Okay guys, first things first, I AM SO SORRY. I didn't mean for this update to take so long, I've actually had most of this written for about a month now but work went crazy (I'm training people now) and I just didn't have the time or energy to keep writing until recently. I hope to keep updating semi-regularly again now that things have somewhat calmed down at work.

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing.

EIGHT: PATROL

It turns out, Alfred has plenty for us to help out with. Whether it's because he knows Dick is trying to distract me or he really needs the help, I don't care. It helps keep my mind off the upcoming patrol and how long I still have to wait before nightfall. Bruce walks through the foyer at some point in the middle of our cleaning and just shakes his head when he finds us on the chandelier. In our defense, we were dusting. Did we need to actually be on the chandelier to do it? Who knows?

"Master Richard! You know I have expressly forbidden you from climbing on the chandelier," Alfred's stern voice makes me jump slightly as he stops directly below us. I didn't even notice him.

Dick shoots Alfred a sheepish grin, "We wanted to make sure it was really clean Alfie."

"You could have done that just as easily with the long duster without climbing onto the chandelier itself. Now come down from there, dinner is about to be ready and you both need to get cleaned up," Alfred's voice is crisp and I shiver. He's almost as scary as Batman when he's like this.

Dick and I are quick to swing from the chandelier and back onto the upper landing of the manor. Only when our feet are firmly on the ground, does Alfred walk away. Dick snickers, "He really hates when I do that. Says I'm going to fall and break something one of these days."

"I think he has a somewhat valid concern. Of course, you're pretty good at falling," I bump his shoulder with a wide grin, "You still need to teach me to correct my falls."

"You'll get the hang of it eventually. I can't really teach it the way I taught you how to fly. Falling takes practice and usually a net."

"Then we should get a net."

"I have one, I just don't use it. We can pull it out during our next training session and practice."

We're at my door now and Dick moves past me to his own room. I didn't realize how dirty I was until I take a shower and the water changes color. Ew. I scrub and scrub until the water runs clear again, knowing I'll probably be taking another shower when we get back from patrol but oh well. I'm pretty sure Alfred would make me come right back upstairs if I didn't get cleaned up to his standards.

I change quickly and step back into the hallway just as Dick is stepping out as well. His hair is dripping and he's in a fresh set of clothes. He walks over to me, rubbing at his stomach, "Man, I'm starving."

I nod enthusiastically as my stomach rumbles, "Me too."

Dick laughs, "Alfred probably made something really good too, since it's your first patrol."

"Everything Alfred makes is really good."

"That's true. But it's usually extra good for special occasions."

Bruce is waiting at the bottom of the stairs when we come down. He's doing something on his phone and while it doesn't seem like he's noticed us, we both know better. He probably knew we were heading his way before we even made it to the stairs. Sometimes his bat senses are absolutely terrifying. I wonder if I will ever be at that level. Probably not.

"I was beginning to think I would have to come get you both. Alfred is setting out the food now," Bruce slides the phone into his pocket and pushes off the banister.

"I was a lot dirtier than I thought," Dick says, raking a hand through his wet hair when his bangs fall in his face, "Apparently, dust clings to you."

I snort, "Very much so."

Bruce shakes his head with a small smile, "If you didn't climb into the chandelier you wouldn't have been covered in dust in the first place."

"Yeah, but cleaning the chandelier the normal way is so boring," Dick whines, throwing his hands in the air, "Why make it so easy to jump on and then not take advantage?"

"I don't think an acrobat child was taken into account when this place was first built," Bruce chuckles.

"That's not my fault," Dick says with a small shrug and a wide smirk.

Bruce smirks in amusement and shakes his head, "Just remember Alfred has free reign to punish you as necessary. Do you remember the amount of chores he gave you last time you were on the chandelier?"

Dick scowls, "Too many."

"Exactly."

I laugh softly at the stricken look on Dick's face. I can only imagine the amount of chores Alfred piled on Dick. While life in the manor is pretty easy, Alfred still likes to make sure we know how to fend for ourselves every now and then. As he says, he won't be around forever.

