Thunderstorms: Part Three
The Batcave was dark as usual, but things were much more advanced than Annie remembered. For one thing, the computer had nearly doubled in size and file capacity. The woven sparring mat in the center of the cave had been replaced with another, and the mantles of past vigilantes were in lit glass cases in the corner, on display in memoriam to those who had fallen or retired. Annie winced, remembering the story of Jason Todd, the Robin before her father and the one boy Wayne actually adopted as his son. The joker had killed him brutally and some said Bruce never fully recovered.
Now Bruce sat at the computer console, scanning files and drinking a cup of black coffee. "Come in and sit, the both of you." he said, not taking his eyes from the screen.
"What do you want with us, Bruce? You never seemed to take an interest before." Annie scowled, stepping gingerly across the cool stone floor. She felt Jared squeeze her hand tighter and she squeezed back to comfort him.
"Did they or did they not teach you not to speak back to your elders?" Bruce asked, turning to her and clutching his cane in both hands. Those eyes pierced her soul and she could tell he was reading her.
"I'm not speaking back." she replied coolly. Her face was as stone, revealing none of her emotions. That at least was something her parents made sure she learned. "It's a valid question."
"Hello, Grandpa Bruce." Jared said shyly, waving. "This place is big."
Bless his heart, she thought, he's trying to relieve some of the tension.
"Yes it is, Jared, which is why I suggest you stay close to your sister. I don't want you wandering off." Bruce said to him. "As for you," he indicated Annie, "since you're going to be here for awhile, I wanted you to know that until you prove yourself to me, you won't be running around as Robin as you have been for the last month or so."
"I've never 'run around' as Robin." she remarked, chuckling lowly. Did he honestly think she wanted anything to do with him? "What I do at night is merely to defend justice in my own way. As I have done since I was twelve."
"You call yourself Komadori." he growled. "What is that but 'Robin' in Japanese?"
"Very different."
Ace barked at the top of the stair and Terry McGinnis was dragged down into the Batcave with him. "Hey Scooby, easy!"
It didn't surprise Annie that her classmate knew about the Batcave. It would have been more surprising had he not known, working for Bruce in his own home. Then again, it was Bruce Wayne, and for all his shortcomings as a family member, he could always hide anything from anyone if he wanted.
"Terry, let him go." Bruce commanded, surprisingly calm. He had a way of doing that. He snapped his fingers and Ace came and sat at his feet. "I take it you two have met?" He asked, indicating Annie again.
"Yes, sir." Terry nodded.
"Good. I want you to spar."
"Excuse me?" Annie cried. "You want me to fight him for the right to defend this city?"
"No. I want you to spar with Terry for the right to wear your father's mantle. If you hold anything back I'll know."
"Um, Bruce, maybe this isn't--"
"Quiet, McGinnis!" The old man barked, eyes flashing. Annie knew that look well, for in his blue eyes was a power and a force that none but the incredibly foolish dared question. "I want you and Annie to spar. Neither of you may hold anything back. I want you both to see the extent of one another's skills."
If this was some skewed attempt to get the two youths to reconcile their differences, neither wanted to ask. She let go of Jared's hand. "Seizant kudasai, Jomei."
"Don't hurt him…" Jared replied, eyeing Terry before walking to kneel with his palms on his thighs beside Bruce.
"I'll be careful. Who knows, I might be the one to get hurt." She glanced at Terry and walked over the sparring mat, surprised that Bruce would allow any kind of cushion within his dojo. She removed her shoes and bowed with palms on her thighs toward the mat. "Arigato gama sa." She murmured the usual adage of respect and stepped onto it. She didn't know why she was suddenly obliging the old man. Something inside her wanted to do it merely to show him that she could. She pushed pride to the back of her mind; it was a flaw she couldn't afford to have, not now.
Terry moved for the shadows and Bruce stopped him. "No. You spar as you are, don't change clothes. Get a move on."
He let out a heavy sigh and met Annie on the mat, pulling off his shoes and tossing them aside. "Okay, let's go."
He was impatient. Something she could use. She bowed to him, all the while keeping her eyes locked with his own. Annie remembered a time when her own impatience landed her with two broken ribs and a bruised ego, courtesy of Lady Shiva. Rei had fared far worse that day when he attempted to intervene for her, only ten at the time. They circled a moment, each watching the other. Terry's eyes were everywhere, the floor, her feet, her arms, her eyes. She kept hers cemented to his baby blues, able to watch every muscle's contraction from the vantage. He was good, she could tell. His stance was one that could go any direction if the need arose. He lacked a certain amount of concentration, but his training was young yet. She knew Bruce would fix that soon enough.
"You know, you don't seem surprised that I know about this place." Terry remarked dropping to the ground and attempting to sweep Annie with his leg.
Annie leapt up to avoid it and pinned his leg to the floor as she came down. "I'm not." She replied, giving him a roundhouse to his shoulder. His torso twisted violently and she stepped from his leg. Ordinarily she would have gone for the head, but she didn't want to hurt him that badly. After all, he'd really done nothing wrong to deserve it, even if she didn't trust him.
"Stop playing games." Bruce told them. "Focus, the both of you. And Annie, if you see an opening and neglect to take it again, I'll make you wish you had."
