"You've been following me for weeks," I growled, my voice dropping to a dangerous level, "What the hell do you want?"
I listened intently, the world around me fading into the background. The wind whispering through the trees, the creaking of a nearby swing set, and even the soft humming of the streetlamps all merged into a symphony of sound, each note distinct and clear.
Then came the cue – a quick intake of breath, the snapping of a twig, and the faint sound of footsteps growing faster and faster.
The bastard was making a run for it.
I swore under my breath, feeling a rush of adrenaline. This guy must have thought he could outpace me.
I set off after him, my feet hammering the pavement. I tried to keep my movements as natural as possible, not wanting to tip my hand to the very man who'd been tailing me. I sure as hell wasn't about to show my cards, not when I was this close to finding out who this guy was.
As I ran, his footsteps grew fainter. My heart sank. I couldn't let him slip away. I picked up the pace, closing the gap. The rustle of leaves underfoot intensified, and I knew I was getting closer. I could hear his heartbeat, beating like a drum in my ears.
My eyes flickered over the landscape, scanning the shadows and foliage. Every detail of the darkened streets laid out before me in crystal-clear clarity.
Finally I spotted him, a streak of motion in the night.
Bingo.
I rounded the corner, my focus zeroing in on the dark figure sprinting down the empty street. His feet skidded against the pavement as he reached a dead-end. He stumbled and collapsed against the wall of what looked like an old warehouse, its deep red bricks covered in creeping vines. His footsteps faltered; I had him cornered. He gasped for air, chest heaving to catch his breath.
As I approached, his hand shot to his belt, fingers finding a small object. Then, I heard the whirring sound of a grappling hook being fired, followed by a rush of air as it flew through the night sky.
My eyes narrowed as I realized what was happening. This man wasn't just any ordinary thug. He was skilled and experienced. The hook latched onto the warehouse's rooftop and yanked the man off his feet. I charged forward, catching up to him just before he reached the top of the wall. I grabbed his ankle, forcing him down.
Despite the fall, he hit the pavement with practiced ease, landing on his feet with barely a stagger. Before he could react, I was on him, my body slamming him into the wall with calculated force. His back pressed into the rough surface, my arms pinning him in place.
My heart hammered against my ribcage, both from the chase and from the realization that I'd finally get some answers. The man struggled against me, but my grip was unbreakable. I made it seem like it was taking all my effort to hold him in place, pretending to pant as if I too was out of breath. He was strong, but I was stronger, and I knew I had him now.
With his arms trapped in place, he started thrashing his legs wildly, a desperate attempt to break free from my hold. I braced myself as he suddenly bucked his hips, throwing all his weight into his lower body as he twisted and turned, trying to throw me off balance. Then, he kicked out with all his might, aiming for my stomach. Instinctively, I rolled with the impact, shifting my weight to the side. Just enough to avoid suspicion. In one swift motion, I grabbed his wrist, twisting it behind his back. He groaned in pain, and I pinned him down once again.
He was determined. He tensed and strained against me, each sinew of muscle and vein in his neck standing out as I pressed my forearm against his throat, cutting off his air supply. I stayed focused, controlling my strength with care. One false move could be disastrous. His eyes bulged, and he gasped for breath. I slightly loosened my hold, mindful not to let my simmering emotions get the better of me.
As my heart rate began to slow, I finally took in his appearance. A dark figure stood before me, his armor glinting in the faint moonlight. My eyes widened in shock as I finally recognized the man.
It was him.
The Bat guy.
The one who was all over the news.
I noticed the distinct domino mask covering his eyes, and a chill ran down my spine.
He stood stoically, almost unscathed by my hold. His gaze met mine, and the weight of his stare bore down on me, cold and calculating. This wasn't just some random stalker. I couldn't help but wonder what I did to warrant being tailed by him.
I was finally face to face with my tormentor. The man who'd shadowed my every move for weeks. The initial shock quickly turned to anger. It had been a living nightmare, and now here he was. My grip on him tightened.
"What the fuck do you want from me? I spat out through gritted teeth.
The muscles in his arms bulged under my fingers, but I refused to let go. He tried to squirm free again, twisting his arms in a fluid motion but he might as well have been pushing against a brick wall. Frustration built in his eyes. It was clear he wasn't used to being at anyone's mercy.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke, his voice rough and gravelly, "You're a tough one, I'll give you that," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
The bastard was stalling.
"Cut the crap," I retorted, tightening my grip even further. He winced in pain. "You've been following me, and I want to know why."
