Chapter Text
The Fire That Burns
Chapter 1
Gotham City was currently suffering under two heat waves. No one had expected either of them, and both were proving deadly. The first heat wave was the normal kind, taking place during the day. For the past nine days, the mercury routinely stayed over one hundred degrees, with the high day peaking at one hundred ten. Weather forecasts showed a high pressure system stalled out over Gotham, and there were no signs of it weakening in the near future. Triple digit temperatures were predicted to hang around for the next two weeks at a minimum. Overnight lows got to a brisk eighty-five degrees at the coldest point in the past week, sending electric bills skyrocketing as air conditioners ran twenty-four hours a day.
The second heat wave hit only at night, and seemed to be aimed at a certain group of costumed vigilantes. Batman had read Commissioner Gordon the riot act when it was revealed that Firefly was paroled from Blackgate Prison without the vigilante being notified. The criminal had promptly returned to his favored nighttime activities. While his first target had been an apartment building, his subsequent targets had turned more industrial.
The apartment fire hadn’t initially been linked to Firefly, but the following night, when a lumber yard was torched, and the accelerants used in both fires were matched, the connection was made. The man liked any target that would burn long and hot. His next two targets had been a chemical plant and an oil refinery, feeding the criminal’s need for flames nicely.
The caped vigilantes had used the previous targets to come up with a rudimentary list of potential future targets, and had staked out the next most likely spot the following night, only to guess completely wrong. Firefly went small the following night, going completely against type, and burned a gas station. The villain was happy with the small, but intense, fire. Unfortunately, his willingness to hit such a small target increased the potential attack locations by several dozen.
Something was bothering Robin as he sat, staking out Petrochemical Mazatlán, and he had to point it out. “Batman.”
A spark of hope flared in Batman’s voice as he replied, “Do you see something?”
“No, I just had a question.”
Batman sighed as he got his heart rate back under control. “What?”
“Firefly is targeting basically anything flammable, right?”
“Yes.”
Robin nodded to himself. “So, we’re staking out the most flammable places we can think of, right?”
“Yes,” Batman growled as he answered the obvious question.
“Is it such a good idea for us to actually be in the building?”
The line was silent for half a minute before Batman replied. “What are you doing in the building?”
“What do you mean, what am I doing in the building? I’m following your orders.”
Batman had to think hard, wondering if he had actually ordered his youngest son into a potentially hot target. Coming up with nothing, he asked, “Which orders are you following, Robin?”
“You told me to sweep and clear the building, then get to an observation point on the north east side of the building.”
A heavy sigh worked its way over the comm line. Batman thought, he’s technically correct, I didn’t actually stipulate to leave the building. Even though it should have been obvious, it wasn’t. “Tell me, Robin, how are you supposed to get a view of the building from the inside?”
“That’s what I just asked you,” came the exasperated reply.
Batman growled, “The answer is, you can’t, Robin. Get a new vantage point, preferably outside of any potential blast radius.”
A cowed tone responded, “Yes, Batman.”
“As interesting as this conversation has been to listen to, we guessed wrong again,” Nightwing’s voice came over the open line. “I’ve spotted smoke to the south east, and the signal just came up.”
“Uh, I hate to ruin the party, but I’ve got smoke to the north,” Red Robin’s voice broke into the conversation.
Two in one night, Batman thought to himself, that’s not his usual M.O. “You two called them out, go investigate. Robin and I will see what the Commissioner wants.”
Robin was waiting next to the Batmobile when Batman arrived. He followed the vigilante around the vehicle, until he was blocking Batman’s path to the driver’s side.
Batman sighed softly and glared down at the youth. “Robin?”
Ignoring the glare, something he had become all too good at for Batman’s liking, Robin said, “This doesn’t feel right, Batman. He’s never hit two targets in one night. How did he even get to both of them in such a short time?”
Growing annoyed, but feeling there was more behind his son’s decision to speak out at this time, Batman asked, “What would you suggest, then?”
Not knowing if Batman truly cared about his opinion, or if he was just humoring Robin to get this confrontation over with, Robin pushed ahead. “Call the Commissioner; don’t drive all the way over to Police Plaza just to hear what he has to say. We should be out there, doing something. Not over with the police, waiting to hear if they’ve been flambéed.”
