It started out with any other night, tonight specifically because none of the past really matters too much to begin there.
"Out!"
"But Father-!"
"I ssaidout!" my father slurred, letting go of my hair once I was outside of our house.
After my father slammed the door in my face, I stood there for a moment. You can say that I was immune to this.
I took in the rugged and dented old door, it had been through a lot. It was there when my parents first moved in it was there to keep in whatever amount of warmth we could muster through ever winter. Or blocking pelting from creeping in.
...Or the last thing my mother touched before leaving our dank dark home.
I was used to this, that memorial door slamming in my face. My fathers work was tough and physical, and it paid incredibly little. Just enough for food on the table. We have tough holding on, but I've become immune to my lifestyle.
Because his work stressed him, he drinks his problems away. Every so often he'll accuse me of one of his greatest problems: my mothers leave.
"Everything was perfect until you sent your mother away from me. You are selfish and don't deserve what you have"He would say.
Sighing I turned around, walking on the empty, garbaged streets. We lived in the most ruthless part of Gotham City, and that was saying something.
We lived where houses were rare and three or four floor apartments towered over you. They all looked the same, gloomy, windows shattered or boarded up and graffitied.
All the kids that lived here could fend themselves since rapers and criminals and drug dealers roamed these streets 24/7. So at least I could pack a decent enough punch.
I kicked a can ahead and mumbled something I didn't even understand. The can gave that tin ring as it rolled to a stop before it entered a darkened ally a block away.
I had thought multiple times of leaving, I had been granted by my father so many times to leave since he always pushed me out of the house. I'm mature enough to know that if I did run for it, child services would come and neither my father or I would be happy.
He would be left alone, and I would become an orphan...
I quickly looked up when in the corner of my eye, I saw something shuffle up ahead.
Telling myselfit was most likely drug dealers, I continuing on with my walk. I would head back in an hour or so when my father passed out, but for now I would enjoy the 'peaceful' darkened streets which were only lit up by every so other working street light.
Though, the only true light for the dark streets was the brightest full moon.
In my opinion, it was the biggest beauty we had in the city, maybe the only thing keeping me from moving to some place else, Happy Harbor for instance.
More shuffling. I slowed my pace, curious of what it was. I looked down the dark ally, making sure to not touch the tin can so I would have complete silence.
Then I felt something round and cold on my skull. Prickles went up my spine as I came to realize what in was.
"Perfect." I heard through a low and rough growl.
A hand gripped my arm, tugging me toward the ally.
I couldn't get a look at my kidnapper, he was standing behind me. But I could tell he was large, maybe not fit but big.
I wasn't going to scream, that would get my head blown.
I wasn't going to fight back, because I knew I couldn't stand a chance against this guy.
I was just going to follow orders like a good girl...
"Look what I've found, was wandering the street like she just waiting to be picked up."
"I'm not a penny whore" I mumbled, my eyes widened as I realized I had spoken out loud.
"A mouth on 'er too. Just perfect." The large man behind me cackled. It was a phlegm filled laugh, rusty on the edges from years of smoking.
Another voice came flowing through the darkness. I glared at the shadow, "Bet she's never been useful for anything before. Well, my dear, you are the trophy of all this. You are perfect."
This voice was different, instead of a smoking drunkard voice, it was a calm collected one. I was beginning to waver on my thoughts of these thugs being amateur.
"The cherry on the top!" The gunman laughed at himself, the barrel of his gun bumping at the back of my head with every shake his body made.
"A little calm for all this, don't you think?" said the shadowed figure in front of me, coming closer. They smelled of sweat and pine ash. No scent of cigarettes or alcohol, it was as if his plan had no time for dilly-dally. Like he was waiting for this day for his whole life.
"Tell me Penny, why are you so calm?"
"Haha Penny, good name, since it's short for penny whore and stuff" the gunman cackled stupidly.
I wouldn't tell the figure in front of me the real reason, so I simply stated with my chin up "Batman will save me" and placed my gaze back to the dust, dirt and rubble side of the ally.
The real reason was because this has happened to me before, twice. Once was for money, which was unlucky for them, since I had very little on me. They let me go, a the barrel of the gun facing me as they backed away, taking off to raid another lonely person.
The second... was a drunkard, whom I recognized as a neighbor. Therefore I can't blame him for the booze.
The figure and the gunman both laughed at my confident reply. I wouldn't be surprised if their joy filled cries didn't wake the dead. Maybe Batman didn't even need his signal, he'd just hear their laughter and come because it was a sure sign of psychopath.
