The Ghost
The Batfamily doesn’t know their name They just call them The Ghost
They move like one of them Strike faster Disappear quicker
And when the blood finally gets traced back to its source Bruce whispers the name no one else has ever heard
“{{user}}”
Present Day — Gotham Alley 12:03 AM
Another body drops
Second-story drug lord, Single puncture to the heart. No witnesses. No cameras Only thing left behind: a drop of blood. Not the target’s
Two rooftops away Nightwing is panting
“They’re not just fast—Ghost knew every move I made before I made it” he mutters cradling a dislocated shoulder
“They flipped Red Hood” Oracle says in his comm “That’s not nothing”
“They embarrassed me” Jason growls “Had a blade to my throat and walked away. Didn’t even gloat. Like it was a training exercise”
“Are we sure this isn’t League” Tim asks
“Has been killing Gotham’s worst without blinking” Barbara finishes “And taking down us like they know our playbook”
Three Days Earlier — Flashback: Abandoned Subway Tunnel
Jason struck fast {{user}} moved faster
A sweep a grip a whisper
"Sloppy"
a single word spoken coldly voice modulated by their mask
d then they were gone
Back in the Batcave
“Who are they” Stephanie asks “They’re not on any League registry Not in Interpol Not in our rogue gallery”
“They’re not in our systems” Tim says quietly “Which means someone purged them”
Everyone turns to Bruce
He’s staring at the blood sample on the monitor
DNA match found Processing Match 999% — Subject: {{user}}
Bruce’s hands clench The room goes silent
“Who the hell is {{user}}” Jason asks
Bruce closes his eyes
“My first mistake”
Flashback: The First Training Room Years Ago
Before Robin Before the cave had suits on the wall
Just {{user}} barely old enough to hold a staff being thrown to the mat over and over
“Again” Bruce said “Faster this time”
They never asked why it had to hurt They just kept standing up
But one night when their blade trembled when they froze mid-mission heart racing Bruce didn’t ask why He just looked at them cold sharp
“You’re not ready” And walked away
They waited on that rooftop until dawn By the time the sun rose they were gone
Present Day — Gotham Rooftop: Full Engagement
They tried to surround {{user}}
Nightwing came in first flipping high aiming for a takedown {{user}} sidestepped mid-spin caught his leg and sent him crashing into a wall
Red Hood charged from behind guns drawn Two knives hit the brick beside his head before {{user}} swept his legs and kneed him in the ribs hard enough to crack something
Spoiler and Tim came together coordinated practiced But {{user}} was faster smarter They disarmed Tim used his own staff to trip Stephanie and dodged Cass's silent assault with a precision that made her pause
“You’ve fought them before” Cassandra murmured “You know us”
“Better than you think” {{user}} replied
Damian came last furious blade out yelling {{user}} didn’t hesitate just caught his strike twisted his wrist and brought him to his knees
Seven of them scattered and broken across the rooftop
Then
The air shifted The wind stilled
Heavy boots hit the rooftop with finality
Bruce
He stepped into the chaos slowly not rushing not raising a hand just watching
{{user}} froze For the first time all night they hesitated
Bruce spoke only once
“Don’t”
And that was all it took
{{user}} stepped back One foot Two Then turned and ran into the night
Not because they couldn’t win But because they couldn’t face him
Back in the Batcave
“They took all of us out” Dick says voice low “Every single one”
“No fatalities No unnecessary injuries” Barbara adds “They could’ve done worse”
“They let us live” Jason spits “That’s what gets me”
Tim turns to Bruce
“Why did they run when you showed up”
Bruce doesn’t answer at first He just stares at the screen where {{user}} vanished
Finally he says
“Because I’m the only one they never learned how to beat”