"I have my reasons," he replied, his expression inscrutable.
I could tell he was taunting me, trying to get a rise out of me. He was playing games, and I was getting impatient.
"Enough with the cryptic bullshit," I snapped. Batman's eyes narrowed, but he remained unfazed.
It was clear he was not going to give up any answers willingly. I knew I needed to take a different approach. With a determined grimace, I leaned in closer to his ear, feeling the heat of his breath against my cheek.
"You have five seconds to spill the truth," I growled, an unfamiliar threat in my voice.
He shot me a half-cocked grin, seemingly unimpressed. "You think you can intimidate me?" he retorted in a deep, gravely growl. "I call this Tuesday."
"Call it what you want," I replied evenly. "The fact remains, you're not leaving until I get answers."
He shook his head, that infuriating smirk still plastered on his face. "Alright, if that's the game you wanna play," he leaned back, settling into a more comfortable position. "But if you're gonna keep holding me like this, we're going to have to come to some kind of agreement, Clark."
Of course, he knew my fucking name. I couldn't help but twist my grip, reminding him who had the upper hand.
A sudden thought occurred to me. I had a rare opportunity to peek through the mask. With a subtle shift in my gaze, I activated my see-through vision, and the mask melted away. His face morphed into a blur of bone and muscle until it came into sharp focus, revealing his features. His eyes were a piercing blue, like frozen pools of ice that seemed to look right through me. His angular jaw was set firmly, his dark hair slicked back with a hint of gray at the temples.
It took me a moment to place him, but then it clicked. A jolt of recognition shot through me. I knew this person.
Bruce Wayne.
The billionaire philanthropist and owner of Wayne Enterprises.
Helena's father.
I bit back a gasp, trying to maintain my tough exterior. I wondered if she knew about her father's extracurricular activities. Would she have kept this from me? My throat tightened with a pang of betrayal.
"I think we both know that you're not exactly in a position to make demands, Bruce." I gave his bicep a tight squeeze to emphasize my point. A twinge of guilt coursed through me for threatening him, now knowing who he was.
Surprise crossed his face behind his domino mask, and I couldn't help but smirk.
"You peeked," he said, the corners of his lips twitching. He looked pointedly at my hands holding him. "You're not just some ordinary man, are you?"
All of the air left my lungs as I realized what he was implying, but I fought to mask my fear. "What are you talking about?" I managed to force out.
"You know, Clark, it's interesting what those convenience store cameras can pick up." He said, "I have to admit, I was impressed. Not everyone can take a bullet to the chest and walk away unscathed."
His words hit me like a freight train. He saw the footage. He knew everything. How could I have been so careless?
Think fast. "You've got some nerve." I said, anger quaking beneath my voice. "You don't know the first thing about me."
"But I know enough." he countered smoothly. "You have to understand part of my job is keeping a close eye on people like you. The world doesn't need any more wildcards."
I felt the blood rush to my face, and my hold on him loosened slightly. There was no doubt he knew. Was he going to expose me to the world? Fear gripped me like a vice, making it hard to breathe.
"Like me?" I repeated incredulously. "What the hell does that even mean?" I added, hoping to bait him into revealing how much he knew.
The Bat remained quiet for a moment, as if considering his words carefully. "It means you have certain… capacities most people don't, and that makes you a threat," he finally responded.
I faked a scoff, my frustration mounting. "You've been spying on me, violating my privacy," I spat out, "And you've got the guts to call me a threat?"
But as I held his unflinching gaze, my anger deflated like a punctured balloon. As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. I was an aberration, a ticking time bomb. I knew it deep down in my bones… No matter how hard I tried, I'd never be normal.
I swallowed hard.
I couldn't blame him for seeing me as a danger. Because the truth was, I was scared too. I released my grip on him slowly and took a step back, giving him space.
"Look," I said, my voice almost breaking, "I never asked for this..." I murmured, almost to myself. "What am I supposed to do?" The words came out more like a plea than a question.
The Bat's expression softened a fraction. "I'll make you a deal," he rumbled. "You don't have to do anything alone, I can help you. Teach you control."
I hesitated for a moment, still unsure if I could trust him. But then, I thought about all the times I had been alone, struggling to come to terms with who I was. Maybe, just maybe, I didn't have to be alone anymore.
"Fine," I grumbled through gritted teeth, "But you could have just talked to me. You didn't have to stalk me like some kind of creep."
The Bat nodded once, a small grin on his face, and then turned to leave. "Good," he said over his shoulder. "We begin tomorrow."