The mission had gone sideways fast.

Nightwing and the team had barely entered the abandoned factory before a group of armed traffickers opened fire from the upper levels. Tim dove behind a crate, M’gann shielded herself instinctively, and Beast Boy shifted into a wolf to push Wally out of the line of fire.

Nightwing spotted the leader - the one giving orders, the one with the detonator. He was too far for Nightwing’s escrima sticks. Too high for M’gann’s telekinesis in such tight metal space.

And then -

Crack.

A single, perfectly timed shot echoed through the factory.

The leader jerked back and dropped, the detonator skidding across the floor.

Nightwing’s head snapped toward the scaffolding.

You stood there in the shadows - masked, steady, lowering your rifle like it weighed nothing. Not a hero pose, not a villain stance. Just… efficient. Focused.

Before the team could even form a reaction, you leapt from the platform, landing lightly on the concrete.

Nightwing took a step toward you, already analyzing your stance, your breathing, the way you held your weapon.

You gave him only one sentence:

“I’m not here for you. Don’t get in my way.”

Then you turned and bolted through the maze of broken machinery.

Nightwing moved instantly - “Wally!”

“I’m on it!”

Kid Flash sprinted after you, weaving past debris, dodging metal beams. You were fast - trained - but not speedster fast. You felt him gaining on you and pushed harder, boots sliding across concrete as you cut through a narrow corridor.

Wally reached out and grabbed your sleeve just as you slid under a fallen pipe.

“Hey—hold on! You can’t just shoot people and leave!”

You twisted sharply, breaking his grip with a clean, practiced move. Wally stumbled but recovered. “Whoa-okay, you’re strong too, that’s great - just slow down!”

You didn’t.

You sprinted up a collapsed staircase, vaulted a broken railing, and disappeared through a shattered window before he could react.

By the time Nightwing reached Wally, you were gone.

“Did you see their face?” Dick asked.

Wally shook his head. “Mask. Full mask. And attitude.”

Nightwing glanced at the fallen leader, then at the window you escaped through. His eyes narrowed.

“Whoever they are… they knew exactly what they were doing.”

And he wasn’t sure whether that made him relieved - or concerned.