And already chapter 3!
Chapter 2: Red Kite
Scarlet walked along the street, head down, hoodie pulled low over her face. It was around ten o'clock, it would've been dangerous for anyone in Gotham at this time, everyone but her. Training for seven years by the best martial artist in the world had it's benefits.
A police car zoomed by, siren screaming. She remembered talk in the ship earlier. Something about a big drug trade off at the docks.
She mentally debated wether or not to go. It was something to do. She didn't have anything else today, tomorrow or any other day. She rolled her eyes at herself, but headed back to her new home, grabbing her suit and weapons.
She didn't live too far from the docks so it took three minutes of roof hopping to arrive at on a warehouse. She tapped the domino mask, turning on the infrared vision. She looked around. Two heat signatures on the rooftop two buildings over, probably the Dynamic Dunderheads, fifteen inside the warehouse right across from her.
She smirked.
Gotcha.
She watched Batman and Robin for a moment, then quickly went over to the warehouse, staying out of sight and turning off the infrared. She hadn't seen anyone near the side door, so she chose that as her entry point.
"What are we waiting around for?" One of the guys said. "They should 'ave been 'ere by now."
"Oi you shuddup, the boss says we wait for 'dem, so we wait," another said.
The main door opened. Fifteen more people came in.
"Sorry we're late boys, do you have the merchandise?" The leader said.
"Aye we got it," the apparent leader of the other group said. "You got de money?"
"Where's your boss?"
"He aint here tonight, jus' like your boss aint. Le's jus' finish up and get outta here 'fore the Bat and his Brat come."
She smirked. You're gonna wish it were the Bat by the time I'm done with you.
She jumped on the dealer closest to her, knocking him out with a well placed jab to a pressure point on his neck.
"Who's-"
"Don't matter, just get her!"
She drew her katana, blocking the bullets with ease. She made the bullets hit in non-lethal places. Shoulders, legs. She jumped up, taking out several dealers. The guy behind her dropped by a well placed kick. Not from her.
"I was wondering when you two would show up," she said with a laugh.
"Who are you?" Robin asked.
"Focus on the fight Birdboy, we'll talk later," she said. It took them only a few moments to take out the rest of them then they then went to the roof as the cops drove up.
"Already called the cops huh? Nice-" She turned, only to be glared at by the Batman. He was over a foot taller than her, so it would have been intimidating to most people. To bad for him that she wasn't most people.
"Don't glare at me," she spat. "I was helping."
"Who are you?" he growled.
"The name's Red Kite," she said, mock bowing.
Robin snorted. "What kind of name is that?"
She shot him a glare. "Of shutcha trap, Robin."
"Why are you here?" Batman said, ignoring the exchange.
"What's it look like Bat?" she asked, taking a step back. "Suit, belt, crime fighting skills in spades."
"Who trained you?" Batman growled.
She placed a hand on her chest in a gesture of sincerity. "Now now of all people you should know how important a secret identity is."
"Except that this is my city," he growled. "You want to play hero? Go to Metropolis. Gotham is off limits."
Her lightheartedness disappeared. "I go where I want. I don't need some over-grown rodent telling me what I can and can't do. You saw me take them out, easy. I'm not hurting anyone."
"Tell that to those men you shot," he said.
She huffed. "I didn't shoot them. They shot each other." He glared. "So what if my methods are more extreme. They were shooting at me. I didn't kill them. Any of them."
"What is your goal?" Batman asked.
She shrugged. "Same as yours. Plus it's something to do. Besides, most people will think it's you. I'm not going to hurt your precious Gotham."
"You think we're gonna believe that?" Robin asked.
"No. But I don't care." She started to walk away. "I don't want nutt'n to do with you two. If you don't bother me I won't bother you." Before either of them could stop her, she threw down a smoke bomb and disappeared.
Dick flipped up and down on the trapeze in the Batcave. They'd just gotten back from patrol, the night had been slow, apart from the girl, Red Kite.
"So Bruce, what are we gonna do about this Red Kite?" he asked.
Bruce didn't looked up. "I placed a tracker on her. It's transmitting."
"Cool." Dick jumped down and went over. At the moment she was going across Gotham, away from the docks, towards...she stopped at a little appliance store called AJ's Tech. "We going after her?"
