Chapter 7: Haly's Circus

I wake up in a panic, drenched in cold sweat. My hands are clutching the sheets of the bed so tightly I worry they may snap off the corners of the bed. My breathing consists of episodic heaves, my eyes moving frantically in search around the room. I'm back in Wayne Manor, in the same room I was given originally, only this time there are padlocks fastened on every window. 

"Welcome back," a voice announces by the now open door. Dick has his arms crossed, his tall body leaning against the door frame. I didn't even notice his arrival. I stare at him in silence, my past actions flooding my tired mind. I lower my head in shame, not wanting to prove how selfish I am any further. 

He straightens his shoulders and walks into the room, sitting on the edge of my bed. "Hey, kid. You shouldn't feel embarrassed."

"Who said I was?" I scoff. 

A small smile lifts the corners of his mouth. "Y'know, when I was around your age, I stayed in this very room when I first arrived at The Manor. I ran away almost every night, using the very same window you used to make your escape."

This, I did not know. I've only ever seen Dick as this straight-laced, easygoing, golden child. Him and I are starting to seem more and more similar. 

"Why did you? Run away, I mean." I inquire. 

Dick sighs. "My childhood was complicated, to say the least. Even before becoming Bruce Wayne's adoptive son and Batman's sidekick, I struggled. But I learned how to overcome my struggles and persevere."

I nod in response, finally picking up my head to level my eyes with his. There's a stinge of familiarity, an unknown comfort. It's like looking in a mirror, or seeing into the future. 

"How did you do it?" I ask, desperate for a solution to my problems. 

"That, you'll need to come about yourself. Only you yourself can learn that." 

I blow a raspberry, "bullshit, Bird Boy. Stop gatekeeping your inspirational story." 

"I've been telling him the same thing for years," a brunette woman chimes as she makes her way into the room. 

"Hello, Donna, Meet Elle. Elle, meet Donna Troy," Dick explains, gesturing to both of us. 

"Nice to finally put the name to a face," Donna states, extending her hand. I shake it, slightly shocked by her immense grip strength. 

I turn to Dick warily. "Wish I could say the same, I've never heard of yours." Realizing how harsh my words sound, I quickly correct myself, "I mean, not that it's a bad thing, it's just I've been having this pretty sucky memory problem, and I'm not that good with new people! What I'm trying to say is-"

"What Elle means is that she's a bit socially awkward and she wants to know more about you," Dick interrupts, saving me from talking myself to death. The two adults erupt into laughter. I sit anxiously, twiddling with my fingers. 

"Are you a hero as well, Donna?" I question. 

"Depends on who you ask," she responds, "I go by Wonder Girl, but to you, I'm just Donna." 

I smile. "Well, Donna, Dick's right. I'm happy to meet you. Which reminds me," I add, turning to face Dick again, "I want you to train me. I want to start being more of a help around here rather than a problem." 

Dick takes a deep breath, "Elle..."

"I know, I know. I promise I won't run away again and get half-killed by your former brother/teammate. I made a mistake, and I own up to that." 

Donna and Dick exchange knowing glances. 

Donna shrugs. "I mean, Dick, you were so similar to her when you were her age. Just give the kid a chance, she may end up surprising you."

I'm liking this Donna chick more and more already.

Dick's face is almost unreadable, as if he's a statue or a crappy painting. But I can see the cogs turning in his head. 

"Please, please?" I beg. 

He clicks his tongue and sits up. "Fine! But we're gonna take baby steps! We'll start tomorrow morning, 7AM sharp, alright?"

I jump up in excitement and squeal, my hair turning a subtle orange as I hug Dick firmly. 

"You're burning me, you're burning me!" Dick exclaims, trying to rip himself from my grasp. Donna laughs loudly, clutching her stomach. 

"Oops, sorry!" I apologize, reversing my powers to a cooler sensation. With my hair a pastel blue, I wrap my arms around Dick's waist once more, using the cold of my body to soothe any lingering burning. 

"We'll work on that tomorrow, too," he states, hugging me back. 

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When 7 in the morning rolls around, I'm nowhere near as excited for training as I was hours before. I grumble in exhaustion as I roll out of bed, pounding my ringing alarm clock so hard I nearly smash it. I quickly throw on some athletic wear I find in the dresser and head downstairs to the kitchen. 

"Goodmorning, Miss Elle. Can I interest you in anything to eat this morning?" An older looking man asks, incredibly polite. 

"No thanks, Mr.- uh..."

"You may call me Alfred, Miss." he remarks.

"Okay, Mr. Alfred. Thank you for offering, though," I reply, tossing my hair into a high ponytail, "I'm already late for my first day of training." He smiles and continues with his chores. 

As I head down to the Bat Cave, I think about my time back in the lab. The others don't know very much about what Luther and his team of scientists made me do, and I'm nervous that I may grow out of control in a panic with Dick. Although, I don't want them to know that side of me, the darker side of me. The part of me that was made into a weapon. 

