Another thing I want to do in this fanfic is giving answers to questions the series didn't give answers to and show what happened beyond the screen. So, even though, Alice is the main characters there will be some scenes without her, like the conversation Paula had with Batman and Green Arrow. For example, this chapter start with the conversation between Batman and Robin about Alice.
I won't rewrite the whole episode, just the important things and how Alice blend in. This chapter will have quotes from Infiltrator, I didn't write them, they are part of the series.
Writing explanation:
'Sign language'
computer designation
"Talking in Miss Martian mental link"
Infiltrator
GOTHAM CITY, AUGUST 08, 03:46 EDT
"I need to tell you something." Batman told Robin after they finished their daily patrol.
"What is it?" Robin asked.
"We have new recruits to the team." Batman stated.
"In plural? Not one?" Robin asked, excited.
"Two sisters." Batman said.
"Awesome," Robin smiled, but then he recognized there is more in that, "anything else?"
"Yes, one of them is an archer so she'll be mentored by Green Arrow, she is the one who shot the arrow that saved Kid Flash. The other one, his very young but she needs very strict training, so I'll work with her." Batman finally said.
"Wait, what?! You taking another protegee?!" Robin called.
"She is not here to replace you. You'll always be my first and main protegee. She needs strict training and I'm the only one who can do that." Batman explained.
"Where did you find them?" Robin raised an eyebrow.
"We are going to say they are Green Arrow nieces; you need to cooperate with that." Batman knew Robin would find in seconds that it's not true so he didn't even try to use that backstory, but he didn't plan to explained the real story to Robin.
"But why? What's their story?" Robin wondered.
"It's not something you need to be disturb from. You need to trust me about them, that's all." Batman said, in clear voice this discussion is over and stared at Robin sternly. Robin sighed but didn't ask another question, he knew that all Batman would tell him. He'll try to dig in further to their real story after he'll meet them.
GOTHAM CITY, AUGUST 08, 17:27 EDT
Alice sat on the floor next to her bed and stared at her other outfit, the one she used for her father's mission. The Eaglet suit created to be a joke; she didn't really plan to ever use it in fight. Until now she used in the Heart costume. It was based on Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, which seemed very innocent but her weapons were deadly. She wasn't sure how to fight without kill or at least wound her opponent badly.
"We are doing the right thing." Artemis said again, Alice heard that sentence many times by now. Artemis sat on her bed and check her arrows.
"Dad will kill us if he'll find out." Alice stated.
"He won't, he is not that bad." Artemis assured her even though she wasn't sure how much she believed in that.
"What if we'll meet him? In a battle?" Alice asked and stood up. She kicked the box with her assassin uniform back under her bed.
"We'll see what we'll do if that happened, don't worry," Artemis told her sister, she didn't get use to need to calm Alice down but there is first time for everything.
"It's not supposed to happen, we shouldn't be in different sides from our family." Alice folded her arms.
"Just please give it a chance, for me." Artemis asked her that again, they repeated this discussion couple of times by now.
"With the Eaglet uniform on my bed you can see I'm giving this a chance!" Alice called, pointing out at the suit on her bed.
"Great, so suit up, we don't want to late to Batman and Green Arrow." Artemis urged her.
"Fine," Alice sighed.
Artemis and Alice waited for the heroes to arrived. Alice didn't say anything after they got out the house because she couldn't know if they'll listen.
"Good, you here." Green Arrow smiled at them jumping to the roof they waited with Batman.
"We should go. You'll be introduced to the team now. Follow us." Batman ordered.
"I want to say thank you again for this opportunity." Artemis thanked them.
"There is something called Zeta-Tube, which allow us to teleport from place to place." Green Arrow explained.
"That so cool!" Artemis said enthusiastically.
After few moments they arrived to an abandoned phone booth. "Why are we here?" Alice wondered in contempt.
"The Zeta-Tube is here. We already put your data inside." Batman stated.
"You just get inside and it scan you." Green Arrow demonstrated them and got inside the booth.
Recognized, Green Arrow, 08.
"So, I'm just getting inside?" Artemis asked and went to the booth. Recognized, Artemis, B07.
