___

Over the next couple of days, I played the waiting game with bated breath. On one hand, I was waiting for Mayor Gordon’s approval of my dismissal from the program. On the other, I waited for Lucius’ secret contact to come into Gotham on the ninth.

On the bright side, today was the day one of my waiting games would come to an end. My alarm clock went off, waking me from a deep slumber. I shifted on the small bed to face the numbers on the small device in the corner of the room, which read seven A.M. In a small font above the time, the digital clock revealed that today was the day I’d been waiting for. July ninth.

Bolting up, I quickly got out of the soft blankets that surrounded me. Once I stood, I made my way to the closet, grabbing some of Sydney’s hand-me-downs to dress myself in. Despite the woman’s bright and bubbly personality, her wardrobe only reflected neutral, bland tones. I pondered the irony of this as I slipped on a white half-sleeve and dull blue jeans, hopping into old slip-ons before exiting the small space I called my own.

When I exited, the heavenly smell of bread and butter filled my nostrils. The sunlight from the apartment windows began to blind me as I entered the kitchen area. My usual sight in the mornings was nowhere to be found, however. Instead of the two faces of Bill and Sydney to greet me, only Sydney looked over at me with a smile.

“Hey, kiddo! How’d you sleep?”

I smiled, popping into the kitchen to greet her with a warm expression.

“I slept well! I don’t think I’ve had a bad night's sleep since my first night here.”

“Well, that’s always good to hear. Today Bill had to head in early for a staff meeting at the high school, so today I just settled on bagels. Hope that’s alright!”

Before Sydney could speak again, the familiar pop of the toaster had her spinning around. Once she collected the two circular halves of the bagel from the toaster, she wrapped them in a paper towel before she handed them to me. The warmth of the bread in my fingers was searing but also welcomed. She motioned towards the container of golden butter on the kitchen counter, before sitting down to finish the rest of her own bagel lying in wait on the table. As I began to spread my bagel with butter, Sydney spoke before sipping on her black coffee.

“So, what did Lucius want with you today?”

I froze in my tracks, turning slowly to face her again, panic rising in my being as I tried to come up with an excuse.

What Lucius and I discussed days ago was top secret, according to him. Not even Sydney could know. The whole operation was extremely tight-lipped. Something only a few people save for Lucius knew about, or could know about. I gulped, trying to think of what to say. An idea popped into my head.

“Uh, he’s officially hiring me today! I’ll be interning! Once he completes a job interview, that is.”

Sydney smiled slightly at me, sipping her coffee as she nodded.

“Oh, okay. Sometimes he has interns work night shifts. Did he say he wanted you to possibly take that up down the line, kiddo?”

I nodded to confirm her answer, smiling as I now knew she was buying into the lie. Moving towards the table, I grabbed my bagel and sat down in the seat across from her. I took a large bite of the circular bread slice, the butter melting in my mouth as my hunger began to subside.

Sydney smiled, but I could tell something was off. She broke eye contact, staring down at her bagel. Silence dampened the room, until she spoke again, picking up her cup.

“That ought to be exciting… Especially since Lucius has never brought anyone on to work nights in years.”

I froze the bite of the bagel still in my mouth. Looking up at her slowly, I chewed.

Damn, I thought. Now I’ve got to find a way out of this new hole I dug for myself.

Overcome with guilt and panic, a slight sweat trickled down my face. I coughed after trying to swallow the bite in my mouth, it going down my throat roughly. Once I was able to talk, I spoke.

“Well, yeah! But he said he wants to take them up again, says I can be a real help! You know how busy he ge-”

“He asked you… Didn’t he?”

She spoke softly, her smile disappearing into a saddened, concerned expression. Her eyes stared into mine, boring into me for the truth she already knew.

I couldn’t help but stare back, unsure of what to say, or do. She wasn’t supposed to know, Lucius told me. She couldn’t know anything they were doing. Anything about the vigilantes, or Lucius’ part in it.

She sighed, nodding her head at me, looking down at her coffee. She took a sip of the black liquid before speaking.