She waited for Terry to get to his feet. Jared looked worried, and she didn't want to scare him. In that second, she paid for her lack of concentration. Terry delivered a perfect crescent kick to her upper torso and shoulder and had her pinned to the mat. The kick left a dull ache and she was impressed, but she didn't take the time to tell him--his arms may have held her shoulders to the floor, but his torso was unprotected and her legs were free. Annie took advantage of the situation and swiftly kicked his solar plexus. He gasped for air but didn't release her and her legs went around his neck, throwing him aside. She wasted no time in pinning him in a devil's triangle as he lay completely exposed, barring his arm with one leg and pinning the rest of his body with the full weight of her torso and the other leg, now wrapped around his left leg. "Move and I break it." She told him.
"Yame." Bruce said. "Stop."
Annie rolled away from Terry and kipped up to her feet, offering him a hand up. She didn't expect him to take it, and when he did, she gave a small smile. He had her respect, at least. "You're good."
"Me? All I got in was one kick and you had me pinned in less than a minute." Terry said. "You're much better than me."
"People rarely get one kick. Besides, you happened to kick the shoulder that got shot a couple months ago." She shrugged, rubbing the afflicted area. "As for being better, I should be. I've trained since I was three."
"Is that even legal?"
"In this family, it is."
"Enough, the both of you." Bruce said. "That was the worst display I have ever seen from anyone, especially you, McGinnis. She walked all over you and you barely put up any kind of defense, much less offense. And you, Annie, you gave him too much time to act. I don't care if you're fighting Jared, you are never to give anyone any kind of a window, am I understood?"
"Um, Grandpa Bruce--" Jared moved his hand to tap Bruce on the leg. He was fidgeting and looked very uncomfortable.
"Quiet. I'm speaking to your sister, not to you."
His hand recoiled. "But Grandpa Bruce--"
"That's enough, Jared."
"But I need to--"
"What did I just say?" Bruce slapped him roughly across the face and anger started to boil in Annie's heart. There was more than one way to reprimand him. She watched Jared's face scrunch up in surprise and he whimpered, holding the pink cheek with his hands. He didn't cry.
Annie rushed over and picked him up. "Bruce, he had to go to the bathroom! You had no right to hit him for that!" She turned to Jared. "Come on, we'll go to the bathroom. Then we're going home."
Jared bit his lip and nodded.
"The boy is crying. I would have thought that your parents would teach him not to do that, at least."
She whirled, eyes dark and flashing. "There are no tears in his eyes, though he has more than enough reason! Discipline is one thing, but just for asking permission to use the bathroom? Thank God you never had children of your own, Bruce Wayne!" With that, she turned and walked for the door.
"Annie, stop where you are!"
Her step faltered, but she didn't dare stop, didn't dare let him know he had any kind of a hold over her. The visit was over, and no matter what the cost to her, no one could harm her brother. She'd promised him nothing would harm him, and she'd failed. She walked up the stairs and took Jared to the bathroom, out of Bruce's sight.
Ace whimpered and Terry patted him on the head. "That didn't go very well."
Terry could see remorse in the man's eyes and he paused before murmuring, "The boy needs discipline."
"You shouldn't have slapped him. So the kid's got a small bladder, it's not like they're in Japan anymore."
Bruce closed his eyes and clutched his cane, sighing. "Annie is so much like her father…and her mother. She's the perfect combination of the both of them."
"If she's so perfect, why are you being so difficult with her?"
"Because she can take it. If I don't push her, she won't get better."
"But she said you've never--"
"You can go now, McGinnis. Come back at nine."
Annie stormed through the door of their apartment, fuming. Her shoulder was throbbing and her focus was solely on Bruce Wayne. She hated that bastard, for more than just striking her brother. He had ignored them, all of them, and now when it was most lucrative for him, he wanted to recruit Annie as another one of his puppets, his "children," and had the audacity to discipline them as though he were their guardian. She was so preoccupied that she didn't think anything of Michael O'Neal sitting leisurely in the living room, sipping a cup of green tea. When she burst through, he jumped to his feet.
"Miako, what's wrong?" he asked.
She walked right past him and into her room, slamming the door behind her. She needed to cool off, and the best way for her to do that was to meditate--alone.
"Jared?"
The six-year-old bit his lip. "Grandpa Bruce made Annie fight Terry McGinnis so she can be Robin and Annie beat Terry but he got her shoulder really bad, and I needed to go to the bathroom, but he got mad at me and slapped me and that's what made Annie mad." he said quickly, sitting down on the carpet with his legs crossed.
Michael shook his head to process the information. "Bruce hit you?"
Jared nodded. "Only I kinda deserved it, 'cause I interrupted. Annie got worse with Rei's mom, I remember."
"Jared, he still shouldn't have done that. You aren't in Japan anymore, and very few people are as rough as Lady Shiva and get away with it. How do you feel?"
"It's okay. It didn't really hurt all that much. Besides, it's worse that Annie feels bad. I know she would have stopped Grandpa Bruce if she could."
It didn't hurt all that much, but Michael saw the beginnings of a small bruise on the boy's cheek. "Well, you're tough just like your sister. Speaking of, I think I'll go in and check on her."
"I'd be careful. She doesn't like people to bother her when she's meditating."
"I'll keep that in mind." he replied, trying his best to keep a straight face with the mature child. "Why don't you sit here in the living room and try to work on what homework you can?"
He knocked on Annie's door and tried the handle; she hadn't locked it, which was a good sign. Leaving the door ajar, he walked in to find her kneeling on the carpet, eyes closed with her palms flat on her thighs and breathing slowly and deeply.
"How did you get in here?" Annie asked calmly, her eyes still closed.
"Er, Kon gave me a key, just in case you weren't here. Jared told me you went to see Bruce."
"We did."
"Bruce made you fight McGinnis?"
"Yes."
"Jared said he hurt you."
