Chapter 1- A really bad day

"Your hand's coming down again
I close my eyes and brace myself
I only notice your face
No matter what you're gonna build my shell
No matter what you're gonna build my shell"
-I'm Sorry by Flyleaf-

You know, I never thought I would end up fighting crime. I was too busy being the victim of it. I guess you could say I had a hard life. My dad was abusive and because of it, I had major trust issues- though somehow I still grew close to my adoptive brothers, Tim and Dick. But I guess I'm getting ahead of myself. I should start at the beginning.

I sigh as I get out of bed. Dad's already gone, as usual. Another glorious day at school- Ugh! I pull my bright red hair into a long french braid that ends at the middle of my back. I look in the mirror, my green eyes are still half-closed from my lack of sleep. I search the closet and slip on some dark jeans and a gray short-sleeved shirt and pull on my tennis shoes before running out the door with my backpack.

I'm glad when the day finally ends and I pull my backpack out of my locker, making my way toward the door. I hear a few snickers coming from some of the so-called 'popular' girls as I walk by, not that I care. It's nothing new.

I get to the diner where I work and put on an apron. I hate being a waitress, but it's the best I can come by right now. It pays the bills, unlike my father, so it's good for something.

"Hey honey." one of the guys at a booth says as I hand him his coffee. It's almost closing time and I'm cleaning up. "I'd take orders from you any day."

Sometimes people just disgust me. Why do guys always say stuff like that to me?
"Get a life." I answer him. He grabs my wrist angrily and pulls me back, twisting it painfully.

"Girl, you'd better talk to me with some respect." he says towering over me. My eyes narrow.

"I'll give you respect when you deserve it." I pull my wrist free and give him a good punch with the other hand, sending him sprawling over the table.

When I finally get home, my Dad's still not. This probably means he's out drinking again. Great.

As if on cue, my dad comes storming through the door and slams it quickly. I bite my lip, fully aware of what's in store.

Before I can even say "Hello" my dad punches me in the eye and I fall back and hit the kitchen counter. I struggle to pick myself up, wondering what happened this time to make him so angry. I never understand why he takes it out on me.

I used to think it was my fault he beat me when he was mad. I thought it was because I wasn't a good enough daughter and if I were, things would be better. I'm older now and know better than that.

He gives me a good punch in the stomach and I hit the counter again, closing my eyes from the pain. Without another word, he trudges to his room and slams the door.

Once I know he's gone, I pull myself up and grab an ice pack from the fridge. I have plenty. I hold this one to my eye and wrap my arm around my stomach as I wonder how I'm going to cover up a black eye for school tomorrow. I figure I'll just tell everyone what I always do- I got in a fight.

I go up to my room and close the door before turning on the light. I close my eyes and lean my head against the door for a moment.

"Sorry to interrupt." a girl's voice said behind me. I spin around only to see The Joker and Harlequinn. It was the latter that had spoken. Two large men flanked them.

I drop my ice pack as my mouth drops open and eyes widen in shock. I'm frozen in place, afraid to move or even breathe.

"Wh-What are you doing in my room?" I ask cautiously, racking my brain for a way to get out.

"Why I should think you of all people would know, Batgirl." The Clown Prince of Crime informs me.

"What did you just call me?" I ask, confused. I've heard of Batgirl, I live in Gotham, I ought to. But this? He thinks I'm Batgirl?

"Come on, we've got a bat to catch."

"Where is he? You'd think he'd notice when one of his Bats went missing." The clown was saying. I roll my eyes. Of course, he wouldn't notice!

"You ever think it could be because I'm not Batgirl?" I ask sarcastically. I'm getting really tired of this whole kidnapping thing.

"I dunno, puddin'!" Harley answers, ignoring me. They had tied me to a chair and I was still trying to figure out how to get free.

"I'm not Batgirl." I say once again. "And Batman's not coming."

"Your demeanor says otherwise." he laughs. "Normal people would be terriffied right now." He obviously has no idea how freaked out I am and my heart flip-flops inside my chest. I'm just really good with masking my emotions. One of the few bright sides to being raised in an abusive home, of course at this moment it's not even a bright side.

"Maybe I just don't like you." I answer coolly.

Just then a few marbles fall from the ceiling and land next to Harley. Smoke erupts from them as three figures drop from the ceiling.

"Miss me?" Batgirl asks the Joker with a smile. Harley rushes at her and a fight ensues. Batman and Joker brawl as well.

"Need a little help?" A kid said beside me. I can barely see him through the smoke, but recognize him as the new Robin. He pulls out a batarang and cuts the cords around my arms and legs.

"Thanks." I say. Joker had a couple of henchmen at this building, wherever it was, and now they decide to make an appearance. There were about five of them and two of us.

