FATEFUL MEETING
Thunder crashed loudly in the black skies above Wayne Manor. Lightning flashed violently, casting horrifically shaped shadows across the walls and through the windows of the stately home. The rain drummed loudly on the rooftop and pattered incessantly against the glass of the Manor's large windows. The sandstone coloured mansion stood defiantly against the storm on the hilltop. The manor was as tall as it was wide, allowing a perfect view of Gotham City from the highest corner turrets.
Another bright flash of lighting illuminated the inside of Bruce Wayne's study. Bruce stood by the grandfather clock entrance to the cave with his arms folded, creasing the sleeves of one of his many suits. The clock had already slid to the side to reveal the dark staircase but his ongoing argument with his ward, Richard Grayson, was preventing him from leaving.
Dick Grayson stood next to Bruce's desk as he glared angrily at the man. Despite their almost father-son relationship and their exceptional partnership as Batman and Robin, there were times when they wouldn't see eye to eye. Earlier in the week, Alfred had suggested enrolling Dick into one of Gotham's many schools so that he could continue his education and have some sort of normality in his life. Bruce had agreed and had quickly found an acceptable school. Unfortunately, Dick wasn't too fond of the idea but the argument had started when Bruce had declared he would be going out on patrol alone.
"I don't need to go to school!" Dick snapped in frustration. "My place is out there with you keeping Gotham safe!"
"There's more to life than being Robin." Bruce argued back. "You're young, you need to have an ordinary life outside of this house."
"That doesn't stop me from going out with you tonight!" The teen continued, used to the older man's stubbornness after four years of living with him.
"Yes it does." Bruce countered rapidly. "You need a couple days to properly rest before you start school. You're already enrolled."
"I can handle it." Richard shot back defiantly. He was not a little boy anymore.
Bruce recognised that as Dick had gotten older, he had become more headstrong and more willing to disagree with his legal guardian. Although he respected the newfound maturity, he was quickly angered by the stereotypically rebellious teenage outbursts.
"This isn't up for discussion, Dick." Bruce retorted before walking through the cave entrance with the clock sliding closed behind him.
Dick stood in the study alone. His argument with Bruce had not gone as he expected it would and the older man had treated him like a naïve child yet again. He clenched his fists in frustration but knew better than to lash out and break something. Dick took a deep breath in an effort to calm himself down before storming off to his bedroom, the raging thunderstorm outside matching his mood.
Commissioner Gordon gazed down at the busy streets below. He held a large navy blue umbrella above his head in a fairly pathetic attempt to keep himself dry in the middle of the storm. Behind him, the large bat signal shone brightly into the sky, reflecting off the dark clouds above to remind everyone that Batman was on the prowl. He shivered as the cold air penetrated his trench coat and used his free hand to pull the collar closer to his face. The smart shoes he wore to work were soaked through, making his feet numb from the cold. His black trousers stuck to his legs and his vision was blurred by the raindrops on his glasses.
He sighed as he turned around and despite it having become a normality over the last decade, Jim Gordon always jumped when he suddenly came face to face with the Batman. The familiar dark armour plated suit with the bat symbol on the chest plates. The long black cape that wrapped around the man and often billowed romantically in the wind and finally the black cowl with the pointed bat ears and frightening white eyes. Batman always seemed to be unusually large for one man. He towered over most people with his height and was far broader than anyone Jim had ever met. Batman was an armoured mountain of muscle but he was also one of Jim's best friends and by far his closest ally.
"Do I have to remind you how inconsiderate it is to sneak up on an old man?" Gordon joked with his stoic friend.
"What have you got, Jim?" Batman asked with that deep voice that always commanded authority.
"We finally got a location for that new drug cartel that started operating in the city." Jim explained, handing him photos from one of the stakeouts.
Batman looked at the photos as Jim continued to explain.
"They're using a large storage unit in the Narrows." Gordon continued. "Unmarked trucks come and go, presumably delivering and collecting the drugs."
"Any leads on who is in charge?" Batman questioned as rain water dripped down his armour.
"None." Gordon answered with a smirk. "I figured that's where you could come in."
"I'll make them talk." Batman responded, handing the photos back to Jim.
Gordon placed the photos back into the folder he had taken them from, glad that he had laminated them beforehand. He was about to ask Batman a question but stopped himself when he looked up to find that Batman had already disappeared into thin air. Gordon looked around but couldn't find any sign of the caped crusader.
"I swear, one of these days I'm gonna nail his feet to the floor." Gordon muttered to himself before turning off the signal and heading back inside.
A polite knock on Dick's bedroom door signalled Alfred's arrival. The butler waited a few seconds before slowly opening the door and letting himself in. Alfred was dressed in his usual attire, a black suit with a white shirt and black bowtie. He stood in the doorway with his hands behind his back as he observed the scowling teenager. Dick was lying in his bed, staring up at the ceiling in total darkness and was only illuminated by the light flooding in from the hall.
"Master Dick, dinner will be ready in ten minutes." Alfred informed him.
"I'm not hungry, Alfred." Dick replied, still glaring holes into the ceiling above him.
"Nonsense." Alfred retorted sharply. "Even Robins need to keep up their strength."
"But I'm not Robin tonight." Dick responded with a growl. "He doesn't trust me. He's still treating me like a little kid."
"If I may, Master Dick, you're wrong about him." Alfred explained, earning a glare from the teen. "Master Bruce wants what is best for you. You know as well as I do he's not always the most sentimental person but he does have your best interests in mind."
"And stopping me from going out on patrol?" Dick questioned, sitting up in bed. "Treating me like a kid?"
"Master Bruce wants you to be well rested and ready for this next part of your life." Alfred continued calmly. "Wait until you are adjusted to school before you attempt to prove him wrong."
"I'm just going to be pretending to be like the other students when I'm nothing like them." Dick was bitter, knowing he'd listen to people talk about their parents when his were dead.
"That may be true but maybe if you start pretending, you may even have a little by accident." Alfred concluded. "Dinner will be ready in five minutes."
With that said, Alfred removed himself from the room and headed back to the kitchen. Dick stared at the doorway for a few more moments, frustrated that he could never win an argument in the house. He was grateful that Alfred was calm and polite when he did argue, which was a strong contrast to Bruce's more abrasive way of wording things. He finally got out of bed when his stomach growled loudly in protest.
Batman crouched on the roof of the warehouse, looking down through the skylight at the operation below. Above him, the storm raged on with loud crashes of thunder and blinding flashes of lightning as the rain slammed down on the roof around him. It was weather like this that made him glad that his armour and cape were completely waterproof.
