-Gotham City-
-February 05,1988, 21:04 EDT-
The hallways of the GCPD buzzed with the usual chaos of paperwork, ringing phones, and detectives grumbling over cold coffee. A young officer walked through the building, his uniform crisp, his stride a little nervous but determined.
Richard (narrating): So yeah my name is Richard Laurence Parker. Graduated from college early with my best friend, Barbara Gordon… you know, the one with the ginger hair. Or is it red? Honestly, still can't tell.
He passes by officers giving him nods of acknowledgment, his inner thoughts louder than his footsteps.
Richard (narrating): I'm twenty years old, my favorite food is cherry pie and wheat cakes, and my goal here? To make myself known to Gotham. To prove that this rookie-!
—TIMESKIP—
Inside Commissioner Gordon's office, the blinds half-shut against the glow of the streetlights outside, Gordon sat behind his desk with a stern look. Richard stood at attention, anxiety creeping into his sharp features.
Commissioner Gordon: Richard, look… you're being transferred to the NYPD. There's been an escape from Arkham one villain in particular. White Rabbit.
The words hit Richard like a sledgehammer. His thoughts crashed and scattered like shattered glass.
Richard (thinking): Huh?! ...NYPD? …New York?!
He slammed both palms down onto Gordon's desk, voice breaking with raw frustration.
Richard: BUT UNCLE GORDON! I DON'T WANNA GO TO NEW YORK! I WANNA BE HERE! IN GOTHAM!
Barbara's father closed his eyes for a moment, taking a long breath. His voice, though stern, softened at the edges rubbed his forehead, letting out a heavy sigh.
Commissioner Gordon: I know, kid. I know you want to stay here… to protect my daughter.
Commissioner Gordon: I know, kid… I know you want to protect my daughter, Barbara. But think again. After you catch White Rabbit in New York come back to Gotham. I'll welcome you back into the GCPD.
Richard groaned, dragging a hand through his hair.
Richard: Geez, Uncle Gordon, can't you just find someone else? Like… I don't know, that vigilante Batman? Or Nightwing?
Commissioner Gordon shook his head firmly.
Commissioner Gordon: No.
Richard shot up, shouting at the ceiling.
Richard: NOOOOOOOO!
The outburst earned him a sharp smack to the head from Gordon, who stood up from his chair, towering over his godson.
Commissioner Gordon: Focus, Richard! This isn't about what you want. It depends on your job!
Rubbing the back of his head, Richard scowled but forced himself to calm down.
Richard: So… who's gonna take care of me in New York, huh?
Commissioner Gordon adjusted his glasses, his expression softening ever so slightly.
Commissioner Gordon: Ever heard of George Stacy?
Richard blinked.
Richard: …Who?
-RICHARD'S APARTMENT, GOTHAM CITY – NIGHT -
The dim light of the apartment flickered across the half-packed bags on the bed. Richard Parker stood over them, folding shirts and shoving books into the side pocket with restless hands. His jaw was tight, his movements sharp, but his eyes softened when he glanced at the figure leaning against the doorframe.
Barbara Gordon. Arms folded, red hair catching the glow of the lamp. She just watched him in silence, her expression caught between sadness and quiet strength.
Richard (hesitant): Hey, Babs… I was wondering if you uhh...
Barbara cut him off, her voice quiet but firm.
Barbara: I tried to stop Dad… but he never listens to me.
Before Richard could answer, Barbara stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him from behind. He froze, then felt her warmth press against his back. Slowly, she pulled something from her pocket and held it up in front of him a pregnancy test.
Barbara (softly): I'm seven months pregnant. …When are you gonna come back to me?
Richard's eyes widened. He turned slowly, taking the test from her trembling hand. For a moment he just stared, his throat dry, before finally lifting his gaze to meet hers.
Richard: When…?! Did you…? Did you tell your father about this?
Barbara gave a small, almost mischievous smile, her voice tender.
Barbara: Maybe in March. I'll tell Dad… about Benjy.
The name hit Richard like a spark. His lips curled into a stunned, almost disbelieving smile.
