Chapter 17 people! Enjoy because this is one heck of a chapter . . . I hope it achieves what I was aiming for.
The only way I can know is if you tell me sooooo, take a break from studying and submit me a nice rant!
I took a break to write this ;-P
Your turn.
". . .And I really, really, think she'd be an awesome hero. But . . . I have no idea how to convince her. I can't as Wally because she can't relate to me as a normal person. And it would be weird as Flash. . . you know how that would probably turn out. Either way, she'd probably find out my identity." Wally was currently pacing back and forth in front of Barbara, ranting, flailing his arms around, in his red suit, his mask pulled off.
The red headed girl sighed, "Wally, If this girl really has supernatural abilities like that, she'd be great for our team. No mistaking that. But if she's as closed off and unstable as you've describe . . . maybe it's best to just let her hide it."
She really had more important things to worry about. Like a psycho killer on the loose. Ever since Zatanna had come back, bruised and with a dislocated arm Batgirl felt her radar go off. Sure, she'd yelled at Zee for a good half hour, while Tim and Annie shrunk away in fear.
But then the young magician had blurted out what the man had said to her, and what his outfit looked like. That calmed the red head down in ways of 'finally I have something to go on' until her paranoia spiked and put her in' oh my god. Who is this guy and how does he know what he knows?' Plus, now even more questions plagued her mind.
Like how much more could this guy know. Where did he come from? What if he was working for the al Ghuls? That one flitted across her mind on it's own, she didn't know why. But the Al-Ghuls were the only ones who knew the most about Batman and Co. He could be - she had the sick feeling the answer was right on the tip of her brain. But something was blocking it from coming into clear view.
It was bothering the heck out of her. But that wasn't going to stop her from formulating some kind of plan to get her answers physically. Ugh. If Batman was here he'd be so disappointing, or disgusted, that we've let this nut run around for so long . . .
Maybe that's why she was listening to Wally. She needed something unimportant in the ways of this case to clear her scattering trains of thought.
". . .You know? She just - I don't know why, but I want her to know this me." Wally was looking at her with big blue eyes now, practically begging for advice.
"You like her?" She raised an eyebrow at him. This was interesting. Wally hadn't liked anyone since Artemis left him. Maybe there was more to this Mallory girl than she thought. Maybe I could meet her sometime. She thought absently.
"I - yah, I guess I do. Sorta. She's really hard and kinda - I think that's what makes her interesting, to me anyway." He looked at his shoes in contemplation.
Babs allowed a smile to cross her tired face, "Tell you what. Let's wrap up this mess and then I'll help you with you 'Mallory' problem. Ok?"
He nodded, "Sure Babs. Now, what happened to Zatanna?"
Tim was sitting rigidly in the Bruce's recliner, watching Annie brush her hair, and Zatanna slump miserly into the couch. Looking out into the dark wet world. It had started to storm a few minutes before. But the young boys mind wasn't on the rain. Or either girl. It was on what Babs was thinking down below and what Zatanna had told them.
He knew he shouldn't let it fester. Babs would listen. She wasn't Batman or anything like that. She would understand and discuss. But for some reason the Robin couldn't shake the feeling that they were in way over their heads. His mind was constantly thinking, wondering, analyzing who the heck could that guy be.
"If I'd just told you guys, " Zatanna's voice crashed his thoughts making him look up at the muttering girl as she gazed at him with sad, guilty eyes, "I'm really sorry I messed up so bad Tim."
He looked at her for a minute, "No. You didn't. I did the same thing. Except I didn't get beat up. But that's ok Zee, Babs isn't angry at you. You found valuable info, as little as it was, it's still more than we've ever had on the guy. Better than me." He shrugged nonchalantly, although his own words hurt him. Why was everyone better than him?
He'd never measure up to the first or second Robin. . . but why couldn't he be his own great hero either? No wonder Batman lost interest in him.
He felt his bandaged heart crack a little.
"The things he said . . . 'Tell Batgirl I said Hi'? That sounded like he was familiar with you guys, well, her anyway. And I don't wanna scare you or anything but, I swear I've talked to him before. Like actually talked to him." She fell silent seeing Tim go into a retreat in his brain as his eyes glazed over in thought.
