Chpt.23

Athena waited for the bullet to travel through her skull. She waited for her eye sight to turn to complete black. She waited for her breath to stop. She waited for her death.

She was sad though. She hoped that Ramon would be able to run off safely once she died, but she would miss him. And she would miss all of her mothers and fathers, and Dick, and everyone else on the team. She didn't want to die, but she was fine if she died protecting her friend.

She wished she could hug Conner one more time though.

She waited to be nothing but a body lying on the ground.

However… she remained upright. She looked down to notice the bullet that collided with her forehead crumpled and hit the ground.

The man's eyes widened and he fired several more bullets at Athena, which followed in suit as the first, crumpling against her skin and falling to the ground.

"What are you?" the man questioned in a terrified whispered, having used up all his bullets on the girl.

Athena looked at the man with hatred.

"You were going to hurt Ramon!" she exclaimed, glaring intensely at the man. She started floating off the ground and her eyes were glowing red. Her eyes felt warm, as if at any moment something was going to shoot out of them. However, she kept whatever was going to shoot out back.

The man sprinted away, running for his life, and Athena stayed where she was.

"Athena?" Ramon questioned, gently pulling Athena down by her foot. The girl looked at Ramon and her glowing eyes disappeared.

"Ramon." She whispered, realizing that she blew her cover right in front of the boy. Her eyes then widened. "P-please don't freak out." She stuttered. . Ramon knows! But… but what will Bruce say? What will everyone think? I'm going to be in so much trouble! I didn't mean for it to happen! What if I won't be able to see Ramon anymore? What if Ramon tells people! She thought in horror.

"That was amazing!" Ramon exclaimed, his fear melting away into a smile.

"Shhh! You can't tell anyone!" Athena warned

"Well duh." Ramon said in an obvious tone. "You could be a Superhero! And people can't know who superheroes really are. Did you fall in toxic waste or something?" he inquired,

"N-no." Athena whispered. She didn't know what to do since Ramon now knew that she wasn't a normal girl.

"So you were just born with it?" he questioned, and Athena shrugged.

"Kinda… I-I guess." Ramon raised an eyebrow, realizing how nervous his friend seemed to be acting. She looked like she was about to cry.

"What's wrong?" Ramon inquired. "You're really quiet, and you look sad."

"No one's supposed to know about this." Athena informed in a hushed whisper.

"I won't tell, I swear! I'll promise on the bible! I'll take it to the grave!" the boy said, putting his right hand on his heart and left hand in the air. "I swear!"

Athena looked at the boy in surprise.

"Really?" she questioned in a whisper.

"Of course. You're my best friend. You're the only real friend I've ever had, and I'd never betray my friend." Ramon informed with a small smile, and found himself in another one of her bone crushing hugs.

"Thank you, Ramon." She whispered, and the boy hugged her back.

"No problem, Athena."

~*~*~*~*~*~Elsewhere~*~*~*~*~*~

"You still haven't found her!" the man exclaimed and Milo sighed.

"Apparently Ra's had her for a period of time, but she got away." The scientist informed, and the man pinched the bridge of his nose, then ran a hand through his slicked back red hair.

"Find her and finish her. I will not tolerate a failed project with my DNA on the loose."

"We are trying Mr…"

"Well try harder!" the man cut off, storming towards the door.

"Where are you going? You could help us." Milo stated, and the man glared at the scientist.

"I have an invitation to a charity event to go to, and I have to look nice." He informed. "I can't go there looking horrible when I'm supposedly on vacation." The man stated, then left.

~*~*~*~*~*~In Gotham~*~*~*~*~*~

Dick noticed the troubled look on Athena's face when he was tucking the girl in.

"Ramon knows." Athena informed Dick in a quiet voice. Dick's eyes widened, and before he could say anything, Athena said, "We got pulled into an alleyway and these men were going to hurt us, and one shot me but it didn't penetrate my skin, and then the men ran away, but I was floating, and Ramon saw, but he swears not to tell, but I'm so sorry that I didn't keep my abilities under control, and-"

"It's okay." Dick said quietly, hugging the girl. Athena didn't even realize that halfway through her explanation, she was crying.

