Working With Red

New Suspicions and Regrets

Updated: 2021.10.16 

"A broken scapula, five cracked ribs, and a dislocated shoulder; there's no way in hell they've all completely healed within two weeks," Dinah mumbled, her face contorting with confusion as she eyed your bruised back. "How is this even possible?" You shrugged, drumming your fingers across the countertop you were leaning against. 

"I don't know," you replied. "I've never broken anything before--other than my hand, that is--but even that healed within a couple of weeks." Dinah pursed her lips as she ran her fingers over your spine, feeling for any abnormalities. 

"I don't understand how this could have happened," she murmured, shaking her head. "The fall you had would have been enough to paralyze you, yet you woke up after just a few hours. Not only that, but now all of your injuries--broken bones, at that--have completely healed within just two weeks? It's borderline impossible." 

"We live in a world where your next door neighbor has a good chance of being immortal; the more I think about it, the more possible it seems," you mumbled, sighing. "The only problem would be that most of those people are metahuman, and I. . . am not." 

"That's not necessarily true," Dinah replied, pressing lightly against your shoulder blades. "Have you heard of Ra's Al Ghul?" 

"I've heard Robin mention him maybe once or twice," you said, letting out a sharp grunt as Dinah began rotating her shoulder. "He said Ra's trained Batman at one point in time." 

"That's right," Dinah muttered, nodding. "In all actuality, Ra's is human; he discovered this thing called a Lazarus Pit that he's been using for centuries in order to keep himself alive. It contains the ability to heal any living thing; the elderly become young again, and cuts and scrapes, however fatal, will heal within seconds. Of course, it comes at an incredibly high price, but the end game seems completely worth it." You frowned. 

"Are you serious?" A small huff escaped your parted lips when Dinah nodded again. "God, forget metahumans; for a single human to have so much power. . . It's scary." 

"Scary is what he could decide to do with it," Dinah replied, sighing. "But, enough about that; for now, I want to find out why your body took such a short amount of time to heal. Your scapula was completely shattered! There's no way it would take a measly two weeks to repair." You continued to stare at the countertop as Dinah finished the examination, pulling your shirt back into place. 

"So, what now?" you asked, folding your arms across your chest. "Should I keep wrapping my waist? What about my sling?" Dinah hesitated for a moment, examining you. 

"Your shoulder seems to be working just fine without it, so I'd drop the sling," she murmured. "As for the waist, I'd say keep the bandages on. While your body looks like it's almost completely healed, I don't want to take any chances, especially since there's not much you can really do for injured ribs." You released an inaudible sigh and nodded, snatching the sling from the counter. 

"Am I free to go back to my room, now?" you asked. Dinah nodded. 

"Yeah, go ahead," the blonde replied, placing her hands on her hips. "Sorry for making you stay so long." 

"Hey, at least we know that I'm getting better," you mused, smiling. Dinah nodded and smiled in return, though she hoped you didn't notice how uncomfortably forced it was. 

Getting better, Dinah repeated, shaking her head as she watched you exited the bathroom. She sure as hell is getting better. . . She let out a groan and slumped against the wall beside her, running a hand through her messy blonde hair. I have a feeling I know why. . .