Notes: Due to bandwidth limits (or whatever you call it when your internet provider sets a limit), updating might get messy over the next few weeks. Something's caused a huge jump in our house's internet usage, causing us to hit the limit fast. We don't know the cause, there have been no changes which coincide with the increase. This, plus the next few weeks being busy time at work for me, mean that it may be three days to a week before this updates (I promise at least once a week). I'm trying for that to not happen but, just in case it does, here's the warning. But, I think there's only a few chapters left for this story anyway.

Part 11 – Rescue?

Bat Clan Ages:

Damian Wayne (Son of the Bat), 27

Colin Wilkes (Abuse), 25

Dick Grayson (Robin), 16

Catwoman listened to Robin's theory before nodding in agreement and ducking away to track down the other members of the Bat Clan.

The Teen Titans kept going.

"I can't believe you guys travel over rooftops like this all. The. Time," Beast Boy huffed, shifting from a cat to a boy to a bird.

Cyborg nodded in agreement.

"I keep thinking I'm going wake someone up when I crash on their roof," he commented.

Robin smirked, white teeth glinting in the darkness. Raven and Starfire were fine, one able to levitate and the other fly. Starfire stood out in the darkness but was surprisingly good at using the landscape to hide her glow.

"Maybe you should learn to fly," he commented, dropping off the edge of the roof. He flipped as he dropped and then extended a line to swing across. This time, he cut the line before reaching roof level and he used acrobatics to swing, jump, flip and push himself up onto the roof.

"Show off," Cyborg grumbled as Starfire giggled happily at the display.

Robin bowed, his dark figure moving into the light for a moment. Then he continued on his way, trusting his team to catch up.

Starfire streaked through the sky with Raven a shadow behind her.

Beast Boy transformed and flew high and fast.

Cyborg leapt.

They reached their target; an old Laser Tag facility. It had been bankrupted by a lack of customers and abandoned. The outside had fallen into disrepair.

Catwoman

Ordinarily, this would not be her first choice. Or her second. Bruce Wayne was missing and she was connected. In those circumstances, Son of the Bat could be counted on to stab first and talk second. For all his talk, Son of the Bat was just as protective as the Batman. But in more of a 'no one can beat them up but me,' kind of way.

She trusted Robin, even though it made her feel like a fool. That's why she found Son of the Bat first.

She didn't get to where she was on blind faith though so she made sure she was out of stabbing range and placed Abuse between her and Son of the Bat.

"Heard you're looking for me," she purred, dropping down before them. She twirled her whip, ready to strike in retaliation and protection.

"Catwoman." Son of the Bat's eyes narrowed and his voice dropped a few octaves.

"You sound like your father when you say it like that," she countered with.

"He will hurt you if you keep that up," Abuse said with none of the hesitation Colin showed outside of the mask. However, he was still politer than the rest of the masks.

"Robin sent me."

"What?" Son of the Bat obviously didn't believe her.

However, another head, this one covered in red hair and goggles, zipped out from behind Abuse's large coat.

"Robin sent you?" he asked, zipping up close and then zipping away. Out of sight, Kid Flash contacted Robin, who was about to storm Harley's hideout. He zipped back up and nodded. "Robin did send her."

"What?" Son of the Bat repeated.

Catwoman smirked as she realised why Robin had sent her here first. Because there was someone who would vouch for her.

"Why did Robin send you?" Abuse asked.

Catwoman explained how they had figured out where Harley was and the unknowing and reluctant role she had played.

The end of Batman and Robin had been because of fear. Bruce often wondered what he could have done differently while knowing that he would have reacted the same.

"You're fired," he had said, possibly yelled at the poor kid who had been trying his hardest. Jason's ghost had haunted Bruce that night as he watched another of his Robin's fall to those they fought.

He didn't want Dick, so like him yet bright, to be snuffed out. He had tried to protect him.

He had pushed him away. Unfortunately, far away. By the time he and Alfred realised Dick wasn't in the manor, the boy had already taken back Robin and moved to Jump City.

Bruce spent the next few months in anger, lashing out at everyone and everything. He fought with Damian and it only took a few shouting matches for Damian to move out again, into the Penthouse.

Tim grew distant as well. During that time, Jason returned from the grave as Red Hood but always seemed to vanish after their little spats.

One morning, as the sun poked above the horizon and Batman hadn't moved from his chair in hours, Bruce pulled off the cowl and typed a message.

He erased it and typed it again and again, ignoring the way his injuries twinged as he moved. It had been a busy night, full of crime and lacking something.

Alfred had been at Damian's, making sure the boy wasn't overworking himself the way his father seemed to be doing.

Bruce wondered if Alfred saw the sent message. He knew the recipient had.

[Please come home.]

Bruce played the unconscious hostage while he tried to work at his ropes. He couldn't afford to be distracted by memories, even if this night had been the first time he had seen Dick in the flesh and been able to talk to him since the night the boy had left.

Harley could really tie a knot. He shouldn't have been surprised.

"Well, well, well, the man of the hour is awake," Harley said as she gave his hands a little slap. "I saw that twitch, Brucie."

Bruce opened his eyes and flashed Harley a smile, even as his insides churned.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of being kidnapped by Harley? Or is it the Joker who wants a word with me?"

"Watch it bub," Harley stated with a small frown before returning to a smile. She moved her trademark mallet around as she spoke. "I brought you here to talk about a friend of mine, you know her as Catwoman."

"The… thief?"

"No, no, no, no! We all have a hobby! Kitty's just happens to be shiny things and cats! And… apparently… billionaire dorks. No offence."

"Uh, none taken?"

"Anyway, congratulations! You've won a date with Catwoman!"

What?

"Pardon?"

"You've. Won. A. Date. With Catwoman!" Harley said, tapping him on the nose with every sentence. "Lucky Brucie."

He didn't feel lucky. Yes, a date with Selina might be nice but;

"Oh, and if you break her heart, I break your manhood." No one wanted a date with Harley Quinn watching over them.

"Uh, so what happens now? Is Catwoman coming here or are we going to her?"

Harley backed off and adopted a thinking pose.

"You know, I didn't think about that." She swung her mallet around. "I'll call Kitty!"

"You do that," Bruce deadpanned, playing for a few moments alone. Instead, Harley pulled out a phone. He slumped in the chair and tried to think of another way out.

A moment later, the lights flickered and the door was knocked in. Bruce smiled to himself. There was a flash of red, yellow and green in the darkness.

"What the? Who invited the kids! No kids while I'm arranging a date!" Harley bellowed, swinging her mallet only to hit air as one target shifted down into a cat. Her other target flipped over her head.

"I got the sonic if you got the boom!" Cyborg called out from the hole he had made in the wall.

A flash in the darkness, the sound of something whooshing through the air. A bright burst of a sonic blast. It connected with something and then exploded.