p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Note: I may be doing other people's point of views soon, definitely Cass. I can't do Bruce; I can't get in his head. I am open to other POV suggestions. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"strongemspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/em/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"W.E. is Wayne Industries with an E. Spell correct doesn't like it. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"strongspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Daniel /span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"strongspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"We entered the large doors and saw a huge room. A large set of stairs were in front of us, to the left a large sunroom, to the right leading off to a hallway. The stairs, walls, and floors were all made of a dark wood that shown in the sunlight. The stairs were covered in a red fabric, a rug?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe room was beautiful, but it felt empty. Dust covered the art along the walls, the red beginning to fade. It felt like this was once well tended, now it was left. No one to care about the once grand beauty anymore. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Abby clutched at my arm, her hand reaching my wrist. She was seeking comfort from my heartbeat. Yes, she can hear heartbeats, but feeling a heartbeat often calms her down much faster. With her black hood down, she looked almost like the first time I saw her. Scared, heartbroken, searching for someone to love and someone to love her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Ok, you two don't come out till you hear your cue." Jason said. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Our cue?" I asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""You'll know. Just stay here." Jason apparently wasn't sure what he was going to say. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Me and Abby waited in the hallway, the door was left ajar. I heard many voices. "Ab's" I whispered; she squeezed my wrist to show she was listening to me. "How many people are in there?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Umm... with Damian and Jason, nine people in total." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Who are all those people? Was it necessary to meet so many people at once?/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"People were talking. A man's voice said, "Little D, where have you been?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""TT, Richard. Do not refer to me by that insufferable nickname. Now release me before I make you." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"I frowned at Abby. She had a slight smile on her lips, her eyes were covered. "Damian got a hug." I had to grin myself. I just wished I could've seen it. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""So, do you mind explaining why we're here? I was in the middle of an important case when Dick picked me up." A woman's voice asked. The woman sounded annoyed but not harsh. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Yeah, I was in a board meeting at W.E." Another male voice. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Jason spoke up. "Yeah, yeah. strongSorry/strong that we took time away from your strongsuch busy/strong lives."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Damain, is the reason for this meeting the reason you didn't return last night from patrol?" A deep male voice, familiar, but I couldn't place it. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Yes father." strongemFather. Batman. Great, just great./em/strong /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Then please explain."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""I was patrolling last night when I discovered two adolescents about to be torn apart by thugs. I intervened before that occurred."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""How bad are the thugs? In the hospital or worse?" The voice complaining about the W.E. meeting spoke up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""TIM!" the voice who called Damian 'Little D' chastised./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""TT, for your information strongDrake/strong, the thugs fled as soon as I made myself know. I then discovered that one of the two adolescents had been stabbed, and procced to take the two to the closest safe house, which was unfortunately occupied by Todd."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Why didn't you call in back up?" a new male's voice. Gentle and curious, he sounded almost concerned. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""I wanted to get a statement myself."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Did you? Who are they? Where are they?" Damian's father asked. A silence went over the room. Abigail frowned. Before I could ask, Batman spoke again, sounding angry. "Is this true?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Yes father."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""In fact, they are right outside the door." Jason said casually. "Come you two." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"I froze. emHow did they know/em? Abby's grip tightened around my wrist. "Daniel" Abby's soft voice was filled with worry, doubt, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHer forehead pressing into my shoulder blade. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Distinct thuds, someone walking to the door. Abby didn't relax as the person got closer; however, she wasn't becoming more tense. The door that had left a jar was pushed towards us, revealing Jason. His eyes were scanning the pair of us, trying to determine what the issue was. The smell of take-out food wafted behind him. I couldn't see anything or anyone in the room as Jason's wide frame was blocking the doorway. His leather jacket open across a simple black T-shirt, and blue style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"After a moment or two, Jason spoke. "Come on. These guys won't bite you. Well, Damian might. But you already met him, so you're already doing pretty well." His joke, even if it wasn't the best, was enough to make me move again. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"I can see why Abby immediately took to the man. Yes, he tried to recuse her first, and he gave Abby her name. Besides that, there is something in this man's stance, personality, aura? That just felt safe. I wonder if this is how Abby sees me./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Jason held the door open, standing to the side. He raised his hand a little, as if he wanted to put it on one of our backs, but he thought better of it. emGood. Yes, he has a good record with Abby, still doesn't mean either of us completely trust him. We barely know the man. /em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"The room itself was grand, though also a slight gloom hung in the air, just like when we first stepped into the place. Three long, leather, couches formed three sides of a square. Two of the couches were facing each other, while the other faced a large fireplace. A couple of armchairs, of the same leather, were placed in opposing corners. A large dark wooden table occupies the space in front of all the couches, currently covered in takeout food. It smells like Mexican. Behind the couches, were glass doors that led outside to a garden. Above the fireplace, hung a family portrait, ten people in all. All the people in the portrait were right in front of us, except one elderly regal man. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Jason gestured for Abby and me to sit, but we didn't. We stood in front of the fireplace; it seemed that a fire hadn't been lit there in years, adding to the gloom of the house. Jason stayed standing once he figured it out, we weren't sitting. Abby still had her head pressed into my back, and holding my arm, though not quite as tight. Damian was in the closest armchair to our right, looking relaxed for once with a large dog by his side, and a black and white cat on his lap. emWho knew Damian likes animals? /em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"The eldest man in the room appeared to be about 40 to 45 years old. Hair as black as night, light skin, deep blue eyes. He was Damian's mirror image, just 30 plus years older. A black turtleneck, and black jeans. His face was unreadable, glaring at me and Ab's. emIs Abby having better luck at reading this man? /emHe was the only other person in the room sitting in an armchair, in the best position to look at us head on. I would've thought he was a king if he didn't have takeout food in front of him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"On the couch to the left, closer to the older man, was a tall man probably in his late twenties or early thirties. Black hair, tan skin, a lighter shade of blue eyes than the middle-aged man. Almost sky blue. He wore a questioning grin, obviously confused about us. Lean, though his shoulders are somewhat built, muscular. Shorts and a blue T-shirt. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"At the other end of the couch, was a blonde girl who seemed to be physically early twenties, dressed in purple. Purple shirt, purple pants, purple shoes. Currently, her mouth is stuffed with food, making her look like a violet chipmunk. Light skin and lounging on the couch like a monkey in a tree. Blue eyes grew wide when we entered. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"On the couch to our right, a red head was sitting, also in her late twenties, a wheelchair behind the couch. Her green eyes sparkled in curiosity and intelligence, behind simple glasses. Light, freckled, skin. A grey shirt, blue jeans, and a black jacket. She seemed like a normal girl, but anyone who knows Damian can't be normal. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Another young man, this one younger than Jason, but older than Damian, so early twenties tops. He was thin and lanky, but muscles could be seen under his baggy clothes, which wasn't helping with the skinny effect. Baggy red shirt, baggy grey sweatpants. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBlack hair, crystal blue eyes which were sharp, intelligence clear in his eyes. Light skin, clutching a mug for dear life. Dark circles hung under the man's eyes. He apparently doesn't get a lot of sleep. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"On the couch directly in front of us, two more people sat. The man closer to the left side of the couch had dark skin, the darkest in the room. Caring brown eyes, cholate brown hair, a yellow shirt, and blue jeans. His frame wasn't extremely built, but it was obvious he didn't waste his time sitting around. His head was cocked a little to the side like a curious dog. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"The last person in the room was a girl with short black hair, sapphire blue eyes, and light skin as well, but in a different way from most of the others in the room. Her face seems shaped different too, like a mixture of oriental with something I couldn't quite place. She seemed about the same age as the blonde. Though her posture was relaxed, her eyes were moving over us too much to be considered normal. A black shirt, with blue jeans covered her build, though I wasn't going to put her down any lower on my list of wariness. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"The middle-aged man spoke, in a bit of a growl. "Son. Why exactly did you bring these two adolescents here? Putting our family at risk?" That voice. I had only heard it once before, on a rooftop where Damian and I fought each other, but I couldn't forget that voice. Batman. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Tt. Father, I thought you trusted me." If Batman relaxed at Damian's words I couldn't tell. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"The blonde chipmunk managed to swallow the food in her cheeks, "Umm, Dami, who are they?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Damian looked over to me and nodded. I sighed. "I'm Daniel. This is my little sister, Abigail." Damian's eyes narrowed when I called Abby my little sister. I lifted my left hand to take off my hood, as Abby was still clutching my right arm. She hasn't changed her position since we've entered the room. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Once I tug my hood off, I close my eyes. Just waiting for what is going to happen next. The feeling of eternity waiting passed within a moment. I heard nothing other than Abby's breathing. I couldn't stand it any longer, I opened my eyes. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Only three people in front of didn't seem shocked. Jason, Damian, and Batman. emWas Batman's face born in stone? /emNo one moved for another couple of minutes. emIf this is how they react to me, wait till they see Abby. /em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Finally, the girl with short black hair right in front of us moved. She… didn't speak but she used her hands to talk. Sign language. Of course, now it makes sense why there was silence before. I know some signs, though apparently not enough to keep up with this girl. The girl noticed that we didn't understand, and she looked towards the only red head in the room. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Can we please see your face, Abigial?" The red head translated. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Abby tightened her grip, letting lose a small whimper. I looked over my shoulder at her, she was so tense. emWhy…? Oh, she didn't know any of these people. We don't know their names. To quote Abby, 'How can you trust someone if you don't know their name?'/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"I was about to explain this when the same girl who signed seemed to read my or Abby's mind. "Cass." The girl pointed to herself. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Most of the rest of the family seemed shocked that Cass willingly told us her name. Cass looked over to dark skinned boy on the same couch as her. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDawning reached his eyes. "Hi. I'm Duke Thomas. This is Cassandra Cain, though she likes being called Cass." He pointed to Cass, making sure we understood the point. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"I could feel Abby relax a little, just by knowing two names she didn't before. Cass smiled, seeing Abby's posture relax a little as well. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Duke, Cass? What are you two doing?" Batman asked, more ice in his voice than before. He clearly wasn't happy that these people were telling us anything. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Cass started to sign, and this time Duke translated for us. "Daniel already said their names and revealed his face. Abigail doesn't trust us. Names help."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""There is no reason to trust them, Cassandra." Batman's voice is becoming harder. Abby tensed again at his voice. "We do not know either of them are or who they are working for. I met Respawn briefly working with his father. They could be working for the league or worst!" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"I know Abby was clenching her teeth. Whatever small trust started to bond with these people just shattered because of this man. I spoke up before Batman could say anything else. "We. Will. Never. Work. For. The. League. Willingly." I put as much venom in my voice as I could. Stressing every word to make the point crystal clear. "And my name is Daniel. Not Respawn." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Cass and Duke seemed to be the only ones on our side. Well, Jason and Damian may be too. I was ready to walk out of that room, my sister in tow, when the blonde spoke up again. "I'm Stephine Brown, you can call me Steph. Everyone but B and Damian do." She gave us a small smile. She is cautious yes, but she is trying to help. emApparently, they call Batman, B. Maybe B stands for b!tch./em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"The red head spoke up. "I am Barbra Gordan. Call me Babs or Barb. Me and Steph are the only people here not officially apart of this family." Her green eyes, still calculating, softened once she realized what Cass and Duke were trying to do for us. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""I'm Richard Grayson." The tall, sky-blue eyes, man said. "But everyone but little D calls me Dick." I gave the man a strange look. emWhy? Just why? Why would he call himself that? /emHe just grinned at my confusion, giving me no answer. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"The young man holding the mug, looked cautious. However, a glare from Cass, he sighed then spoke. "Timothy Drake. Call me Tim." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Batman still glared at us, giving us no comfort or reason to trust him. Abby took a deep breath. Knowing the only way for Batman to trust us was for her to take her hood down first. Her hand went shakily up to her head. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""It's ok Ab's." I whispered. Making sure she would be the only person to hear it. With my small reassurance she pulled her hood off of her head. I did not expect what came next. /span/p