'He sounds like someone I've talked to before' , Timmy's brain whirled, he previous suspicions where coming back strong and scary.
But he couldn't bring himself to think it, believe it - it wasn't . . .
"You don't think - what if it-" He flicked his tongue over his dry lips, "It's Dick." Those words came out as more of a statement than Tim realized.
Annie actually dropped her comb. Zatanna looked at him suddenly, sharply, fear scratched her face.
"Tim . . . No." She breathed quietly, as if saying anything any louder would confirm the boys words.
Annie slipped into the recliner with him, "Don't say that. I don't know Dick like you guys but . . . from what you've told me, he's your hero. You don't think someone as incredible as him would ever-"
"I know. That's what's scaring the crud out of me." Tim squeezed his eyes shut, trying to make the horrible thought go away, "Cuz 'what if's' are eating me alive."
Annie wrapped her arms around his neck and brought him closer, Tim relaxed slightly, her face pressed against his cheek, calmed him, "It's ok. We all have doubts. Just don't go crazy on an assumption. He may not be around anymore, but I think he's still your big brother."
Tim smiled a little, if only he could let that settle his mind. But the recent memories of Dick he had weren't very fond ones.
"Thanks Annie."
"You guys are cute." Zatanna gave the blushing boy a smile, "Don't worry Tim. Your allowed to like a girl. Your almost sixteen for god's sake!"
Tim cleared his throat as Annie giggled and pulled her face away from his, "Cut it out. Important worries to think about. Remember?"
"Don't sweat it Tim. Babs will figure out a plan, then we'll all get into action and catch this crazy. You'll see." Now she was forcing optimism on them.
Tim resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
If only this dark, hateful world was that predictable.
Green Arrow cursed under his breath. Stupid, stupid, stupid. He knew he should have brought someone with him! Listening to Batman was going to get him killed someday.
He dodged a flying sword.
If not today.
All he'd done was follow the mans directions, landed on this god forsaken rock and was attacked by at least fifty men in black Pj's and very sharp swords.
Now he was running, shooting, and dodging for his life.
"Hey guys! Cut it out!" He shot a bomb arrow at a couple of the Ninja's feet. It exploded sending several sprawling on the ground.
One jumped and threw several, deadly aimed shurakins at the blond man.
"Whoa! Hey, I like my beard, I don't need a shave. I'm not here to fight!" He flipped over and netted a few with a compact net arrow.
"Does anyone have ears here! I was sent by the freakin' Batman!" He was getting frustrated. A dagger nicked his neck, a trickle of blood slid down it, he grimaced at the sting, "Guess not."
One kicked his knees, The archer lost balance, dropped his arrow and bow and fell backwards. They all pounced on him like piranha. This is the last time I listen to Batman.
The aimed their sword downwards, pinning the man down.
"Um . . . I come in peace?" He chuckled feebly. Killed by ninjas . . . at least that's not a lame way to go . . .
The sword came plunging down. Ollie cringed waiting to feel a hundred burning stabs.
"STOP!"
Everything froze. The archer opened one eye and gaped, the swords points were literally half an inch from his body and face.
"Talk about cutting it close." He huffed angrily.
"Disperse." The voice commanded.
The ninja complied instantly and seemingly melted away. Ollie pushed himself up and dusted the sand of his costume. He cleared his throat, hoping to regain some form of composer and turned to see a lethal looking woman with burning green eyes glaring icily at him.
"What do you want." She demanded calmly, but dangerously at the same time.
"Um, nothing? Look, Bats sent me here, said to pick something up for him - are you Talia?" He really just wanted to be home in bed at the moment as the lady looked at him with narrowed eyes.
After a flicker of a murderous look, her face cleared.
"Ah. I see. Well then, it doesn't matter who brings it to him. I suppose. Either way. . ." She turned away from the confused archer and stretched out a hand, with one finger she beckoned to the shadows.
Green Arrow watched in a mixture of tingly fear and confusion as somebody walked into the light.
Suddenly he found himself looking down into a second pair of icy eyes.
"This is his package." The woman put a hand on the mini Ninja, she pulled off it's mask.
Ollie choked. It was a ten year old kid!
"Wha-is this a joke?" He honestly thought it was.
