I split this to make it simpler for readers! thank you for reading, and I only own Mariposa!

I step off a train carrying several bags as well as a rolling suitcase. Despite my heavy armload, I can't help but smile. 'I made it. I'm really in Gotham City. God, I can't wait to get started at my new PA job at County General…' I sigh and adjust my armload of luggage. 'At least I don't have far to walk.' I take two steps and promptly run into someone. "I'm sorry, I didn't—" The man I had bumped into turns to me, and my words freeze in my throat when I see who I had run into. 'My God, where has he been all my life? He almost looks like—nah, he can't be—but, then again, I am in Gotham…'

"Are you all right?"

I sigh and try to clear my thoughts. "Y-yeah." I smile weakly. "Just a little clumsy I guess."

"Don't worry about it. It was my fault." He glances to my armload of luggage. "Do you need some help with those?"

"You're not going to run off with them, are you?" I joke.

"Of course not. I just want to help."

My smile brightens slightly as he takes the majority of my luggage. "I just got here, from Indiana."

"Where are you taking all this?"

I smile sheepishly. "My new apartment's about a block away."

The walk to the apartment building is silent. The Good Samaritan beside me seems to not notice my staring at him as I open the door to the apartment building and lead him up the stairs. Once we reach the door, I unlock it quickly, then herd him inside before locking the three locks I had installed the week before plus the one on the doorknob. He turns to me after setting the bags on the floor. "You know this isn't a very good part of town."

"Yeah…" I sigh. "I've been in college for the last few years, and haven't had the time for a job with school and taking care of Daddy…I just didn't have the money to get a better place yet." I gesture around the room. "Hello, Slum Life." I giggle. "Not that I mind, of course." I turn to pick up a couple of bags off the floor, then slide my laptop under the old couch for its safety. "I'm finally away from my verbally abusive birthfather and physically abusive brother, so nothing else really matters." I sigh before turning back to him. "But I know how to fight, and I know how to shoot."

He tenses up at my last word.

I sigh softly. 'Smooth move, Ex-Lax, ya freaked out the Good Samaritan.' "Sorry. Sore subject, huh?"

"More than you know. My parents were murdered on this street when I was eight."

"Oh…" I glance down at my feet, afraid to make eye contact. "I'm…sorry I brought it up. I…kinda…know how you feel." I sigh. "Mom's been dead for three years, and I just lost my Dad last month."

"I'm sorry."

I smile sadly. "Don't be. You didn't do anything." I look at my feet before looking back up at him. "And I'm sorry—"

"I don't like guns."

"Understood." I sigh before turning to the small shotgun I had left on the coffee table. "Dad gave me that when I was seventeen. It's kind of special." I reach down and pick it up before pointing it at the floor. "I'll go put it away so you don't have to see it."

While I'm in my room, he looks around and finds a leather-bound notebook sitting on top of the armload I had been carrying—my journal.

'God, that guy looks like Batman, I swear it! He's gotta be Bats!' I sigh before slipping the gun into the closet. 'Pull yourself together, Shey. You've seen twenty people that have that square chin since you left Metropolis this morning—twenty people that could be Batman. Damn that cowl. If he didn't wear that fraggin' thing, I'd know for sure without even trying!' I sigh heavier and run my fingers over the new costume my birthmother and I had made for Mariposa—my superhero persona. I had developed a minor power because of a necklace with some kind of power hidden in it, and, though I haven't made the travels Batman had, I still learned everything I could about fighting at home. 'He's just some Good Samaritan. Who you left. In the living room. With your computer. Even though you don't know him. Genius move, Mariposa.' "Worst. Idea. Ever."

"Sorry about leaving you—what are you doing with my journal?"

"Is this your family?"

My frustration melts as I take the picture. "Yeah." I sigh. "Back when things were simpler, and life was easier. I was only about ten in that picture."

I sigh as something hits me. I've pretty much shared my life story with this man, and I don't even know his name. Then again, he doesn't know mine either. "I'm Sheyenne."

"Bruce."

I fight to hold back a knowing smile that tries to creep onto my face. "Nice to meet you." I laugh softly. "Normally I don't invite someone in without at least knowing their name, and definitely not if they seem hostile, but…you reminded me of someone."

"Your father?"

