Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with D.C. Comics or anything related to anything else I do not own.
Here we are at Chapter 10 - Coming of Age. Yes I know the story is called coming of age. But this chapter has a lot of growth for our young crimefighter. Again I want to thank all of you silent readers. I can see by the hits that someone is either reading the story or clicking on the chapter and then the big X at the top right of the window. Either way this has been a wonderful learning experience and hope some of you silent readers will become unsilent.
Only one note in this Chapter. There is another Babs/Dick scene but I really needed this one. It really moves the story in the direction I want. Sorry if they seem over done!
Now please enjoy the reading:
Gotham City was like any other city. Early morning commuters hustled to their nine to five jobs. The city had one thing though that was unlike any other. Normally two grown men dressed in costumes during the morning rush would seem out of place. Batman and Robin parked the Batmobile illegally in front of the Goth-Tech building. Both entered the entrance to the towering skyscraper. A tiny brunette sat manning the main desk. The two super heroes approached the desk. "May I help you?" Robin shuddered at her annoying high pitch voice.
Batman looked at her. His expression was blank. "We're here to see Mr. Harlen."
"Do you have an appointment?"
"Does it look like we have an appointment?" His impatience was starting to show.
The tiny brunette let out a sigh, showing just how disinterested she really was. She went back to typing on her computer. "No one can see Mr. Harlen without an appointment. We don't allow unscheduled visitors."
Robin looked over at his mentor and could share in his frustration. He stepped up to the desk and turned her computer monitor towards him and swiped her keyboard.
"Hey you can't do that. Security! Security!" She reached in to swipe back but what was stopped by the gloved arm of Batman. Robin continued to type away.
"Did you find it yet?" Batman stood stiff as he let the tiny brunette tangle with arm.
Robin held up a finger indicating another second. "Almost...Almost...Got it. He's on floor twelve.
Batman lowered his arm. "Thanks ma'am, we'll show ourselves up."
"Security! Security!" The tiny brunette screamed at the top of her lungs, hoping that the security guards would stop the two caped crusader's. Instead the guards just looked at each other. None of them wanted to go head to head with either of the masked men.
They could see the office door was shut. Every employee peaked their heads over their cubicles, trying to get a glance of the super hero's up close. Batman paid them no mind. He walked right into the CEO's office, knocking never occurred to him. The CEO was a young man, younger then either Batman or Robin expected.
"Uh I'll have to call you back." The young CEO kept his eye on the two men while he fumbled to hang up his phone. "To what do I owe this dubious honor of the great Batman and Robin in my office? Please won't you both take a seat? Make yourselves comfortable."
Robin headed towards a nearby leather chair. Batman took a few steps closer to the desk. "No thanks, we'll stand. I hope to make this quick." Robin had stopped himself in mid motion of sitting. Batman kept his focus on the young CEO. "Your stealth technology, how advanced is it?"
The CEO sat behind his desk and held his chin up high. "Stealth technology? I am not following you?"
The Dark Knight took a few heavy steps to stand opposite the confident CEO. "Let me refresh your memory then Mr. Harlen. Your company is secretly researching a stealth technology. One of your labs exploded a little over a month ago, and two employees assigned to that lab went missing." Batman pounded his fist on the CEO's desk. "Those missing employee's were found dead last weekend in a storage closet in that now abandoned lab. Your company released they died of unknown causes, but we both know they died of starvation." Robin gave a quick glance over to Batman. He tried not to let on that this was his first time hearing this news. "Is any of this refreshing your memory now Mr. Harlen?"
The young CEO was now becoming fidgety. He slouched down in his office chair. "But how...how do you know all of this? None of that was ever publicly released." He attempted to regain his composure. "It doesn't matter. We abandoned that project after that horrible incident. So if you'll excuse me I have more important business to attend to."
Batman wasn't satisfied with his explanation. He pounded both hands on the desk and leaned in closer to the cocky CEO. "I am your more important business. Now tell me about this stealth technology and the third lab?" The Dark knight towered over the desk.
