AU
I walked into silence. That was new, I've never not heard the sound for fists or the typing of computers or even just complaining, ever not come from the cave. It was like I was in someplace familiar, but not .
Then the sound of something thuding to the floor, I know that sound . It's the same sound Bruce's cowl makes when impacted against stone , I should know, I've managed to get a few lucky shots on him before.
I saw him. Bruce, I mean. Kneeling on the floor, a far away look in his eyes, but his lips were smiling. It was unnerving, unusual, un... un-Bruce-like. He's been acting strange for a while now, staring into the distance more, less grunts, more... silence . I understand . After all he did kill the joker, Jason was so proud. But I think it broke something. Something he'd never be able to live without .
" What did you do?" Was that my voice? I sound.. so empty... lifeless.
Bruce looked up with a smile that would make the clown laugh with joy.
" I've stopped it," he laughed, but all I really saw was the bloody smile smared across his face , no doubt from the multitude of bodies in the vicinity.
Dick, Jason, Tim, Steph, Cass Damian, and Duke . The only one missing was Kate, and she's not in town, but at least she wasn't here to join their lifeless forms.
" Stopped what , dad?" Why do I still sound so ...emotionless ? My siblings are dead, yet I don't cry a tear.
" Don't call me that!" He sneered stalking towards me like a predator to prey.
" always late aren't you" he chuckled and that alone should have made my spine chill but it didn't, I stood calm and less aware than I was before, or was that a few minutes ago?
" Why?" He hummed to me in question, so I elaborated .
" Why'd you kill them?"
" nuh-huh, you already asked a question , now it's my turn. Why were you late, birdie? " he circled me, but I didn't move. I could feel my muscles tensing my veins pulsing, struggling to remain open.
" I was ambushed," I started . How else should I have started it? I was minding my own business, then bomb hamlet and Ivy show up looking for blood, I don't think so? " Did you know, Ivy's blood I poison? She told me that before she died in my arms... I felt bad, horrible even . That's why I'm late, I killed someone without meaning to, " I answered . Now that I think about it, that's probably why my hand won't stop shaking and my legs want to give out.
He chuckled low and cold, but I saw the glint of worry in his eyes, but he seemed to suppress it.
" That hilarious. What, by chance, were their last words?" I started, but I cut him off
" No, it's my turn. Why'd you kill them?" I remain neutral but not because I wanted to be, the poison started to make my veins green , my skin paling
Bruce observed me , worry was in his eyes, but that smile never left. That fucking joker smile, how I hate it.
" because they were in the way" his voice was no colder than usual , just more humorous, like killing our family is some big joke, like they'll stand and laugh any moment now. Like Dick would be asking for a hug. like Jason would be tuning his bike. Like tim would be on his 10th coffee this afternoon , like Cass and Stephanie would be sparing like Duke would just be snoozing like... Damian... like his broken neck would magically turn back in the right direction....
He chuckled again " gonna cry? Please do. Cry so I can see your pain as I torture you, like I did the others. "
" Why would.. I cry? They're gone al...ready. " I fisted my cloak , and Ivy's blood soaked the fabric of my gloves. My throat was starting to close.
" Can I ask for one thing?" I said , showing no sign that i was actively losing oxygen
" Can I hug you?" I seemed innocent enough, so he complied , I smared the blood all over him as a consequence.
I was starting to lose my vision, but at least my eyes were finally crying... wait... no... that's... that's blood , of
course, it's blood. My nose too, am I just gonna bleed out before the poison stops my heart?
" Now, ready to.. Morgan, why.. are you?" His voice went from manic to concerned father, talk about whiplash.
" it's... not you..r fault" was all I could say, my legs giving out, I couldn't move, god hate not being able to move, I.... I can't breathe. My lungs hurt. I can't move, I can't.. dad, I can't see you. dad, I can't move. dad, I can't , I can't . I can't. I can't . I can't. I can't ....
My breathing grew to gasp, I wasn't breathing, but I could feel Bruce panicking , and not that creepy ass panic he was doing earlier when he literally slaughtered his entire family minus Alfred ( he died over a month ago due to the joker) , never gonna let him live this down.
My fingers tapped in rhythm, rapid but he still understand, and of course he did, we came up with this could when I first came to the manor, a way to talk when I just couldn't bring myself to open my mouth. God, I hate myself, I'm reminiscing now , is this that stupid life flash before your eye bs?
" I love you dad" was the last thing I managed to articulate before I felt my heart slow but not before I heard a howling cry, something in between a whales of a banshee and the sobs of my mother, who I'm currently seeing very vividly.....
and the others...
but I don't want him to blame himself, I don't want him to be all alone, so he'll have to see me a bit longer, I'll leave when he's ready.
Although I was not expecting him to still be able to see me as a ghost, at least he dug us graves .
" Stop laughing , Morgan. " he said to no one in particular.
Not funny, Morgan .