"No." I say drily. I then smirk. "It's just some creepy-looking superhero. He used to scare me, but I've come to admire him over the last couple years…"

He tenses up slightly. 'Maybe…'

THAT NIGHT

I look out the window through the dark pink curtains as I slip into my new costume—a dark blue shimmery long sleeved dress with a thigh-length pleated skirt and an azure blue star logo, black leggings, dark blue knee high flat heeled boots, and a dark blue ankle length cape. I glance in the mirror at my desk and smile as I slip out my new prescription eye mask and put it on carefully before checking my reflection in the mirror. 'Perfect. Maybe if I meet Batman I'll be able to make him smile.' I turn and grab my dark blue metal fans and slip them into a concealed pocket on the hips of the dress, then slip a penlight into another hidden pocket. After placing my Swiss Army knife and my phone and headphones into their perspective pockets, I clip on two dark blue paracord bracelets from a box in the smaller closet. 'And Mariposa is ready to roll…so to speak.'

For the second time today—this time because I don't see the black-caped crusader in the dark—I run into a man.

"Where are you going?"

I jump before shaking my head, then pull out my penlight and almost blind Batman. I quickly turn off the light. "For a second there I thought you were one of the crazies in this city."

"You need to get home and stay there. The Joker escaped from Arkham again."

"I'm Mariposa—The Star Healer. I was a crusader in South Bend for two years."

"Never heard of you."

I sigh. "That's because it's a small city, not like Gotham."

"I don't appreciate supers in my city."

"I only have one power—I call it the Blue Inferno—and it's not really a meta-ability, because I only have the power when I'm wearing this necklace."

"I don't have time to help a rookie."

I growl. "Now that was uncalled for! I haven't been a rookie for a year and a half, and I've studied a map of Gotham for six months before coming here." I sigh before turning away. "I can't believe I made the mistake of admiring you for two years, and looked forward to tonight just because I'd finally get to meet you." I hear a gasp behind me, but simply turn to run off, planning to search for the Joker rather than get to know my role model.

"Wait."

I turn back to him nervously. 'Please don't yell at me again. I'm only here to work at County and help people.'

"Sheyenne?"

I gasp before looking at him. 'Bruce. Batman. I knew it!' I nod slightly. "I wanted to be able to help people, protect people, but I wasn't good enough for Culver's EMS force because I have Asperger's Disorder. The blue fire I can control can heal, which is what caused me to choose hero work in the first place. My new job is just because I love working in the medical field. Please don't chase me out of the city." 'And now I sound like a kicked puppy.' "What were you doing outside my apartment, anyway?" I look down and see two roses. "Oh… Your parents. Sorry if I disturbed you…"

Batman looks around before taking out his grapple gun and firing it at a nearby roof. He then holds out a hand. "Come on."

I can show you the world
Shining, shimmering, splendid
Tell me, princess, now when did
You last let your heart decide?
I can open your eyes
Take you wonder by wonder
Over, sideways and under
On a magic carpet ride

I glance up nervously before taking his hand. He pulls me close, and within moments, we're zipping to the roofs above Gotham. 'Normally I'd be scared to death, but when I'm Mariposa, my fears just fade away. I am…courageous…and being with Batman helps a lot too. I know someone has my back if I get into a scrap.'

A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us no
Or where to go
Or say we're only dreaming
A whole new world
A dazzling place I never knew
But when I'm way up here
It's crystal clear
That now I'm in a whole new world with you
Now I'm in a whole new world with you

"Stay there. I'm going to the other side."

"Yes, Sir."

"Tell me if you see anything. You may have studied Gotham's streets, but you still don't know everything about Gotham's criminals."

"Maybe not, but I know about Jack Napier—how he became who we're going after and everything."

"How?"

I sigh softly. "Its personal."

Batman glares at me. "How personal?"

"My birthfather is bipolar and schizophrenic. My little brother takes after him completely. They both treated me like I was only there for their amusement." I turn away and look out over the city with a slight smile. "Life's better in that little apartment."

Unbelievable sights
Indescribable feeling
Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling
Through an endless diamond sky

I sigh before glancing down at the street, doing my best to fight off my dizzying fear of heights as I search for the Clown Prince of Crime.

