"I don't know how Batman manages to get anything done during the day," I grumble to Riddler as he makes coffee. "I'm becoming nocturnal."

"Good morning to you too." He hands me a cup of coffee. "Would this help?"

"Very much. You really are a genius." I say gratefully, taking a long sip.

"That was never in doubt." The usual arrogance colours his voice. "How did your night go?" We sit on the couch and I throw my legs over his, trying to get comfortable.

"It was… interesting. Crane has definitely got a new friend. And I think the new friend has brought more friends with him." I fill Riddler in on what I saw and heard at the Chinatown penthouse. By the time I finish talking his face says this concerns him as much as it does me. "I'm going to visit Batman today; it's starting to look like he needs to be aware of this too. The way the voice on the radio spoke about him… whoever it is, he's definitely not Batman's fan." We sit in silence for a while, drinking our coffee when Riddler turns to me.

"Still excited for Halloween?"

"Yeah! My first Halloween in Gotham. My first holiday in Gotham! To the first of many." I toast with my coffee mug. Riddler raises his mug in response.

"To the first of many." He agrees.

"So, how does The Riddler spend Halloween? Devising dastardly plans? Plotting evil deeds?" I tease.

"Well, I do have the outline of a plan to hold Catwoman hostage to get to Batman…" He begins but quickly shuts up when I whack him in the shoulder. "But that can be postponed. Finding out what I can about Crane seems to take precedence. I don't think I'll be out trick or treating tomorrow. "

"Good idea Edward. I don't want to have to lock your ass in Arkham." I adopt what I hope is a ferocious look. Judging from Riddler's amused expression I'm not as terrifying as hoped.

We move around the apartment for a while, staying busy doing nothing before Riddler retreats to his computer to try and work out what Crane is doing. I figure that's my cue to call Dick for a ride to the manor. I pull out my untraceable mobile and dial his number.

"I'm guessing this is you, New Girl?" Dick answers. "The big guy said you had a new phone. You ready to head up to headquarters?"

"Yes, please. It's not groundbreaking information but I think you guys should be aware. There's a diner off Grand Avenue. I'll meet you out front." I'm not going to lead him straight to Riddler, and the diner we had lunch at yesterday was the first place that sprang to mind.

"See you soon." He hangs up. I grab my coat and the keys to the front door.

"I'm going out to do hero stuff!" I shout to Riddler, unable to resist the teasing.

"Have fun." He replies. He knows me too well to rise to the taunt. I head out the door and walk towards the diner. It's a bit of a long walk but I don't think I'll ever get sick of walking around the streets of Gotham. The wind is sharp, making me pull my coat closer. The leaves on the trees are just beginning to turn red and orange. Houses and businesses are decorated with jack-o'-lanterns and paper ghosts. It's perfect.

I turn onto Grand Avenue and see Dick leaning against his car outside the diner, waiting for me.

"Have you been waiting long?" I ask in greeting as I approach him.

"Nah. Get in, it's cold out here. I hate Gotham this time of year." He grumbles as we climb in. I look at him in wonder.

"How can you hate it? It's beautiful." I argue. Dick pulls away from the curb and we speed down the road, probably a little faster than necessary, but pretty good by Dick's standards.

"Yeah, but I've lived here for years. Gotham's just a city to me, not a dream come true." He counters. He has a point. I used to complain when it started to get cold back home. In a few years, I'll probably be complaining about it here too.

"Fair point. So, what's new?" I ask. I've only been gone for a couple of days but it already feels like weeks. Not for the first time, I wonder if I've done the right thing.

"Oh you know, Bruce moping around the place, being all serious. Tim and Barbara being all soppy and in love, and me being handsome and brave. So the usual, really."

"Yeah right." I scoff and roll my eyes.

"I'm serious; Barbara and Tim are soppy and in love." He insists, grinning. I would smack him in the arm if he weren't driving. Dick parks his car at the front of the manor where Alfred is waiting for us at the front door.

"Do you just hang around the front door on the off chance someone comes to visit?" I grin at Alfred.

