Gotham city wasn't a very safe place be it day or night but it became even more vicious as darkness spread all around. Therefore, Batman and his birds had to be on watch constantly during the night hours to make sure that the citizens stayed safe.

Damian was patrolling in Robinson Square, keeping watch over the usually busy area from the rooftops. By night, there wasn't much hustle bustle around as silence washed over the place. Only a few lights were switched on in the houses dotted across the street behind the main commercial hub.

The sound of little traffic could be heard as he shifted position, eyes scanning the area once again.

It was purely a coincidence that Robin saw the redhead reporter he had given an interview to the previous day get out of a cab that late at night. It was dark but the red shade of her hair was very distinct under the street light as she got off and paid the driver.

His eyes scanned the area around her as she walked up to a house and rang the bell. He was far off to see the person who had opened the door but as he watched for a short while, he caught something else in the vicinity that made him halt.

Ember Sullivan had been followed all the way there as another cab was parked far off and it left shortly after. Robin got alert to see if his assumption was right or not and he fixed the visual settings on his mask to be able to see clearly.

A man hid in the shadows, communicating through a device as if reporting on Ember's location. Robin quietly snuck up on him to hear what was going on.

He had a fair guess that she would be under watch ever since she had gotten her article published two months ago. The two crime families being targeted in it were not going to let it slide easily although she had been professional and refrained from mentioning their names.

As Robin edged closer, he caught the voice of the spy and he seemed to be talking in code.

"The ash is in the hearth, over."

There was some distortion in his comm but it seemed he had understood the message as he crept toward the back of the small house, intending to sneak in. He held a weapon as well and it was clear that his intentions weren't harmless.

But he was unaware that Robin was following him and before he could break the window to get in, a hand landed heavily on his neck, wrenching him away.

He was spun around to come face-to-face with the intimidating vigilante, a deathly frown set upon his barely visible features.

"R-Robin?"

But his voice did not reach the people who had been monitoring him as the first thing Robin had done was deactivate his comm and keep it in his utility belt. He felt it would be useful to track the address of the people connected to that spy or burglar whoever he was.

"Breaking into people's houses is a criminal offense, I hope you know that," he spoke calmly, slapping the handcuffs onto his wrists.

It was strange that the spy did not put up much of a fight, letting himself be taken. So Robin got more cautious, looking around in case there was any backup.

And true enough, sounds of gunshots sounded and Robin kicked the spy in the stomach, rolling aside so that both of them would not get hurt. He knew it could be an attempt from the gang to silence the person who had been caught so he had to act fast.

If the spy he had caught got killed in the crossfire, they will not be able to find out why he was following Ember Sullivan and on whose orders.

"Robin, is everything alright?" Barbara's voice sound through his comm which was seconds away from disconnecting.

"Send backup," he told her right before the line went dead.

***

The sound of gunshots interrupted them and Evan bolted from his seat, a wave of concern engulfing him. Robinson was a relatively safe neighborhood, it was strange that a gunfight had broken out there of all places.

"What's going on?" Ember asked, leaving the couch as well. She had come to his place as he had told her there was something urgent he had to show her regarding another story she had been working on with the Gotham Gazette but after her resignation, Evan had to deal with it himself.

They had just been discussing his findings, tallying them with the information Ember had when the sound of shots being fired alarmed them.

"Ember, take cover," he switched off the lights in the room so that the people having a fight outside wouldn't come to his house upon thinking that someone had witnessed them.

Very cautiously, he edged closer to the window, pulling back the blinds to see what was going on.

It was dark outside but the red and green of Robin's suit was visible as he fought off the people ganged upon him. The other vigilantes had reached too and soon after the criminals had been rounded up.

"Looks like a gang fight," Evan whispered, "don't worry, the Bats are here. They took care of it."

Ember's face paled at the mention of a gang. She felt they were the same people who had been following her ever since she had written that article. She shouldn't have come to Evan's house that late at night, it could put him in trouble too as those people could suspect that she and the gazette's editor were still working on that case together.

"I'm sorry, Evan, I shouldn't have come here," she mumbled.

The gunshots had died by then as all those people were arrested although one or two might have escaped.

Evan turned to face her with a surprised look in his eyes, "what do you mean? Has this happened before? Are you being followed?"

"I don't know," she shook her head as he had come to sit close to her, his hand gently reaching out to take hers in a reassuring grip, "they could be from the gangs I wrote against... I don't want to put you in danger." 

He was about to tell her that she should report that to the police but before he could say anything, the doorbell rang. The silence between them thickened as they considered whether or not to answer the door.

But then Evan stood up and made his way out, checking through the small visor to see Robin standing outside. It was unexpected but he opened the door and felt Ember come up behind him too.

"Are you the owner of this house?" Robin asked in his indifferent tone.

"Yes, why?"

"There are people keeping watch on you or your friend," he told them, eyes flickering towards Ember for a brief instant, "I caught one trying to break into your house."

Evan too got alarmed to hear that.

"I am telling you so that you can be on your guard from now onward," he remarked, "if anything feels suspicious to you, report to the police immediately."

With that final statement, the vigilante left but both Evan and Ember were worried about the consequences. The Bats had shown up on time and stopped whoever wanted to break into Evan's house and a fight had broken out after as a result.

But there was no knowing what could have happened if the vigilantes weren't there.

Ember felt it was definitely due to her that those people had come to Evan's place as well. She would have to be very cautious about whom she met up with in the future so that more people couldn't be risked due to her. 

However, there was nothing she could say for herself.

She was the one most at risk at the moment.

***