Hello!
Welcome to chapter 2!
I'm always up for criticism as long as you're civil about it.
I also don't have a proper writing program to catch spelling mistakes, so if you find any please point them out too!
English is also not my first language, i have spoken it for like a decade but there might still be some errors here and there, please be civil about such things too.
Please note that some chapters will be longer than others, all depends on how much plot I have planned for each chapter.
The security footage had so far given little results. No one on the tapes, as far as Damian could see, fit what he saw with the girl in the alleyway.
While he knew he had only seen so little of her, but he knew he could do it, he was raised to be able to. But so far, after hours upon hours of searching, scanning ever single frame, he still hadn't found anything. No sleep for hours, his eyes and head hurt.
All he'd done after coming home was change from his Robin costume to civillian and then go to the cave to check out the footage.
"Master Damian?" he heard a voice from behind. The family butler, he groaned internally to himself. "no luck yet, I presume?" he walked closer and picked up an energy drink. A habit Damian had regretfully picked up from Drake.
"Correct Pennyworth, was there something you wanted?" he kept staring at the screen.
"Yes indeed, it is getting quite late," he said and took away a few more cans. Damian felt his pride die a little more each time he saw a new can. Damn Drake and the devil's drink he had gotten Damian hooked on.
"I am doing quite fine," he said. His body betrayed him and he had to surpress a yawn without his face cracking up. He just needed a few more hours to find a single clue. "I do not need sleep."
"I can assure Master Damian, everyone needs sleep, even the Wayne family." Damian noticed he had a small plastic bag with empty cans in by this time. "The footage will be here tomorrow, and your mind will be clearer." Damian turned around to look at the elderly man. Then he yawned. His body betrayed him once more. He sighed in annoyance. "School also starts in a few hours."
"I'm aware, Pennyworth." Damian shut off the security footage and got up from the chair. Alfred kept standing there, looking at him to make sure he really did head to bed. "Where is father? I haven't seen him for a while."
"Surprisingly, Master Bruce went to bed a whole hour ago, he'll be getting a whole four hours of sleep tonight, Gotham's criminals beware." Alfred began walking out and Damian followed. The transtition of the Bat cave to the Wayne Manor living room never failed to amaze him, even after having lived in it for a few years.
The dark cold cave, with it's echoing sounds of fottsteps, the bats and dripping water, was a polar opposite to the warmth of the living room with his warm colours and furniture. Although at this time, everything was dark and clad in the dark blue hues of night.
One thing he had gotten used to, was the style of his room. Although he knew his room was on the larger side, it almost paled at his the one he had with the League of Shadows. He didn't know which one he liked more, although he seemed to feel more at home here. He got dressed for bed and laid down.
Soon he felt something in his bed, weighing down the end of his bed. He heard his dog Titus move around in circles for a few seconds before laying down as well, lightly smacking his lips in content. Soon after, Damian's eyes closed and he was overtaken by sleep.
School dragged by for Damian, it did most days. He didn't need to pay attention. They never taught anything he didn't know, or needed to know. By the time the bell had finished ringing, Damian was out the door.
He wanted to go home and look the tapes over more, but had another idea on the way. Pennyworth was waiting outside the school, Damian told Alfred he was gonna call him when he needed a pick up, he had other plans for the day.
There was a small chance that the culprit would return to the crime scene, for whatever reason. Also another chance to check out the scene once more. There had to be clues.
It took about half an hour to get there, and Damian was happy to see the place was open, although the owner stood outside and looked around. Damian had never felt so secure. The store seemed lively, he guessed the store owner hadn't made it public what happened.
Damian only had a little money in his pocket, he had to find a small item to buy to look less suspicious. He went to the dairy section and looked it over. He had no idea what kids his age would ge around buying. Other than chips and soda, things that didn't particularly fall into his tastes. As he looked the items over he felt a someone gently poke his shoulder.
When he turned around he saw a small girl looking at him, signalling she wanted to get to where he was standing. He took a step to the side, she gave a small smile and a headbow in thanks.
Her hair was strawberry blond and she had a chubby-ish nose with a mole under her right eye. She picked out a few items then looked upwards. She went to stand on the cooler system and picked out a yoghurt.
Once she came down, she looked at Damian and smiled again. Then she walked away. Damian went back to look at the wares. Something about her seemed ever so slightly familiar, he picked out a drinkable yoghurt and looked after her. She was going through the store, holding a basket that seemed to big and heavy for her. On her back was a large bag, he presumed for the wares she'd purchased.
When she went up to the register he followed. When it was her turn, he noticed she pulled out a small piece of paper that she handed to person behind the counter.
"Oh hey Diane," the person smiled as they took the note. They hummed and nodded, then got a few items behind them. Mild pain killers, for headaches. The Girl took out her wallet and counted out the cash. "here you go sweetie," the clerk smiled and rung the whole thing up. They told the price and she paid. She gave a smile and began packing everything away.
Damian paid for his yoghurt pretty quickly. He had been in the store long enough, but hadn't found anything. The girl put on her bag and seemed to fall back slightly, surprised by the shift in weight, Damian pushed her back. She turned back, bowed her head and smiled. He saw her hands move.
"Thank you" she was signing. It had been a while since Damian had to use his sign language, but he guessed now was as good as ever.
"No problem" he just signed back, she stared at him wide-eyed, before just nodding and walking away, looking back at him constantly. He frowned a bit and began drinking his yoghurt. He might come back this evening to ask more questions. He sighed, another long night was ahead.
Diane was surprised that evening as she went to get eat dinner with her parents. Her favourite dish was on the table, as well as soda. She didn't remember it being her birthday twice a year. She sat down and looked at her mother confused. Nothing was said as her mother poured the tomoato sauce with meat on her plate, along with scoops of rice. Nothing but a smile on her face. She kissed Diane's hair and began taking for herself.
Diane couldn't remember the last time she'd had this much food on her plate. She ate slowly, but made sure to scoop up as much as possible. She choked once and her mom patted her back.
"Oh honey there's no rush tonight," she smiled at Diane. Diane looked back and coughed again. "it's a family dinner tonight, just take it slowly okay?" Diane juse nodded and began eating smaller bites.
She was allowed to finish her plate, then another, and another half until she was completely full. Her parents cleared the table, and Diane just looked at them. Then her mother came to her and sat down next to her. She pulled out her phone and wrapped an arm around Diane, showing the picture.
"See this honey? Wouldn't this necklacee look good on mommy's neck?" she asked and zoomed in. Diane looked, the necklace was silver with blue gems in it. She didn't know gems very well, but she liked the combination. She nodded and looked closer. Her mother swiped to the next picture, it was the front of a store, a jewelry store. Diane's heart sank just a little bit. She knew what was coming next.
"I know I had you go out last night, but could you go out again tonight? I promise it'll be the last one this week." Diane looked at her mom's face. She just nodded and her mother made a happy noise, kissing her cheek. "Aw, thank you honey," She gave her a little piece of paper, the address of the store. Diane nodded again and got up.
She walked to her room and put on her outfit. It always took a few minutes, adjusting and remembering how to put everything on proper. She put the mask up and opened the window. It was becoming winter slowly, and night fell quicker and quicker. She looked at her phone, she needed to fnd a route to the shop. She wrote the directions down and put her phone on her bedside table.
Then she went into the falling night.
This story is set in the Young Justice Universe, not the 80's comic, but the cartoon that came out in 2010, but I couldn't put Damian as a character in that.
Since I don't know how many of you have watched the show, i'll try to naturally explain things in the story, or have notes in the aftermath, with short explanations.
