Chapter Text
It had been a relatively quiet week in the usually crime-ridden city of Gotham which typically meant something big was in the works with one of the rogues. With Scarecrow having broken out of Arkham and being off the radar since Batman suspected he may creep out the woodwork soon with another one of his schemes.
Crane broke out almost three weeks ago along with a few others including Mr Freeze and Harley Quinn.
Freeze had been apprehended the same night by the dynamic duo, having been caught trying to break into a cryogenics lab to retrieve his wife’s frozen body and take it back to his hidden lab.
Harley had been left to her own devices as she typically wouldn’t do anything without the Joker at her side and he had remained in his cell at the Asylum. The past few months she had been distancing herself from the clown prince of crime, so it hadn’t surprised the dark knight she did not seek to aid him during her escape. Batman had been keeping a watchful eye over the former doctor and the most criminal thing she had done since her escape was litter, but he wasn’t going to drag her back for that. Harley was one of the few criminals he went easy on and would only bother if they did something sinister, he suspects had the clown never manipulated her she would still be thriving as a psychologist.
Crane however he had been actively trying to track down since Freeze was returned to his cell but so far, no luck. It was odd as normally Scarecrow was easier to locate after a break-out always being the first to go back to his usual schemes of testing his fear toxin on Gotham’s citizens.
“We continuing the hunt for Scarecrow tonight,” Dick asked as he came to stand at his father’s side leaning against the chair Bruce was occupying.
“I am, you are staying here to study for your math test tomorrow,” Bruce stated eliciting an annoyed groan from the boy.
“Come on Bruce, I’ve been studying all week for it, please,” Dick pleaded using a tone his father rarely could say ‘no’ to.
“You know the rules school comes before any of this, how do you expect to concentrate on your test if you’ve had a late night,” Bruce responded not daring to look at the boy knowing the next weapon in his arsenal would be puppy dog eyes.
“That’s like saying how do I concentrate in school after any night we go on patrol,” Dick argued in a teasing tone. “Come on a couple hours, then I’ll come home and go straight to bed no arguments. You can bring me back before midnight if that makes you happy.”
Bruce sighed to conceal the slight smile at his son’s playful arguing, “midnight, no later.”
“Yes sir,” Dick mockingly cheered and saluted but was quick to compose his excitement as an alert on the Bat-Computer sounded, notifying the Bat-Signal had been lit.
Without another word the boy wonder raced to the Bat-Mobile to await his mentor as he put on his utility belt and pulled the cowl on.
“Come on slow poke you're cutting into my free time,” Dick teased as Batman followed his path down to the car.
Bruce huffed a breath of laughter and smirked at the boy’s childish teasing as he entered the car immediately followed by the boy wonder. Then they were off speeding out of the Bat-Cave into the Gotham City night.
Since allowing Dick to become his partner eighteen months ago Bruce had come to thoroughly enjoy having the kid’s company. At first, he disapproved of the boy’s constant chatter during patrols or when they we’re driving saying it was an unnecessary distraction, now however he finds a warmth whenever Dick starts up conversations. He actually misses the noise on patrol when his partner is unable to join him.
It wasn’t long before they were pulling into an alley nearby the GCPD ready to face whatever trouble will be thrown their way tonight.
“Bet you it’s about Scarecrow,” Robin said as they exited the vehicle and prepared the grapples to propel to the GCPD rooftop.
Batman didn’t respond to his partner and continued his actions grappling to the headquarters roof, quickly followed by Robin.
As usual Commissioner Gordon and Detective Bullock were startled by the sudden presence of the dark knight but quickly composed in order to get straight to business.
“It appears Crane might be back to his schemes again, there was a break in at a chemical plant last night multiple harmful substances were taken,” Gordon stated handing Batman the casefile from the break-in. “The only CCTV images we were able to pull was from a traffic cam, the security within the plant was deactivated and the footage corrupted.”
Robin tried to look past his mentor to read the file however with his height it was a difficult task. Rather than wait patiently, he flipped onto one of the air vent shafts to get a better look into the file.
“It’s definitely old straw hat,” Robin pointed out a blur on a CCTV image that was taken from outside the plant.
“No offense kid but...” Bullock began but Batman cut him off.
“He’s right,” Batman stated earning a pleased smile from the boy wonder for being useful. “It might not be the best quality image but that is Crane’s shadow. We’ll look into it, starting with searching the scene.”
