DC: Crystalizing

The city was draped in shadows, its distant lights twinkling like faint stars against the encroaching darkness. Maya's apartment was quiet, save for the occasional hum of a passing car on the street below. She sat on the edge of her couch, staring at the window as the deep orange glow of sunset faded into a cool indigo.

It had been 18 hours since Adrian left. She'd counted every one of them. He must be in Blüdhaven by now, she thought, her fingers absentmindedly playing with the frayed hem of her sweater.

She wished he had stayed. She wished she'd asked him, begged him, done something to keep him here in Washington. With her. But Adrian wasn't the kind of man who stayed in one place for long—she knew that. Still, the thought lingered.

"I could've made you so much more," she muttered aloud, her voice barely a whisper. "But I guess fate had other plans."

Her laugh was bitter as she stood, moving toward the kitchen to pour herself a glass of wine. The bottle sat open on the counter from earlier, a cheap red that burned a little too much going down. She stared at the liquid as she poured, her mind drifting back to a time long before Adrian—back to a night that still haunted her dreams.

---

It was late that night, too. She and Jacob, just kids at the time, were supposed to be in bed, but they'd been sneaking around the house, playing games while their parents folded laundry. Their mom's soft laugh, her dad's gruff voice as he teased her—Maya still remembered those sounds. They were the last ones she ever heard from them.

The screaming outside had come first. The sound of crashing, explosions, and voices raised in terror. Her mom grabbed her and Jacob, shoving them toward the laundry basket in the corner. "Stay quiet," she'd whispered, her voice trembling but firm. "Don't come out. No matter what you hear."

She and Jacob had climbed inside, pressing themselves down as their mom tossed clothes over them. Maya peeked through a crack in the basket, watching as her dad grabbed a bat and stood in front of the door. The creature that burst through wasn't human. It was hulking, grotesque, its glowing eyes burning like embers in the dark. The Parademon's claws sliced through her father like paper. Her mom's scream cut off too quickly.

Jacob's hand had clamped over her mouth as she shook with silent sobs, her small body trembling in fear. They survived that night because they stayed hidden, stayed silent. But survival wasn't living.

---

Maya snapped back to reality, the sharp taste of the wine on her tongue bringing her back. She sighed, running a hand through her hair as she leaned against the counter. Jacob had been her whole world after that. They'd clung to each other in the aftermath, inseparable. But as they grew older, they'd gone in different directions. Jacob had turned his pain into power, building a gang in Blüdhaven and ruling it with an iron fist. Maya had tried to walk a different path, one that wouldn't leave her drowning in the shadows of their trauma.

But it was hard. Hard to live an honest life when the world had only ever shown you cruelty. She'd fallen into the underworld not because she wanted to, but because she thought maybe—just maybe—it could offer her something. A purpose. A way to survive.

And now here she was, staring at an empty apartment, thinking about a man who had swept through her life like a storm. She'd dreamed, just for a moment, that Adrian could've been the one to save her from all this. To drag her out of the shadows. But that was a fantasy, wasn't it? He was gone now. And she was still here.

What a stupid dream, she thought bitterly. She shook her head, setting the glass down with a little too much force.

The knock at the door made her jump.

She frowned, glancing at the clock. It was late—too late for visitors. Maya moved cautiously toward the door, her bare feet silent against the hardwood. Her fingers brushed the knife she kept hidden under the counter as she peeked through the peephole.

The man standing there was massive, his frame filling the doorway. He wore a dark blue jumpsuit with gold accents that gleamed faintly under the dim light of the hallway. His golden helmet shone like polished armor, the visor reflecting the distorted image of her wide eyes.

"Can I help you?"

"Good evening, madam. My name is Guardian. I'm here on behalf of the United States government. I'd like to ask for your cooperation."

Maya blinked, her grip tightening on the doorframe. "The… U.S. government?" she echoed. "That's quite the claim. I'm going to need to see some ID."

