Disclaimer: All characters belong to DC, with the exception of Magda and Jim. Prepare yourself. This is a long one. I hope you enjoy. One more thing. I noticed I've hit over 300 views of my story! It's a big confidence boost so thank you all!

There were shards of glass falling from the ceiling, as two men jumped through. I covered my head with my jacket and walked to the edge of the room. Jim followed me and I heard him yell, "You need to get out of here! From here it's every man for himself! Try to lay low until someone from the family finds you again. Now go!" I obeyed him, and tried to find my way out. I saw Batman and Robin skillfully taking out Joker's goons, as I made it to the other side of the room. I overheard Harley, "Puddin' is Batboy not playin nice?" Attacking with her trusty bat, she got in a few good hits before being sprayed with something. She coughed and crawled into a corner. I made my way over to her.

"What *cough* are you *cough* still doing here girlie?"

"I thought you might need some help." I grabbed for her arm trying to pull her further away from the fight.

"Thanks honey! I'm sure Mr. J can kick some tail!" We both looked over in unison as the fight ensued, only to see Robin punch Joker in the face. We both cringed and made sounds essentially meaning "that's gotta hurt". She turned to me with a smile, "They'll patch him up at Arkham, they always do." We both quickly made it to the alley. One of the vans was still there with three thugs inside. She got in the passenger side. "Let's split up. Someone will find you when the heat is off. Good luck kid!" She shut the door and pounded the side of the van with a fist. "Let's go boys!" I watched them drive off, then started walking at a fast pace away from the scene. The only place I could think of going was back to Crime Alley. I only made it about three blocks when I swore I heard footsteps following me. I turned to look around, but no one was there.


Something was definitely up. She was walking too fast. I heard my footsteps echoing, so I ducked behind a building. She turned, but thankfully didn't see me. I climbed to the tops of the buildings to follow her the rest of the way. People don't usually bother looking up. It looked like we were heading towards Crime Alley. I hadn't explored this area in years. It kind of felt nice to be back home.


I felt uneasy the whole way back to Crime Alley. It was almost like someone was following me just out of sight. Up ahead there was an abandoned building I had hid in many times. This was my time to make a break for it, and stay out of sight just in case someone was watching me. I still had my knife in the side of my boot. I began to make a run for it.


After awhile she picked up her pace once again and disappeared into an abandoned building. When she ducked into the building I took a minute to take in the surroundings. No way. How is that building still here? I climbed down from the rooftop, and approached the house she disappeared into. I'm...I'm back home. I opened the front door, and that same squeak was still in the hinge of the door. I headed towards the stairs. Right. Past the living room. Left. Up the staircase. Left. Into my old room, just down the hallway. She wasn't there, but the closet I hid in many times still had its door. I approached slowly.


I closed the front door and made my way upstairs. There was a closet in the second room with a door still intact. I could stay there for awhile just to make sure no one is following. I knelt down into a crouched position, with a hand ready on my knife. I heard the front door open and shut from downstairs. There was definitely someone following. Movement slowly drifted up the stairs. There were two other rooms in this house. Why check this one first? A shadow appeared underneath the door. With my knife out, I waited to pounce.


Opening up the door, she caught me off guard by staying low.

I lunged at him, but he caught my arm holding the knife.

She was stronger than I expected. I twisted her wrist, so she would drop it.

His grip made the pain radiate, so I switched it up and kicked him in the kneecap.

Falling down on one knee while still holding on to her, I took a swivel to the left and had her down on the ground.

My kick only made him push me over onto the floor. With him on top of me, his strength was greater than mine. Face to face the only thing I could hear was our heavy breathing.

Staring her down, in between breaths I managed to say, "Drop, the knife." I squeezed her wrist again. The blade dropping with a thump on the moldy, dirty plush carpet.

Looking up at him, I studied his face while slowing my breath. I grimaced in pain and dropped the weapon. A dark green mask covering his eyes, which were a dark shade of blue. Green gloved hands, and a yellow R near his shoulder. Then it clicked. "Robin?"

