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Description
Greg had been working at a little coffee shop late into the night. This particular shop was open 24-hours and provided refuge to anyone who found themselves caught out late in Gotham City. That, and it was open for a particular vigilante who constantly needed caffeine at ungodly hours.

The bell gave a small tingle, indicating that someone had entered. Greg looked up and grinned.

“Hey there,” the barista greeted as Red Robin walked through the doors.

Red Robin nodded his head in greeting and handed the barista a few bills. “Hey, Greg. The usual, please. Keep the change.”

Greg let out a laugh. “When have you never given me change to keep?”

“When it’s not you who’s working,” Red Robin answered with a small smirk.

A loud thud from above the coffee shop interrupted the two.

“Everything okay upstairs?” Red Robin asked, a frown on his face as he looked up at the hanging light that was swinging to-and-fro from the impact.

Greg shook his head. “Been happening a few minutes before you got here. Was waiting for you to go and check it out, actually.”

“Yeah, alright. I’ll come back for my coffee when I finish up,“ Red Robin said with a slight sigh.

Red Robin made his way outside and ducked into a nearby alleyway, shooting his grappling hook onto a fire escape, and landing perfectly on the rail. Muffled shouts echoed just above him, so the vigilante quickly went up the stairs. Peeking into the window, Red Robin saw a large man slap a smaller and younger-looking woman.

“Woah, woah! Hey!” Red Robin shouted as he kicked the window open and launched himself at the man before somersaulting off of him.

The man snarled up at the vigilante. “The fuck you want?”

“For you to stay on the ground,” Red Robin replied with a scowl. He then turned to the woman next to him, who startlingly looked to be his age, though he kept his composure. “You okay, miss?”

The woman—or girl at this point, Red Robin didn’t know anymore. He just wanted his coffee—brushed off the dirt that clung to her clothes, annoyance on her face. “Yeah, I’m fine.” She glanced up. “Don’t look now, but he’s getting back up.”

Red Robin turned around to find that the man was reeling back to punch him in the face. Unfortunately for the man, Red Robin was much faster and knew which points to hit to make it really hurt.

“There, that should keep him down until the cops come,” Red Robin said as he patted his hands together. “Wh-what are you doing?” He asked when he noticed that the woman had bent down next to the man to search him.

The woman rolled her eyes. “He owes me money. It may not have been much of an appointment, but it’s an appointment nonetheless.”

Red Robin watched silently as the woman searched through each pocket that the man had until she finally found what she was looking for, his wallet. Relief washed over her face for a second until anger and anguish flooded over.

“Damn it! That’s not enough!” She cursed.

Concern washed over the vigilante as he looked at the woman. “What’s wrong?”

The woman stood up, a bitter expression on her face as she pocketed whatever money the man had and threw the wallet carelessly onto his unconscious body. “He didn’t have enough for my fee…”

“… Is it bad if you go back with only part of the amount?” Red Robin asked.

The woman sighed heavily. “Well, yeah, but my pimp isn’t what I’m worried about…”

Red Robin tilted his head in confusion. “Then what’s the problem?”

The woman clenched her hand and turned away from the vigilante. “It doesn’t matter… Stop wasting your time on me, hero. There are others who’re in more dire need than me.”

“Hey, it matters if I can at least help, and plus, it looks like you’re in dire need.”

The woman sighed again and shook her head. “I’m in dire need of a drink, that’s what I’m in dire need for.”

“If you want a drink, I can get you one from the coffee shop downstairs,” Red Robin offered.

The woman let out a laugh. “That’s not what I meant by drink, hero, but I guess I’ll take you up on your offer.”

With a nod, Red Robin went to work handcuffing the man before leading the woman to the coffee shop downstairs where Greg patiently waited for him.

“Everything, okay?” Greg asked worriedly as he eyed the woman trailing behind Red Robin.

Red Robin nodded. “As okay as it’ll ever be.” He then turned to the woman. “Order whatever you want, I’ll pay for it.”

“Thanks, hero.”

Red Robin watched silently as the woman gave her order to Greg, then upon receiving her finished drink, slump into the chair of one of the nearby tables. Red Robin sat opposite of her.