A whole new world
Don't you dare close your eyes
A hundred thousand things to see
Hold your breath-it gets better
I'm like a shooting star
I've come so far
I can't go back to where I used to be

A whole new world
Every turn a surprise
With new horizons to pursue
Every moment red-letter
I'll chase them anywhere
There's time to spare
Let me share this whole new world with you

'Where is that scrappin' Clown Prince of Crime?' All the sudden it's like I can hear Batman's voice in my head as if I had been watching the episode of Scooby Doo right at this moment, reciting a familiar line that always makes me laugh. '"From the Clown Prince of Crime to the Crown Prince of Climb."' I giggle softly, calling Batman's attention.

"What's so funny?"

"You—off Scooby Doo. You and Robin had fallen into this slick-sided pit in an amusement park funhouse. Suddenly, these two costumed crooks—the ones you two and the Scooby Doo gang were chasing, obviously—fell into the pit with you while running from Scooby. You and Robin quickly unmasked them to find the Joker and the Penguin. You called them a couple of boneheads—which was funny in itself because they were wearing skull masks—and then the Joker got loose and tried to climb out to no avail. Then you told Robin that the Joker had gone from: "The Clown Prince of Crime to the Crown Prince of Climb". Scooby laughed so hard he almost joined you in the pit." I laugh softly. "You know things are going well when Batman cracks a joke." I turn to him with a confused look on my face. "Why didn't the two of you just use your grapple guns and get out of the pit? I'm sure they'd have reached the door, seeing as we're on a roof right now, and this building is higher than the door was."

"It doesn't matter."

I glance down and smile, then turn to the Dark Knight. "Batman."

"What now?"

"Joker at twelve o'clock down. Looks like he's got someone with him."

"Come on."

We land in an alleyway. I quickly release Batman before turning to watch the creepy Clown Prince of Crime. 'What's he planning…' I shudder involuntarily. 'God, I hate creepy clowns!'

"Get ready."

I perk up at the soft yet deep voice, then watch as he flings a batarang. It sticks into the brick wall behind the Joker, startling him.

"Let's go." Batman then leaps out and starts to fight.

I watch, then turn to one side and spot another clown—this one a girl—with a hammer raised to smack into him. "Batman, look out!" I jump out of the alley with a kick to her chest, then trip her with a roundhouse kick to knock her to the ground. I crouch down and tie her up with the one of my bracelets before turning to find Batman holding the Joker to the ground. "I got mine, what about you?" Batman pulls out a rope and ties up the Joker, then turns to me and nods. "I forgot. Bat of few words." I look down to the girl. "So who's this joker?"

"Harley Quinn. She's the Joker's henchwoman."

I glance over to her before turning back to Batman. "Guess you were lucky I had your back. She almost pounded you into the sidewalk."

"Where's Robbie?"

The girl turns to me from where I left her with her hands tied behind her back. "And who's the girl?"

I smirk. "I'm Mariposa."

Batman retrieves his grapple gun and fires it at the nearest roof, then wraps an arm around me.

I turn to Batman once we reach the roof. "Robbie?"

"Robin."

"Okay…" I look up at Batman. "Then I share Napier's curiosity. Where's Rob?"

"Recovering from injuries. He will be back once he heals."

I nod. "What now?"

"Patrolling the City. You can go home if it's too boring a job for you."

"How late you plan to be out?"

"Three AM."

"I'm game."

"Really?"

I sigh. "Batman, I'm not enjoying the sarcasm. I can stay up all night and still function the next day—and trust me, I actually have."

"So have I."

I roll my eyes. "I know."

THREE AM

Batman pulls up to where I am and opens the roof of the Batmobile. "Get in."

"I can walk. I don't live that far away."

"Gotham isn't a safe place. You don't need to be walking home alone. I'll drop you off."

I sigh, but climb in. "Thanks, Batman."

BATMOBILE

I lean back against the seat and sigh. "You know, I'm not usually this confident, Bruce. Mariposa… She helps me accept my past and get on with my life."

"Rachel used to say that I still wear a mask, even as myself."

I sigh. "Tell me about it." I smile before giggling softly. "I never was confident—I'm not confident—but when I started dressing up as Mariposa and saving people, I realized I could do it."

"Be a hero?"

