Panther

Chapter five: My homies.

I walked up to Mr Wayne and a boy who was little bit taller than me. I know for a fact that this is Batman and Robin standing in front of me in their most vulnerable states. Eh, I won't rub it in their faces that I know who they are. I smiled and said excitedly, "Let's go and learn how to use chopsticks." They both chuckled at that then Bruce introduced the boy standing beside him, "This is Richard." The boy spoke for himself while holding out his hand, "But you can call me Dick."

I folded his hand into a fist then said, "Crys, spelt K-r-i-s, word of advice, don't shake hands with strangers unless you're wearing gloves. People are getting smart and can somehow take your finger prints when they shake your hand, so, for now fist bumping will do." He said, "Thanks." Then we fist bumped. An old bald guy wearing a stylish old fashioned tuxedo walked up to us and said, "Young masters and mistress, are you ready to go?" Bruce said, "And this is my butler, Alfred." I did a curtsey and said, "Nice to meet you, Alfred. My name is Crys, spelt K-r-i-s."

Alfred bowed and said, "Nice to meet you too. Crys." I smiled at him and he smiled back. So, we all went back to their car.

Bruce's POV.

It was a huge coincidence that we met Panther in her civilian clothes. An even bigger one that she was at the cemetery today. I mastered the position of the grave she talked to for fifteen minutes. Then stood up with teary eyes. I watched as she wiped her eyes and made her way over to us. She was quite okay after talking to that grave. Dick still had tears out of his eyes. But he recovered as soon as she introduced herself the same way he had told me Panther did the previous night. We entered the limousine as Alfred opened the door for both of them, she thanked him and sat. At first it was quiet until Dick asked her, "So, how do you know that someone will take your finger prints?" She sat up straight like as if she was going to lecture a small child.

She began, "This is Gotham City. Everyone here is either a criminal or has some kind of criminal record and if they don't then give it a few years. Have you seen the number of robberies that happen here? If you go around shaking just anyone's hand then know that your finger prints might appear at the crime scene, or they could use that to get into your bank account, your safe and with that finger print, they can use your documents as theirs when flying out of the country. Don't trust anyone, especially street kids, they are sneaky little twits. You have been informed." Dick nodded and asked, "How do you know that?" She replied while smiling fondly, "My homies are Street Kids." Dick said, "But you said not to trust them." She replied, "Yeah, specifically you can't trust them. They steal to live. I assume you like your stuff."

I said, "So, do you know anyone who uses someone else's prints?" She nodded yes and was about to say something then she withdrew back and replied, "Nope. Don't know anybody." Then she looked like she was thinking long and hard about something but snapped herself out of it. She asked, "So, are you guys criminals?" Dick said sarcastically, "Wow, so subtle." That kid's in a funk now. I have to talk to him about it. She replied, "It's totally cool if you're criminals, just don't kill me or sell me or use me as bait."

Dick asked, "What if we're superheroes?" She said, "Superheroes, yeah no thanks, if you are superheroes, don't take pity on me, don't put me on in an orphanage, you sure as hell shouldn't touch me or try to get my DNA and whatevs." Dick asked, "Why would we want your DNA?" I intervened and said, "Dick?!" This boy was giving our secret away. Hopefully she wouldn't notice. She replied, "I don't know, you people are weird like that." Or she did but wasn't exactly fazed by it. Alfred said, "So, Crys, what do you like to do for fun?" She replied, "I like to hangout with my homies."Alfred asked, "So, your parents are okay with you hanging out with your homies?" She said, "What they don't know won't kill them. Besides they don't care what I do or care about me in general."

Bruce asked, "Why would you say that?" She replied, "They left and I've had a whole house to myself for seven months now. I know that they've abandoned me so I assume they don't care." Alfred stopped the car abruptly. He asked her, "You've been staying on and off on the streets for seven months." She replied, "Yup." Alfred continued to drive but a little bit slower. They reached the Chinese restaurant and ordered to go. Then as they were eating in the car, much to Alfred's disapproval, Dick said, "So Crys, do you wanna play twenty questions?" She shrugged while still struggling to use the chopsticks. She said, "Sure, you go first." He asked, "Who's your favourite superhero?" She said, "Superman for life." Robin frowned and asked, "Why? Wouldn't you prefer someone a little more human?"

She replied, "He's funny, he wears his underwear on top, he saves people and punches meteors. Incase he turns evil he's the easiest to defeat if you have that shiny green rock, I rather have aliens with weaknesses than people who seem to be invincible." Bruce asked, "What green rock?" She was about to talk but instead said, "I can't say it's name, but if you give me a pen and a paper I'm sure I can write it down for you."

They arrived at a corner that was near Crys' house. She said, "Nevermind, my house is right at the corner." She opened the door and jumped out while Alfred was still driving. She tucked and rolled and began running while waving behind and apologizing, "Sorry, my parents would kill me if they came back and found out that I was out this late, sorry for not waiting for the car to stop." She ran really fast until she disappeared and was out of view. Dick closed her door as Alfred followed her trail to make sure that she got home safe. They reached just in time to see her open her door and get in. They saw the door lock.