Alice stared at the booth. She didn't like this at all. "Go," Batman said shortly. Alice glanced at him and then looked at the booth again. Batman stared back at her, "I know you grow up hating us, it can't be easy, but we won't hurt you, we are the good guys here, and we want to help. You said you giving this a chance, your sister want's it, support this decision, you can't back out now."
Alice stared at him, looking directly into Batman's eyes, something that not many dared to do because of his scary glare. After few seconds she rolled her eyes and got inside without saying a word. Recognized, Eaglet, B08.
Recognized, Batman, 02.
Alice looked around at the other heroes, her sister was smiling like the Cheshire Cat from excitement. The green girl smile at them and flew to their direction. "Hello, I'm Miss Martain and this are Robin, Aqualad and Superboy, nice to meet you, I'm sure it would be fun to work together, I'm glad I won't be the only girl anymore." She smiled at them.
"I'm Artemis and this is my sister Eaglet. We're glad to finally meet you," Artemis told her and smiled.
So, they mentioned us to the team before, they knew we were coming. Alice only now thought it's a bad idea for her sister to use her name as an alias. No one could ever think it'll be her real name, and Artemis is a good name for an archer hero, but it still could be dangerous.
'Recognized, Kid Flash, B03.'
Alice looked at the speedster who just arrived, he looked ridiculous with the beach items and he even tripped on the floor.
"Wall-man, huh? I love the uniform. What exactly are your powers?" Artemis asked him with a smile.
Alice listened carefully to the conversation in case she would need to say something. For now, she didn't mind to do an impression of a quite little girl who barely talks.
"Uh, who's this?" Kid Flash asked, puzzled.
"Artemis, your new teammate, and this is Eaglet, my sister." She introduced them. Alice nodded to him.
"Kid Flash. Never heard of you." The redhead mentioned.
"Um, she's my new protege and Eaglet is Batman's." Green Arrow explained and put his hand on Artemis shoulder.
"What happened to your old one?" Kid Flash protested.
'Recognized, Speedy, B06.'
"Well, for starters he doesn't go by Speedy anymore. Call me Red Arrow." The former sidekick said. Alice thought that if he tries to get out of his old mentor shadow choosing the same name with different color won't do the trick.
"Roy, you look-" Green Arrow started to say.
"Replaceable." Red Arrow finished the sentence.
"It's not like that. You told me you were going solo." Green Arrow said.
"So why waste time finding a sub? Can she even use that bow?" Red Arrow mocked.
Alice bit her lip, she heard many times in her short life, she shouldn't protect her sister and each one of them should handle things their own, but that was different environment. Artemis reacted before she could say something, "Yes, she can."
"Who are you?" Kid Flash asked.
"We're his nieces."
"they're my nieces." Artemis and Green Arrow said together.
"Another niece? Two nieces?" Robin said, it doesn't sound like he believe that excuse.
Alice knew it's only matter of time before their attention would be on her.
"But she is not your replacement. We have always wanted you on the team. And we have no quota on archers." Aqualad said calmly.
"And if we did, you know who we'd pick." Kid Flash reassured him.
"Whatever, Baywatch. We're here to stay. Right, sis?" Artemis asked her, turning the attention to her. Alice nodded without saying a word.
"You also recruit a child?" Red Arrow mocked.
"Hold on, why we taking a child to the team? She is a little girl there is no way she knows how to fight!" Kid Flash called.
Alice sighed; she knew that would come. "You want to try me?" Alice asked, raising an eyebrow, finally saying something.
"No, I can't fight against kids, it's not fair." Kid Flash told her.
"So, if you would see a child in a mission against you or try to steal something you won't attack?" Alice wondered.
Kid Flash wasn't sure what to answer for a moment but then he said, "Why would that happen? Villains want the job done they won't send immatures kids to do it."
"If the heroes use kids to do their job, why you think the villains won't do that as well?" Alice pointed at the team and folded her arms.
"We are different, we raise and train for that, I don't think it the same with villains. I do this role for two years by now and I never saw a child, because kids don't belong to this stuff they are too young and so does you." He told her.