“He did. I know I’m not supposed to know. But I do. I caught him one night. In the lab. Shortly after he helped me and Bill through a rough patch. I’d come back for my keys before closing and saw the monitors and everything. All his fancy tech. I tried to confront him about it, but he pretended I didn’t see. He never confirmed or denied to me what he was doing, but told me it was in my best interest to forget. For my own safety. The man had just saved my husband and I, so I owed it to him to keep it quiet - I mean, not just for that reason. He also helps people, and I want him to keep doing that but - But I know… I know what he does. And now he’s asked you to join in, hasn’t he?”

Frozen yet again, I nodded slowly, knowing the jig was up. She sighed softly, closing her eyes and setting her coffee mug down.

“Sarah, kiddo… You don’t know the risks-”

“I do know them, Sydney. Lucius explained them to me.”

I looked over at her, as she slowly looked up at me again.

“No. No, kiddo you don’t know the first thing. People get hurt out there. Worse than hurt. And I don’t want that happening to you.”

“But if I can learn to fight back, it’ll be eas-”

“Easy? There’s nothing easy about it out there. You’ve missed out on a lot of the ugly Gotham has had to offer, and no one - no one - deserves that. Those who try to help get it the worst. You not only get hurt physically, but you see things. Awful things. You got lucky the last few times you stepped up, but you can’t save everyone. Someone eventually loses their life, and you either see it happen, or you’re the one who dies… So please kiddo, don’t get wrapped up in this. I’m begging you to back out.”

I looked down, taking in her words. Birds chirping outside were all that remained after she spoke. Thinking back to a couple of nights ago, I thought about all the people I saw collected in the streets, watching Gotham’s fireworks show. How happy, how hopeful they were. Then I thought back to the man who attacked Lucius, and the people who assaulted Sydney.

She was right. People get hurt in this city. A lot. Based on everything I’ve been through with the men in clown masks, to the thugs and thieves in the streets, I knew it wasn’t a safe place. Lucius had a point, however. I could do things no one else could do, and I could use my abilities to get the upper hand and put a stop to it. Sydney was right. I could get hurt, but I would trade myself over others in a heartbeat. The urge to protect was stronger than the urge of self-preservation.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t… Sydney, no one can do what I can. I’ve been hiding away for so long. I’ve learned how to control my powers, but now I have the chance to use them for something good. I can redeem myself-”

“Honey, you never needed redeeming! We all know you are a good person. But the cops, they can handle this! You’re putting your life on the line for a city that will always have its flaws.”

“Sydney, cops didn’t even know Lucius was in danger until we called. And it is like that, all over! Cops didn’t even show up to help us when those guys in clown masks caused us to crash. Lucius explained it to me. Criminals are smart, they are always one step ahead because the systems in place prevent anything from being done. With these guys out there, they can help. Lucius helps them figure out things before they happen! Imagine the good I could do. Imagine the lives I could save.”

She sighed heavily, taking a sip of her coffee nervously. My hand reached over to grab hers. She took it, looking at me in surprise as I spoke.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared. I’ve been terrified every time. But I lived life being scared of myself. Being scared of hurting people… Now, thanks to you guys, I not only have control. I have the chance to help people, rather than harm them. I want to give back...”

She looked at me, and I stared back. Doubt and uncertainty swam in her eyes, but in mine the concrete conviction and determination held firm. Locked in a silent argument, we held each other's hand. Finally, the hint of wavering showed in her irises.

“Sarah… It’s dangerous. Extremely dangerous.”

“I know. But I’m tired of being afraid. I want to learn to be something more. Someone strong. If not for myself, for others.”

Sydney leaned back gently, nodding slightly. She sipped her coffee before speaking, trying to come to terms with my decision.

“If that’s what you want kiddo, I’ll support you. But you bet your bottom I’m gonna make sure Lucius takes care of you. Because the minute you get hurt I’ll raise hell.”

I smiled, shaking my head at her.

“I’ll be okay, Sydney. Besides, Lucius is bringing in someone to train me first. That’s what today is.”

“Well good. I should have known he’d be smart enough not to send you in blind. I still stand by my previous statement, though. Now. You finish up your bagel, then I’ll take you.”

