CHAPTER 4 – DINNER

Krystal spun around in her room with excitement, she never felt this excited yet nervous for something in her life! She searched through her drawer wondering which of the seven outfits she should wear. That was another drawback about being in an orphanage – limited space. This particular orphanage was one of the smaller ones in Gotham. It held 15 children – 9 girls and 6 boys. The girls had the top half of the building while the boys had the bottom. Krystal laid out all seven outfits and contemplated. None of them really looked proper for a fancy dinner but she had never really been much into nice looking clothes anyways. When her family was still alive she had a few dresses and even some khaki but all that got burnt up in the fire. She didn't really like these outfits, they were all just donated by charities or Goodwill stores and a lot of them had small holes or stains on them. Mrs. Chain tried to get the best of clothes for them but those usually went to the orphanages with more money. Krystal sighed, what now?

"Why you got all your clothes laid out?" a young girl voice came. Krystal turned to see Valeri – one of the younger children. Krystal began to smile and twirl her hair.

"Well, I have a date with Dick Grayson." Valeri stuck a sucker in her mouth.

"Who's that?"

"Oh, a ward of billionaire Bruce Wayne."

"A billionaire?" Valeri thought for a second. "So when you marry him, will you become a billionaire too?"

"Pah! Just because I'm going on a date doesn't mean we're going to get married!" Krystal thought. "Besides…it's not really a date I guess…"

"But you said…"

"I know what I said, but that's just hopeful thinking really. We're just friends and he just wants me to go so he won't be bored…but I won't be able to go if I can't find something to wear!"

"Why don't you wear that green shirt that's still in your bag?" Krystal's eyes grew wide then she became stern.

"No." She said very low.

"Why not? I mean it's been in that bag since you got here, I don't know why you left it in there."

"I said no!" Valeri back up and cowered.

"S…sorry…" She began to tear up, Krystal automatically felt bad.

"No, I'm sorry Valeri. I shouldn't snap at you like that, that shirt just brings back bad memories." That shirt was the one thing that survived the fire and that was only because Krystal was wearing it at the time. Even thinking about the shirt brought back memories. Krystal could still hear the crackling and popping of the fire and how the heat was so strong it felt like she would melt. She had hid under a bed and the smoke began to irritate her lungs and she coughed and gasped for air.

"Help!" She had screamed. "Someone please help!" She coughed more. "Mom? Dad? Anthony? Someone answer me!" She heard footsteps and a firefighter bent down and reached for her hand. She was rushed out of the house while she fought consciousness. The last thing she remembered is screaming for her family as she watched the house collapse and she fell unconscious.

"Is it because of the fire?" Valeri asked snapping Krystal out of her state.

"Yeah…" Valeri lowered her head.

"I'm sorry…" Valeri looked at all the outfits. "I like that one." She pointed to probably the nicest looking one out of the bunch. It was bright baby blue sweater that was sort of fuzzy with jeans.

"That one? Why? Because it's not all stained up?"

"No, because it is bright, like your smile." Valeri smiled as Krystal laughed.

"You are so cheesy!" She paused. "But…you do know how to make me feel better. Okay, this one it is." When Alfred arrived, it became a scene. Everyone at the orphanage thought Krystal had become a celebrity the way he opened a door for her and let her in. Krystal grinned so big as the limo drove off with the kids gawking at it.

"In a good mood?" Bruce asked. Krystal nodded.

"Yes sir! This is a great honor to go to this dinner with you all!" She began to think. "Say…what's this dinner for?"

"A charity event, Wayne Enterprises is giving a great sum."

"Charity for what?"

"They're called "Children of Gotham."" Krystal knew that charity very well.

"Oh…the charity that gives clothes and food to children in need…including the ones at the orphanage."

"Well…yeah." Dick said. Krystal felt like being there for Dick was just a rouse. They didn't really want her to come because they enjoyed her company; they wanted her to come so they could look good. She looked at how they were dressed and she started to become self-conscious. They were all neatly dressed with a suit and tie while she had jeans and an old shirt with tennis shoes!

"So…you all are just having me tag along to make you look better?" She said snarky.

"What?" Dick asked.

"I see how this is! You all know I benefit from this charity so you brought me along to show 'all the good you're doing' right?" She began to get mad.

