DC: Fading Away

"Superman in Gotham? Am I dreaming?" Tobi muttered while leaning against a car. Clark shook his head.

"You aren't dreaming. This is real. Your grief is real. But you've been killing people and that needs to stop."

The man of steel floated down and placed a hand on his shoulder. Tobi glanced at Batman then back at Superman. Did he really call this guy because he couldn't handle me?

"...I still don't understand why you're here. Did Batman ask for your help personally? That had to be excruciating for him." Tobi glanced at Bruce with a mocking smile.

"You bet it was. Seeing his face look like he ate something sour was quite funny. Tobi, you're a smart kid. Fishing for information like that." Superman smiled slightly.

"No. I know the real reason he wants me caught. It's because I saw his hideout. Isn't that right?"

"You're dangerous and you need supervision." Batman cut in. Tobi shook his head. 

"No. I recognize that old man though. Wasn't he in a newspaper article next to that one guy? Hmmm. He was really rich too. Famous even." The young esper mocked once again. 

"You shouldn't speak like that. Making threats like that. That's why I'm here to pull you back to the other side." The man of steel spoke up.

"What other side? Altruism?" Tobi joked. 

It was at this moment that Clark removed his hand from the boy's shoulder. Tobi immediately pretended as if that was the moment he was waiting for. Present false weaknesses, live an easier life.

ZMMM

He teleported onto the rooftop beside Batgirl. Superman's gaze followed him immediately. Both of his hands rested on his hips. 

"It doesn't matter where you teleport, Tobi. I've memorized your heartbeat." Clark said.

He burst into motion at an incredible speed. The air shattered under Superman's movement. Tobi was still frozen in time as the hero reached for the boy's wrist. Almost there…

ZMMM

Superman missed. The young esper appeared back on the street behind Nightwing. The kryptonian was fast, but so was Tobi. Playing tag with the man of steel would definitely help train his perception and reaction time, but that was a dangerous game. 

Also, Clark was handicapped. He had a weakness. He was kind. He couldn't go any faster than a specific speed or he would risk harming anyone in the vicinity. It didn't matter where they were. As long as they were on Earth, Tobi had the advantage…unless the man stopped caring of course. 

The powerful esper didn't want to fight either. He followed his goals and if someone was in the way then yes, he would fight. Going toe to toe with the strongest hero? Where was the benefit? Tobi wasn't a battle junkie. He only did what needed to be done. 

"It was fun, but I have things to do and goals to achieve. A pleasure meeting you, Superman. Hopefully we don't meet again."

ZMMM

Tobi blinked across the city. Now standing in the middle of a park, he trashed his phone. The photo album had been uploaded into a server. It was time to break ties. He waited for a moment. One second. Two seconds. Three seconds. 

The sound barrier shattered. Superman arrived in record time. He only stared at the esper with a smile. He did eventually speak. 

"Can't hide your heartbeat. I've found your weakness too. You've been avoiding direct contact. If I touch you, then you can't teleport, right?" He concluded. Tobi frowned as if he was figured out. 

'Too easy to trick. He's underestimating me. He thinks I'm naive. Let's deal with the heartbeat problem.' Tobi thought. 

Good thing he tested it first. If he'd teleported somewhere important then the place would've been exposed. The next teleport would be the last. A barrier formed around his heart, blocking out the sound. 

Clark immediately frowned. If he couldn't hear the heartbeat, it was game over. He rushed Tobi once again…but it was too late. Maybe bring The Flash next time.

ZMMM

He blinked and arrived back home. Or better to say Tatsu's home. The girl was sitting in the living room. Upon hearing him grabbing ingredients from the kitchen, she walked over.

"Where were you? It's late." She complained. 

"...I got my revenge." 

There was a moment of silence as his words registered. Her eyes narrowed. She looked him up and down, checking to see if he was injured. His expression didn't seem as dead as before.

"Well…how do you feel?"

Tobi wrote on a piece of paper while they were talking. Once he was done, he showed it to her. Tatsu's eyes flashed with understanding. 

'Don't say my name. Superman is listening for it.' It read.

"I feel relieved. I can relax…among other things." He answered her question.

"Other things? What does that mean?"

"Nothing. I'm just rambling." He waved it off. 

A sonic boom could be heard from far away as Superman flew around the city. Tobi was too busy preparing dinner to care. Cooking for this lovely lady of his. He didn't even think about the hero ambush anymore. 

He gave all his attention to her…because he knew that he had to leave. The young man fed her. Each and every bite. He washed her. He clothed her. Treated her like the beautiful queen she was. He cuddled with her. Slept with her. There were no nightmares. Not tonight.

…

…

…

Tatsu went off to school the next morning. She didn't know that it would be her last time seeing him for a long time. Lazily rising from the bed, Tobi went to the bathroom and washed up. He then cooked himself a delicious breakfast. He also set some aside for the Japanese beauty. 

Tobi smoked on the balcony one last time. The view wasn't half bad. It was a bittersweet feeling. Hating the city…but finding enjoyment in the skyline. Knowing that he wouldn't have to see it ever again. When he was done, he wrote another note and left it on the bedroom dresser. 

He then decided to make a final visit to Tyler. It would be the first time he checked the place where all the surviving gang members had moved. Once the place was marked in his senses, he teleported. 

Tobi opened the door and let himself in. He closed the door behind him before looking up…and his gaze dimmed once again. Ah…it never ends…does it? This horrible luck of his. The old viper was sitting at a table. It seemed as if he was resting. 

The young esper pulled up a chair beside him and poured two glasses of alcohol. The glass was placed in front of Tyler's resting frame. Tobi clinked the glass with his own before downing the drink. 

"Cheers, brother. I finished the job. Rest easy." His voice was quiet. 

"........"

On the left side of Tyler's body, hidden from view, was a large patch of dried blood. The old viper had bled out a long time ago. He was dead. Tobi's eyes closed. He was tired. Tired of these moments.

The last person that had any relation to him was gone. It seems that the young esper truly was destined to be alone. Alone under the stars. He poured himself another glass. He downed it. 

'Fuck…'

It never got easier. The horrible feeling in his chest. He poured his third glass. Memories drifted through his mind. Memories of the old viper who always acknowledged him. 

'Keep pushing, Tobi. No matter what. Keep walking. One foot after the other. That's how you live.' Tyler had once said.

When Tobi was much younger, Tyler would put him in a headlock and give him a noogie. This would always mess up his hair. It pissed the boy off every time. The old viper would cheer him up with candy afterwards. A good man.

'I wonder why this keeps happening to me. Am I cursed?' Tobi thought.

That tiny suspicion in the back of his head grew stronger everyday. Maybe he was cursed. Merging with the concept of sorrow…someone had taken advantage of his pain and forced him to live in it forever. What if that wasn't the end? What if things happened like this in order to keep him feeling that way?

Tobi drank more. Once he felt completely numb, he went and explored the home. More suits and ties were added to his collection. More alcohol. More cigs. More drugs. Not really that great of an inheritance to pass down. Still, it was enough for Tobi…only because it was Tyler that gave it. 

The young esper sat back down beside Tyler's corpse. Pouring himself one last glass, he clinked it with Tyler's. He wasn't going to cry this time. Tyler wouldn't like that. 

"Looks like you went to hell first. I'll join you in the future…once I go to every place Gummy wanted to go. Till then."

This time…Tobi left Gotham for good.