Tim Drake finally was set free from his detention. It was a cold Friday night in June, nobody dared leave their homes...for what reason, Tim did not know. Of course there was always psycho's and Muggers and Murderers out prowling the streets in Gotham, everybody usually seemed a bit more on the stupid side during the chilly nights at Gotham City. Even his Teacher had offered a ride home after telling him he would be staying after hours.
"What's wrong with everybody? Why won't they come outside?" Tim asked himself as he walked home from Detention. He noticed most if not all the stores were closed, even though they usually close a couple hours later then when they did.
"...it doesn't really add up." He contradicted the reason why everybody was smart that night all the way up until he reached the corner of Henderson Street. It was a few minutes before a small black limo pulled up next to him. There was a small old man sitting in the front seat.
"Sorry I'm late Master Timothy, I got caught up in this afternoon's cleaning." The old man said whilst rolling down the window.
"Its okay Alfred." Tim said with a slight grin. He opened the back door and stepped inside, the interior was lavish in every way. I was painted in a beautiful golden brown, the seats were of the finest black quality, and to Tim's left, there was a small mini bar with a small mini refrigerator. He opened it up and grabbed the first thing he touched…water.
Tim sighed and drank the small bottled drink. The car ride home was very quiet, no man spoke a word. Dead silence. When they finally arrived, Tim smiled at Alfred as if to say "Thanks Al" as he had always done before. Alfred smiled as he watched the boy run into the huge building known as Wayne Manor.
Eager to finally have some fun that night, Tim jumped down on the couch to watch TV, and was shocked to see a male news reporter stating the following story... "At about 7:00 O'clock this night, Klarion the Witch boy and Hocus-Pocus were sighted robbing Twizzlers house of Voodoo. Nightwing apprehended Hocus, and sent Klarion into a book. What he failed to do was to make sure the police got Miss Pocus, for she escaped after murdering the two policemen.
The camera panned out to reveal a woman just beside the man as they engaged in conversation.
"Obviously this is a sign that Hocus is going to go on a rampage to avenge her lover, her level of psychopathic intellect has proven that she will go to any lengths to avenge Klarion." Said the woman.
"She may just want to murder Nightwing for all we know, he after all was the one who did this to her boyfriend." Replied the man.
"She's obviously too insane to comprehend just targeting one individual, she clearly states in her Arkham interrogation tapes that she believes in magic." The woman retorted.
"Well how else do you think she escaped Arkham? Or knocked down the wall in the Alley? Or what about the vast eye-witness stories saying she appeared on a broomstick?" The man shot back.
The woman snorted. "You can't honestly say you believe in magic, can you Jack?"
"This city is overrun by killer clowns, human/plant hybrids, and shape shifting clay monsters, what makes you think that I won't believe in magic?"
"I'm just saying that she is insane, and that insanity might just be being caused by the likes of people just like Nightwing!" The woman raised her voice.
Tim had turned off the Television. He had heard enough. He started to get up when Alfred lightly put his hand on his shoulder. "Master Bruce wanted me to tell you that he would handle it."
Tim looked at him questionably. "Why?" He asked.
Alfred studdered. "H-he didn't say."
Tim looked down. "Its about Kon, isn't it?"
Alfred sighed. "He just thought you should get some rest, Master Timothy. After all, you've been quite tense ever since his…" Alfred stopped right there.
"I'm fine." Tim said as he walked towards the library.
"But sir…" Alfred began.
"I said, I'm FINE." Tim snapped back, shocking both Alfred and himself. He looked Alfred. "I'm sorry Al…its just…" and he ran off into the library.
Alfred found him in the cave after he used the secret passage in the library. He was laying on the ground holding his suit. A red spandex outfit with a cape, a utility belt, and an "R" printed on the right side of the chest.
Tim wasn't crying, he wasn't quivering or anything like that, he was just starring at his suit. He was thinking. Thinking about Kon. His friend. He sat there for a good ten minutes. Dead silent. A bat flew across the room. Followed by another, and another, and another until the entire ceiling of the cave was incinerated with crazy flying bats. Tim finally looked up.
"Its my job as Robin to keep this city safe. And just because somebody dear to me died, that doesn't mean I should stop caring about everybody else." Alfred nodded. Tim stood up. He slowly picked up his outfit and walked off to change.
"Oh, and one more thing sir…." Alfred began.
"What is it, Al?"
"Master Bruce said that that fellow he's been doing business deals with…"
"Steven Payne?" Tim asked, interrupting Alfred.
"Yes, that one. It appears that Mr. Payne has a daughter about your age, so you'll be meeting up with her during their meeting."
Tim sighed. "Why? If she's my age can't she just stay at home by herself?"
Alfred put a hand on Tim's shoulder. "Master Timothy, you haven't been associating with anybody your age since Master Kon's…" Alfred stopped, afraid to go on.
"Death, Al. You can say it." Tim said as he sat down on the stone staircase. "Even if he was still alive, remember what happened last time I made a friend."
"Miss Watson had her own descision" Alfred reassured, also sitting down.
"But I helped make her descision."
Alfred remained quiet. "You put her in danger…but its still not to save her." He smiled, then sat up. "And that's all I have to say on the subject." He was about to leave the bat cave when he heard a voice.
"Al!" Tim shouted, watching Alfred turn around. "Thanks."