Chapter Text
The bright sun shone through my window as cars honked and loud sirens blared.
Typical day in Gotham, I suppose. But it was my day off, and I really didn’t wanna be woken up like this.
However, I was going to be very, very busy today.
I moaned as I tossed off the silk sheets and some of my many embroidered pillows.
“Eeghhh,” I yawned. “You ready for breakfast, Plushy?” Plushy, my giant white rabbit, started hopping in circles excitedly. He’s a little too plump, but that’s not my business.
I slid out of bed and trudged to the kitchen, itching one of my tattoos as I went.
I had a lot of tattoos, one thigh piece and one sleeve, which I added to every year until I ran out of room.
I really liked my tattoos. I was always taught growing up that tattoos were a sign of the devil…but I don’t believe that anymore.
The sunlight reflected off my green kitchen tiles as I opened the fridge to grab us some food. We didn’t have much, I’m gonna have to go shopping soon. Oh well, yogurt for me, kale for Plushy.
“Hear ya go, Plush.” I set the food down in his cage and he goes to town on it. “You be a good boy while I’m gone, ok?” Plush doesn’t respond, but then again, he usually doesn’t.
“Alright, let’s go catch these pieces of shit.” I threw open my closet with more force than I intended. Oops.
Once I got changed into one of my favorite outfits- a lace undershirt with my favorite red velvet boots and a large black trench-coat. Don’t judge me, alright? It’s colder out there than what I’m used to…
Once I got to the base floor of my apartment building, I stopped by the bodega. It was connected to the apartments, and the owner, who we all called ‘Nonna’, lived a few doors down from me.
“Morning, Nonna!” I announced as I walked through the isles.
“Good morning, dear.” Nonna always over-pronounced the ‘r’ in ‘morning’ and ‘dear’. I’m not sure where she was from, but sometimes we could barely understand each other. It’s not her fault at all I’m from the south, so I usually try to eliminate my accent when I’m talking to her.
I grabbed my favorite gum and went up to pay.
“You be good today now, ok?” Nonna said, and pulled her shawl further over her shoulders. It wasn’t a question, I thought amusedly.
“Yes, Nonna.” I placed the money in her old little cookie tin. Everybody in this part of town knew not to mess with her, but I still thought it would be a little safer for her to not have a cash register in plain sight.
“Thank you! I’ll see ya tonight!”
“Bye, dear, be safe!” Nonna continued doing her crossword puzzle as I left the store. She’s good to me, I like her.
Ok, first stop down, next stop- the library.
I wade through the windy streets at a good pace. Gotham is very busy, and many people are either going to work or causing a ruckus like normal.
I really didn’t want to live here, but it was one of the easiest places to get a new identity. But I won’t get into all that right now…it’s not important.
Despite the…grossness, of the rest of the city- the library is a beautifully intricate building. If not a little decrepit. It has large arching windows that are somewhat ominous, but I like them.
Once I obtain the books I need, I’ll be on my way.
I picked out one of the medical history books I was looking for, and turned the corner.. right into someone. We collided and I stumbled back with a grunt.
The person (a boy maybe a year or two younger than me) steadied himself. Then he attempted to help me pick up the book.
Geez, he doesn’t look as solid as he feels.
(Insert Tim monologue: Mmm, so this is her out in the wild..she’s convincing enough, I guess. Very unassuming.)
“Oh, it’s ok, I got it.” I bent down and recovered the book, smiling at them politely.
“Watch where you’re going, Drake.” A slightly smaller boy appeared from beside the original, holding quite a few true crime books. He looked annoyed, I wondered if maybe the original boy was babysitting him. They could really be brothers, although the smaller boy is a great deal darker.
“It’s fine, really..” I said calmly. I didn’t want to piss off the younger one. “It’s my fault.” I gave them another quick smile and walked away before they could say anything else. I felt bad, but I really wasn’t in the mood for conversation.
On the way out, I passed one of the librarians. He was watching the news on the small tv behind the counter.
