Spencer Belle stood looking out into the streets of Gotham. Her sister, Lady Rebecca, had been lying and Spencer wished to know why.
Damian Wayne observed the only woman that could keep up with him mentally, she seemed to be mumbling, monologuing to herself. Staying to the shadows, the son of Batman watched one of his few friends outside of his family or other child heroes consider her next move.
"Batman to Robin, why are you over on the upper side? We were supposed to rendezvous in the slums, why did you divert?"
The radio squaked in Damian's ear, smiling, he whispered his answer to the old man, "Spotted some suspicious activity, holding back to observe."
Spencer Belle heard a voice, a voice she recognized. One of those few entitled rich kids she could stand. Lady Rebecca was an up and coming fashion designer and the Belles had distant connections to nobility, 'Lady' Rebecca took the words 'Noblesse Oblige' very seriously. The voice was one she had first heard at one of those charity events. She filtered the voice through all the others and proceeded to listen in.
Oracle's voice came over the com, "Oh is it that Samantha Belle that you're so fond of? She lives in that area. After all, you do appear to currently have her under 'surveillance'."
His father's voice took on an annoyed tone, "Robin, are you using patrol time to spy on a girl?"
Damien's voice took on a edge of snark as he replied, "A Girl that was suspended from the entirety of the Gotham public school system because she accidentally saw the standardized test answers once, then could repeat the answers for any variations of the test simply by being told the letter of the variation and the number of the test question. She keeps a current map of the city of Gotham and the surrounding areas in her head at all times and has a perfect photographic memory. In fact, I'm willing to bet, once she goes over this scene in her head, she will be able to pinpoint where I'm hiding. Fortunately, that will only happen when she reviews the memory, not at this moment. So, Yes, when that person acts suspiciously and is monologuing to themselves I stop to observe."
Belle heard the distant tinny sound of an earpiece, followed by first a teasing female voice then a much deeper annoyed male voice. The words where to well muffled for even her finely trained sense of hearing to make out, but she did hear the response, cursing to herself, she flushed. Such a cutie, and he had to remember that incident. Failed to mention that he had cleared her of any intentional wrongdoing though. After all, how was it her fault that when her and her two best friends were called into the principal's office he had the tests spread over his desk. Smiling, she also noted that he didn't say that it was him that recommended she apply to the private school he attended, nor that he was her main friend in that school. God almighty, the rest of the students there were just awful. She almost suspected that he helped her get in just so he could have someone to talk to.
Again Oracle's voice came over the com, "And it doesn't help that she's pretty as well, huh? You too did dance together a good number of times at that last charity ball her sister threw."
Damien swore internally, Oracle would remember that. Sometimes her big sister position gave her way to much blackmail information. Sighing, he stayed silent and still, continuing to observe the, admittedly, pretty looking teen. He remembered that night, recalled holding her close and her melodic voice, the fact she could read him almost immediately, her twin aspirations to be both a Gotham City Detective and a Singer. It was the one point he disagreed with her on, with her mind he looked forward to having her as an ally on the force, rather than being wasted as another pop sensation.
"Would that be Lady Rebecca Belle's sister?" Batman queried, then, after a moment of silent consideration, continued, "You're correct to Observe. But only observe, do not engage unless Ms. Belle appears to be in danger, contact Oracle if you have any trouble, I'm going to be continuing my sweep and will be to far away to intercept. Understood?"
"Confirmed" Damian answered. Smiling to himself he knew it wouldn't be long before he would be in exactly the sort of trouble that would let him step in. The kind he was trained from birth for. Sweetie and those three friends of hers where known by many as Cataclysm, Mayhem, and Catastrophe for a reason after all.
Oracle's teasing voice once more was heard over the com, "Don't worry I'll chaperone their little date."
Once again Spencer Belle heard the muffled voices. First, a teasing female tone, followed again by that stern rumble, once more she heard Damian's quiet snark, answered by that teasing female voice once more. Smiling Spencer got an absolutely wicked thought.
"Alright Damien, I know you're there, come out of those shadows, after all it's impolite to spy on a Lady."
"Robin, you stay where you are, she has no way to confirm, only her suspicions. Do not engage. I repeat, do not engage!" Batman's order snarled over the coms.
Swearing internally once more at underestimating the girl before him, he lurked, considering. His father didn't know Samantha as he did. If she was doing this she knew without a doubt he was there. Still, obedience to his dad made him pause.
