My Ghost

twenty-nine

I don't go back to Jason's apartment, although I know I should. I check my cell and see that I've missed three calls from him. I sigh and set the phone facedown, I'll call him later. I had other things to attend to first.

I speed through the city, I'm headed to Wayne Manor but I can't quite figure out as to why. Everything always seemed to lead back to Bruce in the end. We might have our differences, but part of me knows that no matter what he will have my back; and if he doesn't, Alfred does. I needed him, despite desperately pleading the universe time and time again for it not to be true, it was. I needed Bruce, and in some odd way it felt like he needed me. Like he... enjoyed having someone to discipline. Perhaps it reminded him of when Jason was Robin.

I pull into Wayne Manor, staring at the mansion in awe. It looms ominously over me as I approach the front steps. As if it's intimidating me... warning me. Before I can even knock, the door opens to reveal Alfred standing before me.

"Ms. Hady?" he asks, clearly shocked to see me.

"Is Bruce here?" I question, stepping past him into the manor without waiting for so much as an invitation.

"He's in the cave, I don't suppose-"

"Can you please take me down to him?" I interrupt. Alfred nods slowly and turns on his heel, leading me through the mansion to the secret entrance I had learned about only recently. 

We take the elevator down to the Batcave, and as we descend I start to plan out exactly what I needed to say to him, yet I'm still struggling to find the words. They all jumbled together in my mind, tied together like a giant rubber band ball. 

The gate slides open and I step into the cave, pausing to take in the sight of it once again. No matter how many times I come here, I will always be shocked by its appearance and advancements.

"Ray?" I hear a voice, and I turn to see Tim standing over by the display of computers. Bruce sits in a swivel chair beside him, turning to face me.

"Tim, Bruce," I greet them, walking over. Alfred follows right behind me, stopping a few feet away.

Bruce stands, his fists at his sides as though he's ready to fight. It almost breaks my heart that he's on his guard around me now. Almost. But we had been here before and most likely would be here again. I had earned this reaction and I knew that. I accepted it.

"Why are you here?" he asks, his voice filled with aggression. 

"My father knows," I state, my voice calm and collected. "He found out tonight when the Gala was attacked by an imposter posing as Lynx."

"About you?" I nod in response, but his face does not waver from its stone cold position. This did not phase him as I had imagined.

"Needless to say he wasn't pleased. He told me to give this up or leave him," I pause, planning my next statement carefully. "Bruce, I love him. With every part of me I love my father, I wish to be half the man he is someday; but I can't give up this. I have become too involved, and to back out now would be surrender. I love this city as much as he does and this is the best way for me to protect it. I just came here to ask that you look after him for me."

Bruce glances at Tim and then back at me. He thinks carefully about his next few words, so carefully I can nearly see the machines running in his head. "Ray, I think you're making a mistake. Your family is  more important than anything else. You shouldn't give that up for this."

"I can't live that life Bruce and I won't. I have a family out there that loves this side of me, a family that will support me. I know our last talk didn't go well and I'm not here to ask your forgiveness or even ask for your friendship. I'm simply here to ask that you protect my father as best you can."