Inside the warehouse, a large group of men, some of which were armed with machineguns, were loading crates and boxes into unmarked trucks. Batman already knew what was inside the boxes and crates but he needed to know who it was all going to. He would break up the operation and force one of them to talk.
His vision changed to hues of dark blue and purple as his cowl switched to the built in Detective vision, highlighting the armed thugs and allowing him to identify how many men were down there. Once he knew, he pressed a button on a small device on his utility belt that cut the power to the warehouse, startling the thugs with the sudden darkness.
Before any of them could react, Batman smashed through the skylight, his cape opening up above him to resemble bat wings as he landed on one of the walkways. The thug who had been standing there with a gun didn't even see the punch coming before he was knocked out. Other thugs aimed at Batman but some quick batarangs disarmed them before they were pounced on and knocked unconscious.
On the ground level of the warehouse, all the men were looking up with fearful expressions as they watched Batman make short work of their armed protection. Suddenly, smoke erupted all around them off the floor as Batman descended onto their level. They couldn't see through the smoke but Batman could, allowing him to take each of them down with swift strikes.
As he finished up, he spotted one of the men, dressed all in black and wearing a balaclava, rushing for the staircase. The man rushed up the metal stairs as fast as he could, hoping to get away before Batman noticed him. He pushed open the door and ran across the metallic rooftop but stopped as soon as he got behind the water container. To his horror, Batman was standing their waiting for him. The rainwater dripping down his large black cape that cocooned his body.
"There's nowhere to run and I want answers." Batman warned him, venom lacing his tone.
In desperation, the man swung a powerful kick at Batman's side which was swiftly grabbed by Batman's gloved hand. In one sudden, smooth movement, Batman knocked the man onto his back. He groaned as the back of his head slammed against the roof with a metallic clang before yelping when Batman's foot dropped down onto his face. The man cried out as a loud crack sounded when his nose broke under the pressure.
As he was still holding onto the man's leg, Batman dragged him across the rooftop until he stood on the very edge of it. He lifted the man and hung him over the edge by his ankle. The man cried out in fear as his balaclava fell from his face and dropped to the alleyway below as blood dripped from his broken nose. His black hair was soaking wet as it too was pulled towards the ground by gravity. It was only then did Batman realise that the man was in fact a teenager, no older than seventeen by the looks of it. Criminals were getting younger.
"Who are you working for?" Batman growled like a lion. "My arm's getting tired."
The young man gasped out in horror as he stared back at the terrifying vigilante. Blood was rushing to his head and making him feel dizzy. His nose and head both throbbed from the strikes they had received and his heart was racing. If Batman dropped him from the height they were at he would die on impact.
"Talk!" Batman roared impatiently.
"I…I can't!" The teen pleaded, stuttering from fear. "He'd kill me if he knew I talked!"
"What makes you think I won't?" Batman threatened and let go of the teen.
The young man shrieked loudly as he plummeted towards the ground before his body suddenly stopped half-way down. A tight pain in his ankle forced him to glance up and spot the cable that was wrapped tightly around it. He panted as he tried to regain some control of his breathing but his heart was beating faster than it ever had before in his entire life.
"Who are you working for?" Batman roared again, losing what little patience he had left.
"Blake! Phillip Blake!" The teenager cried out. "Everyone calls him Governor on the streets!"
Batman lifted the teen back up and grabbed him by his jacket collar, still holding him over the edge of the roof as his soulless white eyes glared right into the teen's terrified blue eyes.
"Where can I find him?" Batman snarled.
The teen shook his head desperately. "I don't know! I swear! He contacts us!"
Batman grunted before tossing the teen back onto the rooftop. He glared down at the young man who was shaking with terror. "If you're lying, I'll be back and I'll break more than your nose."
The teen looked up in horror and watched as Batman jumped off the roof. He scrambled over to the edge and let his mouth hang agape in shock. The horrifying creature had vanished into the night. It was as if he had never been there to begin with. He hoped it was the last he ever saw of the Batman, considering he hadn't been completely honest. The teen spat out the blood that poured from his nose and into his mouth before heading for the stairs. The sound of incoming sirens was getting louder and he didn't plan on being there when the police arrived.
The roar of the engine echoed violently off the cave walls as the batmobile thundered down the runway before stopping on the circular platform in the middle of the cave. The car itself was sleek and black like an armoured sports car. The bat wing shaped fins and bat insignias on the wheels made the owner unmistakable. The platform spun around so that the car was facing the runway again before the roof of the cockpit slid back and opened.
"I do hope you're not bleeding, sir." Alfred's voice called from the side. "I just finished mopping the floor."
Batman climbed out of the vehicle and landed beside his loyal butler. "How's Dick?"
"Asleep, though it took a while to convince him not to wait for you." Alfred answered.
"Good." Batman grunted in response. "I still have work to do."
Batman made his way over to the computer but was stopped when Alfred quickly stepped in front of him. The butler glared back at the narrowed white eyes of the cowl, unintimidated by the boy he raised.
"Work that can wait until tomorrow." He stated firmly.
"Time is of the essence, Alfred." Batman shot back, though he made no attempt to move.
"Criminals still have to sleep and so do you." Alfred told him sternly. "And Master Dick expects you at breakfast in the morning."
"He'll understand." Batman retorted, this time trying to move past the older man.
Alfred stepped in his way again. "No, sir. He won't. Tomorrow is an important day for him and you will be there for it."
Bruce sighed as he lifted the cowl off his face and dumped the files on the keyboard. "Fine."
"Very good, Master Bruce." Alfred commented as Bruce removed the suit. "As a reward. I may even make your favourite in the morning."
"You don't have to baby me." Bruce growled lightly.
"Perhaps you should remind yourself that in regards to Master Dick." Alfred quipped before heading for the stairs.
Dick sighed as he pushed the empty bowl away from him, the ceramic base groaning as it moved across the mahogany dining table. He had eaten his fill of cereal and allowed his eyes to focus on Bruce while he sipped at his orange juice. Bruce hadn't said a word to the boy apart from their usual morning greeting and was currently reading the newspaper while taking sips of his coffee. It was clear that both of them were reluctant to talk about the elephant in the room.
As the minutes of the morning continued to tick by, they both knew one of them would have to speak. It was Monday and it was going to be Dick's first day at whatever school Bruce had picked out for him. It quickly dawned on Dick that he didn't know the name of the school because he had spent so much time being angry at Bruce that he never thought to ask. He pulled at the collar of his shirt. Dick already hated the constricting nature of the school uniform.
