Chapter 7

27 Wayne's-Port Boulevard. That's what the note card in my locker said. The black bat shaped paper was the only sign I needed. I had texted my mother in study hall that I was staying after to work on a project. She seemed fine with it, but then reminded me that she wanted us to go look at houses soon. I ignored that part of the message and said I'd be home by 7. She was so proud of me for working on a project for a change. I don't think a fighting lesson with Batman was the project she was thinking of. The address led me to an abandoned warehouse near the pier. The smell of sea salt was in the air as the wind blew my hair directly into my face. Thankfully the lock on the old wooden door had been broken for years. Small beams of light shined through the cracks in the boarded up windows.

"Well this is quaint." I muttered under my breath. I put my backpack down on the cleanest windowsill I could find. I began to look around the wide open space. "Hello? B-man?" No answer. Well, it looks like I'm the first person here. Great. As I continued to wait, I felt a dark presence looming behind me. I couldn't help but show off a big grin as I turned towards the mysterious figure. "Batman I-" I stopped mid sentence as my smile faded at the realization. "Bird-boy?"

"Surprised to see me?" He smirked in that ever so cocky way he does. I rolled my eyes.

"Where's Batman?" I asked in annoyance.

"Busy. You're stuck with me." Robin replied.

"I thought Batman was going to train me." I groaned.

"Hey! Batman's busy trying to save your ass from every single criminal in Gotham City. Don't be a pain in the ass!" He shouted. His booming voice echoed in the large space, causing the rats to go scamper away deeper into the shadows.

"Okay, jeesh." I said, breaking the silence. "So where do we start?"

"We start with focus." Robin explained. I rolled my eyes.

"Oh god, is this gonna be one of those things where we don't do any actual fighting for weeks and just meditate and shit?" I questioned.

"Before you do any fighting you have a lot to fix." Robin answered, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"A lot?" I inquired. "Like what?"

"Well, for starters you're an idiot." Robin stated bluntly. I felt my face flush as anger corsed through my veins.

"WHAT?!" I growled. I felt my eyes give him the death glare. He seemed un-phased by it. Strange, this usually always works.

"Oh, and that temper." Robin added. He crossed his arms as if he were better than me. "Face it, you're a stereotypical blonde airhead who happens to know how to throw a punch." That did it.

Before he knew it a uppercut made impact with his jaw. The boy blunder stumbled back but quickly regained his composure.

"So that's how you wanna play?" He questioned. I guess the fight was on. Robin made the first move as he sent a kick towards my face. I blocked it, but he knew I would, considering that he immediately punched me in the gut. The wind was knocked out of me as I stumbled back, grunting. I grit my teach and went back at it. I started throwing punches at him left and right. He dodged and countered skillfully. He was good. Robin soon managed to get me in the face as I fell on the ground. His giant boot soon stomped on me, pinning me to the ground. I was down for the count. Bird brain smiled triumphantly. I blew some hair out of my face.

"Okay...maybe you're...kind of...sort of...right." I growled, avoiding eye contact.

"See, was that so hard?" He inquired. He grabbed my hand and pulled me up. I immediately began to wipe the dirt off of my clothes. I felt my cheeks redden with embarrassment at my humiliating defeat. I got my ass handed to me. "You know you punched me before I got to the positives."

"Positives?" I asked sheepishly, looking up at him.

"Well, for one you put up one hell of a fight. And you're persistent as all get out." Bird boy listed.

"What are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying, that you're positives are what made Batman want to train you in the first place." He stated. I was certainly all ears at this point. "Sure, you're rough around the edges, but you have a lot of potential to do some good. You just need to use your head."

"Wow, uh thanks." I replied. "No ones ever told me that before."

"Hey no problem." He said, rustling up my hair. And for the first time, I didn't care that he ruined it.