"Master Grayson called to say you would be coming." He replies, his manner as unflappable as always. "Master Bruce and the others are in the library should you wish to join them."

"Thanks, Alf." Dick claps him on the shoulder as we walk past. He ushers us into the library where Bruce, Barbara and Tim are already sitting in discussion. They greet Dick warmly. I get a head nod from Tim, which is good progress, and a warm smile from Barbara.

"I hear you've got information for us," Bruce says, immediately prompting me to tell my story. Alfred re-enters the room holding a tray of steaming coffee mugs.

"Good to see you too," I mumble. I'm mollified when he cracks a smile. "I wanted you guys to have a heads up. I was-" I pause as Alfred passes a mug to me and I take a sip. He remembers how I take my coffee, of course. I nod in thanks and continue. "I was out last night trying to see what Crane is up to. Edwa- uh, Riddler seems pretty worried, which I figure is a bad sign, so I thought a little extra intel couldn't hurt. Whatever he's planning, it looks like he's going to act soon. He's got goons carting boxes of things from his penthouse in Chinatown to I have no idea where, and they aren't the usual goons. These guys seem trained, confident. The way they spoke, I'd almost say like an army. And the guy in charge… I didn't see him, only heard him through the radio, but his voice is strange. Kind of robotic." I look directly to Bruce. "And I really don't think he's a fan of yours. He didn't really say much, but his voice… he sounded so angry when he talked about you. Called you 'old man' and said you were afraid to kill but were good at screwing up plans. You've definitely met this guy before." Bruce nods.

"Alright. Who is it?" He asks, and they all look at me expectantly.

"Well, I didn't see the guy…"

"But you're the expert, right?" Says Tim, not unkindly. "You know everyone." I pause for a moment, considering.

"Pretty much, yeah. Which is why this is a bit scary." I take a deep breath. "I have no idea who this is. He doesn't sound familiar; I don't know anyone with an army… I just don't know." I admit, and it hurts. A part of me, a huge part, is scared that without my knowledge of Batman characters and plots I don't have any place on this team. I don't have years of ninja training. I can't hack a computer. I can hold my own in a fight for a few minutes and mostly use my computer for Facebook. Not exactly traditional hero traits.

"Does that make anyone else worry? Because it makes me worry." Announces Dick, breaking the silence that followed my statement. Barbara frowns and looks to Tim. He looks to Bruce. And Bruce looks at me.

"Crane has been too quiet for too long; he likely will act soon." He agrees. "It may not be a lot of information but it's good. We won't be surprised by the army or this new person. Crane has lost the element of surprise." He looks directly to me. "This is good work."

"You can count on me whenever he does act," I promise. "Like I told Riddler, Crane is on my shit list. I owe him."

"Can't argue with a personal vendetta, that's my motto," Dick says, breaking the tension.

"What's a motto?" Tim fires at him, grinning.

"Nothing, what's a motto with you?" Dick grins back. My jaw drops.

"No way. Are you two seriously quoting The Lion King?" I can't believe what I'm hearing.

"Don't let the costumes and the weapons fool you. They're children." Barbara tells me, rolling her eyes but looking fondly at Tim. Dick was right. They are kind of soppy.

"Hey New Girl, while you're here, do you want to go a few rounds?" Dick asks, putting up his fists and punching at the air. "You shouldn't fall behind on your training just because you like Riddler more than us."

"Dick!" Barbara hisses, but I laugh it off. I'm getting to know Dick well enough to understand his sense of humour.

"If you think your ego can handle losing again, bring it on." I crow.

¿?

I spend the morning training, which mostly means getting my ass kicked by Dick. He seems determined to prove that my beating him last time was nothing but a fluke.

"Alright," I call, getting up off the mat for what feels like the hundredth time. "You win. You are the superior crime fighter." I'm already planning payback for this.

"Don't worry New Girl, if you train hard you might grow up to be almost as awesome as me."

