Okay, before I even start, let's get some things straight. Bruce Wayne is 27 in this universe, and he started being Batman when he was 24. I am going on the notion his parents died in 1992, when he was ten, and go ahead and do the math. (it took me about an hour to try and figure this out alone. Since comic books are so weird I couldn't find a birth date for Bruce Wayne that would work, so I went with what someone said his parents death date could possibly be.)
Just, don't flame at me, okay? This was really the only way I could make the dates and years that I want work. Plus, this is going to be set on an Earth that is not shown in any TV show, movie, or comic book, so I'm going to use some creative freedom that I hope won't be too ridiculous.
Alright? Alright
The whispers seemed to follow him down the street, along with the multiple stares he received. His expression darkened and Robin once again attempted to pull the ratty, stained, navy blue sweat shirt farther up his face.
Escaping from the hospital was easier than he originally thought. He had already memorized the doctors rounds around the hospital at night, he simply had to wait for the longest intervals. Once the coast was clear, he gathered up what medication and clothes he could find in the hospital room-including pain killers and a plain t-shirt with a pair of basket ball shorts. Then Robin simply opened the window and scaled down the building with relative ease, as his room was on the second floor of the ten storey hospital.
His ribs complained a bit on the slightly rough landing, but it was nothing Robin couldn't manage. From there he simply 'borrowed' more inconspicuous clothes from a nearby Gas Station, hunkering down in a nearby alleyway until dawn touched the sky.
He really didn't want to start his journey with a mugging or some other horrible crime being aimed at him.
So far, it seemed as though this Gotham's layout was very similar to the one he protected. Some shops and buildings seemed out of place, but every large landmark looked exactly the same, in the exact same place he remembered them to be.
After almost two hours of scouting out the new/old city of foot, the civilians started pouring out of their homes, trudging on with their regular routines.
This is where Robins new troubles began.
He managed to snatch an old pair of ripped Blue Jeans, a white T-shirt with the NASA logo, and an old navy blue hoodie, but he neglected to get some things for his new facial features.
As more and more people crowded the streets, he gained more and more unwanted attention. The last thing Robin wanted was rumors about 'the boy with the smile scars' going around. That would certainly attract the Jokers attention, no matter where that clown might be. And he wasn't quite ready to go face-to-face with the psychopath quite yet.
No matter how much he wanted to pound the clowns face in, he had to admit he wasn't in the best of health.
That also brought about another problem. His ribs had healed nicely, but not completely. Every wrong move Robin made gave him a stab of pain. He's had much worse, of course, but it was very annoying.
Sadly, there was nothing Robin could currently do about it, as he needed to get out of the hospital to explore the new world he found himself in.
Robin let out a deep sigh, his breath slightly fogging in the February air. That was another thing he found interesting. Before he woke up in the hospital, it was almost October, and now it was February.
He really shouldn't have been suprised, but he was. It was just another thing to set this world apart from his own.
It was about noon now, but the sun had yet breach the smoggy cloud cover. The streets were very crowded now, and the smells of the city he knew overwhelmed him.
How in the world could something be so similar, yet so different all at once? Robin couldn't think about it. All it would give him was yet another headache.
Pushing through the crowd of people, he turned the corner into a deserted alleyway. Robin walked deeper into the darkness of the shadows, hoping to get away from the suffocation in the streets.
The alleyway was no where near clean, but it would suffice. The garbage cans were overflowing and graffiti littered the walls. Typical alley things.
He shivered, and tried in vain to pull the sweat shirt closer. Robin knew February in Gotham was colder than most, but this was boring on ridiculous. His Robin uniform was warming than the tattered clothes he wore.
Robin stopped for a moment at the painful ping that reverberated through his chest. What he wouldn't give to be back in his suit, in the city he knew, the weapons he was trained with, and the man he knew better than he knew himself.
Running his hand through his hair, Robin leaned back against the right side of the alleyway wall and slowly slid to the ground. The motion jarred his ribs, but he did little more than wince. Now that he was in a relatively safe and secluded place, the reality of every thing seemed to come crashing down.
A lump formed in the back of his throat. His breath hitched, and he curled into himself even more, wrapping his arms around his knees.
When he felt tears beginning to form in the corners of his eyes, he lowered his head to the crook of his arms. Robin let a sob escape, and he only hoped that this alleyway was as empty as it appeared.
A hollowness filled him as he let out more sobs. Robin hadn't felt this alone since the day every thing fell apart all those years ago.
This felt very similar to that. Losing every thing you know, the pity every one gives you, and being thrust into a world where you are completely, and utterly lost, wry no idea what to do. It seemed as if history wanted to repeat itself.
Robin didn't want to be alone. That fear had seemed to manifest itself even more ever since the formation of the team. Now, he was in a world where he had no choice but to be alone, if only for the safety of others.
Eyes closed, Robin raised his head out of his arms and looked it back until it hit the brick behind him. He could feel the tears rolling down his face at a steady pace, but he didn't care to stop them. For the past few years he had very little leeway to express how he actually felt, and there was no way he could keep that up.