"Maybe they just protected their kids well enough so you won't see them at all? The fact that you didn't saw one doesn't mean they are not out there on the field." Alice suggested.
"That exactly prove kids don't ready for the real job." Kid Flash tried to use what she said.
"Don't forget Superboy is also few weeks away." Miss Martian tried to say something related.
"Try to attack me I prove you age doesn't matter." Alice offered to Kid Flash with a smile.
Artemis just stared at her sister, she knew Alice will now how to deal with him and she did it greatly. She actually wanted to see Kid Flash tries to attack Alice, that would be fun to watch.
"That enough," Batman cut them off, "You came here for a reason?" He asked Red Arrow.
Red Arrow and Robin started to talk about a doctor. 'Give it a chance, don't fight with them.' Batman told her in sign language. Alice pretended she didn't saw it. Sign language was a personal thing she did with her friends, she didn't want him to be part of it.
"Perfect for extortion, manipulation, power broking. Yeah, sounds like the shadows." Artemis said, Alice stared at her, she said it like she knew that too well, in this rate they would start suspect them. They only arrived and they already mess up, this is a horrible start.
"Like you know anything about the shadows." Kid Flash told Artemis who smirked, "Who are you?!"
"Don't worry, Kid Flash, I'm sure the shadows didn't send kids for that mission." Alice smirked too.
"This probably only needed to press a button, I'm sure a child could do this too." Kid Flash mentioned.
Red Arrow continued his explanation and then it's seeming he and Green Arrow argue a bit again, they really didn't get along now. Alice wondered if that could have happened to her and Artemis if she didn't join this heroic life like her sister.
"So, we have a new mission. This is good." Miss Martian said after Red Arrow left, trying to be positive.
"Wait, seriously? We're really going to a mission against the shadows? Isn't it... a bit reckless for our first mission?" Alice asked, though she only expected an answer from Artemis. She really felt like it's the worst idea ever.
"You shouldn't come, because missions it's not a place for kids!" Kid Flash declared.
"I'm sure it's going to be interesting." Artemis smiled.
"You'll be alright, don't worry." Batman told her. Alice felt like he tries to be nice to her, but she didn't believe he could, he still Batman. She never afraid him, she even wanted to meet him, but she did not like him. She never met him before yesterday, but she heard about Batman from Kitrina when he arrived to the Falcone's manor to talk with her grandfather about her father.
HAPPY HARBOR, AUGUST 08, 21:51 EDT
"We are really going to be in each other heads since now?" Alice wondered.
"It's safer." Aqualad told them.
Alice just followed her sister outside after the argument she had with Kid Flash. 'They can't hear us if we sign right?' Alice asked Artemis as they walked out of the computer lab.
'I don't think so, I hope not.' Artemis answered.
'This is a very bad idea fighting the shadows. We can be in so much trouble.' Alice signed.
"You know I can still hear you." Artemis called to Kid Flash in their minds.
'He is such a jerk.' Alice sighed.
'Agreed, and don't worry about the shadows, no matter who was sent for that mission they can't know us well enough to realize it us. It's not like someone would expect us to become heroes.' Artemis reminded her.
'Unless dad is here.' Alice mentioned.
'I'm sure he's not. Besides, we can deal with him.' Artemis reassured her. She actually loved it, Alice wasn't need big sister reassurance most of the time, but now she finally has the chance to do that.
'You're named yourself Artemis.' Alice stated.
'Exactly, they can't think I'm actually Artemis because of that.' Artemis smiled.
They arrived outside and placed themselves next to Miss Martian. After a moment Superboy joined them. Alice rolled her eyes on Artemis reaction about Superboy, her sister had really bad boys' issues. Robin and Superboy went up to the bioship and the three girls stayed outside. Alice stayed quite in their mental arguement about Superboy, she assumed Miss Martian might have a crush on him. After few moments Aqualad told them there is an attack and they ran to the computer lab. Artemis shot arrows on the assassin as she blocks them with her sword. Alice really didn't know what to do. She just stayed quite while the other argue and decided what to do.
