𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒂 | 𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐧𝐞 (𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙢)

𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟭

"Hey!"

"Run, run!" Eularia took Selina's arm, sprinting through the streets. "Hurry up!" Getting caught would be extremely messy, to say the least. The two girls had already had quite the record with the police. If they actually got caught... Well, it would be very inconvenient. And getting sent to juvie wasn't exactly on her bucket list.

"I'm trying!" They quickly weaved through the crowds, dodging any hands that tried to grab them, twisting through corners. Her legs felt like giving out. Eularia had never been athletic in any way, the most crucial stage of her growth interrupted by severe malnutrition since the age of three. Selina snatched a few apples and a carton of milk from the storefront as she ran past.

"Over here!" Eularia yanked her friend into a dark alley, her throat feeling constricted. The man darted right past their hiding spot. With a sigh of relief, they approached the dumpster. Eularia bent down, clicking her tongue, making small hand gestures. A cat slid out from underneath the dumpster, its whiskers twitching. Eularia poured the milk into a small tinfoil bowl, pushing it towards the cat.

"Drink up, kitty." Eularia petted the cat. "We might not be able to go back for a while. They'll probably recognize our faces now." But that was alright. They always found a way. Her head suddenly perked up at the sound of footsteps and laughter. Eularia and Selina exchanged a glance.

"Fire escape." They chorused. Eularia set the cat on her shoulder, and with a boost from Selina, quickly scaled the first-story fire escape. They hid in the shadows, peeking out. It was a family of three, smiling like everything in the world would be perfect as long as they had each other. Eularia couldn't remember the last time she'd seen a family like that. In Gotham, everyone was cruel and selfish– or so she thought. She leaned a little closer to hear what they were talking about.

"...and the music was lovely. How about you, Bruce?" The woman turned to the child, tilting her head.

"Sorry, Mom, I agree with Dad. It was kinda lame." Eularia nearly laughed at the mock betrayal on his father's face. He ruffled the boy's hair.

"There's no such word as 'kinda.'"

"You two, so judgmental. Just once I'd like–" Eularia gasped the same time the woman did, seeing the reason why she stopped. A large masked man appeared in front of them, holding a gun.

"What's up, folks. Gimme your money." Who still says that? She pinched herself. Definitely not the time for snarky commentary.

"No problem." No way. That could not be possible. As the streetlight shone from a certain angle, she could see his face properly. There was no possible way that that was Thomas Wayne. Why would one of the richest men in Gotham– and probably in the world be in a dark alley? Wayne took out his wallet, handing it over.

"The necklace." The man demanded next.

"Oh, but–"

"–Give it to him, Martha." Wayne told his wife. That was probably a smart idea. Martha unclasps her necklace with shaky hands. Without warning, the masked man fires two shots.

Bam.

Bam.

The pearls on the necklace broke apart, clattering loudly, two bodies fell to the ground.

Dead.

Eularia gasped, reaching a hand up to cover her mouth. The man– no, murderer leaves the boy alive, walking off, without an ounce of regret.

"No!" Selina snapped when she tried to jump off of the fire escape. "You can't let yourself be seen!"

Eularia tore her away, glaring. It had little to no effect though. The eleven-year-old was probably the furthest thing from intimidating. But the shimmering of her silvery-gray eyes under the moonlight was persuasive in their own manner.

"I had no one there for me. I was convinced that there was no one still on my side." She stated. "I won't let the same happen to him." Eularia slid down the ladder with ease, her long ash blonde hair swaying from side to side. The boy fell to his knees, blood coating his hands. He couldn't even bring himself to look up when Eularia landed right in front of him. She sighed, dropping down next to him. Her arms found themselves around him as Eularia held him, drawing in shaky breaths.

"It's gonna be alright." Those words. Those were the five words that she'd wanted someone to tell her all of her life. Someone to assure her that everything would be fine.

"Is it?" He choked out, tears dripping onto her already dirty hoodie. "Is it really going to be alright?"

Eularia rested her chin on his forehead. "I promise. It will be. The police won't let this go. Your parents were one of the most influential people in the city. It'll put everyone on edge. What's your name?"

"Bruce. I'm Bruce."

"My friends call me Lara. Actually, just one friend, really. It isn't really easy to make friends when we have to practically fight over food when it's scarce. It's nice to meet you." She glanced at his parents' bodies. "I just only wish that it was under different... circumstances." She took off her purple hoodie— her only protection against the frigid nights of Gotham, gently pulling it over his head. "You looked cold." Eularia explained, tugging on the sleeve of her blouse.

"Thank you." Bruce said when she tried to rub the metallic red liquid off of his hand, but to no avail. "Not only for this, but for being here." Eularia's grip on his suddenly tightened when she heard the sirens. She shook slightly.

Wailing sirens.

Flashing lights.

Immeasurable pain.

Darkne–

"Lara? Are you okay?" Eularia glanced down at him, shame filling her. Who was she to worry about her own problems when he just had to witness the deaths of his own parents? She could be really selfish sometimes.

"I'm okay." She beamed softly at him, but it was forced. Bruce easily saw through her, but was kind enough not to mention it.

"GCPD! No one move!" Cops left their cars, guns held high. They scanned the scene, stopping at the two corpses.

Eularia froze. She wanted, no, needed to go. She couldn't stand this anymore. The scene reminded her too much of that time. It was as if history was repeating itself. And once again, she was powerless to change it.

Bruce saw. Of course he saw. The boy was much more perceptive than he let on.

"I'll distract them." He whispered.

"Are– are you sure? It's no big deal." As usual, Eularia tried to play it off. There was rarely anyone that genuinely cared for her. When people attempted to get close to her, she deflected their affections.

"I'm sure. You've helped me, and it's my turn to help you." Eularia gave him a watery smile, slowly standing up. Bruce drew in a deep breath...

...And cried.

It was more of a scream of agony, but still.

He cried.

Eularia, half in shock, stumbled away, climbing up the half-up ladder of the fire escape. That's one way to get their attention. Selina's eyes were glaring daggers at her, but also shone in understanding. She knew why Eularia did what she did.

"Don't scare me like that!" She hit Eularia lightly on the shoulder. "I was about to come down and drag you back myself!" She thought of Eularia as a little sister. Even though Selina was only a few years older, Eularia's ability to maintain her childish innocence through so many hardships was irresistible.

"I'm sorry." Eularia lowered her head. "I know that could have put you in danger. I won't do something so reckless again."

"I know." Selina ruffled her hair. "Let's go back now. Hopefully Macky and the others found something good."

"It's fine if they didn't! We have plenty for them, don't we?" Eularia gestured at the apples Selina had grabbed earlier.

Selina rolled her eyes. "They still owe us for the sausages we gave last time."
"Oh, who cares!" She said dismissively, waving her off. "Sharing is caring, after all. It's just a part of our dysfunctional family."