"Alright, out of the way kids." Hellboy said lovingly as he gently pushed aside the cats that had gathered around and begun to pick at his food that had just been delivered to him. The cats backed away but continued to beg for food off of HB's plate. Eventually he gave in and gave each cat a small amount of meat. Liz was off ranting about how his room was a mess, he didn't even bother to argue. Just so she wouldn't suspect him of not listening Hellboy threw in some little words here and there to hold his case in between mouthfuls.
***
Pheonix was sprawled out on the couch flipping back and forth between channels. Her straight, shoulder length brown hair dangled off the edge of the sofa and her leg hung over the top. Her father had left two days ago. Pheonix was now alone in the house, as Alfred was out on his weekly, or bi-weekly, shopping trip and then stopping by to see the progress of the building. She was flipping between the news and Family Guy. She froze when she saw the headlines running across the bottom of the TV screen.
Billionaire kidnapped by man in mask, also known as Joker. Police are stumped. For more information please go online to/ - Little girl gone missing…
Pheonix was stunned, her father was the only billionaire in Gotham City, sure, the Joker had been here before but he was searching for Harvey Dent, not her dad. Now as the thought came on her that her father may be in danger of being killed, Pheonix was frozen on the couch. She raked her brain for ways that this could be untrue, other billionaires that live in Gotham City or even the surrounding cities. Not one explanation she came up with in her mind was even believable. She ran to her room and took out her laptop. Almost punching the keyboard she typed up the address and clicked on the link to the story.
Billionaire, Bruce Wayne, was kidnapped late last night while checking into a five star hotel in the center of Gotham City. Police are still unsure what to do. A few people who commented stated that "They should bring the batman back. Even without him Gotham City is in danger." Although others disagreed completely, saying that "Because of The Batman, freaks like this guy have shown up, thanks to him some people can't sleep at night for fear of some dangerous man breaking into their home. And now, he should come back? No, this is a time when Gotham should stand up for itself."
Pheonix felt her stomach getting tighter and tighter throughout the story until she was sure she was going to throw up. Panic filled every ounce of her body. She printed the story and walked to the window pacing back and forth until she saw Alfred's car on the road outside of the house. She took the elevator down to the parking lot and ran as fast as she could to him. Pheonix wrapped her arm around him and began to cry silently. "Alfred, they have him, he has him."
"I know miss Wayne." Alfred said gently patting her back. "Help me bring these upstairs and we'll talk."
They carried the bags upstairs and Pheonix rubbed her eyes dry of tears. She still couldn't understand what exactly was going on but she understood her father was in extreme danger and all she could do was sit by helpless.
"Alfred, how could he, do this to our city and sleep at night, it's not like he did any good, people are still getting mugged and murdered on their way home from work. The Batman I mean." Pheonix questioned
"Maybe, he wanted to help people get off their behinds, and do something to help this city, maybe he didn't want this to happen. So many people sat by and watched these, bad men, take over the city, but only one had the guts to get people stopping men like in the mob, or the Joker."
"Well, why doesn't he save dad now? Is The Batman too good for Bruce-"
"Miss Wayne, Batman won't save your father, because he is your father."
Shock enveloped Pheonix again. She couldn't move. Today was just like one nightmare after another. How could I not have figured that out? she thought That's why he never slept at home, why he was always gone. Not because of business trips, but because of Batman. Pheonix was stunned she could have been so blind to her father's other life. It took her a while to figure out what she was going to do tonight. Bur when she got the idea in her head, it stuck and Pheonix was determined to save her father who desperately needed her help.
"Alfred, I'm going over to Justy's tonight. I don't need a ride I'll walk, I'll be okay."
Alfred only nodded, his mind set on other things, as Pheonix trotted into her fathers room.
Half an hour later she was on her way out the door, with only one sentence from Alfred. "Miss Wayne, don't do anything too dangerous, please." But Pheonix was already gone.