The school uniform was simple enough, smart black shoes that Alfred had taken the care to polish the night before, smart black trousers held up by a leather belt with a long sleeved white shirt tucked into them. The white shirt framed a navy blue tie and was covered by a navy blue blazer. On the front of the blazer was the school's coat of arms with the words "Neart Tre Eolas" written round the symbols. When he had asked Alfred what it meant, he had been told it translated to "Strength Through Knowledge."
Once Bruce had finished his extensive breakfast, Dick spoke up. "So what's it called?"
"Dini Academy." Bruce answered, finally turning his attention to his young ward.
"I still don't want to go." Dick protested. "I don't see the point of it."
"It's for your own benefit. You need to socialise more. Make friends." Bruce explained, much calmer and warmer than the night before. "Alfred and I had many arguments about it when I was your age too."
"I'm not some rich kid though. I might live with you but I'm not aristocracy." Dick continued. "I'm a circus kid, not a snob like the other students at this school."
"Which is why I selected a high performing school accessible for all financial backgrounds." Bruce explained, much to Dick's surprise. "They accept students based on performance, not on family income."
"So you're actually sending me to a normal school?" Dick questioned, startled at having lost half his argument. "Not some super expensive school fit for Bruce Wayne's ward?"
Bruce shook his head. "It's not a normal school, it's been the highest performing school for the last three years."
"So no one knows I'm going there yet?" Dick asked, the tension in his shoulders seeping away.
Bruce shook his head. "School is stressful enough without the paparazzi following you around."
Dick nodded, finally understanding that a lot more consideration had gone into his schooling than simply throwing him into a private school for the super-rich. Bruce caught his attention again by placing a mobile phone in front of him. The flat screened phone was unmistakably a top of the range iPhone 6s Plus yet the Wayne Enterprises logo was also visible on it.
"What's this?" Dick questioned. He had never felt the need to own a personal phone.
"Your new phone. It already has my number, Alfred's number, the house and Wayne Enterprises programmed into the contacts." Bruce explained. "Also, by dialling 051939 you will connect directly to the Bat computer, should it ever be necessary."
"Are you expecting me to be kidnapped or something?" Dick commented with a sarcastic smirk.
Bruce's face was serious. "It could happen. Or you could go out with friends. This way we'll know. It also has a built-in GPS."
"What else does it have?" Dick asked, still smirking. "A Taser?"
"If you're ever in an emergency, hold down the Wayne Enterprises logo for five seconds." Bruce explained. "It will tell the Bat computer where you are and will send an S.O.S beacon to me."
Dick smiled as he examined the phone before slipping it into his pocket. It was clear that Lucius Fox had helped add the extra applications to the phone and had also resized it so that it was slightly smaller than the original.
"Alfred will take you to school." Bruce told him as he stood up. "I think I'd attract too much attention at the school gates."
Dick nodded and stood up, grabbing his red and green backpack and swung it over his shoulder. He was as ready as he was ever going to be to start school and he appreciated Bruce making the effort. The night before they had almost been at one another's throats. Dick wanted to ask about patrol that night but decided to leave the house on a good note. He would have time to ask Bruce about patrol when he got home.
Dick stepped out of the grey Bentley Mulsanne Alfred had used to drive him to school. He took a breath as he scanned the grounds of the school ahead of him. It was filled with students, all separated in various groups of different sizes as they started their day. He thanked Alfred and headed through the gates as the butler drove away.
Dick could feel many pairs of eyes on him as he walked through the grounds. Everyone seemed to know he was new, which didn't come as a surprise considering he wouldn't be recognised by anyone. He hoped no one knew he was Dick Grayson, ward of Bruce Wayne.
Ahead of him stood Dini Academy. The building was three floors high with a futuristic design. The roof had a subtle convex curve to it where the dark wooden panels met the reinforced metal. To the side of the building there was a cylindrical section, a set of rooms that were apart from the rest of the building. Above the large double doors was the coat of arms of the school and the name "Dini Academy" in bold letters.
He walked through the double doors and spotted what looked like a reception desk behind an open window. Several women and some men were working busily in the room behind the class. Dick walked up to the window and cleared his throat to get the attention of the woman sitting there.
"Hello, I'm Richard Grayson." Dick greeted as politely as he could. "This is my first day as a new student. I was told to report to reception."
"Ah yes! Welcome to Dini Academy, love." The woman greeted warmly, shaking his blonde hair out her eyes as she pressed a microphone. "Could Logan Valence report to reception please? Logan Valence to reception."
She smiled to Dick and handed him a small map and guide book. It listed the different classes and teachers of the various subjects in the school curriculum.
"One of our students will be your guide for the day." She explained. "He'll be here shortly."
It wasn't long before a tall teenager with messy black hair entered the foyer dressed in the same uniform as Dick, though his clothes were noticeably creased. He walked up to Dick and tilted his head to glance at the school guidebook before offering his hand to be shaken.
"You must be the new guy, right?" He greeted with a smile. "Logan Valence."
Dick smiled back and shook his hand, noticing the distinct cut on his nose. "Dick Grayson."
"That's quite a strong grip for someone your size." Logan commented with a smirk. "So, are you new to Gotham?"
Dick shook his head. "No, I've lived here for four years now."
"That's a relief, a lot of the new kids need to be told the dos and don'ts of Gotham city." Logan laughed as they walked down one of the halls together. "I'm born and bred in Gotham. Grew up in Red Hook."
"That area can be quite rough at night." Dick commented, it was an area Batman and Robin frequented on their patrol.
"Gotham is rough at night, always has been." Logan remarked with a shrug. "You sound like you live in the palisades or something."
Dick laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his head. "I actually do."
"Oh, a rich kid, eh?" Logan teased, stopping for a moment with a raised eyebrow. "Best to keep that to yourself. Not everyone here has the best opinion of the upper class."
"I'm not a rich kid, I just got lucky with family." Dick explained, determined to keep all the details to himself.
"Lucky?" Logan questioned with a smirk. "I guess you're a lucky guy in general."
"How am I a lucky guy?" Dick asked, finding his guide a little difficult to follow.
"Because you've got me as your guide instead of some of the other creatures that walk these corridors." Logan answered with a laugh that Dick nervously shared. "Seriously though, I'm convinced there's a few future supervillains in my classes."
"Guess I'm in the right place then." Dick quipped, the other teen's humour helping to relax him.
"That's the spirit!" Logan exclaimed, giving him a high five.
"So, are you actually gonna show me around?" Dick asked after glancing at his watch.
"Oh yeah, sure. Even though you're in all my classes anyway." Logan replied, taking the guide and opening it to reveal a map of the school. "As you can see, the main building is a big square, so if you're lost you just go all the way round on each floor until you find the class you're looking for."