___

The car ride over didn’t even yield small talk. I could tell Sydney was still hesitant about my decision to embark on this new journey, but she held it in. Mystery surrounded her motive, and something was deeper than what she was letting on. She seemed to know about what Lucius was doing, and about the dangers in Gotham. The question was, how did she know?

I wondered about what Sydney could be hiding the entire ride. Part of me wondered if I should press Lucius about it, but decided against it. Sydney shouldn’t even know about any of it, and I worried I would get her in trouble if I were to confirm any suspicions.

The scenery of Gotham’s buildings and streets passed by in blurs as we made our way to Wayne Enterprises. The clouds gathered in the sky, blocking the sun that would have blessed Gotham. Thankfully, the summer weather only permitted a slight chill to break through, making for a crisp, comfortable morning. Sydney drove us down into Wayne Enterprise’s parking garage, where all-natural light became impersonated by bright mechanical lights in the ceiling. As we slowed into a parking spot, Sydney silently turned the car off once we had parked. My body began to shift to get out, but Sydney hadn’t unlocked the doors yet. I turned to her in confusion, only to see her staring at the steering wheel, deep in thought with a saddened frown.

“S-Sydney?”

I asked, trying to meet her gaze.

When I spoke, she snapped out of whatever trance she was in. Her frown turned into a warm smile when she gazed at me.

“You know, you’re really brave. You know that, right?”

I blinked, before looking down at my shoes. Unsure of how to take the surprise of the compliment, I spoke softly.

“Everyone’s told me that, but I feel scared.”

“Hm. You know, my father was a soldier in Vietnam back in the day. He gave me a great piece of advice every time I was nervous.”

Looking back at her, I waited for the answer. Sydney met my gaze and smiled again.

“A brave man is either a scared man, or he’s a liar.”

“I… don’t get it.”

I inhaled, before exhaling in defeat trying to figure out how any of that could make sense.

“It means that everyone gets scared. But what separates the brave is the people who take a stand anyway. Despite their fear. Does that make sense?”

“I-I guess so.”

Sydney patted my shoulder, before looking away towards her steering wheel.

“I had a request, kiddo…”

She trailed off, not looking me in the eye as she spoke. I sat and waited for the rest.

“Lucius asked me to deliver you to his office on the top floor. But requested that I not go in with you. He said it was because he didn’t want the interview compromised. But we already know what it’s about… Lucius is going to start keeping me in the dark about a lot of things regarding you now. And I wanted to ask a favor…”

She exhaled, looking over at me with pleading eyes.

“Please, don’t keep me in the dark. Let me know what's going on with you out there. If I can’t persuade you to stop, at least keep me updated on how you are. Lucius doesn't have to know… and I want to help you too. In any way I can.”

Her eyes exhorted for my agreement, and I could tell my answer would mean everything to her. Something in her expression told me about Sydney’s past. That something about this situation was causing her memory to flood back to something. Whatever that something was, it wasn’t revealing itself directly. The only thing it unveiled was that it still affected her greatly to this day.

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I battled with myself on what to say, on what to tell her. If I kept her in the dark, I knew it would break her heart. If I told her, I’d be betraying Lucius’ word. I eventually settled on one thing.

What Lucius doesn’t know won’t hurt him, I thought. Sydney cares about my well-being. I can’t and won’t worry her any more than I already am. She deserves that kindness.

I nodded slowly, agreeing to her terms. Her face lit up in a smile before she nodded back at me.

“Thanks, kiddo.”

With her last word whispered, we exited the car. Heading into the elevator to start my training.

___

The elevator delivered me to the top floor on the thirtieth level, with Sydney waving at me before the doors closed behind me. I now stood in a very sophisticated lobby, with red carpet lining the floors with deep elegance. Dark accents of polished wood adorned the walls in stripes. I stood in front of two large double doors, affixed with gold accents. In all, this was the classiest room I had ever stepped foot in, and my simplistic presence felt extremely out of place.

Walking up to the fancy doors, I knocked twice before stepping back. I waited, looking down at my old shoes that stood out from the fancy carpet.

“Come in!”

A familiar voice spoke through, muffled by the heavy doors. With permission now granted, I carefully opened the doors.