"Honestly that horrible catastrophe... we terminated the whole project. And well we like to keep any gruesome deaths out of the papers. You know bad for business." The young executive was doing his best to stay calm and collective. But it was obvious he was nervous.
Batman's black-gloved hand stretched over the desk and grabbed Harlen by the collar of his shirt and swung him over the desk. The CEO was now screaming for his life, Batman pushed him up against his office window. "I don't think you realize how important it is that we know everything your stealth technology is capable of." His tone was dark and angry.
The young CEO couldn't play the calm and collective executive anymore. "Ok Ok, I'll tell you everything. Just put me down." Batman gripped him tighter and pushed him more into the glass. "Please I beg of you."
Robin watched his mentor force the information out of the man. Something about the situation was not sitting right with the young crime fighter. "He said he'd tell you everything so why not put him down?" Robin interjected, attempting to settle the situation.
"The Dark Knight turned to his sidekick. "I'll put him down when I say so." His anger was spilling over towards Robin now. He turned his attention back to the frightened CEO. He could see on his face just how scared he truly was and tossed him back into his chair.
Harlen nervously stumbled through his desk drawers. He pulled a thick black binder out of the top right corner of his desk and slid it over to the Dark Knight. "This is it. This is all that is left of our Stealth-Warp Machine." He couldn't get the words out quick enough. He just wanted this to end. "Two weeks ago the third lab was destroyed. Whoever it was took it all. These blueprints are the only things left." The CEO looked defeated. It was obvious to Batman that he was telling truth. "We managed to keep the incident out of the media. Our lab was hidden deep in the mountains north of Gotham."
Batman took a few steps back and crossed his arms. "I think I have a good idea of who was behind the heist." The frightened CEO was no longer slouching. He looked on anxiously waiting for an answer. "The Joker and Two-Face."
Harlen sunk back into chair. "This is not good. Do you realize the destruction they can cause with that technology?" The young executive stuffed his face into his folded arms on the desk.
Batman came around the desk and stood next to the feeble CEO. "That is why we need your help. I need to know exactly what your technology is capable of."
Mr. Harlen slowly rose to feet, regaining his composure. He gave a frightful feared look at the caped crusader. "I'll do anything."
"Good. I am going to need a sealed copy of that binder and any thing else you feel would be helpful." Robin stood in shock and awe. His jaw dropped as he watched his partner. "Thanks again Mr. Harlen. Have the documents sealed and delivered to Commissioner Gordon's office in the next few hours." Batman looked over to Robin and nodded to indicate it was time to leave. "Don't worry we'll show ourselves out."
X X X X
The end of the week was nearing. Batman was spending much of his time reviewing and studying the blue prints of the Stealth -Warp Technology. Dick would spend his days visiting Barbara in the hospital and his nights were either with Selina or out on patrol with Batman. It was late and Dick sat across from Bruce at his com-station. "Haven't you looked at those blue prints enough? You may want to take a break for awhile." Dick was sifting through his email. "It's a real shame, those people dying of this virus going around Gotham. An email from GCS say's over forty lives has been claimed by the virus."
Still intently studying the blue prints, Bruce didn't even look up and acknowledge his young partner. Robin swung his chair around to face Bruce. "Damnit Bruce, where the hell your compassion? Forty people! A lot of them children. All dead!"
Bruce now turned his chair around to face the upset youth, matching his intensity. "That is sad. I am not denying that. Unfortunately there is nothing neither you nor me could do. So if I were you, I would put more thought into the issues at hand instead of sulking over circumstances we can't control. Now I don't want to hear another word about."
Dick was livid. He popped up from his station and slammed his chair into the back of Bruce's and stomped up the stairs.
"Dick!" Bruce stood up form chair and yelled like an angry father. Dick paid him no mind and continued his march up the stairs.