Alice stepped into the fight with the female assassin after she tried to shot an arrow from her crossbow at their fake doctor. The assassin, Alice wondered why she doesn't know who she is because she recognized Hook and she met Black Spider once too. Shadows know how to keep on their people in secret. "You're pretty good for a child." The female assassin told her after she avoided few of her hits.
"You're not bad either." Alice told her back, she got use to fight shadows, she trained with them all. The assassin jumped off and went to attack the doctor. She was too fast for Alice to stopped her.
"We've been duped!" The assassin called. Miss Martian revealed herself and the assassin told the others keep fighting because she is going to find the real target. Alice just ran after the assassin without saying a word, Artemis joined her chase too. Alice kicked the assassin while she tracked the footprints with her mask. "You want another round?"
"Gladly." Alice smiled.
But the assassin didn't really want this battle she continued to ran to the doctor's hiding place "I was hoping it'd be you two."
Alice was closer to the assassin but Artemis shot her gas arrow and knocked her down so they were both together. Apparently, the assassin faked it and overpowered them. "We need to go after her!" Artemis told Alice and they got up quickly and ran to the cafe. They saw the assassin walked outside, Artemis shot explosive arrows and Alice added few feathers with bombs. This knocked off her mask and Artemis pointed an arrow at her, "Don't move a muscle."
"Wow, I'm completely at your mercy." The assassin said with a smile.
"You," Artemis stated in shock.
"Who is she?" Alice asked, she had a feeling she missing something.
"They didn't tell you, Alice? So typical to this family." The assassin rolled her eyes.
"Jade, don't." Artemis asked.
"You know her?" Alice asked Artemis.
"I'm your sister, Alice. Though, it's shouldn't surprise they didn't tell you, I'm probably was their dark secret." The assassin smirked.
"What?! Arty, how could you and dad didn't tell me this thing?!" Alice exclaimed.
"She left us, abandoned us! What you wanted me to say? I was trying to protect you!" Artemis explained, lowered the arrow a bit.
"Why you always hiding things from me?! I don't need your protection I can handle things my own! You didn't even tell me mom is getting out of prison!" Alice called.
"That's harsh girl, I guess you're not a very good sister yourself, Artemis." Jade stated.
"I'm doing my best, and that more then you ever did!" Artemis returned the arrow to be pointed at her older sister.
"So, what do you want to do? Bring me to justice? Let your new friends interrogate me. I wonder if your position's secure enough to survive them learning everything I know." Jade teased them, Artemis lowered her bow, giving up. "Didn't think so. So, like the Cheshire cat, I'll just disappear."
"The poster, it was hers." Alice realized, she has been sleeping in Jade's old bed this all time! She wanted to continue to talk with Artemis but Aqualad and the doctor got out of the cafe so she stayed in silence.
"Where's the assassin?" Aqualad asked them.
"She... she got away." Artemis muttered.
Alice couldn't focus anymore in the others conversation, she was really upset, she needed time to realize what she just discovered.
GOTHAM CITY, AUGUST 09, 01:16 EDT
Alice really wanted to start yelling at Artemis but she knew better than do that in the middle of the street in Gotham. Artemis felt they aren't alone and put an arrow in her bow very quickly. Alice took out a feather to be ready. It felt weird not to have a useful weapon that can do damage. It was Red Arrow; he knows that was a cover story.
"How could you not tell me?!" Alice yelled as they got inside their room through the window.
"What you needed to know? That our sister left us? You couldn't remember her at all, I didn't want you to feel like someone abandoned you when it's not your fault. Dad also thought you shouldn't know." Artemis admitted.
"I deserve to know information about my life! That my mom getting out of jail, that she is paraplegic, that I have another sister. That this bed isn't even belongs to me!" Alice shouted; she was really mad.
"I'm sorry, I thought it's for the best." Artemis lowered her head.
Alice took her backpack who was always with essential items and got out again from the window, still in the Eaglet uniform. She just couldn't stay any longer at her house, she felt like all her whole life was a lie. She jumped on few roofs and went down to a dark alley. Someone was there behind her and she threw explosive feathers.