"No, just reminded me of an old wound." She opened her warm amber eyes and looked up into his. "Bruce hit Jared."
"So your brother told me."
"Discipline is one thing, but backhanding him?"
"I'm sure he didn't mean to be that rough."
"The man has no heart." Annie spat out the bitter words, getting to her feet gracefully and stepping behind her shoji screen. She had to get out of these clothes--they reeked of the dank and musty cave and she wanted nothing to do with them. She quickly stripped them from her body, not caring that Michael was just beyond the screen.
"Don't be so sure." Michael continued, undeterred by her loss and gain of clothing just out of his sight. "He just doesn't know how to tell you he cares, Annie. After all, you were born in Japan, he rarely got to see you."
"And I suppose he couldn't afford to visit?" She slipped into a silk gi and kimono robe. The material felt good against her skin and she stepped out from behind the screen.
"He is a busy man, he had business." he replied. "Surely you don't hold that against him? There has to be some reason why the rest of your family likes him." He looked at her somewhat disheveled appearance and sighed. "Come on and sit down."
Annie obeyed; she didn't want to argue anymore. There was no point. She sat on her bed and he joined her, her comb in hand. He started to comb out her rumpled hair gently. Just like he used to, she thought. Her anger dissipated with each stroke of the comb. Something about the ritual calmed her, and she silently laughed at the femininity of the act.
"Still playing big brother?" She asked him.
"For as long as you need me."
"I'll always need you." The words escaped her lips so fast that they surprised even her, and she blushed crimson. Had she really said that?
Michael paused. "Not always. You're practically a woman." He continued to comb out her silky hair. "Hell, you are a woman."
"So why are you still combing my hair for me?"
"A perk."
She gave a weak smile and caught his hand. "Well, I can't let you just have perks for nothing, can I? Besides, if I'm a woman, I can do this myself."
"Yes, you can." Michael said, remaining behind her. She felt his warm breath on the back of her neck and she shivered. "And you certainly can't give me perks for nothing." He stroked her hair and then turned her head to touch his lips to hers.
She jumped, surprised and scared. But his kiss was soft and gentle, just like his manner. His hand touched her cheek and he released her.
"Did I frighten you?" Michael asked, searching her face with pure concern.
"You…you kissed me."
"Should I kiss you again?"
She nodded numbly. He smiled and pulled her to her feet with him, then into his arms. Oh, it was sweetness itself, when their lips met a second time. It wasn't her first kiss; that had been from Rei Shiva on her thirteenth birthday as a present for her passage into teendom. But that kiss was devoid of any emotion. This, however, was emotionally charged and they both knew it. She held tightly to him, her friend and her love. Love? Yes, love…and she'd not known, not recognized it until now…but what were they doing? This couldn't be. He was twenty and she wasn't even eighteen…
Annie pulled away. "Stop. We can't."
Michael chuckled. "And why not?"
"It's illegal, for one."
"Only for another two months. December seventeenth rolls around and it's completely legal." He chuckled and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"This isn't appropriate, Kentaro."
"You…don't return my feelings, then? Because…I'd thought from the way you kissed me…"
"No, it isn't that." She blushed and looked at the space between their bodies. "It's just that…I can't, I just can't."
"Aw, go on and kiss him again, Annie!"
The two turned to see Jared standing in the doorway with the largest grin Annie had ever seen plastered to his face. The pair jumped apart and she watched Michael blush. It new experience for the both of them, one that would permanently change their relationship.
The next day she decided to go school in comfort, and dressed in a lavender gi top and black gi bottoms. On her feet were sandals--the cold weather was ignored. Michael was waiting for her in history class. She smiled and tried not to catch his gaze as she took her seat near the back of the classroom. She'd admitted to herself that she loved him yesterday, but no one else had to know.
"What the hell? What is Drake wearing?" Nash chuckled, tugging at her pants as she passed.
Her hand caught his. "I told you once, Nash. Don't touch me or my things."
"Class, settle down." Mr. Hamill walked in with a stack of discs and a wide grin on his face. "Now, come on. Yes, that means you, Mr. Nash."
"I'll see you after class." He muttered, sliding into a chair across from the captain of the cheerleading squad.
"Some of you have had the pleasure to meet Mr. Michael O'Neal in the halls since his arrival yesterday." Hamill remarked, taking off his wire rimmed glasses and wiping them thoroughly with the edge of his tie. "It is my honor to introduce him to you now as your assistant teacher for the remainder of the year. Mr. O'Neal?"
Annie watched him step up to the podium and clear his throat. She wanted to laugh; he looked so absurd at the teaching post. He'd tried to do his own tie that morning--it was skewed and rakishly knotted, and his shirt looked about one size too big.
"Er, hello. As Mr. Hamill said, I'm Michael O'Neal. I'm twenty, I'm from Japan, and I have had the privilege to study with Lady Shiva for the last twelve years." He said, grasping the sides of the podium. "Excuse me, I'm not used to this."
"Did you say you studied with Lady Shiva? The assassin?" An artist named Adam asked, eyes wide. "How could you…get the connections for that, much less get training?"
Her classmates murmured in agreement. It was the question of the hour. Annie shook her head and sat back to watch the festivities.
"Well, my connections come through a friend." Michael smiled. "Wouldn't you say, Annie?"
She nearly fell out of her chair. He was bringing her into this? "Wouldn't I say what?" she asked innocently.
"Are you saying Drake has connections to Shiva? Her?" Nash asked, laughing.
She met Michael's eyes with her own, begging him to go no further. If she was dragged into this, she wasn't sure she would be able to pull herself out. To expose her skill this way was dishonorable and naïve--and she was neither.
