OC meets Batfam

Sanctuary And Encounters

Alissa's P.O.V. 

After about a half-hour of walking, I find a church reasonably close to where the reports said Joker's men were coming to and from. I step through the gap between the badly bent wrought-iron gates and walk down the severely overgrown and cracked concrete path leading to the front doors of the church. Upon reaching the huge wooden doors, I place a hand against the rough surface and speak the familiar words.

"In the name of the Clave, I ask entry to this holy place. In the name of the Battle That Never Ends, I ask the use of your weapons. And in the name of the Angel Raziel, I ask your blessings on my mission against the darkness." 

A loud click resounds from the other side of the doors and they swing open, revealing the broken-down pews and altar of the main room. I enter the dimly lit building and explore around a bit until I find a space big enough to set up my tent. Once I finish getting everything set up, I make sure I have all my gear and head back outside, placing a barrier around the church to keep out unwanted visitors and making my way to the section of downtown where Joker's men are said to be located.

Bruce's P.O.V.

After snapping at Dick, Alissa storms out of the gym, leaving the rest of us to stand there in silence. Alfred walks in a few moments later with a concerned look.

"Is everything alright? I just passed Alissa and she didn't look very happy," he says.

"Dick made her mad," Jason says, earning a glare from the older boy. 

"Oh?" Alfred says, with a raised eyebrow. 

"Alissa took offense when he said she was lucky I showed up to help her when she ran into the Joker on her first night here in Gotham," I say, elaborating upon Jason's explanation. Alfred nods.

"In that case sir, shall I let her be or do you want me to inform her that dinner is ready?"

I shake my head. "I'll tell her Alfred. You and the boys can head to dinner." 

He nods and leaves, the boys following behind him. As he passes me Damian says something.

"Don't be surprised if you find she's left." He gives me a knowing look before slipping out of the room and following the others. Frowning, I make my way up to Alissa's room, only to find that Damian's prediction was correct. The young red-head is no-where to be seen and the balcony door hangs open. Upon further inspection I notice that all of Alissa's belongings are also gone. All that's left is a single sheet of paper lying on the bed stating that's she's grateful for our hospitality and kindness.

This is not good. That girl's recklessness is going to get her killed. I exit the room with a sigh and head down to the kitchen nook. The boys look up at me when I walk in.

"Is she not going to come down to dinner?" Dick asks when he sees that Alissa isn't with me. I shake my head. 

"No. She's left and taken all her belongings with her," I say, holding up her note and glancing at Damian. He gives me an 'I told you so' look before turning back to his food.

"But why? I understand if she's mad at me for calling her out on her recklessness, but leaving seems a bit too extreme of a reaction," Dick says, taking the note and frowning down at it. 

"She probably felt that we were getting in her way," Jason says, stabbing a potsticker with his fork and shoving the whole thing in his mouth. Damian nods in agreement with Jason's  statement. 

"If you take into consideration the hints she's dropped about her home life and her habits over the last few days, this shouldn't be much of a surprise" he says, looking at the others with an unimpressed and somewhat bored expression. Tim frowns and fiddles with his fork.