div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"strongemspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/em/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"W.E. is Wayne Industries with an E. Spell correct doesn't like it. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"strongspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Daniel /span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"strongspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"We entered the large doors and saw a huge room. A large set of stairs were in front of us, to the left a large sunroom, to the right leading off to a hallway. The stairs, walls, and floors were all made of a dark wood that shown in the sunlight. The stairs were covered in a red fabric, a rug?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe room was beautiful, but it felt empty. Dust covered the art along the walls, the red beginning to fade. It felt like this was once well tended, now it was left. No one to care about the once grand beauty anymore. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Abby clutched at my arm, her hand reaching my wrist. She was seeking comfort from my heartbeat. Yes, she can hear heartbeats, but feeling a heartbeat often calms her down much faster. With her black hood down, she looked almost like the first time I saw her. Scared, heartbroken, searching for someone to love and someone to love her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Ok, you two don't come out till you hear your cue." Jason said. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Our cue?" I asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""You'll know. Just stay here." Jason apparently wasn't sure what he was going to say. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Me and Abby waited in the hallway, the door was left ajar. I heard many voices. "Ab's" I whispered; she squeezed my wrist to show she was listening to me. "How many people are in there?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Umm... with Damian and Jason, nine people in total." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Who are all those people? Was it necessary to meet so many people at once?/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"People were talking. A man's voice said, "Little D, where have you been?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""TT, Richard. Do not refer to me by that insufferable nickname. Now release me before I make you." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"I frowned at Abby. She had a slight smile on her lips, her eyes were covered. "Damian got a hug." I had to grin myself. I just wished I could've seen it. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""So, do you mind explaining why we're here? I was in the middle of an important case when Dick picked me up." A woman's voice asked. The woman sounded annoyed but not harsh. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Yeah, I was in a board meeting at W.E." Another male voice. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Jason spoke up. "Yeah, yeah. strongSorry/strong that we took time away from your strongsuch busy/strong lives."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Damain, is the reason for this meeting the reason you didn't return last night from patrol?" A deep male voice, familiar, but I couldn't place it. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Yes father." strongemFather. Batman. Great, just great./em/strong /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Then please explain."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""I was patrolling last night when I discovered two adolescents about to be torn apart by thugs. I intervened before that occurred."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""How bad are the thugs? In the hospital or worse?" The voice complaining about the W.E. meeting spoke up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""TIM!" the voice who called Damian 'Little D' chastised./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""TT, for your information strongDrake/strong, the thugs fled as soon as I made myself know. I then discovered that one of the two adolescents had been stabbed, and procced to take the two to the closest safe house, which was unfortunately occupied by Todd."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Why didn't you call in back up?" a new male's voice. Gentle and curious, he sounded almost concerned. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""I wanted to get a statement myself."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Did you? Who are they? Where are they?" Damian's father asked. A silence went over the room. Abigail frowned. Before I could ask, Batman spoke again, sounding angry. "Is this true?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Yes father."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""In fact, they are right outside the door." Jason said casually. "Come you two." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"I froze. emHow did they know/em? Abby's grip tightened around my wrist. "Daniel" Abby's soft voice was filled with worry, doubt, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHer forehead pressing into my shoulder blade. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Distinct thuds, someone walking to the door. Abby didn't relax as the person got closer; however, she wasn't becoming more tense. The door that had left a jar was pushed towards us, revealing Jason. His eyes were scanning the pair of us, trying to determine what the issue was. The smell of take-out food wafted behind him. I couldn't see anything or anyone in the room as Jason's wide frame was blocking the doorway. His leather jacket open across a simple black T-shirt, and blue style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"After a moment or two, Jason spoke. "Come on. These guys won't bite you. Well, Damian might. But you already met him, so you're already doing pretty well." His joke, even if it wasn't the best, was enough to make me move again. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"I can see why Abby immediately took to the man. Yes, he tried to recuse her first, and he gave Abby her name. Besides that, there is something in this man's stance, personality, aura? That just felt safe. I wonder if this is how Abby sees me./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Jason held the door open, standing to the side. He raised his hand a little, as if he wanted to put it on one of our backs, but he thought better of it. emGood. Yes, he has a good record with Abby, still doesn't mean either of us completely trust him. We barely know the man. /em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"The room itself was grand, though also a slight gloom hung in the air, just like when we first stepped into the place. Three long, leather, couches formed three sides of a square. Two of the couches were facing each other, while the other faced a large fireplace. A couple of armchairs, of the same leather, were placed in opposing corners. A large dark wooden table occupies the space in front of all the couches, currently covered in takeout food. It smells like Mexican. Behind the couches, were glass doors that led outside to a garden. Above the fireplace, hung a family portrait, ten people in all. All the people in the portrait were right in front of us, except one elderly regal man. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Jason gestured for Abby and me to sit, but we didn't. We stood in front of the fireplace; it seemed that a fire hadn't been lit there in years, adding to the gloom of the house. Jason stayed standing once he figured it out, we weren't sitting. Abby still had her head pressed into my back, and holding my arm, though not quite as tight. Damian was in the closest armchair to our right, looking relaxed for once with a large dog by his side, and a black and white cat on his lap. emWho knew Damian likes animals? /em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"The eldest man in the room appeared to be about 40 to 45 years old. Hair as black as night, light skin, deep blue eyes. He was Damian's mirror image, just 30 plus years older. A black turtleneck, and black jeans. His face was unreadable, glaring at me and Ab's. emIs Abby having better luck at reading this man? /emHe was the only other person in the room sitting in an armchair, in the best position to look at us head on. I would've thought he was a king if he didn't have takeout food in front of him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"On the couch to the left, closer to the older man, was a tall man probably in his late twenties or early thirties. Black hair, tan skin, a lighter shade of blue eyes than the middle-aged man. Almost sky blue. He wore a questioning grin, obviously confused about us. Lean, though his shoulders are somewhat built, muscular. Shorts and a blue T-shirt. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"At the other end of the couch, was a blonde girl who seemed to be physically early twenties, dressed in purple. Purple shirt, purple pants, purple shoes. Currently, her mouth is stuffed with food, making her look like a violet chipmunk. Light skin and lounging on the couch like a monkey in a tree. Blue eyes grew wide when we entered. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"On the couch to our right, a red head was sitting, also in her late twenties, a wheelchair behind the couch. Her green eyes sparkled in curiosity and intelligence, behind simple glasses. Light, freckled, skin. A grey shirt, blue jeans, and a black jacket. She seemed like a normal girl, but anyone who knows Damian can't be normal. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Another young man, this one younger than Jason, but older than Damian, so early twenties tops. He was thin and lanky, but muscles could be seen under his baggy clothes, which wasn't helping with the skinny effect. Baggy red shirt, baggy grey sweatpants. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBlack hair, crystal blue eyes which were sharp, intelligence clear in his eyes. Light skin, clutching a mug for dear life. Dark circles hung under the man's eyes. He apparently doesn't get a lot of sleep. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"On the couch directly in front of us, two more people sat. The man closer to the left side of the couch had dark skin, the darkest in the room. Caring brown eyes, cholate brown hair, a yellow shirt, and blue jeans. His frame wasn't extremely built, but it was obvious he didn't waste his time sitting around. His head was cocked a little to the side like a curious dog. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"The last person in the room was a girl with short black hair, sapphire blue eyes, and light skin as well, but in a different way from most of the others in the room. Her face seems shaped different too, like a mixture of oriental with something I couldn't quite place. She seemed about the same age as the blonde. Though her posture was relaxed, her eyes were moving over us too much to be considered normal. A black shirt, with blue jeans covered her build, though I wasn't going to put her down any lower on my list of wariness. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"The middle-aged man spoke, in a bit of a growl. "Son. Why exactly did you bring these two adolescents here? Putting our family at risk?" That voice. I had only heard it once before, on a rooftop where Damian and I fought each other, but I couldn't forget that voice. Batman. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Tt. Father, I thought you trusted me." If Batman relaxed at Damian's words I couldn't tell. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"The blonde chipmunk managed to swallow the food in her cheeks, "Umm, Dami, who are they?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Damian looked over to me and nodded. I sighed. "I'm Daniel. This is my little sister, Abigail." Damian's eyes narrowed when I called Abby my little sister. I lifted my left hand to take off my hood, as Abby was still clutching my right arm. She hasn't changed her position since we've entered the room. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Once I tug my hood off, I close my eyes. Just waiting for what is going to happen next. The feeling of eternity waiting passed within a moment. I heard nothing other than Abby's breathing. I couldn't stand it any longer, I opened my eyes. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Only three people in front of didn't seem shocked. Jason, Damian, and Batman. emWas Batman's face born in stone? /emNo one moved for another couple of minutes. emIf this is how they react to me, wait till they see Abby. /em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Finally, the girl with short black hair right in front of us moved. She… didn't speak but she used her hands to talk. Sign language. Of course, now it makes sense why there was silence before. I know some signs, though apparently not enough to keep up with this girl. The girl noticed that we didn't understand, and she looked towards the only red head in the room. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Can we please see your face, Abigial?" The red head translated. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Abby tightened her grip, letting lose a small whimper. I looked over my shoulder at her, she was so tense. emWhy…? Oh, she didn't know any of these people. We don't know their names. To quote Abby, 'How can you trust someone if you don't know their name?'/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"I was about to explain this when the same girl who signed seemed to read my or Abby's mind. "Cass." The girl pointed to herself. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Most of the rest of the family seemed shocked that Cass willingly told us her name. Cass looked over to dark skinned boy on the same couch as her. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDawning reached his eyes. "Hi. I'm Duke Thomas. This is Cassandra Cain, though she likes being called Cass." He pointed to Cass, making sure we understood the point. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"I could feel Abby relax a little, just by knowing two names she didn't before. Cass smiled, seeing Abby's posture relax a little as well. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""Duke, Cass? What are you two doing?" Batman asked, more ice in his voice than before. He clearly wasn't happy that these people were telling us anything. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Cass started to sign, and this time Duke translated for us. "Daniel already said their names and revealed his face. Abigail doesn't trust us. Names help."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""There is no reason to trust them, Cassandra." Batman's voice is becoming harder. Abby tensed again at his voice. "We do not know either of them are or who they are working for. I met Respawn briefly working with his father. They could be working for the league or worst!" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"I know Abby was clenching her teeth. Whatever small trust started to bond with these people just shattered because of this man. I spoke up before Batman could say anything else. "We. Will. Never. Work. For. The. League. Willingly." I put as much venom in my voice as I could. Stressing every word to make the point crystal clear. "And my name is Daniel. Not Respawn." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Cass and Duke seemed to be the only ones on our side. Well, Jason and Damian may be too. I was ready to walk out of that room, my sister in tow, when the blonde spoke up again. "I'm Stephine Brown, you can call me Steph. Everyone but B and Damian do." She gave us a small smile. She is cautious yes, but she is trying to help. emApparently, they call Batman, B. Maybe B stands for b!tch./em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"The red head spoke up. "I am Barbra Gordan. Call me Babs or Barb. Me and Steph are the only people here not officially apart of this family." Her green eyes, still calculating, softened once she realized what Cass and Duke were trying to do for us. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""I'm Richard Grayson." The tall, sky-blue eyes, man said. "But everyone but little D calls me Dick." I gave the man a strange look. emWhy? Just why? Why would he call himself that? /emHe just grinned at my confusion, giving me no answer. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"The young man holding the mug, looked cautious. However, a glare from Cass, he sighed then spoke. "Timothy Drake. Call me Tim." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"Batman still glared at us, giving us no comfort or reason to trust him. Abby took a deep breath. Knowing the only way for Batman to trust us was for her to take her hood down first. Her hand went shakily up to her head. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;""It's ok Ab's." I whispered. Making sure she would be the only person to hear it. With my small reassurance she pulled her hood off of her head. I did not expect what came next. /span/p
div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 112%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" /span/p
/div