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Don’t get her wrong, Kate loved her cousin, really, she did. It’s just that sometimes they didn’t always agree, right now being one of those times.
“Bruce, Harvey hasn’t been seen in over three years. What makes you think he’s suddenly resurfaced?”
“Yesterday witnesses reported a man matching Harvey’s description roaming around Downtown. There are even a few reports dating back a few weeks ago about someone seeing Jervis Tetch in the area.”
Kate leaned against the monitor with a sigh. Ever since some of Bruce’s villains had up and disappeared the man had been adamant on tracking them down. It had become somewhat of a new obsession of his, one that was starting to drive Kate and Barbara mad and, even though he didn’t voice it, she could tell that Bruce’s behavior had Alfred worried as well.
“That’s not a lot to go on. I mean, come on, those reports could just be people vying for attention.”
“And what if they aren’t?” Bruce asked, “There is a bank on the street he was spotted on. He could have been casing it. What if tomorrow Dent decides to round up a few of his henchmen and rob that bank, hmm? Would you just stand by and let it happen?”
Kate was taken aback by Bruce’s words, the feeling that he was somehow accusing her like a punch to the gut. “That’s not-” Kate took a breath, “Of course I wouldn’t, but Bruce you have to agree that none of this makes any sense! It’s been years , why would Dent or Tetch suddenly make the mistake of being spotted in public?”
“It doesn’t matter. They’ll be back in Arkham by the end of the week.”
Before Kate could respond, the bat-computer starting beeping, screen turning red as an alert came through.
Bruce gritted his teeth, pressing a button on the keypad. The red screen disappeared, replaced by CCTV footage of Firefly cackling and setting a nearby police cruiser on fire.
Turning to her, Bruce said “We’ll finish this discussion tomorrow. I’ll handle Firefly while you investigate those sightings.” With that, her cousin hopped in the batmoblie and drove off, leaving her fuming.
Despite what Bruce had proclaimed, Two-face wasn’t thrown in Arkham. There was no sign of him, the man having once again managed to disappear. This hadn’t gone over well with Bruce. He was convinced Harvey was still out there and had Barbara hacking into cameras and the like in search of him, all while forcing Kate out on her own search on top of patrols.
At this point Kate was thinking of taking a break from the vigilante life. She thought of her girlfriend who spent late nights at the precinct, drooping eyes reading over the latest case files before she could go home. By that time both her and Renee were dead on their feet. There was no energy left to talk, only enough to curl up in each other's arms and get whatever sleep they could get before the alarm went off.
It was taking a toll on their relationship and both of them knew it. Kate had already been afraid Renee would break up with her after revealing herself as Batwoman, but this was different. Kate felt they were starting to drift away from each other and that was the last thing she wanted. She loved Renee and to see that bond start to crumble before her eyes made her want to cry.
“Hey, uh- Batwoman, you good?”
Kate’s head shot around so fast she almost gave herself whiplash. A few feet behind her was a young girl, no more than thirteen, wearing a domino mask and dressed in a black Kevlar body suit with a dark purple arrowhead embossed on the chest.
“Yeah,” Kate said, her throat constricting a bit as she wiped away a few traitorous tears. “Yeah, I’m ok.” It was then that she fully registered what the girl was wearing. Her eyes widened. “Oh, no no no. Kid, vigilante work isn’t safe. You’re going to get hurt if you go around dressed like that.”
The girl scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “Please, I’m probably the safest vigilante out here tonight. And it’s not like I can’t handle myself in a fight.” In saying that, she reached behind her and pulled out a crossbow small enough to be held in one hand. “I also have this beauty.”
Kate was a little creeped out as she watched the child stroke it lovingly. “Do your parents know you have that?”
“I mean, they made it for me so...” she shrugged, attaching the crossbow to her back. Backing away a bit, she pointed her thumb behind her. “Well, it was nice talking to you, but I gotta go.”
“Wait!” Kate exclaimed, making the younger vigilante stop to look at her. “I can’t just let you go out there on your own. What if you get hurt?”
The girl sighed. “Fine, but only because I know you’ll just follow me anyway.”
Besides a few attempted muggings patrol was quiet. Kate diligently followed the young girl, who she had learned was named Huntress. So far, she had stayed away from certain areas, those of which were known for gang activity. That was until the girl reached up to touch her ear, “Is it ready?”
She has a comm? Kate listened with rapt attention. Whoever this kid was she was well equipped.
“Uh-huh. Got it. Be there in ten.” Tapping the comm, Huntress turned to her. “I got to pick up something. You’re free to join me if you want.”
Kate gave her a look she hoped read as “You really think I’m letting you out of my sight?” or at least somewhere along those lines.
Huntress huffed, motioning for the older vigilante to follow.
Whatever Huntress was asked to pick up was found on a nondescript rooftop a few blocks from Crime Alley. Kate watched as the young girl slung a large insulated bag over her shoulder, grunting in effort.
