#batman!erwin

That night was also the night Erwin had met someone he didn’t think he would need in the future.

5 years later, Erwin fell from a building, 10 stories to be exact. On reflex, he shot his grappling gun towards the sky as his last saving grace. But for once, at the wrongest time it ever could, the hook couldn’t find anything. And thus, Erwin fell.

What broke his fall ended up being a trash bin, several of them, all made of metal. The armour on his suit lessened the impact as well, but that didn’t stop Erwin’s bones from shattering, or his skull from cracking. With the rest of his strength, Erwin pressed the communicator on his wrist. He didn’t have the talk, the tech would send an alarm to the Batcomputer, to Levi’s communicator, to anyone Erwin would consider enough of an alley to help him out.

Levi had rushed to him first, clad in his Robin suit and riding in the Batmobile. Immediately shocked, Levi got his mentor into the Batmobile and rushed him over to the only doctor Erwin could trust; Doctor Hanji Zoe.

Hanji was many things; brilliant, resourceful, gutsy, just a little manic, and of course, a genius. But the only thing Hanji wasn’t happened to be a neurosurgeon. Hanji had spent hours patching up Erwin’s cuts, mending his bones, and making sure that his vitals were monitored.

But there was one thing Hanji couldn’t fix, Erwin’s spine. While the damage wasn’t unrepairable, it was something Hanji couldn’t heal. It was damaged beyond Hanji’s repair, and there were only 2 more things to do at that moment; let Erwin live the rest of his life as a quadriplegic, or call in special help.

Erwin was in a vital coma, therefore, the one who would have to give permission for the special help to be called in would have to be none other than Hannes.

Hannes was thirdly a servant to Erwin, secondly a life long friend, and firstly, a father to the orphaned billionaire.

Calling in the special help, however, would call for the person to know Erwin’s secret, and the discover just who exactly hid behind the mask of the Bat. Hannes knew that he had to protect Erwin’s secret at all cost, but when he finally visited Hanji’s clinic and saw Erwin on the hospital cot, he spent the entire night by his ward’s side. And it was only in the morning, when Hanji saw Hannes still awake and still by his comatose son’s side did the butler finally give permission for special help to be called in.

The special help ended up being a neurosurgeon with a notoriously familiar name; Doctor Grisha Jaeger.

When Grisha was called, Hannes and Hanji told him everything. With the goal of saving Erwin’s life and making sure that the Batman title would live on, neither of them minded the costs.

Grisha was surprised to find out the news, but at the same time, overjoyed. Finally, he would have a chance to repay a man who had helped him so much in the past. The operation ended up being completely successful, and both Erwin and Batman emerged from the hospital room rightfully on the road to recovery.

When Erwin was informed that Grisha knew his secret, he was at first shocked, but soon, he grew thankful. Had it not been for Grisha, Erwin would have been nothing, and for everything, Erwin was eternally grateful.

When Erwin finally got to have a word with Grisha after the operation, Grisha claimed that they were now even; Erwin saved his family and Grisha saved his life. But Erwin denied that assumption. Instead, he told Grisha that they were now even, and if he required any favour from him in the future, Erwin would follow through on it.

Then, 5 years after Grisha Jaeger saved both Erwin Smith and the Dark Knight’s life, the doctor came to the Batman with the favour.

Erwin agreed and came into contact with Grisha with the promise of having the favour better explained to him. When he came to Jaeger’s loft in an affluent neighbourhood of Gotham, Grisha told him the favour full on.

Admittedly, Erwin at first believed that Grisha simply wanted someone protected; which to an extent, was true. However, he thought the protection would be a staking outside the loft every few nights, but what Grisha required was much much more. And who Erwin was assigned to protect was someone he did not even know existed until that very night.

But alas, Erwin stayed true to his terms and took his new responsibility into his hands.

This would be a bit interesting to explain to his other allies though.

---OOO---

During her last out-of-country mission, personally assigned to her by Petra, there was one thing that Mikasa would consider to be hell that she experienced. Oddly, it wasn’t the 24-hour shifts where she would spend so much time in her Batgirl costume that the entire thing smelled horrible when she took it off. Or the few cuts and scrapes she suffered whilst taking out a heroin smuggler or two.

