Chapter 5: A Little Wet

It's my fault that Gar was hurt. It's my fault that Dick, Kori, and Dawn were so easily manipulated. Jason wants me, nobody else. Why put others in danger when my life is so expendable? 

I shove a band of hundreds into the duffel bag I found in the closet of my bedroom. I doubt Bruce Wayne would notice a couple thousand missing from his safe, but what he will notice is the gaping hole I left in the side of it. I need to leave the house before dinner in order for me to have enough time to get as far away as possible. 

When cleaning the Bat Cave after a certain someone's visit, I was able to bypass the computers and locate a safe house I doubt anyone would look for me at. I don't even know how I was able to hack through the intense firewalls, it was just something I was able to do. 

"Hey, Elle? says Gar, knocking on my door. I scramble to my feet, kicking the bag full of cash out of view. "Can I come in?" 

"Uh, I'm changing right now! What do you need?" 

"Kori wants to know how you want your burger cooked!" Gar says shyly. 

"Well-done please!" If I actually planned on joining them for dinner, I would request Medium-rare. But since I'm already trying to buy myself some time, well-done will do just that. 

"Gross, but whatever. I hope you'll enjoy a charred burger." I hear Gar's footsteps retreat down the hall. I exhale, my shoulders relaxing. I bend down and swing the strap of the duffel bag over my shoulder. I walk towards the window and unlock it, opening it slowly to avoid making any noise. I hop onto the windowsill, taking in the view: the afternoon sky, the swaying of nearby trees, the flowers in the garden. It's all so beautiful. If only I was able to stick around a bit longer. 

Looking over my shoulder one last time, I stare at the closed door of my bedroom. Something inside of me is hoping Dick will burst in and make me stay, assuring me that I'm wanted. I brush off my selfish fantasies. 

What I need to do is leave, I remind myself. They're better off without me. 

Without hesitation, I leap out of the window. 

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Six Hours later...

Rain pours down around me, drenching my clothes and hair. I could create a pocket of air to surround me, or even manipulate the water to avoid hitting me, but there's no point in wasting my energy. I've been walking along a trail in the woods for the past two hours, and my legs feel like they weigh 100 pounds each. I'm not physically equipped for this type of trek, giving I've spent the past 2 years or so cooped up in a lab. 

"Come on," I mumble to myself. "I should've been there by now!" 

A branch breaks from behind me and I freeze. Too scared to turn around, I stare blankly ahead. 

"You make this too easy." My stomach lurches as I hear Jason's voice not even a foot away from me. I clench my fists, causing my nails to dig into my skin. Taking a deep breath, I slowly turn, meeting Jason's dark emerald eyes. He does not don his usual red helmet, but is wearing the same weathered leather jacket and gear. His arms are crossed in front of his chest, his face laced with arrogance. 

"Only for you, Todd. I know you struggle with challenges." A nervous grin spreads across my face, and I hope it's enough to cover how scared shitless I am. The smile leaves Jason's face and is replaced with an annoyed frown.

He goes to pull for his gun and I put up my hand. Stopping in his tracks, he lets out a frustrated sigh. 

"Although I really appreciated the beat down you gave me earlier, I'm really not in the mood to put up with your entitled ass." 

"Fine, then let's make this fair," I reason, "no guns, no powers." 

Jason looks at me questionably yet void of any emotions. "Fair my ass, but whatever you say, princess." Removing the pistols from his sides, he throws them to the ground. 

"On the count of three, got it?" He nods as he stretches his hands. 

Veiny hands people! I repeat, veiny hands! 

"One..." I begin. "Two..." and before I'm able to reach three, I throw the duffel bag at Jason's face and bolt. 

"You fucking snake!" I hear Jason take off from behind me, but I'm already a good distance in front of him. 

Pushing away low-hanging branches, I maneuver in and out between tree after tree. The rain has picked up, hitting hard against my body. My breathing is labored and short after hours of hiking, but the adrenaline keeps me going. I pray that wherever I'm heading to is near the safe house, even though I haven't been able to look at my map in over thirty minutes. 

I trip over a rock, sending me flying down a muddy hill. My body does a few somersaults before being stopped by the trunk of a tree. I groan in agony, feeling blood rush down the side of my head. Dizzy, I struggle to locate Jason. I can't tell if I've lost him or if he has simply began to close in. I let out a broken sob as I force myself to my feet, my hand holding on to the tree as support. I stumble a few feet before I slip once more, this time at the edge of a cliff. 

"No!" I cry, just as a hand catches my arm. 

Lying on his stomach is Jason, his right arm outstretched in order to hold mine. His hair is wet and full of dirt, patches of dried mud covering his cheeks. I look down, seeing over thousands of feet between me and solid ground. Tears trickle down my face as I close my eyes, trying to keep myself together. 

"Elle, please! Let me help you!" Jason pleads, his voiced strained. I open my eyes, staring at his hand wrapped over mine. The rain begins to seep into our grasp and I can feel my fingers beginning to slip. 

I bring my eyes to Jason. "Let me go." 

His expression is filled with turmoil. I try to release his hand. 

"No! What are you doing?!" Sliding forward on his stomach, his other arm takes mine, both now keeping me from falling. Jason groans as he lifts me back onto the cliff, his left arm now wrapping around my waist in support. His feet planted firmly into the mud, I feel myself being pulled towards his chest.  After a couple seconds, Jason has me in his arms and is scooting backwards away from the edge. 

Both of our breathing is rigid, his more than mine. My head is resting against his chest, his arms still wrapped around my frame. I can feel his nose pressing into the top of my head. I'm shaking and I can't make it stop. 

Jason's hand moves to the center of my back, his palm pressing in. 

"Stop shaking." 

"Shut the fuck up," I mumble. After moment of silence, I add, "I can't." 

His hand moves to the back of my head, his hand practically covering its entirety. 

"For now, I won't hurt you." 

And going against everything I stand for, I allow him to hold me. 

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(A/N):

I'm so sorry this chapter took ages to be published. And tbh its not even that good. School has been kicking my ass lately so its been rly hard to actually sit down and write. 

College applications are so fucking stressful. Any who pls leave comments (bc i have yet to receive any and that makes me sad) and favorite this chapter, as well as adding my story to your library ;) 

And sorry ik this chapter is also very short, I'm suffering from severe writers block </3

Also did i trick u with the chapter name? LMFAO and maybe in a couple chapters I wont be ;))))))

Love u all

<3 M