brought so many in pains. He deserves it," the dark part in my head whispered. Willand Veronica's bodies flashed through my 're all so bloody and pitiful bodies. I aimed the gun as Batman cuffed the barely conscious berserk man.
Transparent saw me and grinned, "Go ahead. Do it, kid. Just do it." Batman followed Transparent's gaze and the slits of his cowls widened.
"No, don't-," Batman started but was soon cut off by Transparent. "Don't listen to him, kid. You'll love the feeling that spreads through your bones. Do it, kid."
Thoughts swelled in my head. Everything was just so confusing. The articles I read about Transparent filled my head all at once. The titles all that read that Transparent escaped and the next day the cop that arrested him were found dead along with his family. His methods were all about revenge. If I killed him right now I'll be just like him. H was just like a man who has a hungry thirst for revenge like a vampire with a dire thirst for blood. And I was about to kill him for revenge. Just like him. I dropped the gun and it clanked on the hard cold floor. The sound echoed in the massive cold room. I looked away from Batman and Transparent with pain in my eyes.
"Weak," Transparent hissed but then Batman kicked him in the head knocking him out. I shook my head pulling myself into the hellish reality and ran over to Barbara. I checked her pulse. I sighed out of relied when I found a weak pulse.
"How is she," Batman asked suddenly behind me.
"Alive but barely," I answered weakly. Batman nods and gently picks up Barbara and wraps his cape around her back to stop the bleeding. I watched him lay her body on the grey blood rusted ground and tried to wake her up into consciousness. I glance over to Transparent's unconscious body and I felt the anger spread through me again. But this time I didn't want to kill him. No, I wanted to cuff him with my own hands. I wanted to throw him in an Arkham Asylum cell with my own hands. I wanted to scream, yell at him for all the pain he caused me. I want to bring him to justice with my own hands.
"B-Bruce?" Barbara's weak pitiful voice spread through the stiff room. I stumbled over to Barbara. Her mask seemed to gaze at my flimsy mask.
"D-Dick?" I tore off the mask and let it glide down on to the ground. I smiled with pain and whispered for only her ears only, "Yeah, it's me." She coughed weakly as Bruce walked away giving us some privacy. I think he was making a call to the police.
"What t-the hell a-are you doing h-here? Af-after I toldth-that it was too d-dangerous." I weakly chuckled and combed Barbara's red hair with my fingers.
"Sorry, I had to do it," I said gently. I saw the slits on her mask begin to droop.
"No, Barbara you can't sleep. Stay awake, please," I begged. I stole another glance at the cause for all this atrocious destruction. Screams strangled inside my the throught but I gulped it down. I eyed Barbara knowing that I couldn't scream now. She needed support. A strength. She needs me.
"It hurts so much. Everything hurts," Barbara complained softly. I took Barbara in my arms rested my chin on her shoulder and continued to caress her hair.
"Hush, Barbara, hush. I know it hurts. It hurts like hell." Even though we talked about two different kinds of pain. I still said it and I didn't regret it when the words escaped my lips.
-Bruce's POV-
I left calmly leaving Dick to comfort Barbara. I dialed Gordon's number and impatiently waited for him to pick up.
"Hello," James's voice seemed to calm me some.
"Gordon. We have apprehended Transparent," I answered emotionlessly. There was a pause. A silent communication between us.
James broke the silence first, "Got it, where are you? Do you need an ambulance?" I flashed a look at Dick holding Barbara's body.
"30 Brandi Street. No, I have my own personal doctor." I mentally noted to call Leslie later. I heard hustling in the phone as James ran to his car and ordering a few other cops to follow him.
"So, one of you is hurt," James asked.
"Yes, Batgirl is." With that I hung up the phone and dialed Leslie's number.
"Bruce," Leslie greeted.
