Forbidden Connections

Gossip.

Tim's eyes widened as Sapphire's laughter echoed through the room, her chair leaning back as she seemed to revel in the tense atmosphere. Eve's sudden declaration, "I'd like all of you to leave, please," sent a chill down Tim's spine. Friday's announcement, "You have one minute to leave the premises," only added to the urgency. Nightwing, Red Hood, and Red Robin quickly filed out, with Lily leading the way. As they left, Tim couldn't shake off the feeling that something sinister was unfolding. The alarm blaring and the red lights flashing only heightened his anxiety. What was happening? And what did Eve mean by "the game" and "your move"? The uncertainty left Tim's heart racing. Tim had ran out the base then frantically searched for the base, but it had vanished. "It's gone!" he exclaimed, turning to the others in disbelief. "What the hell was that?" he demanded, looking at Lily for answers.

Meanwhile, Eve stormed into a training room, trying to shake off the whispers that were growing louder in her mind. "Get out of my head!" she yelled, unleashing an energy blast.

Lily walked to the edge of the roof, gazing out into the distance. "I know who she is," she said, her voice mysterious. Jason urged her to reveal the truth, but Tim hesitated, unsure if he should speak the name.

Eve, overwhelmed by memories, removed her mask and fell to her knees, weeping uncontrollably. The tension was palpable as the group's secrets and lies began to unravel.Eve, still crying, pulled her hair in anger. "Stop crying, you're always crying!" Eve had no more tears left to cry. She locked up the base and teleported to her room, seeking solace in the familiar surroundings. A refreshing shower and a change into cozy pajamas later, she felt more relaxed, her emotions slowly untangling. As she settled in, the fatigue of the day finally caught up with her, and she let out a deep sigh, ready to let go and recharge. Eve lay in bed, gazing blankly at the ceiling, her thoughts consumed by the events of the day. Tony entered the room, trying to be cheerful, asking about her patrol, but Eve remained silent, lost in her misery. Tony continued, trying to reassure her that the school year was almost over and that Lily would be gone for the last few days, but Eve couldn't muster a response. Instead, she bitterly mentioned how Lily had humiliated her and how her boyfriend seemed to always be there for her. Tony pulled out his phone, showing Eve the social media posts that were circulating, and apologized, trying to offer some comfort.

"Don't give me that sorry crap!" she shouted, standing up and fighting back tears. "I'm sick of everyone's apologies! I'm tired of crying, tired of dealing with everyone's crap all at once because of some stupid rumors!" She glared at her dad, her eyes glowing with frustration.

"Okay, okay, let's take a breath," he said, trying to calm her down, worried that her magic might get out of control.

But she wasn't having it. "I don't want to calm down! There's nothing to calm down about! All I want is to be happy, and I can't even have that!" Her magic faltered, and she collapsed to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably.

Tony pulled Eve in for a warm embrace, gently kissing the top of her head. "I'll do whatever it takes to make you happy, Eve," he whispered. As Eve wept, she heard whispers echoing in her mind, asking if she longed to be free from pain and tears. With a silent nod, she agreed. Little did she know, the next day would bring a transformation that would change her life forever.

Meanwhile with the Bats.

"Omg, you idiots! It's Eve! Evelina Stark! For crying out loud," Lily exclaimed, frustrated with Tim's hesitation. "She knew what I was talking about when I mentioned the game."

Nightwing nodded in agreement. "I knew her voice was familiar."

Tim looked at them, trying to process the revelation. "Don't yell, someone could hear you, you idiot. I know we can trust her. She's a good person."