I'm so, so sorry for the wait. Writer's block. And I wanted to finish Reuniting. But now that's done, so I just have this story to focus on.

Seriously people, I need ideas! Anything! Something!

Enjoy the chapter!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything.

Artemis, Robin, and Batgirl rendezvoused with the rest of the team on the warehouse and told them about Ivy's break out. Red Hood smelled something suspicious. "Wait, she broke out herself? Usually she waits until someone else breaks her out."

"Guess she had something important to do." Robin said cheerfully. "Anyway, lets go. Try to steer clear of her if you can."

The group continued on, trying to keep up with the bats who apparently thought it was amusing to disappear, freak everyone else, and then reappear and act like nothing had happened. They stopped some robberies, a few attempted rapings, and a murder. In about half an hour. The team couldn't believe how bad Gotham really was. They had barely covered a third of the area that Robin wanted them to patrol, and already there had been so much. It wasn't like the missions the team went on, where there was usually one super villain coming up with some elaborate plot. These were ordinary people on the streets, doing horrible things.

No wonder Batman was so… Batman.

After all this, some of the team was beginning to wonder if the cheerfulness that Robin always displayed was, in fact, an act. No one could live and work here without becoming scarred and haunted by something. And Robin had to see so much more than normal people did.

People said that Gotham could bring anyone down. Moving through the city now, the team believed that. They knew that they probably would not last a single night in Gotham on their own. They just weren't prepared for the magnitude of crime occurring in the streets.

This realization brought a new respect for Robin. They had all respected them before, yes, but had also had an irrational sense that they had to protect him, shield him from the horrors the world had to offer. Now, they were beginning to see that maybe it was Robin who was shielding them. Batman and Robin stopped Gotham from spilling out and tainting the rest of the world. It was an impossible mission, but they tried nevertheless.

About halfway through patrol, Robin and Batgirl did their typical disappearing thing. They were having a lot of fun with this. This time when they disappeared, they moved to a warehouse roof above where the team was stopping a robbery.

"Well," Batgirl remarked, "patrol's sure easier with them."

"Yeah." Robin murmured. "It feels like cheating. Powers shouldn't be in Gotham. It's wrong."

"I know what you mean." Batgirl nodded. "Gotham is the epitome of human evilness, I guess. Human weakness and corruption, or whatever. Having powers here is just going to get you killed faster."

"Hmm. Do you think they'll ever come back after this?"

"Doubt it."

Robin's comm went off in his ear. Batman's voice came through. From BG's reaction, she was hearing it too. "How's patrol going?"

"Fine." Robin answered. "How's preparations going?"

"They're finished. We'll begin in about 10 minutes."

"Alright." Batgirl grinned. "The team's going to freak."

Selina's laugh came over the comm. "Oh, yes. They are."

Robin was chuckling as they made their way back to the team. "I can't believe that the team is so naive to think that Bats wouldn't turn this into a training opportunity."

"Or that some of the villain are willing to work with us on some things."

"And they didn't realize we'd do anything we could to make this more painful for them- and more fun for us."

They exchanged evil grins. "They're doomed."

"Ready, Harley?"

"Whenever you are, Red."

"This is perfect, isn't it? We haven't been able to hang out with the kids in so long. At least, without the Bat."

"Yup. I can't wait. Birdie said he'd tell us some stories about his team."

"And Red said she's bring some snacks."

"Aren't you kidnapping her in the middle of patrol? How's she gonna bring snacks?"

"She's a Bat now, Harley. How do Bats do anything?"

"Right. Is Kitty gonna meet us at the place?"

"Yes, she said it would be too much fun to miss."

"Oh, I can't wait!"

Yeah, it's just kind of a filler. Oh well. Like I said, writers block.

REVIEW!