"Calm down," Alice heard Batman deep voice.
"What do you want?" Alice asked, she didn't have patience for that.
"To hear how was your first mission." Batman stepped out of the shadow.
"It went alright." Alice lied, Batman stared at her, waiting for another information. "I need to go."
"It was that hard to be a hero? You're running away?" Batman asked directly.
"What? No, I'm not running." Alice told him.
"You have a backpack I know how a runing child looks like." Batman stated.
"It's not because of the hero gig. I just need some time to myself outside my house." Alice explained.
"What happened? It's related to the mission? Aqualad mentioned the assassin you fought against ran away. It was someone you knew?" Batman wondered, he knew it might happened.
"No, I didn't know her." Alice tone was toxic.
"But Artemis did?" Batman asked.
"It's none of your business." Alice spatted and turned around, walking away. Batman jumped to block her way.
"It's clear you need to talk with someone and you can trust me. I won't be mad and I won't kick you out of the team because of that. Tell me." Batman urged her, he assumed that what crossed her mind.
"I'm stupid that all there is to tell." Alice muttered.
"And this is enough for you to have a reason to sleep in the streets?" Batman asked.
"Won't be my first time." Alice told him.
"You're under my care now, I can't let you do that. Follow me." Batman said, deciding to leave that subject now and jumped off.
"I'm not trusting you at all, I'm not going to sleep at your HQ or something like that." Alice exclaimed.
"It's mutual, I don't think you're ready to see the Batcave." Batman told her. After few blocks they arrived to the Batmobile.
"What are we doing here?" Alice asked.
"Get inside." Batman ordered. Alice decided she has nothing to lose and did what he told.
"Now what? You want me to spend the night here? I know how to take care of myself in the streets of Gotham, I don't need help." Alice said, crossing her arms.
"I know that, and I'm sure this backpack is full with weapons that suppose to help you to spend a night outside. Since I'm assume you are not tired, I thought we'll do a patrol together, you already in your suit after all." Batman started to drive.
"The backpack is so I could change to normal clothes I didn't had time for that in my house." Alice clarified but hugged the backpack.
"I'm sure that there are clothes in there too," Batman muttered.
"You don't jump on rooftops while patroliing?" Alice asked.
"Sometimes we do, depends on the day. The car is useful and fast for us." Batman explained.
"What's your plans? Spending the time with me until the morning so I won't be alone on the streets at night?" Alice rolled her eyes.
"Patrolling together could be a good way to get to know you." Batman told her.
"Oh, please, I'm sure you broke out to my school and got out my file with all the violent incidents I had in school." Alice sneered.
"I looked that up and it wasn't there. Something you already know." Batman smiled.
"I didn't want you to ever found out about me. But that didn't survive much time." Alice sighed.
"You did a great job in hiding yourself. I really didn't know you exist." Batman admitted.
"I'm such a jerk!" Alice called to herself.
"You want to explain it? This is the second time you address yourself like that." Batman noted, he assumed Alice was used to blame herself in everything which was make sense with the way she raised.
"You knew she exists, right?!" Alice asked.
"Who?" Batman wondered; he was pretty sure he knew that answer but he wants to hear it from Alice.
"Come on, you are detective, of course you knew. I should have realized that from your voice when you asked Paula if she has 'another daughter', I didn't give it a thought, I was glad you didn't know about me, but your emphasis the word 'another' so much that I should have realized it! You should have said 'a third daughter' you would save me that trouble from finding about that in a mission! My parents! Paula said in the conversation with my dad she lost one daughter! I thought she talked about my childhood but she talked about Jade too!" Alice yelled, connecting the dots she ignored until now, she was very angry, mad enough to forget that is Batman next to her.
"You didn't know about her?" Batman asked pretty softly.
That's freaked Alice out, she gasped and looked outside the window. She talked to much, lowered her guards. She didn't think clearly, and she was probably in a lot of trouble.
Batman put the Batmobile on auto-pilot and put his hand on her shoulder, something that caused Alice to flinch. "You don't need to worry, I'm not mad at you and I'm not going to judge you on your family or at what happened at today's mission. You can trust me; I want to help you."