X X X X
Darkness filled the sky above Gotham's Suburbia. The engine to Dick's motorcycle cut off. He walked past something he never knew. The houses were simple. He knew the people that lived in them didn't have to worry about what bad guy they would have to stop on this night. They didn't have to balance two different lives while going to school and trying to lead a typical college life. He did however feel that there was one person he could turn to in the house he now stood in front off. Again the houses were what one would consider typical in suburbia. It was a two-story house with about four bedrooms and two baths with a front and back yard. Dick picked a few rocks up that he found in the shrubbery. He tossed one up at a window on the second floor. The loud crack against the glass shattered the silence that usually graced the area. Nothing happened. He tossed another rock up. A few moments passed and nothing. Then a light flicked on and Dick had to stop his third attempt in mid throw. He could see the blinds part which meant he got her attention. He began to jump around while waving his hands to let her know it was him. Finally after all the commotion the window slid open.
"Richard? Is that you?"
"Yea can I come up?"
OK, I'll be right down."
Dick stepped up on the porch and waited. His hands shoved nervously into his pockets. The door cracked open and a hand waved him in.
"Try and keep it down, Daddy just got in and is in his room."
Dick nodded to the red head and followed her up the stairs. Barbara flung herself down on her bed and Dick took the seat at the computer desk. He could tell she was surprised. He was even surprised he was here. Here on the first night she was home. "Sorry to bug you so late. I know it's your first night home." He paused and drooped his head. "You know this was a bad idea. I should just go."
Barbara quickly rose up from the bed. She did not mean to seem so eager. But she really didn't mind him being here. "Oh no, stay...really it's ok. I wasn't really sleeping anyway." She looked closer at her ex and could tell there was something bothering him. "So what's up? I know something must really be bothering you. I mean you went all 'high school' on me and threw rocks at my window?" She laughed as she finished that last sentence.
He did manage to smile with her and thinking back on it, it did seem a bit childish to throw rocks at her window. But he quickly remembered why he was here. He decided to just come clean, to just say it. "It's Bruce! Ever since he's returned from his business trip. He seems different. Or maybe he's always been the same and I'm different. I don't know."
"Whoa, this is coming from left field. I never knew you felt this way about him." She truly was interested and genuinely wanted to help. But she could not get a nagging question out of her mind. She knew she had to ask him before they continued. She glanced over at Dick and could see just how troubled he looked. She knew there was no other way around it. "Hey I am glad you felt you could confide in me about these things, but I have to ask."
She didn't even have even have to say anything. Dick all ready knew what she was going to ask. "So you want to know why I'm not going to Selina about this? To be honest I would feel weird discussing anything about Bruce with her."
"But why?" Barbara still was not quite following him.
"Er...um." Dick rubbed the back of his head and started to mumble. "They use to go out."
"What! I mean wow! Does Bruce know about you two? I mean that could be---"
Dick cut right in. "Yea he knows about us. I mean...He knows about Selina. But I don't think that's it. We had a talk about that all ready and aside from the lecture he tried to give me, it went ok." After telling someone about all of this, Dick was starting to calm down and feel better. He was relieved at how opened minded Barbara was being.
Barbara sat on her bed just listening. She knew that was the best medicine for something like this.
"I really don't think it's that though. Everyone always tells me how much I remind them of Bruce. Before now I would take that as a compliment. But recently he has been so cold, so distant and just so damn uninvolved in the world around him. All I know is that I don't want to be that kind of man." His head dropped into his hand and he just rubbed his face in frustration.
The bruised red head took a good long look at the man sitting in her chair. She knew this was not the same boy she went out with. She could see the growth. "Listen to yourself Dick. You're not him. The mere fact that you see the difference proves that you're not."
Dick did admire the simple logic in her response. He wondered if she knew the whole truth if she would give him the same answer. "You're right. Maybe I'm not like him right now. But he has taken me under his wing. I'm being groomed to one day take his place. Do you know what that means?" His tone was becoming anxious. Of course she couldn't truly understand what that meant.