“Just terrible about that fire last night..” he stated, almost dazedly. He was picking at his thumbnail.
“Mmhmmm…” I glanced at the tv. Fifteen dead, and a few were still unidentified as of this morning. It truly was terrible.
Later in the afternoon, I arrived back at my apartment and started finishing up some chores.
“You been a good boy today, Plush?” I asked conversationally as I cleaned up around the room.
Plush is sometimes what I call him instead of Plushy, it sounds cooler that way I think.
I set my new trophy, the medical history book, on the shelf. My bookshelf was a little weighed down, but I’ll make it work.
Once night descended on Gotham, like a black cloud, I was ready. You should know- I’ll do what it takes, no matter what.
At night, I was no longer Lydia Blood, but the Alchemist. The Alchemist was a tall, intimidating ‘man’ with nothing to lose. He beats people mercilessly, burning through enemies with ease.
I suited up as I thought about ‘him’. First, the black shirt and cargo pants. Then, my thick-heeled black boots, perfect for adding a few inches to my height. Next, my leather trench coat from earlier, and the plague doctor mask. The mask has a voice moderator in it, you see, and I’ve found it very helpful in scaring the enemy. Can’t forget my cross necklace, which I tuck gently into my shirt. Lastly, I put on the black western hat I’ve had for so long, and my gloves. The hat helps hide my hair, so no one will suspect a woman.
It’s not that I’m ashamed to be a woman…I’m not. However, I want the scary men to be terrified of me, and sometimes that’s difficult to do as a 21 year old woman. I also don’t want anyone to find out who I am, that could be crucial to everything I have here….
I stuff my pockets with a few of my little weapons- a small knife, and a handful of some darts I made myself. I don’t really need a lot of this, so it’s all mostly for show. I’m not sure if I mentioned it, but I’m meta- and a really strong one at that.
My abilities are chemistry based and a little complicated, but I’ll explain them quickly. My flame abilities are my strongest one, they come from within me but are able to be projected outwards. I usually aim with my hands and use them, but fire is able to be projected through essentially anywhere on my body. Only bad part is it does burn my clothes sometimes, and without oxygen, I’m useless.
That’s why it takes me a lot of recovery time if I over-exert myself with the flames. This is a little irrelevant, but one time, my oxygen stats were in the 60%’s. Real bad, huh?
Anyways, the next part of my abilities is my healing factor. Now, my healing factor can only fix what’s already there. So let’s say, somehow I no longer have a kidney. My body won’t grow the kidney back from nothing. But, for simple cuts and bruises, I can easily recover in about an hour. Teeth, however, are another story entirely. Sometimes they chip, but often they completely grow back from nothing. I’ve had multiple, multiple wisdom teeth surgeries to prove it.
I quietly opened my window and made my way to the scene. I was careful not to be noticed by anyone. It would be a shame if I had a run-in with the Bat.
I lurked around Gotham, sticking to the shadows, just like the Bat. I’m not trying to confront anyone tonight, I’m looking for the information I need myself.
After crossing a few blocks, I arrived at my destination. The remains of Ace Chemicals reeked of charred wood and flesh. I was not about to be here long, if it wasn’t a horrible place already..it certainly is now.
I crept under the police tape and made it inside the building. I’m not usually one to get scared, but I didn’t like it here.
I paced around the upper floor silently, just to make sure there I was alone. Once I was sure no one else was here, I dropped down to the ground floor. There’s got to be some evidence here, I just know it. “Victims of the fire, let you be received by the Great Being.” I whisper as part of my words to the dead.
I stayed low to the ground and slowly walked up to something drawn in the sand. There’s no way the police could have missed this, and I’m not one to put faith in Gotham’s police.
It’s a symbol, drawn almost too lightly to be seen, but I recognize it immediately. It’s them. I thought I’d escaped. I thought- whack.
