The bat monster stood over Barbara, Peter could see the fear in her eyes but more importantly he could see the fear in the bat’s eyes.

Peter wanted to leap at the beast, get her off Barbara and chase it away but he knew that wasn’t the right way to do things.

“Peter,” Barbara squealed. “Help.”

Peter launched a web overhead causing the beast to swerve his head at Peter. Immediately the beast stepped off Barbara and started to back away.

Peter walked carefully towards Barbara’s side, hands held up in surrender to make sure his intention was good.

Peter supported Barbara, propping her up.

“Peter what the hell is that?” Barbara said, her voice shaking.

“I… I don’t know,” Peter said. “But I don’t think we should fight it.”

“But it… it looks like a monster,” Barbara said, slowing down.

“I… I know,” Peter said. “But… I don’t think it’s that simple.”

The Bat swerved to its side, holding its wing over itself like a shield.

“Look,” Peter said, holding his hands up. “We don’t want to hurt you.”

The bat screeched.

“I know you’ve trusted people before and they wanted to hurt you,” Peter said. “But we don’t want to hurt you. My girlfriend and I… we’re here to investigate and we don’t know what you’re doing here but…”

Barbara and Peter looked at each other and they both realised something. They realised what the creature was doing here. The creature looked at them, confused.

“You were here before,” Peter said. “Something happened to you and…”

The bat spread its wings apart, no longer defensive.

“So…” Peter said, looking at Barbara.

Barbara nodded. “Yep, the blood belongs to that creature over there.”

…

Curt synthesised the new formula Peter had come up with. In front of him, in the cage was the rat that he’d used the new formula on. If all things went well the rat would regrow its limb without any major alterations to its personality.

Curt had a bottle of whiskey and glass on his left and his phone on his right to tell Peter the good news. His lab was the only one with its lights on. The other members of the Wayne science division had left the building, leaving Curt alone to observe the rat under the most careful of scrutiny.

His phone suddenly rang, breaking his concentration. The fact that it was his wife calling didn’t make things any better.

“What?” Curt said.

“Your son,” Martha said. “He wants to visit you.”

“Tell him he can visit this weekend,” Curt said. “I’m busy.”

“This wasn’t in the agreement,” Martha said. “You made such a big deal about custody during the proceedings and now…”

“Like I said,” Curt said coolly. “This weekend.”

He hung up. And while he was in the call, he noticed that the rat who had been missing his left limb had regrown it.

Curt’s eyes widened in elation. Could this be it? Could all their research finally have paid off?

And like a grim reminder the rat started mauling the other rats in the cage. Curt had to pull it out of the cage and inject it with the cyanide injection. The rat nipped furiously at his fingers until the poison set in. Its body shuddered and then was still.

Curt let out a sigh. He placed the rat in the corner, pouring himself a glass of whiskey, sitting alone in the empty lab.

…

“I still have to test the blood samples,” Barbara said. “But I think we’re onto something here. I’ll analyse these samples in the lab.”

The bat creature was peering over the blood sample over Barbara’s shoulder. It quickly started to trust them after Barbara gave it a chocolate bar in her bag.

“That’s fine,” Peter said. “But what do we about him?”

Peter and Barbara turned to the bat creature.

“We can’t just let him roam around freely,” Barbara said. “It’s too dangerous for him.”

“You think he’ll stay here,” Peter said. “He doesn’t seem to like this place.”

“Hey Bat… man,” Barbara squinted. “Bat… boy? Batkid?”

“Let’s just stick with Batchild for now,” Peter said.

“Batkid sounds better,” Barbara murmured.

“Do you think you’ll be able to stay there?” Barbara asked. She pointed inside the hospital. Batchild took one glance at the door and squealed in protest.

“Look, I know how scary that sounds but the men who did this to you,” Barbara said. “They’re not there anymore. They’re all gone.”

Barbara rolled her wheelchair towards Batchild. “I promise, no one will hurt you. And if anyone does try, Spider-Man here will come running and make sure you’re safe.”

It was hard to read Batchild’s beady eyes, but it seemed as if he was hesitant. He turned to Peter with what looked like a look of apprehension.

It seemed Peter was quick on the uptake. “I’m sorry about fighting you that other time. I didn’t know what was going on and…” Peter scratched his head. “Look I understand if you don’t believe me but trust Barbara over there, she’ll make sure you’re safe.”

It seemed that was all the beast needed to hear. It stepped inside the house, albeit hesitantly.

“Stay there, okay,” Barbara said. “Stay safe, Peter and I will come with food and water. If it’s us, we’ll knock the door like this.”

Barbara tapped the door three times. “We’ll only come from the roof okay, that way you’ll know it’s us.”

Batchild looked at them and made a movement with his head that seemed like a nod of agreement before it retreated into the darkness of the hospital as if it belonged there.

“That went surprisingly well, don’t you think?” Barbara said.

“Yep,” Peter said. “Yikes it’s almost dinner time. Want to grab a bite before we head home?”

Barbara smirked. “I could do with some pizza. I am starving.”

…

As they made their way to the pizza place, Barbara was oddly quiet. She was pushing her wheelchair on her own, staring at the side, a distant expression on her face.

“What’s the matter?” Peter asked. “Cat got your tongue?”