Alfred is waiting for us in the dining room when we walk in, setting out the last dish of food. My mouth waters as I take in the feast he's set out for us. Ribs smothered in his special sauce (I really need that recipe), mashed potatoes, a mountain of rolls, salad, what looks like a fruit salad and vegetables. I don't know how he expects me to be able to go on a patrol after eating all of this but I'm also not about to complain. I adore Alfred's cooking.

We all settle in at the table and Dick is quick to pile his plate high with food and dig in. Bruce is a little slower and doesn't grab quite as much food as Dick but he's still already eating by the time I've grabbed a little food for myself. I figure I should probably keep it a little lighter since I'll be flinging myself over rooftops for the first time ever tonight. I take some ribs, a tiny bit of mashed potatoes, one roll and a helping of salad and vegetables. Alfred catches my eye at one point and nods approvingly.

"Are you nervous, Addilyn?" Bruce asks after a few moments of silence.

I swallow the food in my mouth and shrug, "I mean, a little bit. It is my first patrol, after all. But I know you've both got my back so I'll be fine."

Bruce nods, "I wouldn't be letting you come along if I didn't think you were ready, just remember that."

I nod, "Thanks, Bruce."

He doesn't say anything, just goes back to eating. I turn back to my own food as well, grateful for the small encouragement. For Bruce, its like singing praises so I'll take it.

YJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJ

Two hours later, well after the sun has set, we're all gathered in the Cave. Robin and I just finished getting a few sparring sessions in for the night before Bruce called for us to get ready to head out. I'm bouncing on the balls of my feet, adrenaline and nerves making me feel antsy, as Batman types at the Batcomputer. He's fully dressed in his uniform minus the cowl which is currently pushed off his face as he frowns at the screen.

Robin is looking just as antsy as me, rocking back and forth on his heels and grinning. He and I are both fully dressed, masks and all, and ready to hit the streets. Alfred is currently checking the stock of the medical rooms, which is both comforting and a little terrifying. Robin told me he does it every time they head out for patrol, a ritual of sorts, and not to worry. I still can't help feeling a small pit form in my stomach. It's supposed to be a routine patrol but this is Gotham so there's no telling what's going to happen tonight.

"We'll do a basic route. I haven't received news of any deals happening tonight so it should be a fairly easy patrol. You two are to remain with one another no matter what tonight. If something happens and I get separated from you, return to the Cave together and wait for me," he turns and focuses completely on me now, "You will listen to everything I say, no questions asked. If I say go, you go. If I say jump, you jump. Do you understand?"

I nod, straightening up, "Yes, sir."

"Good, let's move out," he pulls the cowl over his face and heads for the Batmobile.

I haven't had as many chances as I would have liked to really enjoy the Batmobile since coming here. I got to see the inside a couple of times and Bruce let me help him when he worked on her but I've never actually gone for a ride. I'm extremely excited to say the least.

Robin hops in the front seat and I climb in the back, leaning forward and admiring all the gadgets and buttons. Batman slides into the driver's seat and starts the engine. The entire vehicle vibrates and rumbles with the power. I shiver and grin as I lean back and strap myself in. Oh, I am so going to enjoy this. I've always had a love for fast and powerful vehicles and the Batmobile is the fastest and most powerful I have ever been in.

We shoot out of the Cave, winding through the underground tunnels of the cave before coming out into a clear Gotham night. There's no clouds and I can actually see stars this far from the city. I know the moment we get closer to Gotham those stars will vanish and the night won't seem as peaceful. But for now, I'm completely content to watch the world race by out my window.

Batman maneuvers the Batmobile with the ease of practice. Too many long nights on the streets of Gotham to count under his belt. He probably knows this city better than anyone else and he knows how to maneuver through her streets as well as his own home. It's amazing, really, watching as we shift from side to side, barreling around curves and corners, and somehow not hitting anything. Robin is completely relaxed in his seat, typing away on his wrist computer and never doubting Batman's ability to keep us safe. I sit back in my seat as well once we are in the city, trading the open landscapes for tall skyscrapers and rundown apartment buildings.

