Author's Note:
Hello, I'm Ara.
There has been a small adjustment to Barbara's age in this story. She is portrayed as being three years younger than Dick Grayson (Nightwing).
This change does not affect her character, background, or core development. It has only been made to better fit the timeline and to support her dynamic and friendship with the main character.
Thank you for understanding.
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The sun had set hours ago, but Adrien's room was still bathed in a soft light from the small lamp on his desk. In front of him lay a vibrant drawing from his recent birthday, every color and line brimming with the joy and affection shared that day. In his drawing, he had captured his mother, Jim Gordon, Barbara, himself, and a small black cat—a detail that added a touch of mystery to the festive scene.
Beside him, a tiny cat, no bigger than a fist, was busy devouring a piece of cheese. "Plagg, why don't you want to meet my mom?" Adrien asked, his voice full of innocent curiosity but also tinged with a hint of sadness.
Plagg, the cat in question, looked up from his feast, his eyes shining with ancient wisdom. "Adrien, humans often fear what they don't understand. If you introduce me, your mother might get scared, and they might take me away from you," he explained, his voice deep and weary, as if he carried the weight of many lives on his shoulders.
Adrien, still focused on his drawing, frowned, a shadow of worry crossing his young face. "I don't want them to take you away, but I don't want to lie to Mom either," he murmured, caught between his loyalty to Plagg and his innate desire to be honest with Vicki.
Plagg sighed, a sound that seemed to contain echoes of ancient battles and long-held secrets. "Adrien, you can rest easy. When you're strong enough to protect yourself and your loved ones, then you can tell her," he assured him, offering the boy a comfort that went beyond words.
Reassured by Plagg's words, Adrien smiled and immersed himself once more in his task, his hands moving with determination across the paper. Every stroke, every color, was a silent promise to protect those he loved, no matter what challenges might arise.
The night wore on, and as Adrien put the finishing touches on his work, Plagg watched from the shadows, an eternal guardian whose presence was as enigmatic as it was ancient.
The next morning, after a typical day at school, Adrien found himself in a different setting than usual. His mother, immersed in a project that required her full attention and dedication, had arranged for him to spend the day at the Gordons' house. It was a welcome change, one that promised adventure and fun far from the daily routine.
Barbara, who was about to turn fourteen, had agreed to be his babysitter for the day, though both she and Adrien preferred to think of it as spending time with friends rather than anything formal. The Gordons' house, always welcoming and full of life, had become a second home for Adrien, a place where he felt as comfortable as he did in his own home.
The afternoon slipped by amid games, laughter, and the occasional chore. Barbara, with the patience and ingenuity that characterized her father, managed to balance her role as caregiver with being the perfect playmate for Adrien. Between one activity and the next, Adrien had almost forgotten his mother's absence, so immersed was he in the fun of the moment.
After an afternoon full of games and laughter, Barbara and Adrien were exhausted but satisfied. They decided it was the perfect time for a well-deserved snack. While Adrien settled into the kitchen, Barbara prepared something quick but comforting: a glass of hot chocolate with milk accompanied by cookies, a classic combination that never failed to lift the spirits.
With the snack ready, Barbara turned on the TV to have something playing in the background while they enjoyed their treat. By chance, or perhaps by the fate that seems to rule the streets of Gotham, the breaking news caught their attention: Nightwing and Robin had faced off against Bane, one of the city's most feared supervillains. Although the heroes had managed to contain the threat, Bane had escaped, leaving behind a crime scene that was already drawing the attention of all of Gotham.
Barbara's eyes lit up with a mix of admiration and excitement. As a member of the Batman and Robin fan club, the chance to be close to the action—to perhaps run into one of the heroes of the night—was a dream come true. In her mind, plans and strategies began to form about how she might get closer to the crime scene, an adventure she wouldn't have hesitated to undertake under different circumstances.