"Yeah, that's the name. What gave it away? The costume?."

He had a smug smile on his face. I felt him shift his weight, and took the opportunity to use whatever force I had to push him back.

Suddenly her push sent me falling backwards and I just sat there a little dazed. "Don't even think about leaving. I have some questions for you."

"Questions for me? How about mine first." I took a long pause, and smiled. I crawled forward towards him. "Which Robin are you? I've heard there is more than one. One has a mean streak. I've heard whispers in the alley that he has even killed before. So which one are you?" I came within inches of his face. "The good one, or the bad one?" He stayed quiet for awhile.

My teeth began gritting. How dare she accuse me of killing! Grayson was the one who decided to leave. I wasn't the bad one. I felt blood rush to my face. Before I even realized what I had done, I felt a sharp pain come from my hand. I saw tears starting to run down her face as she held her jaw. Blood was dripping from between her fingers. I tried to be apologetic, "I'm...I'm sorry."

Pulling my hand away, I looked at the blood. I swore I could still feel his hand print on my face. He fucking slapped me! I slowly got up in a daze. "I guess have my answer." I spat out the blood welling in my mouth, and began to walk away.

She couldn't just leave. I followed her for a reason. I got up and pushed her against a wall. "Why were you around the museum?" I growled, "Are you working with the Joker?"

He managed to pin down one of my arms to the wall. I looked up at him annoyed, "Maybe I am. Why does that matter? If I am involved, would you even understand why?"

My voice was low. "People can get desperate. I do know. In fact I grew up on these streets. In this very house. I had to fend for myself. Why did you choose to stay here?"

I let out an annoyed exhale, "After the system kicked me out, I ended up here. It was still livable and empty; most of the time. Pure coincidence." I began to get angry, "If this was your house, and you're out being a crime fighter now, then you must have gotten lucky."

"If lucky means stealing the wheel off Batman's car, and getting caught, then yes. I guess I was a bit lucky." It was nice remembering the good old days, and it must of showed on my face. She was smiling back at me. "You just have to do what you can to survive."

"So you do understand. That's good. Can you let me go now? After the way things went tonight, I'll be out of a job for awhile." I felt his hand slide down into my front pocket, and he pulled out the stolen wad of money.

"I guess that's why you decided to take this?" I held up the money in front of her and smiled.

Giving him a little chuckle, "A girl's gotta eat." I grabbed my money back from him and he backed away from me.

"You know. That's evidence. I could turn you in, and you could spend some time with that new family of yours. In jail. But I won't if you help me and Batman out."

My stance shifted to crossed arms, "I'm listening." He explained that our visit from Catwoman was premeditated. They needed the Joker to make an appearance because they heard about all the deals he had been making with other villains. I told him it was true and informed him about the shipments of goods that came to the gate days prior. He was pleased with this information. He wanted me to show him the hideout, and that was why he followed. "Sorry to disappoint you then. All I know is that it's an abandoned warehouse around here somewhere."

"Well it's a start. Would you be willing to become an informant? You would have our protection. But this only works if the Joker trusts you. So, does he?" She looked a little nervous.

Hesitating, "I'm not totally sure about the whole trust thing. Although, I guess if I passed the initiation that was good enough for now." I paused and got defensive, "And just how would you protect me? It's not like you can watch my every move, every minute of the day." I brushed the cut on my lip. "And after this...little mishap...I would rather have Batman watching my back." I glared at him.

"I said I was sorry! What can I do to get you to trust me?" She walked back over to me, and looked up into my eyes. Her hand settled on the corner of my mask. For only a second, looking down into those green eyes, I let me guard down. I quickly recovered by taking hold of her wrist, more gently this time. Her sleeve crept up revealing bruises taking form. Then my nose caught the scent of her skin. It was pleasant and floral. My mind imagined me planting a kiss on her lips, but my body wouldn't act.

