#he’s immediately clinging to Batman’s cloak

[piece-of-pierce]

Danny picked up some traits from his parents. He got his mom’s flexibility and reflexes, his dad’s love of anything chocolate flavored and abnormally great cardiovascular health. The trait they both passed on (to Danny AND Jazz) is an intense need to learn everything they can about what they don’t like.

Jazz remembers what it was like when Uncle Hammond passed and Aunt Alicia got different. She’s terrified of her own emotions effecting her like that some day, so studies psychology like there’s no tomorrow.

Jack and Maddie bonded over their shared fear and death and resulting desire to learn everything they could about it.

Danny can’t stand clowns. They’re dishonest and hide who they are behind heavy makeup and outlandish costumes. Freak show kicks that dislike into a full-on phobia though, so he goes all in on learning everything he can. How does clown school work? What are the requirements to be a clown? What rules do they have to follow? If he knows their limitations, he knows their weaknesses. He will not be caught off guard again.

That knowledge sits in the back of his mind like a comfort blanket. Every so often he’ll dip back in and research if there’s anything that’s changed. He wants to keep on top of any information about his greatest enemies.

Finally, he manages to graduate high school with a 2.7 GPA and 31 on the ACT thanks to his Math and Science scores (and a carefully managed brawling schedule with his rogues). Thanks to those, he managed to get a partial scholarship to Gotham U for Physics and Engineering. He still isn’t sure how he managed that, but he’ll happily take it.

What he won’t take is this FALSE Clown trying to cause trouble right before finals! He’d kept on top of his shit all semester and wasn’t gonna let anyone kidnapping him and some other people off the street get in his way.

Later, the Bats manage to find where the hostages were held because one of them waved down Robin. As in, all the captives had gotten free and when they found the right warehouse, it was to one young man berating the Joker.

“You’re nothing but a modern rendition of the town fool!”

[ribcage-rodents]

Post three

Kidflash

A few moments of silence passed before Kidflash chose to break the tension, he leaned towards Wonder Girl balancing on one arm.

“So beautiful, what's the weather like- or uh I mean I bet it’s always hot on Thymisaca, oh wait, it used to always be hot until you left!”

Kidflash smiled weakly slowly shuffling back to his post as Wonder Girl remained unimpressed.

Thug

A phone chimed dimly one of the thugs paused, placing his cards face down on the table he pulled out his phone. He nodded to the other goons.

“Boss says it’s go-time.”

The thugs left the table, one staying behind to gather up the deck, stopping to gather up a bag or two each as they exited the old rotting building. The young heroes shared a look although they stayed frozen in place.

Speedy

Speedy mumbled several curse words directed to his teammates before following the guards.

Garth

“Wait! We need to contact our mentors first,”

Garth stepped forward, glowering at Speedy.

Speedy

“Oh my god what is up with you and rules!?”

Speedy whipped around to yell in Garth’s face.

Wonder Girl

“No I agree with Garth, this mission is too important to play hero, we need to call the Justice League.”

Wonder Girl placed both hands on her hip once she joined the other two heroes in the middle of the room.

Kidflash

Kidflash popped up from behind the crates.

“Yeah, I can call unc-Flash and you guys can make sure they dont leave or something,”

Kidflash scratched his neck uncomfortably.

Speedy

Speedy groaned loudly,

“No, it's fine I’ll do it,”

The other heroes headed towards the door, once Speedy was alone he took out their emergency phone, he didn’t turn it on as held it up to his ear.

“Hey GA the thugs are heading out, we’re gonna follow them…”

Speedy looked over his shoulder to make sure that the others weren’t eavesdropping, he shoved the phone back into his pocket.

“Idiots, I don’t need GA monitoring me like some little kid.”

He then followed after his teammates.

“Alright, JL gave us the go-ahead, what’s the plan?”

Speedy asked now crouched in the shadow of the rotted building.

Wonder Girl

“They’re loading up a jet, I think if we-”

Wonder Girl started leaning towards Speedy, her face twisted into an irritated scowl as he cut her off.

Speedy

“Nevermind I got this, honestly this mission is too easy,”

He chuckled lightly as he stood up stringing and shooting an arrow before the others could intervene. Speedy turned to his team a smug look plastered on his face.

Wonder Girl

Wonder Girl also stood up snarling at Speedy,

“Before you gloat might wanna check your aim,”

Speedy

Speedy revolted back moving out of her space,

“Hey I have perfect aim.”

Kidflash

“Well you didn’t hit the mark man, uh.. might’ve had to do with the shiny boomerang,”

Kidflash spoke from the ground, his eyes trained on the cargo plane as the guards loaded up the last couple of bags.

All three other heroes looked at him with differentiating levels of bewilderment.

Garth

“What do you mean ‘shiny boomerang’, I don’t think I know that landie lingo.”

