126 CHAPTER 124

"What? You're Ace?" Leo whispered, leaning in to keep our conversation discreet.

"Yeah, it's me. I know you've got questions, so fire away," I replied, acknowledging his curiosity.

Leo gave me a suspicious look, raising an eyebrow before asking, "First off, are you a metahuman?"

"To be honest, I'm not sure."

"What do you mean you are not sure?" He asked. 

"A few months after the accident that took my family and my memories, I discovered I had powers. But there wasn't any mention of my being a metahuman in the records my family doctor kept of me."

Leo seemed perplexed. "So, you're saying you might not be a metahuman, but you have powers?"

"That's right. It's a bit confusing, but that's how it is," I explained, unsure myself of the nature of my abilities.

Leo nodded, trying to process the information. "Well, that's weird and awesome at the same time."

"I know you don't act without a reason. So, why the name Ace?" he inquired, his eyes filled with suspicion.

"I didn't choose that name willingly. It was just a persona I needed for certain personal jobs. Even if people didn't know what they stole, they witnessed the operation. So, Ace was a way for me to handle those situations and have a little fun while testing my powers," I responded. "After the incident with Sinestro, they started calling me Ace."

Leo looked at me, surprised. "You're not the same kid I met in Central City a few years ago. You've changed. You used to prefer staying in the shadows, and now you're wearing the big boy pants even the big boys are scared of. I'm proud of you, kid. You're growing."

"Thanks, Leo. The essence of being human is to evolve. Mentally, physically, spiritually—we should always strive to grow. If we're not evolving, then something's wrong," I philosophized.

"Don't go all professor mode on me right now. I'm too drunk for that," Leo interjected, trying to lighten the mood.

We shared a laugh before continuing our conversation. "Considering how you took down Sinestro and Joker, just how strong are you?" Leo asked, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.

"Strong enough to do as I please," I replied cryptically.

Leo's eyes widened at my response. "Are you strong enough to take out the Justice League? Or at least battle a few of them?"

"I'd say I'm strong enough to take out more than ninety percent of the League," I admitted, revealing the extent of my powers.

Leo was taken aback. "Wow. With that kind of power, we could do whatever we want without worrying about the heroes or the cops. Some people already see you as a villain, so why not give them what they want and live a free life as a villain?"

"It's true that the media labels me as a menace, but that doesn't mean I have to act the way they expect me to. Having the power to do anything doesn't mean resorting to a life of crime and being hunted by every hero and the police. They might even call in national security. Right now, I'm the freest person in the world, and I want to live a life of freedom without bounds or limitations," I explained, expressing my desire for a clearer path then taking my last sip of the drink before gesturing for us to leave the bar. We paid our tab and walked towards the car.

However, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching us. I glanced back discreetly, noticing a figure at the far end corner of the bar. I decided not to alarm Leo and dismissed it as a potential mugger.

"What's wrong? Why are you looking around like that?" Leo asked, concerned. 

"It's nothing. Just thought someone might be watching, but it's probably nothing to worry about. Could just be a random guy." I shrugged it off. 

Leo hesitated for a moment before letting it go. We got into the car, and I drove through the busy streets of Gotham. The moon's reflection on the windshield added an ethereal glow to the night as the city lights illuminated the road.

"Wanna grab a bite before heading home?" I suggested to the tipsy Leo. "You had as much to drink as I did, and yet you're still sober enough to drive."

Leo glanced out the window and then back at me. "Maybe it's another quirk that comes with your powers." We both chuckled at the thought. 

*Beep*

"Sir, it seems you have someone tailing you," Gwen reported through the car's speakers.

"What? Where are they?" Leo asked, glancing at the side mirror and scanning the surroundings.

"They're on a black motorcycle, keeping a certain distance from your vehicle. I've been tracking their movements since you left the bar," Gwen explained, her voice calm and collected.

"Okay, hack into the city's surveillance cameras and give me a live video feed of our stalker," I commanded. The dashboard screen displayed a figure clad in a brown leather biker's jacket, black combat trousers, heavy boots, and a black helmet covering their entire head.

"Looks... friendly." Leo sarcastically remarked as we both focused on the screen, observing the mysterious stalker. "Well, it seems we can't head straight back to your place," Leo commented, voicing his concern.

A mischievous smile crept onto my face. This unexpected encounter could add some excitement to our night. "No, we can't. How about we take a little detour?"

Leo's curiosity was piqued. "Sounds good to me."

"Gwen, search for an abandoned location nearby where we can confront our stalker," I instructed, maintaining our current speed to avoid alerting our pursuer.

"There's a construction site nearby. You could lure them there," Gwen suggested.

"Perfect," I said, activating the car's autopilot. "Take us there, but eject Leo and me a few blocks away. Then park the car ahead."

Leo looked at me, bewildered. "Wait, what? Tom, what are you saying? I'm too tipsy for this."

I reassured him, gripping his coat and making sure he met my gaze. "Do you trust me, Leo?"

He paused for a moment, considering his answer. "I'm not sober enough to trust anyone without a plan. But when it comes down to it, I trust you."

A countdown echoed through the car's speakers. "Five... Four..."

"Look at me, Leo," I said, pulling his attention back to me. "No matter what happens, stay calm. This might be the most fun you've had in months." I said to him with a smirk on my face. 

"Three... Two..."

Leo's expression turned serious, his eyes focused. "Okay, I'm ready."

"One... Ejecting... Now," Gwen concluded the countdown. The car's roof slid open, and our seats propelled us into the cool night air.

Leo surprised me with his composure. He didn't scream or panic, just what I expected from his demeanor. As we floated mid-air, I used my telekinetic powers to stabilize us, and a smile broke through his usually cold exterior. Flying seemed to awaken a hidden joy within him.

Gradually, I guided us towards a nearby building, concealing our presence. From our vantage point,we watched as the stalker approached the car, realizing we weren't inside.

Leo instinctively reached for his gun, ready to defend himself if necessary. Sensing his readiness, I gently guided him a few paces behind me, still concealed from the stalker's line of sight.

"Hello, stranger," I greeted, using my powers to remove the stalker's helmet with a wave of my hand. Beneath it was someone I wasn't expecting to run into so soon, I still had to carefully arrange our meeting and win him over to the side of the Outlaws. But here he was, standing there with his trademark red mask covering his head like a skull-tight helmet. He wore a brown leather biker's jacket, wielded a set of twin semi-automatic pistols, and had a combat knife strapped to his side.

He turned around to see Leo and I standing behind him, with Leo already pointing his cold gun at him. He immediately reached behind him and pulled out a grapple gun, pointing it at a construction beam up above and shot it in an instant.

"I guess we have no choice but to ice this sucker," he said, aiming his gun at Red Hood. "Wait, don't attack him yet," I interjected, gesturing for Leo to lower his guard. 

"You are a long way from home, Leonard Snart, or should I say… Captain Cold. We already have our own ice guy; we do not need another," Jason said as he looked down on Leo and I from the elevated spot. "And you kid, what are you doing with a man like him? Is he your uncle or something?" 

"Hell no." Leo immediately defended while I tried my best not to laugh at that statement. "You know he is a criminal right? You shouldn't be hanging out with him unless you have a good reason to do so." Jason added. I guess getting killed and being brought back from the dead did nothing to reduce his pride but increased it some more.