Chapter 9~ Suspicion

Batgirl's POV

I'm launched into open air, arms too caught up to reach my grapple as I free fall to my death.

A scream is torn from my lips as I plummeted, desperately trying to untangle my arms and reach my grappling hook from my utility belt. It seemed to be a losing belt and I could practically imagine hitting the ground when suddenly another body slammed into me, arms wrapping around me. The force careened us sideways, causing us to hit the nearest roof instead of the far off pavement below. It was still a painful collision, our limbs a tangled mass and we tumbled over each other until the inertia wore off.

My savior retreated from me and for a moment we both just caught our breath, covered in fresh bruises and cuts but still alive. I finally managed to reach the clasp of the cape at my neck, unhooking it and letting the tattered fabric fall to the side as I sat up and finally got a look at who had saved me.

"You?!" The man who had originally attacked me sat, blood leaking from a reopened cut on his head and cutting a jagged path down. His face seemed twisted in pain for a different reason though, the mask pulled tightly around the eyes. "Why would you save me?" I fell into a defensive stance, ignoring the pain in my own head, watching as he carefully stood, cradling what appeared to be a broken wrist. His joking nature had evaporated, setting into a serious tone as the Batsignal's light showed over the skyline.

"An interesting question." He replied, voice low, like it was shackled in the same confusion I felt. He set his good hand to his head and shook in, long dark bangs hanging over the mask. His jaw shifted into a hard line as he drew his gun, pointing it at me a second time. "One you won't be around to hear an answer too."

I take a deep breath, steeling myself. At such close quarters I knew there was near no chance he'd miss, and in my state an even smaller one that'd I'd manage to dodge without flinging myself back off the edge.

"I still don't know who you are." His grip tightened and the safety clicked, the sound echoing on the roof between us.

"I can live with that." I can't help but flinch as it fired, sound deafening and I fell back in pain as it hit, screaming ringing in my ears. It took me a second to realize that I was still alive, and another to realize the screams were not my own. The pain in my arm was still strong, the bullet hitting my left shoulder, but it was far from lethal. Looking over the man had fallen to his knees, gun discarded as he grabbed at his head with both hands, mindless of the blood that trickled between his fingers.

My heart clenched at the sound of his agonized shouts, almost more painful than my own gunshot. I was torn on what to do, instincts demanding I help him. I managed to get to my feet but as I moved toward him he whirled, diving seamlessly off the side of the roof before I could either help or arrest him.

Before I can pursue a gust of wind hit me from the side, Kid Flash slowing from a blur and stopping at my side.

"BG! We got your distress call, are you alright?" He was talking too quickly for my aching brain, and I clutched at my hurt arm as I swayed. The speedster's arms steadied me, helping me take a seat. "Batgirl! Are you okay?! What happened?"

I let him take some of my weight, using my right hand to fish out some bandages and hand them over.

"I'm okay, just wrap up my shoulder until we can treat it properly." His eyes widened behind the mask, only now seeming to realize the blood trickling from the wound. He winced in sympathy and did as I asked as I told him what happened, how the mysterious man had appeared and attacked me, and how he claimed to have hacked through Wayne's systems without raising a flag. By the time we finished the Bio-Ship arrived and Wally helped me back to my feet as it landed.

The back hatch opened and Aqualad, Miss Martian, Artemis, Zatanna, Blue Beetle, and Static rushed out, weapons at the ready.

"Batgirl is everything alright? We sent Kid Flash ahead as backup." I nodded to Aqualad and he lowered his water bearers.

"I'll be fine for now, Aqualad. I need to talk to Robin." An idea was forming in my head, and Tim would be the best person to run it by before telling the rest of the team. The gathered heroes faces fell, looking confused.

"Um, Batgirl. The other half of the team is responding to his distress signal, we thought you would've heard. In came in moments after yours." Artemis replied, stepping over to inspect her boyfriend's work and fix me with a concerned look. I felt panic flutter in my chest, if I was attacked by someone like that- what happened to Tim? It was too coincidental that we'd both be attacked at the same time.

"We need to go there, now." The urgency in my voice spurred the team back toward the ship, Artemis staying at my side to help in case I needed it as Wally retrieved the gun that had nearly killed me. I wait until we're nearly there, about where the man had first landed when we had hit the roof, and pretend to stumble, swabbing up a small sample of his blood and stashing it in my belt.

Artemis doesn't miss the moment, raising an eyebrow but not questioning me as we make it to the ship. I collapsed into a seat as the ship lifted into the air.

"Batgirl is in no condition to fight once we reach Robin's location, I'll stay with her as backup while the rest of you go help him." Artemis declared loudly as she looked over my other injuries, dabbing gently at a small cut on my head. "And you can tell me what's going through that head of yours." She continued, dropping her voice so only I could hear it. I gave her a small nod as we approached, Robin's coordinates craning my head to get a look out the window. It felt like a vice squeezed around my throat, catching the air as I spotted bodies and limbs strewn across the roof of the warehouse where the signal was coming from.

Ahhh cliffhangers. Past me loved them, and current me honestly still does. At least the next chapter is already up and edited for you, so hope you enjoy. Love some feedback if anyone is up for it!~
~ Fate