Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Bats in the Belfry. Enjoy the 4600-word chapter. I don't own Batman; DC and a few others do.
(Burnside Highschool)
Barbara looked around as she glanced over the object in front of her. This nightmare wasn't over yet. Nope, it was just beginning. High school SUCKED as she wished it to have been. He was a lot more to handle while this was over before now.
Barbara sighed and slowly started to walk home, rubbing at her temples as she questioned something… Maybe it was homework, she was tired and unable to wait. Then again? She had managed to question homework. This was something, well? There was more to her homework than just a few notes.
And that made her sigh as she brought up her phone, texting her father as she tried and failed to recall what was coming next.
Gotham was a large town as she found out. Miles and miles of concrete and other such things are in the way. Yep, this city also chews right through people as she realized just how exhausted she'd have to handle for now.
This was something else, something weird and it cut through her as she felt a shadow pass overhead. She looked up only for the shadow to have been gone. It felt like such an odd thing to her, but she didn't know what it was to have happened for now.
She looked around, unsure of what was to happen in this city. It was so odd, but it just made this place a lot cooler at the end of the day. It was nice to know she wasn't the only weird spot in Gotham, her father might have laughed, but it just made her roll her eyes, this place was a maze of rot and corruption she believed.
There was a lot more to be done anyway. It also wasn't like she was a builder or cop… The second of which she blamed her father who prohibited it. she was just a kid to her father for now. it was a lot more to question as of now. He sighed while it was coming to have been something else, a lot odder than it had been a few days ago… Then again? Barbara understood why her father was worried, it wasn't like she hadn't the faintest clue why her father was worried, she was his only lifeline, his only daughter, the thing he cherished more than life than death itself.
Part of that scared her that she had a giant hulking cop for a dad, but then again? Life was like that at times. It wasn't like it didn't at all come in handy, but it was still very freaking weird when it came down to it, very weird and worthy of telling her friends.
It was then she heard the cock of a gun before she turned to see someone behind her, a middle-aged man, being mugged, she reacted as quickly as possible.
The man went to turn the gun on her, making her freeze as the revolver clicked into place, the man grinned before at least 3 more people showed up, all holding clubs or such.
"Well, lookie here, boys… Looks like we got ourselves a hero." The first man said, his face carved into some sort of manic grin as now. It was just something for now.
Barbara watched the man from before run off as she sighed, couldn't help anyone she supposed. The men began to surround the teenager as she held up her hands as the focus. This was to be fun and he knew it, he knew it all too damn well.
The man grinned, exposing rotten teeth and whatever else had been stuck in his garish maw. It had been only a few seconds and she could already smell whatever garbage had been put down and into his gullet.
One of the thugs went to grab her only for Barbara to duck and land a kick went sent the man off his feet. The man crashed into a pile of garbage like the animal he was only for another of the group to grapple her, easily overpowering the girl as the leader chuckled and raised his gun to blast her in the face.
"Stupid brat, and here I thought we were going to have some fun." The man said as he lifted his weapon to execute the girl.
There was a whistling noise as something spun through the air towards him, there was a metallic click as the object smashed into the man before his gun was sent spinning away.
"No, not the bat! Not the bat!" One of the thugs yelled before he took off, leaving the other two to question what to have done for the time being.
It was then a length of rope was flung out towards one of the men, throwing them off their feet and sending the man flying into the air. The other man let go of Barbara in time for her to wrap her legs around the man's chest and throw him into the signpost, smacking him clear out cold and making her wonder what the hell had happened.
She looked up to see whatever had scared and beaten the muggers had retreated into the darkness of the shadows. She blinked before looking down at something. it was the object that had slammed into the man's face. She examined it with interest as she glanced around, too unsure of what to do next for now.
The object was metallic, shaped like a bat, and curved into a shuriken as she looked around, the thrower had tossed it at enough of an angle to curve around the bends which told her that they were skilled marksmen.
She hummed and tucked it into her pocket for now. She could look at it at home… Provided her father didn't ask why the hell a few punks on the street had managed to steal it from her, to begin with.
He wasn't capable of more, unsure of what to focus on before he sighed, while this came down to it… Such an odd thing. He wasn't a focus as of now.
Still? She looked at the object, unsure, thrown off, it had been something else, a lot worse, a lot more of a nightmare. Something she could have handled before now. She looked down at the object before she tilted her head.
Whoever had saved before it was over. She wasn't sure before now what it'd be. This nightmare wasn't over. He wasn't capable of such a thing that this was a lot more to question before it was over as it was over. He wasn't able to question it for now.
There was a lot more for the time being. This was to be a nightmare, something that couldn't be easily focused upon. Such a thing was a nightmare, such a thing couldn't have been handled so easily.
