Do My Scars Define Me?

A Secret Found

Author's Note: I'm sorry guys, I hate time skips, but I'm putting a tiny one in here because I don't want the plot to drag too much. I might have to put in a few more, so sorry if, like me and my beta, HarmonyDwn (check her out, I'm her beta too.), you hate time skips.

2 Days Later

I walk down the seemingly never ending stairs to the dining room, where dinner was to be served. I haven't actually eaten down here yet, as Alfred wouldn't let me eat fully solid foods, so I was given permission to eat in my rented bedroom. This place is so luxurious. Everything has the appearance of being either, brand new or antique. With the perfectly aged furniture and the state of the art appliances, this was my version of paradise.

The library quickly became my favorite place, as it held all novels from the classics to the fresh off the press. I spent most of my time in there or with Dick in my room, where we played board games and signed to each other casually. We talked about nothing and everything, though there seemed to be something he was leaving out.

I was lost in thought as I walked down the stairs, so when I finally look up, I have no idea where I am. I look around, listening carefully for signs of life. I hear someone open and close something a few doors away and I walk toward the noise. I peek into the room that the noise came from to see an empty office. It seems well used, so I'm guessing that it's Bruce's. I step in, looking around, trying to see if maybe Bruce is just up in a hidden alcove or something. Finding nobody, I turn to go out only to stop. I notice something, the grandfather clock in the corner, it's not moving.

I walk up to it and open the small door that holds the pendulum. I lightly tug on the pendulum and gasp slightly when the clock opens. I peek my head in slightly and hold back another gasp. Now, I may not be the picture perfect Gothamite, but I recognize some of Batman's tech pretty easily.

I found the freaking Batcave!

Which makes Bruce Batman - and Dick... Robin.

Hell yeah!

I quietly close the clock and back out of the room. I'm trying to retrace my steps when I hear Alfred calling for me. I knock on the wall as I walk, trying to give him an idea as to where I am. He pops around a corner and smiles.

"Ah, there you are. You passed the kitchen, Miss Phoenix. It's the third right after the stairs." Alfred calmly stated walking towards me.

Alfred kindly holds out an arm for me and I accept it, blushing, silently laughing. He leads me into the dining room and holds open the door for me. I curtsy lightly to him and step in, blushing when Dick starts applauding.

"The beautiful princess has arrived!" He's grinning from ear to ear and Bruce flicks his ear lightly. "Ow! Bruce! What was that for?"

"Leave her alone, Dick, or I'll have to tell her about all the times we had to track you down because you had gotten lost in the manor." Dick turns scarlet and mumbles something unintelligible. Bruce smiles and winks at me before gesturing. "It's good to have you down, Phoenix. Please, have a seat." I take the empty seat at the surprisingly small dining table. "The official dining room is through the door behind you, this is actually the breakfast nook, but I figured we'd have dinner in here tonight, as it's less overwhelming."

Dick pipes up, "Yeah, this place is a lot more whelming than the dining room." I smile at his made up word and sit back in my chair, watching the two interact. They've obviously spent a lot of time together, as they can predict each other's movements and move around each other accordingly. I pick around my plate, switching my bites between each serving of delicious food. Bruce turns my way.

"When you've finished eating, Phoenix, Dick and I are going to spar in the training room, if you'd like to join us." I nod enthusiastically and sign back.

That sounds great, Bruce! I've never actually gone so long without training before, so this will be great! Bruce smiles at me and chuckles lightly.

"Sounds like you were made to be here then. Dick and I train every day, at least once. You're welcome to join us anytime." I nod at him again and sign again.

I'm done, and I have to use the bathroom, but after that I'll be ready to go.

Dick smiles and sets his napkin down next to his empty plate.

"C'mon, Nix. I'll show you the location of the bathroom, then it's off to the training room." I stand and smile widely. We walk out the door to the hallway, the one Alfred lead me through, and down the hall, toward the stairs. Two doors down from the dining room, Dick stops and points.

"This is the bathroom closest to the dining room. I'll let you take care of business before we move on." I nod and slip into the bathroom, take care of business, and slip out after cleaning up. We walk down the nearby staircase into a basement area and he opens one of the doors to the left. We step into the dark room with the mats and incense tray sitting in the corner. Dick walks further in and hits a hidden button, turning on the lights.The room isn't as dark anymore, the light wood seems to glow from its position on the wall. Dick walks to the center and gestures for me to follow. The white stripes painted on the floor, separated the floor into a fighting ring.

"The way me and Bruce go," He says, gently stretching, "First one out of the white lines is the loser. Sometimes we use weapons, like sparring weapons, but today we're doing hand to hand," he smirks, "Think you can handle it?"

I shrug, feeling a blush creep over my cheeks.

I don't know. I smile at him and start stretching. Go easy on me? He smirks and opens his mouth to respond when Bruce walks in.

"Of course we'll go easy on you, Phoenix. You just got out of the hospital. We can't exactly get you injured so soon after you get better, Alfred would have our heads."

Dick laughs in agreement, and all I could do was smile.

"Okay, I think we'll start with me and Dick. Phoenix, you watch and see if you can't figure out about how it works when we spar. Work for you kids?" Bruce looks at me waiting for approval.

Dick swiftly moves into position as move to the small sitting area near the door. Bruce and Dick stand arms length from each other, and exchange a silent conversation before settling into their first position.

Bruce takes a neutral pose, while Dick goes right into defensive mode. It took about thirty seconds before Dick made the first move, which Bruce easily avoids. They go back and forth for awhile, neither landing a punch on the other. Examining each other, so they could predict each others next move.

Bruce shoots his foot out, catching Dick's ankle and propelling him backwards. With a mere twist Dick catches himself, just barely staying inside the white boundary. He hurls into the air, to flip himself back into position.

Both of them seem to be seasoned fighters with similar, yet different, styles. They almost balance each other out. With Bruce's cunning, brute strength and Dicks evasive, subtly strong fighting style, they are well matched.

The fight quickly ends when Bruce grabs Dick's ankle mid flip and uses Dick's momentum, to push him over the white lines. Dick backflips away from Bruce, with a face full of defeat.

"Damn it! I was close that time!" He growled.

I laughed silently, I would not want to offend Dick right now.

Dick turns to face me, "I'll grab a drink and we can spar next, okay?"

I nod and stand, going over to Bruce. He leans down from his intimidating 6'3" to my tiny 4'11".

"Dick tends to get cocky pretty quick. Just saying." he then stands and glides over to the chair that I was sitting in previously.

Dick walks back into the room and stands in front of me. I furrow my brows briefly. I remember Robin being taller.... Does he have stilts in his boots or something? That's actually a really cool idea.

I distractedly settle into a neutral position, similar to Bruce's at the start of their fight. Dick, again, makes the first move and I quickly move out of the way, his momentum actually almost carrying him out of the circle. I widen my eyes and shake my head to get my focus back to the present.

I move to a more offensive position and clench my jaw.

It's on.