We drive for another few minutes before Batman turns down a dark alley and stops, killing the lights and engine. Robin is out of the car a moment later, bouncing on the balls of his feet and looking more than ready for whatever the night holds. Batman is out of the car shortly after him and I follow him into the dark alley. The air is cool on my face and smells of trash and mildew. I wrinkle my nose, this isn't a part of Gotham I've been to yet. Wards of Bruce Wayne don't usually wander into the Narrows.

"Don't worry, the smell isn't as bad on the rooftops. Plus, you get used to it after a while," Robin is right next to me suddenly, talking in a low voice.

I nod and try to ignore the way my nose hairs seem to be burning from the odors around me, "Thanks."

"Let's go," Batman's voice is gruff as he aims his grappling gun toward the roof of the nearest building. Robin and I raise our own in unison and fire off a line.

I've practiced with all of the gadgets Batman expects me to use in the field but the feeling of my stomach falling out as I shoot through the air never gets old. It makes me giddy, flying up through the air like this without anything but a cord keeping me from falling. Sometimes, I wonder if this is how it feels for Robin every time he vaults across the city. Tonight, I finally get to find out.

Batman is on the other end of the roof already when we land, bent over a ledge and looking out over the city. Robin and I join him and for the first time I take in the city from above, as a hero, and it's amazing. I hear horns honking, music blaring, sirens going off. There's flashing police lights flying across the streets below us, glass shattering somewhere to the west, a person screaming to the east and more sounds than I can count everywhere else. How does Batman even know where to start?

"Here," Robin reaches over and taps twice on the comm in my ear. Suddenly there's a constant flow of chatter. A burglary, a traffic stop, a suspicious person, a theft…

"What did you do?" I murmur, trying to understand everything being said.

"Turned on the police radio. Two taps on the comm will link you in. Batman programmed it ages ago. It helps us know what's happening in the city. If you want to turn it off just double tap again. If we talk to you it'll override the scanner though so don't worry about that," Robin explains, double tapping on his own comm.

"That's awesome," I tune back into the radio chatter now, completely enthralled with it. Some of the codes they're using are foreign to me and I have the urge to learn them all. I want to know about everything happening.

All units, be advised signal forty-three in progress at Corner Jeweler. Suspects armed and dangerous.

"Let's move," Batman launches off the roof and soars toward the eastern end of town.

Robin cackles and takes off across the roofs after him. I don't know what a forty-three is but I assume it can't be good if people are armed and dangerous. I'm right on Robin's heels as he jumps from the roof to another. For a split second, there's nothing but street three stories below me and my heart hammers wildly in my chest. I can't hold back a giddy little giggle as I fly across the space between the two buildings and suddenly that cackle Robin does makes perfect sense. This feels like freedom and I want more of it. We launch over at least six more buildings and my heart is hammering in my chest, adrenaline singing through my veins. God, I could probably do this all night.

By the time we come to a stop I'm feeling more alive than I ever have before. Robin is grinning and he looks just as excited as me. Batman is at the corner of the building, looking down at the street below. We both approach and crouch next to him and that's when the sound of an alarm reaches my ears. The radio traffic in my head is still going strong and I double tap the comm to turn it off for a moment. The alarm is coming from a small jewelry store on the corner and I recognize the name of it from the original transmission. The front window has been shattered and I can see people moving around frantically inside and I'm pretty sure I catch the glint of a gun in a few of their hands. Signal forty-three: robbery.

"Switch to thermal," Batman's gruff voice is barely audible over the wind howling down the street.

I tap my mask and the world turns to shades of blue and orange. I can see eight people moving around the store, each one armed with a weapon, along with three people in a back room cowering on the floor. Hostages. This should be an interesting first take down for me. Handling bad guys with guns was of course part of my training but I've never done it for real before. I'm nervous but excited.

"You two will take the back entrance. Get to the hostages while I distract the ones in the store. Get them outside and to safety before you do anything else," Batman's voice carries easily over the comms and I see Robin nodding along with the plan. I imagine this is a pretty standard situation for them and they could probably do it without talking beforehand. It must be for my benefit.