Dick nodded as his scanned the map, quickly memorising which subjects were on each floor. One of the many skills he had to have as Robin was excellent short term memory when it came to maps and coordination.
"The building to the side is the school canteen and connected to that is the assembly hall." Logan continued to explain. "Lastly, this other building near the playing fields is the gymnasium where we take our gym classes. On sunny days it's great but when it's wet you're gonna hate it."
Logan opened the guidebook to another page to reveal Dick's weekly schedule of classes. The schedule was simple enough, there would be three classes followed by a long lunch break and then three more classes. Dick was pleased to see that his gym classes were either before lunch or at the end of the day, at least he wouldn't be rushing to class directly after working out. He smirked as he realised the classes probably wouldn't phase him after doing Batman's workout routine for a couple years now.
"I'd recommend noting your schedule down in your phone or something, make it easier to check." Logan finished up. "Though don't get caught with your phone out in class. The teachers go crazy."
"Got it." Dick nodded with a smile as he stuffed the guidebook into his bag. "So, History first, right?"
Logan nodded, guiding them towards the staircase. "Yep, we're currently studying Amadeus Arkham. Know anything about him?"
Dick smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I know a thing or two."
The elevator pinged as it reached the designated floor inside Wayne Enterprises, the number illuminated on the side panel as the metal doors parted so that Bruce could exit. He entered the small reception room where his secretary sat at her desk, typing away at her computer as she presumably made arrangements and scheduled meetings for him. Bruce always had appreciated her work and loyalty, even if she could sometimes bother him with her insistence on certain subjects.
"Good afternoon, Mister Wayne." Clara greeted as he entered.
"Afternoon." Bruce replied with a smile. "Do I have any messages?"
The brunette shook her head. "None today, sir. Mr. Fox is waiting in your office."
"Thanks." Bruce responded before heading past her and entering his office.
Bruce closed the large wooden doors behind him as he entered his spacious office. He locked the door behind him before making his way over to Lucius Fox who sat by the bar typing away on his laptop.
"Ah, Mr. Wayne. Glad you could make it." Lucius greeted, swivelling round on his chair.
"Lucius." Bruce greeted with a nod.
"Come by to see the new design, I'm guessing?" Fox suggested with a knowing smirk.
"Read my mind." Bruce responded with a matching smirk.
Lucius typed a couple lines of code into his laptop before swivelling round on his chair again. He stood up as a metallic cylinder rose from the office floor. Bruce walked up to it and placed his hand on the security mechanism. The mechanism glowed blue as a laser scanned his body rapidly.
"Identity confirmed." An electronic voice sounded from the cylinder as the door slid open to reveal a brand new Robin suit.
The black boots and gloves largely appeared identical to the previous suit except for the black scallops added to the gauntlets. Everything else, however, was different. The armour on the legs, torso and arms all appeared to be separated into plates with a Kevlar bodysuit underneath them. It reminded Bruce of his latest suit in its design, though Robin's was more colourful. The Kevlar bodysuit was black while the plates on the legs and arms were a dark green. The body plates for the chest, abdomen and back were all a dark crimson red. A black Robin symbol similar to Bruce's own Bat symbol was on the chest plates.
The armour extended up the neck in a similar manner to the batsuit with noticeable crumple zones to allow for better movement. The cape was black and much longer than before. A difference between their capes was that Robin's appeared to have a hood attachment at the top that could be used to cover his head. A new mask was also contained inside the cylinder, hanging on a rack next to the suit. The traditional domino mask had been altered to include an armoured mask that protected his face and ears along with the same soulless white eyes that Batman's cowl gave him. There was a separate helmet section should Dick choose to wear it.
"What do you think, Mr. Wayne?" Lucius asked after a few moments. "Is it up to standard?"
"You've outdone yourself, Lucius." Bruce commented proudly, not taking his eyes off the suit.
"I was thinking, Mr. Wayne." Lucius proposed. "Why doesn't Wayne Enterprises throw a fundraiser to balance the books?"
Bruce smirked, knowing that Dick would be ecstatic when he saw the new suit as he closed the cylinder and let it drop back inside the floor. "What did you have in mind?"
Lucius smiled. "Gotham's youth. There is a severe lack of hostels and safe places for the disenfranchised children of Gotham. It would be a very charitable event and would aid the city a great deal."
Bruce nodded. "Good idea. Schedule it with Clara and send the suit to the basement."
"A field test tonight?" Fox questioned, unsurprised. "Very good, Mr. Wayne. It will be waiting for you when you leave."
Dick closed his eyes as he savoured the intoxicating first bite of the wrap. As they didn't know what the school cafeteria was like, Alfred had made a packed lunch for Dick that consisted of two very healthily packed wraps and a bottle of orange juice. Dick made a mental note to thank the butler for his choice of filling as the wraps were absolutely delicious and exactly what he needed at that point. Around him, students bustled in and out of the cafeteria as they got their food and either took it outside or sat at one of the many tables. The noise was as expected for a hundred excited students but Dick found his thoughts helped him channel out the ruckus.
The first three hours of school had been a struggle to get through due to how boring the classes had been. History had been focusing on Amadeus Arkham, the founder of Arkham Asylum and someone that Dick knew an awful lot about. When he was younger, the asylum had scared him somewhat so he had taken the time to learn all about the history of the place. It had been a rather tragic few years for Amadeus and Dick couldn't help but feel sorry for the long deceased man. It came as no surprise that he had known more about the asylum than anyone else in the class.
The foreign language class hadn't been any more interesting than history. They were studying Spanish, which was a struggle for most of the students except for a couple students. Much to Dick's surprise, Logan had been one of the students who didn't struggle with the language at all. Bruce was fluent in at least ten languages, something that aided him in his ongoing war against crime so he had been periodically teaching Dick some of the more common languages over the past couple years. Dick wasn't fluent in Spanish but he could understand and respond to most things.
He was interrupted from his thoughts when Logan sat himself down across from him, gently dropping a tray of food on the table. He tended to eat at the cafeteria as he preferred warm food, especially on the days when Gotham's weather was particularly damp and chilly. Dick watched the other teen as he started to eat, quickly noticing that he appeared to have a set order to how he did things. It was akin to an OCD though Dick likened it to Bruce's strict routines and daily rituals.
"…at people when they eat?" Logan's voice registered in Dick's mind.
"What?" Dick asked, slightly stupefied as he hadn't been listening at all.
"I said, do you usually stare at people when they eat?" Logan asked with a smirk.
"Oh, no. Not at all." Dick quickly defended, realising he had been doing exactly that.
"No? So I'm an exception or something?" Logan questioned as he took another bite of his lunch.
