As the last puzzle piece in Batman's mind was fit snuggly in place, he released her arm.
Avery was glad for the steel grip to be off her wrist. She immediately pulled her sleeve back down at the first opportunity. "That was uncalled for," She muttered.
"If you had pulled your sleeve up yourself, I wouldn't have had to," The Dark Knight growled in response.
"You do not understand the concept of trust, do you?" She spat. If she had been able to, she would've rose from her chair, but her ankles were still handcuffed to the chair she was sitting in.
"Trust is earned," Came back the low response.
Avery hesitated for a moment until a reply came to mind, "Then I shall earn your trust."
Batman had to hold back a scoff. The girl may be just under ninety but she still rationalizes like a normal teenager. "That's not an easy thing to do."
"Good," Avery smiled slightly, "I have always preferred a challenge to a silver platter serving."
This girl may survive in Gotham yet, Batman thought to himself. On the outside he said, "It's not smart to take a challenge against the Batman."
"I took a midnight walk through the East End. Who ever said I was smart?"
"Isn't that the truth," A voice said from the stairs leading down from the Manor. There was Tim standing in Batman pajama pants, a plain t-shirt, and sunglasses. He had his uniform folded under his arm and his utility belt slung over his shoulder. He took in the girl's altered appearance with ease, although she looked a bit more dorkish in his own opinion.
"You are just a breath of fresh air, huh Birdy?" The sarcasm rolled of Avery's tongue easily. Internally, she was laughing at the teen's choice in pajama pants.
"You're not a ray of sunshine yourself," He replied as he placed his utility belt back in its place. "And stop calling me Birdy," He added in as a second thought.
"I am going to have to go with no this time," Avery said with a shrug of indifference.
And there Batman was thinking one teenager in his cave was bad enough. Two were about to cause chaos. "Act your age," The Dark Knight snapped at Avery.
The girl rolled her eyes, "Once again, I am fifteen years of age."
"You know what I mean," Batman growled out.
She hung her head a little and did a mock salute, "Yes sir."
Tim cocked his head to the side at the small encounter between his mentor and the girl. Having missed the entire conversation, he was clueless. "I'm missing something here. Care to explain?" He asked both of the other souls in general proximity. Either one of them could provide a suitable answer.
Batman looked to Avery for a moment to see if she would rather take the reins with this one. She shrugged and muttered something along the lines of, "He is your partner to inform."
The disguised playboy took a deep breath and faced his protégé. "Avery here," He started with a tilt of his head towards said girl, "Has extreme regenerative abilities due to being experimented on in the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II. There is also someone after her due to her knowledge of the formula for her abilities."
Robin let that sink in for a moment. A million questions flitted in and out of his mind like confused bugs. "So," He started off slowly, "Who exactly is after her?"
"She hasn't said who yet," Batman admitted.
Avery huffed out a loud breath, "She is being hunted down by a mercenary with an orange and black mask. I do not know his name."
The pajama clad teen narrowed his eyes under his sunglasses. "The only person matching that description is Deathstroke. But he already has enhanced healing compared to a regular human, what would he have to gain from your abilities?"
"A mercenary who is virtually unkillable? Do tell how that would not be an advantage in his favor," Avery leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms.
Batman compiled all the information on Deathstroke he could find in his mind. Deadly? Yes. Unkillable? Not yet at least. Real name: Slade Wilson. He was made to be a super soldier, which explains the advanced healing. Although not even his advanced healing could save his right eye. But he is usually just a mercenary for hire, if he's after Avery, its most likely because someone hired him.
An eerie silence fell over the cave. Not even the bats high above their heads dared to make a sound.
Robin rubbed his temples slowly, trying to put together his thoughts. His head perked up to look at Avery as his thoughts clicked into place. "Wait, you said 'virtually unkillable'. Does that mean you can't come back from things like getting your head chopped off, or being burned alive?"
"You do not have to sound so hopeful at the prospect of that being true, Birdy. But even I do not know how far my abilities range. I have been able to regenerate smaller things like a finger, but I am not sure for a head. As for being burned alive, I heal so quickly that unless the flame is consistently applied my skin is fresh to burn again within a matter of seconds," Avery explained calmly.
The bird looked at Avery with derision, "You heal that quickly?"
"Yes. The more the abilities are used the quicker they work. In the past it took hours to come back to life from a gunshot wound. Now it takes minutes, as you have witnessed."
Robin scanned through all the information that's been crammed into his mind in the past few minutes and came up with his next question, albeit it basic. "What's your last name?"
"Brave," Came the clipped reply.
"That's not of European origin," Robin pointed out indignantly, "What's your real name?"
"I will tell you both that name one day, when trust is exchanged in all of our favors," At the last part Avery threw a glance in the direction of Batman.
"Well that's great, I'm going to bed now," Tim concised as he swiveled on his sock-clad heel to head back towards the stairs. No more information could fit in his brain with the amount of sleep he was currently running on. He at least realized that much at this point.
"Birdy is right on this one. I will be leaving once you unlock these handcuffs." Avery hoisted her bag onto her shoulder and waited for Batman to unlock her ankles.
Batman thought it over for a moment. Alfred would give him an earful the second Tim mentioned their guest in the cave, and how she was sent back into Gotham when it was still dark out. "No, you'll be staying here tonight," He told Avery.
Robin stopped at the top stair he was on. Deciding to not argue with his mentor, he kept walking. This girl was annoying him to no end.
"Where am I sleeping then?" Avery asked the big bat.
"I'll bring a cot down; you'll be sleeping here in the cave."
"Thank you," Avery bowed her head slightly.
Batman went off to get the cot from a storage closet without further adieu. His thoughts roamed in the process. This girl was broken, no matter how hard she tried to hide it. She flinched when touched. She followed orders exceptionally and sets out to please. She is scared of what would happen if she disobeys. One day, he'll ask her what she went through in that camp.
A/N: The song Bullet by Hollywood Undead was running through my head the entire time I was writing this. I also realized that I unintentionally named the first chapter after that song. But I don't really mind. I love the song; it's the happiest song about suicide ever. I'm a horrible person, get used to it. Feedback is appreciated!
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