I thought it was something like that. Batman spoke softly, “Robin, something I had to learn and accept a long time ago was that I won’t always be there to protect all of you. Neither will you. You can’t be in more than one place at a time. You have to be able to trust that your brothers are capable of taking care of themselves. It’s something I’ve been struggling with for twenty years. They can handle themselves, just like you can.”
“So, I’m not the only one who’s nervous?” Robin’s tone was soft as he revealed his state of mind.
Batman picked up his son and gently tossed him into the passenger seat of the Batmobile before getting in himself and closing the canopy. Robin was rubbing his shoulder from where it bounced off of the side of the vehicle as Batman said, “I’m nervous every night, Robin. It’s how you respond to the nerves that matters.”
Robin considered what he heard as Batman dialed the Commissioner’s office. The call was answered after almost a minute of waiting.
“Commissioner, what do you have for me?”
The firm voice of the harried police chief responded, “Two fires tonight, Batman. These crimes need to be stopped, now.”
“You do have a police force to handle these things, Jim.” Batman was scowling at the harsh tone in Gordon’s voice. “What are they doing in all of this? There are four hundred seven officers under your command. I’m just one man.”
“You have your officers too, Batman.”
The glare sent at the dashboard would have been enough to trigger the airbag in a regular car. Batman’s tone was deadly as he said, “My partners are far less disposable to me than your officers are to you, Commissioner.”
“So, what are you going to do about this, Batman?”
“With that attitude, I’m tempted to go home and let you deal with this on your own. Remember, this arson wave is your fault. If you had informed me that Firefly was being paroled before it happened, I could have been tracking him to make sure this never happened. Remember this, Commissioner. Just because you’re up for election in a month or two, doesn’t give you permission to order me around. I don’t work for you.”
Commissioner Gordon was quiet for a minute before saying, “I’m sorry, Batman. You’re right. The election has me a bit nervous. My competitors are using this recent arson wave as proof that I am ineffectual in my leadership of the GCPD.”
Batman snorted, “They obviously aren’t familiar with crime patterns in Gotham. Give me the addresses for the fires; we’ll look into them.”
After taking the addresses and disconnecting the call, Robin looked up at Batman and asked, “What was that all about?”
“We just need to remind him every now and then that we don’t work for him. He’s a good ally to have, but occasionally he forgets that I’m not actually Officer Batman.” The barest hint of a smirk appeared under the cowl, “And you’re not Deputy Robin. We’re going to have to split up to investigate these. Are you okay with that?”
“Yes, Father.”
Batman keyed the radio and spoke. “Nightwing, Red Robin, I have the addresses for your fires. Red Robin, you are looking for a Sunoco station at the corner of 175th and Waverly.”
Red Robin’s voice sounded dark, “That’s almost up to Gotham Heights.”
“That is Gotham Heights,” Batman replied. “Nightwing, yours is an apartment building on the 1100 block of Alder, between Smith and Pine. Robin will be coming to you. Red Robin, give me your location. I’ll come pick you up.”
“Uh, Batman? I think you should come here, and send Robin to meet up with Red Robin,” Nightwing’s voice came over the radio.
“Wait,” Red Robin said, “You want to send your little baby bat traipsing all over the city, just to find me, when Batman could be here in ten minutes?”
“As he does keep telling us, he knows how to drive. Batman, you could come here, and he can take the Batmobile.”
Batman thought for a second, then said, “We’ll stick to my original plan. Robin, you should get going.”
“No,” Nightwing interrupted before Robin could do more than pull out his grapple gun, “Batman, you need to come here.”
This isn’t like Nightwing, Batman thought, what is he getting at? “Do you have a problem with working with Robin, Nightwing?”
Batman was getting annoyed that so many of his orders were not being followed immediately tonight. He looked over at Robin and saw a hurt expression on the visible portion of the boy’s face, as the boy thought of himself as the third wheel again.
“You know it isn’t that, and I know you are hearing this, Robin. This is something that will be much better handled by you, Batman, if what I think happened has happened.”
“Explain your reasoning to me, Nightwing,” Batman said, more curious about what was going on now.
There was a deep breath on the other side of the line before Nightwing said, “The 1100 block of Alder Avenue. Think about that address for a second.”
Batman was silent for almost a minute. He then turned and looked at Robin, who stared back expectantly. Finally, Batman asked, “Red Robin, what’s your location?”
“Corner of Waverly and 15th street. Why?”
