Chapter 4
Tim didn’t know what to think of the new addition to the Wayne family. Damian barely spoke to anyone, only answering when Bruce of Alfred asked him a question and even then he responded with few words. Every time Jason or Dick tried to engage with him, he would stare them down. If that was the only issue, Tim would have no problem with the baby Wayne. In front of Bruce, he remained polite if a little quiet and stand-offish. He had dinner manners that would make Tim’s parents proud and never so much as slouched in his chair.
The problem arose when Bruce’s back was turned. Damian was quick to draw a sword. It didn’t seem to matter how many weapons Bruce, Alfred or Dick confiscated, Damian always had another one and he clearly knew how to use them. For a six year old, he was surprisingly fast and ruthless. He vehemently refused to call Jason and Dick his brothers, fighting back against any attempts to “brotherly bond.” It had only been a week since he arrived but Damian had already given Jason a nasty cut on his upper shoulder and destroyed five of Dick’s hoodies. Damian might be a Wayne but Tim considered Dick and Jason his family. He would not let this newcomer threaten them.
There was one advantage of Damian’s presence. Bruce was so distracted with his new son that he stopped asking Tim so many questions about his past year at boarding school. Tim heard him notify Wayne Industries that he had a family emergency and would be taking the week off. He had spent most that time hosting unsuccessful movie nights where Damian sat in stony silence. Bruce, Dick and Jason hadn’t gone on patrol once though Dick had promised to stay in Gotham until Damian settled in. Tim couldn’t believe that they were all willing to do so much for the kid. It was nearly a year since he had last seen his parents. As a kid, Tim had tried everything to make his parents stay and Damian didn’t even seem that grateful.
Tim was anxious to get out of the manor and back onto Gotham’s streets. He had promised Bruce that he wouldn’t go out as CC without Batman nearby. Still, Tim was just about ready to break that promise when Bruce called him down to the cave. Jason, Dick and Harry were already there.
“Where is Damian?” Jason asked, rubbing his shoulder.
“I’ve already tucked him into bed,” Bruce said, latching on his Batman cowl, “he was asleep when I last checked.”
“How thoroughly did you check?” Jason grouched.
Bruce only grunted.
Tim and Harry dressed quickly in their black Kevlar, sliding their domino masks on. They had gone out a few times as CC and his Shadow since they came back from Hogwarts but Tim would never get tired of this.
“You’re going to need a Batmini-van soon,” Dick said, bounding into the front passenger seat. Tim, Harry and Jason were all stuffed together in the back, something Jason was vocally annoyed about. Ignoring his complaints, Bruce revved the engine and sped out of the Batcave. The Batmobile raced through the waterfall entrance and through Gotham’s streets. Bruce skidded around corners with barely a sound, slamming to a stop in a shadowy side street in Central Gotham.
“Stay on the comms,” Bruce told them, “and stay close. Robin you’re with me.”
A gunshot split the night a few streets over.
“That’s our cue,” Jason said. He shot his grappling hook up onto the nearest rooftop and disappeared, closely followed by Batman and Nightwing.
“Any news on the police radio?” Harry asked Tim.
“Nothing major,” Tim twiddled his makeshift radio dials. “Guess we’re just going to have to return to our bases.”
“Follow after Batman and Robin and take pictures?” Harry grinned.
“You bet.”
Tim scaled up a fire escape feeling the familiar thrill at being out in Gotham at night. It was an unusually warm evening. Already sweating a little under his long sleeves, Tim pulled himself up onto the building and jumped across onto the next rooftop. Through the comms, he heard Batman beat up some low level thug while Robin quipped at him.
“I’m getting news of a fire on 66th Street,” Alfred A’s voice cut through the action.
“I’m on it,” Nightwing said.
Tim saw Nightwing’s blue and yellow costume bound across the rooftops. In the distance, he could just make out a pillar of smoke. Harry tugged on his sleeve and pointed down. Below them, Batman had tied up two men who were both groaning while Robin comforted a young scantily clad woman.
“Isn’t that Kinsey,” Harry said, gesturing to the bound men, “one of Black Masks’ henchmen?”
Tom held up his camera and zoomed in on the man’s face. “I think you’re right. Black Mask isn’t going to be happy to find one of his men is in prison.”
“It doesn’t look like he was working on Black Mask’s orders tonight. Poor Amelia.”
“That’s her name. I knew she looked familiar.” Tim zoomed in on the woman, “I thought she only worked in Crime Alley.”
“Should we go and talk with her?”
Tom considered this. “We’ll offer to walk her home,” he decided, “if she wants to talk she can but we won’t force her.”
Harry nodded and they scaled down the building in a few seconds. “CC, Shadow?” Amelia ran forward and pulled Harry and Tim into a teary hug. “We all thought something terrible happened. No one’s seen ya for months.”
“I’m sorry for worrying you,” Tim said into her shoulder, “we had to leave suddenly.”