Entering the cave, I find Gar, Kori, and a girl with medium length black hair standing around the monitors. They're all talking firmly in hushed voices. 

"He'll come back. Jason isn't used to not getting what he wants. He'll never stop!" Gar argues.

"She's safe here. We're all safe here. After the accident, Dick and I went around closing all possible entry points. It's completely sealed," Kori reasons, placing a hand on Gar's shoulder. He shrugs it off. 

"We fight for our own. Elle's in a similar situation to mine when Dick first took me under his wing. Plus, once she trains and learns how to use her powers, she'll be a vital part of the team. She can be a Titan." The unknown girl adds. The other two look on to her with sympathy and understanding. Gar nods, but barely. I can tell he's still hesitant. 

"We barely know anything about her," Gar acknowledges. 

I've heard enough. "But you will," I interrupt. They turn around quickly, eyes widening in surprise. 

"Elle, are you ready for training?" Kori asks. 

"I think so," I respond, my eyes now fixated on the mystery girl, "I'm Elle, it's nice to meet you."

"I'm Raven, it's nice to meet you, too." I have to contain my shock when I see the purple crystal that's embedded into the center of Raven's forehead. To each their own! I'm not one to judge. 

"Dick is over in the gym. I'll meet you guys there in a few to help out," Gar says, pointing to a hallway. My shoulders are tense with anxiety. My first day of training, one where I'm required to kill somebody or exert myself to the point where I nearly die. 

WIth long and cautious strides, I make my way to the gym. If I'm to kill Jason Todd, the Red Hood, Gotham's newest monster, I'll need all the practice I can get. 

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As Jason presses down on the pedal of his motorcycle, the engine revving violently, the bright lights of Gotham City become all but a blur. Soon, he'll have to encounter Subject L53 again. Jonathan Crane has had him working days and nights as the beginning part of their plan falls into action, despite the unexpected failures and obstacles. 

Even in the darkest parts of the night, Gotham never seems to rest, a cacophony of car horns and distraught voices flooding any passerby who dares to step foot outside. Although some detest the sounds of the city, Jason only feels comforted, as if it were all a symphony. This city gave birth to him, raised him into the man he is now; not Bruce Wayne, not The Batman. The only thing he ever learned from his faux-father was that all you have in this world is yourself, and relying on others is what will get you killed. Jason knows this better than anybody. 

As he pulls into one of Gotham's many alleyways, Jason climbs off his bike, hanging his helmet on one of the handlebars. Where he's going, a mask isn't needed. 

A mixture of gravel and broken glass crunches underneath his boots. Frightened rats scurry to their corners as Jason closes in, heading deeper into the alley. 

A lighter flickers a few feet away, sending sparks flying. After two more tries, a cigarette is lit and brought to the mouth of Joseph Molanti, a D-list drug dealer in the city. Joseph looks as if he hasn't showered in days, his short black hair matted and tan skin dirtied with the trash of the streets. 

"I thought dealers weren't supposed to tap into their own stuff, or have times changed since I've been gone?" Jason asks. Joseph and him were acquaintances years ago when they were just children. Since then, Joseph has grown a small reputation for being an informant, working various jobs that enable him to hear tidbits of gossip and information. 

"Todd, still a pretty face, eh?" 

"You want a bullet in yours?" 

Joseph shrugs and pulls a cigarette from the front pocket of his jeans, offering it to Jason. Jason ignores the offer, leaving the dealer to stand awkwardly for a few seconds before he shoves both hands back into the pockets of his ragged sweatshirt. 

"I'm guessing you want to know information about Luther's latest investment?" Joseph teases. 

Jason's face remains still, as if he was carved from stone. "What do you know?"

"Ah, if it were that easy, you wouldn't be here talking to me," Joseph stalls. 

"I was told you have insider knowledge on why Luthor spent so much time with h-" he pauses, correcting himself, "-it. If you know something, it's better you tell me now while you still have all your limbs." 

Joseph nearly drops the tobacco from his mouth, not expecting the once scrawny homeless boy he knew to become so harsh. "The girl wasn't born in a lab, she was brought there. Snatched right up from her mommy and daddy, or better yet, lack thereof. I wasn't able to hear much, but all I know is she came from some crazy shit, somethin' about Haly's Circus and some wacko-performers. Whatever it was, the girl was probably cucko long before Luthor took he-"

Before Joseph could finish his sentence, a bullet was lodged directly into his heart, the man dead even before his body hit the ground. Jason was breathing long and hard, his expression the same as before, only now his eyes were wide open. 

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(A/N): 

Many (somewhat) new characters in this chapter. I apologize to those waiting for more interactions between Jason and Elle, I just have to get past the plot building first. We still dont know what Jason and Crane are planning and why Crane needs Elle. We also dont know anything about Elle's past - well, now we know a little bit! Trust me, what we all want is coming sooner than you think... 

Plot twist!!!!!! But what could this mean? Who is Elle really? 

Looks like Jason may have to figure that out when he runs into her the next chapter... ;)

<3M