“Stay there. Robin is coming to you. Robin, no speeding, no breaking traffic laws, nothing. Just get to 15th and Waverly. You keep insisting that you can drive. I’m trusting you with a lot right now. Report in when you meet up with Red Robin.”
“Why,” Robin asked.
“Because I want to make sure that you don’t crash my car on the way,” Batman growled.
“No, I meant, why am I following the traffic laws and not speeding? When has the Batmobile ever followed traffic laws? If I do that, then the police will think that it has been stolen, and will try to stop me.”
Red Robin laughed over the line, “He has a point there, Batman.” Nightwing could also be heard snickering in the background.
Batman rolled his eyes under the cowl, “Just don’t hit anything, and call when you get there.” Giving a smirk, Robin jumped into the driver’s seat of the Batmobile.
A hum could be heard over the radio. Nightwing asked, “I’m getting some interference over the radio. Anyone else getting that?”
“It’s here, Nightwing,” Batman said, with almost a hint of mirth in his voice. “Robin, mute your microphone.”
“What is that? It’s annoying,” Nightwing complained.
“It’s not my fault that Batman is taller than I am,” Robin grumbled.
Nightwing sounded confused over the radio. “So, that was…”
“The power seat adjuster in the Batmobile,” Batman said, having a hard time keeping a smile from his face as he watched his son moving forward slowly and rising up slightly in the car. Nightwing was kind enough to mute his microphone before laughing.
Batman knelt next to the car when it appeared that Robin was ready to depart. “Ready?”
Robin looked up and read concern in Batman’s face. “Yes, Father,” Robin said quietly. “Thank you for trusting me with this.”
“You’re ready, but this is a one-time deal. Don’t get used to it.”
Robin sighed, “Yes, Batman.”
As the canopy of the Batmobile was closing, Robin heard a soft voice say, “Be safe, son.”
Robin pulled smoothly away from the staring Batman before keying the radio. “Where am I going, Red Robin?”
The next eldest Bat’s voice came back, “Fifteenth and Waverly. Wait, you’re actually driving?”
“Yes. Why?”
You could hear the shrug in Red Robin’s voice. “Nothing. I’m surprised he didn’t just throw you in the passenger seat and set the auto-pilot.”
“Don’t say that,” Robin almost shouted, his eyes widening beneath his mask.
“Why not?”
“Because you’re on an open line, and I can still see Batman in the rearview mirror!”
“Didn’t think of that one, did you, Bats?” Nightwing’s voice came over the line with a chuckle.
“…We’ll see how this goes. I’m on my way, Nightwing.”
Ten minutes later, Robin’s voice came over the line. “Okay, I’m here. Where are you?”
“I see you. Be right there.”
A throat was cleared over the line. “Ahem. Forgetting something, Robin?”
Robin sighed, “I’m here. I didn’t hit anything or anybody. I didn’t break enough traffic laws to be noticed by the police.”
“Red Robin?”
“No damage that I can see, Batman.” The sound of the canopy opening came over the line as Red Robin said, “How was it, Robin?”
“We should really get satellite radio for this thing, and the mirrors are not optimally placed.”
“Of course they aren’t,” Batman said, “You’re a foot and a half shorter than the driver that car was designed around. Now…um…”
Red Robin’s jaw dropped. “Did you just say ‘um’? I’ve never heard Batman say ‘um’ before.”
Robin sighed heavily as he got out of the car. “What Batman is trying so delicately not to say is that he would like the one of us who possesses a legal driving license to take the wheel, even though Mother taught me to drive before Father taught you.”
“That’s debatable,” Red Robin said.
“Well, we can debate it later. Get in, let’s go.”
As they drove north on Waverly Avenue, Robin sighed heavily again as he stared out of the passenger side window. Red Robin shook his head slightly and made sure his microphone was muted before asking, “What’s wrong, Little Bat?”
“Nothing,” Robin growled.
“Liar.”
Robin’s head snapped around to stare at his brother, “I really hate it when you do that, so just stop it, Red Robin.”
“Okay, okay,” Red Robin said with a faint smile, “I’m just a bit concerned, that’s all. What’s bothering you?”
Robin thought for a minute, wondering if this was the right time to delve into this. Seeing the nearest street sign, reading Twenty-Seventh Street, Robin figured they had some time before they got to 175th. “Was Hood right?” Robin asked softly.