Barbara gave Peter a weak smile. “It just occurred to me, before you were there to help me out just how scared I was. Of Batkid.”

“Child,” Peter corrected.

Barbara chuckled. “Whatever, nerd. I… I haven’t been that scared in a while. I even let out a scream like I was some damsel in distress.”

Barbara stopped, Peter squeezed her hand. “When I was Batgirl, stuff like that wouldn’t have happened. I would’ve been able to deal with Batkid, now…”

Barbara stared at her legs, looked at Peter’s concerned face and then flashed him a smile. “Look, it’s nothing. It’s no big deal. Let’s just forget about it okay.”

Peter’s grip tightened, but only a little bit. “Are you sure? There’s nothing on your mind?”

“Yeah I’m sure,” Barbara said, though she wasn’t even convinced by her own smile. “All this talking’s making me hungry, let’s grab something to eat.”

As they made their way to the pizza place, they passed by Ditko’s Electronics. Peter was about to greet the old man when he saw what was showing on the news.

“Unknown kid found in Bruce Wayne’s manor.”

The TV’s were plastered with Jason’s face and various news reports, each alleging something different from Bruce Wayne’s secret lovechild, child neglect, paedophilia and even a robbery in progress and there was no Bruce Wayne to deny those allegations.

“Barbara,” Peter said turning to her.

Barbara’s face was pale. “Yep. We need to see Bruce.”

…

“I told you to stay in the cave,” Brue said, slamming his fist against the desk. “I told you to STAY HERE and what do you decide to do?”

Jason looked down at the floor with a clear look of shame on his face. “I just wanted some ice cream.”

“If you wanted something from Alfred,” Bruce said. “You could’ve just asked him. Why couldn’t you just have…”

“Master Bruce,” Alfred said. “I think you’re being too harsh…”

“I told you Alfred,” Bruce snapped. “If I need your advice, I’ll ask for it.” Bruce sighed. “Alfred, go tell them he’s your grandchild or nephew or something. Say he’s a robber or assistant for all I care, just whatever you can to mitigate the damage.”

Alfred was silent. He wanted to speak up but he didn’t want to incur the Master’s wrath. It was wrong for Wayne Inc to manipulate the media like this, especially considering the fact that the company built its reputation on the truth and protecting the city.

“And you,” Bruce turned to Jason, saying the word with venom. “I gave clear instructions, and you choose to disobey. Because of you I have to tighten security to make sure you don’t leave this place. You’re nothing but a criminal and I have to treat you like…”

“Master Bruce,” Alfred said suddenly, despite himself. “Stop it. He’s just a boy.”

“Alfred,” Bruce said as if he was disciplining him.

“No,” Alfred said. “I will not have you treat him like this just because of your inability to deal with your problems. First you deny him the right to school and have a life outside of Robin under a thin excuse of discipline, next you deny him the opportunity as Robin. You’re treating him like one of your Batarangs.”

“He needs the discipline,” Bruce said. “If you saw what…”

“Of course, that’s what he would do,” Alfred said. “He’s a boy from unfortunate circumstances. You’re slowly seeming to forget that those criminals you’re fighting are humans too.”

The argument went on for a long time before Alfred fizzled out and left the cave, leaving Bruce and Jason alone.

“Go back to your training,” Bruce said, coolly. “I’ll enhance the security systems. You won’t be leaving the cave anytime soon.”

But Jason had already made up his mind, tonight he wouldn’t be in the cave.

…

“Unfortunately, I don’t think Master Bruce is in the mood for visitors,” Alfred said.

“Are you sure?” Barbara asked, Peter leaned on the telephone booth outside, his head poking inside. “With what’s been going on…”

“Especially with what’s been going on,” Alfred said. “All the news, he’s not been himself lately.”

“All the more reason for us to visit,” Barbara said. “He’s our…”

“Your,” Peter corrected. Barbara elbowed him gently on the stomach.

“Friend, we can’t just leave him be.”

Alfred sighed. “As of right now I think it’s best he’s left alone.”

“What about Jason?” Peter said, taking the phone from Barbara. “Is he okay?”

“Jason is…” Alfred sighed. “Ever since the incident Master Bruce has been hard on him. He’s been hard on all of us.”

“He needs a break from that place,” Peter said. “We should take him someplace.” Peter turned to Barbara. “For lunch…”

“Master Bruce isn’t allowing Jason out of the cave,” Alfred said. “Under any circumstances.”

Peter knew what that meant. “What… that’s crazy. He’s just a kid. Bruce can’t just…”

“Like I said, Master Bruce isn’t in the best of…”

“I don’t care,” Peter said. “We’re visiting him tomorrow. I’m going to see that bastard after work, give him a little piece of my mind.”

“Peter, I don’t think…” Barbara said.

“Nope,” Peter said. “I get that he’s in a bad mood, that doesn’t mean he should let it out on everyone. I’m coming. And if he doesn’t listen to me, he sure as hell will listen to Barbara.”

“I see there’s no changing your mind,” Alfred said. Peter could hear the smile on his face. “Very well, if anyone can convince Master Bruce, it’s you.”

“I sure as hell hope so,” Peter said.

Barbara made some small talk with Alfred before hanging out. As Peter and Barbara headed home, neither of them could prepare themselves for the long day ahead of them.