The woman let out another big sigh. “Sorry, it’s been… a tough couple of days,” she uttered after downing her drink.

“If you want to talk about it, I’m all ears.” Just as the woman was going to go and object, Red Robin quickly cut her off. “And don’t say that there are others who are worth saving, you know as well as I do that there are other vigilantes operating in Gotham City.”

The woman rolled her eyes. “Fine. I might as well tell you my name then if we’re gonna be all buddy-buddy for the next few minutes.” Red Robin nodded appreciatively. “Names [Name].”

[Name] held out her hand for Red Robin to shake.

“And I’m gonna guess that you’re not exactly a legal adult yet, are you?” Red Robin said.

“Is it that obvious?” [Name] asked with a slight laugh.

Red Robin shook his head. “It’s only obvious if you don’t see the same case after case.”

[Name] sighed. “Right… Anyways, my problem, so to speak…” The girl, Red Robin now confirmed, crossed her arms loosely and looked down at the dark tiled floor. “My… my sister’s in the hospital. My parents aren’t around, so I needa make money to pay for all her medical expenses…” [Name] gritted her teeth and clenched her fist, as though to will away the tears that were welling up in her eyes. “It’s been hard,” she croaked out.

Red Robin frowned as he listened to [Name]’s woes. He’s seen similar cases to this, though he’d usually just go after the pimp or gang and be done with it. He hadn’t really seen the victims firsthand.

The vigilante gave a thoughtful hum as he began to think of a way to help the girl. “Would you allow me to take a look at your sister?” He asked.

[Name] rose a brow as she looked Red Robin in the face. “I mean… I guess.”

Red Robin shrugged. “It couldn’t hurt, right?”

“Alright,” [Name] sighed, for the umpteenth time that night. “But, I’m not gonna go visit her in these clothes,” she gestured to herself. “I’d prefer to go home really quick and change.”

Red Robin nodded in understanding. “Of course. Let’s get going then.”

- - - - -

[Name] waited silently as she watched Red Robin look over her sister’s notes and scan her body with some type of gadget. The girl didn’t dare to ask what the hell the vigilante was doing in fear of disturbing him. After what seemed like a long time, Red Robin finally looked at the girl.

“I think I know of a way to help your sister, but you’ll have to trust me on this,” he said.

[Name] laughed. “I apparently trusted you enough to talk to you about my personal problems and to take a look at my sister. I don’t see how I won’t be able to trust you to help her at this point.”

Red Robin smirked. “I suppose you’re right.” The vigilante then reached out to gently grasp her hand into his. “I promise, everything will be alright for you two.”

“That’s quite the promise, hero, I’ll hold you to it then.”

Red Robin gave the girl a curt nod before moving to leave through the window.

“W-wait!” [Name] cried out before he could leave.

Red Robin turned to face [Name] but froze when he felt something soft come in contact with his cheek. His eyes widened when he realized what had happened, but all too quickly, the sensation left, and all he heard was [Name] giggling behind him as she settled into the chair next to her sister.

“Thank you, Red Robin…”

“Y-yeah!” Red Robin uttered in a high pitched voice as he scrambled to get out of the situation through the window, nearly tripping on his way out.

- - - - -

[Name] woke with a start as the nurse in charge of taking care of her sister gently shook her awake.

“Miss [Name], someone is here to see you,” the nurse uttered gently in her ear before taking her leave.

[Name] quickly fixed herself, wondering who the hell would want to talk to her. When she looked back to the door, she was stunned to silence.

“Hello, Miss [Name]. A little birdie told me about you and your sister’s case, and I just want to say that I was so moved that I decided that I want to help you,” Bruce Wayne explained with a gentle smile.

[Name] couldn’t say anything as she stared up at the billionaire dumbfoundedly.

“Ah, I should also introduce you to my son who told me about the case.”

Bruce Wayne stepped to the side to reveal his third son, Tim Drake-Wayne, who presented [Name] with a bouquet of red alstroemeria and a big smile. “Hey there, [Name]! It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he greeted just before kissing the girl on the cheek.

[Name]’s eyes widened in surprise and an odd, strangled noise left her mouth. “I, uh, yeah. Thank you, uh, very much…!”

Tim let out a laugh.

“I told you everything will be alright.”

