As they stared at the warehouse ceiling engulfed in flames, Ashe's vision started to dim. They hadn't had the time to assess the damage, but they knew they had been shot by the unbearable anguish in their torso. The only sound they could hear was the ringing in their ears. As they lay still on the cold concrete, dark red pools of blood formed around them. There was a sense of tranquility in the midst of the mayhem. Ashe's vision was so blurred from the pain they could barely make out a figure now standing above them. As they lost consciousness, they saw the man kneeling down near them and the hazy image of a blue bird emblem.
One Year Ago
The Gotham sky was painted in a dark, hazy purple, the stars barely visible through the thick blanket of city lights. The bright lights of towering buildings and neon signs illuminated the streets below, casting an almost artificial glow over the entire city. Even in these late hours of the night, the sound of life was still audible, a symphony of chaos that never seemed to cease.
Police sirens wailed in the distance, accompanied by the occasional blaring car alarm. Raucous shouts and laughter could be heard spilling out from nearby bars and clubs, mingling with the constant thrum of traffic and the low rumble of distant trains. Gotham truly was a city that never slept.
Clad in a makeshift vigilante outfit, they moved swiftly and silently through the labyrinthine alleyways. Their strawberry blonde hair poked out from under their hood. The cool autumn air nipped at Ashe's cheeks where the thick black goggles that they wore did not protect. They dodged from street to street trying to stay out of sight. But they paid no mind to the discomfort, fueled by the thrill of their mission. Tonight, Ashe was on a hunt for trouble.
Despite the efforts of Batman and the Gotham Police Department, there were always smaller crimes that slipped through unnoticed. And since Ashe's metahuman abilities had manifested, they had taken it upon themselves to become a late-night crusader for justice. Their powers were limited to telekinetic tricks, but it gave them an edge in any fight and they intended to use it for good. So they prowled the streets in search of crime to stop, determined to make a difference.
Ashe had been ready to call it a night and head back home when a glint of movement caught their eye. They watched as the streetlights flickered, casting eerie shadows on the broken concrete pavement. Two women strolled leisurely down the dimly lit street, their voices carrying through the silence of the night. As they passed by a man leaning against the wall, smoking a cigarette, he suddenly sprang into action. Tossing his cigarette to the ground, he pulled his hood up and slunk behind the two unsuspecting women. From across the street, Ashe observed with growing concern.
The man closed in on the women, who were now engrossed in conversation. Suddenly, he lunged forward and grabbed one of the female's arms with surprising strength. "Give me everything you've got," he demanded, pulling out a gleaming knife from his pocket. With his other hand, he forcefully tugged at the strap of one woman's purse. The women let out piercing screams of terror.
Ashe's heart raced as they desperately tried to stay concealed while simultaneously moving closer to intervene. In one swift motion, Ashe leaped into the air and delivered a powerful punch to the mugger's face. He stumbled back, surprised by the force behind the blow.
Quickly regaining his composure, the mugger swung his knife wildly in Ashe's direction. But Ashe was too quick for him, darting to his opposite side and landing another hit. However, in one moment of distraction, the man managed to catch Ashe off guard and slice his knife across their cheek.
Refusing to be deterred, Ashe quickly regrouped and positioned themselves between the mugger and the two trembling women he had been harassing. With a fierce determination, they kicked the man with all their might, sending him tumbling to the ground. The knife fell from his grasp and skittered across the pavement, finally coming to a stop in the middle of the road.
Ashe stood tall, ready to defend against any more attacks from the disgruntled mugger. But to their surprise, he picked himself up and staggered away, clearly intimidated by Ashe's display of strength and courage. A sense of satisfaction spread through Ashe's body as they watched him retreat.
Taking a moment to catch their breath, Ashe ran their hand through their damp hair that was now sticking to their forehead with sweat. Finally, turning to check on the two women who had been targeted by the mugger, Ashe swooped down to pick up the purse that had fallen during the scuffle. Without a word, they handed it back to its owner with a reassuring smile. Another successful encounter under their belt.
The woman's disapproving tone cut through the night air as she snatched her purse, eyeing Ashe with a mixture of disdain and concern. "I've seen you out here a few nights now," she scolded. "But look at you, you're nothin' but a kid. Ain't no reason you should be out here pickin' fights. Get on home." Ashe watched as both women turned and hurried away, their heels clicking against the pavement.
Ashe rolled their eyes, "A simple 'thanks' would suffice." They mumbled quietly.
Exhausted and wary, Ashe made the decision to call it a night. They knew they couldn't risk staying out any longer without arousing suspicion. As they made their way through the dimly lit streets of Gotham, they retrieved a backpack hidden behind a nearby dumpster. Quickly they stuffed their hero gear into the bag, Ashe moved with practiced ease and agility.