Garth’s normally gruff threatening voice sounded a fraction less judgemental.

Behind him Wonder Girl peered with cautious curiosity and Speedy made a face at ‘Landie Lingo’.

Kidflash

Kidflash shifted uncomfortably under the sudden intense attention despite trying to win the group over earlier.

“Uh.., so super-speedy-vision, Speedy’s arrow was knocked down by something really shiny that flew through the air, I’m not sure what actually happened to it,”

Speedy

Speedy groaned in frustration curling his hands into fists.

“What’re we supposed to do now!?”

Garth

“Shut up!”

Garth whispered harshly, holding a hand up to stop Speedy from challenging him again.

“Look,”

He pointed at the reflective metal melting onto the plane.

Kidflash

Kidflash darted forward pricking the boomerang from the plane, he turned around smiling brightly at his teammates.

In a fluid movement Robin lept from the roof of the rotted building rolling across the pavement and shooting up to deliver a hard punch to the underside of Kidflash’s jaw. He reeled back rubbing his reddening chin, Robin swung his leg at his head then pushed him down sitting on his stomach he whipped out some rope from underneath the thick shadow of his cape tying him up like a calf. Robin threw another batarang at the plane. As Wonder Girl chased after the projectile Speedy tried to tackle Robin, hitting the ground harshly as the other boy dodged him.

Speedy

“Hey Aqua-loser mind helpin’ out!”

Speedy called out to Garth, who stood motionless in the building's shadow, as he shot an arrow at Robin who threw another batarang to block it.

Robin pulled out a batarang and a little red dot securing the dot as he ran after the plane lifting off, Wonder Girl stood up from where she had been trying to untie Kidflash. Stooping down she picked up an old brick from the rotted building. She chucked it, the brick slamming into the side of his head. It knocked him to the ground allowing Speedy to tackle him, flipping him over and repeatedly punching him. Robin tucked his leg to his chest kicking Speedy hard in the stomach, he groaned rolling on the ground. Robin slid away trying to run but only succeeding in stumbling recklessly down the runway one gloved hand coming up and under his hood to press against where the brick and made contact. He shot a grappling line after the plane although as he was yanked into the sky Speedy wrapped himself around his waist. Wonder Girl grabbed Garth's arm and Kidflash’s hand dragging them after the other two heroes, Kidflash held tightly to her as he used his now free hand to grab Speedy’s ankle, the pull of the grappling hook stalled by the teens weight dangling high above the churning dark ocean. Speedy huled himsef up using Robin’s shoulder as leverage taking one of his arrow’s out of it’s holder he set to work trying to saw through the rope, Robin elbowed him in the stomach.

Speedy

“Ow! Watch it short, dark, and demon-y”

Speedy yelped kneeing him in the thigh with the leg not holding the weight of the rest of his team. Speedy continued to slash the rope.

Robin

“Stop it! If you cut the line then we’re all gonna go down,”

He warned, his voice high but demanding.

Speedy

“Oh no! Will the cold water shrink your cloak?!”

Speedy mocked him as the line thinned.

Garth

Garth looked up at Speedy from where he was hanging in Wonder Girl’s grip.

“No, the ocean is restless tonight, if we fall we could die,”

Speedy

“Yeah well I’m not afraid of a little water,”

Speedy said sawing quicker.

Wonder Girl

Wonder Girl stared into the swirling dark water below a frown working itself onto her face.

“Speedy stop we need to come up with a better plan.”

The line snapped. The group plummeted downwards, Kidflash struggling with renewed motivation to untie his legs as Robin threw one last bugged batarang hitting the underside of the plane’s wing.

Scene 10

Dark water sloshed over them messily as they struggled to breath, Garth sunk beneath the water disoriented from the impact of hitting the sea. Luckily the group had landed close to shore, Wonder Girl reemerged first, flailing she grabbed Speedy, who had a looser grip on his consciousness, together they slowly started to swim in the direction of the blurry shoreline. Kidflash yelped as he frantically swung his arms and bound legs in an attempt to stay above the surface. Robin popped up last his hood plastered over his face, he followed Speedy and Wonder Girl towards the shore but stopped shortly, looking back at the sinking speedster Robin huffed switching directions to help save the other hero. He looped an arm under his and dragged Kidflash over to the shore. The teens collapsed on the beach coughing up water clinging to each other.

Wonder Girl

Wonder Girl disentangled from Speedy propping herself up she squinted at the foggy sea.

“Garth!”

Speedy

“He lives in the ocean dude he's fine,”

Speedy snarked from where he laid in the sand.

Wonder Girl

Wonder Girl whipped around glaring angrily at him.

“He’s still a part of our team, we need to look out for him!”

Garth

“I’m fine, the water is too choppy to sleep in… or sail.”