Guardian nodded, reaching into his belt. He produced a sleek device that projected a holographic badge, glowing faintly in the dim light. It displayed his name, his affiliation, and a warrant for investigation.

"This should suffice," he said calmly.

Maya's stomach twisted, but she forced a tight smile. "Alright. What's this about?"

"I'm looking for a fugitive," Guardian replied, pressing another button on his device. A holographic image of Adrian appeared between them. "A man by the name of Adrian Wells. Have you seen him?"

For a moment, Maya didn't move. Her face betrayed nothing as she crossed her arms casually. "Why do you think I know who Adrian is?"

"Miss," Guardian said, "my investigation has led me to believe that you've been in contact with Adrian Wells. Several sources have confirmed this."

Maya groaned, throwing up her hands in exaggerated frustration. "Fine. Yes, he approached me. Wanted to get into the underground fights. I got him in, and then he left. That's it. End of story."

Guardian tilted his head slightly, his golden helmet catching the light. "I believe there's more to the story, Miss Cruz."

Maya sighed, stepping back to open the door wider. "Fine. At least come in. I don't want to do this out here."

"Thank you," Guardian said as he stepped inside, his massive frame seeming to take up the entire room. "You have a lovely home."

"Thanks," Maya muttered, shutting the door behind him. "You want anything? Food? Water? Coffee?"

"No, thank you," Guardian replied. "I just want your cooperation. A few questions, and I'll be on my way."

Maya moved into the kitchen, grabbing the jar of instant coffee. "Well, I'm getting coffee," she said over her shoulder. "Sit tight, hero."

As she scooped the coffee into a mug, her mind raced. How the hell did he find me? How much does he know? And what happens if he doesn't believe me?

Maya placed the coffee mugs in front of Guardian with exaggerated care, taking a loud slurp from her own mug as she stared at him. Guardian tilted his helmet slightly, likely confused, as he opened a small sack and started to speak.

"Ma'am, what—"

"Oi, drink the coffee," Maya cut him off sharply. "I made it with effort."

"Thank you, but—"

"Hey," she interrupted again, louder this time, pointing at him with her mug. "Just because you work for the U.S. government doesn't mean you can look down on some instant coffee. Show some respect."

Guardian let out a low sigh, clearly exasperated, but he lifted the mug to his lips and downed the coffee in one gulp.

"There. Satisfied?" 

Maya smiled sweetly. "Oh, very."

Guardian gestured back to the sack. "Now then, let's move on."

Before he could open it, a deep, ominous gurgle came from his stomach. He froze.

"Excuse me," he said awkwardly, standing abruptly. "Can I use your bathroom?"

Maya barely managed to keep her composure, gesturing casually. "To the left."

The second Guardian disappeared down the hallway, Maya bolted into action. She grabbed her handbag, slinging it over her shoulder as she made for the door. An entire bottle of laxatives, she thought, suppressing a smirk as her adrenaline surged. That should keep him busy long enough for me to get out of here.

Her plan was simple: get to one of her safehouses, then figure out a way to sneak into Blüdhaven and warn Adrian to run. If the government was after him, he'd need to disappear fast.

But the moment she stepped into the hallway, her breath caught in her throat.

They were waiting for her.

The G-Elves

The creatures looked like something out of a nightmare: humanoid, four-legged, with sickly white skin and sharp, angular features. Their red eyes glowed faintly in the light of the hallway, and their pointed ears twitched as they growled low, predatory sounds rumbling from their throats.

"Shit," Maya muttered, taking a step back as the creatures advanced.

Before she could react further, the door behind her swung open, and Guardian stepped out. His imposing frame filled the doorway, and perched on his shoulder was another small creature—this one striped black and white, with glowing red eyes and short, curved horns.

"You're coming with me," Guardian said, his voice cold and final.

Maya's hand darted into her bag, pulling out a pistol. "Like hell I am!" she shouted, firing a shot at him.