It was the flight; a plane trip from Tokyo back to Gotham took 14 hours. Being covert was necessary for the sake of her mission, and Erwin bought Mikasa a seat for business class to avoid suspicion. But no matter what, Mikasa detested the 14 hours she had just spent crammed inside a metal tube with a bunch of strangers she couldn’t even speak to.

That was why she spent her current night at the manor with Armin. They sat together on the couch as a documentary about paper played on the television. Armin was sitting proper and upright, just as usual. And while Mikasa did want to stay awake to cherish the time she had with Armin, she couldn’t find it in herself to do so.

Instead, she laid her head on Armin’s lap, letting him stroke her hair as she kept her eyes closed. She wasn’t asleep yet, but she could feel herself drifting away with every moment passing.

Normally, Armin would be on patrol tonight as well, but Mikasa wasn’t surprised to see him agreeing to her proposition of staying in so quickly.

It had been 6 months ever since Annie died, her blood spilling on the hands of Nile Dawk; and only 4 ever since his grandfather lost a life long battle with cancer.

Armin had spent too much of his time either mourning, or drowning himself in detective work. His frustration came out with every punch he made. Erwin complimented him on getting stronger, but Armin didn’t seem to care.

He was a smart boy, the smartest she had ever known. And he was definitely smart enough to know that no amount of punches and kicks could bring anyone back.

It was killing him inside, Mikasa could tell. She wanted to comfort him, anything to make him feel something. He stopped locking himself away at his current state in the grieving process, and he came no where close to alienating any of his friends as well.

Armin was starting to feel better. But even now, there wasn’t much else Mikasa could do but hold and comfort him when he needed it. Because she knew he would do the same for him.

“Hey,” Mikasa said in her slightly sleepy state.

Armin looked down to her, “Yeah?”

“I tried reading today,” Mikasa announced.

Armin seemed impressed, “Really? What book?”

“It wasn’t a book per se,” she admitted, eyes opening just slightly. “Petra helped me put audiobooks onto my phone. I listened to Sense and Sensibility by… uh…”

“Jane Austen,” Armin answered easily. He grinned just slightly at Mikasa. By now, they were practically siblings. Siblings who wore tights together, kicked butt together, fought crime together, and solved mysteries together also discussed classic literature together as well. “That’s a good title. I haven’t read it before though. Did you pick that title yourself or did Petra pick it?”

“Actually, Annie did-“ Mikasa stopped talking right there. She couldn’t predict the outcome of her worlds, but she knew that talking about Annie with Armin was something difficult for him to do. He could outsmart criminal geniuses and nail unsolved mysteries from his bedroom, but when it came to grief, there was nothing more the Boy Wonder could do but keep his emotions inside of him.

But Mikasa knew Annie as well. Erwin had paired them up for stakeouts and investigations, and while Annie seemed just a bit too apathetic for Mikasa’s tastes, they were still friends. And Mikasa started liking her, a lot.

But now she was alone, Annie gone, and hoping if Armin would end up slipping away as well.

Armin’s lip seemed to quiver just slightly, but all in all, he seemed to have a better control over his actions and feelings. “It’s fine, you can talk about her if you want.”

“I don’t want to,” Mikasa decided then and there. She moved her head off of Armin’s lap and sat up.

“What do you want to do then?” Armin inquired.

Mikasa shrugged her shoulders, unsure on how to answer. But thankfully, it was right then and there did Hannes pop his head into the manor’s living room.

“Master Armin, Master Mikasa,” the butler acknowledged.

The two vigilantes looked up at him.

“Master Erwin has returned from patrol and he requires your presence in the batcave,” Hannes explained.

The two of them agreed and got off the couch. Armin and Mikasa made their way into the Batcave at a dutiful pace. They approached the Grandfather clock near the study, and when Armin set the hands to 10:48, the entire structure swung back and revealed the entrance to the cave.

They came down the stairs quickly, and sure enough, the Batmobile was present.

