My Ghost

twenty-two

I sit behind the handles of one of Bruce's motorcycles, cruising through the city. I watch the radar in front of me as it scans for any underground activity and any weapons. I smile to myself as the wind rushes past me, and for the first time since I came back I feel at peace. I feel free.

A red dot appears on the radar and I lean to my left, taking a sharp turn onto 31st Street. The wheels screech against the pavement and I slam my boot against the ground, steadying myself to avoid crashing. When I regain balance, I gas the bike and the engine hums, shooting forward. I missed moments like these, and as the city rushes by me in a blur, I find myself at ease.

I slow to a stop outside an old, worn down apartment building. I roll the bike around the side where it would be hidden-for the most part- and set up atop the roof of a building across the street.

I crouch on the edge of the roof, scoping out the apartments before me. It seemed quiet, suspiciously so for Gotham. I pull out my old sniper rifle, peering through the scope. Bruce had kept it in the cave, and it didn't take all that long to find all of my other weapons as well. For a world class detective, he was incredibly predictable in hiding spots.

I sweep over each window, keeping an eye out for any shadows or signs of movement. As I pass over one, I pause, squinting slightly. A light shadow paces back and forth by the window. I follow it with the scope, keeping the gun trained on their body. Eventually, the shadow pauses, and seems to lean backwards.

"HAHAHAHA!" I hear ring into the night, and I feel my body tense up. The Joker.

I'm fairly certain he's the one I have the gun trained on right now, but there's no way of knowing for sure. I sit there, grip tightened around the trigger, itching to pull it.

But what if that wasn't him? What if it happened to be someone innocent? Could I risk it?

I'm not given the time to decide, as I watch a figure swoop into the building, a black cape flying from behind him. Batman.

I let out a frustrated sigh and drop the gun at my feet. Of course he would show up here the same time I did. Of course he would manage to ruin my night yet again.

I watch the window, waiting to see somebody come flying out it, but nothing happens. I watch as a van drives down the street, parking in front of my building and a man getting out, walking inside. I watch as a newspaper blows across the street, and I sigh. There was nothing to do here.

I grab the gun off of the ground and toss the strap over my shoulder, attaching my grapple to the roof and lowering myself to the ground. As I step away from the building, I see two people exit the apartment building, and I press my back against the wall. I peer over at them and it's... Bruce and Jason? Working together?

"I don't get it!" I hear Jason shout, and I watch as he kicks the side of the building. "How didn't he know anything?"

"I told you, her story has changed multiple times. The Joker may not even know where Black Mask is," Bruce replies calmly.

"This Cole kid better pull through tonight or I swear to god..." Jason begins to mumble, and I watch as he plays with the clip to his pistol.

As I watch the two, I hear the slight sound of a bullet entering the chamber. I begin to scan the area for the threat.

My eyes fall on the van, and I begin to realize what's about to happen. The Joker is working with Black Mask, this was a trap!

I react without thinking twice and sprint out into the open, pulling a pistol from my holster and opening fire on the van blindly. I hear Bruce shout something, but I'm too focused on the bullets exiting the van. It's almost as if they're moving in slow motion as I get closer and closer to Jason. I can't push either out of the way, they're too close now.

I skid to a stop in front of them, holding out my hands and closing my eyes, braced for the impact of the bullets. But the hit never comes, instead I hear the sound of metal clinking against the pavement.

"Holy shit," I hear Jason mumble, and I nervously open my eyes. The bullets lay on the ground in front of us, not a single had gotten past me nor hit me.

"W-what just happened?" I ask, my voice shaking.

I turn to face them, but Bruce is gone, and as I hear the slamming of heads against metal, I know he's neutralized the threats in the van.

"How did you do that?" Jason questions, his eyes wide as he looks at me.

I look down at my hands and back up at him. "What did I do?"

"You stopped those bullets Ray! How?"

"I- I don't know," I whisper.

"You should've stayed home," I hear Bruce grumble, and I turn around to find him storming over to us.

"She just saved our lives," Jason argues, stepping slightly between Bruce and I.

"If you couldn't have dodged that attack then you've gotten rusty," Bruce snaps back. "How did you get here?"

"Your bike," I answer, my voice quiet. What exactly just happened?

"What did you do Tim?" he presses.

"He's in the cave. He-he's fine."

"Bruce now's not the time," Jason whispers, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. "Something incredible just happened."

"I don't care. You're too volatile Ray, you shouldn't have come out here. You need to get these emotions under control. You shouldn't be here right now. This-" he gestures to the bullets "-should not have happened."

"I want to go home," I whisper, my voice and body trembling.

"You're going back to the manor."

"Bruce-"

"This isn't up for debate Jason!" he interrupts Jay. "You have developed powers, just like Roman and Luthor predicted. We need to figure out what they are."

"Why?"

"It's important we have all of the information," Bruce answers.

"We? Or just you?" I ask him, my eyes finally meeting his. "You have a contingency plan for every single hero and villain known to man, you just want to know my powers in case I ever go off the rails. In case I ever pose a threat to you. No, you're not interested in helping me, Bruce, not even close. You're interested in helping yourself."

"I'm trying to protect my city."

"From who? Me?" I question him, pushing Jason's arm off of me and stepping towards the Bat. "You can't make up your fucking mind. One second you trust me, you're going to back off, and the next you're hounding me again. One second you allow me to operate in Gotham and the next you're trying to stop me. I thought we could finally work together, but you just want to make me out to be a villain."

"That's not what I'm trying to do-"

"Then what is it? Huh?" I cut him off, angry. There was no winning with Bruce, ever. I felt like we were stuck in this endless loop, and I'm sick of it. "Am I allowed to work here or not? Do you trust me or no?"

"Ray, a lot has happened I think we should just go and cool off," Jason intervenes, resting a hand on my shoulder.

"No, I want him to answer."

Bruce stands there, his face expressionless as usual, but I can tell that he's thinking hard about his answer. The countless times he's saved me and the occasional team ups, he's weighing them all.

"No," Bruce simply states.

"Bruce!" Jason yells, tensing up.

"I don't trust you, not when you've done nothing but lie about that night over and over again and again. I don't know what happened but you aren't the same and I can sense it. We all can. You can operate here all you want, but I can't promise I won't stand in your way. I can't trust you. I'm sorry, Ray."

I nod, he wasn't wrong, he made a valid point. "Jason, can we go back to your place?" I ask, and Jay simply nods next to me. He grabs my hand and starts to walk away, but I pause to say one last thing.

"You're so concerned about knowing everything, Bruce. Sometimes not knowing is better."

I let Jason lead me away, focusing on how my hand fits into his as I attempt to slow my breathing.