Garth emerged from the water a grimace fixed on his face. Garth stopped sitting in the shallows.

Kidflash

Robin groaned quietly leaning away from Kidflash.

“Ew! Dude get off me!”

He yelped wiggling away from the other boy frantically, he paused looking at the cloaked figure.

“Unless you’re a girl?”

He asked, hopefully raising both eyebrows at Robin, who was now propped up with both arms.

“I mean you’re kinda sitting like a girl would..”

He trailed off staring at the way Robin’s legs were curled to the side.

Robin

Robin stood up swaying slightly as he disappeared into the thick vegetation.

The other heroes spent a few more moments lying in the sand, the only noise being Speedy’s mumbled insults directed at Kid Flash's ability to talk to girls.

“I’m not a monster. I wouldn’t leave someone to die.”

Scene 11

The on-call leaguers shift about in a daze gabbing food or hot drinks before shuffling back to their rooms. Occasionally giving eachother tired looks or taking part in quiet conversations. Wonder Woman is perched on the console holding a small pre-packaged salad. Leaning over to talk with Batman she tucked back a long, black, curl behind her ear. The corner of Batman’s mouth twitched his shoulders relaxing a fraction, the moment was short-lived as his face turned into a grimace and his back tensed.

Batman

Wonder Woman had moved to place a hand on his shoulder, the beginning of a question, leaving her mouth as he shot up from his chair. The flash who was busy empting the kitchen looked up three fries sticking out of his mouth.

“Flash you’re on monitor duty.”

He called, jabbing his finger at the Flash who looked immediately terrified, but nonetheless grabbed as much surgery junk food as he could carry and dashed towards the console.

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman caught up to him gripping his shoulder hard and pulling him back.

“What is happening?”

She pinned him to the spot with a piercing stare.

Batman

Batman let out an agitated groan as he gave in slumping slightly.

“I was reading through Robin’s latest mission report, he was working on tracking down Two-Face’s suppliers. Turns out the suppliers are the same men that Little League is supposed to be watching.”

Wonder Women

Wonder Woman stared at him raising a questioning eyebrow.

“Why is this an issue?”

Her voice was exasperated, as it often was when talking with Batman, placing both hands on her hips.

Batman

Batman sighed.

“Neither know that they’re taking down the same group, this could cause a collision.”

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman raised her other eyebrow sending an annoyed look at Batman's explanation.

“You’re worried about our sidekicks outnumbering Robin?”

Batman

“No, Robin can take care of himself, I’m worried that he’ll ignore his own needs when the others fail. He’s always had too big of a heart for his own good.”

He finished his statement turning away towards the transporters.

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman was annoyed but she followed him anyway.

“Ah yes the compassion for others, every great hero’s biggest flaw.”

Batman

Batman only grunted in response.

“I can’t pick up any feedback from the tracker in his belt or in his arm.”

He purposely ignored Wonder Woman’s judgemental scoff at the arm tracker comment, instead he continued into the transporter his last decipherable words the beginning of instructions.

“I’ll look into tracking him down, stay here, don’t alert the others yet. I’ll contact you when I have more information.”

Scene 12

Kidflash rolled over in the sand groaning as his stomach grumbled loudly, Wonder Girl reached over to place a hand on his pale, sweaty cheek. Speedy grumbled, tossing a rock at Garth’s forehead.

Wonder Girl

“That’s it I’m going to go find him some food.”

Wonder Girl declared standing up and striding into the jungle. She paused briefly as Speedy’s voice followed her.

Speedy

“Don’t let Shadow Man get you!”

Wonder Girl

Wonder Girl squeezed her eyes shut taking a deep breath before continuing into the forest on high alert, her hands flexed as she spotted a small bird picking at the ground. Steading herself Wonder Girl launched forward easily grabbing the bird, with a practiced hand she prepared to kill it.

Robin

“Wait!”

The same high-pitched, muffled voice sounded from the surround trees yet the cloaked figure made no noise as he jumped down from the tree line.

He tensed as Wonder Girl whipped around to face him, holding up his hands in a placetating gesture he spoke again.

“There's fruit in the trees we can give this to Kidflash, there's no need to do.. That.”

Wonder Girl

Wonder Girl looked at him calculatingly.

“Why do you care what I give to Kidflash?”

Robin

The white lenses of his mask twitched quick and small, unnoticed by an untrained eye. He was silent for a long time.

“There's no reason to kill a bird if we can pick fruit.”

Wonder Girl

Her stare remained cool but curiosity was obviously creeping in.

“Why wouldn’t you kill the bird?”

Something flashed in her gaze that set Robin on edge.

Robin

“Unprovoked violence is senseless and corrupt.”

This time Robin answered quickly, and although he was just a smudge of dark against the treeline Wonder Girl still felt him sizing her up.

