The bell at the shop's door chimed as Alex unlocked the door and stepped in. He had a Chinatown shift that night which had been interrupted by an unexpected rainstorm so he had waited at a friend's place before returning home.

Before leaving he had carefully instructed Dora to not let anyone in and call Selina if something went wrong. Because after all, Gotham was not called the city of crime for nothing.

Things went bump in the night way too often.

And as Dora was still new to the city because just a week had passed with her coming to stay with him, he had thought it best to warn her about the dangers she could face as well.

He locked the door but was surprised to see the lights in the kitchen switched on. He had expected Dora to be asleep by then but as the lights were on, it definitely meant she was awake.

Then thinking maybe something was wrong, he quickly made his way to the kitchen, dropping the trench coat at a nearby table.

The sight that met his eyes was shocking to say the least. Red Robin was being bandaged by Selina while Dora was standing in a corner holding the floor mop, her features set into an irritated frown.

Selina looked up and saw him standing in the doorway with a shocked expression on his face, "oh finally you're here. Everything's fine by the way, don't worry."

"Selina...? Dora, are you alright?"

Dora looked at him questioningly, "I'm fine but how does this costumed freak have keys to our kitchen?"

His eyes flickered towards Red Robin at that remark, "oh crap... Red, I told you not to turn up when I'm not at home. I was supposed to be at Chinatown tonight, remember?"

"You know him?" Dora's surprise only seemed to increasing with every passing minute.

"Of course he knows me, it's not the first time I came here," Red Robin replied, wincing as Selina applied slight pressure on his wound with the ice pack, "and Alex, my flask drowned in the sewer. The fucking sewer... What was I supposed to do then? And thanks to your sister, the coffee I made has also been ruined."

Alex shook his head, "I hadn't told Dora about you but that's exactly why I had forbidden to turn up here in my absence. It's all well and good if I'm at home, you're allowed to take as much coffee as you please. But not when Dora's alone."

Red Robin's jaw dropped open but then he remarked bitterly, "oh I see... Family comes first. Absolutely... Forget all the times I saved your ass because now sweet little Dora is here."

He shook his head sighing wearily, "Red Robin... Would you stop being a drama queen for one minute at least?"

"Will anyone explain what's going on?" Isadora spoke up, turning all their attention towards her, "I woke up to the sound of footsteps and noises coming down from the kitchen even though I knew you weren't at home. Is that not supposed to freak me out? And then I see him going about the kitchen as if it's a normal Saturday routine for him. Who the hell even is he? And why does he have the keys to our kitchen and balcony?"

Alex gently placed a hand on Dora's shoulder knowing that she was going through a mixture of shock and disbelief, "I see, an introduction is due."

"Introduction? You better explain everything right now," she folded her arms defiantly, staring daggers at Red Robin who was mutually returning the hostile expression.

"So you need an explanation?" Turning to Alex, Red Robin spoke, "Alex, your sister hit me in the stomach with a fucking floor mop. Explain that."

"Do you expect a sane person to idly chat with an intruder? No. So of course I hit you in the stomach with a floor mop. It's called self defense."

"Self defense? Oh like I was absolutely going to kill you in your sleep... All I needed was coffee, and this is what I get instead. I'm sure what would have been a fractured rib is now quite broken."

Selina was on the verge of bursting into laughter for it was surely a hilarious situation to be stuck in at the moment, "she's right though. You totally deserved this."

"Stop giving me first aid if you have to side up with her on this," he snapped, "I hadn't expected you of all people to make fun of this. Selina, you have let me down."

A smile was threatening to break out on Alex's face as well but he managed to disguise it, "Red Robin, Dora... Please, calm down." Then facing Selina he spoke, "thanks for turning up but we'll manage by now."

"Anytime, this was a worthwhile occurrence though," her sharp eyes sparkled in amusement as she left for the balcony, "and close the grill after I go."

"Sure," he nodded but then facing the remaining two disgruntled people in the kitchen, he remarked, "sit down Dora. And Red Robin, stop glaring at her."

"I would like to see you get hit and then not glare at the one responsible," he huffed, turning his face away as if offended.

"I would like to see you wake up to a costumed stranger in your kitchen and then not do anything in your defense," she retorted.

Alex reheated the coffee Red Robin had made and placed it in front of him, watching him as he downed it in a few gulps. "Dora, Red Robin is a member of the Bat vigilantes who patrol Gotham to keep it safe for common citizens like us. He is a friend and I had allowed him to come here whenever he needed coffee. But that was before you came to stay with me and I forgot to tell you about him so... All that happened tonight is kinda my fault."

Red Robin nodded, "totally your fault."

Dora sat silently thinking his words over before speaking up to her brother, "but you should have at least mentioned it. All the while you told me how Gotham was full of criminals and anyone could break in and I had to be on my guard. For me, he was an intruder, vigilante or not."

Alex nodded, "I understand and I'm apologizing to both of you. It is my fault."

Red Robin seemed to have calmed down considerably after consuming the coffee, "how about you apologize practically then? Get me one more cup of coffee and I won't hold this against you."

He smiled, "sure. And what about you, Dora? Do you need coffee too or have you thought of something else as compensation?"

She sighed, "coffee would do great actually. My head is throbbing from all this unexpected fiasco."

"Fine, it will just take a moment. And don't fight while I am brewing coffee. I don't want to return to another battle going on between you two," he called out, heading to the stove to put some more coffee to brew.

***