Gotham's New Bird | T. Drake

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

It was snowing. The city sounds were muffled under the few inches of snow that had fallen earlier that day. The lights cast a homey orange glow on everything and Robyn could see a few Christmas shining through windows. Gotham seemed friendly and homey for once.

Robyn's happy buzz faded and replaced with the feeling of being watched. She turned and scanned the rooftops around her. Nothing. Of course.

She suddenly spotted a couple that piqued her interest. Expensive-looking fur coat on the woman and a beautiful black overcoat on the man. Robyn smirked. A few hundred dollars wouldn't hurt this couple if they lost it.

Robyn shot down the fire escape quickly and quietly and popped out of the alley with her hood up and head down. She walked towards the couple. As she incidentally bumped into the lady, she snatched her high-quality white handbag and ran. The lady yelped in surprise and cried for the man to get her. Robyn sprinted towards the intersection and veered a sharp right, passing the building on the corner and darting into the alley next to it. She waited for the man chasing her to run past.

Robyn hid behind a dumpster as she looted the purse of all extra jewelry and cash with gloved hands. She closed the purse and popped out of hiding. The man looked dumbfounded when she apologized.

"I'm sorry, sir. I'm just in a tough spot in life. It was pure impulse. I'm sorry." Robyn paused for added effect, "I didn't take anything." She held out the purse to him and he took it.

"Wow, I- I didn't realize you were in that position." The wife rounded the corner and gasped, running up and snatching her purse back. The man reached into his back pocket and pulled out a wallet.

"Here. Buy yourself a meal and a nice, warm coat," he said and held out a fifty. Robyn shook her head.

"Really, sir, I don't-" she began her usual argument, but the man interrupted her.

"You need it," he said firmly, "Take it." Robyn searched the man's eyes, looking for any type of joke before slowly reaching out and pulling the bill from his fingers and stuffing it in her pocket.

Robyn turned to go, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her, "Stay warm and be careful." The man said, tone thick with seriousness. Robyn nodded and backed away, watching the couple for a while, before turning and running down the sidewalk and into a different alley.

Something burned in the pit of her stomach. She felt so bad for lying to the couple. It was a familiar feeling and she knew exactly what it was. Guilt. Back in the days when she was a carnie... Back when Gerimone-

Stop it, Robyn told herself, don't think about that. It wasn't your fault.

But what did you do to stop him? Huh?

Stop!

You could have told someone.

He would have ruined me.

Well, it's too late now, and he already fucked your life up.

Go away! Please! Robyn didn't realize she was crying until a cool breeze blew and the tears on her cheeks froze. Her nose ran and she sniffled, swiping at it. The lingering guilt was fading, but the memories of the circus -- both good and bad -- flooded into her mind.

Before learning to throw knives, she was an aerialist. A flyer. She perfected the triple somersault on the trapeze when she was ten, four years after joining. But she knew she would never duplicate the famous Dick Grayson with his quadruple somersault.

She loved being an aerialist, but she always hesitated learning new things. Eventually, that got in the way and Haly switched her performance with a different kid. She was upset for nearly a week.

Then she became obsessed with the idea of ninjas, so she began throwing knives at a dartboard instead of darts when she was bored. It took practice, but she was soon able to accomplish daunting tasks all while multitasking with the knives. Haly saw Robyn's potential and opened her new act.

It soon grew old and Haly enrolled her in bojutsu and ninjutsu lessons, basic, yes. All he wanted was the crowd to be entertained. Robyn was already an acrobat, which made the lessons slightly easier.

But her newfound strength still didn't match that of Gerimone's. A shiver ran up and down her spine as she scaled a building to its roof. She wiped her tear-streaked face and looked around. Snow began to melt slightly, turning the fluffy power into a nasty, sludgy mess. Footsteps sounded behind her. They were soft, like they were carefully planned.

She turned, having a feeling she knew who it was. She saw the familiar red and black suit and her heart fluttered. She inwardly groaned at her instinctual reaction and turned away, looking past at the city again.

"Just gonna ignore me?" He asked and pushed some sludge around with the toe of his boots.

"Just gonna annoy me?" She snapped back. Robyn crossed her arms, sniffling at the same time. Red Robin nudged her shoulder with his.

"Hey, you okay?" He asked. Robyn grumbled and wiped her nose.

"Yeah. Sure. I'm fine." She said.

"You can tell me if you want. I won't tell Big B."

"And why would I tell you? You're supposed to be my enemy. Do you care just because I have issues? Is that it? That I'm just some... Some twelve-year-old with tender feelings?"

"I didn't-"

"Fuck off. Leave me alone." Robyn stormed to the other side of the building and left a dumbstruck Red Robin behind. Robyn sat on the ledge and looked out at the city and the light of other cities in the distance and cried silently.

Ξ

Aye m9s how's it going, bros?

Kind of a shitty chapter that has gotten nowhere bc I'm doing a Creative Writing class where I can dump my inspiration out there. Plus, I have to finish a 10k+ story by two weeks before the end of the school year, which is in two weeks and I only have like 2k words down help me.

I'll stop with excuses.

Summer 2k16 starts on June 10 for me. I should update more this summer.

Aaaaannny waaaaayyyyyy

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Your Unikorn Kat (・ω・)ノ