Bruce didn't answer. Suddenly, the signal disappeared. "She found it," he said in slight aw.
Bruce grunted. "Both of them."
"You had two on her?" he asked.
"I like to be prepared," Bruce said.
"So what are we gonna do?" he asked.
Bruce looked at the screen briefly, then stood. "Nothing."
He stared at his mentor's retreating back. "What? What do you mean nothing?"
"I mean, nothing. We're going to wait. It's her move."
Scarlet turned the tracking device in her hand. She'd crushed one, but rewired the other to stop transmitting. If ever she needed to contact the Bat, she could.
On another subject, she sort of wanted to go to a high school. It was something to do during the day, also a useful gossip outlet. Besides people looked at her weird when they saw a lone fourteen year old at a coffee shop. She could use her considerable hacking skills to get herself records and parents. Her parents wouldn't be around, obviously, only taking messages and such.
Gotham North seemed like a good a place as any. She also needed a job. Something simple, just to get her food. It wouldn't be to hard in school. She knew history, she was good at math, english was, eh, she was also multi-linguistic. She was pretty average in everything else. She'd do good.
She didn't really know why she wanted to. She just did. She would use Kara Madison as an alias. She'd never used it before, so they wouldn't know.
Scarlet looked around at the chatting teens and little clusters and groups. She didn't blend in very well, she was a dark skinned, light blue eyed, red head amongst white skinned, blond haired Caucasians. Not like she cared though.
First day of school. Gosh that sounded so cheesy. But all well, here we go.
The bell rang and all of the teens filed in. Her first class was math, which she did well at. The roll call was done and over with quickly and the long day of classes began.
At lunch, Scarlet sat alone in the cafeteria, her ears open to the gossip around her. Her classes had been surprisingly easy. It was weird, acting like a regular kid. She couldn't stop herself from analyzing threat levels, exit and entry points, possible escape strategies. It was all drilled into her after all.
One week later...
Scarlet was back 'home', honing the blade of her sword on a whetstone. Her wrist computer that was usually attached to her glove sat beside her. She'd hacked the police frequency so all she had to do now was wait.
She'd already done her homework. "It's so weird having to worry about homework," she muttered to herself.
She'd spent the past week in a steady routine. Get up, train, school, homework, train, wander around Gotham aimlessly, train, patrol.
At night she would patrol Gotham, trying to avoid all encounters with Batman. She hadn't fought any Arkhamites as of yet though. She couldn't say she was disappointed. She'd had enough crazy for a life-time.
The 'zing' of stone on steel was the only noise in the abandoned building. She thought about moving every few nights, but dismissed the idea. She'd already bought a canvas, hooking it to the beams to create a sort of platform. Just so she wouldn't roll off at night.
"All units respond. Joker and Harley Quinn spotted at the Gotham Bank, five hostages."
A slow smirk spread across her face. So maybe she did want some action. She quickly changed, grabbing her belt and pulling on her gloves. The domino mask finished off the ensemble.
It only took three minutes to get to the bank. New record. A bunch of police cars were outside. She went to the top of the building, looking down through the skylight.
"You were right Bats."
She didn't even flinch. "Oh hey Bats, Bird. Nice of you to join the party."
"Stay out of this one," Batman growled. "You don't know how to handle a hostage situation."
She snorted, turning. "Says who? I can do it just fine." I've been both the hero and villain of the situation after all.
Batman glared. She opened the skylight by breaking the lock with her katana.
" 'sides, we're waisting time."
Batman jumped down. "Follow our lead."
She snorted. "Sure bossman, whatever you say." She jumped down after Robin, muttering to herself, "like hell."
The bank was eerily quiet, sunlight streamed in from the skylight.
"Joker's making his move in the day, that's not normal," Robin remarked.
Batman shot him a glance. "Name one thing about the Joker that's normal."
Robin shrugged. "Good point."
She tapped her mask, flicking on the infrared.
"I've got seven heat signatures in the second room to the right, two more on the second story," she reported. Reported? Since when do I report? Robin glanced at her, she shrugged. "Infrared."
"Same," Robin said.
"Robin and Red Kite, you get the hostages. I'll take Joker and Harley," Batman ordered.