"Forget I said anything." Alice stated.
"Look at me, Alice, look at me." Batman demanded. After couple of moments Alice turned him back. "You need a conversation; I can see that. I know you grew up thinking I'm the worst that could happen to you, but I'm not going to treat you like your father did, you can be honest with me, tell me why you didn't know about Jade."
"Because I'm blind! I'm stupid! I ignored the signs; I should have realized it. But I never felt like I missing something. My dad and Artemis always kept me in the dark. They didn't tell me when Paula was supposed to get realize from jail or she was on a wheelchair nor about Jade, it's not new. I could never ask questions so if they decided I shouldn't know something I wouldn't know about it at all." Alice turned her head back to look at the window.
Batman parked the car next to a bank and they saw some goons try to get inside. "I think you could use the distraction. Open the glove compartment there are some equipment for you."
"How you knew we'll meet tonight?" Alice wondered.
"Well, I didn't know I'll see you right after the mission, but I planned to offer you to join us to our next patrol, so I thought it should be here ready for you." Batman explained.
Alice opened the compartment. She saw a new glove, com and utility belt who suits her costume. "This is really for me?"
"Yes, the glove has holographic computer and you need to have the same equipment as we do." Batman told her.
"Thanks. Wait, Robin won't be mad you're going patrolling with me now?" Alice wondered, putting the glove on her hand and the utility belt. She puts the glove in her backpack.
"Don't worry about him, now we should go stop them before they'll ran away." Batman pointed on the bank and Alice quickly got out the Batmobile.
Alice got inside and quickly knocked them off, it didn't take her too long, she just used the explosive feathers and kicked them. "Aren't we suppose to do that together?" Alice asked, she knew Batman lurking the shadows somewhere.
"I wanted to see your skills," Batman showed up behind her, "you are well trained." Batman tied them up and they got back to the car.
"How do you know they won't run?" Alice wondered about the tied goons.
"You think it's that easy to get free from ropes and handcuffs?" Batman asked her.
"I know that's easy; I could get free in less then a minute." Alice smiled.
"You can't do it faster?" Batman wondered.
"I can, but it's not fun." Alice smirked.
"Are we waiting the police?" Alice wondered, mockingly.
"Yes, but I can't let them see the car." Batman stated and drove the car from the bank. "You had a tackle with the police?"
It was something Alice could answer, it didn't bother her but she didn't want to give Batman the impression she trusted him so she stayed in silence. Alice had a feeling Batman looking the goons and not one of his villains because he doesn't want her first patrolling too much. Alice knew half of Gotham villains aren't in the city in those days, and Batman was good detective to know that. Alice didn't want to deal with villains she knew, so she preferred it that way. The silence freaked her out so she decided to talk, "Why do you care about me?"
"Because you don't have to be like your parents, you can choose your path, and I want to help. I'm trying to stop the crime in Gotham so everyone will have a better future and it's including you. But when I met you, I realized you needed more guidance, you have a great potential, and it's supposed to be your choice what to do with it. But becoming a villain because your father demands it from you it's not a choice." Batman said.
"I could never imagine to do something else." Alice muttered.
"Now you can." Batman assured her.
GOTHAM CITY, AUGUST 09, 05:43 EDT
They fought with some other thieves and goons. Alice started to get use to the equipment in the belt. "I thought you didn't want me to use deadly weapons." She mentioned in the end of the night, after they returned to the Batmobile.
"The pole and the taser aren't deadly." Batman stated.
"In my hands, most of the things are deadly." Alice chuckled.
"That what I assumed, so the taser don't have enough energy to kill. Also, the pole, if you would try to do more then fainting someone with it, you'll activate a rubber cover." Batman smiled, he thought on everything.
"That's... smart." Alice muttered; she didn't expect that.
"You aren't planning to go home?" Batman asked.
"What home?! You think I ever had home? We had assignment last year to check the definition in the dictionary. 'Home' is a place you live with your family. I never had one! I found out I have another sister only hours ago! I met my mom for the first time in last week. It's not actually a family!" Alice called; she was always frustrated from this topic. She was really in control, she decided to pretend a little bit she is more like a child. And she wants to show Batman how villains' kids really feel like in this city.
