A Bat and Her Beginning

Chapter 12:Back in the Cave

Barbara's POV: I wake up in the dark a look around realizing I'm in the same place I was more than a month ago. It looks the same, not that cave really changes. I'm sitting in a metal chair and I'm about to get up when I realize I'm still handcuffed. Wahoo second time being tied to a chair in a month.

Batman and Robin walk-in and I realize Robin has a smug look on his face. They don't say anything just look at me. I guess this means I get ask the burning question.

"Do you guys realize this is no way to treat a lady? What's with the handcuffs?"

Batman's eyes narrow, "You said you wanted me to train you. If a bad guys gets the upper hand they are gonna do anything they can to inconvenience and slow you down. Like handcuff you to a chair, pipe, or what ever's closest. So you need to know how to get out... by yourself."

I look at him mouth open. "Your joking right I thought this would be like combat training. It's not what I was expecting."

He rolls his eyes at me, "Fighting crime expect the unexpected. We'll get to combat. And if I were a real criminal typically hand cuffs are the least of your worries."

I just stare for a second. "Ok so tell me how do I do it?"

He shakes his head.

"What do you mean? You handcuff me then won't tell me how to get out?"

Robin looks at Batman, starting to say something but Batman holds up and hand and Robin closes his mouth. "We won't be able to help you all the time in the field. At least try."

I look at him and try to settle my nerves.

He looks back, "You should know basics like this, you evidently have some experience." 

Now Robin is the one confused, "What do you mean she has experience?"

Batman you can tell is uncomfortable and it's obvious he didn't think that through before he said it, but he quickly recovers, "Last month she did have a clue as to what she was doing."

I raise a brow. Look I realize he's protecting my secret but couldn't he had said that a little nicer? But still I take this as my cue a begin to think.

It's really weird with them just standing a watching me. I bend at my hips lowering my head to my hand. I reach in my cowl and pull out a bobby-pin. I lift back up and position the pin in my hand. I cock my wrist and begin to dig at the lock attached to the chair. I sit there fiddling, finding the right spot. It takes 1-2 minutes to get the lock to release. I move to my other hand and it releases in only like 20 seconds this time. I remove the cuffs and walk over handing them to Batman waiting my praise he nods a walks off, then motions for me and Robin to follow.

We sit in 3 fancy office chairs around the bat computer and face each other. I look to Robin wanting to know what is going on. He shrugs in response.

Batman looks to me. "It's obvious we don't have to start from scratch with you, but you still have a long ways to go. I believe you could be very helpful to our missions but you are going to need patience. I think you shouldn't start field work for a month."

I expect him to say more but that's all. I take a second to gather my thoughts. "Why a month? Can I not train and fight crime? I think I've proven I have some skills."

He moves uneasily in his seat. "You know basics, but you need certain skills to improve to... do what we do." He looks to Robin then back to me, "I would hate for those who care about you, see you get hurt. I don't want to end your career before it's begun..."

I stare kind of shocked. Wow this can't be the dark bruiting guy my dad talks about. I nod in agreement.

He starts up again, "Once we get you out there we'll see where it goes, skill and trust wise and maybe we'll talk about getting to know who each other are, including our other selves." He points to his mask.