If Souls Return (Then Tell Them I Say Hi) - Tony Stark's Daughter in Gotham

Chapter 23: A Great Responsibility

Hey, I hope you enjoy this update. I struggled over this chapter wanting it to have as big of an impact as I pictured in my mind. There is some violence, so fair warning and I apologize for any big feelings. Happy reading :)

Christmas had always been one of Amber's favorite holidays. She loved the way the lights twinkled on every home and the good mood that seemed contagious. This year was different though, and she hardly felt like celebrating, remembering how many people were missing.

The large tree in the manor's living room mocked her in all it's glory. Her reflection in the ornaments was the only image she had to remember what any of her family looked like. Everyone had always said she took after Tony, but Amber had never really appreciated that fact until now.

Thankfully the holiday rushed past her in a blur of flashy lights and ripped presents that sounded like static to her ears.

She remembered sitting on the floor in the family room, surrounded by all the Waynes when Damian opened a Lego set and began to put it together. Amber had gripped one of the plastic pieces in her hand pressing the sharp corner into her finger trying to feel anything.

"This one's for you," Duke said with a gift outstretched in his arms. His bright smile pulled Amber out of the holiday blues long enough to commit gently peeling apart the red Santa printed paper to memory.

Revealed was a small brass jewelry box with ornate gold trimmings. It was lined with velvet and played a soft tune when Amber lifted the lid.

"Bruce noticed the ring Selina gave you and I thought I saw you fidgeting with a bracelet once, so we all picked it out," Dick chimed in from the couch above.

Amber had a difficult time choking out any words as she tugged on her sleeves, paralyzed by the possibility that they'd gotten a glimpse of her web shooters. "It's very pretty. Thank you."

Jason nudged Dick in the side. "See I told you she'd like it."

At some point Alfred brought them all cups of hot coco on a tray and stuck around to watch the children fondly with Bruce.

To Amber, the only truly good thing that came with the holidays was a break from school. She spent almost every night out as Spider-Woman, swinging around Gotham and helping its citizens.

In being more active, she'd started to notice a pattern of odd behavior. It began with a mother who had climbed over the safety railing of a bridge with her child crying that the needed to jump to save themselves.

"They're everywhere!" the woman screamed clutching her child.

Amber approached them carefully not wanting to spook the mother further. "What's everywhere?" she questioned, mindful of the cars that were zipping past them on the bridge.

"They're after me! Behind you!"

Amber spun around ready to face an enemy. Only when she turned around did she see nothing out of the ordinary.

"Please make them stop," she begged.

Amber stepped closer offering her arms out to the child. "Here let me take you son and then I can make them go away," she promised the woman.

Out of the corner of her eye, Amber spotted Nightwing balanced above the bridge on a metal beam. He nodded at her to take the child and then dropped down to stop the woman from jumping when Amber had the boy secured.

"No! Please no," she shouted pounding on Nightwing's chest.

"Oracle I've got two civilian's who may need medical attention," he spoke into the comms taking over.