"Yes, that means that you will run a fortune 500 company one day and lead an extravagant life and have hundreds of women begging to marry you. Dick I know you. I know you won't let yourself get swept up in all of that."
If only she knew the truth he thought. If only she knew that he would one day be Batman. Then what would she think. He knew he could handle everything she named. He was never impressed with high society. That was one thing he was glad he got from Bruce. He lifted his head and looked into her emerald green eyes and remembered just how great a person she has always been. He thought about just coming clean. Just telling her everything. Then she would understand why he always had to disappear, why he couldn't go to certain family functions with her. She would know everything. But he did not. He knew he couldn't bare her that burden.
"Hey come here." Barbara patted the empty space next to her on the edge of her bed. Dick retreated from his chair and casually slid into the empty space. "Look you're being too hard on yourself. You'll be fine. You always seem to land on your feet."
Dick slouched. "That's just it Babs. What if I don't want to do any of this? No one has ever asked me if this is what I want. Everyone has just assumed that because I am Bruce's heir that I want to take over when he is gone."
"What is it that you want then?" Barbara inched a little closer to him. Dick again was so awestruck at how she seems to say the right things or ask the right questions. For a few moments he forgot her question and thought about her. He could not believe that here she was on her first night home from hospital; after being raped that she would show so much concern. Not once did try to change the subject onto herself.
Perhaps Dick didn't realize that his problems were a distraction for Barbara. Perhaps he was not yet aware of how she was dealing with her own pain. Either way he was glad she was here. Dick ran his fingers through his hair and thought about her question. No one ever asked him that before. "I don't know, that's just it. All I do know is that I don't want to become like Bruce."
"I don't that will happen." He wondered why she seemed so sure about him, when he himself didn't feel that confident. And even though she didn't know the whole truth, he believed her when she said that.
He turned his head to again look her in the eyes. "Why...why are you doing this?" He was sincere and also very curious.
She sat there for a few moments and pondered the question. "Well, I could ask you the same thing?"
"Yea but I asked you first?"
She shied her head away and giggled. Dick leaned closer in. "What? What's so funny?"
She turned her eyes back on him and her shimmering red hair flowed over her shoulder. "I'd tell you but you'd laugh at me."
"No, I'm serious I want to know why you are being so nice and friendly to me?"
She locked into his eyes and flicked her hair back behind her shoulder. "It just feels like something I should so. It's also something I want to do. I mean we may not have worked as lovers but I get this feeling that you belong in my life. I can't explain it, it's just a feeling." She noticed him smirking. "See I was being serious, why are you laughing?"
His hand reached out and patted her knee. "No, I'm not really. I am smiling because I have that same feeling."
She rolled her beautiful green eyes at him.
"I'm serious Babs. That first night I came to visit you in the hospital. I was so nervous. I wasn't even sure if you would want me there. I remember opening that door and seeing you lying there like you were. And that's when I knew. I knew I was supposed to be here for you. Crazy uh?"
Both sat there looking at each other, realizing just how honest they had just been with each other.
Dick finally broke the silence. "Well, I guess I should let you try and get some sleep."
"Yeah I guess I should try and get to bed."
Both walked down stairs to the front door. Dick stopped in the doorway and turned to face the woman he could now call a true friend. "Thanks"
Barbara smiled back. "Anytime Dick."
His jawed dropped and his eyes nearly popped out of his sockets. "Hey, that's the first time you used that name for me." He was initially shocked but now he almost felt a little disappointed.
Barbara however was still smiling. "Well, that is what all of your friend call you, right?"
"Well yea, it's just weird to hear you say."
She gave him a friendly shove out the door. "Now move it buster, before my dad thinks you're a trespasser."
Dick returned the friendly smile and lightly jogged back to his motorcycle that was parked a few houses up.
X X X X
The next day Dick woke up early. He looked over at his clock and it was almost ten o'clock in the morning. After a quick shower he grabbed a quick bite to eat and headed down to the batcave to check up on emails and news. While chomping down his crunch berries he skimmed through his email. He doubled clicked the one that caught his eye.