"Leslie, prepare Barbara's blood. She lost- a is needed. Prepare, now. Meet me in theBatcave," There was a pause as Leslie waited for me to continue. I gave a defeated sigh, "I'm bringing James Gordon." I heard the line disconnect so I put the Batphone in one of my pockets from my belt. I walked quietly over to Dick and Barbara. Barbara was now laying her head on Dick's lap.
"Batgirl," I greeted her.
"Batman," she weakly greeted back. She coughed harshly but luckily no blood came out.
"Hey, help is going to come soon, you just need to stay awake until then, all right," Dick asked. Barbara nodded her head faintly. I grabbed Barbara bridal style and began to walk out of the door. I saw Dick began to follow me. I turned gently but swiftly and gazed at Dick.
"Stay here and when you see Mr. Gordon show him the Batcave. He nodded at the commanded and faltered back. I saw the red mask abandoned on the ground and nodded my beards towards it.
"Wear that mask again," I commanded. Dick again nodded and wrapped the red fabric around his head. I stalked out of the door and sped as fast as I could towards the Batcave.
-Dick's POV-
The only company I had was the man who killed my second family and a cruel silent reality. I stared at the body and hoped that justice will do him good.
"Weak." His word kept replaying in my head. I hugged myself tight and closed my eyes.
"I'm not weak," I whispered to myself, "I'm not." I heard police sirens in the distance so I jumped off the box that I was resting on.
"Batman? Batgirl?" I heard Commissioner's voice searching for the masked heroes.
"In here," I called. Commissioner stepped in and a fewpolice men walked in behind him. The cops grabbed the felon and dragged him towards the door. Gordon on the other hand walked towards me.
"Your not Batman or Batgirl," Commissioner stated simply.
"Yeah, but I'm here to tell you that Batman told me to tell you to bring you to the Batcave." I saw commissioner's eyebrows raise at that comment.
"Alright," he answered answered back simply. We walked towards what looked like the commissioner's car.
"Where to," James asked.
"Do you know where Wayne Manor is," I asked. He nodded his head as a reply. "Go there." The drive was almost in complete silence. Almost.
"Why does Batman want me so suddenly in theBatcave," James asked. I bit on the bottom of my lip deciding of I should answer. I sighed and answered him, "That's a question that Br- Batman will tell you later. But I could answer this, I think today you will find out the identity of Batman and Batgirl." James silentlynodded storing the information.
"Who are you," James asked softly. I placed my hand on the soft red fabric.
"I'm-," I shook my head deciding to not tell him now, "You will find out in the Batcave. Oh, Batman didn't want me in this business but I didn't listen. So, don't go and blame him about a thirteen year old fighting crime." The old man chuckled lightly.
"You just sound like Batgirl when she first started," Gordon said. "How bad was she hurt." I grimaced at the memory and simply replied, "A lot." Those two words held in so much impact. The rest of the drive to the Manor was in complete silence. We finally reached the Manor and we stepped out. Alfred hearing of our arrival opened the door for us.
"Master Gordon, I heard about your arrival from Master Batman and you, young sir we will be talking about your unapproved absence later," Alfred said as we walked in. I just nodded in understanding. James looked shocked for a second that the loyal British butler knew the Batman.
"So where exactly is the Batcave," Gordon asked Alfred.
"Follow me, sir." We stalked to the old grandfather clock.
"So, how's Batgirl," I asked Alfred with worry.
Alfred sadly smiled and answered, "She is currently in surgery with Dr. Thompson." I slowly nodded my head at Alfred's answer.
"How bad were her injuries," James asked with concern. Alfred shook his head and replied with a grief tone of voice, "I'm afraid her Batgirl adventures are over." Alfred imputed the code and the clock creaked open. James slightly gaped at the secret entrance. Soon, he regained his composure and walked in the elevator. The elevator chimed as we went down the cave. James slightly whistled at the magnificent site. But I paid no mind to the odd and interesting decor; I was looking for two people. I couldn't find them anywhere.
"Where are they," I whispered to Alfred.
