Robin's Little Finch

Robin's Little Finch ~ Chapter 10

It had been about a month since Richard had figured out the truth about Tara being his long lost sister Tina, and in turn Tara being the well known mercenary Blade.  He normally made regular visits to the jail where she was being kept. Even though she was a minor there was enough evidence from previous cases to put her in jail for man slaughter.

Richard would go almost every day and just talk to her. The first thing he said to her after finding out was, "I promise, that I will be a better big brother to you. I can help you get through this. When you get out of here and until then I will always be here for you unlike how I wasn't there for you in the past." Tina was shocked by this, she was so used to being abandoned, to being on her own, to getting to know someone only to have to leave. To see her brother who she had thought was in that group of people, prove her wrong, was thought provoking.

"Please Tina, just give me this one last chance that I don't deserve. I want to help you onto the right path," Dick begged his sister through the police glass, gripping onto the phone that they have to communicate through with so much force that his knuckles turn white.

Tina thought for a moment and looked at her brother. She thought she had liked the life she lead and would hate to be in his place, but he is happy. She tried to come to Gotham, not only to make a name for herself, but to try and leave her old life behind once and for all. But would it really be a bad thing to try and go back to the old life she actually didn't mind having? Or at least try and combine her old and new lifestyle? 

"Okay," Tina says quietly through the glass. Dick looks up into her eyes and theres a slight smile on her lips.

***

Although, this previous week had been a tough one. Batman was keeping him up all night to try and catch one of the mob bosses of Gotham. He was also going through a hard time in school. He tried to fake that he didn't know where Tara was and had to focus on his studies since it was around midterms. Richard hadn't had time to go and visit Tina in the prison all week and he felt bad but there was nothing he could do. Bruce started to notice Dick was barely getting his homework done and refused to let him leave and go visit.

There were certain conversations that would keep popping into both of the young Graysons' heads at random times when they were apart. The one where Richard had promised to take her in as Tina when all of this was over. The one where he promised to figure out how to tell Deathstroke or fake Tara's death. The one where Richard suggested she join the Dynamic Duo or at least the young team of sidekicks she heard about. Every conversation where Richard was the one to apologize for her being in this situation. Richard didn't feel like it was her fault, but that didn't stop Tina from having her own thoughts. Tina felt... guilty. She had grown up thinking that the life she lead was okay, that being a mercenary was a valid job. For the first time in her life, she realized that everything she had done as a mercenary was wrong. She had stolen from banks, helped super villains, heck she had killed people... a lot of people. Whenever Dick was there with her she actually felt happy, but once he left, these guilty thoughts crowded her mind once again since he would always end the conversation with 'I am so sorry you are in this position'. Why was he apologizing? She used to blame him or the police for separating them but looking back, it was her choice, she could have run away, she could have chosen to not join Deathstroke. And what now? Did she join her brother pretending that her old life didn't happen? Did she abandon Slade who took her in when no one else could or would? It was like an endless game of tug of war inside Tina's head. And the fact that she was left alone with these thoughts for an extended period of time was to much for Tina to handle. Tina realized that these thoughts would haunt her for the rest of her life.

***

"Hello Wayne Manor, how may I be of assistance?" Alfred asked as he picked up the phone one Sunday morning. After a brief pause Alfred talks again. "My heavens! I will be sure to deliver the message to him."