Under it, I etched in tiny precise strokes:
"You look to the sky,
but your shadow walks the ground.
— D"
They'd never guess the meaning.
Not yet.
I stepped out into the hallway just as Batgirl turned the corner.
For half a second—
we stood face to face.
Her eyes narrowed.
Blue meets green.
A spark of recognition?
A suspicion?
She opened her mouth.
I bowed politely, voice soft and accent perfect:
"Pardon me, miss. I'm looking for the main hall."
She blinked.
Her instincts screamed danger.
Her logic said: "He's just a child."
"…down the hall," she said, still unsure.
"Thank you."
I walked away calmly.
Once she turned her head, I vanished.
Black Mask's Reaction
Upstairs, Black Mask opened his secret transport crates.
Empty.
All three.
His scream echoed through the gala.
Nightwing arrived seconds later and found the metal plate.
"What is this?" he muttered.
Batgirl stared at the carving.
"It's… a bat. But not Batman's."
Oracle's voice crackled:
Whoever did this got past Black Mask, all his security, and us. And walked away like it was nothing."
Nightwing sighed.
"Bruce isn't going to like this…"
Back in the Pocket Dimension
I returned home.
Three bioweapon components safely stored.
Mission complete.
Unseen.
Unheard.
Undefeated.
The pocket-dimension mansion was quiet.
I sat on the wooden porch, holding my Nichirin sword as moonlight washed across the training field.
One day…
I will stand before Batman.
But not as an enemy.
Not as a weapon.
As his son.
Until then, I will let him chase my shadow.