The dark figure than slapped me, my head snapping to the other side. I could feel my cheek begin to throb.
"You're a funny whore. See we want Batman to come, so go right ahead and scream for him. Go ahead." the figure said.
I still couldn't get a good look at him, like he was unsure if his plan would work. And if his plan didn't work, he didn't want to be on the odds of getting arrested. He was smart enough to stay in the shadowed side of the ally.
I heard the click of the revolver and the prickles up my spine once again.
"Maybe I'll just sit back and watch your plan fold out?"
The figure chuckled, "Funny and smart, too bad."
I then saw black as something bashed against my head.
"You baboon! You weren't supposed to knock her out! She has to be awake for this to work"
I opened my lids to see double, then when things leveled out I saw two men, both bandanas over their face. The man, whom I'm guessing was the one originally hiding in the shadows wore a red bandana which I knew meant leader.
"Sorry" the other mumbled, a revolver pointed at my feet.
The large gunman wore a blue bandana, which I couldn't get an understanding on. What kind if thug wears blue? Light blue at that.
I pulled my legs to my chest, curling my arms around my legs.
The leader looked back at me, I could tell he was smiling.
"Can you scream?"
"...Why?" I ask slowly.
His brows furrowed, apparently confused of what I had said. He must not be used to his victims replying or questioning his motives.
He slapped me, "Scream!"
"I'm sorry but I can't scream for no reason!" I snapped back.
That's when I realized I was sitting against a new building. The sky was lighting up, though still a gloomy grey. I was beginning to wonder how long I had been out?
"What are you afraid of?" he said harshly. I looked back up to him, what did that line remind me of... or maybe of whom?
I bit my lip. Heights, definitely clowns and... the other, it was just too pathetic. I was incredibly ashamed of my fears, there are plenty of realistic things to fear but mine were simple psychological faults.
I reply boldly, "Nothing."
"Fine then, I just hope you're a good actress, or I'll just kill you and go take another whore" he waved to the gunman.
The large gunman came over and picked me up, hoisting me over his fat shoulder, after stabilizing myself I looked back to the other man, his red bandana shown a crimson red from the brick walls of the buildings on either side of him.
"So now where are we going?" I asked as casual as I could, trying not to show any nervousness or terror.
"We're going to put on a show for Gotham, see how spectacular this Batman wants to be in daylight." said he pausing, opening a door and us following behind.
"Bats don't come out in the day" he continued, pressing the elevator button.
We went up and up and up in dead silence. There wasn't even a sound informing what level we were reaching. So it was an obvious time that the elevator music should sound.
How many floors were there?Judging by how the thug was moving uncomfortably from my weight and the length of silence and the estimated speed of the elevator-most elevators take a decent amount of time between floors-we were around the 10th floor.
When we stopped, I was sat down and then blindfolded. The blindfold smelled like the gunman, cigarettes and alcohol.
"That should add to the excitement on your side, Penny" The gunman said huskily, out of breath from the extra weight he was just carrying.
Then suddenly I felt something being strapped to my chest, tightly like it were a corset. It began to get tighter and warm.
"What's that?" I blurted, feeling like the air was being pushed out of me.
"Questions? Why should I tell you the answers?"
"I'm blindfolded, you could just lie. Or since I'm probably going to die anyway, I may as well know." I replied, spilling out words.
Bluntly, the man said "A bomb"
Oh. Sounds like fun. Death by explosion it shall be. Guts and blood and bone for everyone!
Then I felt lifted, but not by the hands and shoulders, but from the back. As if Rope.
"Now what's happening?"
"If I'm going to tell you, why did I even put a blindfold on you?" he says back calmly.
"I'll stop asking if, when everything is set into place, you take off my blindfold."
"Deal, but you're taking it off. I won't be able to reach you."
And what did he mean by that?
Then I felt my hair being blown in every direction. We're we on top of the building?
"O-Okay, just tell me when I... When I can" I stuttered, hoping that the top of the building wasn't what I would see.
The air tasted of must and gasoline, I then knew I was somewhere on the roof. I began to get fidgety, heights being one of my top fears was not healthy for me.
I then had an idea of what their plan was. It was a two-way death. I could either fall to my death, or be blown up. If Batman was to arrive, he'd either have to come and take the bomb off, or he'd have to catch me. Either way revealing Batman himself.
