The Eye of the Storm

Chapter 3: The Protégé

I sat at the kitchen table, hands folded in my lap, sitting up straight as a pin. Across from me were my parents. Two people I had trusted, and they kept a huge secret from me my entire life. Kate looked me in the eyes and smiled a bit. 

"Adrina, from the beginning, even before we officially adopted you, we wanted you to take on one of our mantles. Renee sensed you had something in you that others didn't. It was in your eyes. we could see your pain, but also your gain."

I kept staring straight ahead. "I was supposed to find this out, wasn't I?" They gave me a look that told me to stop asking questions and let them provide answers. 

"Batman had talked to me before we adopted you, and asked if it was okay for you to take on the mantle of either Batwoman or the Question. We agreed, because none of us can do what we used to be able to do. So we're going to send you to a trainer to learn what you need to know."

"And who is this trainer?" I couldn't help but ask.

They looked at each other, then back at me. "Nightwing."

For months, I learned from Kate and Renee. They taught me how to punch and kick properly, and how to follow a trail of clues. By the end of eight months, the school year was over, and I had turned fifteen. Now, I was either ready to go find Nightwing, or I would have to learn even more from my moms. 

 According to Kate I was ready.  According to my heart, I wasn't.

Before I knew it, I was in my room, rummaging through my closet, grabbing clothes and brushes and all types of necessities. I threw it all into a suitcase, and pulled on a sweatshirt. I lugged my suitcase back to the dining room. "When do I leave?" I asked, anxious to learn the ways of Nightwing. He, along with Batman and Batgirl, was my idol. The excitement I felt was beyond description.

"Tomorrow," replied Renee. "You will take the train at noon, and be there at night." I was going to Happy Harbor, near where Mount Justice was located. Nightwing would train me there, and when i was ready, he would send me back to Gotham so I could protect my city. 

I fell asleep that night with dreams of my planned costume in my head.

I was about to become the protégé of Nightwing.