When I stepped through the threshold, I was almost suffocated by the new level of sophistication this room possessed. Everything from expensive-looking artifacts to a built-in mini bar stood in front of a massive wooden desk, slick and polished to a shine. A giant monitor that looked like it cost more than a year’s lease sat atop the surface. Behind the desk was a cushioned red desk chair, where Lucius was sat in.

“Ah, Ms. O’Harren! Welcome. This is where I spend most of my time. Besides the board room, which is now under repair on thirty-six…”

Lucius motioned around the room, and let me soak it in before he spoke again.

“I trust you were able to keep today discreet with Mrs. Delgato?”

Caught off guard, I whipped my head back around to face him. Without saying a word to jeopardize the secret I carried, I nodded quickly. A slight smile popped onto Lucius’ lips.

“Hm, good. I know her skills of observation and curiosity are hard to avoid most days.”

“Yeah, tell me about it…”

I chuckled nervously, moving by an artifact in the form of a head bust to look at it. The label on which read ‘Antigone - Antonio Accardi.’

“Well, I trust you are ready to start your physical training?”

Lucius asked, stepping out from behind his desk. I looked back at him, nodding slightly.

“Yeah, of course. I’m ready to learn from you.”

“Come again, Ms. O’Harren?”

Lucius tilted his head to the left, to elevate his right ear so he could hear me better. In confusion, I repeated myself.

“I-I… I’m ready to learn from you. Ready for you to teach me how to fight?”

After I spoke again, Lucius chuckled. My answer amused him greatly. In between chuckles, he spoke.

“Ah, that’s a good one. As much as I do appreciate your faith in my abilities, Ms. O’Harren, I won’t be the one training you. That’s a task I had to call in a favor for.”

In confusion, I tilted my head. Just before I could ask, however, I heard a very faint thud come from behind me, before a voice spoke.

“You know, Lucius. When I said she needed help, I didn’t mean this kind of help.”

I whipped around to discover the identity of the voice. Standing there behind me was a man, tall and muscular. The familiar hints of a black and blue armored body suit dressed this man. His short, shaggy, and black hair spilled over his eye mask, preventing me from making out any identifiable features. Once I saw the symbol on his chest, my eyes lit up. A bluebird spread its wings across his chest, causing my memory to fly back to the night of the mysterious hospital visit.

It was him, the man who called in the favor to Lucius. The one who started it all.

“I-It’s you…”

I managed to get out, looking at the man.

The mysterious man only smiled. Before looking over to Lucius.

“Aw, Lucius, you didn’t tell me she was a fan! I would have brought my autograph pen!”

Lucius gave him a stern look.

“Stay focused, Nightwing.”

“Alright, alright. So, what are we starting her off on?”

Lucius smiled, motioning to me. I looked back at Lucius to see what he would say.

“I think you should assess, before coming up with that decision.”

The man Lucius called Nightwing sighed for a brief moment.

“Pushing her into the water before she can swim. Harsh, Fox. Besides, are you sure she’s got control of those abilities? You saw her records...”

“She’s made exceptional progress and has full control under stress, and I have no doubt in my mind that she’s ready.”

I sat there, listening to the two. I was unsure what to do, or say. Nightwing then pulled something from behind his back. A black cylinder, with blue accents at the tip of them.

“If you say so, Lucius. Alright. Show me what you can do kid.”

I looked over to the man in blue, puzzled.

“I-I’m sorry?” I asked.

“C’mon, don’t be shy! Fox says you took down two muggers and a serial killer. I want to see what you can do before we train you.”

“L-Like… fight you?”

“Yeah! You got it. Don't worry, I promise I’ll go easy.”

I stood, hesitant at first. Looking back at Lucius, I silently glanced at him to figure out what to do. Silently, he gave a nod, signaling towards Nightwing.

Exhaling a heavy sigh, I closed my eyes. Reaching out inside to what lies dormant. Beckoning it from its rest.

We’re really doing this, I thought.

