A/N: Hey guys! Welcome to my new series, this one should pick up a little smoother than my others since its sort of an on going, and not a major mini-series like my others. The main characters are Tim Drake, followed by Cassandra Cain, who will probably end up as a couple, but that's not the main focus of the book. And don't worry! I'll try and make sure all your favorite Gotham Knights make get good screen time, (Er… except Spoiler ;; sorry Steph fans) Plus in the near future we'll have Wonder Girl, Superboy and Kid Flash from the Teen Titans as guest stars!
Anyways, hope you like the story, On to the show!
Disclaimer: Batman, Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Oracle and all other characters affiliated with Batman or DC Comics is property of DC Comics and Warner Bros. I do not own them, wish I did, but I don't. I do own Oni, The Draco and any character affiliated with them. If you'd like to use them, then by all means ask, I'd be honored.
Young Knights
A new clan in town: part one
GothamCity
Gotham city had lost her battle with the night again, and had been wrapped in a blanket of darkness. The sky was blanketed in deep grey clouds and lightning pierced the sky, followed by the echoing roar of thunder in the distance as the rain drenched the streets below.
Pulling under an awning in a darkened alley, a masked figure disembarked from his Motorcycle, his cape folding around him, the yellow inside disappearing into blackness.
My name is Tim Drake, And for the second time in my life, I am Robin, the Boy Wonder.
The boy pulled off the small stylized helmet and placed it on the back of the bike, letting his gloved fingers run across the metal.
The Redbird, or at least its second incarnation. It's a modified Kawasaki Ninja, geared up and decked out. The armor's based off of the Batmobile's and the red paint scheme with black styling definitely suits me. I built her with Nightwing when I took back the mantle of Robin. I had the choice for another car, frankly speaking Batman decked me out with everything I'd need, but I chose a bike. Dick must be rubbing off on me.
Raising a hand, Robin shot a line up to the roof of one of the buildings, scaling it quickly to the top and hoping over the edge into a crouch, eyes checking left to right through opaque lens, making sure no one else was on the roof.
Like I said, this is my second run as the Boy Wonder, I've been back at it for about a month now. See, when you're dad finds out that you've been running around in red tights, fighting psychopaths and murderers with a man who many consider to be as dangerous as said whack's he tends to get a little pissed, we he then realizes that you, his only son has been lying to him about it, he gets really pissed. And I love my dad and it was sort of eating away at me.
Running with an even stride, Robin lept off the opposite end of the building and felt his heart give the familiar jump as he went airborne. It was a short jump though, and soon enough he landed on top of a huge neon "G," the last letter in the on the bright blue lit sign, "Iceberg" Penguin's Iceberg lounge.
So because of the problems at home, I decided to give up being Robin, and passed it on to my girlfriend, Steph Brown, the first Girl Wonder. Problem is that Steph's impulsive, impatient, and well, a lot like another guy who once wore the Robin's colors.
He moved like a shadow, scaling down the inside of the giant letter and in through the window of a janitor's closet. Robin crept up to the door and placed his ear to the door.
Steph showed the similarities between her and my predecessor to a T one night, her and the Bat had infiltrated a drug ring between here and Batman, they were supposed to wait for a call from Nightwing, saying he was in position, Steph Jumped the call. It was almost an exact mirror to a stunt Jason Todd had done just before he was killed. Batman was ripping, and I guess Steph got a real piece of his mind. The basic jist was that she had to train for three months straight before even another shot at the streets again. She got really mad at that, came to me for support, just that there was one problem.
Robin silently turned the knob to the door and skulked down the halls of the clubs upper floor, stopping in front of a door with the nameplate "Mr. Cobblepot on it."
Every night that I walked into that cave wearing the red and green, I saw the Memorial Batman had erected, read the words, "Jason Todd: A Good Soldier" and a part of me wondered if one would ever say "Timothy Drake: A Good Soldier." Its not a pleasant thought, but one I learned to live with over the years. So when I heard what had happened, I agreed with Batman. Steph didn't like that, threw the costume in my face and stormed out. None of us have seen her since. Nightwing said he heard rumors of a girl matching her description passing through Bludhaven, but by now she could have made it to Metropolis.
He snuck into the office, sticking to the walls and within the shadows, two cameras in the room, both on a sweeping pattern. He'd been lucky; the one watching the door was pointed in the other direction at the time. Robin moved quickly, hooking a small recording device into each camera, recording a full sweep of the camera, and then setting the small recorder to play back into the direct feed. Whoever was watching the cameras would just see an empty room.
Fact is that after Steph left, I started thinking, and the truth is that, as a crime fighter, I'm good, real good in fact. I've led one of the most socially accepted teen hero group, granted Wonder Girl got the spot light, being an urban legend, and a side kick to a bigger one, being the guy in the spotlight. And the fact is that once you've done that good, made a difference in someone's life, its really hard to stop. I'm not saying you need a pair of tights to make a difference, but it's the path I took, and even though I tried to deny it, Robin is a part of me.