Erwin himself was sitting at the Batcomputer, which was never an odd place to see him. That didn’t surprise Armin and Mikasa as they came down the stairs.

However, what would was waiting just around the corner.

“Erwin,” Armin called as he and Mikasa came to the bottom of the steps. “What do you need us for?”

Erwin turned away from his computer and stood up straight, he was still in his cowl and cape. “I have an important task for you two.”

Mikasa seemed prepared for anything he could throw at her, even in a literal sense, “I’m ready.”

Erwin nodded his head, “There is someone I need you two to protect.”

“Who?” Armin asked.

And as if on response, an unfamiliar voice was heard through the cave.

“Me, because apparently, dad I need babysitters in capes and cowls to stay safe.”

It came from one of the cave levels, where Erwin stored all the spare Batman, Batgirl, and Robin costumes.

Both Mikasa and Armin glanced up, and standing in front of the costume storage room on the upper floors, was a boy.

He was no older than 10 years old, his hair brown and droopy, and his eyes a pale carribean blue. His face appeared to be trapped in a permanent scowl, and that face was becoming more and more evident as he walked down from the storage room and towards the cave’s main level.

The boy walked up to Armin and Mikasa. He was not frightened by them at all, even with their taller statures towering over his.

“Who are you?” Armin asked, glancing down at the little kid.

Erwin answered for his ward, “This is Eren; Grisha Jaeger’s kid.”

Armin raised an eyebrow, “Grisha Jaeger? The neurosurgeon?”

Nodding his head, Eren confirmed with ease, “Yes. That’s him.”

“Yeah, but… AH!” In seconds, Armin suddenly realized that there was someone in the Batcave; someone he didn’t know, and he currently wasn’t wearing his mask at the moment.

Hastily, he covered his face with his hands, but Erwin calmed him down. “Don’t fret, Armin. He knows.”

The blonde coconut head seemed to be just a bit calmer once the words were uttered, “Oh, okay. Does he know a lot?”

Erwin pulled down his mask to reveal his face, “A lot.”

Mikasa seemed fascinated, “Interesting.”

“Why is he here though?” Armin asked.

“I promised Grisha Jaeger a favour for saving my life 5 years ago,” Erwin explained to his protoges. “Tonight, he decided to use that favour. Grisha’s been pursued by Gotham’s major crime lords for the last few months. He needs to flee the country, and for now, I have to watch over his son.”

“For how long?” Mikasa wondered.

Eren answered this time, “Until my dad comes back. In the meantime, I’m here. With you guys.”

“So you’re essentially asking me and Mikasa to be babysitters?” Armin theorized, knowing that his prediction was possibly true.

Erwin had to nod, “Yes.”

Mikasa glanced down at Eren. He was short and scrawny, and appeared to be grumpy at the moment, but so far, he seemed okay. “I could try. Should we take him on patrol then?”

Eren seemed excited and intrigued, “Patrol?!”

Erwin was extremely quick to speak up and shoot down that answer, “No! Not at all!”

“I could go on patrol,” Eren admitted shamelessly.

“No, you are not to take Eren on patrol and that is final,” Erwin decided, pointing his finger down at his two proteges firmly.

“Good idea,” Armin admitted, looking over to Eren. “What would you even wear anyway?”

Eren smirked, “Well, that red and green acrobat suit seems rather fitting to a boy like me.”

Armin raised an eyebrow, more amused than threatened at the moment, “I’m sorry, Eren, but I still hold that title. The costumes you saw up there are mine.”

Eren shrugged his shoulders, but looking over in one corner of the main level, he pointed over to something that particularly interested him. It was another costume, but not one in storage like the ones he saw before.

This costume was on display, propped up behind glass as if it were a shrine towards someone or something.

“Is that one still yours?” Eren asked.

Armin shook his head, “No, it’s not.”

Erwin had no tolerance for lying and re-slammed the punk against the wall so hard, that both the surface and a few bones were cracked, "DON'T PLAY GAMES WITH ME. WHERE IS HE?" 

"AHHHH!" the punk whimpered. "WAIT! WHO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? KENNY OR THE BIRD?" 