Dick stuttered and hesitated, understanding what Logan was inferring. "No, that's not what I meant. I was thinking, that's all."
Logan chuckled in amusement after swallowing. "That was some intense thinking."
Dick grinned back nervously, feeling uncomfortable as these kinds of social interactions were unfamiliar.
"So, how's the first day going so far?" Logan started a topic of conversation smoothly.
"Boring, to be honest." Dick replied with a shrug as he took another bite out of his wrap.
"I'm not surprised." Logan remarked. "You're a bloody expert on Arkham Asylum and Amadeus."
"Yeah, well, the asylum always interested me so I decided to learn all about it." Dick explained. It wasn't a lie, it was just a superficial explanation.
"I can't imagine why." Logan commented with a shiver. "That place freaks me out, especially when you know people like Zsasz and Joker are in there."
"Better in there than out here." Dick quickly remarked, something Bruce had once said to him.
"That's true." Logan agreed with a shuddered sigh.
Dick wasn't as good at reading people as Bruce was as he still needed more experience. What he did know, however, was telling him that the subject of Arkham Asylum unsettled his new friend a lot. He couldn't imagine why. It was a creepy building and housed plenty of psychopaths but most people didn't have any reason to fear the place.
"I'm gonna get a drink." Logan quickly excused himself as he walked over to the vending machines.
While Logan was away, Dick took the time to finish his wrap and wash it down with some of his orange juice. As he sat there by himself he heard a group of footsteps approaching. Despite the loudness of the cafeteria, his training didn't go away and he knew people were about to approach him. Soon enough, a group of four teenagers surrounded him with their apparent leader seating himself on the table in front of Dick.
The boy had short brown hair with a fringe that had been gelled up into spikes. He wore a smug grin on his face as he glared down at Dick. The look on his face made it clear to Dick that he was going to go out of his way to be as annoying as possible. Though Dick had never gone to school before, while travelling with the circus and helping people in Gotham as Robin he had encountered plenty of bullies. They were all the same.
"You're the new guy, right?" The teen questioned, juggling Dick's bottle. "What's your name?"
"Dick Grayson." Dick replied, hoping that if he just answered them they would leave faster.
The teen snorted with laughter as his friends burst into laughter with him. "Dick? Your parents called you Dick? Why? Your mother love cock too much?"
Dick grit his teeth as he controlled his temper. "It's short for Richard."
The teen shook his head as he laughed. "Nah, bet they named you Dick cause they knew you'd be a fag!"
The teen's friends seemed to find his ridiculous commentary absolutely hilarious if their laughter was anything to go by. Dick was struggling to control his temper, knowing fine well that if he lost control he could literally kill them. Getting into a fight on the first day would not go down well with Bruce.
One of the other teens grabbed Dick's backpack before he could react and tossed it over to their leader. He grinned as he rummaged in the bag, looking for something he could use against Dick. Eventually he found it and pulled out his mathematics notes.
"Thanks, Dick." The boy commented, waving the paper in his face. "I needed these."
"Give those back." Dick finally spoke, his voice firm. "Now."
"Or what?" The teen challenged. "You gonna fight all four of us, shorty?"
Dick growled under his breath. No, he was going to break their arms.
Suddenly, the sheet of paper with the maths notes on it was whipped out of the teen's hand by someone behind him. He turned round to find Logan standing there with a livid expression on his face. Logan folded the paper up and placed it in his back pocket.
"Leave him alone, Lennox." Logan hissed with narrow eyes.
"What's the matter, Valence?" Lennox challenged. "He your new boyfriend or something?"
"No." Logan shook his head. This wasn't the first time he had dealt with the school bully.
"Bet he is." Lennox continued in a mocking tone. "Bet you want his ass. You do, don't you?"
"What's wrong? Are you frustrated because you can't even get with the school sluts?" Logan shot back with a smirk. "Can't get it up or is it just too small?"
"What?!" Lennox exclaimed, squaring up to Logan as his friends backed him up.
"Don't you have a family to bore?" Logan remarked. "So why don't you fuck off?"
"At least I have a family." Lennox shot back quickly.
Dick, who had been quietly watching the heated exchange was surprised by just how fast Logan had been. He was sure that even when on patrol as Robin he wouldn't have been able to avoid the quick movement. Logan's hands had darted forward and had grabbed Lennox by the collar tightly, pulling him close to his face.
"Say that again and I swear you'll be eating through a straw." Logan growled venomously.
Lennox seemed to lose his nerve as he went completely silent, his own hands gripping weakly onto Logan's. With silence being the answer, Logan let Lennox go and pushed him back against his friends. With one intense glare he challenged any of them to fight him but none of them took it. As they walked off, Logan sat back down at the table and handed Dick his mathematics notes back.
"You didn't have to do that." Dick told him as he placed his notes back in his bag. "I could have handled it."
Logan snorted. "No offence, Dick, but I doubt it. Someone your size against the four of them?"
"I can handle myself." Dick argued, knowing fine well none of them would have landed a hit on him.
"You come from the palisades, Dick." Logan continued. "I've grown up on the streets of Red Hook. I've been in that situation hundreds of times."
Dick sighed and shrugged. He knew he wasn't going to win the argument so he just accepted the other teen's confidence. Though he knew he could have taken care of the four bullies easily, he did appreciate Logan dealing with them. He wasn't used to being rescued or defended. He was Robin, he did the defending and rescuing.
"Thanks." Dick finally stated, realising he hadn't yet expressed his gratitude.
"Hey, what are friends for?" Logan asked rhetorically as he took a swig of his drink.
An abrupt beeping sounded from Dick's pocket. He pulled out his iPhone to find a new text had been received from Bruce's number. He couldn't help but smile when he read it.
Alfred will pick you up. We have plans tonight.
Dick knew exactly what plans they would be. Bruce had intentionally worded it vaguely so no one would understand anything they shouldn't. After Logan's warning about phones in class, Dick could understand why that would be a potential problem.
"Text from the girlfriend by any chance?" Logan questioned, causing Dick to snap his head up. "That's quite a smile that crossed your face."
"Oh, no. I'm single." Dick explained with a quick shake of his head. "Just got some good news from home."
"Ah, I see." Logan commented. "Hey, why don't we hang out after school? I know a few fun places we can go."
Dick shook his head, his heart falling at having to decline. "Sorry but I'm expected back home this evening. I can't."
Logan was quick to hide the disappointment that crossed his face. "Well, at least give me your number so we can text and stuff?"
"Sure." Dick answered happily and recited his phone number to the other teen.
"Awesome." Logan remarked as he saved Dick as a contact. "I get bored sometimes so at least we'll be able to chat now and again."