"I suppose they are in the medical bay. I shall get Master Batman," Alfred replied loudly for both of us to hear. Alfred went into a room and when I saw the door slightly open I grimaced. What I witnessed was Barbara wearing a breathing mask and her face deathly pale. Soon, both Batman and Alfred walked out of the medical bay.
"James," Bruce simply replied with his cowl still on his grim face.
"B-Bruce is that you," James asked nervously. Bruce nodded and pulled down the grey mask that had protected his identity for so many years.
"Fuck," James replied. He glared down at me and I untied the clumsy mask.
"Dick!" James seemed about to scold Bruce for letting me near the man that had killed Will and Veronica. Irose my hand to silence the aging man.
I replied with confidence, "As I said before, Batman, no Bruce warned and tried to stop me from getting involved. But, I didn't listen. I wanted revenge with my own hands and I got it. Transparent was brought to justice." James just sullenly nodded then his eyes flashed with understanding then anger.
"Who. Is. Batgirl," James furiously asked. It all fit. How his daughter was seemingly close with Bruce even though they had barely met with each other. How his precious daughter came with injuries. It all fit. Bruce gave no answer to his friend but instead looked away with pain.
"Who. The. Hell. Is. Batgirl," James asked once more. Bruce was silent. James broke and ran up to Bruce held him by his collar of the bat suit. James glared into the navy blue eyes.
"Who is she, Bruce? Who the hell is she?"
Bruce answered softly and gently, "Batgirl is your daughter. Batgirl is Barbara." I winced when James gave a battle cry scream and he punched Bruce right across the face. I cringed looking away at Bruce's defeated face.
-Bruce's POV-
I hurriedly stepped out of the Batmobile with Barbara in my arms. Alfred and Leslie were already there and seeing Barbara's condition, they immediately went into the med bay. I gently laid Barbara on the hospital stark white bed. Leslie started to hook everything up. Barbara's IV, the anesthesia, the blood transfusion, and the heart monitor. I noticed it was slow and erratic.
"Bruce, you need to leave," Leslie gently ordered. I robotically shook my head. She gave a sigh and began the surgery. I watched her take out the bullet that was coated in a wine red. The tiny bullet clanked in the tin bowl. I watched her eyebrows arch in worry and her tongue stick out in concentration. I ignored Leslie shoot out multiple of curse words. I silently watched Leslie cut open Barbara's back and I saw the whites of her bone. Her spine was shattered. Broken into prices. Leslie eyed my sadly and I held her gaze. It was official, her Batgirl days were over.
"I'm so sorry," I mentally said to Barbara. I turned to Alfred and weakly ordered, "Alfred, Dick and James will be here shortly. Bring James to the Batcave." Alfred silently nodded his head with a final worried glance at Barbara he stalked off.
-Alfred's POV-(I lied. There's one more ^^)
I was a bit surprised when Leslie came rang the doorbell. I noticed the bag she was carrying full of bags filled with gruesome blood. If she was here this fast; that means one of them was hurt badly. My heart sank with worry and dread.
"Are they here yet," Leslie squeaked nervously trying to hide her fand and concern. I nodded my head and let her in. We went into the Batcave and silently set up the things we needed to prepare. We didn't exchange a word. The strangling silence was enough for us. We heard the Batmobile screech in and we paced out with great hurry. I watched Bruce get of the car with Barbara in his grasp. Her face was pale and silently bobbing as Bruce walked into the med bay. Leslie set up the final works and put on the elastic gloves. We were all silent. Not one of us daring to speak a word. I watched with a small disgust as Leslie tore open Barbara. Her spine was shattered;making her crippled. Bruce turned to me telling me that Dick and James will be coming here to see theBatcave. I nodded my head and threw a final glance at Barbara's destructed body and walked away.
-Bruce's POV-
I cupped my face where James had punched me. I felt a weight in my stomach drop. I lost a great friend.
"James…" I weakly said.
