Disclaimer: I don't own Batman the Animated Series.
Robin
"Wayne Enterprises was robbed!" I cry out, alerting Nightwing to the most current news story. Nightwing has his head out of the police reports faster than I can blink and is standing next to me in a flash, listening to the news story intently.
"According to eye witness reports, Two-Face and four thugs pulled up to the front of the building at approximately eleven twenty four. One of the thugs followed Two-Face inside and they made their way up to the company owner's office; billionaire Bruce Wayne."
A picture of Bruce appears in the top-left hand corner of the screen.
"According to Mr. Wayne, Two-Face made demands in order to obtain highly-dangerous chemicals which the billionaire was forced to give him in order to ensure his employees' safety. The police are currently searching for the criminal, but haven't had any success."
Dick shuts off the television. "Well, that's not good."
"Agreed. Bruce really needs to up security." I comment.
He gives me a withering look.
"Security was paid off to ignore him." Bruce's voice sounds over the Batcomputer. "I'm just glad no one was injured."
"What's the plan Bruce?" I ask eagerly.
"I planted a tracker on the goon. Me, Dick, and Barbara are leaving as soon as I return. Make sure she's up."
"Got it." Dick replies curtly and runs off to find Barbara.
"What about me?!" I protest. "I wanna come!"
"You're still injured. While I don't protest you helping out, I can't let you fight in your condition." His tone brokers no arguments. "That means no Robining until Alfred gives you the OK."
"Aww..." I grumble.
"Can you tell me where the thug is right now?" Bruce switches to the other topic suddenly.
"Err, yeah." I respond. I type in a few commands and a map of the city pops up. A flashing green dot on the main street gives me Bruce's location. Three more at the manor show me that Dick, Barbara, and myself are still here, and a solid red dot shows me the location of Bruce's planted tracker. "He's in the industrial district. Hasn't stopped moving yet." I report.
"He won't be leaving the district." Bruce sounds certain.
"How do you know?" I question.
"He's still moving just to throw people off his trail. He is with Two-Face after all, but he won't go far from his intended destination." Bruce explains. "That's how Two-Face works. He always likes to be near somewhere safe when he isn't doing something important."
"Because he's not nearly as crazy as some others we could mention." I mutter.
"True." Bruce admits. A companionable silence follows the exchange before Bruce speaks up again, surprising me; I honestly thought he had hung up. "Tim. I have a job for you. Something you might find interesting, something the others won't take seriously, but I know you will."
"What?" I'm breathless. Bruce is trusting me to do something! Something he thinks only I can do!
"Open up the criminal database." I do as he says, a list of all known villains pops up. The list has more entries than even the Justice League database houses. "Down in the bottom-left there should be a text bar." I locate it swiftly. The bar is so tiny I would have passed it over if I didn't know it was there. "Enter the letters BRBJT." I do so. A new screen pops up, one I have never seen used before.
"Do the others know about this?" I whisper.
"No." His voice is also quiet. "They wouldn't care much anyways. Take a look at the files."
Scanning the files I notice what he is talking about. "In-depth psychological profiles?"
"Yes. Every single little thing I have found out about any given villain. I don't use the profiles much, but I always keep them up-to-date."
"What do you want me to use them for?" I inquire. I'm curious what use Bruce has for them.
"I need you to go into Two-Face's profile and tell me what he likes and dislikes."
Talk about a weird request. "Uhh... Sure." I open the appropriate file, and am blown away at the sheer amount of information on it. The file includes every single video file, picture, and newspaper report ever made including Two-Face in it in some way.
In short, there's a lot of useless junk in there.
"He likes... Coins, cards, opposites..." I go on to list an entire page's worth of information. Keep in mind I'm reading normal sized text on the Batcomputer. That's quite a sizable amount just on Two-Face's preferences.
"Hold up, did you say shoes?" Bruce inquires, stopping me suddenly.
"Uhh... Yes." I say. I feel quite foolish doing this. What possible point could there be to knowing what Two-Face likes?
"Perfect." I can hear the grin in Bruce's voice.
"You have a plan?" I ask wearily.
"Yes."
"Was that all you needed?"
"As of now; but feel free to look at the files all you like. You might find them more helpful then me. You were always quite the little detective." His voice is strangely proud. Not to mention his praise is quite out of place. "Me and the other two will be leaving almost as soon as I return. I'm going to need a suggestion partway through the mission though."
"About what?"
"Two-Face."
"Vague much?"
"Just look through his file. When I ask for help, I have confidence that you'll be able to provide it." Bruce hangs up an instant later. Leaving me very confused.