Batman might be dissapointed in such a weak display, but he was in an entirely different universe. It didn't matter what Batman thought anymore.
A rustling to his right, behind a nearby garbage can, snapped him back to awareness. His entire body tensed, and he hurridely wiped at his eyes. Robin was about a second away from standing when a small ball of fur came crashing towards him.
"Ah!" he exclaimed as he fell over onto his back, not expecting the attack.
"Mrreeow" was the only response he got as a weight settled into his chest. Robins eyebrow quirked as he sat up on his elbows.
A small tongue licked his nose as soon as his face was close, and a small smile graced Robins face at the sight that awaited him.
On top of his chest was a typical, orange tabby kitten, although it was quite large to be called a kitten. Its eyes were a deep emerald that seemed to glow, and there was a sizable chunk missing out of its left ear. Instead of the pink nose typical to most of their breed, this one had a pitch black nose. It was an odd feature, but Robin didn't have the heart to say it looked weird on the kitten.
"Well, hello to you too, little guy." the hollowness he had previously felt dimmed some, and he brought up his right hand to scratch behind the damaged ear. His eyes rolled back, and he emitted a low purr at the action.
"Huh, you're pretty tame for an alley cat. And well fed, too. You have an owner?" as if the cat understood, pushed farther into his hand, as if he was saying 'I do NOW'.
Robin pushed himself up further so he was in a sitting position, the kitten still in his lap. He jumped up onto his hind legs and put his paws on Robins chest, leaning his head in to lick at his chin. Robin snorted, and grabbed the kitten so it was right in front of him.
"You're cute, but you can't stay with me. I don't exactly have money to get food for myself, much less a cat. Same with shelter." Robin put the kitten on the ground and it stared back at him, ears slightly drooping. His emerald eyes seemed to bore into him, begging him to reconsider.
Robin met the gaze full on, not willing to succumb. He stood up to the Batglare too many times to count, a small kitten wouldn't be a problem.
OoOoOoO
Apparently, a small kitten was a very big problem, as Robin was currently trying to keep it warm under his sweat shirt. The kitten, or as Robin now called him, Kid, was squirming around, trying to find a suitable place to try and sleep.
Robin, however, was trying to navigate the streets in the light of the overcast moon, all the while hoping not to freeze to death. He started the day near the police station, but now he wasn't entirely where he was. He was used to navigating the city by roof, not foot.
But, if he had to take a guess, he would say he was heading closer and closer to the Narrows, if the shattering of glass was anything to go by.
Robins instincts told him to go and stop who ever was doing the crime, but he couldn't bring attention to himself. It went against every thing he has ever knew and been taught, but he trudged on through the back alley's, Kid continuously squirming in his jacket.
He really didn't want to head into the Narrows, but it didn't look like he had much choice. All of the places he had scouted out earlier were already taken by other homeless persons.
Of course, he could always find a way to get onto a roof, but he didn't know if he would be able to manage. Sure, he dropped two stories out of the hospital, but that was dropping. Climbing would be much more strenuous on his muscles, more importantly his ribs. Plus, he now had a passenger to worry about.
He sighed as he turned a corner into another back alley. Only this one wasn't as empty as all the others had been.
A man sat in a corner on a flattened card board box, right by a large trash can. He had a small fire going under his legs, just small enough not to be noticed if someone was simply passing by. Robin couldn't see much because of the shadows and distance, but he could tell he was scrawny, his face hollow with shaggy hair in a chopped up military style on top of his head.
He was about to back away, leave the man alone, but Kid then decided that the sweat shirt wasn't working. With a meow mixed with a growl he struggled more, until his head popped up underneath Robins chin.
The noise attracted the man's attention and his head was turned towards him so fast Robins was suprised he didn't get whip lash.
In the shadows from the fire he could tell that the man's face was dirty, and his eyes were very dark. There was an almost murderous glint to them, and Robin almost bolted when he saw him stand up.
This guy may not have been very muscled, but he definitely made up for it in height. He seemed to tower over Robin, even though he was still a good fifteen feet away.
The man took one step forward, and Robin took a step back in turn. But until the man made any threatening gestures, Robin wouldn't back down. Kid seemed to sense his distressed, and gave out a low growl.
The giant raised an eyebrow, but didn't take another step forward. His lips curled up into a smirk, but Robin couldn't quite tell if it was all amusement or not.
Kid growled again, and the man gave a little scoff.
"Now, what exactly do you think you're doing, boy?"
Hey! I'm here once again! (we got the day off of school, so i thought I should probably write)
Okay, but really relevant, but I stopped watching Star Wars: Rebels a while ago cause I just kinda fell out of it, but I just finished season 4 and……holy crap why did I ever stop? I literally watched the entire season in two days.
So, just a little heads up if your into Rebels, there may be a fic coming out after I finish either this or Changing Tides relating to that. I started writing one on Wattpad a little while ago, but I could never figure out what exactly to do with it so it was deleted, but I may try again soon! So be aware!
~Atatami