Chapter Text
Batman strode through the halls, Robin, in his fully drenched ensemble was slung over his shoulder in what the boy seemed to find to be an extremely offensive manner.
A pensive James Gordon Followed closely. "Is he alright, Batman?" No Batman had ever –as far as he knew– been inside the main building, just random visits to the Commissioner's personal office. It seemed logical, considering Gordon was probably the only officer for years guaranteed not to shoot the vigilante on sight.
The boy struggled stiffly, every flail sending a spray of icy droplets into the walls. "I'm –ergh, I am fine! Put. Me. Down!" Robin sneezed with a shocked start and gave a small shudder that seemed to rattle his whole body. "I hate water," He announced.
Batman rounded the corner that led into the locker rooms and headed over to the showers. They weren't alone. In between the rows of blue metal lockers stood a number of Gotham's finests. Batman didn't acknowledge them.
Robin twisted in his mentors grasp and was hit by a wall of hot water for his trouble. "I hate cold water." He amended.
Seemingly oblivious to the eyes of the officers in the room, Batman gently lifted his protégé from his shoulder and plopped him all the way down onto the tiled ground.
"Stay there." Batman commanded. Robin gave an almost inaudible sigh. "When you get used to it, turn it up. I'll be back in a few minutes."
Batman tilted his head towards Gordon as he walked away, giving a final glance back at Robin before entering the hall again. A few of the officers trailed them from a few yards. Gordon figured the rest stayed back to ogle at the close up of the new Boy Wonder. Robin, even that Robin, was a lot less terrifying than the Batman.
"I wasn't aware it was raining that hard out there."
Batman wiped excess water from his cowled face, "It isn't." He frowned. "Leave us." Batman ordered, "Now." He didn't look behind them. No one followed.
Gordon frowned. The mantle was changing him. He didn't like it.
The Commissioner unlocked his office door and led the way in. As soon as it clicked locked again Batman sighed. "Could you please ask Montoya to watch over Robin? Keep people out of his face?" Batman leaned against an armchair. "He's had a long night."
"I can tell." Gordon made the call and grabbed a half full coffee mug off his desk.
Batman didn't acknowledge the comment, "He retrieved the hard drive though."
The Commissioner set down the phone and gave Batman a steady look, "I imagine it took quite the beating."
"Yes." Batman turned towards the window, "If I have trouble recovering the data I'll get my personal Geek Squad to take a look at it."
"You know, he doesn't say things like that."
"What?" Batman smirked, "The Batman doesn't tease?"
He took a sip out of the mug. "He doesn’t. But I know a few Robin's who did."
Batman smiled the crazy grin from his youth, "And one who doesn't."
"And one who doesn't." Gordon agreed with his own smile, "You're doing good for him though. Once he would have tried to cut off your head before letting you carry him like that."
Batman shrugged. "It takes time to grow up. To heal."
"No kidding." Gordon smiled, "You had me going for a second there though. The grim faced Batman, terror of the night."
He gave a noncommittal shoulder lift, "What can I say? I never could keep a straight face."
A low beep emitted from a communicator at his belt, "Alright, looks like he's done thawing out. I'll keep you posted on the Intel we receive."
"Likewise, Batman."
The caped crusader gave the Commissioner a half wave and turned for the door, his footsteps making no sound against the floor.
"And Batman?"
He didn't turn to face him. "Yes, Commissioner?"
"Let's get that boy of yours smiling like that a bit more."
Batman barked out a laugh, "Work in progress, Commish, but there's hope yet." He paused at the door handle, "Don't worry, he'll be just as silly as the rest of us were." And then he was gone.
Gordon exhaled slowly and emptied the rest of his mug, "As long as you keep that one from being as crazy as you were, fine with me."
"We’re all crazy here, Jim.”