I mean, very few have seen TheBatman, so was this an act of just seeing if the Bat was real? That seemed too unnecessary, especially for abducting someone and dangling them off a building... way to much work for a simple hypothesis.
"Batman, where are you? You wouldn't want and innocent girl to die, showing all of Gotham that you truly only do this for fame and money." the man spoke in a sing-song voice.
Oh, so in a way the thug wanted to show that Batman wasn't a hero and was only a greedy man in disguise? That's idiotic. You don't need to share your idea like that to the world.
"Penny, this is where you come in. Be a good whore and act for all your people." the gunman yelled over the sound of the rushing wind, cars and people.
"What do you want me to do? Dance?" I asked sarcastically.
I heard a gunshot and froze, I suddenly heard cries over the wind.
I shakily took off the blindfold, incredibly nervous about what I would see. I knew I would see streets and dots that were people, crowding. But the feeling that would come with it, I knew I was not prepared for.
The scream that had stuck in my throat for a split second now erupted around me. My falsetto wavering. The city bobbed back and forth slowly. My head began to spin and I struggled helplessly. The world around me bending and I felt as if I was already falling, heading straight into hard deathly concrete.
"This crying girl needs your help. Or are you just too good for others and would rather stay hidden, laughing at us and our want for attention?" the man continued.
This thug was making no sense. Batman doesn't do it for money, and I'm almost positive he wouldn't do it for fame.
I looked around, helplessly, trying to find a way out of this, all I could see was a speaker on the bar attaching the rope that held me. Only one rope, great.
Behind me on the roof several feet away, was the gunman, only he held a machine gun. His face still masked with the blue bandana.
"Your silence means yes to me. Which silence breaker sounds better to you? Screams and a red splatter or a large explosion? Tick tick Batty, I`m waiting for your preference."
I swallowed nervously. I had never truly seen Batman. So how did I know he was real, let alone his sidekick Robin.
I felt myself move, looking up I could see the rope slide. My eyes grew and I began to shake more vigorously. I closed my eyes and screamed as I dropped several feet. I bobbed as the robe stopped, it vibrating at the sudden motion.
"Yes, hear the girl scream? Maybe not. C'mon girl, scream louder for your savior!"
It dropped a foot, making me yelp, I tried to find a zipper or a clasp, attaching me to the bomb, or the rope. Nothing.
"P-Please! Somebody!" I absently screamed.
"My patience has gone, this girls hearts gonna be-" suddenly he cut off and I began to fall, this time no stop.
I screamed, tears now in my eyes. I flailed my arms around, uselessly. I couldn't quite calculate what was happening.
"Robin! The girl!" I heard someone scream through the rushing wind.
The corners of my vision blackened as the ground grew close. But it stopped as something grabbed me.
A blur of red and black and yellow.
I wrapped my arms tightly around their neck, pushing my face into their chest.
A loud bang erupted as the gunman began shooting. I didn't know at whom or what. Had Batman really come? Was it only my imagination that I was being saved?
When we stopped moving I felt ground underneath my feet, yet I didn't let go. I was still in shock, and holding onto something secure comforted me.
"Hey, it's okay, you're fine. Nothing's going to happen now, you're safe." his words soothed me.
I looked up to see Robin, Batman's great sidekick.
Some people called him Boy Wonder.
Baby blues behind a black mask that matched his coal hair. His arms still around my stiff figure.
I then realized that my breathing was uneven and my heart was pounding hard against my chest, as well as his.
"But.. I... The-" I couldn't get my words straight as I choked on sobs and air.
"What is it?" he asked, kneeling beside me as he set me down on the ground. I couldn't hold myself up.
"B-Bomb" I stuttered. I pointed at my chest and Robin's eyes widened.
"Oh..." he looked back up to my eyes from the bomb vest. He put his hands to his earpiece,"Batman!"
Looking back at me, tears filled my eyes to see his facial expression turn into worry, "Don't worry, we can get through this. You- hey, don't close your eyes. You need to stay awake!"
I began to get dizzy, the world spinning once again and I began to get incredibly warm, I was ready to pass out. I closed my eyes for comfort. His kind voice made me more relaxed than keeping me awake.
Though when the sound of bullets being shot was heard again, I woke up instantly with a jolt. My grip that I had on Robin's arms tightened, more than which they were.
"This can not be happening. I have a bomb on me, I won't be able to get through this! Someone's going to get shot and will die and-"
"Hey!"said Robin, snapping me out of my fear rant, "C'mon, I'll take you somewhere else, you're fine."