There was an assurance, or an arrogance, in her friend's eyes. "Annie, why don't you come up here?" he asked.
"I'd rather not."
"Stop being such an introvert, Ane Miako Cassandra Cain Drake!" He remarked, tossing something sharp and shiny at her. Everyone ducked as the fighting star flew past them. Cries of fear erupted from the quiet chatter of curious students, and Hamill barely had time to open his mouth to object before the weapon left Michael's trained hand.
Annie caught it without blinking. "You could have hurt someone, Michael Kentaro Kobayashi O'Neal." She replied, getting to her feet. "Are you crazy? Wait, don't answer that." She remained calm as she walked up to the podium and held out the star for him to take.
He knew exactly what she was about to do. He reached for it anyway. She pulled the familiar object from his grasp and grabbed his extended arm with her free hand, yanking him forward and throwing him over her shoulder. He fell to the floor and Annie held the sharp edge to his throat. She executed the movements fluidly and smoothly, one after the other. It was as easy as breathing. But to her peers, her movements were a blur and they no sooner blinked than Michael was on the ground.
"You should know better than that, as a student of Sensei Shiva." She remarked. They shared a secret smile with their eyes and waited.
It didn't take long for Hamill to react. "Miss Drake! Stop that at once!"
Annie laughed softly, darkly, and let her friend go, giving him a hand up. "Mr. Hamill, I wouldn't have done it. Do you honestly think I'm that stupid?"
"You're that crazy, you bitch!" Nash cried. "What the hell was that?"
Michael's eyes flashed and the muscles in his arms tensed. Annie stepped back onto his foot subtly to keep him from doing anything stupid. His temper was never quick, but when it came to her or Michiko, he was always prone to violence in their defense.
"Quiet, Nash." Hamill ordered and turned back to Annie and Michael. "Now what on earth were you doing?"
"Catching him off guard." she replied, eyes devoid of emotion. She'd spent years schooling her emotions; she wasn't about to forget them now. "I figured he'd be able to at least drop me, being a student of an assassin as great as Lady Shiva."
"I'm not sure 'great' is the word to use, Annie."
"Yes it is." She turned and walked back to her seat, sliding in and opening her laptop. She began to type; it didn't matter what. She just wanted to remove herself from where she was, and if that took immersion into a paper, so be it.
"What are you doing?" Hamill asked her, walking over.
"Nothing."
"Well, go to the office. Have them call your father."
"That isn't possible."
"Oh? Might I ask why?"
"He's dead, sir. My mother as well." Her fingers hit the keys faster and harder now as she tried to keep composure. She didn't want to talk about this. She wanted to forget the pain, the past, everything in her life that once was. All that mattered now was Jared. Her focus was to be completely on him.
My name is Annie Drake. Ane Miako Cassandra Cain Drake. My brother is Jared. Jared Jomei Cain Drake. I am a student of Lady Shiva and a friend to her son, Rei. I have been trained in five forms of martial arts and three kobudo forms. I am expected to follow after my parents. I am expected to be devoid of emotion. I am expected to be as stone. I am not measured by the standards of today's society--I am measured above them.
She took a moment to read what she had been blindly typing as the words flew from her frontal lobe to her fingertips. She had to get her mind off the family, off the mantle she was expected to wear. Annie had no desire to wear it if it meant a life of servitude to Bruce's whims. She belonged to no one. Then again, did she have to belong to someone to be accepted? Kon-El and Cassie accepted her no matter what, as her parents did…
"Annie?"
She looked up to see Mr. Hamill standing over her.
"Are you all right? You seem--"
"I'm fine." Annie said. "If you want me to go to the office, I will." Annie shut her laptop and began to pack up. She just wanted out, no more school, no more complications, nothing.
"Annie, stop." It was Michael's voice she hearkened to. He'd barely whispered and she obeyed. Now why did he have such power when Bruce had none? Oh, that's right, she thought sourly, I respect Michael. It was bad enough that they'd kissed the night before, but listening to what he was saying? She didn't want to listen to anyone.
"What do you want, Kentaro?" All this in front of her peers. She could just imagine what things were going to be like tomorrow.
"Kon-El told me to give you this. It's from Mr. Wayne." He walked over and placed a small disk in her hand.
She looked down at it; it was just large enough to slide into the drive on her watch--something she only used for family business. "Why would I want anything from him?"
"You'll want this, Ane." Michael spoke the words in Japanese. "It's about your father."
"So, am I to understand you know each other?" Hamill asked. "Because if you do, I'd appreciate some kind of an explanation!"
"I'll give it to you, Mr. Hamill." he replied calmly, this time in English. "Annie's had a rough few days. She should go home and rest."
"She can't just leave!"
"Sir, she's been experiencing trouble in her family. Now, you wouldn't want her godparents to have to call, believe me. I work for her godfather, and he's not the kind of man you want to tangle with, especially when it comes to Annie's family." The explanation seemed to fool her teacher, somehow. Something Michael had never done, and it made Annie wonder what else he could do. "Annie, why don't you read that note. Then go home. I'm sure you'll want to talk to Mr. Wayne about it."
She slid the mini-disc into her watch and read the note:
Robin, I want you to be ready by nine o'clock tonight for rounds. I was quick with you yesterday, and for that I apologize. I need you to help Terry. Please come. He needs you badly.
Her surprise was seen by no one, and she glanced over at McGinnis. He nodded only slightly. He knew what Bruce had written on the disc. Bruce had addressed the disc to Robin. Was she to be Robin, then? And if so, did she want to be?