"It's probably not easy to find out you have another sister in the middle of your first mission." Batman assumed, he hoped Alice would mention what happened there.
"Of course not! I didn't even realize what's going on! Artemis recognized her and when Jade saw my confusion, she blurted out she's... my sister. We started argue and she was just use it to run." Alice lowered her head, realizing the confession she did to Batman.
"Don't worry, I couldn't expect you to be able to arrest your sister on your first mission, it's too much psychological." Batman stated.
"Well, it's almost sunrise, can I go now?" Alice had enough from Batman for now.
"Yes, meet me near the phone booth in the evening. I'll come there with Robin to pick you up. You two need to start know each other. The utility belt can fold into your pocket, it should be on you all the time. Where are you planning to go?" Batman wondered.
"I just need some space; I know how to handle the streets of Gotham. This backpack is always full with things in case I'm going to the streets for few days," Alice explained.
"Like weapons," Batman stated, "one of the pockets have a lock, normal kids won't have this on their backs."
"Well, I'm not a normal kid. And it would be very useful for the Eaglet costume. You can't survive in the city without a way to protect yourself and weapons it's part of it." Alice shrugged.
"I know Gotham is not an easy city to grow at, but I'm try my best." Batman mentioned.
"I know that, I would never replace Gotham, I love it here," Alice smiled and opened the car door, taking her backpack.
"See you this evening," Batman stated.
"Bye, Bruce," Alice whispered, hoping he won't hear her.
"Explain yourself." He grabbed her shoulder before she got out.
"To be a hero without superpowers you need to be rich enough to get equipment. Not many of the rich men in Gotham have a motive to be Batman, but you do. Don't worry I didn't tell this to Artemis or my dad or any other villain. Eventually this city needs Batman and I'm not going to deny it from them. I do believe that for years, even though I doesn't like you. They don't know who you are, but I know most of the villains think the same; you gave them power for the crime by stopping them, revealing your identity won't give them anything. I actually surprise your image survive so much time. The moment you get pass the image of the shallow, playboy billionaire, it's easy to see that you are Batman. It was my childhood game in class, we would sit together and try to guess who are you." Alice laughed.
"Your whole classroom knows I'm Batman?!" He asked, surprised.
"Not everyone, but yes, Bruce Wayne was the most logic answer we got. I'm the only one who know for sure, and I'm not going to approve this guess to anyone, don't worry." Alice assured him and walked out. Batman stared at her, realizing more he should keep this girl close. He saw her getting down the sewers, not the best idea to do in Gotham, but if Alice realized his secret identity, she probably knows what she is doing.
After Alice changed for civilian clothes, she got out of the sewers until she arrived her destination. It was an abandoned storage that one of the villains in Gotham used it for some time. It had an elevator and many other things they could use, so this is her hide place. She took out her penkinfe and put it on the screen at the entrance so the door would open. The first floor was really innocent, they made it look like it's just a club for kids. There was a broken piano (which was really hard to get), two easels and painting equipment, a table to do homework with broken chairs, pile of books on the floor, few pillows and a rug. There were a lot of puzzle pieces on the floor. Most of the things collected from the trash. Alice pressed on the light switch in the other side of the room which opened the elevator door. Besides, the entrance and the elevator door there was another door in the room. She got inside and got down to the second floor. This floor was almost opposite from the upper one. The first one was friendly and innocent like a place you would want to be at your all afternoon but this one was very dark. It was their training place, most of the space was empty besides the punching bag. There were some dolls to threw knives at them and even a range to practice shooting. There were few boxes with weapons inside them. There were shackles, chains and handcuffs on the wall. In this floor most of the things were stolen, it's not an easy equipment to get from the trash. Alice was much calmer now after the patrolling with Batman, which was good because she was afraid of what she could have done earlier. She still wanted to get off some steam so she put her backpack on the floor and started to punch the punching bag, she never used gloves. She couldn't believe to the events that occur in the pass few days. Her father left, her mother returned, she has another sister, they become heroes, she met Batman and he actually helped her tonight to calm down; Alice was really overwhelmed. After few minutes the elevator was opened again. "Sorry if I woke you, Cass." Alice stated without looking at the girl still punching the bag.