As if recognising the good mood both boys were in and finding it distasteful, the school bell sounded loudly throughout the building. It was time for class to continue, earning a groan of disappointment from both of them.
Three hours later and Dick's first school day had come to an end. He waved Logan goodbye at the gates before getting back into the Bentley Mulsanne that Alfred had chosen for that day. He dumped his bag on the seat next to him and rested his head against the back of the leather seat, relieved to finally be out of the school. It had been a boring day with the only excitement coming in the form of the bullies and his new friend.
"How was the first day, Master Dick?" Alfred asked as he pulled away from the school.
"Boring." Dick sighed, finding himself surprisingly tired.
"No problems I hope?" Alfred questioned, wanting to be sure.
Dick considered mentioning the bullies but decided against it. "No problems. Just a slow day."
"Glad to hear it, Master Dick." Alfred commented with a smile.
After two more minutes of silent driving, Dick's phone buzzed and beeped as he received a new text message. He quickly opened it and smiled when he saw the sender was Logan.
Hope I made your first day bearable. We should hang out some time.
Dick quickly texted back his response, unable to remove the smile on his face as he did so. His smile didn't go unnoticed, as Alfred spotted it when he glanced up at the rear view mirror. The butler hadn't seen Dick smile like that in quite some time and it was a pleasant sight to see.
"Already acquired the number of a lovely lady have we, Master Dick?" Alfred teased.
Dick's eyes shot up at the butler as he placed his phone down on the seat defensively. "No, no! I made a friend today so we traded our numbers."
"I'm pleased for you." Alfred commented. "Master Bruce will be thrilled that you've made a friend on the first day."
Dick smiled, glad that Alfred had reacted positively to the news. He knew Bruce would have mixed feelings because of their secret double lives but making friends was part of the reason for going to school in the first place. He would ask Bruce about hanging out with Logan when they returned to the manor.
Logan pulled the collars of his blazer closer to his neck as the cool air brushed his skin. It was always a depressing walk home after every school day but he knew it wouldn't be like this forever. Cars shot past him on the road as he walked on the edge of the pavement, doing his best to avoid the bustling crowds of people going about their daily lives. Office buildings, apartment blocks and other buildings surrounded him like a concrete jungle.
When his phone buzzed he quickly took it out of his pocket. He was still in the good side of Gotham for the time being and could afford to have his phone on display. Logan couldn't help but smile at the text he had received from Dick.
You did more than that! I promise we'll hang out soon!
Logan had almost forgotten what it felt like to make others happy. The warmth that spread through him as he realised he made what was a very daunting day for Dick a rather enjoyable one. He figured it was because Dick came across as a normal guy and wasn't posh or arrogant because he lived in the palisades. There were similarities between them that made him feel comfortable around the shorter teen. He hoped Dick didn't end up like the others.
The harsh shouts of a domestic dispute brought him out of his thoughts momentarily. He had quickly crossed into the lower end of Red Hook where it was no longer safe to have his phone out. Logan slipped it back into his pocket and kicked an empty take-away bag out of his way. On the dark walls above him, outside stairwells caused a subtle rainfall of rust to fall onto the dirty street below. The smell of alcohol wafted from the graffiti covered alleyways as he briskly walked past them, never knowing what kind of person lurked just out of view.
It didn't take long for his suspicions to be confirmed. He heard some men shouting angrily, followed by a couple cries of pain before the sudden, unmistakable bang of a gunshot. Logan approached the alley the noise had come from just as two men in leather jackets ran out onto the street at full speed. He walked down the alley and found the third man who lay behind a dumpster, badly beaten and bleeding from the bullet wound in his abdomen. The blood was already forming a small pool beneath his crumpled form.
Logan quickly kneeled down to help the man, taking off his blazer and pressing it down on the man's abdomen to help stop the bleeding. He held it down to keep the pressure there, much to the painful discomfort of the man. The man was middle aged, evidenced by his greying hair and goatee. Their eyes met but he could tell the man was in some form of shock after the beating and the shooting.
"Don't worry, I'm here to help." Logan assured him. "What's your name?"
"Jim…" The man stuttered out in pain.
"Okay, Jim. I'm Logan." Logan replied as he looked around, knowing that no one was coming. "Do you have a phone, Jim?"
The older man nodded. "Jacket. Left pocket."
Logan continued to apply pressure with one hand as he reached into the man's pocket with the other. He retrieved the mobile phone and quickly dialled 911. When the emergency services answered, he quickly explained the situation and where they were. He returned the phone to Jim's pocket and continued to apply pressure. When he heard the sirens approach and the ambulance and police cars pull up just outside the alleyway, Logan quickly ran off with his blazer in his hands. The paramedics could help Jim from this point on.
Dick had settled back at the manor, leaving his bag in his bedroom and having something to eat in the smaller dining hall. One of the things he appreciated most was the preparations Alfred made every day. The whole mansion was always spotless, all the laundry was always neatly folded away and food was always on hand should anyone feel hungry. Dick was convinced Alfred was the actual superhero of the house, considering he was able to get everything done and still be there when called or needed.
It didn't take long, of course, before Bruce had beckoned Dick down to the cave. It would be the first night in several days that he was being allowed to go out as Robin again. The pair made their way through to Bruce's study and opened the secret entrance behind the grandfather clock so they could descend down the dark, narrow staircase into the Batcave.
"So, how was school?" Bruce asked as they descended the concrete steps.
"A little boring but I made a friend at least." Dick replied, his voice echoing along with his footsteps.
"That's a good start." Bruce commented as the squeaks of bats reached their ears. "What's his name?"
"Logan Valence, he's from Red Hook." Dick explained as they entered the cave.
Bruce didn't say anything right away as he waited for all the cave's systems to come online. The lights flickered on and the computer came to life, displaying a large bat symbol on the huge screen while the platform for the batmobile rose up until it was level with the runway. Bruce headed over to the computer and typed a code into it before smirking at Dick.
"You're smirking." Dick commented as he stared up at the man with narrow eyes. "That's either really good or really bad for me."
"Follow me." Bruce commanded in response.
Dick did as he was told and followed the billionaire down a small steel staircase to where the suits were kept. Bruce played his palm on a circular device on the wall that lit up as it read his fingerprints. The wall opened up to reveal the black batsuit.
"Open yours." Bruce told him. "I have something for you."
Dick felt his heart pounding in his chest with excitement. It was rare for Bruce to present him with gifts outside of birthdays and Christmas. He placed his hand on the second circular device and waited for it to recognise his fingerprints before pulling his hand away. The wall opened and Dick's eyes widened at what he saw.
