Shadows ran at dusk breezing by leaving the metal fence of the empty basket ball court to ring. Another flash of figures went by. One stopped clinging to the fence of the court. "Come on Night's here!" The boy with his red hoodie ran to catch up with the group as they gathered in an alley way. They made a similar commotion to that of a group of teenage girls outside of a Justin Bieber concert, only slightly more masculine.
"Come on guys give me some breathing room your suffocating me here." A voice said from with in the crowd of boys. The boy with the red hoodie stood outside of the group with his eyes wide. The group parted and an older boy, perhaps a young man, tripped out his long black hair tossing about as he stumbled. He caught himself and stood up dusting his shirt as if it didn't happen. "How's it going kid? It's been awhile hows your mom?"
The kid embraced the young man with a hug, "Night it's so good to see you." Night rubbed the top of the boys head a little shocked at the show of affection. The kid stepped back blushing,"I mean, yeah. It's good and all. And mom's fine. She's been doing a lot better lately. How about you? Have you kicked any bad guy tail lately?"
By now the kids had spread out a bit. "Yeah as a matter of fact I just got back from a beat down last night. How about I go over the details as we play a little game of B-ball?" The young man pulled out a blue and white striped basket ball from behind him. When he acquired it no one knew.
"Sure. I'll beat you this time I've been practicing!" With a pass of the ball from elder to pupil the two walked into the gate of the court which lied between several old brick buildings.
"Whatever you say kid. You go first." The kid dribbled the ball in his left hand and then rushed forward shooting for the hoop. The taller of the two jumped up and blocked the ball slamming it down and sending it to the outer edge of the court.
"No fair, you're taller." The kid said disappointed his shot didn't make it.
"This world ain't fair kid. My turn." Night walked over and picked up the ball and stood before the single hoop which rested at the center of the court. He dribbled it back and forth between two hands and took a slow deep breath. "Now." He ran forward ball dribbling rapidly.
The kid rushed it but the older more skilled of them easily dodged it sliding to the side turning on his heel and spinning around the boy. The he jumped and slammed the ball into the hoop and the chains of the net rang.
Night picked up the ball and tossed it to the chest of the boy. “Hey I thought you were going to tell us about last night, not just kick R.J.’s butt in basketball.” Someone said from the crowd outside the court.
“Yeah Night tell us about last night.” R.J. said as he dribbled the ball.
Night rubbed the back of his head. “All right, all right. I’ll tell you but we keep playing.”
“Sounds good to me.” R.J. said as he rushed forward with the ball. Night once again jumped up and smacked the ball and a gunshot sounded.
----------
“You listen to me. You have until I count to three before I pull this trigger and spill your brains all over the concrete, capiche?”
The night was cold and damp. I remember the splash of a puddle ruining my other wise silent steps.
“Who’s there?”
The man had goons throughout the alley. He had been threatening this woman to give him the combination to the safe she had in the back. I took out the first goon with an electric wing-ding. He was out before he hit the ground.
“One!”
Then I made my way to the roof. With a grappling hook it took all of about five seconds.
By then Night had scored a few times on the young boy. When he turned to hand the ball back several kids were standing with him. “Hey that’s not exactly fair.” He passed the ball and the boy caught it.
“The world isn’t fair.” The boy smirked and passed it to a teammate.
I jumped down and landed on one of the goons who had been watching from a side rail of one of the apartments.
“Two!”
That’s when I pushed his unconscious body over and it smacked against the ground.
The kids tried to work around Night and for a moment they had. Scoring one shot against him. But it was just to get their hopes up. Night smirked as he took a hold of the ball.
They all looked up with their lights aimed toward where the goon had been but I was already gone.
Night dribbled forward but the boys were numerous and blocked his way. He decided to go left where the boys followed suit but there was no stopping him. He ran across the fence and propelled himself over the group of boys where he easily closed the gap between him and the hoop scoring another point.
While the leader’s back was turned I swept down and picked up the girl and flew up with my grappling hook. The zip of the cord must have caught their attention because they turned and fired.
It was five to one and the boys were angry. One took off his dark red leather jacket and tossed it to the side. “Come on.” Night said was the boy dribbled the ball back and forth.
I turned my back to protect the girl and my suit took the few bullets that hit fine.
The boy rushed forward but Night simply slid under him and took the ball.
Once I was on the roof again I comforted the girl and then dropped down on the other side. I opened up the unlocked window and ran forward crashing through the other side and taking a goon down with me. We fell to the ground and he softened my fall.
Once again it was Night’s turn and he dribbled slowly to the right. When the boys tried to rush forward he threw the ball to the fence and swayed through the crowd. The ball bounced off the fence and returned to his hands.
A man was near me and I took one of my batons and hit his wrist causing him to drop the gun. It misfired distracting the rest of the men as I gave him a quick one two.
Night jumped and slammed another point. “You guys tired yet?” He looked to the crowd of sweaty and panting boys. In an aggravated tone they all yelled, “NO!”
“All right then.” Night said with a smile and passed the ball.
By then the men were in a panic and began to shoot without really knowing where I was. I went from shadow to shadow.
“Where’d he go!?” The leader yelled. Then another man fell from the railing above. They shot again but none of their bullets met their mark. Soon enough it was just me and him.
The game ended ten to one. All the boys had left and R.J. crouched over panting. “What happened next?”
Night walked over and put a hand on his shoulder, “I did what any hero would do.”
“What the devil are you?” The man asked holding a shaking pistol in his hand. He fired twice and then his gun clicked empty.
“I am the night.” And then I left him for the Gotham police.
“Wow that’s amazing. How do you do it? Kick ass I mean?” The boy looked up with fascinated eyes.
“Hey watch the language. What would you mother say?”
“Oh sorry.” The boy looked down at his feet.
Night put a finger on his chin and lifted his eyes back to him, “I owe it all to Batman.”
“And your basketball skills?”
Night smiled, “I got that from the circus.”
“ROBIN! Time to come in.” A feminine voice echoed throughout the alleyway.
“Looks like you have to go Jr.”
“Yeah I guess so.” The boy opened the gate and stepped out. He looked back but Night was already gone. With the sun high in the air. A raven flew by overhead.
Reply With Quote
Posting Permissions