A silence settled over them, thick and weary but in the moment the two could trust one another not to attack.

Robin

“We’re gonna need a lot more food if we wanna keep Kidflash alive. The fruit is in the higher rings of the trees,”

He looked over his shoulder at her,

“You’re an amazon you should be pretty good at climbing right?”

Robin then pulled himself up into the trees.

Wonder Girl

A look of horror overcame her face.

[starspatter]

Heroes and Thieves, Ch. 11

Title: Heroes and Thieves Fandom/Universe: BTAS, pre/post-RotJ flashback

Summary: A story about second chances, healing, and having hope.

Rating: PG-13, for references to character death, child psychological torture and trauma.

Genre: Romance/Family/Friendship/Hurt/Comfort

Word Count: 4,380 Previous Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Also on ff.net and AO3.

There was a time when I was alone Nowhere to go and no place to call home My only friend was the man in the moon And even sometimes he would go away, too

-Ruth B, "Lost Boy"

————————–

Before.

“Batman, wait!”

Robin was too late; Batman had already charged ahead by ruthlessly breaking down the door to the house with the sole of his boot.  A low-key villain calling himself “Cluemaster” (whom Robin had incidentally never heard much of until now compared to the likes of Riddler or Joker, having supposedly gone “straight” for a couple years – at least according to Batman) had led them on a lengthy chase, and they ended up pursuing him all the way out to a small neighborhood in the suburbs.  As they infiltrated the dwelling, Robin hastily checked around to make sure no homeowners were present who could be caught in the fray – or worse, taken as collateral.

Fortunately the room was empty, aside from their glaringly orange-clad target in the middle of it, reaching for one of the plasti-glass pellets attached to the front of his costume. Batman had already anticipated the move though and launched forward faster than the other, lurching a blurred glove into his opponent’s throat, which caused him to drop the canister as his body was slammed hard against the wall.

“You’re under arrest for multiple counts of grand larceny, Cluemaster.  Or should I say, Arthur Brown?”

With his other hand, he grasped at the bandana covering the lower half of the man’s face, which had already come loose from the force of impact.  He jerked the rest of the kerchief off to expose a snarl under the guise, the owner evidently infuriated by the idea his identity had been so easily discovered.

“Now, where’s the money you stole?”

Arthur sneered.

“Why don’t I give you a clue to its whereabouts, and you can figure it out yourself, since you’re so smart?”

Batman growled as he grabbed his foe’s collar, lifting high into the air, letting free-dangling feet flail frantically.

“I don’t have time for these games.  Either you tell me voluntarily, or I’ll make you confess.”

Robin was getting anxious by the aggressiveness in Batman’s tone; making threats of violence wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, but he’d been out of sorts all night, acting excessively and extremely hostile, leaping into enemy territory with heedless disregard to danger – to himself or those around him.  Sans his usual sangfroid.  He was starting to sound like that time Scarecrow dosed him with a gas that took away all his fear, resulting in Batman almost taking a henchman’s life.  It had taken all of Robin’s strength to haul him back up after Batman cut the line…

The current captive seemed to be getting panicky too, as he quickly changed his attitude, appealing to sympathy instead.

“Listen, I’ve got a wife and kid.  They’re asleep upstairs.  I just needed the cash to help support them.  We’re in a bit of a financial jam, y’see…”

Robin’s conscience wavered, recalling the time they had to prevent a penniless man from holding up a drugstore in order to obtain medicine for his daughter, who was simply sick with a high fever.  Of course this was theft on a much greater scale, but he still couldn’t help having some lingering empathy – especially based on his own past experiences dealing with poverty.

“That's one of the hardest things about this job, Robin.  Sometimes we have to stop someone from doing the wrong thing for the right reason.”

“…Daddy?”

As if on cue, all three revolved towards the top of the staircase, where a young girl with golden curls – probably about his age – was standing in bare feet and violet nightgown, beholding the scene before her with baffled eyes, big and blue and broad.

“Darling, why don’t you go back to bed?”  Arthur choked out, his own eyes bulging as cheeks turned indigo as well.  “You’re just having a bad dream.”

“Arthur?  What’s going on here?  I heard a loud noise…”

Robin swallowed as a woman emerged from behind the adolescent, gripping the girl’s shoulders as she drew her daughter in protectively, eyeing the pair of home intruders with fear and suspicion.  The situation was steadily turning from bad to worse.  He hurriedly bounded up the steps, trying to block at least the shorter one’s view with his arms and cape, acting as both shield and shroud.

“Both of you should stay back…”

Batman’s prey put on a pleading, pathetic look.

“Now now, you wouldn’t hit a guy in front of his family, would you?”

While his quivering lips pouted, his pupils seemed to flash triumphant.  Robin felt a sick chill in his stomach.  Had he set this up just to take advantage of innocent citizens – and his provider status for them – as an alibi?