However, a glance at Adrien, sitting beside her with his chocolate milk and cookies, made her pause. The responsibility of looking after Adrien weighed on her, a reminder that her actions had consequences beyond her own desire for adventure. Adrien, oblivious to Barbara's internal dilemmas, was enjoying his snack, his expression of contentment and satisfaction contrasting with the intensity of his caregiver's internal struggle.
"Everything okay, Redhead?" Adrien asked, noticing the change in her expression.
"Yeah, everything's perfect, you little brat. I was just thinking about how great it is to spend the afternoon with you," she replied, giving him a smile that Adrien happily returned. Though part of her longed for the excitement of Gotham's streets.
Adrien, noticing the sparkle of excitement in Barbara's eyes at the news on TV, and feeling his own wave of curiosity, made a bold suggestion.
"How about we go? I could take some photos," he suggested, his voice tinged with genuine enthusiasm mixed with seriousness. The idea of capturing a fragment of Gotham's history, even from the safe distance of a bystander, represented an opportunity too tempting to pass up.
Barbara, faced with this suggestion, found herself in a whirlwind of emotions. The responsibility of caring for Adrien weighed heavily on her, a constant reminder that she must prioritize his safety above all else. Yet the call of adventure—of being close to Gotham's nocturnal heroes and being part of something big—was a powerful current pulling her with irresistible force.
After a few moments of intense reflection, in which reason and desire fought for dominance, it was her heart that prevailed. A knowing, excited smile lit up her face as she turned to Adrien—a decision not without risk, but one made on the promise of an unforgettable experience.
"All right, but we must be extremely careful," she agreed, her voice vibrating with an emotion she struggled to contain. "That camera will be our key to documenting this adventure. But at the slightest sign of danger, promise me we'll leave. Okay?" she proposed, holding out her pinky finger as a sign of a pact.
Adrien, his eyes shining with anticipation for the adventure that awaited them, hooked his pinky with Barbara's and replied with a light laugh, "Deal!"
Thus, with a promise of caution but driven by the desire to be part of their city's history, Barbara and Adrien prepared to set out. Equipped with Adrien's camera and an unshakable sense of adventure, they headed toward the crime scene, ready to capture whatever they could from a safe distance.
When Barbara and Adrien arrived at the scene, the scattered debris, the wrecked vehicles, and the flames still consuming the remains were clear signs of an intense confrontation. As they took in the magnitude of the scene, Adrien, driven by an impulse to document that moment, began taking photos with his camera, his focus fixed on capturing every detail, every shadow revealed by the light of the flames.
Barbara, for her part, was immersed in her own mission: to search for any sign of the superheroes involved in the confrontation. Her heart raced with the hope of catching a glimpse of Batman, Robin, or Nightwing—heroes who filled the pages of her imagination and inspired her day after day.
It was then that a shout cut through the air, an authoritative voice that Barbara recognized instantly. "Damn it, Bane escaped from Arkham! What information do we have on his whereabouts?" The seriousness and urgency in his tone were unmistakable. Adrien, surprised and excited at the same time, took the opportunity to snap a photo of the imposing figure who had spoken, exclaiming with a mix of admiration and amusement, "Wow! The old man really has some lungs, huh, redhead?"
However, instead of responding, Barbara reacted instinctively, grabbing Adrien and starting to move quickly away from the scene. "Come on, Adrien, there's nothing more to see here," she said, her voice firm but filled with an urgency Adrien had rarely heard from her.
Despite Adrien's attempts to resist, wanting to stay a little longer to take more photos, the difference in age and strength was evident. "Red-haired villain, let me go! That's not fair, I wanted to take more photos!" he protested, though to no avail.
Barbara knew all too well the consequences they would face if her father or any other adult found them there. It wasn't just the imminent danger of being so close to an active crime scene, but also the punishment that would undoubtedly follow if they were discovered: months without a cell phone, grounded, and what would be the hardest blow of all, being kicked out of the Batman and Robin fan club. That was a risk she wasn't willing to take.