We were just sitting down to lunch when the batwave started going off. I sighed and we all went down to the cave in our respective ways.
"Trickster's robbing the bank," I announced, looking at the bar computer.
"Hate to ruin the moment, but how are we supposed to stop him?" Danny asked hopelessly.
"We just have to do our best," I said. "You may not be the best at it Danny, but we have been duel trained to fight using hand on hand and bat-tech. Grab a stocked belt and go. Flash, I'd recommend the same thing, even if you don't really know how to do it. Ghost powers naturally kick in when your survival is threatened. Robin, do whatever you want, you can handle it."
"What about you?" he asked as he put on his traffic light of a suit.
"I guess I'll just try going vanilla," I said, jumping on the slide pole and going down to the vehicles. "Who's driving what?"
"I'm guessing Batsy's car is off limits?" Flash asked.
"Unless you can drive a jet," I said.
"Yeah, I can do a bike," he said, laughing awkwardly.
"Alright then, Flash, I'll ride with you. Rob, as much as I know you want to fly, I need you to drive Danny. Let's head out," I said.
"Why can't you run?" Robin asked as we got set.
"I'm not used to it. I might overshoot or slam into a building," I explained as they started the engines.
"It's true, I did it multiple times when I first got my powers. And even though the fractures healed in about three hours, it still sucked," Flash said as we sped off.
"Three hours? Light broke my arm and it took a week! Where were you and Trickster's toys then?" I complained.
"It's part of the job," he said with a laugh as the secret exit opened in front of us.
"You count this as a job? I was hoping it could count as an extracurricular on my college app," I joked.
"U of I might question you on that one," Danny said with a laugh.
"What about Jazz? You think Stanford would accept ghost hunting as a leadership skill?"
"Or Tucker's hacking Technus at MIT?"
"You'd think Poison Ivy could get into any agricultural school she wanted," Robin added.
"You don't even need school, you could go off and win the Olympics," I teased.
"And maybe Danny could become an escape artist," Flash joined in.
"Betcha I'd be a shoo-in for demolition," I said with a laugh.
"Superpowers and skills applied in real life. We could all get as rich as Bats," Flash said.
"Except you. You run faster than sound and you're still late to everything," I said, trying to contain my giggles.
"Alright, all jokes aside, we've only got about thirty seconds," he said, shaking his head.
"If that's the case, strategy time. Rob, you and I will head up front. Flash, Phantom, you two stay in the back and keep your distance. Used ranged attacks. Throw batarangs, rocks, anything you need to make your target. We may be at a handicap, but we have to try our hardest," I instructed.
"Who put you in charge?" Robin asked.
"Common sense, and I started talking first."
"Can't argue that logic," Flash agreed, speeding up the bike as the bank came into view. "How do you ever make it to crime scenes when you have to go so slow?"
"Simple, we're not up against Zoom," I said.
In a few seconds, Flash was slowing to a stop, with Robin right behind us. I jumped off as Flash put down the kickstand. "Is everyone ready?" Robin asked.
"Let me prep an arrow," I said, pressing the blunt button on my shoulder strap. After a small whirring noise, I grabbed out the arrow and my bow. "I'm ready. Rob, you make an entrance, I'll walk in the front door."
"Why?" Flash asked.
"Speedy boy, part of being a Bat is having a nact for dramatics," I said. "I'm reckless and stupid. I go in the front door."
With that and an obnoxious grin, I started heading for the door and Robin floated up onto the roof. After a quick radio signal that I was heading in, I kicked open the doors and did just that. "Knock knock!" I shouted, lifting my bow and aiming it straight at the back of Trickster's head, who was leaning into the vault.
"Well, if it isn't the fiery archer. Didn't I kill you?" he said, turning around.
"Mm, you know, I've heard that a lot before. I'm a bit difficult to destroy," I said, firing the arrow at his chest. It knocked him back, but one of his hired thugs caught him before he could fall.
"I assume that would be a problem with ghosts. Now let's see if I can't change that."
The thug who had helped him pulled out a Thompson machine gun and aimed it right at me. My eyes lit up before I went into a sprint to the left for cover. To my surprise, instead of running at normal speed, I went into full Barry sprint. I had to drop a leg under me and go into a slide to stop myself. Even then, I took an uncomfortable crash into a table.
"Now I see. I didn't destroy you, I made you steal Flash's power. This is great!" Trickster proclaimed as the gunman turned his aim back at me.
"Robin, now!" I ordered over the comms.
On my word, he dropped from the ceiling, landing on the gunner and knocking him to the floor. Trickster spun around in surprise and Flash and Danny burst through the door. I got up off the floor and rushed over to Trickster, making sure I didn't go into a run. While he was distracted, I strung my bow over my back and said, "Either give up now or get your ass kicked."
He turned to face my ultimatum with a laugh, and that same god forsaken smile that gave me the creeps. "Please, you don't know how to use Flash's powers any more than he would yours. How do you plan to stop me?"
"I think you underestimate me, cause I was planning on doing it with my fists," I said, pulling back a fist and hitting him across the jaw.
