Gotham City

Wayne Manor

9:15 am

"This is Vicki Vale reporting live this Sunday morning. Two bodies have been found last night in Crime Alley." Vicki Vale's voice boomed from the small television set in the kitchen of the Wayne Manor.

Bruce at the time had been pouring himself a mug of coffee from the brewer then turned his attention to the speaking box. The news reporter was standing at the location where his parents were brutally murdered. It had unraveled his recollection with Thomas and Martha Wayne as they drew their last breaths, their blood leaking into the pavement, Thomas saying his last words to his eight year old son he would soon leave behind. He cursed his eidetic memory.

"They have been identified as Brent Kendrick and Joe Mason. They were both small time criminals who worked for Black Mask. One was shot to the head while the other is suffering from severe closed head injury. He's expected to live however he may face permanent brain damage. But the question is. Who shot these criminals and will they ever face mutual judgement? And is there a new vigilante emerging? One that is not afraid to shed blood?"

"I gather you overlooked that during your patrol last night?" Alfred Pennyworth said while setting two bowls of eggs and bacon on the table.

"Two Face prepared a holdup on Gotham City Bank. Fourteen hostages were inside. I was too occupied. I ordered Robin to patrol Park Row..." His baritone voice drifted off, he continued to speak however no words were produced. Pennyworth caught the drift.

"It seems that Master Timothy's infatuation with Miss Gordon has been hindering him from his responsibilities." Alfred implied.

"His tracking device traced him to the clock tower. He was there for a while. They're getting closer." Wayne bowed his head and grabbed a handful of his jet black hair. "I don't like it. It's becoming a liability."

"Then you should address it? Acting unaware because he hasn't told you isn't going to change the fact he is dating."

"I don't mind him dating…it's just too dangerous for him to be with Barbara." He fixed his blue eyes at the hot drink in his hands, the vapor rose to his nostrils. "Their emotions are going to interfere with their work."

"Although, Master Bruce, you may not be in agreement with their relationship, you must accept that Tim is getting older. Let him manage his responsibilities. Master Dick went through the same phase as well with Kori'. You were more of a ladies man in high school yourself."

A sly smile appeared on the billionaire's lips. He reminisced the Golden days. Going out on dates past his curfew, beating Thomas at getting the most numbers coming out of parties, sneaking into girls' homes...

"Point taken."

The old man victoriously strode back to the stove, supplying a plate with a stack of pancakes. "Speaking of family ties, Master Dick is expected to be arriving shortly. He wanted to check up on you and Master Tim."

"Hence the large breakfast?"

"Precisely."


Gotham City

Park Row

2:48pm

Jason woke up to an excruciating headache. The banging at his forehead rendered him tipsy as he emerged out of the queen bedset. He had removed his Robin costume in exchange for a white T-Shirt that was, to his dismay, tight due to his tall, muscular frame with black shorts.

The two spent the night at a low class apartment in the middle of the slums. Samantha insisted it was a safe house she had set up whenever she faced certain predicaments and the area was convenient. Being in the middle of the part of town with the highest killing rates, theft reports, and arson in the country was enough to condemn anyone from wanting to find her in the first place.

He went into the bathroom and turned on the sink carefully twisting the rusty, frail faucet not enough to pop off the handle. He washed his face then looked into the cracked mirror, taking in his stress-ridden red eyes and the minor lesions and bruises that marked his face. Fortunately the skin at the site of the"J" on his left cheek began to stretch towards the wound, an indication that it's in the healing process. It had been attended to by Samantha; iodine, gauze strips, isopropyl alcohol and bourbon all did the trick.

He bowed his head to the sink, taking in the dirty basin. Thoughts rummaged through his mind as he remembered what he had done yesterday. It was what he had been thinking of all last night as if his mind would constantly press the replay button. He'd remembered the dark bullet hole marked between his lifeless eyes as his blood and brains vandalized the pavement, mixing in with the rainwater washing away all evidence, cleansing his sins...

Jason ran a hand through his ebony hair as he exited the bathroom and entered the kitchen only consisting of a small refrigerator, a wooden table and two chairs near to the window. He was met with Samantha sitting in one of them , across from his current position. She had been smoking a cigarette.

Seeing her in the daylight, she looked different. She was older, possibly in her late twenties. Her hazel eyes were sunken, revealing stress similar to his. Her black hair was cut short as her facial features were too advanced for her age: the wrinkled skin, the baggy eyes, yet she was still somewhat attractive. Make up could do wonders.

"Evenin'," Sam greeted while exhaling smoke, the gray substance dispersed, bouncing off the table. Her gaze moved down to Jason's chest and torso, secretly thanking the t-shirt.

"Evening? I was sleeping that long?"

"You were tired and from the look of it, you haven't been sleeping for days."

She was right. Every time he closed his eyes, flashes of the Joker tormented his peace. It was his deranged smile as his cherry red lips spread across his face, his devilish green eyes that burned into his own revealing twisted fantasies, psychotic intentions, manic glee.

He could feel the buzzing pain from the crowbar, his nociceptors skyrocketing in false stimuli. But the worst of it all wasn't the abuse, it wasn't the torment.