He pulled me up, since my legs still weren't working properly. He was about to jump when I froze, not letting him pick me up.
We were on the top of a building a couple blocks away from where the action was taking place.
"I'm not moving! If we jump off, we're going to die. You can't just rebel against the force of gravity!"
"Look, we need to go now. Here, I'll carry you the entire way" he grabbed my hand, pulling me over to him once again.
I was close to him when I heard his ear piece go off.
"Where's the girl?"
"With me" Robin replied softly.
-"Is she okay?"
-"In a way. They strapped a bomb to her chest, it's not coming off."
-"Take her to the cave immediately!"
-"Got it!"
Robin wrapped his arms around my waist and I put my face in the crook of his neck, knowing what was coming I couldn`t look.
When we jumped, I let a cry escape my lips. I hated that feeling that comes, your stomach and every other part in your body rising but your skin keeping them inside.
We made our way to a bike, I could barely make out what was going on and where we were going. Between the speed, the wind and the tears in my eyes.
I kept my eyes closed, even though Robin kept prodding me to stay awake. I felt one of his arms around my waist.
Once we stopped, it was dark.
"Where are we?" I mumbled as he helped me off the bike.
"The bat cave" Robin said bluntly.
Rarely, I knew that anybody got to see the cave but my dizziness didn`t give me much as a choice but to look at the still ground.
"Go sit over there, I need to go get something. I'll be right back" The young man said, rushing off in a direction.
I sat, flinching at every tick that came from my chest. I was so scared that I was having trouble figuring out which tick was from the bomb, or from my heart.
I heard something, assuming it was Robin I was shocked to see the one and only Batman.
My eyes widened, I didn't speak. He was tall and bulk, but was swift and quiet. Intimidating yet peaceful. His black body suit made it hard for me to identify what was suit and what was shadow.
He came over to me, almost gliding. Then he held out a hand to stop me from standing up. He kneeled in front of me, his voice low and rough.
"Be as still as possible. The less you move, the less it will hurt."
I nodded and closed my eyes, waiting for the results.
I heard Robin come over, so frightened I grabbed his hand for comfort, I could feel is muscles tighten in surprise but he didn't try to escape my hold.
Batman began working on my chest, suddenly the ticking seemed to get louder and a loud high-pitched beep was heard.
I opened one eye to see him still there, a piece of machinery I didn't recognize in his hands.
Then sparks flew, one hitting my side and my arms, I ground my teeth in pain. The shock was cool then had an electrifying heat. Several more beeps were heard and the ticking stopped. Though it echoed in the silence.
I looked back up at Batman, his figure seemed to relax, and I let go of my breath that I didn't know I was holding in.
"Th-" my manners caught in my throat as I felt myself grow dizzy, my visioned darkened and the room grew hotter. Then Darkness.
...
My eyes fluttering when I opened them, things were bright and double. I groaned, putting a hand on my forehead. Thoughts and memories flooded back to my head, was what I was remembering actually happen?
I chuckled, squinting as I looked at my hands. Of course not, nothing extreme like that happened to me. Especially with Batman.
But I don't remember going back home. Or leaving the light on.
My eyes cleared and I sat up. I couldn't remember where I was, I didn't recognize this room. It was almost a cube, the table-like bed I was resting upon in the center of the room. Two doors.
"H-Hello?" I said quietly, yet it still seemed to echo.
I turned to see an elder man. He smiled when he noticed I was looking at him. He was thin and well dressed, his hair thinned and grey but his smile pure and young.
"Hello, dear. You fell unconscious from the shock. I'll be escorting you to your home now that you've awaken."
"No." I blurted, quite shocked at my rudeness, "Sorry, what? What exactly happened?" I say, standing up. When I got close enough to the man he began to explain.
"You had been capture and used as bait to get Batman to come. A bomb had been attached to your chest, Robin brought you to the cave to deactivate the bomb. Here, you fell unconscious."
"So where exactly is here? Am I still at the Batcave?"
The man nodded, opening one of the doors from this small room.
"We discussed things and I am to escort you home. Where exactly do you live?"
I parted my lips, about to give the address with ease when the thought of returning home didn't feel like a good idea. Matter of fact home wasn't what I wanted. Knowing that once I arrived, I'd be punished for not coming back home. I'd be receiving a few bruises.
"I don't really feel comfortable telling you that. I'll just walk home."
"Pardon Miss. But I was strictly ordered to. And was directed not to let you go on your own." I gave the man a look.