Whatever the reason, Batman wasn’t falling for it.  While he slowly lowered his fist, he continued to glower viciously at his victim.

“I’m still taking you in. The police will be here soon, they can interrogate you.  And if you don’t admit to them, well…”  He leaned in close, crescent slivers narrowing.  Intimidating.  “They’ll just have to call me.”

With that, he twisted his prisoner around, pressing head harshly against partition again as he slapped a pair of handcuffs on.  Robin sensed the two frightened females peering over his shoulders, crying and clinging to each other as sirens started to wail outside, and the junior one almost looked like she was about to join them.   He thought about reaching out to try and comfort her, but a cold bark from Batman halted him.

“Let’s go, Robin.”

“But Batman-”

“Now.”

He was already halfway out the side exit when he said this, and, after a moment’s hesitation, Robin bit his lip and vaulted over the railing to race after him, cloak whisking out of sight just as officers began filing in.  As they headed back towards the Batmobile parked in the shadows close by, Robin hissed his irritation.

“You know, there were a million other ways you could’ve handled that.”

“I did what was necessary in order to get him to talk.  The police should have an easier time of it now.”

“Yeah, but did you have to do it while his wife and child were watching?  This is exactly the reason Nightwing left you, remember?”

Batman blatantly ignored the bold declaration of disapproval as his pager began to beep: a message from Batgirl, requesting backup.

“Armed robbery in progress, escalated to a hostage situation over on the north side.  We’re needed.”

“Did you even hear what I just said?”

Batman brusquely cut him off.

“We’ll discuss this later, at home.  Now get in the car.”

Robin grumbled, but grudgingly obeyed.

They never did discuss it though.  Concurring collectively, both Batman and Batgirl determined there were too many hired guns in the building, deeming it far too “risky” to bring Robin – the “kid” – along. …Plus it was a school night.  So Batman swung swiftly by the manor on the way, dropping Robin – Tim – off unceremoniously at the front gate despite loud and adamant protests, where Alfred was waiting to pick him up and march him straight on inside to get changed and ready for dinner.

“And ‘don’t forget to do your homework’,’” Tim mimicked Bruce’s reprimanding voice with a querulous whine as the vehicle sped off, leaving him in the dust.  “God, he still treats me like such a child.”

The butler patted his charge’s back consolingly, ushering within.

“Come along, Master Timothy. There are cookies and cocoa waiting for you inside – after you finish with your studies, that is.  We wouldn’t want to spoil your appetite, now would we?”

Tim shot an exasperated expression at the patronizing statement, but acquiesced.  Upon entering, he immediately tore off the mask and tossed it on the table in frustrated anger, flopping sullenly onto the couch without even bothering to remove the rest of the suit.  Alfred tutted, but made no remark as he disappeared into the kitchen, promising food would be served shortly.

As Tim gazed at the fireplace, he stewed over Batman’s earlier reckless – not to mention downright rude – behavior.  How could he even be so cruel and insensitive?  It wasn’t just the bossing around that bugged him, but he was genuinely rather troubled by Bruce’s mental state.  …Truth be told, he had a guess as to the cause for callousness.  He’d noticed a common trend in increasing indiscretion (and intractability) after their latest visit to Arkham, when they stopped by Two-Face’s cell following another escape – and subsequent suicide attempt.  Ever since he’d developed a third personality who judged himself guilty and sentenced to death for his sins, his condition had been gradually worsening.  It was to the point he – and his coin – had to be kept under constant watch and isolated lockdown.

Tim was never really sure how to feel about Two-Face (in the same way his chest was always confused and ached a little whenever he faced Clayface).  The man murdered his father; Tim supposed he should hate him for that. In addition, he’d even once mercilessly electrocuted Nightwing with a wire taser, forcing the senior superhero’s heart to completely stop.  …Had he not promptly administered CPR and literally brought his brother back from the brink of death, he might have lost another family member that day.

But, according to Dick, Bruce and Harvey had been good friends once – which explained why his guardian always bore a grieved semblance whenever they went up against Dent.  …Tim tried to imagine what it must be like, to watch one’s once close companion fight a losing battle against himself.  Clearly it was taking a capricious toll on the old man’s emotional and psychological well-being as well, making him far more mercurial and volatile – prone to violent vagaries.

Yet, even Tim recognized that didn’t excuse him taking it out on others, especially when it interfered with their work.  (Frankly that didn’t seem to be the only thing distracting recently either, given Batman and Batgirl had been ditching him more and more often as of late, citing his “immaturity” as pretense.  …But he didn’t really want to think about that right now.)  He was concerned about that girl as well.  Screw Batman, he should’ve stayed to try and talk to her.  At least give her some reassurance after witnessing such a harrowing event.