Richard: Wow… It's great… This is... this is better.
Barbara: Isn't it?
Richard's breath hitched as he stepped closer, cupping her cheek.
Richard: This… this is perfect. Come here.
Their lips met in a desperate, lingering kiss, both clinging to each other as if time itself was their enemy. But when Richard broke the kiss, his voice trembled, his thoughts spilling out like cracks in his armor.
Richard (muttering): What if… what if I'm a bad father? What if you get hurt… what if you miscarry… or worse what if Gotham's villains, the ones Batman fights, come after you?
Barbara lifted her hands to his face, steadying him, forcing his eyes to meet hers. Her touch was calm, her voice gentle but fierce.
Barbara: We can do this. Nothing's going to happen.
Richard's lips quivered, his eyes searching hers.
Richard: I… I don't know.
Barbara: Then what?
She leaned in closer, pressing her forehead to his, her words a whisper of unshakable conviction.
Barbara: Nothing is going to change.
Richard let out a shaky breath, finally letting himself melt into her embrace, burying his fears against her shoulder as the weight of the future pressed down on both of them.
-New York City-
-February 06,1988-
-JFK TERMINAL – 14:00 EDT-
The terminal was crowded, filled with the shuffle of travelers, rolling luggage, and the hum of intercom announcements. Richard Parker stepped out into the hot New York afternoon, his duffel slung over his shoulder. He took a deep breath, trying to shake off the exhaustion of the flight, when the sharp whoop of a police siren cut through the air.
A squad car pulled up to the curb, the lights flashing once before shutting off. The driver's door opened, and out stepped George Stacy.
Richard froze.
His jaw nearly hit the pavement.
Richard (thinking): …Wait. This guy's my age?!
George Stacy looked young, but the way he carried himself straight posture, crisp uniform, an aura of authority made him seem older. He raised a hand toward Richard, his expression steady but approachable.
George: George Stacy. Are you the one Mr. Gordon mentioned? Richard Parker, right?
Richard, still stunned, nodded quickly before snapping himself into motion. He gripped George's hand firmly in a handshake, trying to play it cool.
Richard: Y-Yeah. That's me.
George: Good. Call me Captain Stacy. And before you get inside my car… I want you to introduce yourself again.
Richard blinked, hesitating, before blurting out the first thing that came to his nervous mind.
Richard: …Will you adopt me?
George: …What?
Richard: …What?
For a moment, the two just stared at each other, the silence broken only by the honk of a taxi behind them. George's eyebrow twitched upward, then he shook his head with the faintest smirk.
George: Kid… this is gonna be a long assignment.
Richard: Yeah, I'm already regretting it.
The two of them climbed into the police car, the city skyline looming ahead as fate quietly began to pull Richard Parker into his new life.
The police car rolled steadily through the bustle of New York. Richard sat stiffly in the passenger seat, his bag between his legs, eyes darting every now and then toward the man behind the wheel. George Stacy noticed the glances through the corner of his eye, finally chuckling under his breath.
George: What's wrong, kid?
Richard shifted, almost embarrassed.
Richard: I–umm… how old are you, Captain Stacy?
George glanced at him quickly before turning back to the road.
George: Twenty-eight.
Richard's jaw dropped. He blinked, looked away toward the window, and muttered under his breath.
Richard: This man is older than me…
George smirked faintly before his tone shifted, steady and firm.
George: By the way, Richard… since I'm your captain, it's my responsibility to take care of you, after all.
Richard furrowed his brow, confused.
Richard: What do you mean… responsibility?
The car slowed to a stop at a red light. George turned his head, resting a hand on Richard's shoulder with a steady grip.
George: Remember with great leadership comes great responsibility.
Richard blinked hard, staring back in disbelief.
Richard: But… i was only here to capture White Rabbit back to Gotham? And yet im just a rookie cop?
George: That's what I mean, Parker.
The light shifted to green. George eased his foot on the gas, the car moving forward into the dense heartbeat of the city. Richard leaned back, lost in thought, watching the skyline rise before him.
Richard (thinking): I wonder… what's New York really like?