Night Fall: King of Shadows.

Chapter One: Shadows Down.

Gray skies cast over the many towering building of Gotham. The moon's pale light breaking through the clouds. Until a body of fur and wings like leather scraps across the sky, casting a silhouette over the moon's form. Briefly obscuring its light, some civilians below look up. Looking upon the creature with a mix of fear and hope, knowing who it represents.

Before continuing on, flies over the city's streets. Cars in traffic, people eating in a diner, a still city. One in the mists of a breath, before the coming night ahead.

The creature comes to over a beach, descending to the shores water, it's form reflecting in the blue light of the Moon above. Finally it ascends over a cliff face, flying towards a manor. It's foundation cracked, vines over growing in its base. Large windows into nearly endless halls, a man holding a tray walking over to a grandfather clock. That slides out, opening to an elevator. Then the creature dives through a hole in the stone, The rushing of water echoing from a chasm of endless darkness.

Comes to rest, looking down, a boy. Standing on black tiles, chest going up and down. Eyes closed, men materialize from the floor. As another watches above, Bruce Wayne. The Batman.

Before Alfred joins him, setting the tray down. Looking down at the boy, "I take it, with Master Carter using the training field. That I can start carrying items again?" Bruce stands there, studying the boy. "Yes Alfred. Stealth training has concluded." Alfred clear's his throat; "Good, I was worried. The fine china would be next."

As they look down, the boy strikes a goon. Before being hit in the back, brought down to a knee. The tells the simulation to stop, standing up. He takes a slow, deep breath in, telling it to begin again.

"Haven't seen that since you began." Bruce ignores his remarks. "He just expects better of himself." Alfred strokes his chin. "Perhaps failing to bring down Mr. Stage has made him more motivated?"

Bruce looks down, thinking about those words. "Regardless," he said. "He has skills, more than he realizes. He's already passed level six." Alfred gasps. "My word, Master Grayson only managed four when he first tried." Bruce hums, watching as the boy takes down the last thug. "We'll be heading out. Prepare the Batmobile." Alfred leaves as Bruce continues to watch the boy.

***
Gotham, the city of shadows. Shrouded in darkness at night with only brief moments of light. A den of criminals and violence. Yet it's the only home I've ever known. Rain pours from the sky, pattering the suit I must wear. Less the light from even a street lamp burn my shadow skin. As I leap from the rooftops, I glimpse the alleys below. Puddles of rain forming, as hooded people walked through.

However, passing one ally, I see a group of penguin thugs harassing a kid around my age. I jump down, landing in a puddle with a splash. Followed by Bruce, the thugs turn, seeing us. One shouts. "It's the bat! Get them!"

One thug barrels towards me, 150 Ibs, IQ on the lower side. He brings his left up, trying to use an overhead slam. Evading to the left, I deliver a compact punch to his lower abdomen. A sharp gasp escapes his breath. Jumping in the air, I deliver an overhead elbow, following up with a knee to his jaw. He lets out a last breath of pain, falling to the ground. Before I am afforded a breath of my own, another thug runs at me.

Arms extended, torso forward, moving at low speed. Jump over; kick to their back for a shift in momentum. He loses control, smashing into the brick wall. He falls into a pile of trash. Until the garbage shifts, the thug throws trash as he angrily struggles to stand. He throws the trash bag at me, stepping to the left; it crashes to the ground behind me. He charges at me again, not learning his lesson from before. Until he goes to throw an overhead right, shifting back; his fist drives into the concrete, making a small crack. Before extending his left out, trying to grab me. Dodging into the wall; causing him to miss entirely. However, as he looks at me, he meets my leg to the side of his head.

His leg shakes as he stumbles back, body shifting from side to side. Until falling to his knees, clenching his head. Only to look up, but seeing my foot deliver a falling heel kick; his head jerks to the ground. Heartbeat coming to a low beat. Looking over, Bruce has his thug on the ground. Arm bent at the elbow, more than likely a broken arm. I turn my attention to the kid they were harassing.

Walking up to the kid, I see them shaking. Either the result of cold or the fear of being harmed, approaching, I notice their green hair poking from the hoodie. "Are you alright?" placing my hand on their shoulder, they flinch from the touch.

But before I can comfort them, sirens go off in the distance. I hear Bruce behind me, "Go see what's wrong. I'll take it from here." As I look at them, their emerald green eyes looking at me with a mix of fear and pleading. But I go to turn around, only to feel a tug. Turning around, seeing them shakily holding my sleeve. Bruce would come over, kneeling down, holding out his hand. "It's okay. You're safe now." They would let go, allowing me to grapple away.