Gotham City
01 / 19 / 2007
Somewhere in the East End District an eight year old girl sat down under a fire escape. She glanced around at her surroundings fearfully and hugged a small backpack with a Batman symbol closer to herself. She opened the backpack slowly and pulled a gray penguin plush and held it with one hand. The girl shivered and pulled her knees up to her chest. There was a light thud next to her and she looked around blearily.
She rubbed her eyes and yawned, "Hello?" She whispered, her eyes narrowed. She heard someone behind her clear their throat. After hesitating for a moment, she spun around only to find herself face to face with a masked boy in a red and green costume. She jerked backwards, her eyes wide.
Robin flashed her a smile, "Is there anywhere safe you can go?" The younger girl shook her head, eyes still widened in surprise. The bird themed vigilante glanced around before extending a hand out, "I know somewhere safe you can go. I need you to come with me okay?"
The girl paused before nodding quickly and grabbed his hand. He led her to a decently sized clinic. He nudged her gently towards the door, "I know the person who runs this clinic. She's a good person." The girl nodded again and started to walk through the door, her eyes darted around and shoulders tensed. She turned back around, only to find that the boy was gone.
She frowned before walking inside. She approached Leslie slowly and the doctor smiled sadly at the young girl, "She's in the fifth room down on the left. I'm sorry Mélanie, but you can't go in to see her." She paused, looking down at the girl, "I can, however, take you to see your sister."
Mélanie grinned and nodded eagerly. Leslie walked down a hallway with the young girl practically running after her. The two entered a small room with a few incubators. Mélanie's eyes roamed around the room, "All the boxes are empty. Why?"
Leslie shook her head with a slight laugh, "Look, over there. That's your new sister, Lydia."
Mélanie darted over to where the doctor pointed and peered over the side of the glass. She stared at the baby in amazement. She reached over to touch her when her hand was knocked away. She jerked her head up in surprise. Leslie pursed her lips and sighed deeply. She knelt down in front of Mélanie and grabbed her hands.
The girl looked at the woman tilting her head to the side. The doctor looked conflicted before she spoke in a soft tone, "Mélanie, I'm sorry. I tried but, well your mother is dead. I want you to know that I'll be here if you ever-" The doctor was interrupted by Mélanie backing up with wide eyes before fleeing from the room. Leslie stood and started yelling for her but the girl kept running.
As soon as she made it to the door, however, the same young sidekick from earlier stepped out in front of her. He smiled sadly, "Leslie told you then, huh? Sorry about lying earlier. There wasn't actually a villain chasing me. I just needed to get you here." Mélanie frowned at him before going back in. She sat down on one of the chairs and pointed over at a nearby chair.
Robin moved over and sat down next to her. The normally talkative hero seemed to understand that a conversation wouldn't help the situation. He offered a small smile instead and the two children sat there in silence.
Leslie watched the two from the hallway entrance and the corner of her lip turned upwards. She turned her eyes toward the entrance of the hospital and nodded once. She turned back around and entered a different room.
Mélanie hesitated for a moment before turning towards the boy and gently tugged on his cape. He turned to look at her and she paused again. He moved around in his chair to face her, "What's wrong?"
She shifted in her seat , "I wanna show you something." She frowned when he didn't immediately respond.
He stilled for moment and studied her. She spoke with a slight French accent. He regarded the girl curiously, "What is it?"
The girl grinned and jumped out of her seat. She ran out of the waiting room and down a dimly lit hallway. Robin followed behind her at a slower pace. Before he turned the corner down the hallway, he waved at someone to follow along.
He caught up to her and found her standing in front a door with 'Storage' written on it. Robin stared at the door in bemusement. Mélanie laughed and opened the door, "Maman didn't like to leave me alone so when she came to work, I would stay in here. Ms. Leslie even let me decorate!"
Robin walked in and glanced around. In the corner of the room there was a stack of books sitting neatly on top of a black box. Near it was a fluffy white beanbag chair, with a makeshift cardboard table nearby. The girl darted over and snatched a small black picture album off the table. She shoved it in her backpack before throwing the bag on the floor.
Robin walked around the room, gazing at the various pictures scattered around the walls. Mélanie glanced at him and pointed at one picture, "That was at Champ de Mars. Maman and I went often for picnics. Have you ever visited La Tour Eiffel?"
The pair was interrupted by a dark figure entering the room. Mélanie immediately shrank back and inched closer to Robin. The young hero moved in front of her, "Hey Batman. This is Mélanie, we were just talking discussing the Eiffel Tower. It'd be so cool to climb, don't you think?"
The girl seemed to overcome her shyness and walked over to Batman. She stared up at him and tilted her head. The man narrowed his eyes and she copied his glare. This sudden change in the girl seemed to surprise Robin, who let out a laugh, "I don't know about you Batman, but I kinda like her."
Batman inspected the girl carefully. He turned to his partner, "Help her pack up her stuff. We'll drop her off at the GCPD." Robin nodded somberly, his mouth twisted into a frown.
Batman turned to leave when a voice stopped him. "Attendez! Where is Lydia going? She is coming with me?"