"That is my dream." I snark back, deadpan. "I should go say goodbye to everyone. If you're out patrolling tonight I might run into you."

"You do seem to show up a lot." He winks and jumps out of the way as I try to smack his arm.

"That's it; I'm pushing you off a rooftop if I see you tonight."

"You'll have to be faster than that if you want to be able to catch me." I roll my eyes and leave the Batcave, moving back into the manor to find Bruce.

I find him in his office on a video call with Lucius Fox. I wave at him from the door. He looks up and smiles.

"I won't be long Belle, I'm speaking with Lucius."

"Say hi for me." I take a seat in one of the armchairs to the right of the door. I start poking at my ribs; Dick landed a good kick during training and I can almost feel the bruise forming already.

"Belle is here," Bruce says to the screen. "She says hello."

"Nice to hear from you, Miss Mitchell." I hear Lucius' voice filter out of the speakers. I stand up and walk around the desk to stand behind Bruce. Lucius smiles on the screen.

"Hi, Lucius. How're things?"

"Never dull, Miss Mitchell, never dull. I hear you've settled in well?" He obviously knows I've left the manor to be with Riddler but there is no trace of disapproval or judgement in neither his voice nor on his face.

"Yeah. Gotham is great, I've always wanted to live in a big city. The, uh, nightlife is interesting."

He chuckles at that. "More interesting than most places I believe."

"I'll let you two finish. Good to see you." I wander back over to the armchair and wait a few minutes while they discuss Wayne Enterprises business.

"I didn't realise you were quite so involved in the day to day running of the business," I say when the call ends.

"A business like Wayne Enterprises can do as much good in Gotham as Batman. It's important to focus on both." He replies.

"Makes sense. I just came in to say goodbye. I'll be out tonight anyway, so just call if you want my help with Scarecrow." I offer.

"I'll be in touch." He tells me and I head out.

I run into Tim and Barbara at the front door.

"Are you leaving?" Barbara asks.

"Yeah. Things to do, naps to take. You know how it is." I quip, and she laughs.

"Do you need a lift? Tim and I are going to the city."

"If you're going anywhere near Grand Avenue, a lift would be great. I really need to get my own transport." I frown to myself.

"No problem. Jump in." Tim gestures to the dark car parked near the manors front steps.

I climb in the back while Tim helps Barbara into the front and packs away her wheelchair.

We pull out of the driveway and head towards the city.

"Are you living on Grand Avenue?" Barbara asks conversationally. I think for a minute about how to respond, and decide to go with honesty.

"No, but I didn't think I should lead you guys directly to Riddler's evil lair." To my surprise, Tim snorts.

"And I thought you were a liar." He says, almost to himself. I guess brutal honesty is the way to earn his respect.

They drop me off at Pauli's Diner, the place Riddler and I had lunch and where Dick picked me up this morning. I thank them and watch them drive away. I look to the diner and think about lunch. I could do something nice for Riddler and bring back food. Dude tends to forget to eat when he's working. I go inside and order food to take away, collect it and start my reasonable walk home.

¿?

I turn the key in the lock and walk straight to the kitchen to dump the food. No sign of Riddler. I make my way to his office and find him working intently on the computer. I walk up and wrap my arms around his shoulders.

"Hey, you. I bought home food if you're hungry." I tell him. "What are you working on?"

"Mostly tracking Crane's movements. How was training?" He asks, barely looking up.

"How did you know I trained?" I'd only said I was going to deliver information.

"Your knuckles are red. Either you were training or you mugged someone on the way here and that's where you got the food from." He finally turns to face me, grinning.

"There was no mugging," I confirm. "I got food from that diner again. So come and eat it."

We grab the food and take it over to the small table behind the couch.

"You didn't have to buy me lunch," Riddler tells me. "But thank you."

"Ulterior motive," I warn. "I want to know where I can get a bike."

"A bike." He echoes. "As in a motorbike?"

"Yeah. Robin gave me a lift on his and it was amazing. I need some sort of transport, so…"

He looks at me thoughtfully. "How do you intend on getting this bike?"