I opened my eyes, feeling the power surge through me. I felt shadows surround me, watching as black smoke emitted from my being. In an instant, I bolted towards the man. He got in a stance, prepared to fight. I made sure to remain in control over my clawed hands before phasing right in front of him, trying to grab the weapon from his hand. He quickly moved his hand away, making my objective a failure. He then swiftly elbowed me in the face, catching me off guard. I grunted, falling back. He then attempted to use his foot to kick down on me, but I rolled out of the way, jumping up as quickly as I could in a very sloppy manner. He then swung the cylinder weapon at me. Just in the nick of time, I changed, sifting into nothingness, the stick swishing through me. The man laughed once he saw this, amused.

“Hah! That’s new. Not bad!”

I disappeared away, to gain more distance. When I was far enough away, I watched as he jumped up, flipping towards me. Midair, I watched him press a button on the cylinder, making a sharp sound as bolts of electricity began whipping around the tip of the weapon. As he turned to fall, he swung his weapon down towards me.

I realized it was about to hit me, and that’s when I grunted as I jumped out of the way, removing myself from the path of the weapon. I heard the sharp slap of the cylinder colliding with the surface, narrowly missing me by mere inches. I thought I was in the clear, but the man recovered quicker than I could, swinging the butt of the cylinder around and hitting me square in the chest, sending me flying a foot back from the sheer force he put behind his hit.

I tried to shake myself out of it, phasing behind him and attempting to shoulder-check him down. He, however, knew what I was up to. Before I could even reach him, he reached with his free hand to grab my arm, twisting it with such force it flipped me upside down and around, causing me to fall flat on my back. He then was about to hit me in the chest with his weapon. Just as I flinched, ready for the impact, he stopped just before it contacted my chest.

He held it there for a second, before extending his hand out to help me up. I looked up at him, my shadows fading. All that remained was me, as he helped pull me up. He chuckled, putting his weapon away behind his back.

“Not bad. Your uh... abilities- give you an edge, that's for sure. But sadly, you’re now going to need to know a lot more when you’re out there. Fast footwork, fast reflexes, upper and lower body strength, and…”

He paused, looking at me with focused eyes.

“-how to use what strength you have to take down your opponent. See, there’s always going to be someone stronger than you. Which means they have an advantage over you. But you can even the odds by knowing how to take them down. It’s not about how big you are. It’s about how hard you can hit. But first, let’s work on the most important part. Defense.”

Just then, he put his fists up, preparing for a fight. He then directed me to do the same, instructing me on the proper stance. I did so, trying my best to make fists and copy his stance. Once I seemed to pass, he then told me my objective.

“So right now we’re going to focus on simple blocks. Now I want you to pay attention to my feet-”

He then demonstrated a punch. First with his left hand, then his right.

“Do you see how I lean in with the opposite leg when I throw punches? That gives you an insight into which hand I’m going to strike you with. If my left leg is back, my left hand is throwing the punch. Which means you can block.”

He then instructed me on how to block in two different ways. In his words, the push or the shield. When he strikes, I could either use my arms, wrists, or hands to push his fist away from its contact zone - me. Or, I could use my arms like a shield, blocking the impact. After we practiced each, with me preferring the push method more than the shield, he then moved on.

“Alright. Not bad. Favoring one block isn’t a bad thing. But it’s not a good thing either. Because-”

He then mimicked punching me. Just as I tried to push the hit away, he caught me off guard, coming back with another punch. He stopped his fist right before it hit me, but his point was clear.

“-Because your opponent is learning. When you fight and use the same techniques without changing it up, they catch on. Making it easier for them to take you down by exploiting that. But, we’ll work on that later. Let’s move on to evading.”

The man then explained that if I knew where the hit was coming from, I could learn to move my body to make it miss. After directing me on ways to evade them, we practiced them. I found it easier than blocking, quickly moving my body out of the punches. I then asked a question.

“What if I learn to just use my abilities to evade? To block and to fight?” I paused, returning to a normal stance.

“That’s an excellent idea and is something that could be very powerful in taking people down in the future. However, first I want to teach you to fight without using those. If you rely on them too much, then you get too comfy with them. It’s all you use. Then, if something happens where you can’t use them, what would you do? You’d be screwed. So, with that, we’ll start from the ground up. Build up your combat knowledge before incorporating your abilities into them. Sounds good?”

