The Beginning

I just HAD to write this, even though I've already done a Superman's Little Girl fic. Sorry. Enjoy!

"Bruce, please," the recently-appointed Commissioner Barbara Gordon pleaded, "This girl could be killed with the testing they plan to do on her! And who knows what will happen to her parents?!"

"And why should I care?" Bruce Wayne retorted, steepling his fingers, "I don't have anything to do with her."

"She's a two-year-old!" Bruce seemed to be affected by that, but he quickly covered it up.

"Batman's not a part of my life anymore. I'm sorry, but you're going to have to help this kid without me." He stood, picking up his cane.

"Bruce-"

"I'm sorry." With that, he left the room and Barbara sighed. She and her police units had no way of even finding the girl and her parents.

Bruce slowly entered the Manor, feeling small pangs of guilt from his and Barbara's argument.

"She's a two-year-old!" her words echoed in his head and he sighed, glancing over to the grandfather clock in the study. Then he shook his head.

"No," he spoke quietly to himself, "It's not my problem."

"And who knows what will happen to her parents?!"

I know, Bruce thought, Because it's always the same.

A gunshot. Another child who would never see their parents again.

Casting another look at the grandfather clock, Bruce made his decision and stood, making his way over to it. Heart condition be damned. Batman wasn't about to let another child suffer the way he did.

Batman landed on the rooftop of the abandoned testing facility. No doubt this was where they were holding the girl and her parents captive.

A small childish scream came from inside and he was positive he was at the right place.

"Quiet, kid," a rough voice said harshly, "We don't want anything bad to happen to Mommy and Daddy now, do we?"

"N-no," the girl sniffled.

Now inside the air vents, Batman could see into the room from a grate. The girl was cowering in the corner with a small bracelet attached to her wrist while two tall men stood over her. Across the room, the girl's parents were chained to the wall. The girl looked over to them, her wide blue eyes frightened.

"It's okay, honey," her mother spoke, giving a reassuring smile, "Everything's going to be okay." The child nodded hesitantly before turning back to the men.

"Okay," she stated, "I can do it." She lifted her hand and a cup began to float up, but then she winced and let her hand drop, causing the glass to shatter on the floor. Instantly, one of the men pushed a button on a remote, forcing the girl to cry out as the bracelet sparked with electricity. "I'm sowwy!" the child pleaded, tears streaming down her face, "I dunno how-!"

"You'd better learn or you'll never see the light of day again!" the man snarled. Batman figured that was his cue and he kicked the grate open with his good leg, jumping down into the room and landing smoothly on the floor.

"The Bat? Thought you went AWOL," the second man sneered as the little girl backed away from them, clearly seeing that this would turn into a fight.

"You wish." With that, he punched the man into the wall.

The first man kicked at him, causing him to back up a few steps. The momentary lack of balance was enough for the second man to pick up a crowbar and smash it against his head. The force was enough to send Batman to the floor, almost unconscious.

"You know, I heard that powers like the kid's are motivated by emotions," the first man commented, pulling out a gun as the girl's eyes widened.

"No, please!" He pointed it at her father, who struggled against his bonds. "NO!" Her scream was drowned out by the gunshot. "Daddy!" The tears had started again as her hands sparked with black energy.

"It's working," the second man pointed out.

"Not enough." The gun moved to her mother.

"Mommy!" the girl cried.

"It's okay, Ariel," her mother replied, even though she was trembling in fear.

"MOM!" The gunshot sounded again as her mother ceased moving, blood splattering against the stone wall. "No..." Ariel whispered, trembling in shock. "NO!" The second man was pushed back by the sudden burst of energy that came from her hands. He slammed into the wall and collapsed. The first man smirked, putting his gun away before turning, but ended up receiving the same punishment.

Batman groaned, sitting up just as Ariel jumped on top of the man, punching him in the face repeatedly. Then he saw the two bodies chained to the wall.

"Oh no." He stood, making his way over to the little girl and pulling her away from the now-unconscious man. "It's okay, calm down."

"NO!" The tears were falling down her face harder than before as she struggled against him.

"It's okay." He turned her to face him and she froze. "Calm down. I'm not going to hurt you." She slowly relaxed and laid her head on his shoulder.

"He huwt them..." she whispered, trembling with sobs as he stared at her, unsure of what to do. Hesitantly, he placed a hand on her back, rubbing it gently.

"It's okay." Suddenly, a sharp jolt of pain went through his chest and he winced, pushing the girl away. "Oh no, not now," he hissed under his breath.

"What wong?" The child had gotten up from her position on the floor, moving back over to him. "You huwt, too?"

"Yes," he muttered, leaning back against the stone wall.

"I make it betta?" she inquired and he almost smiled. Almost.

"I don't think so." Eventually, the pain faded and he stood, picking her up. "I'm taking you to the police." He lifted her onto his back and she clung on tightly. "Don't let go." She nodded as he activated his glider and started the rockets in his boots to lift them into the air.

"You fly?" she asked, eyes wide with surprise.

"To an extent." She frowned.

"What does 'extent' mean?" He smirked slightly.

"Never mind." He pulled her into his arms when they landed at the police station. Coincidentally, Barbara was already on the roof.

"You actually did it?" she asked in shock, taking the girl from him.

"You sound so shocked," Batman retorted, giving a smirk as she glared at him before turning to the little girl.

"What's your name?"

"A-Awiel," she mumbled, tears still silently coursing down her cheeks.

"You were right, Barbara," Batman spoke as the commissioner looked up, "Her parents were shot in front of her just as I got there."

"I looked into her file when the case came up. She doesn't have any other family. Best option now is to put her in the orphanage." Barbara then smirked. "Or maybe you could..."

"No," he stated firmly. "I already made my mistakes by taking in Nightwing and Robin."

"You do have a habit of picking up strays," she pointed out and then held up Ariel, "Don't tell me you don't melt when you see this adorable face." Ariel gave him a weak smile as he returned it with a sigh. "I didn't think so," Barbara said smugly.

"That has nothing to do with this." He took Ariel back and the little girl immediately curled up against him, yawning and falling asleep.

"She's already attached," Barbara said with a smile.

"I can't adopt her, Barbara." She frowned. "But Bruce Wayne can." She beamed.

"Really?"

"He'll be here to sign the adoption papers tomorrow morning." He turned to leave, but then turned back to her. "Don't count on seeing me again." With that, he took off towards Wayne Manor.

After changing out of the Batsuit and placing it back in its case, Bruce picked up the sleeping child, frowning at how light she was. He took her upstairs and laid her on the bed in a guest bedroom.

"Mmm..." Ariel shifted slightly before opening her eyes as he put on a smile.

"Hello, Ariel."

"Hi..." she replied confusedly. Who was he?

"My name is Bruce. Batman told me to take care of you," he explained, then cringed, "Please tell me you're potty-trained." She giggled and nodded. "Oh, thank God." She reflexively glanced at her wrist and was surprised when she didn't see the bracelet there. "I took it off in case the men who captured you still had the remote." She beamed, but then frowned as he stood up.

"Don't leave," she pleaded, reaching out and grabbing his hand, "Please." He hesitated, then nodded, laying her back down on the bed and lying down beside her. He smiled slightly as she curled up against him and fell asleep once more.

What had this girl done to him?

XDDDDD I'm sorry, I couldn't resist using the name Ariel again. Just so you know, she has the same powers as the Ariel in my other story and will become Raven as well. Next chapter will show how they meet Ace. R&R!