"Ah. That's where my plan gets somewhat fuzzy." I tell him between bites. "I can't steal a bike; my conscious is not okay with that. Buying a bike with stolen money, I'm a little more okay with. Especially if the money is stolen from a not-so-nice person."

"Your moral compass becomes more interesting every day." He says, positively beaming.

"You're a bad influence."

"What do you need me to do?" He asks, a smile still in place.

"I just need you to give me the name of someone who has money they didn't earn. I can't exactly ask Batman. I really don't think he'd approve."

"He definitely wouldn't. But the Detective has a much less interesting world view than you or I."

"Oh?" I encourage, wondering where this is going.

"He sees the world in absolutes. Good or evil, right or wrong, black or white. You and I know the world works in shades of grey." He says, sounding more like The Riddler than I've heard him for a while.

"Uh-huh. Do you have a name or what?"

"I do. Several, in fact, but I know the perfect one for this. You don't want to go for anyone too high profile or you'll be asking for retaliation. Don't target anyone too clever, they know how to hide their money too well. You're looking for someone rich, but stupid enough to keep large amounts of cash at home rather than in a bank." He pauses dramatically. "You're looking for Alberto Falcone."

I can't help the grin spreading over my face. Alberto Falcone. This is the perfect payback for trying to sell us out to his father, way back when I first got here.

"Alberto is a rich idiot." I agree. "This is too perfect to pass up. I'm in."

By one o'clock we have a plan. The plan mostly involves sneaking into Alberto's apartment and smacking him in the head until he passes out, breaking into his safe and taking his money. There is beauty in simplicity.

Alberto may have one or two goons on watch outside the apartment, but Riddler is confident he can jam the signal on their radios so Alberto can't call for backup.

There's no time like the present, so Riddler drives us over to a fancy looking apartment building where Alberto is rumoured to live. Riddler is positive he's here.

I'm in black tights, black long sleeve top and a black mask that covers most of my face I got from a costume shop, and I have a black backpack on. I didn't think Bruce would appreciate me doing break and enters in the batsuit. Might ruin his brand.

I have kept the utility belt though. The bat symbol at the front is covered with black duct tape but carries all the usual gadgets. I grapple up to the 11th floor on the east side of the building, crouching on the balcony. This should be the right apartment.

"I was right- two guards standing at the front door." The radio in my ear crackles to life with Riddler's voice. "I'm going to disable their radio signal, but it will disable ours too."

"No worries. I'll be in and out. Meet you at the car in ten minutes." I tell him. I'm as excited for my first robbery as I was for my first night with Batman. I try not to think too hard about that.

"Be careful Belle. He's an idiot, but he's vicious. Don't let him get the upper hand."

"I won't, don't worry. Flip the switch, I'll see you soon." I tell him. He doesn't reply, so I assume all radios are disabled for the next ten minutes. Time to act.

The first stroke of good luck comes at finding the balcony door unlocked so I can easily slink inside. I find myself in an open plan kitchen and living room area. There are dirty dishes piling in the sink and on the benchtops and empty beer and liquor bottles littered around the room. An ashtray sits on the coffee table in the living area, still smouldering. There are 3 doors on the wall to the right. I pick the one closest to me and find a bathroom. It's just as dirty as the rest of the apartment, but there is definitely no safe in there. I creep along and check the second door.

This looks more promising. A sort of home office set up. Much less impressive than Riddler's. One computer on a desk covered in soda cans, empty chip packets and tobacco ash. But in the corner, on top of a three drawer filing cabinet, sits a safe.

My good luck has obviously run out though, because it's not the type of safe I was hoping for. I was hoping for an old-style lock and key safe. I can pick a lock without much difficulty. But this one is a fancy high-tech contraption that looks like it needs a handprint to open.

I resist the urge to sigh loudly and sneak back out to the lucky last door. This would have to be the bedroom. I steel myself and slowly open the door. Alberto is napping on the massive bed that dominates the space. The room smells musty and stale, and there are clothes strewn all over the floor. I stand there for a moment to consider how best to play this.