Making up his mind, he snatched his domino from the counter and was out the door (cautiously evading the security cameras he knew were watching overhead) just as Alfred came to call him for dinner.  Upon finding the parlor empty, and after exhausting all other options of where the lad might have gone to within the mansion (including underground area), the caretaker finally murmured in alarm.

“…Oh dear.”

…

It took Robin longer to get back by grapple alone, but eventually he made it to his destination. Descending on the rooftop from a nearby tree, he tiptoed towards a single annexed dormer window which jutted prominently from the tiles.  Testing the lucarne’s latch, it luckily wasn’t locked and slid open with relative ease. Silently slipping in, he was greeted almost instantly by an unpredicted punch to the face.

As he was thrown flat onto the bed, survival instinct triggered to roll over and try to fight back, but his own fists arrested when he saw his assailant was the same girl from before, glaring at him with mistrust.

“Who are you?!  Some kind of creepazoid stalker?”

“Whoa, whoa!  It’s me, Robin.  You know, from before?”

She stared at him, realization dawning.

“Oh.  …Sorry.  I didn’t know it was you.”

The way she said it, she still didn’t seem very impressed.

“…I’d hate to be someone you were expecting,” Robin muttered, rubbing at his sore jaw.

She folded her arms firmly.

“So?  What the heck are you doing here?  Again?”

“I- I just wanted to check and see if you were okay, after… all that.”

An eyebrow raised.

“And you thought coming in through the window was the best way to go about it?”

“…In hindsight that might not have been the best plan,” he acknowledged, repentant.  “Sorry.  Being with him tends to rub off on you.  I apologize if he scared you earlier.  He’s really not a bad guy.”

She exhaled, letting her limbs down.

“No, my father is, right? …It’s okay.  I know who and what my dad is.  He deserves to go to jail.”

Robin cocked in confusion at this unanticipated acceptance.

“But… He’s still your dad.”

“Yeah, and I hate him.” Her knuckles clenched, tightening. “He just wanted to use Mom and me to get away with his crimes.  We’re basically just tools, a means to an end for him.  He’s a total class-A jerk.”

Robin blinked, unsure how to respond to that.  He certainly hadn’t been prepared for this outcome.  An uncomfortable hush filled the chamber, which he idly noted details of as he glanced around nervously.  He’d never actually been in a girl’s room before, so he wasn’t sure what to expect.  He supposed the piles of stuffed animals and boy band posters were probably typical, though he was surprised to see some large prints of Superman lining the walls, and a bulletin board covered with newspaper clippings of Batman and Robin – mostly his predecessor – busting the Cluemaster’s previous petty heists.  She apparently wasn’t kidding when she said she had it in for her father.  (…The image felt almost eerily familiar, reminding of the days when he kept a similar chronicle in a corner of his own pops’ apartment, much to the old man’s displeasure.)

“…You’ve got weird taste for a girl,” he mused aloud.

“And you’ve got weird fashion sense for a boy,” she retorted, nose wrinkling.

“Hey, I didn’t design the suit,” he huffed defensively.

“And who did?  Your mom?”

Robin winced a bit, but bit his tongue.  “…Would you believe me if I said Batman?”

She sniffed.  “I mean seriously, what’s with that getup anyway? It’s so bright, it makes you look like a clown.”

Fed up with her criticism, he started to skulk back towards the outlet again.

“Look, I didn’t come here just to be insulted.”

A hand reached out to clasp his wrist, and he rotated to see her regarding him sincerely.

“Sorry, I was just joking. …You don’t have to leave.”

He gulped, blushing a little at the light touch.  The last time a girl held his hand like this for so long, she’d followed with a…

“Um, okay.”  He rubbed the back of his neck uneasily, growing tense as she inclined forward and grinned – before passing him by to hop onto the sill instead, sticking out her tongue at him.

“Ladies first.”

He whirled around in shock as she stepped out over the ledge.

“Hey, what do you think you’re doing?  That’s dangerous, get back here.”

“Relax, I do this all the time.  Besides, you jump around rooftops every night, don’t you?”

He impulsively climbed after her, keeping a careful eye on her footing, hovering close behind in case she fell.  But, true to her word, she did seem to have practiced this pattern many times before, effortlessly picking her way over the slates to the top, where she plopped down and petted the spot next to her.  Indicating invitation.  Tentatively, he took it and traced her wondering sightline to the stars above.

“…You know, I used to dream I’d see the Batman someday.  Drifting across the moon, dark against the night sky…”  She hugged her knees to her breast.  “This is the first time I’ve actually seen him in person.  For a second, I almost thought he was a monster.”

Robin remained quiet as she continued.

“But, my dad’s the real monster.  I know he’s hurt a lot of people – myself and Mom included.  He doesn’t care about us at all.”

