Something to Be Pt Three

Chapter One-Firewing

Raindrops that had long since fallen clung to the windowpane, glittering as a street light's bright lights hit them. Safe and snug in her bed, Rachel Grayson sighed. It was the first time she'd doubted her decision of living with Bruce Wayne instead of the Logans, Stones, Hawkins' or Foleys, her parents' friends.

After her mother had died (Just two weeks ago) she'd been given a choice. She considered herself lucky. After all, how many people trusted the judgment of a sixteen year old? All four couples had offered her a home. In the end, however, she'd chosen Bruce. She felt that of all people, he'd understand what she was going through right now best; perhaps because he'd lost his parents at an early age as well.

'Enough with that,' Rachel reprimanded her thoughts. She doubted her decision all of a sudden; she had no idea why. Bruce would see to it that she was looked after and Rachel knew it. He'd made her the heir to his immense fortune, after all. In a way, he was her adoptive grandfather. He'd raised her father, Richard Grayson, for ten years before Richard had gone to lead the Titans. Her mother, Kori, had been a Titan as well. No one, except for eleven other people, knew her parents had been two of the original five. The eleven who knew were all heroes themselves, or was the offspring of a said hero. (A/N The Logans, Stones, Hawkins' and Foleys and Arella Logan, Robert Hawkins, and Bruce Wayne)

'But that's where your secret identity comes in, isn't it?'

This thought echoed across Rachel's mind, haunting her. Somehow, Slade, the Titans' archenemy, had discovered who her parents really were and late one night, he'd set their house on fire. Rachel had only been eight years old then, but she still remembered the details. They were crisp in the mind of the sixteen year old girl. One never forgets a fire. It had been a tragic event in the life of the young Grayson. What Rachel remembered most of all was the fact that her father had risked his own life to ensure her safety.

"You're safe, Rach."

Those had been his last words. He'd inhaled too much smoke and it burned his lungs, almost as if he'd been a heavy smoker for years.

Rachel shuddered.

'I'd better sleep,' she thought. That protégé of Bruce's is supposed to be here tomorrow. Maybe he'll be a good friend. Of course, it would be better if he was good-looking…'

And with that, she fell asleep.

The morning dawned slowly. The sun poked its way through Rachel's white curtains, illuminating the buttercup yellow walls.

Rachel groaned, rolled over, and glanced at the clock. It read 6:32.

"It is entirely too early to be awake," she mumbled into her pillow.

She rolled out of bed and went into her bathroom, hoping a cold shower would wake her up.

"Much better," she sighed as the warm water caressed her bare skin.

After wrapping herself in a fluffy white bathrobe, she reentered her bedroom. She dried off and slipped into a white tank top and turquoise shorts, her workout clothes. Pulling her jet-black hair into a ponytail, she glanced at the clock again. 6:44.

'Just enough time for breakfast.'

Bruce was already awake, sitting at the table reading a newspaper, which he lowered as Rachel entered the main dining room.

"Isn't it kind of early for you to be awake? Teenagers are supposed to sleep all the time," Bruce commented.

"Not this teenager," she replied, taking an apple from a bowl and biting into it.

"Heading into the gym?"

"But of course."

"So, there's that young man I told you about coming by today," Bruce said, sounding a little uncomfortable and protective at the same time. (A/N: Well duh. She's his granddaughter.)

"Does he have a name?"

"I'll let him introduce himself," was all Bruce would say.

Rachel was in the gym, beating the stuffing out of a punching bag when she noticed the boy.

"Who are you?" Rachel asked, the thought that this might be Bruce's protégé not occurring to her.

"I might ask you the same question," he returned icily.

"I live here."

"Oh, so you're Nightwing's daughter. I should have known."

"Yes. And you are…?" Rachel let the question hang in the air.

"Terry McGinnis. You're a good fighter, though you're style is different than any I've ever seen."

"That would be because I know some of every type of martial arts. I just throw them together."

"Interesting…" he replied. "Alright Miss I-Know-Every-Type-Of-Martial-Arts, let's see how you do against me."

"You're on."

They didn't stop sparring until Bruce went, "That's enough you two."

Rachel extended a hand to Terry, who she had just finished knocking down. He didn't take it. Rachel shrugged it off as one of those male ego things.

"I told you she was good kid. She's better than her father was," Bruce said in his ever serious tone.

"Really?" Rachel was surprised at this. No one had ever told her that she was better than her father.

Bruce nodded. "Rachel, I believe Terry has something to ask you."

'On a date,' she thought hopefully, gazing at his light gray eyes. Instead she said, "He does?"

At the same time, Terry said, "I do?"

"Yes he does," Bruce said pointedly.

"Bruce," Terry groaned.

"It's not that hard," Bruce said.

"Well-um-crime percentages have been increasing and since-"

"You want and need a sidekick," Rachel interrupted.

"That's one way to put it," Terry said.

"Alright…I've always wanted to be a hero, but I have two…shall we call them conditions?"

"OOOOK."

"Good. A: You call me Batgirl once and you're dead. B: I'm NOT your sidekick. I play second fiddle to no one."

Rachel wasn't being sassy exactly, but Terry clearly got the message that no one messed with Rachel Anne Korilaire Grayson.

"Agreed," Terry said reluctantly. "Oh, but do you have a name for yourself? For your alter-ego, I mean."

"Firewing," Rachel replied immediately.

'Good name,' Terry thought. 'It suits her.'

Indeed it did suit her. She had a sassy side that she only shared with people she felt comfortable with, such as the people who had helped raise her. Terry had already seen the side of her…what did it mean? She was at ease with him, something that had never happened around any other guy she'd ever known. After he'd gone home, Rachel went upstairs to her room and began to write in her journal. Daisy Hawkins had suggested keeping one after Kori had died.

February 18

Met the new Batman today. Much cuter than expected. I kicked his butt sparring. He asked me if I would be his sidekick. I told him yes but we're partners. If you're a sidekick you're generally younger than the other hero. I'm the same age he is: sixteen. But I did think of an awesome name, if I do say so myself. I picked Firewing, fire from my mom's name and wing from my dad's. I knew what's-his-face-Terry (honestly Terry is a girl name) was impressed. Especially since he didn't say another word to me the whole time he was here, so maybe he was thinking about me? I was thinking about him, that's for sure. Except I've seen pictures of my dad when he was sixteen and Terry kind of looks like him, but I'm trying to forget that little detail. Anyway, I have my first "patrol" tonight so I'm going to get some rest.

Rachel