Direction
Nightwing ran through the streets as pouring rain drenched his body. He was still worried about Blaze and with no sign of her for hours it only made him assume the worse. Thunder rattled around him as he tired to get a hold of Batman with no success. He swore under his breath as lightening stared to scatter the sky. An odd flash caught his eye then, almost looked like someone came out of it, it had to be Blaze! He ran towards the street and found her walking just feet infront of him, getting soaked as well. Her stance seemed off as he ran after her, pulling at her shoulder so she was facing him. Yet once she did for a moment he froze, for her mask was not on her face.
Blaze?" Nightwing began, staring at her uncovered features.
What is it Boy wonder?" Blaze blew out, confirming her identity.
"You look like you've seen a ghost...that should be my reaction."
She leaned up against the wall under an awning trying to get out the rain and letting the street lamp light her whole face. Nightwing's eyes lingered on her, then went down to her hands, seeing the mask in them.
Are you alright?" he asked, still confused. "I mean..."
"You know for a second, I forgot I took it off."she said
Blaze?" The former Robin spoke again, still wondering.
"It's Mari, really. Batman's soon to find out the truth anyway, so it doesn't matter anymore. I can't hide anymore."
"Batman? I thought you got captured by the Red Hood? Did Bats save you?"
"Ha that would be a good one. No I got away, and met up with Batman afterwords, we had quite the talk."
"I'm not sure I understand, but I'm glad to see you are safe. I thought the Red Hood would hurt you."
"He would never hurt me. Not psychically."
"What do you mean?"
"You should ask Bats, not like he will really talk about it anyway. Such a child." Mari spat, then pushed off the wall and started to walk off.
"Wait, Blaze, where are you going? Tell me what's happened."
She let out a sigh, hating herself for doing this, but she really wanted to be alone right now.
I'm sorry, Nightwing...I just have to go. I'm safe, so no need to worry. It will all be explained to you later." then she teleported out of his sight.
Mari reappeared in an ally stumbling, as a few tears slipped from her eyes. She steadied her hand against a wall to stop her body from shaking, but then she heard footsteps and teleported to a roof above. More sounds lingered around her but she drowned them out, trying not to think. She came to the edge of the building staring at the ground, then she took a step forward. She free-falled for only a second then in a flash she was tackled to the ground and Nightwing was on top of her. She must of not teleported far enough with her powers being tied to her emotions. His footsteps were what she heard.
"What the hell bird boy!" She screamed.
"I should be the one saying that, are you trying to kill yourself?!" He yelled back.
"Like i would actually let myself hit the ground! Did you forget about my teleportation?"
"Did you?!"
This was deja Vu and it scared the young hero.
Silence filled the air as the former Robin stared into the thief's broken eyes. He tried not to feel awkard as he straddled her, afraid that if he let her go she would run off again. Atleast this way if she telported he would go with her.
"What happened after you left with the Red Hood, what did he do to you! You told me he didnt hurt you..but."
"I believe you're the one hurting her."came a voice.
The pair looked up to find the Red Hood standing there a gun pointed at Nightwing.
"Now get the hell off my girl before i blow your brains out!"
"His girl, Blaze what is he talking about?"
But she didn't answer, she heard the gun fire, making her slid her legs out from under the hero then kick him in the stomach. He flew off of her just nearly missing the bullet.
The red hood kept his eyes on Mari for a moment more then dashed at Nightwing. The hero was stumbling up but was able to block the hood's punch and the kick he brought up next. Mari stared at them unsure, then she extended her hand sending a lighting bolt at the Red Hood. Surprised, he went down with a groan. Nightwing tackled him, holding down his wrists. Mari leaned over the pair and the Red Hood turned his head towards her.
"Whose side are you on?"came his voice.
"Mine!" Mari answered.
Then she bent down and reached behind his head, unclasping the motorcycle helmet. Nightwing jumped back, shocked as he stared into his brother's face under the moon light. Mari traced her hand down his check, then brought it back up, taking off his Robin mask as well.
"Is there a point to this?" She asked waving the eye mask.
"Remembrance" Jason said, snatching it out of her hands.
Mari stepped back then stood up as well with Jason.
"It seems like you already knew" came Nightwing's voice. It sounded so far away. " I had my suspicions, but I found out for sure an hour or so ago." Blaze trailed. Jason saw her and felt her whole vibe in that sentence. "Mari I'm sorry" he said his head facing the ground. She made a move towards him but Nightwing grabbed her wrist. "How?" It came out as a growl, as a warning. She never seen this kind of anger in him. "Dear old Bats didnt tell you anything, huh. His oldest, left out in cold. Seems to be a tradition."
Nightwing grabbed Jason's collar
"Tell me what happened!"
Jason grinned, enjoying it. His demonour so different, then with Blaze.
"Rahl Al Gual." Nightwing answered himself.
"Turns out that pit of his can heal everything." Jason smirked, putting empathis on the last word.
That smirk broke Mari out of her trance, how the hell can he act like that. She could see he was hurting, but a game was being played and she wasn't gonna be strung around anymore. "Let me the hell go Boy Wonder!" Mari tried to rip her wrist out of his grasp.
