Catherine bounced excitedly in the car seat. At three years old, she was already as tall as most eight-year-olds. Her golden eyes sparkled with intelligence far beyond her age.
"Uncle Rowan, are we really going to Thunder Land?" she asked, clapping her hands.
Rowan smiled, adjusting the rearview mirror. "Yes, princess. Water slides, games, and all the ice cream you want."
Catherine giggled. "I want strawberry and chocolate and vanilla!"
"We'll get them all," Rowan promised.
Thunder Land was crowded with families. Catherine ran ahead, her superhuman strength making her faster than normal children.
She climbed the water slide tower in seconds. "Uncle Rowan, watch me!"
She slid down with a loud laugh, splashing into the pool below.
Other kids stared. Catherine moved like she was flying through the water.
"Again! Again!" she shouted.
After the fifth slide, they walked to the ice cream stand. Catherine ordered three different flavors, eating them all without getting brain freeze.
A group of men in dark clothes watched them from nearby benches.
"That kid's not normal," one whispered to another.
"Boss said to grab any special ones we see," the second replied.
They followed Catherine and Rowan toward the parking area.
When Rowan stepped away to get the car, three men surrounded Catherine.
"Hey little girl, want some candy?" one said, reaching for her arm.
Catherine's eyes flashed gold. "No! Uncle Rowan!"
Her scream was not normal. The sound wave hit the men like a sonic blast.
All three collapsed, holding their bleeding ears.
"My eardrums!" one screamed.
Rowan appeared instantly, his eyes glowing red with fury.
"You touched my princess," he said coldly.
His hands moved faster than human sight. Three necks snapped in seconds.
Catherine ran to him. "Uncle Rowan, they were bad men."
"Yes, princess. But they can't hurt you now," Rowan said gently, picking her up.
They drove home in silence until Catherine spoke.
"Uncle Rowan, can we make a pinky promise?"
"What kind of promise?" he asked.
"That we'll always protect each other," she said seriously.
Rowan extended his pinky finger. "Always, princess."
Back at the mansion, Rowan carried shopping bags filled with new clothes, toys, and jewelry for Catherine.
"All these are for me?" she asked, eyes wide.
"A princess deserves beautiful things," Rowan said.
Catherine hugged a stuffed dragon tightly. "I love it! But Uncle Rowan, can we visit the sad boy now?"
Rowan's expression grew serious. "You mean Bruce?"
"Yes. I felt him crying today. He's lonely."
Rowan nodded slowly. "We can visit secretly. But Catherine, we cannot let him see us yet."
"Why not?" she asked.
"Because his destiny must unfold naturally. We can only watch and protect from shadows."
That night, they both transformed. Catherine's small body shifted into a tiny bat with golden fur. Rowan became his usual large black bat form.
They flew silently to Wayne Manor, landing on the mansion's roof.
Through the window, they could see eight-year-old Bruce sitting alone in his room, holding a photograph of his parents.
Catherine's bat form trembled with sadness.
They transformed back to human form on the roof.
"Cathie, that's your older brother. We can't meet him yet," Rowan whispered.
Catherine pulled out her new stuffed dragon. "Can I give this to big brother? He looks so sad."
Rowan considered carefully. "We can leave it where he'll find it. But he can't know it came from us."
Catherine nodded seriously. "I understand, Uncle Rowan. But I want him to know someone cares."
Rowan felt an unexpected warmth in his chest. "You have a good heart, princess."
They left the toy on Bruce's windowsill before flying home.
Neither saw Bruce find the gift the next morning, or the small smile that crossed his face for the first time in weeks.