"Go now!" Robin says and I don't have to be told twice. I find a stack of crates and start to climb them. Two of the men had followed me while the other three had stayed with the kid. The men are right behind me and I'm scrambling over the boxes until I come to the top. Crap! I'm trapped now! I turn to face my attackers, inching back until the back of my heel reaches the edge of the crate. I notice a pipe above me and a plan formulates in my mind.

The first guy rushes at me and I jump up, grabbing the pipe and swing over it, thankful I'm a gymnast. The man flies off the edge and hits another crate, rendering him unconscious. As I come back over it, I straighten out my legs and kick the other guy in the middle of the chest and he falls back onto the crates. I round the pipe again and do a little flip, landing beside the man. He grabs me by the ankle and trips me. He stands and grabs a broken section of pipe, steadying it in his hands. I know this is not going to turn out good. This guy is going to knock me upside the head with a pipe. I start scooting back away from guy raises the pipe and is about to strike when a pair of black boots make contact with his side and he flies off the edge like the other guy. I look at my rescuer, none other than the Batman. Batgirl and Robin are at his side moments later.

"That was pretty impressive." Batman says gruffly as he offers me a hand. I gratefully accept it.

"I'm a gymnast." I shrug. This seems to make Batgirl smile for some reason.

"Are you okay?" she asks me. "You've got a pretty nasty black eye." I touch my eye self-consciously.

"It's nothing." I answer quickly.

"Let's get you to the Commissioner." Batman says and grabs my waist as he shoots his grapple gun. The other two are right behind him.

In a few moments, we are outside and standing in front of Commissioner Gordon.

"Here's the hostage, Commissioner." He tells him. The older man looks me over with a confused expression.

"Why would the Joker take her?"

"He thought she was me." Batgirl offered, pointing out her own red hair. The Commissioner nodded. "We'll take her home." she added. Batman turned to look at her with one of the lenses on his cowl growing a bit larger, as if he's raising an eyebrow. She shrugs and flashes him a big smile.

Without another word, Batman grabs my waist again and shoots his grapple gun into the air. I tense as we fly through the maze of buildings.

"Where do you live?" he asks me gruffly. I explain how to get to my house and before long we're all standing in my bedroom.

"Thanks for saving me, and taking me home too." I tell them.

"Hey, it's what we do." Robin shrugs. Just then I hear my dad coming up the stairs. Great timing!

"My dad's coming!" I say. "Hurry, get out the window." I'm worried now. Batman and Batgirl hesitate, but obey. My door swings open and Robin jumps behind my closet door.

"What's all that racket?" he yells, his speech still slurring. I wonder how our entrance could have woken him up, but guess he must have been still drinking.

"Nothing, Dad. I didn't mean to make any noise." I say, backing up against my wall. I glance at my closet door and can tell that Robin's still there watching this all play out. Great. I didn't want them to see this.

"I'll teach you not to make noise." I clench my teeth, preparing myself for impact. He punches my stomach and I feel the wind knocked out of me and I fall on the ground as always. He hit in exactly the same spot as before, so it was even more tender than usual. He lifts me up by the neck. For a drunk, he's pretty strong. I'm struggling for breath now as I try to pull up on his arms.

"Put her down." Robin says, coming out from the closet. My dad drops me and I take in a big gulp of air. He turns toward the kid.

"What are you doing in my house?" he growls.

"Just a little criminal justice." Robin replies with a smirk. My dad charges him and Robin jumps up, flipping over him. My dad stops and turns, but the kid kicks him with enough force to knock him into the closet. Robin slams the door and uses a batarang as a lock.

"Come on. That won't hold him long!" He says, grabbing my hand. He's right. My dad's a pretty big guy. Not knowing what else to do, I follow him out of the house and to the front door. I hear my dad bellowing threats in the background and pick up my speed. I don't know what he'll do to me after that. I know better than to try to defend myself against my dad, much less fight him back.

Finally, we stop and I'm practically wheezing as we move into a dark alleyway. I look over at the costumed kid and smile slightly.

"Thanks again." Just then Batgirl and Batman drop from the roof and appear before us. They're both eyeing me curiously.
"Does your dad always do that to you? Why didn't you fight back?" Robin asks me once he regains his breath.

"Yes, and I know not to fight back. It only makes him angrier." I say, I feel tears rising up, but turn away and hold them back.

"Those bruises aren't from the Joker." Batman says. I turn back.

"You're right." I answer him. Batgirl somewhat chuckles.

"Didn't think that was the Joker's style anyway." I give her a half-smile. Then look back at them worriedly.

"What do I do now? If I go back my dad will kill me." I say glancing back at the half-lit street.

"We'll take you to Commissioner Gordon. He'll let you stay at his place until something can be done. Don't worry your dad's not going to get to you again." Batgirl answers. I nod slowly. Batman appears to be raising an eyebroow again, but I'm really not sure why.