Author's Note: Hello, again! Sorry about the long wait, it's been a busy year. Anyway, enjoy the new chapter and feel free to let me know what you think! Thanks!
Chapter 8: Supernova
After leaving Dick in the hallway, Sam wandered around the room, soaking in her surroundings. The room was a decent size with a queen-sized bed on the opposite wall flanked by two mahogany bedside tables, the headboard underneath a rectangular window with the white curtains drawn. To her left was a mahogany vanity with a large oval mirror and beyond that, another door that led to a huge closet, complete with numerous shelves and racks. To her right was a third door that led to a bathroom that five people could easily occupy.
Sam was in the bathroom for what seemed like ages, searching through the cabinets and drawers and discovered, to her surprise, that the bathroom was completely stocked with just about every shampoo, soap, and lotion she could think of as well as other nice-smelling products she didn't even know existed.
After a few more moments of searching, she glanced at the bathtub the size of a small pool. She found some soft white towels, grabbed at least three kinds of shampoo and body wash, and turned on the hot water. Amidst the steam, Sam stripped out of her filthy clothes, kicked off her worn combat boots, and practically dove into the tub, relishing the heat of the hot, clean water against her skin.
Sam stayed in the tub for a good hour scrubbing at her hair and body until her skin was red and her hair was silky smooth. When she finally stepped out of the tub and started to pat herself dry, she couldn't help but stare at her reflection in the mirror. She counted several bruises on her body and cringed instantly when she noticed the long, faint scars that trailed down her arms and across her shoulders. Sam then looked at her face and how her hair stuck to her neck and shoulders. She wrapped the towel around her body and studied her face in the mirror.
Her hair had grown so long over the last few years. Sam ran her fingers through the long mass and came to realize, while she was still unsure of what would come, that this night was the beginning of a new chapter in her life. She dug in the drawers and found a pair of scissors. She grabbed a fistful of her bangs and held up the scissors, open blades flanking the huge section of hair.
"Good riddance," she whispered, and closed the blades. Half an hour later, Sam exited the bathroom with the weight of her hair, along with most of her worries, laying on the white tile floor.
—•―
"You should have told me." Sam turned around anxiously to find Batman glaring down at her. Nightwing suddenly joined his side.
"How are we supposed to trust you?" he hissed.
"I didn't…" Sam choked out, tears burning in her eyes, "I didn't want to hurt anyone!"
"It's a little late for that, don't you think?" another voice chimed. Sam spun around and saw another figure towering over her. He had his sword drawn and his orange and black armor was mirrored in the blade's clean surface. "We haven't forgotten what happened, have we?"
"No…" Sam begged quietly. "Stop…please don't…I'm sorry…"
You're a danger to everyone around you…
No...I'm not!
It's all your fault…
Stop…just shut up!
You'll never be one of them…
Shut up!
…because this is what you're truly capable of…
I SAID SHUT UP!
Sam suddenly woke up to a crashing sound.
Sam jumped out of the bed reflexively and nearly tripped over the small table that was now on its side having been thrown a few feet from its place next to the bed. She frantically took in her surroundings, alarmed at the unfamiliarity of the small bedroom she was occupying.
Sam then realized where she was and her heartbeat slowly began to calm down as she recalled the events of the night prior. She was so accustomed to waking up in alleys that it took her a bit to remember that she was now living in Wayne Manor. Was it appropriate to call it her home? The space of the room was devoid of any indication that someone was living there besides the messy bathroom, tangled sheets, and the toppled table.
Sam stared at the table darkly before she shakily picked it up and returned it to its rightful place adjacent to the bed. She then sat on the mattress and rubbed her temples. Keep it together Sam, she thought to herself, you have to keep it together…you can't mess this up…
Sam's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of gentle knocking against her door. She rose slowly from the bed, walked across the room to the door, and opened it slightly to find a tall, older man dressed in a fancy black suit holding a silver box.
"Miss Gray?" the old man asked with a polite voice. Sam's brows furrowed.
"Who're you?" she demanded.
"I am Alfred Pennyworth," he answered briskly, "the caretaker of Wayne Manor. I was on my way to deliver a message from Master Wayne and I heard a…peculiar noise originate from your room. Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, everything's fine," Sam answered a little too quickly. Alfred's left eyebrow arched, like he knew she was lying. Sam desperately tried to change the subject. "Uh, what did Bruce want?"
Alfred's expression returned to the stoic politeness he had before and held the silver box out to Sam. She took it from Alfred's hands and opened it. Inside was something made of a smooth material that, upon closer inspection, was covered with millions of tiny panels. "Master Wayne instructed that you arrive at your training dressed in this."
"Thanks," Sam replied curtly, glaring at the suit in disgust. Alfred bowed his head slightly before turning and walking towards the elevator. As Sam shut the door, she couldn't help but feel a bit guilty about her attitude towards Alfred. As she slid into the full-body suit, she groaned aloud at her appearance in the vanity mirror; the suit hugged her body like spandex. Felt like spandex, too, but at the same time it had a strange sense of weight.
With one last groan towards the mirror, Sam exited the room and entered the elevator, punching the button that would take her to the first floor. She took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for the day ahead.