" He is still the enemy." Nightwing glared, locking his eye with Jason's.
"Yours not mine! God I sware sometimes you've lost it. I'm a Villian too."
"I'm pretty sure he never had it" Jason grinned.
"Shut it! Like you got room to talk. Or you wanna end up on the ground again!" She screamed at him.
Nightwing could see her wavering, atleast this would keep Jason occupied. He needed to think of something.
"Blaze."Jason whispered
"Don't you Blaze, me. Why the hell didnt you tell me you were alive! You should of came to me first, Hell even Nightwing. We were the ones that never gave up on you! We kept searching for you, well joker had you. Hating that we always got so close but never found you, just the clown. Then when the explosion happened we still searched,not believing Bats. The months turned into years but I didn't go anywhere, you did. You were gone for 5 years, they claimed to bury you. You had to have seen me and you go to that God forsaken man first! You wanna explain to me why you let my heart continue to shatter! You think you were the only one in pain. I know the Joker tortured you, and God somehow I wish I was there."
"You were across the country," Jason tried to interrupt, taking a step towards her.
But she backed up, tears starting to fall. She was breaking down again and she wanted to run. But this time she couldn't move, she wouldn't. She had to try and face it. "And how long have I been right infront of you! I just spent the whole night with Batman, watch him dig up your grave and then have to relive your death. That man didnt flich, I screamed at him to and got nothing! You're going to talk!"
Jason sighed finally hulstering his gun and raising his hands up. Nightwing let go of Mari and tackled his brother. Jason was shoved on his stomach and his hands pulled behind him. "Well your at it tell me why you keep trying to kill me and Bats." Nightwing growled.
"Uh cuz you were in my way, duh."
He gave Mari a 'is this guy serious?' look, she just shook her head. "And maybe if you'd keep your hands off Blaze I wouldn't wanna kill you more."
"Are you shitting me right now!? You're my brother, which makes her like my sister in law. It's called comforting a friend. Maybe you lost your compassion in that pit."
Mari groaned loudly drawing the boys attention back to her. "Do I have to explain it to you as well. It was way to much work with Batman."
"What are you talking about?" Nightwing asked.
"This" Mari started, pointing to him"is Jason. This has always been Jason. He just isn't chained down with your morals."
"My morals?! Murder is wrong, that's a fact not a moral."
Jason burst out in laughter, " Can i shoot the coward now?" He directed towards Mari.
That earned him a punch from Nightwing, when Mari rolled her eyes. She knelled down infront of him
"None of this matters! You're both fools. Batman doesnt give a shit. You iddiots can stay here and wrestle. Hell give me a gun, I'll shoot the big iddiot and the clown myslef. I'll come back here and finish you two off. Maybe I'll get some peace!"
"Jason, can't you see what you're doing."
Of course he could, he lost the only thing he had left all because his stupid daddy issues. Why did he drag this all out? Well what the hell, what was left, he already crossed the line, might as well just keep running.
"Shut up Boy Wonder! None of you are listening!"
Nightwing lossened his grip and Jason took the opportunity, slipping out and sending a punch at him, it connected but he still jumped back up and after a few more hits knocked Jason down. Nightwing ended up on top of him, the same position he had Blaze in only moments ago.
"Take a picture babe, it might last longer." Jason smirked, spitting out some blood.
But Blaze just shook her head again and her hands lit up.
"Those arnt for me are they" Jason asked.
"Haven't decided yet."
"Don't join him in this blood war Mari, you haven't killed anyone yet."
Nightwing pleaded.
"Not for lack of trying, but you don't need to tell me. My life was all about blood wars!"
"So you think what he's doing is right!"
"I said you were both fools and I'll say it again. I thought you were smarter then Batman."
"I get it..."Nightwing sighed out, it was so quiet though.
Jason spoke up this time,"Sounds like were all on the same page then, so if you could just let me go. We can go murder the Joker together and all talk then."
"No!" Nightwing screamed.
"It that really more important?"Mari growled.
Jason turned to Blaze. "Nothing ever is, just time sensitive."
Nightwing knew he was losing the battle but he had to keep this going. Gain Blaze's trust somehow, no matter how small, just to keep them both there. But he still hadn't thought of anything.
"I just can't let you go Jason."
"No I didn't think you would, Dick."
Jason slid his legs out again and kicked Nightwing in the stomach this time. He grabbed a gun in his hand and flipped up in one solid movement. He then winked at Mari , and threw a smoke grenade as he ran towards her.
He wrapped his arm around her, moving her to face him.
"Get me to Gotham Bay bridge please, Iets finish this together. I'll apologize for everything."
Mari froze she was still angry, shocked, scared. She couldn't lose Jason again.
"I can't stop you can I!" Nightwing shouted over the smoke. "Joker deserves to die but I can't condone it either."
"You can try to stop us, but your head sounds as straight as mine." Blaze shouted back.
Jason's eyes burned into her and she basked in his warmth, she wasn't about to let him go. With a spark she changed her mind, "you'll know where to find us!" She shouted then teleported them both out of there.