“Was he right about what,” Red asked, confused.
Robin looked back out of the window as he said, “What did he call me? The Consolation Prize of Sidekicks? The Robin no one wants? Be honest with me, is he right?”
Red Robin thought back until he figured out what Robin was talking about. “Robin, that was almost two years ago, and he only said it to distract Dr. Daka.”
“That doesn’t make it a lie, though. Is he right,” Robin pressed.
Red Robin sighed and said, “Robin, I would patrol with you any day of the week.”
Robin looked down, “Thank you, but you didn’t answer my question.”
“Fine. I’ll be honest, you aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. You didn’t make a good first impression on a lot of people. It wasn’t your fault, though. You didn’t know any better, and we sure can’t be accused of helping you any.”
“So, people don’t like working with me,” Robin said softly.
Red shrugged, “Some, but you have spent far less time around other masks than any of us have. It’s getting better, though. You’re making big adjustments, and it shows. You probably have a lot more support than you realize.”
Robin looked thoughtful for half a minute before saying, “Superman?”
“Superman will work with anyone, and you’ve had generally positive contact with him.”
“Wonder Woman?”
“She likes you,” Red Robin said with a smile, “I’m surprised you would even ask about her.”
“Green Arrow?”
Red Robin snorted, “Green Arrow doesn’t like anyone; it’s not just you.”
“Flash,” Robin asked, his tone lightening.
“Flash is probably your biggest supporter outside of the family, and Superman. Of course, the fact that his daughter has a crush on you doesn’t hurt, either.” Red Robin enjoyed the slight blush that came to the younger boy’s cheeks as he mentioned that. “Before you go any further, are you planning on asking me how every person in a mask feels about you? Because if you are, I really can’t speak for all of them.”
Robin shrugged, feeling a bit better. “I guess not, but I have one more, The Titans.”
Another sigh was heaved. Red Robin had hoped that the boy wouldn’t ask about them. “I won’t lie to you, they aren’t fans. That is mostly my fault, though. I…kinda…vented to them about you when we were having our bad times. Plus, you have spent almost zero time with any of them, so they only have my word to go on. I almost hate to admit this, but some of them are a bit intimidated by you. They’re pretty sure that you don’t need them. You’ve been so successful as Robin that they’re pretty sure that you don’t need a team.”
“I don’t feel successful, most of the time,” was whispered from the passenger seat.
Red Robin felt sorry for the boy at his side. “You’re better at this than you think. Come on, what’s really bothering you?”
Robin looked over again. “You know that I’ll work with any of you. I don’t care who I work with, but why did Nightwing not want to work with me tonight? What did I do wrong?”
Red Robin looked critically at the boy. “Is that what this is really about? Does the 1100 block of Alder Avenue mean anything to you?”
Robin searched his memory for a minute before saying, “No, why?”
Red Robin shook his head and said, “1135 Alder, apartment two-A, is the current home of one Jason Peter Todd. There is a possibility that Jason’s home just burned down. Nightwing was just thinking ahead. If that just happened, Hood is going to need a lot of support. I’m not saying that you are incapable of providing that support. What I’m saying is that he may not be in a frame of mind to accept that support from you. Don’t feel bad, he wouldn’t accept it from me, either. That’s why we’re heading to the other side of town, to investigate the other fire. I know you two are getting along better, but…Jason doesn’t need or want either of us around right now.”
Robin was silent for close to a minute before saying, “I didn’t do anything wrong? This was just another case of Nightwing looking out for us?”
“You haven’t done anything that I’ve heard about. As for the other part…”
Red Robin swerved the Batmobile violently as a fireball erupted to the right of the car, cutting off the rest of this thought. As the car spun to a halt, they watched the gas station they had been passing grow into a massive conflagration, as the underground storage tanks ignited.
Red Robin keyed his radio and reported in. “A second gas station just went up at the corner of 161st and Waverly.”
“I see him!” Robin chimed in as he leapt from the car. “He has a jet pack. How the hell did he get a jet pack? Why don’t we have jet packs?” Robin ran off, pulling a grapple gun in hopes of getting a line on their quarry.
Red Robin ran to the remains of the gas station to check for survivors. Finding everyone alive, if a bit shaken up, Red Robin ran off after Robin, and saw something amazing. Through luck, and an amazing shot, Robin had managed to snag Firefly with a grapple line, and was swiftly dragged into the air. Firefly noticed his passenger; who wouldn’t notice ninety-five pounds of youthful vigilante when it was suddenly attached to your leg?
