Unexpected Allies

Chapter 1: Quiet One

Manette's POV

I sighed and watched silently as the clouds moved slowly by in the window.

I heard the familiar heavy footsteps of the police officer charged with watching me. He literally sat on a chair all night last night and watched me. I couldn't sleep at all. It was kind of creepy, but I guess I can't blame him.

A lot of orphans would have ran away.

He stood in front of me and produced a tight and fake smile politely.

"Your uncle has arrived." He said, "Please follow me."

I nodded and stood up, grabbing my suitcase and following him.

In the front office, I immediately recognized him. An old man with good posture one would only learn from serving in the Queen's protection unit.

He and my father had quite an age gape, but it didn't matter. They still looked quite similar and I could tell just by looking at the man that they acted alike too.

"Mr. Pennyworth." Officer James said.

The man stood up from his seat and immediately looked from the officer to me. I looked over at the two males behind him. A man and child. Rich. American. Then I looked away from all of them and to the officer.

"This is your niece, Manette. Mr. Wayne has already had the paperwork organized for you and mailed to Wayne Manor, so you all can be on your way." The man said.

My uncle nodded and looked at me again when the officer walked away. I had no choice but to return the eye contact.

"I'm your uncle, but you can call me Alfred." He said.

I nodded.

A small bit of tension grew in the silence before the other man clapped his hands together.

"Well, we should be on our way before our pilot gets into the cabinets." He said, trying to lighten the mood.

I gave him a long, hard, blank stare.

He smiled nervously and turned around to leave. Clever man. Maybe I should give him a cookie.

You know, if I had a cookie.

I followed them outside and squinted slightly as the bright sun assaulted my eyes.

I saw a black limo and Alfred paused, looking at my suitcase.

"Is there anything more?" He asked.

I shook my head.

Alfred smiled and reached for it and I hesitantly let him put it away into the trunk. I tried to grab the doorhandle, but then suddenly the man was there again, already holding it open.

I nodded semi-gratefully and was about to get in, but then someone tackled me.

I yelped and crashed into the hard floor, seeing the young boy that had accompanied Alfred was laying next to me, his arm around my waist. He was looking up towards a building's roof.

A dart smacked into the side of the car and then floated down, landing softly on my cheek. The boy got off, murmuring an apology and I looked up to the left just in time to see a figure clothed in black disappear.

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The airport was boring, almost as boring as the flight, which I simply stayed quiet during and stared out the window, which I was luckily placed by.

When we arrived at the Manor, which I was extremely impressed by, but I'll never admit it, and Alfred gave me a tour.

He tried to make small talk and spark up conversations but I simply nodded and shook my head to everything.