"Shoes? Asking for help?" I ponder my strange exchange with my adoptive father. "I wonder if Bruce is getting sick." Deciding to worry about it later, I focus my attention on Two-Face's profile.
Time to go dumpster diving.
Batman
I wouldn't be surprised if Tim is terribly confused at this point, but that is to be expected considering my uncharacteristic actions. I was being honest when I said no one else would take it seriously, even I don't sometimes. The psychological profiles seem like a waste of time.
But every once in a while they yield gems. Just like the fact that they reminded me that Two-Face has a thing for shoes.
How is that important?
Criminals like Two-Face can't just waltz into a shop and order things. So they need someone else to do it for them. I can use this knowledge to locate one of his goons and follow.
I have a tracker on one goon already, but there's no saying that that specific goon is even around Two-Face anymore despite what I told Robin.
But if a goon is sent to buy shoes then they'll give it directly to Two-Face afterwards.
Shoes will need to be bought frequently, because Two-Face likes everything to be shiny and new. I can use this to my advantage.
Now it's just a matter of deciding which shops to stakeout, and who to send to check the tracker.
I pull up to the manor and step out of the limousine. Rushing inside, I quickly go down to the Batcave to find Nightwing and Batgirl ready to go.
"Nightwing." I bark, walking over to the changing area. "I need you to check the tracker, see if the goon is still around Two-Face. When you're done report in for more orders."
"Got it!" Nightwing calls. He rushes over to the Night-Cycle and speeds out of the Batcave.
"Batgirl." I say.
"Yes?"
"I need you to keep an eye on Mark's shoe shop. Watch for someone purchasing black and white designer's shoes. If someone does purchase them, follow and observe. Alert me immediately."
"On it." The redhead salutes. She climbs aboard her Batblade and takes off.
"What about you Batman?" Tim asks from his seat in front of the Batcomputer.
"I'm going to be watching the shopping district. There are multiple shoe stores there."
"Why did you send Batgirl to only monitor one?"
"That specific store is the only one that sells designer shoes outside the shopping district."
"Oh."
I mount my Batpod and put on my helmet. "Keep me updated on news reports, and anything you think might be even slightly helpful in finding Two-Face."
"Roger." He responds. His hits a button and part of the screen is filled with the news channel. The other half still shows Two-Face's psychological profile.
I start the Batpod's engine. I shoot down one of getting many paths leading out of the Batcave and am soon faced with open air.
Robin
I sigh upon seeing Batman leave. I hate being the only one left behind.
"Well, there's nothing I can do about that." I mutter. "Might as well look through the profile."
Easier said than done. The profile is absurdly large, and would probably take me the better part of a week to look through. The amount of garbage in here is mind-boggling.
"Who cares if he hates tofu?" I mutter, reading through the "dislikes" portion of the file. "How is that supposed to help us?"
Sighing, I start searching through relevant video files. This includes every single moment he spent in Arkham thanks to the security cameras planted everywhere.
There is over 200 hours of just him sleeping. Just sleeping!
I guess I do know why these profiles are important. It's just that they're annoying to go through, but I shouldn't complain more than I already have. Batman said he'll be counting on me, so I can't let him down!
With this in mind I get down to serious business. I won't be getting through everything, but I'll be dammed if I let that stop me from helping!
Batman
I sit on the lower ledge of a rather large building, shielded from view by a gargoyle. Looking downwards I can see the entirety of the shopping district. I can see every single person down there.
I sigh and get comfortable. I might be out here all day with no success whatsoever. There's no guarantee that Two-Face will actually send someone to get him new shoes every day, it just seems likely.
"Nightwing, reporting." Nightwing's voice crackles over my earpiece.
"What is it?" I whisper.
"No luck. Tracker led me to the goon, but he wasn't with Two-Face anymore."
I nod. "Expected. Come and join me in terms shopping district. It's time for surveillance."
"Joy." Nightwing's sarcasm is thinly veiled.
I turn my attention away from my earpiece to stare back at the district. I've got ten different locations to monitor, when Nightwing gets here I'll only have to watch five, but even that is quite a few. I need to watch for someone buying one black shoe and one white shoe.
Not easy at all considering I'm perched five floors up.
I shake my head.
This is going to be a loooong day.
The only spot of interest all morning is when Nightwing finally arrives. I point out which shops he needs to monitor and what we're watching for. He nods and finds a perch on the opposite side of the street from me.
Periodic reports from Batgirl come in, each say the same thing.
"Nothing to report."
Shaking my head, I glance up at the sky. The sun tells me that it's not even noon yet.
Take my word for it. Stakeouts are no fun whatsoever.
Chapter 13 complete.