"Ahg!" he growled, flipping up to face me. "You insolent little-"
"Bitch, I think is the proper word," I said, ducking to the side as he sent a punch my way. "Wow, is that how you greet all your new friends?"
"No, because you're not one of my friends," he shouted as I jumped back to avoid another punch.
He took a step towards me and lifted his arm. He just seemed to hold it there. I tried inspecting his face to see what he was doing, but he just seemed like he had stopped moving.
I blinked. That's all I had to do, and I was taking a fist to the face. "What the hell?" I muttered.
I shook it off and analyzed my opponent. He shifted his foot like he was going to move to the right before hitting again. Seeing him lean that way, I threw a fist that should have hit him spot on, but he seemed to delay by ridiculous amounts, and I ended up missing, losing my balance in the process. It seemed like Trickster used this, because he got me with a hit that totally ruined any chance for me to rebalance and I hit the floor. "What the hell is going on?" I questioned, rolling to avoid a kick.
"It seems like someone's not used to being so wound up," he responded, winding up another kick that made some very painful contact.
After taking only a second to recover, I rolled onto my shoulders and then back, using the momentum to get to my feet.
He went for another punch, but he seemed slow again. I rushed out of the way and towards Flash before blinking. Trickster's punch went through, but I wasn't there to take it.
"Flash, everything keeps slowing down. I don't know how to deal with this," I said with frustration and fear.
"Just figure it out on your own. I don't know how to fix your problems," he snapped as he knocked out one of Jesse's crew.
"But Flash, I-"
"Shut up!" he shouted, flames burning up from his shoulders. "Do you think this is easy for the rest of us? You're not the only one having problems!"
"I know, but right now we have to stop Trickster," I reasoned.
"Or what? He runs around wrecking your precious city? Except that it's not your city. You don't even belong here. You're just a stupid ghost!" he shouted, fire rings spreading from his waist and splitting apart. Left in a transformed state in a black version of his suit, fire flicked from his body, even coming out of his blood red eyes.
Seeing what was happening, I turned my whole body to him and said, "Hey, you need to calm down."
"Calm down? Why should I calm down?" he continued.
"Because this is why I didn't want you to know how to use my powers. B, your anger is being amplified. I know this isn't you," I said, flicking my eyes to Trickster, who was escaping as we talked. I let out a sigh of frustration and locked eyes with Barry.
"Who says it's not me? What, the little red speedster's not allowed to be anything but hyperactive and cheery?"
"Flash," I said, shaking my head, "I know what it feels like. Your vision's going red, you feel the energy and blood pumping in your ears, you feel like the most unappreciated thing on the face of the planet. I know. It's called a ghostly obsession. I think I got it because of the abandonment issues with my parents, but it's not you. The energy just takes over and makes you think it's who you are."
"No, you're just trying to make me think that. You don't know anything," he shouted desperately, shaking his head in an attempt to find his thoughts.
"Alright," I said. I took my bow off my back and put it on the ground. Then I pulled out an arrow with a sharp tip and used it to cut off my sleeve. I held my exposed arm out to him and said, "Grab it. Hold it tight and strong, but look me in the eyes and you'll see who you are."
He looked confused and hesitant, so I grabbed his hand and clapped it down on my bare skin. I had to use all my willpower to not scream and to keep eye contact as his white-hot hand sizzled my skin. As my body started to involuntarily shake, his eyes widened and his hand started cooling down.
"Oh man, what have I done?" he questioned as he pulled his hand back and gently started analyzing the fresh wound.
"It's alright," I said, wiping some tears from my eyes. "I've felt worse. Do you feel better now?"
"No, I feel terrible," he said sadly.
"That's part of the job," I said, pulling him down for a hug and looking over his shoulder. Danny and Robin were finishing off the last remaining jerk. When they were done, they both rushed over to see what had happened. "Now," I said, breaking the hug and stepping back, "let's go home."
"Are you alright Shadow?" Robin questioned, looking at my arm.
"What's wrong with you? You hurt my sister!" Danny shouted, and then seemed to register what he'd just said. "Er, Shadow."
"It's alright boys, Flash was just experiencing his first mood swing. I'm sure he'll make a wonderful mother," I joked. Everyone still seemed angry for a moment, and then Robin cracked up, followed by Flash, then me, and finally Danny. "All terrible jokes aside, we need to go back to the cave so I can bandage this. Danny, can you hand me my bow?"
"Sure," he said, picking it up and handing it to me.
"So, is that really what I look like when I'm mad?" I asked as we headed out to the bikes.
"Well… yeah," Danny said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Man, that's slightly terrifying, especially being mostly human," I said as Flash took his place as driver.
"Well, normally you're only mad at me or Vlad, so it's not too bad," he said.
"Still, I didn't like it. I'm gonna become a monk or something. "
"Good luck with that one. Can you imagine yourself with your head shaved wearing robes?" Flash joked.
"Hey, tattoo an arrow on my forehead and I'd be good to go," I said with a laugh. They all gave me odd and confused looks before I realized what I had said. "Right, you guys don't get the cartoon references of my dimension. Sorry."
"Well, let's go," Robin said, revving his engine.
Then we were off, heading home to try to solve our problems and get ready for the next fight.