Falling into Gotham (Dick Grayson Fan Fiction)

Chapter 22

I was awoken to the sound of a puppy barking outside the door. I cracked my eyes open, still groggy, and realized I was in Dick's room. The memories of last night came flooding back, and for a moment, I just sat there, letting them wash over me. But then my eyes caught the alarm clock on his nightstand, and panic set in. I was late. Gizbie is going to be pissed.

I carefully slipped out of bed, trying not to disturb him. The room was still dark, with only the faintest light filtering through the curtains. As I quietly gathered my clothes off the ground and got dressed, I glanced over at Dick. He stirred slightly, and for a terrifying second, I thought he was waking up, but then he just turned over and started softly snoring again.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding and crept toward the door. Every step felt like walking on thin ice, but I managed to sneak out without waking him. Once I was in the hallway, I rushed to the living room, my heart pounding in my chest.

When I reached the living room, I found Gizbie waiting for me, looking every bit as pissed off as I had feared. She was holding the puppy, who was aggressively licking her face and wagging its tail. The contrast between the puppy's joyful energy and Gizbie's stormy expression was almost comical, but I knew better than to laugh.

She glared at me as I skittered up to her. "That wasn't your room you just left, was it?" she asked through gritted teeth.

I shook my head no, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me. "I don't even want to know. It'll just piss me off," she muttered, rolling her eyes in exasperation.

"Sorry, Gizbie," I mumbled, looking down at my feet.

"Save it. Let's just go." She sighed and rolled her eyes. She snapped her fingers and a portal to the fortress of solitude opened up in front of us. The dog yelped and jumped from Gizbie's arms into the portal, playing in the snow.

Gizbie floated in, muttering curses at me. I started to follow her when I heard a door open in the hallway.

"Angela?" Dick's sleepy voice came from behind me. Oh god, this is exactly what I wanted to avoid. "Angela, what are you doing? Where are you going?"

I slowly turned around, my eyes welling with tears as I shook my head, "I'm sorry, Dick."

He looked at me confused, before realization dawned on his face. "Angela, don't do this. You're not ready!" The cold air whipped around me, throwing my hair in my face obstructing my view of his devastated expression.

"Angela, let's go," Gizbie urged from the other side of the portal. My heart felt like it was being ripped in two, but I knew I had to do this. I had no choice. I turned away from Dick as he started running towards us. I walked in the portal and turned around to see his betrayed face looking at me devastated as the portal closed.

The moment the portal sealed shut, I collapsed onto the cold, hard floor of the Fortress of Solitude, my body racked with sobs. My head fell into my hands, and I couldn't hold back the tears any longer. Everything I'd just done, every choice I'd made, came crashing down on me all at once.

Gizbie's hand rested gently on my shoulder. "This is what you wanted, Angela. You knew what the consequences were going to be. Now let's go, we have to prepare to meet your father."

Her words were meant to be reassuring, but they only made me feel worse. I had known the consequences, and I'd chosen this path anyway. But knowing didn't make it hurt any less. The reality of it was so much harsher than I'd ever imagined. I nodded, still crying, and forced myself to stand. There was no turning back now. I had to see this through, no matter how much it broke my heart.

+++

A little while later, Gizbie and I stood in the heart of the Fortress of Solitude. The cavernous space around us felt impossibly large, almost echoing the weight of what was about to happen. Gizbie placed her hands on my shoulders, grounding me with her steady presence. "I'm taking the barrier off now. Are you ready?" she asked, her voice gentle but firm.