Vigilante Struggles

chapter 40

When I tell you this draft has been sitting for months I'm not exaggerating, it was one sentence at a time.

"It's only experimental Barbara, but it has promising results"

This was not what she was expecting when Bruce called her to the Batcave. An experimental procedure that could allow her to walk again, become Batgirl again, it was too tempting to ignore. Besides, what did she have left to lose?

"I'm willing to give it a try Bruce, I don't want to live my life thinking over what ifs."

Bruce rewarded her with a small smile. "I will get in contact with the specialist, and organise a meeting between the two of you"

For the first time in a long time Barbara felt hope rising in her chest.

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Jason was stunned at sight of the man before him. His dark eyes were shadowed by furrowed eyebrows wrinkling inwards with displeasure, the hues of his iris's growing darker as his temper tests its boundaries. His nose scrunches up into a familiar snarl, teeth grit, temples bulging and if Jason hadn't known any better, he would have thought he was staring down Bruce Wayne. There was, however; subtle differences, this man was older, evident by the grey hairs hugging his temples. His skull structure differed, giving this man a slightly longer jaw, higher cheekbones and a different nose shape. A small scar lay faded on his upper lip, hidden slightly by a light stubble. It was the final proof Jason needed to confirm this was not Bruce Wayne, not his one anyways.

"What the fuck?"

"Hood, I can explain!" Lorna remained where she fell, her voice shaking, eyes wide and imploring.

He forced the table harder against mystery man, slamming him harder into the wall, earning a grunt. Jason spared her a look, unconvinced, cringing at a small voice whispering about how he was now outnumbered should Lorna reveal herself to be more than just a civilian. He underestimated her, a rookie mistake that could prove fatal. He returns his full attention to mystery man, hoping the software in his helmet would pull a face match.

"Who the fuck are you?"

There was a threat behind his words but his tone remained casual, after all he had barged in here without the full story, this fact made painfully clear with Lorna claiming she could 'explain' everything. He didn't want to cause a situation he couldn't take back, especially when the clock marked each second that decreased his tiny shred of control in the situation. Mystery man was also very quiet, he hadn't done anything to escape or said a single word since Jason entered the scene. It reminded him of Batman, Jason wasn't naïve and the growing sense that a figurative carpet was about to be ripped from under him was making his skin crawl.

"Hood please!"

There seemed to be a genuine fear trembling in her voice and it snagged at Jason's heart. He spared her another glance, trying to determine her game plan, if she had one. Her eyes are wide giving her a 'deer in headlights' look, her hands floating in the air, palms out in a non-threatening fashion. Jason was once again struck with how familiar she looked. That strange feeling returned with a vengeance, overwhelming his senses making him feel detached from reality.

"Who are you? Really?"

Lorna looked conflicted, her eyes darting to mystery man before returning to stare at him. Mystery man began to struggle against the table.

"Don't you dare"

Damn even his voice sounded like Bruce's.

"Shut it asshole"