His regular Robin suit had disappeared from the storage casing. In its place sat the new suit that Bruce had received from Lucius Fox earlier that day. Dick's eyes scanned the suit intently, taking in every detail as his heart continued to pound and his lips contorted into a grin. The new suit's black boots covered his shins and the black gloves now had the same scallops attached to the gauntlets as Batman's own suit. The suit also looked more comfortable with an obvious Kevlar bodysuit underneath the armoured plates that protected the most important body parts without restricting movement. The colouration was to Dick's liking, a black bodysuit with dark green armour plates protecting the arms and legs while the torso was protected by crimson plates. Replacing the yellow R he used to have as his logo was a large black Robin symbol similar to the bat symbol on the batsuit.
Dick's eyes continued to scan further up the suit while Bruce stood silently, his arms crossed as he let his ward inspect his new suit. The teenager noticed the neck guard was a similar design to the batsuit's own. The black cape flowed out from the bottom of the neck guard in line with the shoulders and had identical proportions to Batman's own cape. Dick quickly noticed one of the biggest differences was the mask which had altered the traditional domino mask into something more armoured and less revealing. The face and ears were now covered and protected while an optional helmet was available. He could choose between the helmet or the hood attachment on the cape.
"Just like my suit, it has built in temperature regulators and stealth technology." Bruce explained, finally breaking the silence. "The earpiece on the mask has a built-in radio and I've upgraded the lenses to incorporate the latest Detective vision system."
"Is this why you stopped me going out the past few nights?" Dick questioned, gently touching the armoured plating.
"The reasons I gave you before were genuine." Bruce explained. "But Fox only finished the suit today."
"What other upgrades does it have?" Dick asked excitedly. It felt like Christmas, this new suit was mature. Adult.
"The mask has the same security features as my own and the cape is the same material." Bruce continued. "Your right gauntlet is also linked directly with the computer."
"Why's the mask so radically different?" Dick questioned, though his tone revealed that he wasn't complaining.
"Now that you're at school, there's a higher chance of you being recognised." Bruce answered.
"It's amazing, really." Dick stated approvingly. "Thanks so much, Bruce. I know how long it takes for Mr. Fox to make these."
"You can thank him in person next week." Bruce commented, giving a rare smile. "So, why don't you try it on and make sure it is up to expectation."
"We're still going out tonight, right?" Dick questioned quickly as he lifted the suit out of the case.
"Of course." Bruce answered as he sat down at the large computer. "Last night I convinced a thug to give me the name of his boss."
"So we've got the guy who's flooding drugs into Gotham?" Dick asked as he started suiting up.
"Phillip Blake, known on the streets as The Governor." Bruce explained as he brought up a police profile on the screen. "He's been linked to at least three armed robberies and five homicides. Usually operates outside of Gotham."
"He's gonna wish he stayed out of Gotham when we pay him a visit tonight." Dick remarked with a sadistic smirk as he put on his new mask for the first time.
Logan shivered from the cold wind that attacked his skin through his shirt. He couldn't wear his blazer now that it was soaked with blood. He made sure to fold it up to hide the crimson shade that was at war with the navy blue fabric. The rusty iron gate in front of him creaked loudly in the wind as he walked through it and entered the courtyard of the Pinkney Youth Hostel. Logan had been living there for almost a year and had so far managed to keep it a secret from everyone at school.
The front door of the building groaned as he pushed it open and walked through it, letting it close behind him with a loud slam. He entered the main foyer and took a moment to appreciate the sensation of the warm air caressing his skin. The hostel may have been old and in serious need of repair and redecorating, given that the paint was peeling off the walls and some aspects of the electricity and plumbing were faulty, but Logan appreciated it all the same. It had a warmth about it, a welcoming atmosphere that ensured you wouldn't be judged on who you were or what your circumstances were.
"There you are, Logan." An old woman's voice called from behind the front desk. "I was wondering where you had gotten to."
Standing behind the reception desk was an elderly woman. Her grey hair was rapidly turning white, something that the bun she tied it up in could never hide. Her reading glasses were perched on the end of her nose with a small chain attached to them so she wouldn't lose them. She dressed smartly in a grey cardigan and long black dress.
"Sorry for worrying you, Mary." Logan replied with a sincere tone. "I was helping someone."
"Of course you were, you've always been such a kind young man." Mary responded with a warm smile.
"So you keep saying." Logan commented with a shake of his head.
"If you need me, you know where to find me." Mary told him, as if she knew he wasn't telling her the whole story.
"Thanks, Mary." Logan responded as he made his way to the staircase.
It didn't take long for Logan to ascend the stairs to the third floor of the hostel. He stayed in the room at the far end of the corridor, one of the few that looked out onto the Gotham River. He often enjoyed watching the boats go by, especially the tour boat for tourists and Gothamites alike. Though he often questioned why tourists would come to Gotham of all places apart from the shallow hope of catching sight of the Batman.
He closed the door behind him and allowed himself to slump against it, finally letting go of his defences, his confident, happy persona he put on for the rest of the world. Logan let out a loud sigh as his shoulders dropped, the tension falling out of them as he let his eyes fall shut for a moment. It had been an eventful day to say the least and there was more still to do before the night was over. Logan found his thoughts going to Dick, the first friend he had made in a long time.
"I think that's the first time I've seen you smile in about six months." A male voice sounded from the other side of the room.
Logan opened his eyes and scanned the room. The wooden floor seemed to date the building as much as the antiquated paint did. The room itself was spacious with a television to the left side and a bunk bed to the right. Sitting on the top bunk with his legs dangling over the side was Logan's roommate, Louis.
Louis was a year older than Logan, a fact that was made obvious by his facial hair. Louis always had a very scruffy appearance, he rarely shaved or cut his hair, let alone style it. He almost always wore a tracksuit and was never up to much good when he went out. Despite these flaws, he was an honest and loyal friend to Logan and was the only person he had trusted since he came to the hostel.
"What happened?" Louis continued when he didn't receive an immediate answer. "Get a girlfriend or something?"
"No. Just had a good day." Logan replied as he walked over and sat on one of the chairs.
"Is that why you've got blood on your blazer?" Louis questioned. "Who did you fight this time?"
Logan shook his head. "I helped a guy who got shot, that's all and before you ask I left before the police got there."
"So, what good thing happened to have you smiling?" Louis pressed the question with narrow eyes.
"I made a friend, okay?" Logan confessed with an exasperated sigh. "One of the few people in the world I just seem to click with."
"Until they find out about your part time job." Louis remarked with a cynical shrug.
"He won't." Logan snapped quickly. "Besides, I won't be working much longer."
"You've been working for him for eight months now." Louis countered. "It could be another eight for all you know."