"What? No! We thought you would just like to come…I mean, it is a charity that helps you out so I don't see why it's a big deal."

"I don't want people knowing I need help!" Everyone was quiet for a few minutes when Dick spoke back up.

"Look, we're sorry if we offended you. It's not like we brought you here to make us look better or anything or show the world how needy you are. We brought you with us because it is a good charity that does good things that directly benefits you. There are a lot of people out there that want to help you and we thought that would be a good thing and you would like it...we didn't think you would get mad." Krystal felt bad for what she said.

"Well…I just felt I was lead under false pretenses…but…I guess it's not such a bad thing." She thought. "But I still feel like a look like a slob compared to you all." Bruce smiled.

"Alfred, will you pull up to the next clothing store?" He said.

"Right away sir." Krystal was shocked.

"What…what are we doing?"

"Well, the charity might benefit you in the future but we can benefit you now." Bruce said as Alfred pulled up to a store and opened the doors for them. "Get anything you like." Krystal was amazed. She got slowly out of the limo and went into the fancy clothing store. She never had seen so many expensive clothes before.

"I…I don't know about this…"

"Bruce won't care about the price." Dick said.

"Well…maybe not…but I do. I don't want to spend someone else's money." She looked around. "Besides…there's nothing really my style here…I'm not much of a girly girl."

"Hmmm…" Dick thought. "Well, do you like that color you're wearing?" She nodded. "Then how about this?" He pulled out a dress of the same color that was sparkly. "I like it."

"You do?" Dick nodded.

"I think it goes good with your eyes." Krystal began to get weak in the knees and stutter.

"Uh…oh…well…uh…if you think so…I uh…I guess I'll get this one!" Dick smiled as she ran to the checkout then ran to the changing room almost like she was The Flash. She came out and smiled. "Does it look okay?" Dick nodded his head.

"You look great!" He paused as he looked at her feet.

"Hey! I like my tennis shoes!" Dick laughed.

"Okay now close your eyes!"

"Hmm? What for?"

"Just close them." He said reassuringly. Krystal did as told as he put something around her neck. "Okay, now open." She did as she was amazed. There around her neck was a silver necklace with a crystal blue jewel in the middle.

"Wow! Dick! You didn't have to…"

"It's okay. I just thought you might like it." Krystal smiled as they returned to the limo.

The charity dinner was a success and everyone laughed and conversed, gave their donations, was recognized for their good deeds, and even Bruce Wayne gave a small speech. It was time for a gracious senator's speech when suddenly an explosion occurred! Everyone was jarred from their seats and ducked under tables.

"Alright, alright! Everyone cough it up!" The crooks yelled as they stormed the hall. They held open bags as people threw in jewelry and wallets. "That's right! Give us everything and no one gets hurt!" They arrived at their table as Bruce threw in his wallet and so did Dick…Krystal had nothing. "Hey, what's the holdup little girl?" Krystal was scared. "Hey I'm walking to you!"

"Leave her alone!" Dick said. The crook turned and hit him.

"I ain't talking to you boy!" He turned back to Krystal. "Cough it up!"

"I don't have anything! I'm just a poor girl!" She yelled in panic.

"Yeah? What about that necklace, huh?" Krystal forgot about that. "Yeah, that will do – give it here!" He went to snatch it but she backed away. He did not like that. "Girl, you're tangoing with the wrong man." She shook her head.

"No way! This is the one thing that's mine!" The crook smirked.

"Heh…suit yourself!" He went to pistol whip her when suddenly a batarang came from nowhere and knocked the gun out of his hands. "Hey! Do what?" The crook looked up to see a foot come flying into his face. The other crooks started to panic.

"Oh no! It's the bats!" One cried out.

"Let's get out of here!" Another screeched. They all started to make a run for it but were stopped by ropes that were thrown at them. Batman turned his attention back to the main crook to see he was running away. He went to wring him back in when Suddenly Krystal jumped on top of the man. Batman was surprised at this as it turned into a comical scene.

"Hey, get off of me!" The guy screamed.

"No way! You aren't escaping! I know martial arts!" The guy flung her off of him.

"Martial arts, huh?"

"Krystal! What are you doing?!" Dick exclaimed.

"Don't worry, Dick! I remember our training!" She grinned big as Dick slapped his forehead.