Batman handed the file back to the police commissioner and was off without another word. Robin offered the commissioner and detective an apologetic smile before following after his mentor back to the Bat-Mobile.
When the boy wonder landed just behind the detective, he knew from his guardian's stance what was coming.
“You’re...”
“No way, you said I could help tonight,” Robin interjected but Batman turning with what he dubbed as the Bat-Glare silenced any further protests.
“You’re going home,” Batman stated gesturing for the boy to get into the car. Once withing the confines of the Bat-Mobile where no one would here their conversation Bruce tried to reason with his ward, “I don’t want you missing your test because you’ve been exposed to fear toxin, there’s a high chance I won’t find him tonight and you won’t miss anything. If it makes you feel any better, I’ll bring you out tomorrow for an extra hour than usual.”
“Okay,” Dick muttered still disappointed for having to miss out, especially since he noticed the shadow on the security photo.
The drive was silent for a while as they began the journey back towards the Bat-Cave, Bruce knew the boy was upset and angry he couldn’t help out but there were rules in place to protect the kid. One of them being he would do whatever he could to ensure his ward came home with minimal injuries. Injuries were not unavoidable in this line of work, but he could prevent them from occurring on occasion. Like now for instance, Dick had an important test, and he was ensuring the boy wouldn’t miss it because of fear toxin exposure.
“You did good spotting Crane on those images,” Bruce said in hopes of lifting the boy a bit, but before Dick could respond Batman noticed a certain burglar leaping overhead.
“Where are you going?” Robin asked as Batman pulled into a nearby alley rather than continuing their journey back to the manor. “I thought you were benching me for the night.”
“Cat Woman is out tonight; I’ll take you home after,” Batman stated getting out the car and grappling to where he had seen the feline.
Robin quickly followed as usual but now going home sounded like a blessing if it meant he didn’t have to listen to cat and the bat flirt with one another. It was bad enough having to endure his guardians ‘Brucie Wayne’ persona at all the events they had to attend but when Batman is the one engaging in that kind of talk it creeps him out.
Cat Woman, AKA Selina Kyle, was another that Batman would typically go easy one as her crimes never caused harm too anyone. She was a manly interested in cat specific items that cost a fortune. She was also interested in Batman and was very open about it to a point it made Robin cringe because she would purposely up her flirting when he was present.
In hindsight that was probably because he would try to cause distractions for his mentor so Batman wouldn’t engaging in the flirtatious talk. He didn’t do it because he disliked the cat, in fact if she wasn’t a crook, he’d have no issue with his guardian engaging with her. He knows who she is in and out of the mask, as Selina Kyle has attended many of the same fancy events, he and Bruce have which has given him a chance to get to know her slightly. He doesn’t know her on a personal level, but he knows her well enough that he trusts that she means no harm.
She’s different to some of the other women Bruce has been with or introduced him to as unlike others she has never questioned him on his background and how it feels to go from a ‘gypsy circus’ to the ward of a billionaire. She talks to him the same as anyone else that attends those fancy events something that is rare to him as most people tend to make comments of his heritage as if he can’t hear them.
As expected, he reached the roof just after his mentor and the cat was waiting with the same seductive grin she always had after having caught Batman’s attention.
“I don’t have time for your games Selina,” Batman stated eliciting a small pout from the cat.
“Come now Bat I thought you enjoyed the thrill of the chase as much as I did,” Selina smirked noticing the boy behind the dark knight and could tell he was rolling his eyes behind the mask.
“Crane is preparing to make a move, so unless you know anything about that...” Batman began but was silenced when the feline placed her finger to his lips.
“I may have overheard something, but information like that doesn’t come for free,” She cut in her face mere inches away from the detective her warm breath fanning over the lower half of his face that wasn’t hidden beneath the cowl.
“I’m right here,” Robin announced resisting the urge to hurl at Selina’s intentions.
“Then perhaps the little bird should fly back to the nest while the adults talk,” Selina smirked once more redirecting her attention to her vigilante of interest.
She didn’t get much further as the boy interrupted her before she could say anything more to the dark knight.
“B, you’re gonna want to see this,” the young hero pointed a few streets down from where the rooftop they were occupying
Batman pulled away from the Cat in favour of investigating what has caught his young partners attention.
Numerous vans had pulled out of an alley further down and were advancing towards Central Gotham, one of the busiest areas this time of night.
Batman said nothing as he made a move quickly followed by his young partner leaving a frustrated feline alone on the roof.