Icy eyes burned through his mind. That look that Bruce Wayne gave him was one that would be imprinted in his mind for a long time.
"No more parties," Roy groaned, resting his head against the door of the taxi.
Roy couldn't understand why people thought he could snap any minute. He was clean. He was off the stuff for good. So why would Bruce look at him like that? Like he just broken the law or something? Roy sighed and rubbed the back of his sore neck.
"Just take me home," he told the driver. "I don't even know why Dinah wanted me to be here."
"It's a week before Bruce Wayne's birthday," the dirver chuckled. "I would't be surprised if all of Gotham City showed up. Why are you so upset?"
"Charity parties aren't my thing."
Roy laid across the seat with his back proped up against the window and his ankles crossed. He folded his hands across his stomach and drifted off to sleep. The ride to the airport would be a long one…
Batman's eyes darted across the screen as he tried to find anything worth going on patrol for. So far nothing seemed to be going on tonight. He decided that it might be nice to take a stroll and actually enjoy the nightlife and after-dark entertainment that Gotham City had to offer instead of beating it to a bloody pulp.
Changing out of the Batsuit and into something more civilian-ish, he started to contemplate the places he could go. There was a movie out tonight…no, he would be able to watch that tonight in his own home instead of waiting in line. Though, there was a place that he did find interesting. It was a night club a few miles away from Gotham International Airport.
Perfect, Bruce thought as he made his way up the elevator shaft.
"Alfred, I'll be out for a while. Make sure Dick gets home safe."
"Master Richard is not the one you should be worried about. Just make sure you get home safe. And please do bring the Batmobile back in one piece."
Roy flicked the ashes of his cigarette and rolled it between his fingers. If the heroin didn't kill him then his smoking habits sure would. He wrapped his arms around his chest and yawned feeling that he'd never get used to the New Jersey weather compared to the kind in California. If the cigarette didn't kill him then the cold sure would.
"Two hours," he huffed. "I'm stuck out here for two hours."
It was 9:45. The plane back to California wouldn't arrive until 11:45. To Roy, that was two hours and fourty five minutes. With a loud sigh he made his way down the street, not caring how many heads turned in his direction. He walked around carrying his suitcase with him just in case. He needed to get some circulation back in his legs.
Gotham City. He knew how dangerous this place could be. Even with the full survailence of the Batman himself, crime just kept popping up everywhere. He only experienced this first hand (well more like second hand) when he heard a slight shuffle down the road. Three guys were about to corner an unsuspecting raven-haired civilian.
Roy flipped a button on the side handle of his suitcase and it instantly transformed into a crossbow. He pressed his back to the wall and inhaled deeply.
Breathe...aim...fire!
Guy number one was down.
Roy dashed to his next cover spot and reloded his crosbow. He aimed at the second then fired. The third guy turned around and nearly screamed before Roy shot another arrow at his throat. The raven-haired man turned around and gasped seeing the three man laying dead at his feet.
Roy started to come out of hiding to greet the man when a fourth guy jumped from out of no where and pounced on the man. The archer rushed in to help but suddenly the man went from 'victim' to 'total-ass-kicking-machine'. He punched the guy square in the jaw then kicked him into the wall nearby.
Roy's crossbow went back to being a suitcase and he rushed over to see if the guy was doing well.
"You alright bro?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Nice work with that crossbow of yours. How did you..."
Roy froze. Of course, just when the night was getting bad...it got worse.
"Bruce...Bruce Wayne..."
"And you're Roy Harper, I take it?" He asked.
Roy noded slightly and frowned. What was he doing out so late?
"Good. I guess you'll be my body guard for the night. C'mon."