"Great, she learns how to block and she thinks she's an expert." He said to himself. The crook again went to punch her as Krystal screamed. Dick was getting ready to jump but she blocked the crook then kicked him in the gonads. The guy buckled and fell to his knees in pain as Krystal ran back towards Dick screaming,

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! I can't believe I just did that!"

"Leave this to Batman!" Dick exclaimed. Krystal watched as Batman tied him up and waited for the cops to arrive.

"Woah…Batman!" She said. Batman looked at her sternly and started to walk off. "Hey! Wait!" Batman turned around to her. "Hey can you tell Robin I'm really sorry about earlier? He'll know what I'm talking about. My name is Krystal Vanuatu." Batman looked at Dick then back to her.

"Uh…sure." He said, and then he jumped away out a window and disappeared.

"Wow! Batman!"

"What was that?!" Dick exclaimed.

"What?"

"You put yourself in a dangerous situation."

"I took care of it."

"Barely! Look, just because you know how to guard doesn't mean you're the best around! We haven't even got to throwing fists yet! You could've got killed."

"Well I didn't! It's not that big of a deal…"

"Maybe it was a bad idea to teach you martial arts." Krystal became worried.

"No! Hey! Okay I'm sorry! I won't do it again I promise!" Dick looked at her, she was becoming desperate. "I swear I promise! I won't do anything like that again but please don't stop training me, please!" Dick sighed.

"Okay…fine….as long as you promise." Suddenly, Bruce ran over to them.

"Is everyone okay?"

"Where'd you go?" Krystal asked.

"They weren't paying attention so I was able to slip out and notify the police." Krystal thought that was legitimate excuse.

…..

Alfred drove up to the orphanage and stopped. Krystal was still sad about how Dick had gotten mad at her and Dick could tell this. He put his hand on her shoulder.

"Hey listen, I'm sorry if I made you sad back there but fighting criminals is a serious thing. You have to be a pro like Batman and Robin before you can even think about going against them. It's really dangerous." Krystal looked at him then smiled slightly.

"I know…I was just being abrasive back there." Dick smiled back.

"Okay…don't forget about your promise. I'll see you tomorrow." Krystal nodded as she stepped out of the limo and into the orphanage. Mrs. Chain was sitting up worried.

"Oh girl! I'm so glad to see you back! I heard about what happened on the news, I was so worried!" She hugged Krystal tightly.

"I'm fine Mrs. Chain…honest!" She let her go.

"Well…alright then, but if there's anything I can do for you…" She looked at her clothes and necklace. "My, oh my, that is not what you left in."

"Oh…yeah Bruce and Dick got these for me." Krystal thought. "Say Mrs. Chain…do you have a sewing kit around?" Mrs. Chain blinked her eyes.

"Why, yes I do…why?"

"I have some patches to sew up on my clothes. Mind if I use it?" Mrs. Chain nodded.

"Sure, go ahead." Krystal smiled.

"Thanks." Krystal went up to the flat she shared with all the girls and tried to be as quiet as she could. She opened the bag she hadn't touched since she moved to the orphanage to reveal the green shirt with a little hawk in the middle of it.

"Kaw! Kaw!" Her little brother had yelled. "That's the noise a hawk makes! Kaw! Kaw!"

"Okay silly, enough!" Krystal had laughed. "This is such an ugly shirt…I don't see why you like it so much."

"Hawks are my favorite animal!"

"Why?"

"Because they protect their young…just like you protect me!" Krystal began to cut out the eagle as she continued to remember… "You'll always protect me…won't you Krystal?"

"Of course!" Krystal grabbed a few of her other clothes and sewed the patch into the corner.

"Maybe one day…you'll be a protector of everyone! Maybe one day you'll be like Batman and Robin…they're always there when you need them!" She began to cut holes into some panty hoses as Valeri awoke and rubbed her eyes.

"Yeah? What would my name be?" Anthony thought.

"Well…you'd rule the night like Batman and Robin…and you protect the young like a hawk…" Krystal slid on the new sweater and wrapped the panty hose around her eyes. "How about…Nighthawk?" Krystal looked into a mirror. The costume was shoddy but it was the best she could do.

"Sorry Dick…maybe Krystal can't fight bad guys…" She smirked as she put her hands on her hips and smiled. "But Nighthawk can!"