ʀᴇᴄʟᴜsᴇ! homesick

CH 32: Shootout

I shouldn't have got out of bed today.

Out of Jason's arms.

Instead, I'm pressed against his back, as we've been cornered by Mr. Penguin's henchmen.

Bullets are flying all around us; it's a trap.

One bullet barely hits my ear, and blood slowly starts dripping down my head.

I begin slinging men together, and the ones that comes closer I punch and kick out of my way. But every man I take down, two more are replaced.

But Dark Web and Red Hood are back to back, we've been in worse situations than this.

Everything is going fine, we are almost out into the clear, until I'm shoved to the ground, the gravel outside digging into my skin.

I look up, and the Red Hood is gripping his side.

Blood trickles between his fingers, as he sinks down into his knees.

I hear a scream, as I'm looking at Jason, and then I realize it was me screaming.

But it should've been me.

It should've been me.

So, you're probably wondering how I got into this situation.

Let's go back, to exactly three hours ago. It's easier to explain that than watching the love of my life get shot before your eyes.

in the BatCave...

Batman stands in front of the BatComputer, crossing his arms.

Oracle is pulling up the schematics of the Iceberg Lounge, courtesy of Mr. Penguin himself.

Red Hood has gotten more intel on the ground that there was going to be recovering stolen goods.

The whiff information was imprudent, kept so tightly under wraps that none of us knew what it was.

And that only meant one thing.

Danger.

It was a full team operation, so we could stop whatever the spread into the streets of Gotham.

I stand next to Jason, as usual, while Stephanie and Cass suit up.

Damian is away with the Teen Titans because, ahem, and I quote, 'Due to lack of cooperation to interact with kids his age in an appropriate manner.'

I mean, it was different with Jon because the kid was literally indestructible, and could handle Damian's occasional violent outbreaks.

Other kids... weren't so lucky.

Dick was carefully studying the monitor, stretching his arms out like he's about to do the performance of his life. Red Robin is chugging his coffee.

"Okay pair off: Nightwing and Orphan, Red Robin and Batgirl, Dark Web and Red Hood." Batman explains. "Nightwing and Orphan will infiltrate the Iceberg Lounge, and turn off all security." Dick and Cass high five.

He turns to Stephanie and Tim. "Tim will be lookout and Stephanie will be able to destroy the illegal shipping."

"I'll take the front entrance and be the distraction for Mr. Penguin. Tim when Stephanie's in, Dick and Cass will watch over her. You hack into Mr. Penguin's armory so they can't remote control activity the lockdown sequence or any other tricks he has up his sleeve."

"Viviana and Jason, you'll come into from Back Entrance and make sure the security guards and paid operatives will-"

"Just call them goons like the rest of us." Jason says, pretending to be barely paying attention. I know he's intently listening as much as the others.