BRUCE
I was not expecting to encounter this tonight.
A child that looked like a short breeze could toss him away, and a man yelling obscenely at them to jump into ,what he knew was water that even killer croc refuses to swim in. I knew that Gotham is not the best place but this takes it to another level.
After knocking the man out , unseen due to his obvious oblivious state. I turned to the boy, that now that look closer he is indeed a boy. His long salt and pepper hair would have mistaken him for a girl. Which seems crazy , to think a child so young would have graying hair.
Turning him away from the edge , he seemed surprised, confused even.
" you're safe now" I toned in my usual gloomy way but he didn't seem to hear me, his eyes just kept glancing down at the man them back up to me. Like he was waiting for the next shoe to drop. And God I know that look. The same look I got from dick when I told him he'd be my ward. The same look Jason gave when I didn't chastise him for managing to take off one of the tires from the batmobile. That same look tim gave me a few months ago ,when I didn't reject his attempts to become the new Robin.
" let's go" and of course I pick up another one. Another child that has no direction due to circumstances outta their control. At this point, it's habit . But I don't regret it , I never will.
He sat in seat beside me, caution written all over him but I expected that . As I drove back to the cave , I observed a few worrying things. He's malnourished, favors his left side. Lots of obvious bruising but not to his face for some reason . He hasn't spoken a word much less seem to acknowledge anything I say. It's like his body is on autopilot . The waterfall, at the entrance of the cave, opened and I drove in to find Alfred already waiting.
" How was patrol, master Bruce" he says in his usual British monotone, a blanket in hand like he expects something.
" I don't know their name but, they'll be staying here for the foreseeable future " i said gruffly , assisting him out the bat mobile and onto a chair near the batcomputer . A small fist stopping me as I pulled back the boy looking at me, as if asking for something.
Not knowing what it is he wanted , i unclipped my cloak and gave it to him. Not the best blanket as it was made to hide in shadows and block near anything weaker than lazer's beam.The boy hid away in it. The cloak acting like a barrier to the world.