"BOTH OF THEM," demanded Erwin violently. 

The punk probably pissed his pants, but in moments, he answered. "Kenny, uh... he's uptown. Crime Alley. In that old warehouse by Tatum street." He gulped, sweat dripping from his face, "And uh... he's got the bird with him." 

The realization hit Erwin like a brick. Without another word said, Erwin let the punk out of his grasp and fled and area as fast as he could. He ran to the street where his Batcycle stood, and hopping on it, Erwin had never revved up the engine and rode down the street faster in his life. 

--00--

Blood had stained the Robin costume before, many times, actually. Jean had gotten his suit bloodied up on plenty of occasions, but tonight, the blood that stained the fibres of his costume wasn't just near the arm, or near the leg; but everywhere. 

Jean could only feel his costume bloodying up, however, as his vision was currently going blurry. Enough blows to the head could do that to a kid. 

"Nyahhh!" Jean exclaimed as the iron pipe hit his face. The next thing he heard in the abandoned warehouse was the clattering of his tooth hitting the concrete floor. 

"My bad, kid," came a vicious voice. "Didn't mean to harm those pearly whites of yours." 

Jean wanted to reply like he always did, honestly and snarkily, but the only sound he made came out as: "Nnnnnngggg....."

Kenny Ackerman knelt down towards Jean's bloodied form, "Hey, Boy Blunder, if you wanna say something to me, you better speak up. You may have a collapsed lung. But then again, my hearing's been pretty messed up lately."

It took all of Jean's strength to roll onto his back. Looking up with his blurry vision, Jean could see the faint image of Kenny Ackerman standing above him. A sweetly sadistic smile was on the murderer's face, and a manic look laid in a pair of eyes that were so happily attached to the sight of a beaten boy. 

Since Jean could barely speak, he allowed his actions to convey his message, as actions always spoke louder than words. He spat in Kenny's face. 

Kenny flinched as the spit hit his chin. In retaliation, Kenny hit Jean in the face with the pipe once more.

"Your manners are shit, kid. The first boy blunder was at least polite," Kenny grumbled bitterly, wiping the bit of spit off his face. "Didn't Batman teach you a few manners or two?" 

Almost instantly, Kenny stepped on Jean's back, the boy wonder's groans intensifying once the murderer set more weight on his foot. 

Suddenly, the sadistic smile Kenny Ackerman was known for took his face again, "But if he didn't, then maybe I should give you a lesson or two." 

And he swung the pipe once more.

--00--

Erwin raced throughout the city streets, avoiding traffic as fast as he could as he approached crime alley. 

Throughout his years of crime fighter, Erwin had grown to realize that Kenny Ackerman was one of the most violent criminals he had ever come across. Ruthless, cunning, powerful, merciless; all the makings of the perfect murderer. 

There had been scuffles between Kenny and Erwin over the years, some only ending with Kenny being bloodied and thrown into prison, and others ending with Erwin having to be taken home by his sidekick for Hannes to patch up. 

Erwin knew what Kenny was capable of. Such a man had filled graveyards, mutilated hundreds, and crippled many. But something else Erwin was aware of was what Kenny wanted. 

There had been a few occasions where Kenny would give Jean a certain look, all before expressing a powerful desire to 'carve that bird.' 

Erwin could only hope that tonight, Kenny's desire wouldn't come true.

--00--

Tossing the pipe aside, Kenny yawned in an exaggerated matter. "All righty, Bird-Boy, tonight's been fun, wouldn't you say?"

A ringing was heard in Jean's head, as an excruciating aching feeling pulsed throughout his entire body. Looking ahead to where Kenny was, he could see the murderer putting on his hat and cloak, preparing himself to leave the building. 

"Hm, speechless, I see," Kenny observed with a slight chuckle. "Don't worry, kid, if I had to experience what you did, I'd be at a loss of words as well." 

Jean had no choice but to be silent. 

Shrugging his shoulders, Kenny opened the door to the warehouse, "Well, see you later, buddy. Maybe we should do this again one day. Bring a camera if you can, we could make a few memories outta it." He stepped forwards once, but stopped in the doorway for a mere moment. 