Amelia held Tim out, scanning his body. “You look better,” she said, “not quite so skinny. I reckon you’ve grown at least an inch.”
“You think so?” Tim couldn’t stop his grin.
“Are you going to be ok?” Robin asked Amelia.
“Yeah, yeah,” she waved him off, “you go save Gotham.” Robin saluted Tim and Harry with two fingers. He shot out his grappling hook and disappeared up the side of a building. Amelia rounded back on Harry and Tim.
“Where ‘ave you been?” Amelia said, “You should really talk with Ruby. She still hasn’t stopped looking for you.”
“Boarding school,” Tim sighed, “I can’t say more than that.”
“Is Ruby alright?” Harry chirped up, “I went looking for her when we first got back but couldn’t find her.”
Harry was interrupted by the two men. They had begun to stir, struggling weakly against their ropes.
“Let’s get going,” Tim said firmly, “the police should be here soon.”
“Yeah,” Amelia agreed, “the last thing I need today is the police. I’ve had enough assholes talking over me for one night.”
The three of them slipped down a side street and towards Amelia’s apartment in Crime Alley.
“To answer you Shadow, Ruby’s fine,” Amelia said, wrapping her faux leather jacket closer around her, “she’s worried mind you. I reckon she’ll give you a right tongue lashing when she finds you but she’s fine, better than fine. You’ve prolly just missed her on the streets. She only works weekends now. Got herself a nice apartment too with Mel.”
“Did she finally propose?” Tim grinned.
“No,” Amelia groaned, “they’re already practically married. They’ve got a cat and everything. I don’t know why Ruby’s waiting.”
“How about you?” Harry asked, “How have you been?”
Amelia’s face fell. “I…I made a mistake.”
“Does this have anything to do with why you’re in Central Gotham?” Tim asked cautiously, “With Kinsey?”
Amelia seemed to be crumble in front of him. “I was stupid,” she said, her eyes suddenly glistening with tears, “all the other girls said it was a terrible idea but I really believed ‘im, ya know. He said I was different…I was special.”
“You don’t have to talk about it now if you don’t want to,” Tim hurried to say.
“No, no,” Amelia cut him off, her eyes flashing, “I’m done with ‘im. I should’ve known it’d never work out with a client.”
“It’s not your fault,” Harry reached out and clasped Amelia’s hand, “I’m sorry that we weren’t here.”
“Kinsey’s a git,” Tim spoke up, “if you want, I’ll make sure he rots in jail.”
“That’s very sweet,” Amelia squeezed his hand, “but I’ve got a better idea.” They had reached Amelia’s apartment and she paused outside the front door. “You gotta phone?”
Tim passed a burner over and Amelia typed in her number. “I got more from Kinsey than some costume jewellery,” she said, smiling slyly. “How would you feel about trying to take down Black Mask?”
Tim grinned back. “I’d love to.”
After making sure that Amelia got safely into her apartment and promising to visit Ruby, Tim and Harry headed back up onto the roof tops.
“CC to Robin,” Tim spoke into his comm, “where are you at?”
“Down by the docks,” Robin’s voice came back instantly, “near Gotham power station.”
“We’re coming,” Tim said, leaping over a rooftop. He would never get used to just talking to Robin whenever he wanted. Barely a year ago, the mere thought would have been absurd, something he wouldn’t even day dream about.
“Do you think we can take down Black Mask?” Harry asked, jumping after him.
“I don’t know,” Tim called back, “but someone has to.”
They had nearly reached Batman and Robin when Tim saw an owl flutter down onto a satellite dish. In its claws was another copy of the Daily Prophet. Tim paused to untie the newspaper. It was a good thing he always carried cash, both muggle, British and American on him at all times, just in case. “I really didn’t think about how inconvenient all the owls would be when I signed up for the Daily Prophet,” Tim said, dropping a knut into the owl’s pouch.
“It would be hard to explain to Bruce,” Harry agreed, landing beside Tim and peering over his shoulder to read the front cover.
Breakout from Azkaban
“I doubt that would even make the front cover in Gotham,” Harry said, “look here. He only killed thirteen men, that’s practically tame.”
“I think I know that name…” Tim trailed off. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled. He’d spent enough time stalking through the streets of Gotham to know when he was being watched. Tim tore his eyes away from the paper and surveyed the rooftop. His gaze was instantly drawn to a patch of shadows that would make the perfect hiding spot. Two green eyes looked back at him.
It was Damian.
His eyes flickered from the owl to Tim and Harry. Before Tim could say anything, Damian turned around and fled.
“That’s not ideal,” Tim said slowly.
“You here yet,” Jason said in Tim’s comm. “I can never tell if you’re skulking in the shadows or not.”
“We’re nearly there,” Tim stuffed the Daily Prophet into his camera bag. With one last look at the spot where Damian had vanished, Tim and Harry jumped across the roof. Tim would have to deal with Damian tomorrow. For now, he had a job to do.