Description
Greg had been working at a little coffee shop late into the night. This particular shop was open 24-hours and provided refuge to anyone who found themselves caught out late in Gotham City. That, and it was open for a particular vigilante who constantly needed caffeine at ungodly hours.

The bell gave a small tingle, indicating that someone had entered. Greg looked up and grinned.

“Hey there,” the barista greeted as Red Robin walked through the doors.

Red Robin nodded his head in greeting and handed the barista a few bills. “Hey, Greg. The usual, please. Keep the change.”

Greg let out a laugh. “When have you never given me change to keep?”

“When it’s not you who’s working,” Red Robin answered with a small smirk.

A loud thud from above the coffee shop interrupted the two.

“Everything okay upstairs?” Red Robin asked, a frown on his face as he looked up at the hanging light that was swinging to-and-fro from the impact.

Greg shook his head. “Been happening a few minutes before you got here. Was waiting for you to go and check it out, actually.”

“Yeah, alright. I’ll come back for my coffee when I finish up,“ Red Robin said with a slight sigh.

Red Robin made his way outside and ducked into a nearby alleyway, shooting his grappling hook onto a fire escape, and landing perfectly on the rail. Muffled shouts echoed just above him, so the vigilante quickly went up the stairs. Peeking into the window, Red Robin saw a large man slap a smaller and younger-looking woman.

“Woah, woah! Hey!” Red Robin shouted as he kicked the window open and launched himself at the man before somersaulting off of him.

The man snarled up at the vigilante. “The fuck you want?”

“For you to stay on the ground,” Red Robin replied with a scowl. He then turned to the woman next to him, who startlingly looked to be his age, though he kept his composure. “You okay, miss?”

The woman—or girl at this point, Red Robin didn’t know anymore. He just wanted his coffee—brushed off the dirt that clung to her clothes, annoyance on her face. “Yeah, I’m fine.” She glanced up. “Don’t look now, but he’s getting back up.”

Red Robin turned around to find that the man was reeling back to punch him in the face. Unfortunately for the man, Red Robin was much faster and knew which points to hit to make it really hurt.

“There, that should keep him down until the cops come,” Red Robin said as he patted his hands together. “Wh-what are you doing?” He asked when he noticed that the woman had bent down next to the man to search him.

The woman rolled her eyes. “He owes me money. It may not have been much of an appointment, but it’s an appointment nonetheless.”

Red Robin watched silently as the woman searched through each pocket that the man had until she finally found what she was looking for, his wallet. Relief washed over her face for a second until anger and anguish flooded over.

“Damn it! That’s not enough!” She cursed.

Concern washed over the vigilante as he looked at the woman. “What’s wrong?”

The woman stood up, a bitter expression on her face as she pocketed whatever money the man had and threw the wallet carelessly onto his unconscious body. “He didn’t have enough for my fee…”

“… Is it bad if you go back with only part of the amount?” Red Robin asked.

The woman sighed heavily. “Well, yeah, but my pimp isn’t what I’m worried about…”

Red Robin tilted his head in confusion. “Then what’s the problem?”

The woman clenched her hand and turned away from the vigilante. “It doesn’t matter… Stop wasting your time on me, hero. There are others who’re in more dire need than me.”

“Hey, it matters if I can at least help, and plus, it looks like you’re in dire need.”

The woman sighed again and shook her head. “I’m in dire need of a drink, that’s what I’m in dire need for.”

“If you want a drink, I can get you one from the coffee shop downstairs,” Red Robin offered.

The woman let out a laugh. “That’s not what I meant by drink, hero, but I guess I’ll take you up on your offer.”

With a nod, Red Robin went to work handcuffing the man before leading the woman to the coffee shop downstairs where Greg patiently waited for him.

“Everything, okay?” Greg asked worriedly as he eyed the woman trailing behind Red Robin.

Red Robin nodded. “As okay as it’ll ever be.” He then turned to the woman. “Order whatever you want, I’ll pay for it.”

“Thanks, hero.”

Red Robin watched silently as the woman gave her order to Greg, then upon receiving her finished drink, slump into the chair of one of the nearby tables. Red Robin sat opposite of her.