I roll my eyes. "Be that girl I always wanted to be." I sigh. "I was 'The Child Dying Within'. It's a poem I wrote when I was an EMT." I sigh softly as I lean my head against the window. "They'd see what really happens/Behind the mask I always wear." I sigh before turning to him. "He never thinks to praise/ The good things that she does/He only tries to hurt/To crush her every dream. But yet the child still lives on/Inside the prison of a woman/This little girl is dying/Withering in a world that's set against her life. … She's still a little child/She's still just a kid/But no one seems to notice/The child dying within. Within the prison/Of the woman's body/The child of the past/ Still trying to break free."

"It's about you, isn't it?"

"I wasn't very mature—I'm still not—but that doesn't mean I can't be a hero. That doesn't mean I can't save lives—even if Bobby thought it did." I sigh as tears come to my eyes. 'Damn it!'

"Mariposa?"

"'M fine, Bats." I turn to stare out the window, ignoring Batman, instead starting to sing softly, almost silently.

Look at me
You may think you see
Who I really am
But you'll never know me
Every day
It's as if I play a part
Now I see
If I wear a mask
I can fool the world
But I cannot fool my heart

Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?

I am now
In a world where I
Have to hide my heart
And what I believe in
But somehow
I will show the world
What's inside my heart
And be loved for who I am

Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
Why is my reflection
Someone I don't know?
Must I pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?

There's a heart that must be
Free to fly
That burns with a need to know
The reason why
Why must we all conceal
What we think, how we feel?
Must there be a secret me
I'm forced to hide?

I won't pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?

When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?

TWO MONTHS LATER

I sigh as I finger the edge of my costume, then slip it off its hanger and pull it on. After changing, I look out the window nervously. Gotham is a dangerous place, and I know that first-hand, but that's not what's gotten me so nervous. Bruce had told me—as Batman—what had happened that was keeping Robin home and out-of-commission—Two-Face. Once of the few villains I have yet to meet. It's Robin's first day back out with Batman, and I can't wait to meet him, but I'm worried that he's going to get hurt.

BATCAVE

"Who are we going to meet, Batman?"

Batman simply jumps into the Batmobile. "You'll meet her soon, Robin."

"Does she know I'm coming too?"

"I told her during patrol last night."

"What's her name?"

"You'll find out."

ROOF OF WAYNE TOWER

I activate the grapple gun out of the white utility belt Batman had given me before rappelling up to the top of Wayne Tower. "Batman?"

"Stay put." I hear footsteps before I see Batman step out of the shadows. "Mariposa."

I nod. "Nice to see you, Batman." I smile. "Thank you for the belt."

"You're welcome."

"So…" I sigh, knowing he's no-nonsense when it comes to protecting Gotham. "Where's Rob?"

"It's Robin."

I smile at the small boy behind Batman. "Hello, Robin. I'm Mariposa. I heard you were hurt."

"Two-Face."

"I know." I smile. "Nice to see that the Boy Wonder is back to protecting the streets of Gotham."

"Are you two dating?"

I sigh before giggling softly. "I think so."

"That doesn't matter right now, Robin."

I sigh. "He's right. Isley's been loose for a week now. We have to find her before she hurts someone."

Robin sighs. "Then what are we waiting for?"

"Batman."

Robin smirks. "He's staring at you."

"Yeah, I know, Kid."

"It's Robin."

I shrug. "I know. I just wanted to call ya kid."

"Let's go. I know where she's hiding."

The two of us share a look before we turn to Batman. "I hope there's room in the Batmobile."

"There will be."

"Thanks, Batman." I say drily. "Let's go."

"Are you okay?"

"You're being kind of harsh. Is Poison Ivy really that dangerous?" I sigh. "I thought she was just some woman that obsessed over plants."

"She is if she wants to be."

GOTHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS

I look down. "Okay, if I recall correctly, you told me that her toxins can cause a man to lose control over himself." I sigh. "Let me see if I can handle it before you risk it." Before Batman has a chance to stop me, I rappel into the greenhouse.

"Who are you?"

"Name's Mariposa. Newest heroine in Gotham."

Ivy smirks. "So? What are you going to do."

I cross my arms. "You have two options: Come along peacefully, or—"

"Or what?"

"Or I set fire to your precious plants." She gasps. "You have an unhealthy obsession with plants. I mean, I love flowers as much as the next girl, but I'm not obsessed with them." I smirk. "Now, what is it—are you coming, or do I have to set your world aflame?"

She quickly moves to follow me. "You chose correctly." I touch my comm. "Batman, Robin, come on. She's coming willingly."