Robin and I take off from our positions, heading two buildings over before crossing the street and dropping into the alley behind the jewelry store. It's dark and it smells like garbage but it's also empty which is perfect. The back entrance to the store is directly in front of us, slightly ajar, and I can't believe our luck. These must not be very good robbers. Or they thought they could get away before we showed up. Either way, not smart.

Robin approaches the door on silent feet, gripping the edge and peering inside carefully. He must like what he sees because he grins and opens the door just wide enough to slip inside. I follow close behind him, working to remain as quiet as he is and thanking my training for being able to.

The hallway we step into is dim and empty. Farther down I can hear glass shattering and low chattering but back here there's no sound at all. Robin and I creep along, staying deep in the shadows until we reach the door leading to the hostages. I switch my mask back to thermal and peer inside. Three hostages still accounted for but they have a visitor now. A visitor with a very big gun. I curse inwardly. We won't be able to go in through the door now.

Robin pauses and looks around before pointing up. I glance in the direction of his finger and grin. The air vents. He points to himself and then the vent again before pointing to me and then the door. I nod in understanding and move beneath the vent, lacing my hands together to give him a boost. He sets one foot into my hands and I lift him up. A few seconds and two screw removals later the vent is hanging open. Robin pushes off my foot and disappears inside.

I move back to the wall and the shadows now, watching for any incoming enemies while also listening for a disturbance inside the room. Three minutes pass and nothing happens. Then I hear shouting from the front of the store followed by gunfire and shattering glass. The door swings open and Robin steps out, ushering the three hostages out as well. I lead the way to the back, worried one of the doors is going to open and reveal another robber who managed to slip away. Thankfully, we make it to the door without any issues and get the hostages across the street and tucked into another ally.

"Come on!" Robin takes off back toward the store now and I follow quickly after. I can still hear gunshots and shouting from inside which means we just may get to knock some heads together.

We go in through the back door again, not as worried about keeping silent, and rush toward the front. When we pass the room the hostages were held in I catch sight of a larger man unconscious on the floor with his hands cuffed behind his back. I smirk, that man is easily three times Robin's size but he took him down without a problem. Just one of his many skills I'm totally envious of.

When we make it to the front of the store Batman is engaged in a fight with two of the robbers while two more are trying to grab all the bags they can carry and get out. Three more are unconscious on the ground. Robin goes straight for the two trying to get away and I follow his lead. He takes one and leaves the other for me. This is the moment I've been waiting for, a chance to prove myself.

I launch into a fight with the remaining robber without hesitation, managing to get his gun away and easily blocking all of the punches he throws my direction without even trying really. I land two well-placed blows to his knee and just above his collarbone on the left side. He cries out and drops to his knees. Another blow to the back of the head and he topples to the ground. Robin's own opponent is on the ground too and Batman is finishing off his last one as I slap cuffs onto mine.

"Nice, Sparrow! Not bad for your first real fight," Robin praises, bumping my shoulder with his and grinning widely.

I smile back, "It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Then again, sparring against you two tends to make everyone else seem…incapable?"

Robin laughs and shrugs, "We're pretty awesome."

"Let's go, the police will be here soon," Batman turns and heads out of the store, immediately grappling to the building across the street where we started.

Robin and I follow close behind and as we land the first two patrol cars come screeching around the corner and slam to a halt outside of the store. The street is lit up blue and red as the officers get out of their vehicles, guns drawn and steps cautious. I can tell the moment they realize we've already handled things because their guns drop and they seem to lose all the tension in their bodies. The hostages must notice too because they come out of the alley and approach the nearest patrol vehicle. The officer inside is quick to make sure everyone is alright and call for his partner.

We leave once Batman is sure everything is settled.

Thoughts? I hope ya'll enjoyed this. I know it's a little shorter but I felt this was a good spot to end the chapter. I know it seems like everything went all honky-dory but I figured I should give Addi at least some good luck before really having fun with this story.

Until next time,

Mercy