Cat and Mouse

Chapter 15

Robin's P.O.V.

It had been a week since the Arkham prison break, and the last time I saw Fox. While most criminals had been apprehended, a few of the higer profile ones managed to slip past, including Joker, Scarecrow and Catwoman. Batman said they'd surface soon enough, but we hadn't managed to get a trace on any of them. As of now, life in Wayne Manor was utterly and inexplicably boring. 

Still, I could not help the worry that festered in my gut, making me feel slightly nauseated as I bent over my homework trying to accomplish the advanced mathematics. The last time I had seen Fox she did not look good. And with a high level crook such as the Joker with a vendetta against Fox, I had no clue what danger she could be in. The last glimpse of her still plastered itself in my brain. As I fought, I would occassionally sneak glances at her as she threw a punch or kicked upwards. She wasn't in her usual costume, which surprised me. I had guessed she was out and didn't have time, especially for such an important job as the one we had been doing at the time. I could only catch her condition growing worse as the night progressed, going from looking like she had been out in town to fresh out of a torture cell. I remembered as our eyes connected as she stood over Killer Croc's body, her slightly befuddled expression meeting my tired eyes. I was surprised how she managed to take down such an opponent when she looked like that. The image burned in my mind, refusing to wash away.

Her hair seemed darker, as if coated a new layer of red. It was knotted and lost it's straight and shiny sheen. Over her domino mask, I could see the blood creeping towards the eye mask, her left eye showing red through the film as it dribbled from her forehead down to her chin. Blood trickled down her arms and pooled around her fingertips. There were three long gashes across her stained orange shirt, crimson filling in the holes quickly. Her leggings were ripped everywhere and she looked ready to fall apart at the seams. I had moved my eyes away for one second to finish off Bane and was about to help her, maybe even heal her, but when I turned back she had disappeared. I was surprised because of her condition, but I had learned not to be surprised by her anymore. Shoving away a feeling of dread, I had continued to fight until everyone else had been taken in by the GCPD. 

Frustrated, I clenched my fists and slammed down on the table under my homework. Why was everything so complicated? If only I knew who she was, maybe I could stop by her house and see how she was doing! I had an infinite amount of moments where I could have, but I didn't want to ruin the moments I had with her. I paused as I thought this-- why did I want those moments to last as long as they could? Why didn't I just expose her secret and have the wreckless heroine away from harm? 

Sweat formed on my brow from overthinking and I wiped it away, sighing and leaning back. All this thinking would never do me any good. Closing my eyes, I rested my forearm over my forehead and allowed myself to relax. All this stress couldn't be good. All I needed was a little time to calm down. Fox had probably finally matured enough to realize she couldn't continue fighting and fled to wherever her house may be. Slowly my tensed shoulder eased down into a peaceful state and I let out a long, billowing sigh. Bruce wanted me to patrol tonight, but dusk wasn't for another hour. Maybe if I closed my eyes for a short nap, I could set my mind at ease for the night.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I awoke in time to change into my costume, sticking the domino mask onto my face and mussing up my slicked back hair. Personally I liked my hair better like this, but it was Bruce's idea to gel it back so I was less recognizable. Batman wanted to follow some leads alone on Catwoman (no way I was interferring with that) and I was left with the taxing job of keeping watch of Gotham. Hopping onto my motorcycle, I revved the engine and took off through the waterfall exit, my black cape billowing after me like a smoky cloak.