'What's the matter?' Cass asked her in sign language after she was in front of Alice. Cassandra was their last member to join, she got here half a year ago. She ran away from the shadows and she found them. Alice and Rose were the only ones in the world who could understand her. Alice didn't trust Cassandra at all, at first. But after she started to get to know this girl, she realized Cass was the best thing that happened to her. It was hard to communicate with Cass at first, because she didn't know how to speak at all. Since they all used sign language here, and Cass knew how to read body language she quickly started to use sign language as well. She still didn't understand everything especially compilcated sentences, she could only understand basic language, but because they communicate with signs and not only voice it was easier for her.
"I hate my family." Alice stated, punching the bag.
'So, you finally quitting shadows?' Cass asked, almost smiling. She ran away after her first assassination mission. By reading the body language of the corpse she realized what she really did and ran. For the pass few months, Cass tried very hard to convince Alice and Rose to leave the shadows as well, or at least ask for a break.
"My dad left the house, my mom kicked him out. They're getting divorce." Alice sighed, she gave another strong punch to the bag and sat on the floor.
'How is your mom?' Cass wondered; they all knew Alice's mom is getting out of jail. That was one of the reason Cass was the only one here. This storage was their safe place, that why they called it 'The Bunker'. You can't come here to be alone, almost every time they were at least three kids here. Cass was the only one who live there, because she ran away from her dad and doesn't have a house anymore. And this was the safest place she could be in. When the summer begun Alice realize that half of the kids in their group going to family vacations, which was really rare when you have villains as parents. So, she decided they taking a break from The Bunker. They all trying to live a normal life for the pass few weeks of the summer. The Wilsons also wasn't in Gotham, they went to a trek in Asia, so it was very easy to declare on a break. Not many of the kids were in Gotham, but the ones who was still in the city knew they can call Alice if there is an emergency.
"I don't know her at all yet, and I can't be in the house now." Alice sighed.
'Why?' Cass asked, sitting in front of her.
Alice looked at Cass for couple of seconds, she needs to be very careful with what she's saying. Cass ability to read body language makes her a lie detector. So, Alice needed to make sure she isn't lying or else Cass would start to wonder what Alice really did that night. "I have another sister besides Artemis, they never told me about her. I don't want to talk about that for now." Cass just hugged Alice in response.
Author note: I want to share how I decided on the timestamps. Wally finished his school day in 15:30 according on the watch in the episode. In Gotham and Happy Harbour, it's supposed to be 16:30 already. Until the cave scene it was almost dark outside so I assumed Wally arrived to the cave approximately at 18:30.
Alice is part of the team, meaning she joined after Artemis, so now every other team member will be in the next number, making Zatanna B09, because Alice is in B08 now.
I wanted this chapter would be mostly from Alice eyes so I used only the aliases of the heroes and didn't use Cheshire's name until the end. Jade is nineteen and she probably avoided her family so there is no way Alice could know about her. Alice was two years old when she left.
Alice tries to pretend like she's silent little girl, I don't really sure it's worked for her, but she tries to pretend she's innocent child. She also didn't grow up ina healthy environment, from her point of view, Batman is tough enough just like her father.
Now, you starting to get the picture of Alice group of kids, we already have the Wilsons, Kitrina and Cass. I need to mention that Cass won't going to be the same from the comics or from what we saw in Young Justice. I had this fanfic in my head since 2015 and it's long before season 3 of Young Justice. So even though Orphan was there and didn't talk I don't think it will be the same path of Cass here. Because in the fanfic she has Alice and plenty other villains' kids, she is not in the streets for half of her life, she is not alone. And Alice helps these kids in whatever they need and teaching Cass how to talk is part of it. There are plenty more of villains' kids in this fanfic. Alice is basically running a gang of villains' kids. Feel free to try and guess the rest of the group in the comments.