Gotham's New Bird | T. Drake

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Shadows cast in the light-polluted city night were welcomed by Batman and his company, including Robyn Hood. The Robins were off patrolling, but Batman and Robyn Hood were grappling to the part of Gotham she needed to be. The two landed on the top of her apartment building.

Batman pointed to a building across the road from hers, "That's where Gerimone's the most active. There's no records saying he bought or rented a room, so he must be living with a friend." Robyn nodded in understanding. She felt unsafe and much more uncomfortable that that thing was so close to her. What if she was sleeping and they broke in and caught her? What about when she was showering?

"We put up cameras around both buildings. They're recording at all times, so we should be able to let you know if he comes anywhere near you when you're caught off-guard. We'll also keep a close eye on you as much as possible." Batman finished. Robyn nodded, less worried, but still not happy about the idea of being left alone with Gerimone so close. But the sooner she lured him in, the sooner he would be put away, the sooner the case would move on, and the sooner Robyn could hang up her cape.

Wait... hang up her cape? Did she really want to? Was this a decision that her subconscious mind already made up? That she should give up being involved in things like these?

Probably.

Robyn slipped inside her apartment and gasped at what she found.

Her entire place looked like it was turned upside-down then flipped inside out. What happened? Robyn pressed the comm in her ear.

"Uh, Batman, there's been someone in my apartment." She murmured quietly. If anyone was still in here, she didn't want to be found out.

The apartment was silent, hopefully meaning that nobody was there. A whoosh sounded behind her and she turned to see Batman crawl through her open window. He brushed past her and headed for the closed apartment door. Its handle was loose and the trimming by the handle was cracked and splintered.

"Scan for fingerprints." Batman muttered while holding his finger to his temple. "Match fingerprints." He said again after a short pause.

"So who was it?" Robyn pushed.

"William Helder." He answered, "Computer, background check William Helder." He paused for another moment. "No crimes other than a speeding ticket. This guy was innocent. Why would he want to break in to your apartment?"

"I have nothing here except-," Robyn looked to the kitchen and winced when she saw the cupboard doors torn off their hinges. She shuffled through the one where her emergency money was held. Her fingers touched the coffee canister, but when she lifted it....

"Bitch stole my money!" She yelled. "I earned that money, all one thousand three hundred dollars!" Batman gave her a pointed look. "No, I didn't steal it, I earned it, fair and square." Robyn rolled her eyes and shut up, thinking.

"Goddammit. You just had to point the irony out, didn't you." She muttered with a chuckle and a shake of her head. Robyn turned her small wooden coffee table back upright and threw the cushions and pillows back onto the worn couch.

Why would someone want to steal from her? She had practically nothing! She had a few knick-knacks she collected from her time being on the street, but that was all, really. She couldn't see why someone wanted the junk she had laying around her apartment. But to take her money she worked hard for? That's just rude. She was saving up for something -- no, she didn't know what, yet, but it was going to be something nice.

What goes around comes back around, they say.

When Robyn flopped down onto the couch, she realized that Batman was no longer there. Probably off busting some douche's ass. She thought. That could've been her a while back, being the bad guy. But now? Now she didn't know what she wanted. Maybe if she slept on it, she would come up with an idea.

~•*•~

Robyn woke up to her still-messy apartment. Sun shone through her windows and beamed into her face. She squinted and grumbled.

She also had to finish cleaning up the giant mess. She stretched and yawned, going to change out of her suit -- she forgot to change out of it before she fell asleep.

Then she got to work, throwing out anything useless or broken beyond repair. She found her phone (she was quite worried about that piece of crap) and turned it on.

Her face went white when she saw the screen. Twelve total missed calls from both Cooper and her boss and seven new voicemails.

She groaned. She was probably fired. Great, she thought, now I have a trashed apartment and no income. What's next, my bank gets robbed and I soon get evicted?

She listened to her voicemails. Yep, fired. But in every message Cooper left, he sounded more and more scared. Until the last one.

"Robyn, where the hell are you? I need to leave. My boyfriend, he's... he's scaring me. He's saying these...these things. Like he's out for blood or out to get someone." Cooper's voice dropped to a whisper. "He's abusing me, Robyn, and I don't know what to do. He said if I leave or tell anyone, he would make my life hell. He would introduce me to some guy. Robyn, please. As soon as you get this message, call me back."

Robyn let the phone slip out of her hand and she ran out of her apartment. She banged on Cooper's door. Her hands shook as she waited. She banged again.

"Cooper!" She yelled. She tried the knob. Thank God. It was unlocked. She burst in. "Cooper!" She yelled again. She looked around the apartment. There was a framed picture on the floor. Pillows and cushions from the couch were strewn about. One of his canvas paintings was torn and broken.

The signs of a struggle.

She ran and searched every room. When she reached his bedroom she heard something. It sounded like it was coming from the closet. She threw the doors open. Cooper lay there, his face beaten up and bruised.

"Cooper." She shook him. No response. She checked for a pulse. It was barely there. Oh God. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was too late to keep this from happening. She searched for Cooper's phone and called 911.

Ξ

Wow. I am a piece of shit. Thanks for waiting forever for an update.

I've been preoccupied.

'Til next time!

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