Before I have time to think it through, Alberto starts to shift. He blinks at me sleepily for a beat, then his eyes widen in surprise. He opens his mouth to shout but I'm already flying across the room, escrima stick out. I land on top of him, pinning his arms by his sides with the baton to his throat.

"If you make any noise, I'll make sure you're never able to talk again." I threaten. "We clear?" He nods quickly at me so I release the pressure against his neck. "We're going to stand up in a second, walk to the next room and you're going to open that safe for me. Sound good?" He nods again. "The money isn't really yours, and I have no problems breaking your kneecaps, so we don't need any trouble," I warn and stand up, pulling him up with me. He whimpers but otherwise makes no noise.

I lead him out of the bedroom but as we hit the living room area he bolts, running towards a set of keys on the bench. I'm on him almost immediately, swinging the baton into the side of his left knee. He goes down howling until my hand clamps down on his mouth. He lies whimpering on the ground, holding his knee, while I kneel above with my hand still muffling his voice. I wait to see if the short noise attracted any attention. I slowly count to thirty before I relax. The guards outside either didn't hear or didn't care about the noise.

"I did warn you," I say, hauling him to his feet. "This didn't have to be difficult. That panic button on your keys is useless right now, by the way, so don't get your hopes up for a rescue. But remember, you still have one more knee and plenty of other bones I can break. Let's just finish this, yeah?" I help him hobble over to the safe in the office. He looks to me and I wave the escrima stick threateningly. He quickly unlocks the safe.

"There. Are you happy? Do you know what you've done? You know who I am, bitch? You won't live to spend that money, my family will-" I clock him over the head with the baton and he drops heavily to the floor, silent.

"I really don't like being called a bitch," I tell the unconscious heap on the ground. "I was only going to take what I need, but for that, I'm going to take the lot." I empty the safe into the backpack and leave out the balcony.

By the time I get back to the car, Riddler is already sitting in the driver's seat looking almost nervous. I slide into the passenger seat.

"You weren't worried were you?" I ask in greeting, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek.

"Not at all." He says smoothly as we pull away from the curb.

"Of course not," I mumble. "Let's go to the nearest motorbike dealer!" I beam, showing him the contents of the backpack.

"You've successfully pulled off your first robbery," Riddler says, navigating through the Gotham streets. "How do you feel?"

"Probably more elated than I should, but I'm not going to think about that." I thumb through the cash in the backpack. "Dude there must be at least twenty-five thousand dollars in here. Who keeps that in their house?"

"Rich idiots like Alberto Falcone. I know others who are the same, for next time." He winks.

"As long as I'm not stealing from good people who earned their money honestly, I don't think I'd have a problem," I say.

"So it went well inside?"

"Oh, kind of. He ran and pressed his panic button, which didn't work obviously- good work with that by the way. So I hit him in the knee. Not really sure how much damage, but something definitely cracked. Then he opened the safe, but he called me a bitch, so I had to knock him out." I explain. Riddler raises an eyebrow. "What? I really hate that word."

"Of course. So you broke in, committed aggravated assault, and stole his money." He pauses and I nod. Sounds right so far. "And you still think you're a hero?"

Harsh, but he has a point. "I guess it's like you said. I'm more accepting of the shades of grey than Batman is. I'm… morally ambiguous." That term seems to fit.

"Morally ambiguous," Riddler repeats, looking thoughtful. We pull up outside a storefront and car park full of motorbikes. "Ready to spend your ill-gotten gains?" He asks, winking. Hell yes, I am. I grin back and we walk into the shop.

A few conversations and a short test drive later, and I'm the proud owner of a Kawasaki Ninja 1000. It's fast and black and the helmet makes me feel like a badass.

I walk it out of the parking lot to the road where Riddler waited while I paid. I did pay a little extra for the guy to keep quiet about the large cash payment, but he really didn't look all that phased. This is Gotham after all.

"Very nice," Riddler says.

