Batman: The Rise of Lynx

A Matter of Family [2]

Upon entering the manor, the two children were met by their mother standing in the pathway.

"Hey!" Selina greeted them as she pulled them into a hug. "Did you two have a good day?"

"Mom, you're crushing us!" Helena squirmed. Her voice was muffled in her mother's shoulders.

"Sorry." She apologized as she released them. "Back to my question, did you have a good day?"

"I guess." Damian shrugged. "It was normal, nothing to report."

Before Helena could respond, something caught Selina's eye. "Helena, were you crying?" Selina kneeled in front of her daughter. She noticed how puffy Helena's eyes were.

"Umm..."

"What's wrong, honey?" She pressed. "Talk to me."

"Nothing." Helena lied. "Had something in my eye."

"We both know that's not true." Concern filled her. She cupped the young girl's face. "Is everything okay at school? You know you can tell me anything."

"I was tripped by a girl, I got up and walked away."

"That's good but I feel there's more you're not saying." She replied.

All she received was silence in response.

Seeing that she wasn't going to win this struggle, she gave up. "I guess you'll tell me when you're ready."

With a nod, Helena retreated to her room.

She quickly turned to her son who was also making his way inside. "Damian, do you know what's wrong with her?"

"You assume I would know anything that troubles her." He replied as he walked towards his room. "I'm going to go wash up and then I'm heading down to the cave."

"I'm sure she'll be alright, Lady Selina." Alfred voiced as he brought in some groceries. "She's growing up and developing her own thoughts of life. Perhaps, she feels limited. Perhaps, she's just trying to figure out which direction she wants to follow."

"Thank you, Alfred." She smiled. "I just get worried sometimes."

"Every parent gets worried sometimes."

Selina and Damian joined Bruce in the Batcave. What was once a dark cave was now well illuminated by lights and computer screens. Trophies, vehicles, and technology filled the massive landscape.

"Computer, run a search for the common factors," Bruce commanded. "Highlight locations and times."

"Any progress?" Damian asked as he walked towards the Bat-Computer and his dad.

"Nothing major." He replied. "Not much information links the victims other than their close ages."

"I see," Damian noted. "On another note, when are you going to give Helena a chance?"

"When she's ready, which she's not." He answered.

"Is it that she's not or that you're being overprotective?"

"Damian, What has gotten into you?" Selina asked. "Hours ago, you two were bickering over breakfast and now you're suddenly trying to challenge our authority on our decision about your sister becoming a vigilante."

"Well, maybe because she's ten and she's been training for this." He answered. "Yeah, we bicker and fight over little things but I'm tired of seeing her train and then being disappointed every time we go out in the night."

"Well, I say we test her." Bruce voiced. "If she's ready, we will know." He activated the comm channels. "Alfred, send Helena down."

"Very well." The butler replied as he moved from the comm panel towards Helena's room. "Miss Helena, your father requests your audience down in the cave."