The Batcave was dark as usual, but things were much more advanced than Annie remembered. For one thing, the computer had nearly doubled in size and file capacity. The woven sparring mat in the center of the cave had been replaced with another, and the mantles of past vigilantes were in lit glass cases in the corner, on display in memoriam to those who had fallen or retired. Annie winced, remembering the story of Jason Todd, the Robin before her father and the one boy Wayne actually adopted as his son. The joker had killed him brutally and some said Bruce never fully recovered.
Now Bruce sat at the computer console, scanning files and drinking a cup of black coffee. "Come in and sit, the both of you." he said, not taking his eyes from the screen.
"What do you want with us, Bruce? You never seemed to take an interest before." Annie scowled, stepping gingerly across the cool stone floor. She felt Jared squeeze her hand tighter and she squeezed back to comfort him.
"Did they or did they not teach you not to speak back to your elders?" Bruce asked, turning to her and clutching his cane in both hands. Those eyes pierced her soul and she could tell he was reading her.
"I'm not speaking back." she replied coolly. Her face was as stone, revealing none of her emotions. That at least was something her parents made sure she learned. "It's a valid question."
"Hello, Grandpa Bruce." Jared said shyly, waving. "This place is big."
Bless his heart, she thought, he's trying to relieve some of the tension.
"Yes it is, Jared, which is why I suggest you stay close to your sister. I don't want you wandering off." Bruce said to him. "As for you," he indicated Annie, "since you're going to be here for awhile, I wanted you to know that until you prove yourself to me, you won't be running around as Robin as you have been for the last month or so."
"I've never 'run around' as Robin." she remarked, chuckling lowly. Did he honestly think she wanted anything to do with him? "What I do at night is merely to defend justice in my own way. As I have done since I was twelve."
"You call yourself Komadori." he growled. "What is that but 'Robin' in Japanese?"
"Very different."
Ace barked at the top of the stair and Terry McGinnis was dragged down into the Batcave with him. "Hey Scooby, easy!"
It didn't surprise Annie that her classmate knew about the Batcave. It would have been more surprising had he not known, working for Bruce in his own home. Then again, it was Bruce Wayne, and for all his shortcomings as a family member, he could always hide anything from anyone if he wanted.
"Terry, let him go." Bruce commanded, surprisingly calm. He had a way of doing that. He snapped his fingers and Ace came and sat at his feet. "I take it you two have met?" He asked, indicating Annie again.
"Yes, sir." Terry nodded.
"Good. I want you to spar."
"Excuse me?" Annie cried. "You want me to fight him for the right to defend this city?"
"No. I want you to spar with Terry for the right to wear your father's mantle. If you hold anything back I'll know."
"Um, Bruce, maybe this isn't--"
"Quiet, McGinnis!" The old man barked, eyes flashing. Annie knew that look well, for in his blue eyes was a power and a force that none but the incredibly foolish dared question. "I want you and Annie to spar. Neither of you may hold anything back. I want you both to see the extent of one another's skills."
If this was some skewed attempt to get the two youths to reconcile their differences, neither wanted to ask. She let go of Jared's hand. "Seizant kudasai, Jomei."
"Don't hurt him…" Jared replied, eyeing Terry before walking to kneel with his palms on his thighs beside Bruce.
"I'll be careful. Who knows, I might be the one to get hurt." She glanced at Terry and walked over the sparring mat, surprised that Bruce would allow any kind of cushion within his dojo. She removed her shoes and bowed with palms on her thighs toward the mat. "Arigato gama sa." She murmured the usual adage of respect and stepped onto it. She didn't know why she was suddenly obliging the old man. Something inside her wanted to do it merely to show him that she could. She pushed pride to the back of her mind; it was a flaw she couldn't afford to have, not now.
Terry moved for the shadows and Bruce stopped him. "No. You spar as you are, don't change clothes. Get a move on."
He let out a heavy sigh and met Annie on the mat, pulling off his shoes and tossing them aside. "Okay, let's go."
He was impatient. Something she could use. She bowed to him, all the while keeping her eyes locked with his own. Annie remembered a time when her own impatience landed her with two broken ribs and a bruised ego, courtesy of Lady Shiva. Rei had fared far worse that day when he attempted to intervene for her, only ten at the time. They circled a moment, each watching the other. Terry's eyes were everywhere, the floor, her feet, her arms, her eyes. She kept hers cemented to his baby blues, able to watch every muscle's contraction from the vantage. He was good, she could tell. His stance was one that could go any direction if the need arose. He lacked a certain amount of concentration, but his training was young yet. She knew Bruce would fix that soon enough.
"You know, you don't seem surprised that I know about this place." Terry remarked dropping to the ground and attempting to sweep Annie with his leg.
Annie leapt up to avoid it and pinned his leg to the floor as she came down. "I'm not." She replied, giving him a roundhouse to his shoulder. His torso twisted violently and she stepped from his leg. Ordinarily she would have gone for the head, but she didn't want to hurt him that badly. After all, he'd really done nothing wrong to deserve it, even if she didn't trust him.
"Stop playing games." Bruce told them. "Focus, the both of you. And Annie, if you see an opening and neglect to take it again, I'll make you wish you had."