Suddenly, something hard hits me in the shoulder blade. Ouch. I crumple to the ground, only to twist sharply to face my attacker.
There’s a flash of red, and the offender is on top of my chest, holding some kind of long stick to my throat. It’s Robin.
Well shit, that means the freakin’ bat is around here somewhere. Might as well make funeral arrangements now….
(Insert Damian monologue: It seems I’ve finally come face to face with the Alchemist..can’t say I’m impressed, despite the impressive rumors. But Grayson and I have a bet with Drake, so Alchemist goes down tonight.)
“You won’t get away with this!” Robin screams. I twist and thrust up to sling him off, then I scramble up to face him. This is really not good. In the dust-up, the symbol has been destroyed.
I am trained, and trained well, but I was caught by surprise. On top of that, I have to heavily restrain myself to minimal flame use, which sucks.
Robin charges at me and I use my flames to create a circle around him. Maybe that will slow the little menace down for just a second so I can leave.
But he’s not giving up that easily. As I’m running away, Robin tosses some of his throwing stars, one slicing across my calf. I grunt in pain, but I don’t dare show him weakness.
(Insert Damian monologue: We can’t let him get away! I’ve disappointed Father too many times as of late..and I don’t need to add to the numbers. However, he’s trained better than previously thought. As much as I hate to admit it, I may need Grayson’s assistance with this one..)
What the hell? Isn’t this kid like 14 or 15? I thought as I ran for the exit.
As I passed the door, a hand grabbed my shoulder and pulled me down abruptly. I’m doomed. I turn around, expecting to see the Bat himself, but instead I’m faced with Nightwing. His body is illuminated by the dim white lights of the outside. Not much better, but I’ll take it.
(Insert Dick monologue: Damian is gonna be so mad when I’m the one who takes down Alchemist. But I feel like the stakes of the bet should’ve been higher..)
“Going somewhere?” He asks with a smirk. He rears back for a punch which I must allow, hitting me in the side. I duck to kick his legs out from under him. It works, but on the way down he pulls me with him. We struggle on the ground for a bit. I’m nowhere near as physically strong as him, and I’m too distracted by Robin to use flames on both him and Nightwing.
Plus, I really don’t want to injure someone. I just came here to look for evidence. As Nightwing and I struggle on the ground, I softly pull one of the darts out of my pocket.
I quickly lock my legs around his neck and inject him, a move I learned a long time ago. The darts are more like shots since I can’t actually blow them yet. I didn’t think of that when I made the mask, unfortunately. “What the hell?” He asks, ripping it out almost immediately. That won’t do any good, it’s too late.
I jump off of him and start sprinting, putting up a flame wall behind me so they can’t follow.
Once I’m a little farther away, I glance back to see Nightwing stumbling to Robin.
(Insert Damian monologue: You idiot! How will we explain this to Father? That the both of us together let some low-level crime boss wannabe escape?)
I do feel bad, but I can’t take any chances being caught. I got way too sloppy there.
I go up and down the streets of Gotham, pacing around buildings in circles, climbing up stairwells to confuse them.
Once I do that for a few hours, I finally feel like it’s safe to go home.
I finally creep back up to my window.
“Sorry I’m home a little later.” I whispered to Plushy. He always gets freaked out when he sees me like this, so I take off the mask quickly.
Plush sat in a loaf position in his cage. I think he couldn’t care less if his mom got absolutely annihilated by Batman or
not.
I stripped and set my outfit in a pile by the closet. Once I got a nice, hot shower, I assessed the damage. Water drips onto the floor as I observe myself.
Shit. One cut to the calf, 4 bruises- one of which was on my cheek.
“Well that’s not gonna be a good look for work.” Hopefully, it would heal up by tomorrow.
I dressed the cut and got ready for bed.
When I’m all settled down under the sheets, I begin to ponder. Maybe I could offer tribute to Robin and Nightwing. Maybe we could work on this case together. They obviously think I did it now, so it’s going to be hard to prove my innocence….maybe….