Turning around, Kenny felt the need to say just one more statement to a boy who had already gone through enough for the night. "By the way, if you ever see the Bat again, tell him I said hey." 

And with that said, Kenny slammed the door shut. 

The next few moments were filled with breaths heavier than the weight of the world. Inhaling and exhaling became a difficult task for Jean. But he needed to get some oxygen inside his system, as Jean knew that the task and goal he set in his mind could potentially be the thing that could save his life.

Once enough of his strength was regained, Jean used all of his might to get himself up, moving himself onto his feet slowly, but surely. Upright, each step Jean took vibrated waves of pain throughout his entire body. If his memory served, Kenny had smashed Jean's utility belt with the initial pipe strike, but had left it discarded in the corner. 

Sure, there was a chance that his communicator was completely busted, but there was also the chance that it wasn't. There was the chance that the radio could still work, and the chance that Jean would be able to communicate with Erwin.

When he limped himself over, Jean collapsed and landed beside the smashed belt. But reaching over, he took the broken communicator in his hands and pressed the button. The antennae was completely destroyed, meaning that the chances of getting a signal would be hopeless. 

But Jean dedicated the last few ounces of his strength to pushing the button as hard as possible. 

"Batman? Batman? Are you there? Please, telll me..."

Pain stung in his side, halting his speech for a moment.

"...where are you?" 

An excruciating sensation ached in his body, causing Jean to drop the communicator and clutch his side, groaning loudly. 

His groans echoed throughout the warehouse, however, the second he did, Jean suddenly became aware that his groans were not the only thing audible in the warehouse. 

Tick... tick... tick... tick... tick...

Jean didn't even need to look over to know what it was. He was a smart boy, but also a realistic one. What ever kind of timed explosive Kenny left in the room, there would be no chance of Jean surviving it. 

There wasn't a point in waiting for Erwin to come, he couldn't make it. Not at all.

Jean gave up on any hope as each tick heard marked the last seconds in his life. Now, it was just a matter of time. 

Tick... tick... tick... tick... tick...

--00--

The tires of Erwin's bike screeched as he halted it to a stop, leaping off of the vehicle with excellent height and landing on the ground harshly. The warehouse was across a fenced construction zone, meaning that Erwin had to dismount his bike to climb over a fence and get in. 

All he had to do was dash across the area, and he would be at Jean's location. 

But in an instant, Erwin's worst fear happened. The building exploded, blasting debris everywhere and causing Erwin to be pushed back. He landed on the ground as the blast followed through. 

For a moment, he was in shock; whether it be from the blast, or because of Erwin's fear. 

When he regained himself and looked up, the explosion released a large cloud of smoke in the sky, setting most flammable materials in the area ablaze.

"No... NO!"

Rushing forward, Erwin ran across the broken debris of the building, looking around for anything he could recognize. The rubble and remains were piled everywhere, it would take ages to inspect it all properly. 

But a small scrap of yellow fabric hidden under a pile of debris finally alerted Erwin to what he was looking for. 

Sucking in an agonized breath, Erwin ran forward to the pile and knelt down to push the rubble out of the way. He dug so desperately, so fiercely, but so hopelessly. 

He moved the plethora of wood, stone, and metal until the removal of one certain post finally showed Erwin what he was looking for. And the initial sight caused him to freeze. 

His worst fear had come true, and it was right there in front of him; lying on the ground, bruised, bleeding, broken, and dead.

A single word was muttered from his lips, "No..."

Jean Kirschtein laid on the ground, eyes shut, never to open again, and the ghost of his last agonized expression remaining on his face. 

Erwin felt for a pulse, even though he knew Jean was gone. 

Not a single beat was felt. 

Breathing heavily, Erwin leaned over the corpse of the boy wonder, picking him up in his arms and standing up straight. He looked down at Jean's eyes, it was almost like he was sleeping, and lord knew how much Erwin wished that Jean was in fact in a slumber. 

But wishes never came true, especially in Erwin's world. 

"Jean..." came Erwin's exceedingly agonized voice. "Jean..."

No reply came.