She waited for Terry to get to his feet. Jared looked worried, and she didn't want to scare him. In that second, she paid for her lack of concentration. Terry delivered a perfect crescent kick to her upper torso and shoulder and had her pinned to the mat. The kick left a dull ache and she was impressed, but she didn't take the time to tell him--his arms may have held her shoulders to the floor, but his torso was unprotected and her legs were free. Annie took advantage of the situation and swiftly kicked his solar plexus. He gasped for air but didn't release her and her legs went around his neck, throwing him aside. She wasted no time in pinning him in a devil's triangle as he lay completely exposed, barring his arm with one leg and pinning the rest of his body with the full weight of her torso and the other leg, now wrapped around his left leg. "Move and I break it." She told him.
"Yame." Bruce said. "Stop."
Annie rolled away from Terry and kipped up to her feet, offering him a hand up. She didn't expect him to take it, and when he did, she gave a small smile. He had her respect, at least. "You're good."
"Me? All I got in was one kick and you had me pinned in less than a minute." Terry said. "You're much better than me."
"People rarely get one kick. Besides, you happened to kick the shoulder that got shot a couple months ago." She shrugged, rubbing the afflicted area. "As for being better, I should be. I've trained since I was three."
"Is that even legal?"
"In this family, it is."
"Enough, the both of you." Bruce said. "That was the worst display I have ever seen from anyone, especially you, McGinnis. She walked all over you and you barely put up any kind of defense, much less offense. And you, Annie, you gave him too much time to act. I don't care if you're fighting Jared, you are never to give anyone any kind of a window, am I understood?"
"Um, Grandpa Bruce--" Jared moved his hand to tap Bruce on the leg. He was fidgeting and looked very uncomfortable.
"Quiet. I'm speaking to your sister, not to you."
His hand recoiled. "But Grandpa Bruce--"
"That's enough, Jared."
"But I need to--"
"What did I just say?" Bruce slapped him roughly across the face and anger started to boil in Annie's heart. There was more than one way to reprimand him. She watched Jared's face scrunch up in surprise and he whimpered, holding the pink cheek with his hands. He didn't cry.
Annie rushed over and picked him up. "Bruce, he had to go to the bathroom! You had no right to hit him for that!" She turned to Jared. "Come on, we'll go to the bathroom. Then we're going home."
Jared bit his lip and nodded.
"The boy is crying. I would have thought that your parents would teach him not to do that, at least."
She whirled, eyes dark and flashing. "There are no tears in his eyes, though he has more than enough reason! Discipline is one thing, but just for asking permission to use the bathroom? Thank God you never had children of your own, Bruce Wayne!" With that, she turned and walked for the door.
"Annie, stop where you are!"
Her step faltered, but she didn't dare stop, didn't dare let him know he had any kind of a hold over her. The visit was over, and no matter what the cost to her, no one could harm her brother. She'd promised him nothing would harm him, and she'd failed. She walked up the stairs and took Jared to the bathroom, out of Bruce's sight.
Ace whimpered and Terry patted him on the head. "That didn't go very well."
Terry could see remorse in the man's eyes and he paused before murmuring, "The boy needs discipline."
"You shouldn't have slapped him. So the kid's got a small bladder, it's not like they're in Japan anymore."
Bruce closed his eyes and clutched his cane, sighing. "Annie is so much like her father…and her mother. She's the perfect combination of the both of them."
"If she's so perfect, why are you being so difficult with her?"
"Because she can take it. If I don't push her, she won't get better."
"But she said you've never--"
"You can go now, McGinnis. Come back at nine."
Annie stormed through the door of their apartment, fuming. Her shoulder was throbbing and her focus was solely on Bruce Wayne. She hated that bastard, for more than just striking her brother. He had ignored them, all of them, and now when it was most lucrative for him, he wanted to recruit Annie as another one of his puppets, his "children," and had the audacity to discipline them as though he were their guardian. She was so preoccupied that she didn't think anything of Michael O'Neal sitting leisurely in the living room, sipping a cup of green tea. When she burst through, he jumped to his feet.
"Miako, what's wrong?" he asked.
She walked right past him and into her room, slamming the door behind her. She needed to cool off, and the best way for her to do that was to meditate--alone.
"Jared?"
The six-year-old bit his lip. "Grandpa Bruce made Annie fight Terry McGinnis so she can be Robin and Annie beat Terry but he got her shoulder really bad, and I needed to go to the bathroom, but he got mad at me and slapped me and that's what made Annie mad." he said quickly, sitting down on the carpet with his legs crossed.
Michael shook his head to process the information. "Bruce hit you?"
Jared nodded. "Only I kinda deserved it, 'cause I interrupted. Annie got worse with Rei's mom, I remember."
"Jared, he still shouldn't have done that. You aren't in Japan anymore, and very few people are as rough as Lady Shiva and get away with it. How do you feel?"
"It's okay. It didn't really hurt all that much. Besides, it's worse that Annie feels bad. I know she would have stopped Grandpa Bruce if she could."
It didn't hurt all that much, but Michael saw the beginnings of a small bruise on the boy's cheek. "Well, you're tough just like your sister. Speaking of, I think I'll go in and check on her."
"I'd be careful. She doesn't like people to bother her when she's meditating."
"I'll keep that in mind." he replied, trying his best to keep a straight face with the mature child. "Why don't you sit here in the living room and try to work on what homework you can?"
He knocked on Annie's door and tried the handle; she hadn't locked it, which was a good sign. Leaving the door ajar, he walked in to find her kneeling on the carpet, eyes closed with her palms flat on her thighs and breathing slowly and deeply.
"How did you get in here?" Annie asked calmly, her eyes still closed.
"Er, Kon gave me a key, just in case you weren't here. Jared told me you went to see Bruce."
"We did."
"Bruce made you fight McGinnis?"
"Yes."
"Jared said he hurt you."