Robin gave a short nod, going in the direction of the seven heat signature room. She followed quickly.
Followed? Reported? Geez girl, get your head in the game.
They found two big guys, machine guns pointed at three hostages who were gagged, bound and unconscious. Three. Robin glanced at her. Uh oh.
Something slammed into her from behind.
"Oh Mistah J, your plan worked poifectly!" A high-pitched, bright voice with a New Jersey accent rang out.
She picked herself up, Joker and Harley Quinn stood in the doorway.
"Don't move birds, or the people eat led," Joker said. Then cackled. "Don't you just love a good surprise?"
"By now, Batman has found the other two hostages, tied to a bomb set to go off in three minutes," Harley said. "Isn't Mistah J a genius?"
"Why thank you Harley."
Her eyes flicked to Robin, he was inching a bat-a-rang from his glove even as she pulled a shurikans from hers.
He gave a barely perceptible nod. The threw their respective weapons at the same time, hit the guns with a small explosion. She jumped on one thug, hitting several pressure points, he dropped like a stone. Robin had already taken out his.
"Oh like we didn't expect that." He pulled a giant gun from behind the door, cackling madly and firing wildly. The bullets, miraculously, missed the hostages, who were still tied and gagged.
She spun her sword in a metallic blur, blocking the bullets.
"Impressive," Joker said.
She threw an ice pellet, it hit the gun, ice flew up the barrel almost catching Joker's hands.
"I almost forgot to ask, who exactly are you?" Joker asked, rubbing his hands, he whipped out two switchblades, blocking an attack from Robin's eskrima sticks.
She dodged a bullet fired by Harley.
"No one of consequence," she said. "But you can call me Red Kite." She caught Harley's leg, who'd tried to kick her, throwing Harley back to Joker. "I think this is yours!" Joker simply sidestepped.
Robin dropped down on Joker, using him as a springboard and landing next to her.
"Well that was lame," Joker said, seeming annoyed.
"Check again," Robin said with a smirk.
The explosives on Joker's knives blew. Something slammed into her, Harley.
"Don't you dare hurt mistah J!" she said. Red Kite dodged a punch, her foot catching Harley in the jaw, dropping her.
She looked up to Batman take out the Joker, then helped Robin up.
"Civilians safe?" she asked.
He gave her a sharp nod.
She cut the civilians bonds, re-sheathing her katana across her back. Batman and Robin had already tied up the Joker and Harley Quinn.
The civilians started to groan. She backed out of the room, shooting a grappler up to the skylight, landing up on the roof.
Both Robin and Batman were there momentarily.
"Staying out of the spotlight?" Robin questioned. She shot him a glare.
"You did surprisingly well," Batman remarked.
"S-surprisingly?" she sputtered incredulously.
"I can help you," he added.
She crossed her arms defiantly. "I'm fine on my own."
Robin coughed/snorted.
"This is also my city," Batman growled.
She held up her hands. "I get it okay? No powers, no killing. Got it."
"Those aren't the only factors," he added, eyes narrowing.
She backed away. "I won't get in your way. Promise." She turned and jumped off the building.
She took a round-about way back home, panting by the time she got there. She leaned against the wall, sliding down into a sitting position. She leaned her head against the wall.
That was close. To close. Could he know? No. Well, he is The Batman.
She hoped he would let her continue as a hero. She told herself it was just for the rush, the action that came with the cape (so to speak), but it was more than that. It was a way for her to make up for all that she'd done, to honor their memory and continue their mission. And a way to wipe away some of the red in her ledger.
She shuddered, her heart pounding, at the echoes of the screaming, the terror, gunshots and painful silence. Closing her eyes and resting her head against her knees and breathed deeply.
Deep breath. In...out...in...out.
The shudders soon subsided and her heart returned to it's normal rate. She hated this. It made her feel weak. Weak and small. It was his fault. He made her this way...and she hated it.
She slowly stood, running a hand through her long red hair, slowly drawing in a long shuddering breath.
"Never break. Never submit. Never give up," she recited. This phrase had been hammered into her from early childhood, she'd done it up to now, and she wasn't about to quit.
So what did you think? Please review! I'd love to hear your thoughts.