She continued on her walk home, only stopping to tuck the object into her backpack as she glanced around. This was going to be interested within. Such a nightmare and she couldn't have just let it all end, nope, if anything? She'd be letting it all go to hell, something else was going to be a nightmare for now. He was a lot more to question before now.
This would all end sooner or later hopefully.
(1 hour later)
Barbara looked at the crime report on the security camera which showed her getting mugged by the two thieves before it came down to it. There was a few seconds of silence as she questioned what it was over for now. They had problems, something that had yet seemed to have been focused, a lot more on the mind.
She looked at the object. She was lucky she didn't cut her fingers on the sharp metal which seemed heavy enough to have been wielded with precision. It only made her question how this weapon could have been used.
She didn't know how this could have gone, she didn't think at all how this could have gone and how well it'd have gone. They didn't know what else was going on. They had a lot more to have studied and something that she didn't get.
Well, how the hell did something like this happen? This was a custom weapon. She didn't exactly notice how well it was crafted.
Yet? She didn't know what the weapon had been crafted for. She didn't know much about the man who had crafted it. Her father might, but she was curious for now. They had saved her life and it had been something she wanted to make sure was repaid in kind.
"Babs, were you attacked before by some creeps on the street?" Barbara heard as she dropped the gadget. "What's that… So, he is true." Barbara heard as she frowned and looked at the weapon, too unsure of what else was going on.
She watched as he looked up at the weapon before turning to his daughter. He had been curious, but now? he believed he had some semblance of a clue.
"Who? I got attacked by some thugs on the way home." Barbara said as Gordon looked around.
"There's been a few sightings of a man in a bat costume who's been running around beating up thugs and criminals," Gordon said while he rubbed at his chin. "I didn't think he was a real thing until yesterday when he swung in to capture a crime lord, we've been on the case for a few days… People here call him Batman." Gordon stated as he sighed.
"Wait, like a superhero?" Barbara asked with a raised eyebrow as Gordon sighed.
"I wouldn't call anyone who takes the law into their own hands a hero," Gordon said before he looked at the Batarang. "But? If he saved you? I guess for now I can let you call him that." Gordon stated before he hummed as of now.
There was a lot more to have to question, she didn't know what such a thing was. They didn't entirely understand what had been done. They had a lot more to discuss sooner or later.
However? She did notice that more and more were beginning to come along. This city was pretty damn weird still and she knew for a fact that it was weird for now. They had little to no control for now.
Still? Such things like this were odd, why had they all blurred together? Why? It was so odd that he had a lot more problems before now. There were a lot more problems as of the time being when it was a lot more to have had it go onto such measures only served to push her in a new direction, one which she wasn't sure she could follow, not easily.
No, but she could have handled it, but this wouldn't let her out of her sight. She couldn't let this get out of hand, for the time being, such things had only made her question what Batman would do and how she could help. If he let her help? Well, she'd do all she could. She was curious why he'd save her and what he gained from it. There was no real measure to be gained from helping her when it was all said and done, all of this could be helped.
It was all too odd; how could she have done anything at all? This was a very weird spot to have gotten to there. She didn't know what she could do for now.
Barbara looked over the Batarang and questioned who could have made it. This could have been something. Yet? She didn't know who had it that happened before it was over while he seemed to have gotten it when it sighed. He had a lot more on his mind anyway.
She was too unsure of if she was true while he was focused to have happened while it was a lot worse… A far lot worse. He was all too unsure before now. This was a lot more to have now.
She let her father leave, too unsure of what he could have done with such things. There was a lot more to have questioned when all was said and done….
She looked over her weapon or the one that she had gotten upon. It had been odd, weird… Yet? She didn't know why this weapon existed. Whoever had made it was a master crafter and it showed in the edges and how this work seemed to tell her that whoever had taught it had made the weapon had designed it for maximum precision.
Strange, very strange, but she supposed it was to have been a clue as to whom this had been. They had a lot more upon which he could have done, a lot more than they could have handled. Today she knew that there was a lot more to this than there had been before.
Barbara pondered if they even knew that she had the Batarang, it had been something she expected he probably didn't care about considering that she had tried and failed to have done such a thing.
He probably had a lot more, which made a lot more sense than whatever pointless ramblings she had in her head. This would have ended for now.
There was so much more on her mind that it hurt, that it cut deeper and deeper into everything around her. Such an issue hadn't yet gotten anywhere anytime soon. This wasn't what she had wished or expected to have been doing when it came down to it, well, there were no real proper ways to have fixed it. All she could do was push herself more and more and more until she either popped or something else would have gotten anywhere for now. This was all too easy for them to have been prepared for such a tactic.
Still? if she was anything like she was supposed to have been for now? She'd have known she was getting in over her head… But she didn't care. She was going to have something else on her hands.
(Wayne Manor)
The figure pulled off his town and sighed, he hadn't expected another crime in the wee hours of the afternoon before his patrol began… But this was Gotham. There would have been a crime every few seconds if criminals were anywhere.