Enough for Samantha to turn directly to where he was and demand, "Damian Wayne! I can smell the Smug on you from here and it's very rude to keep a lady waiting!"
Chuckling to himself, he stepped forward into the light, watching Samantha's eyes widen, followed by her stalking forward.
Eyeing him up and down she finally spoke. "So if you're Robin, that must mean that the rest of your family and friends must be Red Robin, Red Hood, Batman, Nightwing, Batwoman, and Batgirl respectively. After all, they're the only ones that can tolerate the amount of arrogance that comes off you for any length of time, other than me, that is."
"Oh, she is so cute Damian, you really need to introduce us!" Oracle's voice echoed from the com.
Spencer Belle smiled, and that was the last confirmation, "Hello Professor Gordon, we do know each other. I attend your Intro to Data Entry and Intro to Forensic Research classes, respectively. Or should I address you as Oracle?
Damian Chuckled at Oracle's sudden silence, smiling, he asked, "Okay 'Spencer Belle' how likely is it that you step aside, tell me what's going on, then let me handle it?" Samantha stepped back, a pretty shade of pink rising over her features as she realized she'd been monologuing aloud. Damian's eyes sparkled at her embarrassment, after all, professionals only monologue internally. He also sighed as he already knew her answer.
"God Damn this guy!" Spencer Belle cursed internally.
She needed to watch that external monologue. Especially where this one was concerned. Lady had to have her secrets, after all. Then, she had her second, most absolutely wonderful, idea of the night.
"To answer your questions in order, 'Robin', there's no way I'm going to step aside, however, I will tell you everything as long as you let me come along as you 'handle' it."
Giving the Boy wonder her best smile she awaited his response.
Oracle's and Batman's voice echoed over the com's, their simultaneous response causing the electric device to squeal with distortion, "ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!"
Flinching Damian grimaced, holding up a finger he said to Samantha, "Spencer, I have to answer this, just give me a moment." Making a show of placing his finger on his earpiece, he said the words carefully and clearly. "I have no hope of winning this argument. Even if I tied her up she would wriggle her way free sooner or later. She gets bored to easily and decides to learn new skills constantly. Escapology and other such tricks are a favorite of hers"
Pursing his lips at the inevitable heckling his family was going to be giving him he continued, "I am the better combatant though so I can at least protect her, which only works if I now were she is."
Lowering his hand he saw that 'Spencer Belle's' smile radiated her pleasure, holding up his finger Damian waited to say anything till after the Squee from Oracle had died down.
"I am so making a recording of that so that I can play it for everyone else!" Oracle exclaimed. "The great Damian Wayne has a girlfriend and she has him whipped!" Oracle's laughter cut short as she cut the transmission to go make copies and send them to the respective members of the Bat Family.
"You, Me, and Ms Belle are going to be having a rather stern talk, when this is over. Keep Oracle updated, but otherwise maintain radio silence during your 'date'. I expect you both to be in on time. It is a school night. Batman Out"
Damian turned back to the smiling Samantha and said, "Okay why don't you start from the beginning and we will get started, okay?" Keeping a stern look upon his face, internally he was excited, after all, this could be fun and the closest thing to a date with an equal he would ever get.
Spencer Belle batted her eyes at the boy wonder, even as she wondered about his other impressive assets, he did look yummy in that suit. Closing her eyes she began her tale, "My sister has been acting odd, even for her. She's been moving large sums of money around and never has any explanation for what they're being used for. Her hours have become increasingly erratic, and she has been completely exhausted several times we were supposed to see each other. But I really became suspicious when I spotted her being very friendly with Oswald Cobblepot. She said she was just designing costumes for his club, but something just smells fishy." Spencer watched as the delicious young man before her processed what she had said, God she so loved watching his mind work, it was so unbelievably......
"Spencer" The Caped Wonder said.
"Yes?"
"You're Monologuing externally again."
Across the city, unbeknownst to her younger sister, Lady Rebecca looked across the table at the aptly named Penguin, his suit showing off his impressive physique, she so did love a Gentleman that knew how to wear a suit. A light underneath a clock lit up, as the clock began to move forward. Lady Belle smirked, this was going to be fun.
"Well, the game is started, Lord Cobblepot." She said through half lidded eyes, oh if this man only knew how......
"Lady Rebecca" Cobblepot interrupted her train of thought.
"Yes, Lord Cobblepot?
Cobblepot smirked. "You're Monologuing again."