"Isn't she?" I look at the bike proudly.

"The bike's nice too." He quips and I roll my eyes.

"When did you make that fake drivers licence for me?" I ask. I hadn't even thought of it, but when the sales clerk had asked for it, Riddler had produced a legit-looking Gotham drivers licence with my name, photo and date of birth on it.

"I knew you'd need ID at some point." He says, handing it to me. "I'm always prepared."

"Of course you are. Race you home?" I raise an eyebrow.

"I don't make bets I can't win." He says.

"Spoilsport." The phone in my pocket starts to ring, interrupting any further insults. I recognise the number right away.

"Hey. You need my crime-fighting assistance so soon?" I answer the call. Bruce doesn't laugh but I can hear the smile in his voice.

"Not quite. But I do have a surprise for you. I had hoped it would be ready before you left this morning, but if you can come to the manor now I can give it to you." He says.

"A surprise? I love surprises. I'll be right there." I reply and hang up. Riddler's face looks like he can smell something particularly unpleasant.

"A surprise from the Dark Knight?" He says. "What is it?"

"I don't know Edward. That's kind of the way it works with surprises." He rolls his eyes at me. "But I'm going to find out. I'll see you at home." I say, and his face brightens a little when I call the apartment 'home'.

I haul myself up onto the bike, so happy I'm physically unable to stop grinning under the helmet and ease out into the flow of traffic.

I can't go as fast as I want to, at least not without ending up trying to talk a GCPD officer out of giving me a ticket, so I drive sensibly out of the city and towards the manor. I park the bike out the front and hang the helmet from a handlebar before going inside.

Alfred meets me at the door, as usual. "Master Bruce is in the Batcave if you'd like to go through."

"Thanks, Alfred. Do you know what this surprise is?" I ask.

"I believe it's a gift of some sort." He tells me. "You'll find out soon enough." That feels like I've been dismissed, so I hurry along.

I find Bruce working at the Bat computer and notice a large black trunk next to his feet.

"You rang?" I say to announce my arrival. As if he didn't notice me enter; he is Batman.

"I did." He finishes up on the computer and turns to face me. "Dick mentioned you don't think you should wear the Batgirl suit anymore." So that's what this is about.

"Yeah. It should probably be ready for the next protégé. Someone a bit more worthy." I shrug. All I ever wanted to be as a kid was Batman. I've come this close only to give it all away. I know it's for the best, but the thought still stings.

"It's not a question of someone more worthy," Bruce tells me. "But I understand why you think you can't wear it." He nudges at the trunk on the floor with his foot. "I had Lucius start on this a while ago. It was going to be an upgraded Batgirl suit for you. Barbara's old one is a bit of an antique." He smiles, eyes crinkling. "It's fitted with all the latest Batsuit upgrades, just without any of the usual logos. We can call it a resignation gift." He pops the locks on the trunk and pulls out a black batsuit. "Titanium-dipped tri-weave fibres with flexible armour plates to allow for easier movement. Same tech as the new suit Lucius has made for me." He tells me. "Of course, my suit has comms built-in. I thought you might not want those." He gives me a side-eyed look. "No cape either. What's wrong with capes? They make the descent from a hi-rise building a lot smoother."

"Have you ever seen a movie called The Incredibles?" I ask. He shakes his head. "Never mind. The cape is very cool, but I think it's a Batman thing. Not a 'me' thing." He hands the folded up suit over to me. It's heavy but lighter than you would expect a reasonably bulletproof onesie to be.

"This is yours. Permanently. It's not to give back if you think you've disappointed me." He looks me in the eye and I can't seem to look away. I don't know if he knew that was part of the reason I'm giving back the Batgirl suit or if it was just a lucky guess. "Use it how you see appropriate. I hope that means on the side of good, but it's up to you. I've not always given you the credit you deserve. You're not the same person you were in Arkham City. You've done well, Belle. I'm proud."