It was his laughter.

Its strong vigor, euphoria and enthusiasm were all in vain. It haunted his mind as the laughs grew louder, more profound. Each "Ha!" took a piece of his dignity from him as it asserted the clown's control.

Jason ran a hand through his hair as he let out a breath.

"How are you feeling?" She asked.

"Like shit."

Sam took another puff. "You smoke?"

"I can try."

She produced a pack. He took one and lit it with her lighter she offered. He inhaled the tobacco substance followed by a violent cough as he exhaled.

"Fuck." He coughed, his lungs now feeling as if it were set on fire as he burned out the cigarette. "How the hell do you do this shit?"

"You get used to it."

They were silent for a moment until she spoke again, "So let's move on to the overdue questions that need to be answered." Sam lowered the roll, leaned back in her seat and folded her arms. "Couldn't ask you last night because you were half outta your wits."

Jason sighed. She deserved to know. She'd already done so much. Besides she trusted him enough to tell her about herself.

Samantha Anderson. Former GCPD investigator. However, began fucking with the wrong people in the wrong places. Apparently, they were very powerful people who controlled her very powerful bosses. They systematically pinned an unsolved homicide on her and threatened if she didn't leave, she'd be serving the rest of her life in prison with people she helped put in there. Ever since, she's become an anonymous informant to those who weren't corrupted by money or fear.

"Okay," He sat down as he threw the tobacco substance out the window. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything."

So he told her everything. His name, where he came from, how he found Bruce Wayne-or how Wayne found him, how he took on the mantle of Robin-only for him to be replaced years later in his career when he was consequently taken by the Joker and tortured for over a year.

"Shit," Sam's elbows were now supported by the table. "That's pretty fucked up." She crossed her arms. "Why didn't he save you? How did he not notice you were right under his nose?"

Jason raised his hand and replied. "I'm still askin' those same questions myself. And I doubt I'll ever get the answers to them. He's moved on, Sam." He looked out the window. Two children playing with toy guns scurried across the street. "Those thoughts probably don't even cross his mind anymore."

In saying that anger welled in him. A bitter, grudging sentiment that he had to tame like a lion in a cage.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry that had to happen to you." She tried to sound sincere and caring.

The recalcitrant Robin turned his head. He didn't want the pity. He hated when others tried to connect with him. She wasn't sorry. You can't be sorry if you don't understand...

"Why did you save me from the police? Why did you take me in?" Jason realized he asked too sharp and abrasive. A pang of guilt and regret hit him.

She took no offense "I saw that ya needed help so I helped ya. What? I can't be a good Samaritan? Besides, you saved my ass. I could only do so much."

"Yeah you're right. I'm sorry. "

"So you hungry? I don't have much in terms of food. I was thinking we could grab a bite to eat at the diner."

Todd glanced at the clock rested against the torn wallpaper. It was 3:00. Damn he really was out for that long?

"Sure." He replied calmly.

Inside, his stomach was begging for food.


Sionis Steel Mill

Industrial District

3:13pm

"Someone please tell me," Roman Sionis began while pacing back and forth before his men. "Someone please tell me why this bitch isn't dead!"

Black Mask shouted at his men who had been lined up before him.

The goons didn't reply.

"Last night, I hired two men to take care of her only to hear this morning that those very same men are dead!" He exploded. "How did killing one bitch-one bitch become such a hard thing to do?!"

"I don't know." One of his men said intimidated. He didn't even look him in the eyes. Instead, he stared at the gold chain over his velvet opened collar shirt with a white jacket thrown over it.

"That's not good enough, Eduardo." Black Mask's voice was low at the moment he grabbed his chin forcing the man to study his mask's features. Fear rose within him. "You're telling me not one of you are able to keep one bitch in her place?!" He violently pushed his face away, walking with his hands behind his back.

"Deal with him," The Black Mask ordered to one of his men.

A swift whooshing sound erupted along with blood spurting from the man's chest. His eyes were now wide as the bullet took him by surprise. He grunted and fell back, his body fell lifeless to the floor.

Sionis glanced over to the other men.

"Excuse me for my erratic behavior." Roman held up a hand "but I tend not to take bullshit from people!"

"What will you have us do?"

"I want you to find that bitch Samantha and bring her here to me by the end of tonight! If not you'll all suffer the same consequence!"

"Don't worry," A man's voice came from behind. Sionis turned around to see a white haired man with a long scar that protruded from his eye, rendering it blind as it stretched to his neck. His long trenchcoat flowed with the breeze blowing against him. "We'll deal with her..."

Black Mask looked at the man, partially confused. "How is this any of your business?" He questioned. "The only business we have between each other is five hundred k and thirty two women tonight."

"I know," He stepped closer. "Let's just consider this as an…initiative."

"What's the cost?"

"Gratis."

The Industrial wind blew between them once more. The unmistakable scent of copper and rusty metal now presented itself.

Sonis considered. Then spoke in a low, serious tone. "Don't disappoint me." He looked to his thugs. "Clean up the mess."