"Commissioner", Batman rasped.

"Damn it Batman", Gordon growled, "You're going to give me a heart attack." Only I noticed the tiny smile creeping over Batman's face. It's a little known fact that Batman loves to frighten Gordon, even if he acts all cool like he doesn't care either way. It just makes his day to step out of those shadows and growl at the Commissioner.

Another funny thing is Batman hasn't figured out yet that the Commissioner doesn't actually freak out at his appearance any more. He just pretends he does because he knows how much Batman enjoys scaring him, which is just one more reason why Gordon is so cool.

"What's the crisis?" Batman asked, stepping out of the shadows. I hopped after him.

"Hello Robin", Gordon said, smiling at me. I smiled back.

"Hi", I said. That was another thing I liked about Gordon, he acknowledged me as a separate entity and not just as an extension of Batman. He always said hello.

"Well", Gordon continued, "it's Two Face again. He just got out of Arkham, broke out actually."

"Great", Batman growled, "Are those cells made of paper?"

"Sometimes I think so", Gordon grumbled, "Anyway, keep an eye out for him while you're patrolling." Batman nodded and, with that, ghosted away into the night. I grinned at Gordon and he ruffled my hair. Then, I bounded after Batman.

The night air felt amazing as we flew over the city, I in Batman's wake. We landed lightly on a rooftop before taking off again, floating through the air like dark angels. Just as we were leaning foreward into a downward arc, I heard a scream over my shoulder.

Knowing I should probably consult Batman but figuring he had heard it too, I soared to the source of the noise. It was a girl, frightened and alone, surrounded by a group of boys with knives. Now, I knew this gang. I'd run undercover with then for a while once even. I knew they weren't really bad kids.

In fact, probably all they'd do is ruff her up a bit and take her purse. She didn't know that, however and I figured breaking the law was breaking the law. Swooping down, I landed between the girl and the boys. "Alright guys", I said, "go on, get out of here. Don't make me fight you tonight. We both know how that's gonna end." The boys looked at each other and then looked back at me.

"Aww Robin, we weren't gonna do nothen'. She shouldn't be in our territory at night this late anyway. I mean, we were like protecting her, you know." I rolled my eyes.

"Sure, well, she's under my protection now so go on." I waved my hand dismissively and reluctantly, they walked off, gazing back wistfully at the girl behind me. It was then she seemed to gain the balls she didn't possess before and her shrill voice lit up the night.

"That's right, you go you stupid street bastards. Don't let me see your sorry asses around here again or my daddy'll sue you so bad." I wheeled around in shock.

"Braxton!"

"You know me", she said, confused. Then, her eyes narrowed seductively.

"Well", she murmured, "My gallant hero." Her thin fingers walked up my arm until she had her skinny arms wrapped around my neck. "Hello boy wonder or should I say", she glanced me over, "man wonder." I started to feel sick.

"Look ma'am", I said in my deepest voice, "What are you doing in this part of town?"

"Well", she said slowly, "my boyfriend was supposed to meet me down here so we could… well, you know…" She batted her eyelashes provocatively and I felt the urge to hurl. Why had I fallen for this whore? "But", she continued, "now that you're here…" quick as a flash, she wrapped her legs around my middle and tossed her hair back.

"Come on Robin", she whispered, hauling herself up on me, "take me."

"Ma'am", I said stiffly, "seriously ma'am, get off me." I tried to shove her off, but she was wound tight as a python. It was then that I noticed Batman in the shadows. He had this big, amused grin on his face. I scowled at him, causing him to snicker even more. "Help", I mouthed to the shadows. He rolled his eyes and glided out, sneaking up behind Braxton just as she was starting to make out with my neck. What was wrong with this chick?

Batman grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and hauled her off me. She gave a squeal of terror and was left hanging from Batman's outstretched arm. I felt a little bit of sympathy (I had hung from there quite a few times) but that faded as soon as she opened her mouth. "Unhand me you urchin. My daddy's gonna sue your ass until you don't have one anymore."

"Shut up", Batman growled, "And don't ever slither like that over my partner again worm." She whimpered and trembled a little like a wet rat.

"Alright", I said smoothing out my costume, "Who's your boyfriend?"

"Paul Garboni", she replied, "Would you put me down."

"You liked this", Batman mouthed to me. I shrugged.

"She's hot."

"Well thank you", Braxton said, voice dripping with seduction. I rolled my eyes.

"Ok look, let me lay it out for you lady. Batman is my gay lover and I like men." The look of outrage on that girl's face was priceless at that point. "Now that we have that out of the way, where is Paul?"

"I don't know", she whimpered, looking incredibly depressed all of the sudden, "he was supposed to be here."

"Well", I said, "lets see if we can't find him." Batman looked at me.

"You really wanna comb this whole area? I mean, if he came down to this part of town, he's probably dead by now." Braxton gave a sound like a wounded hippo.

