The Bird, The Master and The Prey

"My name, Is Alfred Pennyworth..."

An old man, dressed black with a tie stands up from a swivel chair. He turns around with a somewhat piercing glare, then with a smile.

Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth. He's Bruce Wayne's valet at Wayne Manor. He knows that Bruce is secretly Batman and aids him. Or at least used to, before the Knightfall Protocall. After a varied career, he was employed as the Wayne family valet when Bruce Wayne's parents were killed. Alfred raised Bruce Wayne for a really long time and reluctantly aided him in his quest to become Batman. His many skills, ranging from cooking to medicine make him Batman's staunchest ally. Never have I've seen a man strong enough to deal with all of this pain and emotion, besides Batman. Alfred was the real deal.

"You mean, thee "Alfred Pennyworth", the same guy that helped Bruce Wayne and aided him to become Batman..? THAT Alfred Pennyworth?!"

Honestly, I was shocked through my mind. No really, I'd wish you'd see the look on my face right now. Almost felt like my jaw was hitting the cold ground of this cave, luckily It didn't. I also gave a frown to Alfred, I do know how it feels to lose someone that was fighting for a better future. Losing a friend Is one thing, losing a family Is another. Alfred was kind of the father figure of Bruce and I believe he knows emotions, just as any other person.

"I do not need your pity, Master Richardson. Though I do miss Bruce, he knew the risks of his duty. I was proud to stand right by his side, everyday. But right now, I need you to focus. We're going to stop all of the criminals in the Gotham City Streets, but before we do that..."

"You have to be ready."

Another voice was to my left, I looked to my left and all I could see was eyes behind a mask. As the shadow walks forward, I see a similar blue logo. But the logo is now slimmer and has a bird head. The logo wraps around his chest, around her shoulders and back. As the man finally reveals himself.

"Hi, I'm Nightwing."

Where do I begin? Richard John "Dick" Grayson was once Batman's first sidekick Robin, before going on to become Nightwing. He was also the same person who built the Teen Titans, members such as Starfire, Beast Boy, Raven and Cyborg. Dick is a strong leader and was proud to be Batman's partner. Grayson was like a son to Bruce and he's probably gone through If not almost the same risks as Batman, the way he fights, the way he acts, It sometimes reminded me of my karate teacher. I shake Nightwing's hand out of honor and respect.

"I'm Travis."

Dick nods, now It was time for the Bird to learn from the bigger Bird. Overtime, Alfred and Nightwing aided me into hording my skills. Such as handling melee & ranged weapons. (Sword, Bow and Arrow, BO-Staff, Even the Robin version of the batarang.) While they were training, Barbra Gordon or we all know as Batgirl was scouting on a lead for any sort of major criminal activity. After among the chaos of today, the training went by for three months. After one final test, Dick said that I was ready, but Alfred thought otherwise.

"Don't worry Alfred, the kid got some skills. He'll do fine!"

Alfred was worried, but he nods at Grayson.

"Alright. Master Richardson, are you ready to take on the same dare deviling threats that Batman once faced? Are you ready to grab the torch and shine it through the path of darkness, with your own..."

As I stepped forward to Alfred, I get on one knee (my left leg bends) and I look at him with a determined look. Being Robin, made me happy, more thrilled but I still had to keep my cool. Alfred gave me another look, seeming that I forgot something important.

"Huh..? Oh! I, Travis Richardson, shall take on the violent threats that Batman has time and time again stopped. I will never violate Batman's number 1 code, I will not act like a villain and I will...uh...always do my best?"

I actually forgot the last part of the oath, but Alfred accepts it as a "close enough." Batman goes to the Batcomputer monitor and opens up the screen. It shows a familiar face, It was Catwoman. This was the first test that Grayson was going to give me. It looks like some thugs already went in the building...Wait, I know that place.

"That's city hall!"

"You're right, Travis. This is going to be your first test as Robin, get to City Hall and find out what Catwoman's up to."

I took a glare at the camera as I see Catwoman heading to city hall. I wanted to take the Bat-mobile, but It's trashed and destroyed.

"Ah, oh right...The Bat-Mobile. It self-destructed after Bruce activated the Knightfall Protocall. But now we have a new Robin, Lucius Fox had other ideas."

I blinked as Nightwing pushed a remote bottom as something was activated in the ground, a hole opens as a Motorcycle appears, It was shiny, Black and Red and It even had the logo "R" on it. I was amazed by it's beauty.

"He calls It "The Red Flare", It has a lot of different gadgets that you can use, It even has a tracking system like the Bat-Mobile so it can always find you."

I then hop onto the motorcycle, revving it up and turning on the engine. It had a good feeling to it, as Dick pressed another button to open the entrance. I was about to drive up when suddenly, Nightwing had one more thing to say.

"Good luck."

I sighed and nodded, before driving off into the night...

Meanwhile In the Gotham City Hall, a group of mercenaries breaking into Gotham City Hall. As the GCPD try to storm it, Lt. Gordon receives an order to wait from someone on the other side of the line. As the mercenaries discuss rumors of the Batman...

"Batman? Didn't you hear, Batman Is dead. He's not going to just come back as some sort of ghost right?"

"Yeah. Who's gonna stop us now? Batigirl? Nightwing?"