Subject: Breaking News - GCN.
Gotham City - New reports are in that indicate the virus now known as the 'unknown virus' have claimed the lives of over two hundred citizens of Gotham. An epidemic that first seem to only harm young children has now spread into adults. And because the cause of the virus is unknown, city officials have not went into detail about the severity of the situation and how far away from a cure they are. Deputy Major Harold Ranken told GCN that the cities best people are working on a solution as we speak. For other news click here: www.GothamCityNews.gotham.
The young crime fighter leaned back in his chair, consuming the ugly reality of this sickness. He reached into his pocket and flipped open his phone and used speed dial.
"Yes Dick, what is it? I am about to go into a very important meeting." Dick could tell Bruce was not in the best of moods.
"The virus Bruce. Over two hundred people have all ready died from it! I just think---"
"Dick now is not the time." Bruce paused for a moment to calm his tone. "Look I know you are concerned and you're not wrong to be. It's just we have other things we have to take care of. I am sure if we were needed for something of this nature Commissioner Gordon would have all ready contacted us about it. Now look I have to go. Do me a favor and look over the stealth file I sent to you. See if there is anything you can add to it."
Dick flipped his phone shut and squeezed the phone until his knuckles were white. "GOD DAMN STEALTH TECHNOLOGY!" He threw the phone at his com-station. "There is something else going on!"
The hum of the motorcycle engine roared through the streets of Gotham as Robin zipped through traffic. He knew it was time to act. And he knew the one man he had to see if he wanted to answers.
The Commissioner sat at his desk busily filling out paper work. Physically showing just how overwhelmed he was. A cool wind smacked him in the face. He stopped what he was doing and looked around his office. "Who's there?" He saw nothing in the room. The shades on the window swayed back and forth. He sunk back into his chair and took a deep breath. He was then suddenly tapped on the shoulder from behind. He practically jumped from his chair. On instinct alone he threw a punch but the assailant quickly stopped it.
"Whoa easy there Commissioner. It's Robin." The young super hero released his grip of the old man's fist.
"I really hate when you two do that." The commissioner stepped out from behind his desk and eagerly paced his office.
"Uh Commissioner, did I catch you at a bad time?" Robin leaned himself against a near by bookshelf.
The stressed man continued to pace his office. "No No, not at all. Mind if we take this conversation to the roof. I could use a smoke."
Robin propped himself up. "No not at all. I didn't know you smoked. You know those things can kill you."
"Yea I know, you sound like my daughter. She is always on my case about them."
They both climbed the stairwell to the rooftop. Commissioner Gordon headed to the edge of building and lit up a cigarette. "So what is it I can help you with? Any news on Two-Face?"
Robin trailed behind and found himself curiously examining the bat signal. "I've never seen it during the day. It looks so old and used." Robin ran his gloved finger through the dust. "Looks like it needs to be cleaned." Gordon was long into his cigarette and again pacing. Robin stopped his fascination with the bat light. "No, nothing yet. Batman is working on some leads. But I actually came here to ask you about something else. What do you know about the virus? It seems to be slowly killing off the city."
The commissioner was frantic, he took another long drag of his cigarette and paced even faster, glancing up at Robin. "So you've noticed. Unfortunately we have no idea what is causing it. People are just dying and we can't stop it. Every autopsy shows up negative. It's like their dying of natural causes."
"Yea well something isn't right commissioner. I need you send me everything you have on this. There is more to this than just people getting sick."
The old man flicked his cigarette to the ground. "Sure I'll send it. But I've had my top doctors and scientist's looking at everything. I don't know what you'll find."
"Thanks commissioner. You'll be the first to know if I do find anything."
The commissioner turned around to return the thanks but Robin was all ready gone. Swinging down from a grappling hook he called for his motorcycle on his utility belt and landed right on the seat. With a couple revs of the engine he disappeared into the busy traffic.
Sorry for the time inbetween posting's I am trying to get better at being more consistant.