“How come she doesn’t just divorce him?”

“She can’t afford a lawyer to kick him out.  He still owns the mortgage on the house.”

She smiled bitterly, drawing circles on the shingles.

“As a kid, I used to think about running away.  Getting on a plane and going somewhere far, far away from here.  Someplace exotic, where no one knows who I am or where I come from – like Africa.  …But, I could never do that to my Mom.  She’d be lonely if I left.  Even though she has some… ‘difficulties’, I still love her.”

She looked at Robin, who was still listening attentively.  Patiently.

“Sorry,” she mumbled in a slightly sheepish manner.  “I’m just making you sit through my random rambling.  I don’t usually get a chance to talk to anyone about this, let alone someone my age.  Having a lame, insane supercriminal for a dad isn’t exactly something I can tell all my friends at school.”

“It’s all right.  I wish there was more I could do to help…”

He replied, feeling as utterly useless – hopeless – as when he came across a bunch of homeless youths in his hunt for Annie after they’d gotten separated, the ragtag group of street rats sleeping together on a filthy mattress in an abandoned shelter; huddled under each other for warmth, sharing but one thin, dingy blanket between them.  (…The kind of neglected kid he could’ve easily ended up as had he not happened to be so lucky, to be “chosen” – caught before he slipped through the cracks into faded obscurity and was overlooked – forgotten – by society.)  There were some things punches and kicks just couldn’t fix.

“You’ve already done more than enough, thanks.  I’m grateful to you both for putting a stop to him.  …Even if it’s probably only temporary.”

“There has to be something that can be done though.”

“Really, you don’t have to go out of your way or anything.  Besides, why do you care so much anyway?”

He shrugged, surveying the distance.  “Maybe it’s because you kinda remind me of someone.”

She scanned his wistful countenance, scrutinizing closely.

“…Was she cute?”

“What- no.  I mean yes.  I mean, uh-” Robin stammered, flushing red as he was abruptly taken aback by the unexpected inquiry.  She giggled in snorting amusement at his oh-so-obvious reaction.

“Relax, Boy Wonder, I’m just teasing you.”

He coughed, regaining composure.

“To be honest, that’s not the only reason.  My dad wasn’t much of a prize either.  …Although he can’t compete with yours.”

“Ehhh?”  She gaped at him in astonished awe.  “But he’s so cool!”

“Huh?”  He puzzled for a beat, then it clicked what she was talking about.  “Oh, you think that Batman’s- no, he’s not my real dad.  I’m not even sure I would even go so far as to call him much of a ‘father figure’ actually.  He’s more like a… mentor?”

It was her turn to listen as he ruminated, reflecting.

“He saved me though. Took me in when I had no place else to go.  Gave me a second chance.  I’ve… done things I’m not exactly proud of either.  If he hadn’t found me, I’d likely be dead or in jail myself right now.”

Sensing a buzzing interruption from his waist – a warning summons from the butler no doubt – he consulted the timestamp in the corner of the display, and cringed upon calculating how much interval had elapsed in his absence.

“…Speaking of which, I should probably get back soon.  Batman’s gonna kill me once he finds out I’m gone without letting anyone know.”

Her forehead creased with contriteness.

“You didn’t have to go that far for me…”

“Hey, don’t sweat it. It’s the least I could do.”

She looked reluctant to end the conversation though.  He wondered if he was the first person she’d ever been this open to about her feelings. …After some thought, he fished around in a pocket and pulled out another spare backup communicator.

“Listen, don’t tell anyone about this; Batman doesn’t like me lending out tech.  But if you ever need anything, you can get in touch with me on this.  I’ll come as soon as I can.  …Only if it’s an emergency though.  He’ll really give me an earful if he finds out I’m using our gadgets for personal stuff.”

She looked down at the device in trepidation.

“Is it really okay for me to have this?”

“Yeah.  It’s no problem, don’t worry.  I know how to keep a secret.  And I’ll definitely stop by again sometime, so we can hang out some more if you want.  Whaddya say?”

Her eyes lit up, and- without warning, she flung her arms around him in an appreciative hug (that very nearly knocked him off balance).

“…Thanks, Robin.”

His hue embarrassed again, but he gently reciprocated the gesture.

“Hey, what are heroes for?”

After an awkwardly long minute, she propelled back from the embrace with a self-conscious laugh.  Once the rapid beating in both their ribs had calmed down (and she’d surreptitiously wiped some tears from her face), she afforded him a somewhat odd look.

“…What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, it’s just… Calling you ‘Robin’ feels kinda weird.  It’s like a girl’s name.”

“Hey, it can be a boy’s name too,” he sulked in indignation.  “Besides, at least it is a name.”

She shook her head, concentrating intently on him as she contemplated.  After a bit, she brightened with sudden brilliance.