That made sense and was smart. He had a good point. I nodded, understanding what he meant. I practiced evading more, ducking and dodging his light and slow punches. Once I got the motions down. He spoke up again.

“Good. Now, I’m going to pick up the speed, and we’re going to spar again. This time, I don’t want you to attack. I only want you to withstand my attacks. Because I’m not going to stop until I think you’ve had enough. Can you do that?”

I took a deep breath in, nodding slightly. I was nervous, but my brain was hyper-focused. Focus on just blocking, I reassured myself. Got it. Just then, he swung.

I was caught off guard by his first punch, colliding with my left cheek. I cried out, staggering back a bit. I quickly composed myself, watching as he leaned in with his right foot. About to strike. Left hand, I thought to myself. Just like that, I pushed his left hand away. I kept pushing away his fists, but that was until he pulled a change hitting me square in the shoulder, sending a slight pain shooting up my neck. I cried out again but managed to block a right hook with my elbow.

“Good! Change it up.”

He exclaimed, continuing his punches. I used a shield block, before managing to evade his punches. He still got a few good hits in, but as he increased his speed, evading became my main method. I weaved out of his attacks, learning to get faster at it. That only made him pick up his speed. Just when I thought that was the fastest he could go, he sped up once again. I struggled to keep up, and part of me was screaming just to give up. I was about to cave in, but something inside me screamed.

No, I thought. I’m not here to give up. I’m here to prove myself.

Lucius’ words echoed through me, telling me I had made it this far. I know I can go even further. Past the melting point if I have to.

I picked up my pace as Nightwing threw his assaults out even faster, and through his concentrated face, I could see him smile in approval. Just then, I saw him jump on his left leg, swinging his right leg up at me. I barely bent my spine backward, narrowly missing his kick attack. Just then, I felt myself begin to fall backward. I knew he was going to exploit this, as I could see him lean in while I fell, ready to punch me to keep me down.

Without thinking much about it, I felt foreign instincts kick in. The heat of the fight or flight response ran through my veins. I flipped my arms backward past my shoulders as I fell, using my hands to keep my body from colliding with the platform floor. I then used my hands to turn myself backward, my body almost doing a handstand. While doing so I swung my feet at my trainer. I felt my feet collide with his chest and chin, and after I kicked him back I managed to right myself. I was shocked. Mostly because I had no idea I had that in me. I realized thinking on your feet has some perks.

Not entirely. When I was upright, I was too slow to evade the man’s kick, which caught me right in the stomach. I could feel the wind get knocked out of me, as I collided rear-first on the ground. My body made a thud as I did so, causing me to grunt out and begin wheezing. That’s when I noticed Nightwing relax, no longer holding a fighting stance. He was chuckling to himself, touching a bloody lip. I gasped, looking up at him while I was on the floor.

“Oh god! I’m so sorry! I-I didn’t mean to... I know you said not to attack… I don’t know what came over me...”

“Sorry? Don’t be! That was good! Caught me by surprise even. You learn fast. Which is everything.”

He laughed to himself, before coming over to help me up with an extended arm.

I dusted myself off, regaining some breath in my lungs as he spoke.

“Eventually, as we progress you’ll get comfortable. Find a way of fighting that’s fluid and natural to you. It develops over time. Like that little move you just did. Keep thinking on your feet like that and you’ll be a damn good fighter in no time.”

I was lifted off of the ground. I massaged my tender shoulder, where he hit me before. He gave a light chuckle, looking down at me.

“Need a break?”

He lifted his eyebrow, lifting his forehead muscles with it.

“Y-Yeah just for a sec?”

I went to take a seat on one of the stools in the minibar, leaning back on it while Nightwing went to chat with Lucius. I could make out bits and pieces of their conversation despite their attempt at being secretive.

“Yeah, she’s good… Some potential… The others are not happy… They don’t think… They’re worried she’ll make things worse… Some control, yes. But what if she loses… Yeah, I understand Lucius, but… Alright… Yeah, alright… I’ll talk to them, get them to come around…”

The man called Nightwing looked over to me, and once he realized I was listening in he gave a glance to Lucius before he walked over. Once beside me, he leaned on the bar.