"Wait, Wait I got it...! Robin????"

All of the mercenaries laugh at this little joke. On the roof next to the City Hall building, having knowledge in tech, I already had heard the conversation, seeming that they were talking about Bruce really ticked me off. Alfred started to speak through my earpiece.

"Are you there, Master Richardson."

"Yes, I am Alfred. Five heavily armed mercenaries. It seems like they're going to bust inside the mayors office."

Alfred softly smiles, It seems that he noticed my quick thinking, maybe he saw me as Bruce as he usually did. He sighs, giving me advice.

"Once you see Catwoman, do try and bring her to the GCPD, but she'll be tricky. She knows a bit of tech-knowledge as well. Be on your toes."

"Got it..."

I hung up as the rest of the group watches my every move from the Bat-Cave. I jumped from the roof, next to the City Hall building as I burst through the window. I did alert the guards, but one by one, I take them out, disarming their guns & weapons, giving them blow for blow, punch, kick, slam, throw, anything that I could do to bring those mercenaries down. As the final mercenary (that was trying to open the door with a saw), reached for his gun, I reached for my batarangs and toss three, two to knock the gun away from him and onto his dominate arm. I enlarge my silver metal BO-staff, jump into the air with my enhanced acrobatics and smacks the staff onto the side of his skull, knocking him out. I sighed, a little disappointed, I tried to search for clues, not figuring out what the mercenaries were here for. But there was also no sign of forced entry. These were special hired mercenaries that knew what they were doing. Weird. But they weren't my primary target for now. I tied them up, just in case the GCPD were on their way.

Entering the office, I discover a a woman in a leather cat suit breaking into the Mayor's vault. My eyes widen as I analyzed her.

"I see you catching a peek, boy wonder."

Catwoman. A skilled mercenary and thief, her true identity is Selina Kyle. Currently portrayed as an orphan who learned to survive on Gotham City's streets, Selina took to thievery to survive... but determined to do it in style, she learned martial arts and trained extensively to perfect her skills in cat burglary. Her criminal activities are often tempered by a reluctant altruism, making her an inconstant villain and occasional ally to Batman. She was also known as Batman's best known lovers. What pissed me off Is that Bruce knew that Selina would never really give up her ways, but deep down...she cared much for Bruce as everyone else.

"You know why I'm here Catwoman, don't steal anything that you were regretting."

"Stealing? Oh no, I'm just taking back what I'm owned. If you don't like it, big boy. Why don't you try and stop me?"

I growl, trying to catch Catwoman as soon as I could, the chasing game has got really boring as I kept losing her and finding her again, chasing her up stairs, also trying to avoid the GCPD as they do also find the mercenaries tied up. Chasing her to the rooftops, I threw another batarang at Catwoman's leg, which giving a nice little cut and surprisingly trips her. I catch my breath, looking at Catowman with a glare.

"I had enough goddamn games, Catwoman! I'm taking you down, one way or another."

"Can't wait."

She speaks teasing and seductively, as I then engage a fight with Selina. Matching her blow for blow, as Rain starts to pour on the both of us. A News helicopter sours onto the both of us while we're engaging in this fight over something she has stolen. The GCPD finally manage to reach the rooftops as well. One officer decided to pull his gun towards me and Catwoman, but Commissioner Gordon tells the officer to put down his gun and orders the officer not to shoot.

The fight continued on, as Catwoman scratches me on the right cheek, close to my eye. I would've been half blinded if I blocked my eye the right moment, as I get a scratch wound on my cheek. I let out a rage and punch Catwoman hard on the eye, giving her a black eye as we fought, she also dropped the stolen artifact. My eyes widen, I attempt to grab the item that Catwoman was trying to steal. But then, a gunshot was heard. I was shot in the arm.

"I said don't shoot, dammit!"

This gave Catwoman a window to escape, as she rushed over and kicks me aside and grabs the artifact before I could even analyze it. She blows a kiss to me before attempting to run off again. I stand up, and uses all of my strength to throw another gadget. It was one of Batmans Bat-Stunners, which causes her to fall off the building. I chased after her and jump off the building as well managing to catch her.

She slowly opens her eyes, seeing that she was hanging still up on the City Hall, edges. I look at her with a glare, Selina saw something In me, like someone new to sharping her claws on. She smiles.

"Congrats, you caught me. Enjoyed our little game?"

I wasn't in the mood for the games. "Tell me, what did you steal, or I'll drop you."

"You're no fun, you know that? As I said, I'm just getting what I'm owned."

"Yeah, coming all this way with heavily armed mercenaries to get something?!"

I still held Catwoman's arm, making sure that she doesn't fall, Selina uses her flexible skills to at least hold onto me for safety. Her face was uncomfortably close. I blinked and blushed in confusion.

"Bye, Boy Wonder."

She suddenly, grabs my grapple gun and escaped. As I didn't capture Catwoman...I still managed to sneak the artifact that she was trying to steal, being two steps ahead of her.

"Rules of Nightwing number 3..." I said to myself, I contacted Alfred of what I found fleeing shortly afterwards to Wayne Manor to figure out what It is. I slowly thought to myself If Selina was going to be an ally or an enemy. A frenemy?

...

This is going to be a long night, huh?

{End of Chapter 2}