Dr. Gibson was sick of Gotham. This horrible city was going to tear her family apart. Yes, she had a good gig at the asylum. It was paying enough to support Sarina and her. But was it really worth the risk of her daughter's life. It was 6:45 that evening as Ms. Gibson was browsing new house listings in the Metropolis area. This was going to be the perfect start for the both of them. She sighed as she looked out the window. The Police Car has been on guard at the house for a couple of hours. Their 24/7 surveillance team has just begun today. Sarina would hate it. Hopefully, the move will happen soon so that this won't last long. However, she knew in her heart that wherever they went HE would follow. He was determined now. He would get her, and at whatever costs necessary. It was Dr. Gibson's job to protect her little girl. How long she could do that was a mystery even to her. Soon, the house phone began to ring. She looked at the Caller ID. Unkown. Huh, strange. Sarina was probably calling from one of her friend's phones.

"Hello?" Dr. Gibson answered.

"Oh Dr. Gibson! How've ya been, it's been ever so long since our last appointment." The dark voice on the other end chuckled. Dr. Gibson froze in terror.

"What do you want?" Was all she could think to say. Laughter was heard on the other end. She quickly pulled out her cellphone to call 911. Only to find her battery was dead. Shit.

"Come now Doctor. You're a smart girl. You know exactly what I want." The Joker replied.

"You'll never get her." Dr. Gibson growled, entering into full mama bear mode.

"Au contraire. You know, Doc. The reward is open to you as well." He added.

"You think I'm going to turn my own daughter in for your money?" She scoffed.

"Let's be reasonable. Taking the money now would just work out so much better for you in the long run." The Joker explained. "Start a new life, meet a nice man. It's just that easy."

"You're a monster!" She spat.

"Flattery will get you nowhere." The Joker chuckled. "Look, I'm getting very impatient. I mean, how hard is it to KIDNAP A 16 YEAR OLD GIRL!" Dr. Gibson had to pull the phone away from her ear at his harsh tone. "Think about it. I'm sure my little love letter to you outside will help you mull it over." Dr. Gibson reluctantly peeked her head out the window, dropping the phone with a scream. She could hear his wicked laughter as she stared at the sight before her. The Cop car had been spray painted a bright purple with green smiley faces, hearts and 'HA HA's. Two dead cops were sprawled either out the window or on the hood. Wicked grins painted on their faces. Written above them on the building next to the car in Big Purple Letters;

THIS COULD BE YOU

Dr. Gibson burst into tears. What was she going to do?

6:55 pm

"Same time next week?" Robin questioned. I looked up at him with a smirk.

"Sure thing, sensei." I joked. He chuckled.

"You need a ride home?"

"Nah, what would my mom say if I came home on the batcycle with a man in tights?" I inquired.

"She'd say you have good taste." Was his retort. I laughed.

"Bye Bird boy!" I said as I walked towards my house. "Same Bat-time, same Bat-warehouse." Just a second after I rounded the corner, a cop car raced down the street and screeched to a halt in front of me. Commissioner Jim Gordon stepped out of the vehicle.

"Where have you been?" He questioned.

"Out..." I replied reluctantly.

"You need to get in the car, now." He barked.

"Why, what's wrong?"

"I'll explain later, just get in." He said. I nodded as Jim let me into the back seat of the police car. He and his lieutenant took up the front. They began to drive away from the scene. "The cops watching your apartment have been killed."

"What?" I inquired, making sure I heard him right. He said it so bluntly it was hard to tell.

"Don't worry, your mother is safe. We put her up in the Royal Hotel. She's waiting for you there." Gordon elaborated.

"And I get a police escort?"

"We can't take anymore chances. You're not safe." He said.

"When am I ever?" I muttered under my breath. The car went silent as we continued towards the Royal Hotel. It took them a few years to renovate the place after the Joker went on his first rampage. And it was just regaining it's prestige as a 5 star hotel. Maybe I could get a facial and a massage and try to relax. It could be a nice vacation for mom and me. Hell, I may even run into a handsome rich boy. However, all of those hopes and dreams vanished when the car pulled up to the door and I saw the evil looks in the eyes of the oversized bellhops.

This was not going to end well.