“I know!  I’ll call you ‘Peter’ – since you came in through the window.  …And ‘cuz of the tights.”

Robin blanched as she pointed playfully at his leggings.

“…I think I’d rather be called ‘Robin’.”

“Nope,” she cheerfully announced.  “You’re ‘Peter’ to me now.”

Robin sighed, but didn’t object further to the nickname.  It wasn’t like he could tell her his real title.

“Fine.  ‘Peter’ it is then.  …Does that make you ‘Wendy’?”

She smirked with a wink.

“If you want me to be.”

He blinked, clearing his throat as he stood up, almost stumbling over his heels as he backed up in haste.

“Right.  Well then.  Wendy.  …Guess I’ll see you around?”

“Yeah.  See ya.”

“…’Kay, bye.”

“’Kay, bye.”

He waved as he fired his grapple into the branches and swung away, and she merrily returned the motion. Elated, Robin’s spirit soared over heightening city structures back to the estate, performing as many flips and tricks as he could on the way.  …Although come to think of it, he had failed to ask for her actual name.  …Oh, well. There was always next time.

Rather than directly approach the porch or cave entrance, Robin thought about endeavoring to sneak back in through the second-story opening to his own bedroom, so he could pretend he’d been there all along.  …Unfortunately, as soon as he’d made it inside and detached his façade, he bumped straight into a severely stern-looking Bruce towering over him.

“Where the devil have you been?  We’ve been trying to contact you for the past hour.  Barbara’s out there searching all over for you right now.  Meanwhile I’ve had to help Alfred double-check every secret room and passage in the manor.  Do you know how long that takes?”

Tim merely shrugged.

“I went out for a stroll. Is that a crime?”

“In this house, it is. Do I need to start putting a tracer on your utility belt again?”

“No, sir,” he squeaked meekly.

Bruce heaved a grunt.

“Just hurry up and go get changed, young man.  Your dinner’s cold already.  Alfred made soup.  Make sure you apologize to him too, he’s been worried sick.”

“Yeah yeah, I hear ya, old man.”

“And did you finish your homework?”

Tim flinched.  He knew there was something else he’d forgotten.

“You had better get to it if you want to come patrolling with us tomorrow night.”

“I will.”

Before he vanished into the privacy of his enormous closet (which, in his own private opinion, was way too overly spacious – though no one would certainly hear him complain), Tim paused, calling softly back over his shoulder.

“Bruce.”

“What?”

“Thanks… for caring.”

…

About a month later, a couple men dressed in black arrived at the Brown residence, carrying grim, serious auras and stiff briefcases containing various important-looking official documents.  An obstinate Stephanie insisted on sitting down alongside her mother on the sofa as they discreetly disclosed the news she never once conceived she’d get to hear like this:

Her dad was dead.

Apparently he’d cut a deal while in prison, and became a part of something clandestinely known by a select few outside those in power as a “Suicide Squad”.  He’d perished while on a covert mission for the government, and – according to these strange men’s confidential report – he’d died a “heroic sacrifice”.

Stephanie didn’t know how to react.  What to feel. …How she was supposed to feel.

As she sat in her room, trying to write in her diary but coming up blank, her observation shifted to the window still left ajar each evening, through which a mild breeze blew. Opening her desk drawer, she retrieved the hidden miniature handset from the far back, tucked neatly behind all sorts of stationery.  She had avoided using it up to now, afraid of coming off as an annoyance.  …But she hadn’t seen Robin at all since then.  No one had.  Based on what she’d gathered from growing gossip, he’d been fully MIA over the course of the past few weeks, and rumors were starting to spread.  It was like his existence had been entirely erased, simply evaporated off the surface of the earth.  …She was worried about him too.

She pushed the button, hands shaking in mounting apprehension as she elevated to her ear.

There was a long, low hum of crackling static, before someone (presumably) picked up at last.

“…”

“Hello?”

“…Who is this?  How did you get access to this comm line?”

“I’m… a friend of Pet- Robin’s.  Is… he there?”

An extensive gap stretched.

“There is no more Robin.”

The pronouncement was deep. Disturbing.  Definite.

“Do not contact here again.”

With a final click, the other end hung up.

She tried, repeatedly – desperately – to dial back – but the machine seemed to have been remotely disconnected.  Slumping forward in defeat as she let go the last potential link – lifeline – she buried her face in her sleeves, and burst into sobs.

At length, she dried her sniffles and rose, dragging her feet to the wide frame.  Casting one last look of longing out at the pitch gloom, she shut the pane.  …Shutting out pain, and all the brief memories associated with it.

…

She never saw Robin again.

————————–

He sprinkled me in pixie dust and told me to believe Believe in him and believe in me Together we will fly away in a cloud of green To your beautiful destiny As we soared above the town that never loved me I realized I finally had a family