"You let my daughter into this business," James scream and his eyes were gleaming in anger. "You mad bitch! You didn't even have a thought to tell me?"
"It wasn't my secret to tell," I gravely replied.
"How bad is she," James dangerously whispered. I gave a defeated sigh.
"I'm so sorry, James. She's crippled," I answered. James gave another roar of anger and kneed me in the stomach. He again grabbed me by the hem of the shirt.
"Tell me that again," James growled. He brought his face closer until our noses almost touched.
"I said, tell me that again," James roared. I held into his gaze. "I-I'm sorry, James. H-he shot her in the back. I-I was unprepared. I'm sorry," I weakly mumbled. James growled and shoved me on to one of the caves walls.
"You-," James started but was interrupted by Dick.
"Stop! Just stop," Dick pleaded and had fear in his eyes. James let go remembering the child was still there. Dick shut his eyes for a moment and opened them again. Now, the fear was replaced with sheer determination.
-Dick's POV-
"Stop! Just stop," I pleaded. James let go of Bruce's suit and calmed down. I closed my eyes lightly and opened them again.
"We're reacting all of this wrong," I gently said. Commissioner's eyes flashed with anger again.
"Reacting wrong? Wrong! I found out that this psycho of a man put my daughter in danger! Now, my daughter is crippled," James, exclaimed. I gave a long breath through my nose.
"I know, Mr. Gordon but what Barbara needs is not an angry father AND a depressed Bruce. What she needs is normal. She needs to know that everything will be alright," I replied. Yes, she needs normal. I thought over do many times what I would do if my uncle ever woke up. How to tell him he's crippleAmanda that moat of the Flying Graysons are dead. Then, I found the answer. He didn't need stressing matters pressed on to him but what he needed was normality. Just like Barbara needs. I watched both Bruce and James bite down on their feelings.
"I agree with the kid," a woman said as she stepped out of the medical bay. She put hands on her hips and slightly pouted in anger.
"Damn, I could even hear you on the medical room. Which didn't really help when I'm trying to do surgery," the woman scolded. James ran up to the doctor.
"Doctor! How is she," James asked with great concern. The doctor gave a sad sigh and looked at the man with pity.
"My name is Leslie Thompson. And I did the best I could but she's going to be crippled forever," Leslie answered grimly. James legs gave away and he sunk to the floor. Leslie patted the man's shoulder as Alfred kneeled beside him. Leslie left the men and walked to Bruce. She seemed to check him out despite his protests.
I walked to her and asked, "Um, can we visit her?" Leslie smiled and nodded. Bruce and I walked past James's grieving body and headed to the medical bay. We both silently sat down on the cold hard plastic chairs. I eyed her broken body with silent grief.
Bruce's face flashed with a similar guilt that I bore previously.
"So, what are you going to do," I asked Bruce as I still looked at Barbara.
"Hm," Bruce asked confused. I rested my head on my knees and wrapped my legs.
"It's not like you can tell the whole Gotham City that Babs is Batgirl and people want to know how the commissioner's daughter got crippled," I explained. I asked once more, "So what are you going to do?" I looked at Bruce this time. He ran his rough hands through his wavy black hair.
"I don't know. I could create a fake police file about her being attacked by a random mugger or a criminal to get back at Gordon by using her. Leslie could say that she was the doctor that did the surgery on her. Legally, I mean. But…" Bruce trailed off.
"But, Mr. Gordon isn't going to like that," I finished. Bruce nodded his head and sighed. He stood up and the chair silently tipped back and forth at the sudden lose of weight.
"I'm going to change," Bruce said as he walked out of the medical bay.
"Bruce," I called out.
"Yeah," Bruce asked. I looked at him straight in the eye and said, "It's not your fault." Bruce sadly smiled and walked away. I turned back to Barbara and brushed the hair that was hiding her face.
"You don't blame him, right, Babs," I asked. I cheerlessly smiled when I got no answer that I didn't expect to hear.
"Right," I answered for her instead.
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