Tim kneeled down in front of a small file cabinet, checked it, no alarms, lasers or wires, and quickly picked the lock, sliding the drawer open and thumbing through the files. Legit business, menu prices, stock reports. Nothing of use, figures Tim thought, Ozzy wouldn't be that easy to figure out.
Of course Dad didn't take to kindly to me telling him I was going to go back into the vigilante gig, it started off with him forbidding it, then me telling him I had to, him saying he'd turn me in, I said I'd still go, and then the last card was played. Jack Drake made it very simple and very clear. If I became Robin then he'd have no part in it. I had to choose between my only family and helping a city full of strangers. Ever notice how often the right choices in life suck?
Tim noticed a small statue on a side table, a bust of George Washington, it seemed out of place, American presidents weren't the exactly the Penguin's style. Robin ran his hand over the busts head and was surprised when it fell back on a hidden hinge, revealing a small red button. A small smile curled up on Robin's lips, "Son of a snapper."
Batman decked me out well enough, helped support me. The original plan he had was to move in with him, but thanks to some coaxing from Nightwing, we decided that wouldn't be the best plan. So Batman hooked me up with my own loft in downtown Gotham. It's a nice set up, I live on the top floor, there's a dojo on the ground floor, the underground basement is set up as my own personal "bird cave" or the Robin's Nest, as I've come to call it. Its not nearly as big as the main Batcave, but its nice. Even has a service tunnel running to the batcave, but it's a long walk, not one that any of us have made. Still, even without the new bike and sweet accommodations, I'd still put on this suit, I can't explain it, it just feels right.
Robin pressed the small button, and a portrait of an iceberg floating in water split in half, sliding open to reveal a small safe. Tim's small smile grew to an all out grin. "Bingo" he whispered. Fitting a small earpiece and placing a suction cup tipped microphone to the safe's door. He started spinning the dial, working through the combination. The door gave a poignant click and swung open in 8 seconds,
8 Seconds… man, I'm getting rusty.
A few days ago several murder victims had been found, most were criminals, members of crime families, a couple were honest citizens, one was an undercover cop who had been assigned to infiltrating Gotham's Triad. But the weird thing was that each victim was killed by what looked like a gun wound, except any bullet hole found was cauterized, which meant Next generation weaponry. Robin started going through the files, the first was a record of contacts and buyers within the Al Quida, Better save that one, Tim thought that Commissioner Akins would want to see that. He found what he was looking for in the second file, it was records and information on a new crime organization called the Draco, Robin had never even heard of them.
Then Robin heard voices through the wall and his heart skipped a beat, he knew it was the VIP lounge from memory of the buildings floor plan, and he quickly grabbed the suction mic and stuck it to the wall. At first he could hear the Penguin's voice, aristocratic with a hint of a squawk to it, but it was the second voice that really sent chills up Robin's spine, he knew that voice, he knew what this person being here meant.
Robin pulled the small headset from his ear and replaced it in his utility belt, activating his radio, "Robin to Oracle."
"Oracle here, what's up kid?" Barbara's voice was calm, collected, and Robin was sure he heard a pop can crack open.
"Didn't I hear you say that you sent Batgirl to stop a demonstration Rupert Thorne was going to make of some cops?"
"Yeah," Babs sounded a little wary now, "The buildings about fifteen blocks from where you are, why?"
"When was it supposed to happen?"
"I'd say around now. Robin, why?" Wariness was gone, now she was concerned.
"Because I really don't see how he can be making a display of two cops, when he's here sucking Martinis with the Penguin."
"But if there's no demonstration tonight... oh shit!"
"I'm on it!"
Clutching the two Files Robin sprinted out of the office and turned down the hall, no shadows, no stealth, but a full out run. One thug, a big blonde guy in a grey suit walked out, and barely had time to say "huh!?" Before Robin's spinning body sent a foot right into the bridge of the man's nose, knocking him out cold. At the end of the hall was a window, normal size, glass and Robin hoped it wasn't bulletproof. He heard the door to the VIP lounge behind him open and for a moment he wished he could see what Oswald Cobblepot looked like seeing the Boy Wonder escape through a window with barely a scratch, and two of the most damning pieces of evidence someone could get on him.
To be continued.
Next time: Robin comes to Batgirl's aid, to find her beaten to near unconsciousness by the Draco. This issue brings in Nightwing, Batman and Oracle, and gives you your first look at the new mafia in town, The Draco. Plus the entrance of a man most likely destined to become Robin's deadliest rival; the man called Oni!
A/N: Hey there, I hope you liked the start of my new series, Expect the next update soon, because the only reason I'm not writing it right now is I have a paper due. Hope you enjoyed, remember: R&R!