“Don’t worry, I give it way worse in Bludhaven.” He chuckled.

I smiled slightly with him, stretching out all of my sore muscles.

“S-So, you’re not from Gotham?”

I asked, curious about the man and who he was.

“Actually kid, I’m originally from Gotham. But I left a couple of years ago. I watch over Bludhaven. Come here on occasion to help out the others, but ultimately it’s not my terf anymore.”

“Why’d you leave? Did it get too dangerous?”

The man laughed slightly, leaning his head back in amusement.

“I left because it was too safe. Someone was already here making a name for themselves, and I wanted one for myself. So I left to do so. That’s how I became Nightwing, the one-man show in Bludhaven.”

I nodded, listening to him. I realized that the someone Nightwing was talking about was the same someone Lucius mentioned. I decided I wanted to press for more info.

“Who was the someone in Gotham?”

Suddenly, both Lucius and Nightwing froze. After a moment of silence, Nightwing cleared his throat before moving away. I realized I had made a mistake, by bringing up something that touched a nerve.

“Well, I’m on the clock, so we better get back to training… I’m still getting paid, right Lucius?”

Lucius nodded, chuckling in amusement. Nightwing let out an excited cheer before returning to the center of the room. I hopped off of the seat to join him, leaving behind any other questions I had about the elusive ‘someone’ in Gotham.

“Alright. So next we’re going into the basics on offense. Normally, I’d tell you to use fists but…”

Nightwing trailed off.

“I think I want you to try using your forearms or elbows to hit. I think you’d be more successful that way when we first start."

I nodded back with a confused expression, trying to understand what he meant.

He put his hands up, showcasing his stance. I copied him, keeping his tips in mind. He then went on to explain how when I go to hit, I'm to lean in with the opposite leg, and not to form the full fist until I’m about to land the punch. He slowly demonstrated this, enough to where I could see what he was talking about. He then told me to give it a shot, putting his arms up in a defensive stance.

I swung, but not with my fists. I put all of my might into my left arm, swinging my elbow into Nightwings’s forearm. He stumbled back a few inches before he smiled in surprise

“There we go, again!”

___

We practiced for hours. Switching back and forth between offense and defense. By the end of my first training, I was worn out, beaten, and bruised. Deep behind the exhaustion and sore parts of my body, I felt accomplished. I felt powerful, and I knew this would only be the beginning. Lucius explained that Nightwing would return weekly and that Lucius was in the middle of putting together a training room in the Lab. Each time we would train, Nightwing said we’d work even harder than the session before. He explained that maybe sometimes I would want to give up, but encouraged me not to. He explained to me that this line of work was important. It never yielded any rewards, except for one. It yielded hope for Gotham, and at the end of the day, he explained he believed Gotham was in good hands.

I knew it was too. For once, I felt something inside me stir. It was a purpose. Like a rising feeling in your entire body, burning with destiny. I was born for this. I could feel that I was, and I was ready to push past the breaking point to fulfill the new purpose I had.

Maybe I was born to use these gifts to fight, to defend others. That was my redemption. Maybe it wasn’t a curse after all. I just didn’t have the right amount of help to know it, however. Now, after I’ve been given a chance. After I’ve been reborn, made to start this new life of mine. I was going to learn everything I could and fight to earn my keep. I wasn’t going to let down the people who put so much faith in me. I was going to prove to them I could do this, and prove to myself I have what it takes.

On the car ride home, I explained away the new bruises I had, with Sydney almost laughing at how banged up I was. I explained to her that it was all worth it, however. I was willing to gain more bumps and bruises in the pursuit of knowledge.

After dinner, where Bill and Sydney playfully bickered with each other, I laid my head down on my pillow. Turning to face the windowful of the night stars who greeted me, I knew I’d play the waiting game once again. This time, instead of waiting for my purpose, I would fight each day to claim it. I would push past my breaking point to become someone worthwhile. Someone who protects hope, rather than destroys it.

This wasn’t just my purpose, it was my redemption story, and I'd work hard every day to see it fully written.