Batman was lonely. All his Robins had gone and he was sure there would never be another. No more was there a child to provide the necessary break in the endless monotony that was his life. Tim Drake had left to join the Titans, leaving his former mentor hurting and alone.
He had not been able to talk to the boy. Bruce Wayne lacked that ability, so he had left and the Batman had decided something. Never was another boy to don the Robin costume. Just to make sure he believed it, he put it behind glass and locked it. Never again would he have his heart broken. But, the Batman was lonely nonetheless. He didn't know what to do.
Autumn was well named. She had ice blue eyes like a chilly fall day and soft golden red hair like falling leaves. Her name had been the only good thing her mother had done for her. It wasn't really Alicia's fault she couldn't be there for her daughter. She died, again, not her fault.
Alicia always knew there was something strange about little Autumn. She had thought about aborting the girl shortly after her being conceived, but something swayed her judgment and for nine months her judgment continued to be swayed until it was too late and Autumn was allowed to grace the world with her living presence.
So, Alicia began to raise the girl, with Autumn's father making occasional appearances. The broken family wasn't exactly rich. The one room apartment they lived in was anything but nice, but it suited Autumn fine.
Bristol was a strange man. It seemed at times, as if he weren't even human. The reality was, he wasn't, but Alicia didn't know that and she hadn't known it when he invited her home on the date of Autumn's conception. Alicia was no stranger to being invited to a man's home, she was an attractive woman, except this time she said yes. She didn't normally.
Well, when Alicia's parents found out about Autumn, she was out of the house. Alicia tried to go back to Bristol's home, but he was nowhere to be found. So, Alicia was banished to the streets. Bristol found her there and took her to that little apartment. That was where Autumn was born.
Bristol was in and out, never staying long, never leaving long. He became a familiar sight to Autumn, some one who was in her select circle of people important to her world. Bristol almost never touched her, but when he did, it sent shivers down Autumn's spine. He never hurt her, never touched her in any way abusive and when he spoke, it was in low, gentle tones.
His eyes drew the girl as much as they had drawn her mother. They were dark purple and coupled with his black hair made him a frightening person to all but Autumn. Even Alicia at times seemed frightened of him, even though he never laid a hand upon her in anything other then respect.
To Autumn, he was source of pleasure, a strong being that could be broken down to love her. She may have gotten her mother's looks, but she had her father's spirit and alien presence.
Alicia was taken care of until Autumn was five. Then, she took her daughter out one day to the park. Autumn was always told to be careful with the other children she played with. Five year olds did not judge their playmates too harshly and though they all knew she was strange, she played good games so they welcomed her into their circle.
It was not a nice part of town and soon, Autumn's mother had been grabbed by someone.
"Give me your money", the man had said roughly. Childbirth had robbed Alicia of some of her looks, but none of her spirit. She had kicked the man as hard as she could and called Autumn to her. Autumn was loyal like a dog and came willingly to her mother's side as the woman fled the gunman. A gunshot resounded though the alleyways and Alicia had dropped like a rock, the last thing she heard being Autumn's screams of terror.
Rage had over come the tiny five year old and it was a very good thing no one but the gunman was around. Though he ran off, Autumn stalked him through the streets doggedly. She cornered him in an alleyway. The man thought the five year old was to be a source of easy pleasure for him, but she slaughtered him.
Some great power that resounded in her core, given to her by the race of her father, came out in a wave of fury the gun man was unprepared for. When the police finally showed up, they were met with a horrific sight. A gunman ripped to shreds lying next to a dead woman who had been shot through the chest, and a little red headed girl sobbing hysterically by her side.
The murder of the gunman was far more startling then the murder of the woman, which was almost routine in this Gotham. His wounds were similar to those you see when someone has been killed by a panther or a tiger. Autumn was pushed to the side. Bristol came and got her.
"You weren't here, you could have protected her but you weren't here", Autumn had screamed, you're never here. Bristol's strong arms had lifted the little girl and carried her away, allowing her to fall asleep on his chest.
When Autumn woke up, Bristol hoisted her onto his lap and gave her a talk she would never forget.
"You are not human, you are different. I wasn't going to tell you until you were older, but you have killed. You have taken your first life and there is blood on your paws. This will not be the last death if you do not learn to control this. You must never kill again. I know it felt good, but I must not. You must not spill innocent blood."
"Help me", Autumn had said. "I will stay with you as long as I can, but I am dying Autumn. Soon I will be no more, can't you see." Autumn had out her arms around his neck and held him as close as she could thinking, a five year old thinks, that if you hold on tightly enough, something won't go away.
Bristol slipped through her fingers within a week and Autumn had again been robbed of a loved one, but this time there could be no revenge. Bristol died because he stayed on earth for too long, but Autumn could stay and feel no ill affects. Later in life, she wished she had died.
Her father never told her of his race, though they might have taken her in, if just to study her. Autumn was banished to the streets. Bristol had imparted to her for that last week how to harness her power, how to use it and how to control it. They had gotten closer then ever. She had bullied him into loving her so desperately it hurt. Years later, she still had that to hold onto.
The streets were a hard place to grow up. Autumn learned at an early age her power must be kept secret. Bad things would happen if anyone knew, so no one must. Despite growing up in alleyways, Autumn committed no more murders. She learned to be kind from the example of a choice few people.
A local baker who saved all the leftovers for her, a flower woman with a shack for her to sleep in, a paper boy who gave her all his spare change, people like that who were lights in Autumn's darkness.
Once, after running away, she stumbled upon a drug dealer, who inadvertently learned of her unique skills and employed her, against her will, to help him. He beat her, badly, oftentimes under the influence of the very alcohol he forced her to steal for him. Autumn was the ticket to her own undoing.
Then, she was captured on a drug raid, not by the child officials, but by someone far fiercer. It was the best thing that could have ever happened to her.