The woman let out another big sigh. “Sorry, it’s been… a tough couple of days,” she uttered after downing her drink.

“If you want to talk about it, I’m all ears.” Just as the woman was going to go and object, Red Robin quickly cut her off. “And don’t say that there are others who are worth saving, you know as well as I do that there are other vigilantes operating in Gotham City.”

The woman rolled her eyes. “Fine. I might as well tell you my name then if we’re gonna be all buddy-buddy for the next few minutes.” Red Robin nodded appreciatively. “Names [Name].”

[Name] held out her hand for Red Robin to shake.

“And I’m gonna guess that you’re not exactly a legal adult yet, are you?” Red Robin said.

“Is it that obvious?” [Name] asked with a slight laugh.

Red Robin shook his head. “It’s only obvious if you don’t see the same case after case.”

[Name] sighed. “Right… Anyways, my problem, so to speak…” The girl, Red Robin now confirmed, crossed her arms loosely and looked down at the dark tiled floor. “My… my sister’s in the hospital. My parents aren’t around, so I needa make money to pay for all her medical expenses…” [Name] gritted her teeth and clenched her fist, as though to will away the tears that were welling up in her eyes. “It’s been hard,” she croaked out.

Red Robin frowned as he listened to [Name]’s woes. He’s seen similar cases to this, though he’d usually just go after the pimp or gang and be done with it. He hadn’t really seen the victims firsthand.

The vigilante gave a thoughtful hum as he began to think of a way to help the girl. “Would you allow me to take a look at your sister?” He asked.

[Name] rose a brow as she looked Red Robin in the face. “I mean… I guess.”

Red Robin shrugged. “It couldn’t hurt, right?”

“Alright,” [Name] sighed, for the umpteenth time that night. “But, I’m not gonna go visit her in these clothes,” she gestured to herself. “I’d prefer to go home really quick and change.”

Red Robin nodded in understanding. “Of course. Let’s get going then.”

- - - - -

[Name] waited silently as she watched Red Robin look over her sister’s notes and scan her body with some type of gadget. The girl didn’t dare to ask what the hell the vigilante was doing in fear of disturbing him. After what seemed like a long time, Red Robin finally looked at the girl.

“I think I know of a way to help your sister, but you’ll have to trust me on this,” he said.

[Name] laughed. “I apparently trusted you enough to talk to you about my personal problems and to take a look at my sister. I don’t see how I won’t be able to trust you to help her at this point.”

Red Robin smirked. “I suppose you’re right.” The vigilante then reached out to gently grasp her hand into his. “I promise, everything will be alright for you two.”

“That’s quite the promise, hero, I’ll hold you to it then.”

Red Robin gave the girl a curt nod before moving to leave through the window.

“W-wait!” [Name] cried out before he could leave.

Red Robin turned to face [Name] but froze when he felt something soft come in contact with his cheek. His eyes widened when he realized what had happened, but all too quickly, the sensation left, and all he heard was [Name] giggling behind him as she settled into the chair next to her sister.

“Thank you, Red Robin…”

“Y-yeah!” Red Robin uttered in a high pitched voice as he scrambled to get out of the situation through the window, nearly tripping on his way out.

- - - - -

[Name] woke with a start as the nurse in charge of taking care of her sister gently shook her awake.

“Miss [Name], someone is here to see you,” the nurse uttered gently in her ear before taking her leave.

[Name] quickly fixed herself, wondering who the hell would want to talk to her. When she looked back to the door, she was stunned to silence.

“Hello, Miss [Name]. A little birdie told me about you and your sister’s case, and I just want to say that I was so moved that I decided that I want to help you,” Bruce Wayne explained with a gentle smile.

[Name] couldn’t say anything as she stared up at the billionaire dumbfoundedly.

“Ah, I should also introduce you to my son who told me about the case.”

Bruce Wayne stepped to the side to reveal his third son, Tim Drake-Wayne, who presented [Name] with a bouquet of red alstroemeria and a big smile. “Hey there, [Name]! It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he greeted just before kissing the girl on the cheek.

[Name]’s eyes widened in surprise and an odd, strangled noise left her mouth. “I, uh, yeah. Thank you, uh, very much…!”

Tim let out a laugh.

“I told you everything will be alright.”