The 'joke' as he called it flashed out a sword, jumped ten feet in the air and drop kicked the older man to the ground.
The archer gasped, the wind having been knocked out of him as he sat up, rubbing his chest.
"I assure you. I am not a Joke."
"Take him to Batman. Tell him this is what I've given to him. He knows why." The woman snapped her fingers, her ninja appeared surrounding the now terrified archer, "And no funny business."
He nodded wordlessly. Eyes still not believing what he was looking at.
"Good." She bent over, said something to the kid and walked away into the shadows without looking back.
Ollie stared into space, dazed for a minute.
"Well-"
"Yow!" The archer jumped in an undignified way. He looked down, the kid looked at him with an unimpressed look on his sharp little face.
"Take me to Wayne manor."
"Holy -" Green Arrow choked on air.
He watched the kid in shock as he entered the jet Ollie had flown here in like a little diva.
Oh God.
Bat's was Gonna flip. The hell. Out.
"All right Guys." Barbara walked into the room where the other three were literally hanging around the couches in a dull stupor, with an air of finality and assurance about her.
Tim straightened a little, eyes widening, "B-Babs? Are you-"
"Bringing out Batgirl!" Zatanna jumped up, her friend hadn't worn the costume in almost a year. She'd always been too busy doing the desk and detective part of the job.
The red head smiled, her tired face pale, "Yep. I've decided that I'm gonna go with you guys on patrol this time. I think, if my plan plays right, we can corner the guy and finally catch him. I mean come on! We know Gotham better than anyone. There's no way he could-"
Alfred came hurriedly from the kitchen, milk stained his usually immaculate uniform. Everyone turned and stood up, he actually looked fearful! Alfred never let anything fray him? He raised the freaking Batman! So why was he-
"Pardon me Ms. Gordon, Master Tim . . . But There seems to be someone outside." He said, his British accent clipped, his grey eyes flickered towards the huge glass curtained window behind them.
Barbara's heart skid, why did this freak her out?
"Uh- ok?" Tim looked unsure about what to say.
"Is that bad Alfred?" Annie asked, her big brown eyes widened double their size.
"I am not sure, perhaps you all should-"
The window smashed in the middle of his sentence.
Zatanna screamed. Tim and Annie froze. Barbara choked on air as she moved to shield them all form the flying bits of glass.
Her eyes popped out of her head as two bodies landed with sickening thuds onto the living room floor. They rolled and punched viciously, curses blurred the air, Tables flipped, vases smashed, Zatanna blasted something with a light beam. Annie fell backwards as the rug was yanked out from under them, Tim yelled and threw a bird-a-rang. Babara flipped over, dodging the weapon, her heart in her throat.
The room blurred in the chaos, lightening flashed. Thunder crashed deafeningly. The lights flickered then died. Everybody yelled, somebody banged into the wall. Tim yelped as he ran into the couch. Barbara gasped for breath on the floor, sweat sticking her hair to her forehead. Sounds blurred into a roar. She couldn't breath. The darkness and noise was caving in on her.
"Everyone STOP!"
The noise froze. It went deathly silent in the pitch black dark. All that was heard was thick breathing, creaks of floor boards, and the hard patter of rain outside, now making it's way into the room.
It was thick and suffocating. Barbara started aching for noise.
"Not to worry, I'll have this fixed in no time."
Somebody snorted.
Barbara felt hairs lift on her neck. Strangers, threats, were in here, in the dark . . . her mind shut down in it's extreme panicked thoughts. . . what if. . . what if. . . what if. . . .
The lights clicked back on.
And she knew . . . before she even saw.
There on the floor, her breath was sucked out of her lungs, lay a familiarly costumed man clutching a red helmet wearing man in a headlock. . . in the Wayne manor living room.
The world spun. . .
She suddenly wished the lights had stayed off.
DUN DUN DUUUUUUUN!
I have been waiting for this moment! And the next one, and the next one. and serval more after those . . . but you get it.
This is a very big point in the story! Also I think it's the end of part two . . . not sure. Gotta check. Either this chapters the end or the next one. Part three will start soon.
Sooooo give me a review to let me know what you think about this! Finally so many emotions to build up.
Next ones' gonna be a blast!