Dick understood how this most likely scared the girl. He knew that she loved Ramon as a friend, and didn't want them to be separated. She also didn't want Bruce to be angry with her for letting her abilities get out of control, but given the situation, Dick understood how showing her abilities was unavoidable.

She was shot, but apparently Superman's invincibility kicked in. Dick was grateful for that. He couldn't imagine what would happen if he found out Athena had died.

"Did you explain to Ramon what happened?" Dick questioned, and the girl nodded, however she was looking down at her feet.

"I told him why I had to be kept a secret." She informed quietly. "He doesn't seem to mind. He actually thinks it's kind of cool, but he promised he won't tell anyone. He even swore on the bible." Athena said, thinking back to what happened when they got back to Ramon's house.

"I'll talk to Bruce about it." Dick sighed, but then gave Athena a small smile. "Don't worry, it'll be alright."

He tucked Athena under the covers and gently kissed her forehead.

"You get some sleep. It's been a long day." He whispered, and Athena nodded, letting her head sink into the pillow.

"Good night Nii-san." Athena said with a small yawn. "Love you."

"Love you too, Athena." he whispered, then turned off her light, and headed to the door.

However, outside the door stood Bruce.

"You heard all of that?" he whispered, and the older man nodded. "Well, what are you thinking of doing?" he inquired.

"I trust the Ramon boy." Bruce nodded. "And his mother. I might have to pay them a visit." He informed as he walked downstairs towards the Batcave.

"Bruce, you're not thinking about threatening them." Dick whispered.

"Who said anything about threatening them?" Bruce questioned, then headed into the Batcave.

~*~*~*~*~*~Later That Night~*~*~*~*~*~

There was a knock on the door, and Ramon woke up. Nobody knocked this late at night. He walked to where the door was, and reached over to open the handle, but pulled away, remembering what his mother said about what to do when people knocked at the door.

He cautiously grabbed the baseball bat next to the door, and grabbed the door handle. However, before he opened it, his mom came running into the room.

"Ramon, hand me the bat." She whispered, and he did so. He hid behind his mother as she opened the door.

To his surprise, on their doorstep stood the Batman.

"Hello Mrs. Colón. I am sorry for how late it is, but I need to talk to you and your son." He stated.

Ramon's mom held the baseball bat, unsure, but let the man into the house.

"What do you want?" she questioned, standing in front of Ramon, ready to defend him.

"This is about Ramon's friend, Athena." he informed.

"Athena?" Ramon questioned, and Mrs. Colón's eyes widened, and she lowered the baseball bat.

"Is she alright? What happened." Batman noticed the woman's sudden concern, and felt more positive about what he was going to do.

"She is alright, but we need to talk about her." He informed. Ramon's mother looked slightly confused, but slowly nodded her head.

"Okay. What do you need to talk to us about?" Batman beckoned to a chair for her to sit on and she did so, still holding Ramon's hand tightly, along with the baseball bat. She still didn't know if she could trust the man.

"Today Ramon saw something that Athena was supposed to hide…" Batman then went on to tell Ramon and his mother Athena's story. How she was a failed project that was saved from Cadmus, and how Cadmus wanted her destroyed and how she was no longer a failed project. He also mentioned how Athena had part of his DNA in her, making him her somewhat father.

"I trust that you will not tell anyone about what happened to her?" he questioned.

"Yes. I promise I won't tell anyone." Ramon's mother nodded.

"Me too. I already swore on the bible earlier." Ramon informed.

"Thank you for your cooperation." Batman then went to look at Mrs. Colón. "Athena enjoys your son's company and she still wishes to remain friends."

"Our door is always open for her." Ramon's mother nodded. "If she needs a place to hide if she gets into any danger, she can come here. I won't let anyone hurt her." Ramon's mother meant it too. Batman could see the determination in her eyes. She was a mother who would kill to protect the people she loved.

"Thank you Indira." He nodded, using Ramon's mother's first name. As he headed back to the doorway, he whispered quietly,

"And Indira, tell whoever erased the information on your gang life from your record that they did a very good job at it."

Indira's eyes widened, and Batman was quickly gone.

"What did he say, Mom?" Ramon inquired, but she shook her head.

"Nothing, Ramon. You should be getting back to bed." She stated, kissing the boy on his head, and he ran back to his room.

Indira looked outside, then slowly closed her door, locking it.