"I have an idea", I replied. Batman put Braxton down rather unceremoniously.

"Stick close", he ordered, "if you want to live." The girl needed no more encouragement and tangled her fingers in Batman's cape.

"Hey Santi", I called, crouching down, "Come here buddy." Slowly, the small Hispanic boy raised himself up out from behind a few trashcans. "Come here", I repeated, grinning widely and opening my arms, "haven't seen you in ages kiddo." Santi, seeing I wasn't angry with him, darted out from his hiding place and launched himself into my embrace.

"Robin", he squealed excitedly, throwing his arms around my neck. I giggled and stood up, putting a hand beneath him to support him.

"Where's your mom?" I asked.

"'way", he replied, "I's out here 'cause I seen something."

"Little rat", Braxton muttered darkly. I wheeled around, eyes flashing angrily.

"Don't you dare call him that you slut", I hissed, "he's ten times the human being you'll ever be." Santi cowered a little in my arms and Batman gave me a look that said plainly, "cool it", but I was so sick of Braxton and her pathetic attempts at superiority. Braxton gave me an outraged look and fell silent.

"Ignore her", I said to Santi, "she's a nobody."

"Is she your girlfriend?" Santi asked softly. I laughed.

"'course not, you know your big sis is the only girl for me."

"'I hasn't seen her since the scary man came." I frowned at this.

"What scary guy?"

"The one that took the boy."

"Stupid looking white kid about this tall?" I asked, lifting one hand. Santi nodded.

"The scary man took him", he whispered, burrowing deeper into my arms like he wanted me to protect him, "right over there." One chubby hand reached out from my embrace and pointed.

"What scary man?" I asked.

"The one with the scary face." I snorted.

"Well, there are a lot of people with scary faces around here."

"Only one side of his face was scary", Santi whispered, "like a demon." I looked up at Batman.

"Sounds like Two Face got your boyfriend", he said to Braxton.

"Is he gonna die?" Braxton asked frightenedly.

"Maybe not", I replied, "thanks kiddo, you've been a big help."

"Did you see where the scary guy went?"

"He got in a car with the other ones and drove that way." He pointed down the north alley. I grinned and ruffled his hair.

"Thanks buddy. How long's it been since you ate?"

"'while", he replied. I tugged a twenty out of my pocket.

"Give this to your mama and tell her it's from me." He nodded and grasped the money tightly in his little fist. I put him down on the ground and he scurried off.

"Bye bye Robin, thanks." I waved back and watched him until he had metled into the darkness and was out of sight.

"Two Face", Batman growled, "we'd better get going." He turned to Braxton. "Get home and don't let me catch you in this part of town again." Braxton nodded swiftly and took off at a run in the opposite direction. "I'll shadow her", Batman said, "make sure she gets home, see what you can find." I nodded and took off in the direction Santi had pointed.

I found evidence of a struggle and a few scraps of expensive clothing. Paul had been here. Sniffing around a bit more, I came across something some black dust within the retreating tracks of the vehicle. It was rather fine, not particularly remarkable on it's own. Regardless, I swept a bit into a vial for analysis back at the cave.

On a whim I pulled out my Geiger counter and swept it over the sample. The device went crazy. "Whoa", I said softly.

"What?" Batman asked, alighting behind me.

"Did Braxton get back?" I asked. Batman nodded.

'She got a cab. I can only assume she'll go home. What did you find?"

"This dust", I replied, "it's highly radioactive."

"Where'd you find it?"

"The tracks." I indicated where the dust had been located and Batman swept over. He nodded a moment later, confirming what I'd thought before.

"Strange", he murmured, "lets go back to the cave and check it out."

"I already took a sample", I offered. He smiled.

"Good boy, lets get going." I followed him back to where we'd left the car and hopped in next to him. We sped back off to the cave.

"Why would Two Face have taken Paul?" I mused quietly. Batman shrugged.

"If he suspected the boy was a rich kid, he might hold him for ransom."

"I'll call Gordon and ask if there were any ransom demands." Batman nodded and I phoned Gordon. A few moments on the phone confirmed no ransom demands had been made, or at least none that had been called in. I frowned and repeated the information back to Batman. He shook his head in consternation.

"But, you know what else is bothering me?" I continued.

"What?" Batman asked.

"Santiago's sister, Cecilia. You think maybe Twoface took her too?"

"I don't see why he would. He knows he wouldn't get any money out of her. Lets just check the samples and worry about where Two Face and Paul are now." I sighed and gazed out the window and the dark city rushing by.

Batman reached out and cupped my face in one hand. "Look son, if you'd rather look around for Cece, I mean, I know saving Paul isn't your top priority and you've done so well already." I smiled.

"It's ok Batman, CeCe's probably fine. And, if I'm right, where Paul is, she is. Thanks though." Batman smiled gently in reply and ruffled my hair just as we flew into the cave.