"No, just reminded me of an old wound." She opened her warm amber eyes and looked up into his. "Bruce hit Jared."
"So your brother told me."
"Discipline is one thing, but backhanding him?"
"I'm sure he didn't mean to be that rough."
"The man has no heart." Annie spat out the bitter words, getting to her feet gracefully and stepping behind her shoji screen. She had to get out of these clothes--they reeked of the dank and musty cave and she wanted nothing to do with them. She quickly stripped them from her body, not caring that Michael was just beyond the screen.
"Don't be so sure." Michael continued, undeterred by her loss and gain of clothing just out of his sight. "He just doesn't know how to tell you he cares, Annie. After all, you were born in Japan, he rarely got to see you."
"And I suppose he couldn't afford to visit?" She slipped into a silk gi and kimono robe. The material felt good against her skin and she stepped out from behind the screen.
"He is a busy man, he had business." he replied. "Surely you don't hold that against him? There has to be some reason why the rest of your family likes him." He looked at her somewhat disheveled appearance and sighed. "Come on and sit down."
Annie obeyed; she didn't want to argue anymore. There was no point. She sat on her bed and he joined her, her comb in hand. He started to comb out her rumpled hair gently. Just like he used to, she thought. Her anger dissipated with each stroke of the comb. Something about the ritual calmed her, and she silently laughed at the femininity of the act.
"Still playing big brother?" She asked him.
"For as long as you need me."
"I'll always need you." The words escaped her lips so fast that they surprised even her, and she blushed crimson. Had she really said that?
Michael paused. "Not always. You're practically a woman." He continued to comb out her silky hair. "Hell, you are a woman."
"So why are you still combing my hair for me?"
"A perk."
She gave a weak smile and caught his hand. "Well, I can't let you just have perks for nothing, can I? Besides, if I'm a woman, I can do this myself."
"Yes, you can." Michael said, remaining behind her. She felt his warm breath on the back of her neck and she shivered. "And you certainly can't give me perks for nothing." He stroked her hair and then turned her head to touch his lips to hers.
She jumped, surprised and scared. But his kiss was soft and gentle, just like his manner. His hand touched her cheek and he released her.
"Did I frighten you?" Michael asked, searching her face with pure concern.
"You…you kissed me."
"Should I kiss you again?"
She nodded numbly. He smiled and pulled her to her feet with him, then into his arms. Oh, it was sweetness itself, when their lips met a second time. It wasn't her first kiss; that had been from Rei Shiva on her thirteenth birthday as a present for her passage into teendom. But that kiss was devoid of any emotion. This, however, was emotionally charged and they both knew it. She held tightly to him, her friend and her love. Love? Yes, love…and she'd not known, not recognized it until now…but what were they doing? This couldn't be. He was twenty and she wasn't even eighteen…
Annie pulled away. "Stop. We can't."
Michael chuckled. "And why not?"
"It's illegal, for one."
"Only for another two months. December seventeenth rolls around and it's completely legal." He chuckled and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"This isn't appropriate, Kentaro."
"You…don't return my feelings, then? Because…I'd thought from the way you kissed me…"
"No, it isn't that." She blushed and looked at the space between their bodies. "It's just that…I can't, I just can't."
"Aw, go on and kiss him again, Annie!"
The two turned to see Jared standing in the doorway with the largest grin Annie had ever seen plastered to his face. The pair jumped apart and she watched Michael blush. It new experience for the both of them, one that would permanently change their relationship.
The next day she decided to go school in comfort, and dressed in a lavender gi top and black gi bottoms. On her feet were sandals--the cold weather was ignored. Michael was waiting for her in history class. She smiled and tried not to catch his gaze as she took her seat near the back of the classroom. She'd admitted to herself that she loved him yesterday, but no one else had to know.
"What the hell? What is Drake wearing?" Nash chuckled, tugging at her pants as she passed.
Her hand caught his. "I told you once, Nash. Don't touch me or my things."
"Class, settle down." Mr. Hamill walked in with a stack of discs and a wide grin on his face. "Now, come on. Yes, that means you, Mr. Nash."
"I'll see you after class." He muttered, sliding into a chair across from the captain of the cheerleading squad.
"Some of you have had the pleasure to meet Mr. Michael O'Neal in the halls since his arrival yesterday." Hamill remarked, taking off his wire rimmed glasses and wiping them thoroughly with the edge of his tie. "It is my honor to introduce him to you now as your assistant teacher for the remainder of the year. Mr. O'Neal?"
Annie watched him step up to the podium and clear his throat. She wanted to laugh; he looked so absurd at the teaching post. He'd tried to do his own tie that morning--it was skewed and rakishly knotted, and his shirt looked about one size too big.
"Er, hello. As Mr. Hamill said, I'm Michael O'Neal. I'm twenty, I'm from Japan, and I have had the privilege to study with Lady Shiva for the last twelve years." He said, grasping the sides of the podium. "Excuse me, I'm not used to this."
"Did you say you studied with Lady Shiva? The assassin?" An artist named Adam asked, eyes wide. "How could you…get the connections for that, much less get training?"
Her classmates murmured in agreement. It was the question of the hour. Annie shook her head and sat back to watch the festivities.
"Well, my connections come through a friend." Michael smiled. "Wouldn't you say, Annie?"
She nearly fell out of her chair. He was bringing her into this? "Wouldn't I say what?" she asked innocently.
"Are you saying Drake has connections to Shiva? Her?" Nash asked, laughing.
She met Michael's eyes with her own, begging him to go no further. If she was dragged into this, she wasn't sure she would be able to pull herself out. To expose her skill this way was dishonorable and naïve--and she was neither.