This man was ordered, by Batman. The man who saved my life.
"Could I speak to Batman?"
"Sorry Miss, but I don't think-"
"No, I can walk home on my own. But I'd like to thank him for saving my life"
"I-" knowing he was going to protest, I passed him through the door, beginning my search for Batman myself.
"Miss, where do you think you're going?"
"Whichever I find first. A way out, or Batman"
I suddenly came to face a door. Through it was dimly lit, I went anyway. I could hear the elder man still behind me.
I then found an area with monitors and a desk, a chair set in front. Down the hall were multiples of glass cases, inside we're different suits. Though on ease suit held the same bat emblem that Gotham City knew too well.
On the screens were of streets of Gotham City. My eyes widened.
"What is she doing here?" I heard a voice bark to my left.
Out of the darkness was Batman. He seemed taller and more aggressive than I last remember him.
"She wouldn't listen, I tried to-"
I interrupted the man, "I wanted to thank you. That, and I was trying to find a way out."
"I told him to escort you home. Not do the opposite." he replied.
I crossed my arms carefully, "I can get back fine on my own."
"You passed out from shock and stress, what`s to say it wouldn't happen again?" a younger voice came, and from behind Batman, came Robin.
"I'll be honest with you and truthfully say, I just don't want to go home."
"That's an interesting excuse..." Robin mumbled,
Batman looking at his protégé, than back to me.
I whispered out my thoughts uncontrollably, "You don't know the lifestyle I live in."
Robin looked up at me, curiously, apparently hearing me.
"We can arrange you a foster home" The elderly man added. I looked at him shocked, shaking my head vigorously.
"No. I'll just..." I drifted off. I sighed, not knowing what to do.
"Just take me home." I said in defeat.
"This way Madame." the man nodded, guiding me toward a door.
I looked back to see Batman and Robin still standing there.
I then remembered I only thanked Batman, who only disarmed the bomb, Robin was the one who rescued me.
I ran back and wrapped my arms around him, my face in the crook of his neck, taking in his scent.
"Thank you" I mumbled softly, I felt him put his arms lightly around my torso, "You don't know how much I owe you now"
I looked up, kissed his warm cheek and ran back towards the door the man had gone through. Not bothering to look back or my collected figure would diminish.
When the black BMW stopped in front of my house I thanked the man and apologized for my behavior before.
He shrugged it off. I watched him drive off, knowing I wouldn't never see the kind-hearted man again.
Walking back towards the door I knew, I should have asked him how he got a job as Batman's assistant.
I opened the door to my home, nervous of what would come. The house still was the same, rubbish everywhere, scent of cigarettes and alcohol wafting through the air.
"Where were you?" I heard my father in the living room. Swallowing my pride, I entered the room quietly.
"Um...Well-"
He got up from his chair, looking me right in the eye. Even though I was nervous, I knew he would hit me for bad eye contact if I looked away. My father was largely built and controlling, when he towered over me like he did now, it made me feel like my mother had been in the same situation before as I.
He grabbed my arm tightly and slapped me, "I was worried!" Shocked at his words, though the sting still seeped through.
"I don't think I could live with both you and your mother leaving." I gulped and nodded slowly, his clench on my arm loosening.
"Go to your room."
Speechless I nodded and went into my room, throwing on some shorts and my dads big shirt. I rubbed my cheek softly, it stung but it was better than being kicked in the gut.
Suddenly I heard my father call for me.
"So... what is it?" I asked quietly, nervous that if I spoke to loud it might change his earlier actions.
"Go to the corner store. I need smokes"
When I returned home, my father was in his room, once I gave them to him I went back to my room.
My room was tiny, yet I didn't have much so it wasn't crowded. My box spring on the wood floor, the mattress sloppily overtop of it, on it was my pillow and a blanket. We couldn't pay for the water bill if it got to high, so we didn't use sheets. I had a tiny four-drawer dresser, just large enough for all my clothes. A small closet for anything else I had. Though I had this amazing window. The windowsill was large enough for me to sit on and without the screen I could crawl through and sit on the roof. This time of year I can see the moon through it.
Turning off the light I went to sit on the windowsill. The milky white light shone through, illuminating every thing to a soft white glow. I began to think about what I'd do with my life. As for now, school and making sure my father and I stay alive.
My first story on FanFiction. I feel I should`ve started it differently but oh well. This story consists between Robin/Dick with Batman and with Young Justice. ~WittyApple