The older hero frowned, "No, your sister will have to stay here for now. Then, when she gets better, will be transferred to a foster home. Dr. Thompkins asked me to keep you out of system for as long as possible. Unfortunately, the CPS has gotten involved and you have to see them."
The girl frowned, "Lydia needs me. Maman is gone I must care for her." Her voice was choked and her eyes filled with tears.
Robin put a hand on her shoulder, "I know it's hard right now, but it'll get better. It's okay to be sad and it's okay to cry, it's scary, I know. One day it'll heal, but until then you have to stay strong, okay?"
Mélanie blinked hard and sniffled, but she nodded, a look of determination crossing her face. She straightened her back and titled her chin up. She moved around the room, packing her stuff into the box and her bag. When she was finished, the only thing left in the room was the furniture.
Robin picked up the box and the two walked to where Batman was waiting at the Batmobile. Mélanie's things were quickly loaded into the car. Robin jumped in, signaling for the girl to do the same. Before she entered the car, she tapped Batman's side to get his attention. When he looked down at her, she showed him her Batman themed backpack, grinned and jumped into the car. His eyes narrowed a fraction before he got in the car.
The drive to the police department was a short one, with no one really talking during the drive. When Batman parks, the girl gets out, albeit rather reluctantly. The trunk of the car opens and she grabs the box. She shuffled slowly into the police station, her shoulders slumped. She glanced back at the car, and at Batman's blank look, walked in.
In the backseat, Robin looked sullen and his arms were crossed. Batman stared at the young hero, "Yes, Robin?"
Robin huffed, "We aren't really going to just abandon her like this are we?"
Batman didn't answer instead speeding the car away from the police department. Robin looked away angrily.
Batman finally broke the silence, "I cant adopt every orphan in this city, Robin."
The boy rolled his eyes, "Well obviously, but I dunno B, I really think she's different, y'know?"
He leaned back in the seat and waited for his mentor to respond, but Batman stayed silent for the rest of the trip to the Manor.
The second the Batmobile came to a stop, Robin used the seat as a platform and launched himself out of the car. He flipped in the air once before landing softly.
He quickly threw off his cape and mask and maneuvered around Alfred, who was coming down the stairs. The butler raised an eyebrow at his youngest charge, before turning his gaze at the now unmasked hero seated at the computer, "Working late tonight, Master Bruce?"
The man gave a brief nod, his attention focused completely on the computer. After a moment, an image of a young girl appeared on the screen. Alfred moved closer to look at the image, "Mélanie Boudreaux?" Bruce nods again, "Her mother passed away in childbirth earlier this evening. Batman and Robin brought her to the GCPD a few hours after."
Alfred nodded thoughtfully, "I'm sure Master Richard would love the company."
Bruce scowled, "Dick certainly thinks the same way. I however, have no intention of adopting her."
Alfred simply turned back around, "Very well then sir." He walked back up the stairs, leaving Bruce alone in the cave.
The next few days passed with little to no mention of the eight year girl between Bruce and the other two inhabitants of the Manor. That is, until Dick Grayson went over to Barbara Gordon's house. Bruce had stayed outside to talk to the Commissioner, while Dick quickly ran inside to greet his friend, only to see the young brunette sitting quietly in the kitchen.
Barbara was sitting next to her and stood, moving over to the boy, "This is Mélanie. Her mom passed away recently and Dad offered to take her in until we can find her family or someone adopts her."
Dick peered around his friend to look at the quiet girl. Mélanie's eyes flickered up at him before she lowered them again. He stared to say something to the girl when Barbara shook her head and whispered, "Be careful at what you say to her. Dad and I just finally convinced her to leave her room yesterday."
His blue eyes shifted over to the redhead and he gave a brief nod of understanding. He wasn't all that surprised at Mélanie's behavior. He took a few cautious steps towards the table and slowly sat down next to her. Barbara quickly moved to sit down on the other side of the girl. Dick throws an arm comfortingly around the younger girl. Mélanie looked surprised at this before her face crumples and she launches herself at Dick. Loud sobs echo through the house and Mélanie clings tightly onto Dick, who tightens his hold on her.
Barbara left the room quickly and returned a moment later with Mélanie's gray penguin plush and sat it down near the girl. She then starts to go call for her dad, when the front door swung open and the two adults walk in. The Commissioner immediately goes to comfort the crying girl, but she twisted away from him.
Barbara came over and started talking to the brunette in a soothing tone and her sobs quieted. She moved away from Dick and snatched the penguin off the table, hugging it to her chest. Bruce raised an eyebrow at the two and smiled wryly, "Well apparently the decision has already been made without me."
Gordon let out a laugh, "If you keep going on this way, you'll have enough kids to start your own school."
Dick's head shot up at that, demanding to know if he was serious. At Bruce's nod, he grinned and Barbara muttered 'knew it' under her breath. Dick let out a cheer and beamed at Mélanie. The girl looked confused and a bit apprehensive. Barbara whispered what was happening to her, causing her eyes to widen slightly.
Her wide eyes swiveled to Bruce and then to Dick before she turned to Barbara and whispered something. Barbara nodded in response and whispered something back to the girl. Mélanie then turned and stared at Bruce and smiled brightly.