Guardian tilted his head at the last second, the bullet grazing his helmet and sparking off the wall behind him. His response was immediate—a sharp, controlled front kick to her chest.

Maya flew backward, her back slamming into the railing of the staircase with a sickening thud. Pain exploded through her ribs and back as she crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath.

"Stop resisting," Guardian said as he advanced on her. "Or else."

Maya grit her teeth, forcing herself to her feet. "Fuck off," she spat, and with a burst of desperate energy, she threw herself over the railing.

She landed hard on an old air conditioning unit a floor below. It buckled under her weight, groaning before collapsing entirely, but it was enough to break her fall. She hit the ground in a roll, biting back a scream as pain shot through her shoulder.

"Get her!" 

The G-Elves leapt over the railing without hesitation, their movements unnervingly fluid as they pursued her.

Maya scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding. She sprinted down the narrow alley, firing her pistol into the air as she ran. The sharp cracks of gunfire echoed through the streets, masking the sound of her footsteps and sending nearby pedestrians into a panic.

The streets were a maze of shadows and flickering neon signs, but Maya knew them like the back of her hand. She darted through alleyways, ducked under scaffolding, and vaulted over trash bins, her breath ragged as she ran. The G-Elves were fast—too fast—but she was smart. Every turn, every shortcut, every blind corner was calculated.

She could hear them behind her, their guttural growls growing louder as they closed the gap.

Almost there, she thought, her legs burning as she pushed herself harder. She reached a more crowded area, a public square buzzing with activity. Without hesitation, she fired another shot into the air.

The crowd erupted into chaos. People screamed, scattering in every direction. Maya used the panic to her advantage, slipping into the throng and pulling a scarf from her bag to wrap around her head. She kept her head down, blending into the mass of panicked bodies as they surged toward the underground station.

The station was lit with fluorescent lights flickering overhead. The crowd pressed around her, a frantic, jostling wave of people desperate to find safety. Maya moved with them, keeping her scarf pulled low over her face.

But the moment she reached the platform, her heart sank.

The crowd around her began to falter, people collapsing one by one as though an invisible force was sweeping through them. She froze, her breath hitching as the sound of heavy footsteps echoed down the staircase.

"Give up," Guardian's voice rang out, calm and unyielding. He descended the stairs slowly, his golden helmet gleaming under the flickering lights. The G-Elves flanked him, their glowing red eyes scanning the platform as they advanced.

Despair clawed at Maya's chest, but before it could take hold, another voice cut through the tension.

"I could say the same to you," the voice said, sharp and confident.

Guardian barely had time to turn before a figure swooped down from above, boot colliding with his back and sending him tumbling down the last few stairs.

Maya's eyes widened as the figure landed gracefully in front of her, crouched low with a cape billowing behind them. The auburn hair, the dark gray suit, the unmistakable bat symbol on her chest—Maya almost couldn't believe it.

"Batgirl," she breathed, relief washing over her like a wave.

Batgirl straightened, her blue eyes locking onto Maya's. "Don't worry," she said confidently. "I'll handle this."

Guardian pushed himself to his feet, his posture tense as he faced her. "Batgirl, stand down. I must apprehend this criminal."

"And if I don't?"

"Then you will be treated as a criminal," Guardian replied.

Batgirl smirked. "Funny. Because from where I'm standing, the girl behind me looks innocent. And you? You look like the criminal."

Before Guardian could respond, the horns on the G-Gnome began to glow. His demeanor shifted immediately, his movements more mechanical as he pointed toward Batgirl and Maya.

"Get them!" he barked, his voice flat and unfeeling.

Batgirl's fists tightened as she shifted into a fighting stance. "Guess we're doing this the hard way."

[ Batgirl ]

[ Guardian ]

Author's Note:

If you're enjoying the story and want to read ahead or support my work, you can check out my P@treon at [email protected]/LordCampione. But don't worry—all chapters will eventually be public. Just being here and reading means the world to me. Thank you for your time and support