DC: Crystalizing

"Nice," Adrian said. "Well, thanks for the assist, hero. I'm out of here." He turned on his heel and started walking away, only for Batgirl to step forward and block his path. 

"It's dangerous out there," she said, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I think you should come with me. The Justice League can protect you." 

Adrian's smile faded. His posture stiffened, and he met her gaze head-on. "Thanks, but no. I can take care of myself." 

Batgirl's expression didn't waver. She stepped closer. "I insist." 

Adrian's jaw tightened. "Or what? You gonna drag me back? Throw me in a cell like Cadmus did? Is that what heroes do now?" 

His voice rose, sharp with anger. The smile he had been wearing moments ago was gone, replaced by a bitterness that seemed to pour out of him unchecked. "You're not taking me anywhere," he said. "I'm done being anyone's prisoner." 

Batgirl didn't back down, but she let the silence stretch for a moment, her eyes softening. Finally, she sighed. "I'm not here to capture you, Adrian. You can go. I can't force you to come with me." 

Adrian blinked, caught off guard by the admission. "Just like that?" 

She nodded. "Just like that." 

"Guess heroes aren't as dead as I thought." 

"You don't like superheroes?" she asked, genuinely curious. 

Adrian hesitated before answering, the bitterness creeping back into his voice. "People love heroes because they've been saved by them. But me? I'm one of the many they couldn't save." 

Batgirl flinched slightly at his words. She could feel the weight behind them, the years of pain and anger woven into every syllable. "I understand," she said quietly. 

Adrian's gaze flicked to her, surprised by her honesty. "That's not very hero-like of you to admit." 

"I'm not perfect," Batgirl said with a sad smile. "I couldn't save Maya Cruz from being killed." 

Adrian's lips thinned, and for a moment, his usual cocky demeanor cracked. He nodded slowly, his voice softer. "Thanks for telling me. It's part of life, I guess. Death happens. But you? You're alright in my book, Batgirl." He reached out and gently patted her shoulder. "I'm sure you did your best for Maya." 

Batgirl's gaze held his, but she didn't say anything. 

Adrian turned, ready to leave when her voice stopped him. "Hey." 

He turned around, catching the small piece of paper she tossed to him. He unfolded it to see a phone number scrawled across it. 

"What's this?" 

"A number you can call," she said. "I know you don't want the League's help. But a lot of powerful people will be coming after you. And whether you want it or not, we're still here to help." 

Adrian smirked. "Wouldn't it be easier to slap a tracker on me or something?" 

"Maybe," Batgirl replied, "but I don't think you'd appreciate that." 

He laughed, shaking his head. "No, I wouldn't." He tucked the paper into his pocket. "Thanks for everything, hero." 

Without waiting for her response, Adrian turned and jogged toward the container bound for the U.K. His footsteps echoed against the docks before disappearing into the night.

Batgirl stood at the edge of the dock, her boots firmly planted on the weathered wood, as she watched Adrian disappear into the maze of shipping containers and shadows. The cold wind from the harbor brushed against her face, tugging gently at her cape. Her breath fogged in the night air, but she barely noticed. 

She pressed her fingers to her earpiece. "Bruce," she said softly. "He's gone." 

"Did you give him an out?" 

"Yeah. He took it." 

Another beat of silence. Then, Bruce's voice: "You're sure that was the right call?" 

Barbara thought for a moment, her gaze still locked on the spot where Adrian had vanished. "I am," she said. "I could've forced him to come with me. But what would that have done? He doesn't trust anyone right now, especially people in masks. If I'd pushed him, he'd just see us the same way he sees Cadmus—another cage. Another hand on the leash." 

"And you trusted him to make the right choice?" 

She gave a soft laugh. "No. I trusted him to make his choice. Whether it's right or wrong—that's up to him. But at least it's his." 

Batman was quiet for a moment, and she could almost hear him analyzing her response. "You've grown," he finally said. 

"You sound surprised." 

"I'm not," Bruce said. "You've learned to balance the mission with compassion. That's not easy." 

She looked down at the piece of paper she'd written her number on, imagining Adrian tucking it into his pocket before running off. "He's been through hell, Bruce. He hides it well, but it's there. Cadmus didn't just experiment on his body. They tried to break him." 

"And yet he's still standing," Batman said. 

Barbara nodded. "Yeah. He's stronger than even he realizes. But I think it's more than that." 

"What do you mean?" 

"I think he's dangerous," she admitted. "Not just because of what Cadmus did to him, but because of the anger. The resentment. It's eating at him, and I don't think he even knows how deep it goes." She tightened her fist. "If that takes over… he'll be just like the people he's running from." 

"But if it doesn't," Bruce replied, "he could be the one to tear them down." 

Barbara smirked. "That's what you're hoping for, isn't it? That he'll burn Cadmus to the ground from the inside." 

"I hope," Bruce said, "that he survives long enough to decide who he really is." 

The weight of those words pressed against her chest, but she nodded. "I left him a way to contact me. Told him we're still here, even if he doesn't want us to be." 

"Good," Bruce said. "It's his call now. But if he reaches out, don't hesitate." 

"I won't," Barbara promised. She let the comm line go silent and lowered her hand. 

For a moment, she stood there, watching the ships bob in the harbor, their lights casting fractured reflections on the dark water. The wind tugged at her cape again, but this time, she welcomed it. 

With one last look toward the shadows where Adrian had vanished, she turned her attention to the mess of guardian and the others.

Sometimes, being a hero wasn't about saving someone. 

Sometimes, it was about letting them save themselves.

Author's Note:

If you're enjoying the story and want to read ahead or support my work, you can check out my P@treon at [email protected]/LordCampione. But don't worry—all chapters will eventually be public. Just being here and reading means the world to me. Thank you for your time and support.