Robin was reeling himself in when Firefly took a hard left down an alley, smashing the Boy Wonder into the side of a brick building. To its credit, the grapple line didn’t snap at the impact. The grapple gun itself snapped apart in his hand. Robin’s jaw dropped and his eyes widened in shock as he helplessly watched the casing crack, and the line reel fly quickly out of sight. There was no time for any thought, other than oh shit, before he fell the story and a half to the pavement below.
Red Robin ran up and knelt at the side of the softly moaning boy. “Are you okay? What were you thinking?”
Robin rolled slowly onto his side with a groan and looked up at Red Robin. There were several small cuts and scrapes to the boy’s face and arms, and many scuffs and tears to his uniform that could be hiding more injuries. Blood leaked from the corner of his mouth, and there was already a bruise forming at the youth’s jawline.
Robin spit out a mouthful of blood before croaking out, “Track him.”
“What?”
“I got a tracker on him. If it stuck, you can track him.”
Red Robin looked his partner up and down before saying, “Robin, you’re bleeding.”
Robin coughed, more blood spraying from his mouth, before saying, “I bit my tongue, and cheek, when he flew me into the wall. It’s nothing.”
The elder helped the younger sit up against the wall as he said, “I’m getting the car. Wait here. Don’t move.”
Red Robin ran off after a slight nod from Robin, making a report as he went. “Red Robin to Batman, a second gas station was hit, fourteen blocks from the initial target. Robin pursued Firefly, but he was able to…get away.”
“Any casualties,” Batman asked.
“No casualties at the gas station, just…”
“…Just me,” Robin interrupted weakly.
“Explain,” Batman demanded tightly.
Robin painfully explained his attempt to snag their quarry, only to end up splattered against a wall like a bug on a windshield. “I’m sorry, Batman, I failed.”
“Are you okay,” thinly veiled concern filled the Dark Knight’s voice.
“I don’t think anything is broken,” Robin said, as Red Robin helped him stand, “But that really hurt.”
Red was helping to settle Robin into the passenger seat when Batman said, “Red Robin, you take him home and get him checked out. Robin, no arguments, you’re hurt.”
Robin coughed again, wincing as bruised ribs were attacked from the inside. “I’m not arguing, Batman. We’re going.”
As Red Robin prepared to leave, a beep caught his attention. He glanced at a readout before saying, “It’s the tracker. Looks like it’s only two blocks away.”
Red Robin looked over at Robin, who was wiping at the trail of blood working its way down his chin. “Go get him. I’ll stay here.”
“You sure?”
“I wouldn’t be any help to you right now, anyway. He needs to be stopped.”
Red Robin drove to the spot indicated on the map, but found nothing. He began searching while Robin, still in the car, as promised, was refining the location of the beacon. Nodding at his findings, he opened a comm line and said, “Red Robin, that alley, ten meters to your left. The signal is coming from roughly halfway down.”
“Why aren’t you on your way home,” Batman’s irate voice came over the line.
Robin rolled his eyes, “We picked up a signal from the tracker. It’s close by. Don’t worry, Red Robin is doing the tracking. I’m just reporting what the display in the car said.”
“You better not be moving, Robin.”
Robin took a deep breath, “Believe me, moving is not high on my list of fun activities right now.”
“Found it,” Red Robin broke it to the conversation.
“Found what,” Batman and Robin asked at the same time over the radio.
“The tracker.”
“He ditched the tracker,” Batman asked.
“And the jetpack it was attached to,” Red Robin said with a smile. “The fuel indicator reads empty. He must have dropped it and continued on foot.”
Batman sighed, “Okay, there are traffic cameras in that area. We’ll track Firefly that way from the cave. Take the jetpack and get Robin home. You can’t have the jetpack, Robin, that’s evidence.”
Robin grumbled, bringing a smile to Red Robin’s face as he threw the jetpack into the trunk. “Do you want us to pick you up,” Red Robin asked.
“No, we’re not done here yet. Take Robin home. I’ll call for the car when we’re ready.”
Driving back to the cave, Red Robin called the cave to report in.
“Master Red Robin, I didn’t expect to be hearing your voice on this line.”
“I’m on my way in with Robin. He’s been injured.”