They finally arrived at a chain link fence surrounding an old, abandoned supermarket. To Ashe, this was their home, however unfortunate that might be. With practiced ease, they pulled at a broken section of the fence and slid underneath, entering the desolate building. Through the boarded-up windows, movement and light could just barely be seen. Making their way around to the back entrance, Ashe grasped the handle and pushed open the door.
In a city like Gotham, where neglect and corruption run rampant, many foster or runaway children are left to fend for themselves. This particular group had found each other in their shared struggles and had made this derelict store their sanctuary against the harsh world outside.
Inside, the dimly lit space is filled with the sounds of murmuring voices and rustling bodies. A faint glow emanates from small fires burning in trashcans scattered around the room, providing some warmth. The sound of murmured conversations fills the space as several children huddle together for comfort. Others lay on makeshift beds made out of old blankets. The air is thick and musty, heavy with the scent of damp concrete and old wood. Breaking from the group, a young freckled face child came running up to Ashe.
The child bounced excitedly, his face lit up with joy at the sight of Ashe. "Hey Ashe, where have you been all night?"
Ashe reached out to ruffle the child's hair in a playful gesture. "What's up Theo, I've just been around. Uh where is-"
"Jason has been looking for you. He's starting to get grumpy." Theo informed.
A small smile played on Ashe's lips as they nodded in understanding. They immediately began scanning the building until her gaze landed on him - Jason Todd, leaning casually against a nearby wall. His tall frame was just beginning to fill out, and stray locks of his unkempt black hair fell across his forehead. His piercing blue eyes seemed to wander aimlessly, giving off an air of boredness.
"There you are." He said with a feigned irritation that barely disguised his joy at seeing Ashe. "What happened to your face?" He asked, gesturing to a bruise on her cheek.
Ashe reached up to touch their cheek and felt the cut that was still bleeding. "Oh, Jay that's uh… nothing. I just-" They replied with a dismissive wave of their hand.
But before they could say more, Jason had already moved to grab Ashe's bag. Startled, they instinctively pulled it out of his reach. "Hey! What are you doing?!"
He rolled his eyes and continued for the bag. "I know you keep bandaids in there for when I get in fights. Give it here!" His tone was playful but laced with concern for his friend's well-being.
"Okay okay!" With a gentle sigh, Ashe reached into their bag and procured a small bandage. They handed it to Jason, allowing him to carefully place it on the cut. "That was unnecessary. It was just a scratch."
He didn't respond to their remark. Jason murmured, his jaw clenching as he seethed with protective anger. "If those kids on 5th street bother you again-"
Ashe couldn't help but feel endeared by his worry but shook their head. "It's not like that Jay, chill out."
Since the day they had found themselves homeless, Jason had taken Ashe under his wing and looked out for them in any way he could. The bond between them was tight, forged through hardship and survival in the streets of the city. And for that, Ashe was grateful beyond words.
Ashe's first few days in Gotham had been a nightmare of fear and confusion, navigating the treacherous city alone. But then they met a group of older boys who saw them as fresh prey. These rough street kids taunted and harassed Ashe, pushing them to the ground and circling like hungry predators. But before things could get any worse, another boy swooped in. It was Jason Todd, and for some reason, he had taken a liking to Ashe and refused to let anyone mess with them again. They were grateful to have someone like Jason watching over them in such a brutal world.
Ashe's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the loud chatter of nearby kids. Their voices pierced through the quiet night air, drawing Ashe's attention away from their own musings. "And when Batman comes, he's going to save us and then-"
Jason and Ashe both turned to look at the group of children before returning their gaze to each other. Ashe looked visibly annoyed, Faint annoyance flickered across Ashe's face as they muttered under their breath, "Batman isn't coming to save some kids like us." Their words were laced with bitterness and disappointment.
Jason couldn't help but chuckle at Ashe's frustration. "Come on, don't be so pessimistic. You never know, maybe saving us is just on Batman's to do list."
But Ashe was not convinced. "No way. If I ever saw Batman in Gotham, I'd slash the tires on the Batmobile," they declared half-jokingly.
Jason couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the statement. "No way, those are probably some special bulletproof tires or something. What you do is take the hubcaps and sell 'em." He joked.
Ashe chuckled at the thought, finally letting go of their frustration. "Okay, you have a point there. It sounds like a solid plan." They replied with a playful grin.
As they continued to chat and joke around, time seemed to slip away unnoticed. Eventually, exhaustion caught up with Ashe and they drifted off to sleep next to Jason, feeling safe and content in their presence.