Why you never hear a robin sing with a cardinal
a fanfiction by Hightoppsmadness
It was years ago, as Jason recalled, since he had seen her. She was so young, and so was he. They hadn't been in love. No, quite the opposite. She was a fierce girl with a harsh silver tongue and a right hook that could make you see heaven. He had been a boy when they had first met, even before he had met Bruce Wayne. They were street urchins together, fighting to stay alive in their broken homes.
Her name was Rozalin Mercer. Her hair was red, but it was not very long, because her mother would have her grow it out, then sell it to wig makers illegally for drug money. Her dad was in jail on false charges of manslaughter. He took the fall for his wife. He was the only honest man in Rozalin's family. She was shorter than he was, and since he had been a small kid, he rubbed it in as best as he could. Her eyes were so blue, they looked like ice against the black of her long lashes.
Back then, he was powerless to help himself, let alone her. They lived next door to each other, in a shit hole apartment building. The beatings her mother gave her started just after his mother, her best friend, died of a drug overdose. His father was always too busy working for Two- Face to get a hold of him, but Rozalin's mother was a bit less busy, and Rozalin was a bit slower. He could always tell when she was being beat. Her yelps of pain would make him cringe. Her bruises were always hidden, though. Always on the back or thighs. Jason had comforted her in those days.
"Don't worry," he would hold her while she cried. "Things will get better. We'll get out of this."
"Maybe you will," Rozalin would sob. "But I'm useless. At least you can steal hubcaps. I can't even do that!"
A few weeks later, he had seen the Batmobile. He had his trusty tire iron, and Rozalin was only a few yards away, hiding behind the dumpster. He hadn't even known she was there at the time. He had just finished the job when he heard the voice of his savior.
"Unbelievable," he had said.
Jason had looked up from his work, and dropped the tire iron at the sight of Batman, pursing his lips at him. He hadn't expected him to want Jason to come with him. He hadn't remembered to mention his best friend. He forgot to save Rozalin.