Platonic Yandere BatFamily x Child Reader

[I-VI]

Act I-Scene VI: "Hubert and a Place to Call Home."

I sat down on her surprisingly comfy couch, which reminded me of something you'd surely find at your grandmother's house with knitted blankets folded on the arms. As Hattie walked back into the living room to check up on me, she stopped amid the doorway. "Oh my," she mumbled, "aren't you hot in that jacket and scarf dear?" She wasn't wrong, the getup was making me sweat pails and buckets, and although I was grateful for the buzzing air conditioner in her living room window, it simply wasn't enough. Yet I wasn't about to reveal my identity to her either. "I'll be fine." I motioned off to her. She stilled a look of concern, but eventually gave a small smile. "Alright then, the lemonade should be done soon. But if you don't mind," she trailed off, "I do have some questions to ask of you." I simply nodded, also wanting the answers to my own.

   Hattie poured the pitcher of lemonade over a plastic cup for herself and I as she took the seat across from me. Not having had the opportunity for a break earlier made me thirsty, so I was evidently grateful for her kindness towards me as I settled back into my seat with the cup buried between my fingers. Hattie leaned back as well, but seemed to be preoccupied with her thoughts at the time until she spoke up. "You're quite young," she observed, "but you aren't in school?" Neither of us made much movement as I sunk my eyes into the rippling lemonade. I wasn't sure what to tell her, but I couldn't quite tell her the truth. Yet as I looked her in the eyes, some part of me truly believed she was someone I had met before...someone I trusted long ago—someone I loved, but I just couldn't pinpoint it.
   "Well no...not quite." I mumbled. Even if I wanted to, a part of me couldn't lie to her either. I know I'd feel guilty if I did. "Ms. Hattie, the truth is..." I paused, unsure of what to really say. There's a possibility that if I told her the truth now, things might not go the way I want them to. But before my brain could fumble out a half baked response, both our heads shot towards the direction of a pitiful shout resonating from outside the window closest to the front door. The wail was louder this time, almost pleadingly so. Hattie and I quickly walked to the front porch to inspect the noise, only to find nothing there. "Hubert," she gasped, "it sounds like my boy, Hubert!" Yet he was still nowhere to be seen. Another cry called out to us, but it didn't sound like it was coming from on top of the porch, it sounded like it was coming from below it. I quickly ran around the front of the house to see an orange tabby partially squeezed between the woven porch skirt of the deck. Hattie followed at my side to see what I had found, and to her utter relief it was Hubert, her missing cat. "Hubert! How did you get under there?" She worriedly reprimanded. Hubert gave a meek trill, to which she ignored and asked for my help to get him out.

   "Thank you again for helping me find Hubert." She thanked me with a polite grin. We were both inside now, sipping our lemonade as Hubert and a few of the other cats were left eating in the kitchen and tending to themselves. "I'm just glad we were able to find him before it got too dark out." I replied. Hattie gave a small smile before it slightly dipped into a reserved frown. "Is something wrong?" I asked. "Oh," she paused, "it's just, well..." she needed a moment to collect her thoughts before getting the courage to speak her mind. "I've been alone here by myself for many years after the death of my late daughter, Meredith, and I've never really had anyone to talk to." She said, fiddling with the edge of her mug. "It's just that...whatever your reasons are for being here right now instead of anywhere else are personal—and I won't pry, but I was wondering if you'd like to help me around my home? I have enough money to support you with free housing and food—whatever you need!" Hattie seemed desperate and lonely. There was a sadness in her eyes that I had seen in myself long before I had been brought here, and it shook me down to my core.
   Truly, I was surprised by her offer. She's essentially giving me the opportunity to live here free of charge with chores as a stipulation (not that they would be hard to manage), all in the hopes that she won't have to be lonely anymore. I was shocked, but the idea didn't need to coax a second thought from me. It was hard to turn down such an offer in the first place. Looking Hattie in the eyes, I noticed her nervousness. Her mug was shaking and I could tell she was thinking about the possibility of rejection, but I wouldn't let that happen. After living in the building of an abandoned house in Gotham down in the deep end, anything, I found out, was better than that place. "Ms. Hattie," I said, "I'd love to help out around here." A genuine smile took a hold of my face (or what little of it could be seen through my clothes),  and I could tell the unexpected answer surprised her...
   But she was happy.

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