He seemed in a light trance. I stared into his eyes deeply and spoke, "Let me take it off. If I can see your face, then I will recognize you if you try to follow me out of costume. I don't need a name. Just a face. That's all I'm asking for."

Letting go of her wrist, "I guess that sounds fair." She proceeded to take it off, and stared at me for a long time pushing the hair out of my eyes. And in all honesty...it felt nice.

I took off his mask. Looking up, he stood five inches taller than me. He had to be about my age too. His shaggy black hair fell into his eyes. I pushed it back, and noticed him take in a deep breath. His dark blue eyes were dilating. He had strong features. Why would someone so handsome risk his body and life in this line of work? He had a couple light scars on his face, but nothing too noticeable. I put my hand down and backed away. He smiled at me, and let out the breath he held in. "Something tells me you enjoyed that more than you should have." I smirked.

"I have no idea what you are talking about." I gave a tiny chuckle, and she gave me a shove. I didn't budge. "So do we have a deal? Or not?"

"Yes, we do. Are there any other stipulations I should know about?" I say with a raised eyebrow.

"Why yes there actually is. We may need you to visit Arkham, and do a little meet and greet with the Joker. Maybe get some intel on what his plans are before he gets out again." She gave me an odd look.

"Now wait a minute! That seems too risky. He would know something is up. I was told to wait for someone to get me, not go looking for him, or anyone else." I handed him back his mask. "But I guess I don't have a choice again. Just bad or something worse. God fucking damn it!" I turned and kicked the wall, and got my foot stuck in it.

"Looks like I'm not the only one with a temper." I helped her pull her foot out. She sank down to the floor, and sat there with her arms holding her knees.

"Just leave already!"

Putting my mask back on, I went to the window. "Remember I'll be watching. When I need your help, we will meet again."

He disappeared and I noticed how late it was. I picked up my knife and placed it back in the side of my boot. I checked the other rooms for a makeshift bed, and found one in the third room. With no covers I just curled up into a ball and tried to get some sleep. I would need to find some food, and a place with running water in the morning. I couldn't help but relive the days events in my dreams. I can't get his face out of my head, which was partly the point of asking for the mask off.


Back in the Batcave Bruce was waiting for me. "You took your time. What happened?" I took off my mask, let down my hood, and sat down on one of the cave's many rocks.

"I was right, she is a part of the Jokers crime family. The big surprise is that...she is completely sane. She doesn't fit the Jokers usual MO when picking thugs."

"So then you asked her to work with us?"

"I did. After the little scuffle we had." Bruce took off his cowl, and gave me a look. "Yes there was some blood, but she is fine. Although she wasn't very trusting after that."

"But you said she agreed. Jason, when will you learn to curb your anger?"

"Hey! I got her to say yes...because I struck a deal with her. I let her keep some stolen money, and vowed constant protection."

"That's it? I feel like your not telling me everything." Bruce just shook his head and began walking to the exit of the Batcave. He turned to me. "Constant protect huh. So I guess that means your going to be spending a lot more time in Crime Alley. Remember you can't intervene when out of costume. Get some sleep, and I'll have a plan for what we need her to do next, soon." He took the elevator back up to the mansion. Once he was out of sight, I plopped down into a chair. It sat in front of the Supercomputer which contained a database connected to all public records in Gotham. I'll sneak in some research before bed.

I looked up any persons adopted or released from the Orphanage in the last year. The list came up with over fifty hits. Filtering out age range between fifteen to eighteen years cut the list down to thirty five. I brought up each file and cut out anyone who wasn't eighteen. "Almost there." The final cut was by gender. There were only five females the age of eighteen that had been at the Orphanage in the last year. Each document had a picture. This had to be her on the third one. Even in black and white her eyes were different than anyone else's. Her name was Magda McGuire. "Bingo! And he says I don't have the patience for detective work." My eyes were heavy, I went up to bed. I would be having a big day trailing Magda tomorrow.

AN: This is my first fan fiction. I apologize for any misspellings, grammar errors, ect. Please feel free to comment, review, like, or favorite. Thank you for reading!