Logan shook his head dismissively. "No. The end is nigh."
Louis knew when Logan was looking to end a conversation and took the hint. He slumped back on his bed and continued reading a book he always had with him while Logan stared out the window. The end was coming very soon.
Batman and Robin looked down at the men in the warehouse. They had silently entered via the skylight five minutes before and were now crouched on one of the roof's steel support beams. They surveyed the situation. The warehouse had several vans that were being used to transport the drugs with around fifteen men all working to load them up. All the men were known to GCPD for previous offences, assault, drug dealing and armed robbery were the most common crimes. The usual for the underbelly of Gotham.
Robin smirked under his hood as he surveyed the room with the updated Detective vision system that had been installed in the lenses of his new mask. The dark blue hue was easy on the eyes and highlighted firearms in orange. He wasn't sure if it had been Bruce or Lucius who had designed the system but it was very well made regardless.
In the centre of the warehouse, barking orders impatiently, was Phillip Blake, also known as the Governor. He was a tall man with messy black hair, dark blue jeans, a black motorcycle jacket and a black eyepatch like that of a pirate. As he barked orders he waved a Desert Eagle around in his right hand, threatening to shoot anyone who didn't do their job the way he wanted them to.
Batman didn't look away as he whispered. "On the count of three."
Robin didn't respond, he didn't need to. Their teamwork was on an almost psychic level, requiring very little communication. He counted the seconds in his head. On the count of two, the lights to the building shut off due to Batman's EMP device. On the count of three, Batman tossed a small smoke grenade down onto the floor to further blind and confuse the men. The two caped crusaders immediately dropped down onto the warehouse floor, each of them landing on one of the men to break their falls.
The men in the warehouse shouted in confusion as they tried to clear the smoke by waving the arms while others turned on flashlights in the hopes of catching sight of what was attacking them. The first man to turn a flashlight on screamed in terror as the bat symbol on Batman's chest was illuminated by the light before he received a solid fist to the side of the head, striking his temple and knocking him out cold. Batman moved swiftly through the dissipating smoke as he knocked out as many of the armed gunmen as possible.
Robin was on the other side of the warehouse doing the same thing. Due to his younger age and smaller stature, he relied more heavily on judo throws, kicks and his two escrima sticks to deliver stronger blows to his opponents. With so many armed men in one room, he couldn't afford to be reckless and didn't want to explain any bullet wounds to his classmates at school. The final thug on his side of the room aimed his gun but Robin knocked it out of his hand with one of his escrima sticks before slamming the other into the man's temple.
Robin's Detective vision informed him that the only firearm still in use was the Governor's desert eagle. Gunshots suddenly rang out in the darkness as Blake fired blindly in the hopes of getting lucky. Robin quickly grappled up onto the support beam again so he was out of harm's way. He watched as Batman snuck up behind him in the darkness and waited for his moment. The light slowly flickered back on as Batman turned off the EMP, revealing the warehouse floor to be full of unconscious men.
"Where are you?!" Blake shouted angrily, constantly moving his aim.
"Here." Batman growled from behind him.
The Governor spun round and tried to shoot Batman but the Dark Knight grabbed his wrist and twisted it, breaking it with a loud crack and a sudden yelp of pain from the other man. The desert eagle dropped to the floor before Batman used his other hand to grab Blake by the throat and slam him against one of the vans. He glared at the man through his white lenses as Robin dropped back down from the support beam.
"You're the scumbag spreading drugs through Gotham." Batman hissed. "I want the name of your supplier."
"I don't know his name." Blake coughed out as Batman tightened his grip.
Batman grabbed Phillip's broken wrist and squeezed it tightly as he growled. "Do not lie to me."
"I'm not!" Blake gasped out. "This isn't my operation!"
Batman twisted his wrist, breaking it a second time and causing the man to cry out in pain.
"Last night one of your men told me different." Batman informed him.
"I run the warehouses but it's not my operation!" Blake explained rapidly through pained gasps.
Batman narrowed his eyes. The young man he had interrogated on the rooftop the night before had lied to him. He wasn't really working for the Governor, they were both working for someone else. He would have to stay true to his word and find the young man again to teach him never to lie to the Batman. He threw Blake down on the floor and slammed his foot down on his head when he turned to his side. The man groaned as the pressure was applied to the side of his head. He wasn't sure which was more solid, Batman's boot or the cold floor.
"Who are you working for?" Batman snarled. "Lie to me and I'll break your spine."
Robin crouched down next to Blake's head. "I'd tell the truth if I were you. The last guy who lied to him still hasn't learned how to walk again."
Blake's eyes widened in terror. Batman's threat obviously wasn't a bluff. "Black Mask! I'm working for Black Mask!"
"What's the operation schedule?" Batman questioned, more relaxed though his tone was still threatening.
"Every night a boat brings in a new supply to a different dock in Gotham!" Blake explained between laboured breaths. "They alternate between the eastern and western docks each night so the coast guard doesn't notice!"
"Thank you." Batman stated as he lifted his boot off Blake's head.
As soon as Blake looked up, one of Robin's escrima sticks slammed into his forehead and knocked him unconscious. Batman now understood why the young man had lied. Black Mask would kill anyone who conspired against him in an instant. He had lied out of fear. Batman sent an anonymous message to GCPD so they could send patrol cars to pick up the unconscious men. He turned to Robin as they both stared at one another. They knew they were in for a long couple weeks as they would have to break up the operation one delivery at a time.
"So, what now?" Robin asked as he slotted his escrima sticks back into the back of his utility belt.
"We go home." Batman answered. "I'll look over the shipping plans in the cave."
"We've only been out a few hours though." Robin argued, somewhat confused by his mentor's decision.
"And you still have school in the morning." Batman countered.
Robin sighed and decided not to respond. This was one argument he wouldn't win but for once he didn't feel too bad about that. He had one good thing to look forward to at school; seeing his new friend. Maybe less time as Robin to allow for more time as a happy Dick Grayson wasn't such a bad thing.
Okay, so this story is a break away from the usual things I write. It is also my first ever Batman story, so hopefully I'm sticking true to the feel of the characters and such.
This is a story that came to me the other day, pretty much from start to finish as well. I have the entire story planned out so I know exactly where it is going. One thing I hope to focus on is Gotham City as its own character and what it is like to live in the city.
I hope that my custom character of Logan Valence is of interest to you all. He has some dark secrets that you're going to love, I'm sure.
Please be kind enough to leave a review/comment if you liked this first chapter. If you didn't like it, you can still let me know so long as you do so in a civil manner. I'm always willing to take in constructive criticism. ^^
