Robin and the Sea Bird

Prologue: A Strange Pair

Percy licked his lips as he quickly grabbed the roll of bandages and stuffed it in his satchel along with the hydrogen peroxide and portable sewing kit. He turned from the shelf and began shuffling off before a hand caught his sleeve.

"You're not supposed to do that!"

Percy whipped his head around to find himself staring at another boy about 12 or 13, so around his age. The boy was dressed in the fancy uniforms of students who went to Gotham Academy. His grip on the bandages tightened. He needed these for his friend Annabeth and some rich snob's kid wasn't about to stop him.

"Don't tell me what to do, rich kid. Now let go," Percy growled. He yanked his arm to detach the other from his hoodie sleeve but there was no give.

"Stealing is wrong," the young Gothamite repeated. His slicked back black hair practically shined under the synthetic lights of the convenience store.

"I know this sounds crazy to you, but not everyone was born sucking on a silver spoon," Percy spat extremely tense. "Now let. Me. Go."

The boy's blue eyes flashed angrily before he settled into a calculating gaze. "I can't do that. At least... at least let me pay for it."

The statement nearly made Percy punch the kid. "I'm not a charity case for you to throw money at. I don't need some rich fuck's money, especially not yours."

"Well either you don't steal the stuff or you let me pay for it."

Percy sighed aggravatedly. "I don't have time for this."

"You think I do? It'll be faster if you just let me pay for these items and your pride doesn't get in the way of you getting your supplies you seem to so desperately need."

Percy was about to retort that just high tailing it out of the store would be faster too but thought better of it.

Getting into a fight with this kid wasn't worth the time, especially when Annabeth's life was on the line. He'd just ditch the stuff and go to another store.

Percy made a show of taking the roll of bandages out of his pocket and waggling it in front of the other boy. He set it on the shelf and attempted to leave but the boy didn't let go.

"What now?" Percy snarled at the boy.

Blue eyes stared into green. "You're just going to go to another store and steal your supplies and I won't let you do that." He picked up the roll from where Percy had just replaced it on the shelf.

"I told you, I don't want your charity."

The other boy smirked faintly as he started dragging Percy to the cash registers. "I heard you the first time. But I told you, I'm not letting you steal."

Percy groaned and gave in. Annabeth's life was more important than his pride and going to another store would slow him down anyway.  "Why do you even care? This is Gotham, there's crime everywhere."

"Sure, but every little bit counts. And I have to help those I can, especially those who aren't as fortunate as me," the unnamed kid replied honestly. This answer didn't please the boy being dragged. Percy snatched his beat up penny board off the ground as they walked out of the aisle.

"Oh, great you're one of those hero types who thinks one random act of kindness can save the city," Percy replied sarcastically with an eye roll. As if stopping him from stealing this one time would do anything.

The boy had no reply as they stopped at the end of the line.

Percy pressed on. "Seriously, what do you think this will achieve? Even if you've stopped me from stealing this one time, I'm still gonna do it in the future."