I blink hard, trying to get my emotions under control. "Damn Batman, you sure can make a speech. I feel inspired to do nothing but good deeds." I proclaim, making him roll his eyes. "But seriously. You won't be locking me in Arkham or Bludhaven Prison any time soon. And of course, I'll be around to help you out when you need saving."

"When I need saving?" He repeats doubtfully.

"Uh, yeah. I seem to remember helping out of that whole Protocol Ten debacle awhile back?" I scoff.

"After I helped you out of your Riddler hostage situation." He retorts, shutting off my argument.

"That's true. I will accept mutual saving." I offer, grinning at him.

He matches my grin. "Deal." He turns back to the trunk and pulls out one more item. "Can't forget this. Even if you aren't the city's most recognisable billionaire, you still have to protect your identity." He hands me a mask.

It's similar to the Batgirl one. It covers the top half of my head, providing some protection if I were to get hit there. The only real difference is the lack of the signature pointy ears.

"Huh. It kind of looks wrong, doesn't it?" I say, running my hands over the smooth surface. "Too round."

Bruce doesn't reply to my obviously rhetorical question. Our silence is broken by an alert on the computer. Bruce hits a button and Alfred's face appears on the monitor.

"Master Bruce, Miss Mitchell, I suggest you look at the news broadcast. It seems Scarecrow has made his move." My heart freezes at his words. Is Riddler okay? Before I can voice my concern, Bruce has the news playing. The words 'emergency broadcast' flash across the bottom of the screen, beneath a female news reporter.

"… statements given to police confirm the patrons of Pauli's Diner on Grand Avenue began violently attacking each other. One of the patrons was GCPD Officer Owens. It is being said Officer Owens did discharge his weapon but it's unclear at this time if he is responsible for any injury. Reports are still coming in but we have at least five confirmed dead so far and many more injured. Police say-" The news reporter disappears and Scarecrow dominates the screen.

"This demonstration used just five ounces of my latest toxin." His deep voice seems to resonate through my bones. "Tomorrow this will seem like child's play. Gotham, this is your only warning: abandon this city, or I will unleash your greatest fears." The screen flickers and changes back to a shocked looking news reporter.

For several moments I can do nothing but stand there and blink. He's done it. Scarecrow has made his move. By the time I can speak Bruce has already contacted Tim, Dick and Barbara and has offered his help with the evacuation of the city to Commissioner Gordon.

"He looks different." Is the first thing I say. Bruce looks to me but doesn't stop what he's doing at the computer. "Scarecrow. He looks different. In the Asylum, he looked like Gollum in a hessian bag. Now he's… bigger, somehow. He looks… like a nightmare." It strikes me that I'm scared. Scarecrow has managed to frighten me with one broadcast. "Edward," I exclaim, almost dropping the new batsuit in my hands.

"Go check on him," Bruce tells me. "Suit up first. There'll be panic on the streets- you don't know what you might run into." I nod and rush off to get changed. I leave my jeans and shirt in a pile on the floor and get back to my bike as fast as I can. The suit fits like a second skin. It doesn't sag slightly in the legs like the Batgirl suit or pull around my shoulders. This is made for me and fits perfectly. I leave my mask off in favour of my helmet.

I speed along the streets, faster than strictly legal. I trust the police have more pressing things to deal with tonight than me. I race down the road until I get deeper into the city. I don't want to hit anyone or anything on my way home, so I drop my speed back a little.

Bruce was right; the people in Gotham are panicking. Everywhere I look people are loading up their cars and high-tailing it out of town. I see half a dozen small scuffles but I don't stop to break up the fights. A few thrown punches are the least of our troubles right now.

I follow very few road rules until I pull up in front of our building, swapping my helmet off and grabbing my cowl. I run inside and up the stairs, taking them two at a time and all but bust through the door.

"Edward!" He's in the middle of the kitchen, his face relaxing into relief as he sees me. I move towards him as he crosses the distance in two long strides and gathers me into his arms. I'm content to stay there, wrapped tightly until my heart slows to a normal pace.

"I was with Batman," I say eventually. "When the broadcast went out. I thought maybe… I thought he might have started with you."