He couldn't watch the entire city and he knew it. Not alone, not at all. Such a thing had been a problem for now. However? He refused to allow another to yet help him besides Alfred and Lucius. Sure, it wasn't easy… But if there was a lot worse to see the alternative. There was more to this as of the time being.
"Master Bruce, should I ask what tonight's refreshment will be, or were you planning on sitting back in the chair musing to yourself?" Alfred asked with a small smirk. "There's no shame in asking for help, Master Bruce. You've already asked me so far." Alfred asked to which he was thrown off by this but for a moment.
Batman said nothing as he slowly ascended the steps towards the bat computer which told him that Alfred had been her for a while because such an issue hadn't yet gotten anywhere anytime soon. There were so many other problems with how he had operated when it came down to it.
"I'm fine, Alfred," Bruce said as he shook his head before looking at the man.
"I'm sure… Ms. Gordon seems to be interested in your activities. She retrieved the Batarang you had thrown to get the men to unhand her." Alfred said before he typed on the computer. "I'm honestly surprised," Alfred said while he tilted his head as of the second.
There was only so much he could have done for now. So much he could have allowed having escaped from him. Yes, today was something he didn't entirely understand, but he had wished to. He'd not let it so easily come undone when it was all said and done for now.
"She's the commissioner's daughter, why wouldn't she be capable of defending herself?" Bruce questioned while he sighed to himself.
Such was life. Such was what he was used to at the time. He couldn't change what that was for now, but he could end this properly.
He looked at the street camera footage of Barbara kicking someone in the face which seemed far more practiced than it should have been. Alfred hummed as he looked at the photo with interest.
"She's a far more capable fighter than I think you give her credit for, Master Bruce," Alfred stated to which Bruce snorted. "She's the daughter of a very popular police officer, sir. I'm assuming she knows how to defend herself in case someone tries to kidnap her." Alfred stated to which Bruce was silent.
"That isn't why she took self-defense classes and started taking judo and marital art classes," Bruce stated as Alfred simply rolled his eyes.
"A masterful detection as always, Master Bruce. I'm sure you will be good enough to take down Black Master and Mr. Falcone's empires without any assistance at all." Alfred stated, sarcasm dripping from his words.
Bruce knew he was just trying to help when it comes down to it. This wasn't something that had just been brought up just now… He wasn't made that he had cared, only annoyed that Alfred assumed it'd be best to involve more people in the crusade Bruce had started to wage on the city's underbelly.
It was then he typed on the computer, trying half to think of their problems and a half to which he looked around the room. There were half a few problems he could have solved with this, half he knew better than them.
(With Barbara)
Barbara sighed before she turned at the sound of footsteps. She turned with her hands clenched for a moment as she focused more and more upon which joint to target first.
"Hey, easy with the judo circus, I'm on your side… You ok, Barbs?" She heard as she seemed to calm down. "You ok? I heard some creeps trying to grab you by the bus station. Pretty stupid, I heard you kicked one of them in the face." She heard to which she sighed to herself.
"Aaric. I thought you weren't coming over until tomorrow." Barbara stated to which Aaric rolled his eyes.
She had forgotten he was a foot or two taller than her. He was still scrawny, it came with the idea of being the 'nerd' along with her geek at the school. She had some sort of thing where she almost laughed at that.
His ocean-blue eyes still showed a damn good heart even though he was a pushover with dark black hair. She smirked at him as he rolled his eyes.
"I came over because one of my friends ended up almost getting kidnapped by the jackass patrol," Aaric stated while he rolled his eyes. "You ok? I know you can break someone's damn nose back into their head, but your still a scrawny 135 high schooler, not the superman." Aaric stated to which Barbara lightly punched him on the shoulder.
"Hey, whos the guy who saved your ass from at least 8 bullies on the first day?" Barbara stated before she shook her head. "It's nice seeing you anyway. I like seeing you around. I need someone to talk with." Barbara stated to she seemed to have to focus at the moment.
"Well, that's a lot more to have to have to handle for now," Aaric said before he hummed. "Anyway? I'm here for that reason… To chat, I didn't think I had to announce why, but that's why I'm here Barb. You think I showed up just to play puzzles?" Aaric said as Barbara hummed.
"You know about something like this?" Barbara asked before she held up the piece of technology.
There was a few seconds of silence before he questioned what should have been done.
"Uh… Is that a Batarang… Wait, you got a Batarang? You met Batman?" Aaric asked before he blinked. "Not cool, you met Batman, not cool," Aaric said to which Barbara blinked.
"You mean that superhero you got bullied for 3 days ago is real?" Barbara asked to which he nodded.