There was an assurance, or an arrogance, in her friend's eyes. "Annie, why don't you come up here?" he asked.
"I'd rather not."
"Stop being such an introvert, Ane Miako Cassandra Cain Drake!" He remarked, tossing something sharp and shiny at her. Everyone ducked as the fighting star flew past them. Cries of fear erupted from the quiet chatter of curious students, and Hamill barely had time to open his mouth to object before the weapon left Michael's trained hand.
Annie caught it without blinking. "You could have hurt someone, Michael Kentaro Kobayashi O'Neal." She replied, getting to her feet. "Are you crazy? Wait, don't answer that." She remained calm as she walked up to the podium and held out the star for him to take.
He knew exactly what she was about to do. He reached for it anyway. She pulled the familiar object from his grasp and grabbed his extended arm with her free hand, yanking him forward and throwing him over her shoulder. He fell to the floor and Annie held the sharp edge to his throat. She executed the movements fluidly and smoothly, one after the other. It was as easy as breathing. But to her peers, her movements were a blur and they no sooner blinked than Michael was on the ground.
"You should know better than that, as a student of Sensei Shiva." She remarked. They shared a secret smile with their eyes and waited.
It didn't take long for Hamill to react. "Miss Drake! Stop that at once!"
Annie laughed softly, darkly, and let her friend go, giving him a hand up. "Mr. Hamill, I wouldn't have done it. Do you honestly think I'm that stupid?"
"You're that crazy, you bitch!" Nash cried. "What the hell was that?"
Michael's eyes flashed and the muscles in his arms tensed. Annie stepped back onto his foot subtly to keep him from doing anything stupid. His temper was never quick, but when it came to her or Michiko, he was always prone to violence in their defense.
"Quiet, Nash." Hamill ordered and turned back to Annie and Michael. "Now what on earth were you doing?"
"Catching him off guard." she replied, eyes devoid of emotion. She'd spent years schooling her emotions; she wasn't about to forget them now. "I figured he'd be able to at least drop me, being a student of an assassin as great as Lady Shiva."
"I'm not sure 'great' is the word to use, Annie."
"Yes it is." She turned and walked back to her seat, sliding in and opening her laptop. She began to type; it didn't matter what. She just wanted to remove herself from where she was, and if that took immersion into a paper, so be it.
"What are you doing?" Hamill asked her, walking over.
"Nothing."
"Well, go to the office. Have them call your father."
"That isn't possible."
"Oh? Might I ask why?"
"He's dead, sir. My mother as well." Her fingers hit the keys faster and harder now as she tried to keep composure. She didn't want to talk about this. She wanted to forget the pain, the past, everything in her life that once was. All that mattered now was Jared. Her focus was to be completely on him.
My name is Annie Drake. Ane Miako Cassandra Cain Drake. My brother is Jared. Jared Jomei Cain Drake. I am a student of Lady Shiva and a friend to her son, Rei. I have been trained in five forms of martial arts and three kobudo forms. I am expected to follow after my parents. I am expected to be devoid of emotion. I am expected to be as stone. I am not measured by the standards of today's society--I am measured above them.
She took a moment to read what she had been blindly typing as the words flew from her frontal lobe to her fingertips. She had to get her mind off the family, off the mantle she was expected to wear. Annie had no desire to wear it if it meant a life of servitude to Bruce's whims. She belonged to no one. Then again, did she have to belong to someone to be accepted? Kon-El and Cassie accepted her no matter what, as her parents did…
"Annie?"
She looked up to see Mr. Hamill standing over her.
"Are you all right? You seem--"
"I'm fine." Annie said. "If you want me to go to the office, I will." Annie shut her laptop and began to pack up. She just wanted out, no more school, no more complications, nothing.
"Annie, stop." It was Michael's voice she hearkened to. He'd barely whispered and she obeyed. Now why did he have such power when Bruce had none? Oh, that's right, she thought sourly, I respect Michael. It was bad enough that they'd kissed the night before, but listening to what he was saying? She didn't want to listen to anyone.
"What do you want, Kentaro?" All this in front of her peers. She could just imagine what things were going to be like tomorrow.
"Kon-El told me to give you this. It's from Mr. Wayne." He walked over and placed a small disk in her hand.
She looked down at it; it was just large enough to slide into the drive on her watch--something she only used for family business. "Why would I want anything from him?"
"You'll want this, Ane." Michael spoke the words in Japanese. "It's about your father."
"So, am I to understand you know each other?" Hamill asked. "Because if you do, I'd appreciate some kind of an explanation!"
"I'll give it to you, Mr. Hamill." he replied calmly, this time in English. "Annie's had a rough few days. She should go home and rest."
"She can't just leave!"
"Sir, she's been experiencing trouble in her family. Now, you wouldn't want her godparents to have to call, believe me. I work for her godfather, and he's not the kind of man you want to tangle with, especially when it comes to Annie's family." The explanation seemed to fool her teacher, somehow. Something Michael had never done, and it made Annie wonder what else he could do. "Annie, why don't you read that note. Then go home. I'm sure you'll want to talk to Mr. Wayne about it."
She slid the mini-disc into her watch and read the note:
Robin, I want you to be ready by nine o'clock tonight for rounds. I was quick with you yesterday, and for that I apologize. I need you to help Terry. Please come. He needs you badly.
Her surprise was seen by no one, and she glanced over at McGinnis. He nodded only slightly. He knew what Bruce had written on the disc. Bruce had addressed the disc to Robin. Was she to be Robin, then? And if so, did she want to be?