“Here, let me take that.” Kate offered, reaching out to help her but Huntress waved her off.
“I’ve got it.” Adjusting the strap, the younger started back out over the rooftops.
“What’s in there, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Huntress’s response came as a surprise. “Dinners.”
“For who?”
“The working girls.”
It was then that Kate realized that they were headed toward the Red-Light district. Even with her there, it was no place for a kid. What were her parents thinking?
“Huntress, I can’t- I’m sorry but it’s too dangerous. That part of town-”
Stopping abruptly, Huntress turned on her. “Is what? A cesspit?” She gave a sharp laugh. “Yeah, no shit. But those girls go through hell each day just to make a living. They deserve a hot meal every once in a while, to know that someone cares for them and is watching their back. So, fuck off and don’t even think about stopping me.”
Taken a back, Kate stood there frozen, only able to watch as the young vigilante started to disappear into the night.
Thankfully, she was able to shake herself out of her sumpter and quickly gave chase. She didn’t get too close, instead sticking to the shadows. After that outburst she got the feeling Huntress didn’t want to see her.
Crouching on edge of a building, Kate peered down to the street below as the young girl unzipped her pack.
Huntress approached a lady standing at the entrance of an alley that sat next to one of the brightly lit nightclubs.
The lady’s voice drifted up to her. It was friendly, as though she recognized the girl. “Hey, sugar!” The woman then turned to call over her shoulder and another woman appeared, she too greeting the vigilante with familiarity.
“Where you been, hon?”
“It’s been so long since we last saw you.”
Even with her back turned to her, Kate could still hear the smile in Huntress’s voice. “Aw did you miss me, ‘Becca.”
The one called Becca laughed. “Of course, silly. Now, what did that father of yours make us this week?”
“Roasted vegetable pasta with grilled chicken.”
The two women happily took the containers. The un-named one opened hers a bit, sniffing it and giving an appreciative hum. “Smells great. Please give our compliments to the chef!”
“Will do! And you can just leave the Tupperware with Harley next time you see her.” Kate couldn’t help but wonder if this Harley was the same as Harley Quinn. As she watched, Huntress pulled a grappling gun free of its holster at her side – how hadn’t she noticed it before? However, she didn’t get a chance to deploy it as a scream echoed from around the corner, behind the night club.
Jumping over the rooftop, Batwoman followed the younger vigilante as they dashed toward the origin of the sound.
In the alley, a young woman was struggling against a man over twice her size. Tears streaked down her fear-stricken face as she tried to escape his wandering hands.
Kate hadn’t even touched the ground before Huntress subdued the attacker with a well-aimed roundhouse to the head.
As Huntress zip-tied the rapist up, she was without a doubt ignoring her. “Becca, call the cops. Batwoman, watch him. Sherri, with me.” Or maybe not.
Keeping an eye on the man, it wasn’t hard to listen in on what Huntress and Sherri were saying to the young victim, she couldn’t be more than seventeen.
Sherri was taking the lead, asking the girl if she had anywhere to go.
“No miss.”
“That’s alright, sweetie. Huntress here has a safe place you can go. No one can hurt you there.”
The girl’s name was Lila. She was only seventeen.
“Police are on their way. Told them they can get their statement tomorrow morning,” Becca said, tucking her phone in here pocket. “I’ll wait here for them if you three want to get her to the safehouse.”
Batwoman stayed silent, Huntress was running the show now.
“Sherri, you take Lila here to the safehouse. Batwoman and I will trail you from the rooftops.”
They stayed in view of the women, guarding their journey all the way to the safe house. Said safe house turned out to be a small three-story apartment complex, unassuming in that it was obviously still in use and better maintained than the other buildings in the area.
“I’m uh, sorry for earlier,” Kate said, voice breaking the silence.
“It’s fine,” Huntress said after a moment. “And I’m sorry I let my temper get the best of me. It’s easy to forget that you Bats don’t see the city the same as we do.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Huntress shrugged. “You’re stuck looking at the bigger picture. You focus on taking down crazies like Zsasz and Firefly and stopping all the big drug and weapons deals. And yeah, that helps Gotham, but only so much and not where it counts. You don’t patrol the slums or the red-light district regularly. You don’t see how much this city is hurting, how truly corrupt it is. Tell me, have you had to stop a woman from robbing a pharmacy so she could get the medicine her kid needed? Have you talked a boy no more than thirteen away from the ledge because he had to watch his mom and sister get gunned down over a ten-dollar bill? My dads’ have. My older sister has too. What about you?”
Kate opened her mouth, but no words came out. No, she hadn’t. Nothing even remotely close.
“I didn’t think so. But now that you know, you don’t have an excuse.” Huntress turned to her, “Well, this was certainly enlightening. Maybe we could do this again and I could show you how my family does it.”
With that, Huntress ran off along the rooftops, away from her and back to her family. It was then that Kate decided to keep this encounter to herself, no reason for Bruce to know just yet.