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GOTHAM CITY, NEW JERSEY. 2008
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WINTER HAD ARRIVED QUICKER than Estela realized. It coated the gravel driveway that led to the extravagant front lawn, piled layers of snow on the roof and even turned the infinite-acre garden into a winter wonderland.
The feeling was like living in one of her mother's collection of snow globes. Every stretch of land she can see from her bedroom window was one uniform shade of white. But for a season the dark-haired girl once adored dearly, it soon became an intimidating reminder of the new talents she possessed.
It's been six months since that night at the alley, which might have been enough time for Estela to build closer relationships to the other inhabitants in the manor. But the only person she really spoke to was the butler, Alfred Pennyworth.
He was a nice man, one that she surprisingly found herself taking a quick liking to. In a way, he became like a guardian figure that Estela never had. But still, that didn't mean he was welcome in her room all the time, or had the business to butt in on her personal life. Alfred was only there to offer her a casual conversation when she wanted it, and he respected that.
As for the other residents—well, the two other residents—Estela knew enough about them through the old man.
The same Batman and Robin who took her in that night revealed to be the more human alter-egos of Bruce Wayne and Richard Grayson respectively. The former, Estela already knew, was the infamous billionaire and owner of Wayne Enterprises, while the latter was his adoptive son, whom he adopted and welcomed into the vigilante life six years ago.
She never would have guessed that the lavishly living billionaire would ever don a bat costume to fight crime and weirdos who were disguised in clown masks when night came. So when he had removed his mask during her interrogation, she was appalled to see his face appear.
His adoptive son, Dick (she will never understand how Dick contracted as a nickname for Richard) looked around her age if not older. When he removed his mask as well, Estela had to admit that he was somewhat rather good-looking.
But she shook the thought away upon realizing the circumstances she was under. Even if it was just in their huge kitchen, seated at the grand mahogany table with a tall glass of water within her reach.
If you'd ask her about the details of that might, Estela would say she barely remembers. All that stuck in her mind, funnily enough, was when Dick had asked if she was Mr. Freeze's daughter. She had snorted, of course, and then proceeded to tell the two of them about the basics of her life: mom died at fifteen, dad died a year ago because a psychopath broke into their house, and his last words to her was to run. Besides, it wasn't like she had anything more to lose.