There was concern in Alfred’s voice as he said, “I see. Thank you for the advance warning. What is the nature of the injuries, please?”
“I’m not going to a hospital,” Robin said emphatically, “That didn’t work out so well last time.” Robin related the night’s activities, including a lengthy list of aches and pains.
Alfred was quiet for a short time before saying, “No, Master Robin, I think I can safely say you are not going to a hospital. Where you are going, after a thorough examination and treatment, is bed, and I will not hear any arguments about that.”
“Why does everyone think I’m going to argue about getting some rest? I feel like crap. I’m not going to argue when we get back. Bed might be the only place I really feel like going now.”
Red Robin looked over at Robin and thought he must really be sore if he isn’t arguing. Then again, it looked like he took a really big hit out there tonight. “Almost there, Little Brother,” Red Robin said softly.
Meanwhile, across town…
“Okay, there are traffic cameras in that area. We’ll track him that way from the cave. Take the jetpack and get Robin home. You can’t have the jetpack, Robin, that’s evidence.”
Batman thought he heard a grumble over the line and thought maybe I can work on one for his birthday. Why do the criminals have jetpacks, and we don’t? I think I may want one now.
Red Robin’s voice was coming over the line, “Do you want us to pick you up?”
“No, we’re not done here. Take Robin home. I’ll call for the car when we’re ready.”
The line disconnected and Batman thought about calling Alfred to warn him about the injuries. No, Tim is smart enough to do that.
Ghosting up next to Nightwing, Batman said, “Well, it is, isn’t it.”
Nightwing sighed, “1135 Alder Avenue; is sure is.”
Batman and Nightwing watched from the roof of a building across the street as the apartment building burned. It was fully engulfed; there was no way for either vigilante to go in to look for survivors, or clues, until the fire fighters were done. Fire crews were on scene, but there was no way to salvage the building. The best they could do was put it out before it spread to adjacent buildings.
“Well,” Nightwing said, “The good news is that we know Firefly didn’t torch this building. There is no way he could have gone from Gotham Heights, to Crime Alley, and back, in the time between fires. Unfortunately, we know what caused this one. Do you smell that?”
“Yes, I do,” Batman said gravely.
“Do you think Jason knew,” Nightwing asked nervously.
“There is no way he knew about a Meth lab in his building and didn’t shut it down. There is no way he would ignore something like that.”
“Do…,” Nightwing said slowly, not really wanting to say what was going through his mind, “Do you think he got out in time?”
Nightwing could have sworn that Batman sighed before saying, “We were out on patrol for almost an hour before the calls came in. There is no reason to think he wasn’t doing the same thing.”
“You better be right. Losing him once was enough. I can’t lose him again.”
Their attention was called back to the building as some internal structure creaked and groaned as fire ate away at its stability, before it gave way and came down with a mighty crash. Fire still shot from every window, despite the fire fighters’ best efforts to knock it down.
Batman gave another almost invisible sigh. “We should start looking for him. He might not even know yet.”
“Where do you want to start looking?” Nightwing asked.
“He should be somewhere close. You can’t sound an alarm in Crime Alley without Hood knowing about it.”
Both vigilantes started scanning the skyline until Nightwing gasped and tapped Batman on the shoulder.
“What,” Batman asked.
“He knows,” Nightwing said, depression tinging his tone.
Nightwing pointed to a roofline a couple buildings over. Standing six stories higher than their current position was Red Hood. He stood on the edge of the building, watching as his home burned to the ground. Flames flickered and reflected off of his helmet, and his normally brown wardrobe was tinged orange from the spectacle. He seemed transfixed by the sight.
Nightwing wanted to go to his brother, but Batman stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “Give him time. He knows we’re here. He’ll come to us when he’s ready.”
Nightwing stared at the younger man for several minutes before he was able to read the message in Hood’s posture. He said sadly, “No, Batman, he won’t. Not anytime soon, at least.”
Batman watched the fire for another minute before turning his face up to look at his second son. Even from this distance, Batman could see the hooded man sigh before slowly turning away and walking out of sight.
A/N: Here is the first chapter of my next endeavor. It is planned for seven chapters, and I’m quite happy with where I see it going in my mind. There may be some of my signature extended gaps in posting, because I will be moving in a couple weeks and I still need to pack and get all of that crap going. We’ll see what happens.
Thanks for playing along.