"Yes, he is. Yet you wanted to go on and on about how scientifically impossible the guy had to have been." Aaric stated as he gripped the object in his hands with interest. "This is tactically tempered steel, where did you get this?" Aaric stated to which he shook his head before he looked around.
He seemed to have to prepare for now. He didn't know what to tell her about what she seemed to have to focus upon. He hadn't yet had to question what to do next.
Barbara seemed to have to prepare for the time being when it came to it. Aaric hummed before he placed the thing down next to her, glancing at her before he sighed and then looked around with annoyance.
"Ok, what's wrong? I know that look." Aaric stated before he shook his head.
He knew the look on her face better than anyone. She was either deep in damn thought or she was busy thinking of what to eat which meant she was bored.
"So, you think this damn thing belongs to Batman?" Barbara questioned to which he shook his head before he sighed. "Then why did he leave it with me?" Barbara questioned to which he tapped at his lips.
"Maybe because he's a vigilante who can't afford to try and get these things back? You do know for a fact He's a hero when it comes down to it, right?" Aaric questioned with a raised eyebrow.
He didn't know what it should have been. He hadn't yet seemed to have to question what it seemed to have to handle.
"Well, we both need to know more when it comes down to it," Aaric stated before he sighed to have to shake his head.
"More to him or more to you?" Barbara stated to which Aaric shrugged before he sighed.
"Why you got to do that, Barbs?" Aaric asked as she smirked and punched him on the arm before he sighed to himself. "I don't know. I thought you said he's trying to be your friend for now. Maybe he's trying to protect you? Your dad said he talks to him once or twice, no?" Aaric seemed to ask before he sighed.
Aaric sighed while he clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and looked at the small little Batarang in his hand before he looked at her, too unsure of what to have done for the moment.
There was a lot more to have to do next as he shook his head. It was entertained to which he shook his head and sighed before he leaned on the wall while he glanced at her, too unsure for the time being which meant he tilt his head.
Barbara looked at the device which made him look at her before he looked at her.
"Hey, isn't your dad a cop?" Aaric asked to which Barbara nodded. "Maybe you have a garden angel or something. he's probably looking out for you or something like that. He saved you for a good reason… Then again? Batman is a superhero so there's that." Aaric said to which he could only glance at Barbara with a shrug.
He didn't at all know what was going on at the moment when it came down to it. He hadn't yet prepared for the time being. it was entirely focused on what to have question next.
Barbara fell silent, too unsure of what to do next. It wasn't something that he could understand entirely. Her plans were something beyond him and it surprised him which he questioned at the time. They might have had more to talk about while he rubbed at his temples.
"Are you going to be ok?" Aaric asked as he turned to look at Barbara who nodded before he looked around before he shook his head.
"Good, then I think you might want to tell your dad… Because I kinda think you're going to run into Batman sooner or sooner." Aaric stated before he shook his head before he sighed to himself while he looked at the Batarang before shaking his head.
He didn't know what to have to question when it came down to it. She didn't at all seem to have prepared for the time being while he shook his head and looked at Barbara he seemed to have gotten it off his mind as he looked at the time. This wasn't going to be a lot weirder of a thing than it had slowly started to fall apart when it came down to it.
He was a lot more of an interested little warrior who had a lot more interested being. Aaric was silent, curious as to how it was to be something he'd have been prepared for now. It was a clear thing on his mind which had slowly started to have been tired….
Aaric was curious, too interested in what this thing wasn't something that he should have. He didn't at all want it that way, he didn't at all prepare, for now, when it came down to it. He hadn't at all seemed to have questioned for now. It was clear to him that such measures were beyond such problems but he shook his head.
They had more and more prepared for the worse… It was a lot more to have focused upon before now. They hadn't at all led him to where he should have come down to it. He had more problems on the horizon and it was clear that if he didn't manage to find a niche to clear them out? They'd all be dead sooner or later as more and more of their antics all came to a damn head.
Perhaps he was simply lucky to be friends with Barbara. Batman of all people had reached out to him to try and help? That was big. Very big and it was clear more and more such problems would only serve to make it worse and worse, there was all too much, something that needed to make it worse and worse.
"Barb, it might be a sign, you know. I'm just going to point that out, Batman and this? All of it might be a bit more than you being some random lady." Aaric stated as he sighed, all this only served to boggle his brain.
Wasn't just how random it was. This was Gotham, weird was a painted setting in their book. Perhaps Aaric was just curious how long it'd be before Barbara got into more trouble. Sure, the meatheads didn't know who she was, but that wouldn't exactly stop them from whatever it was they wanted. These problems rarely ended with every single person getting what they wanted.
No, it had to be something, and he just wasn't getting it or didn't want to get it for now. That was probably something he could swallow for now and it was just what he needed to be done and dusted… Perhaps.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will show both Aaric and Barbara hanging out and will be in 900-6500 words. Until then, Lighting Wolf is out!