"I was here. I saw heard the sirens on Grand Avenue before anything else. He interrupted the news broadcast." Riddler replies, finally loosening his hold. I take a small step back, breathing deeply.

"I saw that. The streets are crazy. Everyone is trying to leave."

"They'll start evacuation procedures soon. If there's one thing Gotham is good at, it's emergency procedures. The city will be empty by this time tomorrow evening." He says, and I nod, thinking it through.

"I have to call Batman. I might be able to help with the evac. I just had to come home, I had to check on you." I pull him close and kiss him deeply before stepping away to call Bruce. Edward is safe, I mentally chant to myself, trying to calm down. He's safe, and Scarecrow isn't here.

"Belle, what's wrong? Is it Scarecrow?" Bruce asks when he answers.

"No, we're okay. Edward is here, he's fine. I'm calling to see how I can help. How do we help the evacuation?" I ask stepping to the side to let Riddler return to his computer.

"It's under control. The GCPD have this well planned. Our job is to minimize the other damage. Fights, looting, small crime. It will be bad tonight with all the panic on the streets, but it'll be nothing compared to tomorrow. If you patrol tonight I need you to rest tomorrow. It's all hands on deck tomorrow night and I need you sharp."

"Alright." I nod solemnly. "I've got this. Should I check out the diner Scarecrow hit?"

"No. I've spoken to Jim. There's nothing more we can learn there. Minimize crime in the area, and keep watch for anything that might tell us what Scarecrow is planning." He pauses. "And be careful."

"You too," I tell him, ending the call. I head into the office to tell Riddler what's happening. He's bent over the keyboard, typing furiously. Images of Gotham are on every screen.

"Hey." I interrupt. "I'm going out to see what I can do." Riddler stands and passes something to me. An earpiece.

"Stay on comms." He tells me, fitting a headset on himself. "I have eyes around Gotham, I can direct you to anything that needs your attention. Or let you know if Crane makes an appearance." I fit the earpiece in and I'm ready to go. "Be careful." He tells me, echoing Batman's sentiment.

"I will," I promise. I put on my cowl and grapple out the living room window. I'm pleased to note my utility belt has all the same gadgets as the Batgirl suit. I spend the next several hours breaking up small fights and riots and scaring looters out of stores. Riddler checks in periodically, sending me to a few different places as needed. I reunite two lost children with their parents as the sun begins to come up and decide to call it a night.

I clamber in through the living room window and collapse on the couch. Riddler, hearing my less-than-graceful entry, come out to greet me.

"Did you sleep at all?" I ask him, though the glassy redness of his eyes tells me he didn't.

"No." He squints at me and walks into the kitchen. He returns a moment later with a bag of frozen peas. Sitting next to me on the couch, he eases off my cowl and presses the cold peas against my left cheekbone. It hurts to touch.

"Thanks," I tell him, taking the pack and holding it. He withdraws his hand. "Some punk in a riot got a lucky shot."

"Did he end up regretting that?"

"Almost immediately," I reply, making him grin. "Bed?" I ask.

"Bed." He agrees.

In the bedroom he falls on the bed fully clothed, not bothering to get changed. I wrestle my way out of the suit and dress instead in a tank top and soft cotton pyjama pants and crawl under the covers.

"New suit?" Riddler asks, eyes closed.

"Yeah. That was the surprise Batman had for me." I tell him, reapplying the frozen peas to the fast-appearing bruise on my face. "Didn't think it was right I was still wearing the Batgirl suit."

"I notice a lack of bat symbols." He remarks.

"Yeah. Not really one of the team, technically."

"No question marks either."

"That was never going to happen. If you want some bizarre-o way of showing I'm yours you'll have to keep thinking. Go to sleep Nygma." I can't help the smile spreading over my face.

"Oh, I will, Mitchell. I will." He says, and before long his breathing evens out as he drifts off. Before I fall asleep I wonder which part of my sentence he was saying 'I will' to.

A/N: I'm terrible at updating, I know.