Another Bat Abandoned

Road

A secret hug, a stolen moment. That was what Dick Grayson and Virgil Cain shared. A slip-up in the masks they wore for other people. A closeness that came with true friendship. And nothing more than friendship. But just because it isn't romance, doesn't mean the bond is weaker. If anything, it was stronger.

So when Dick lowered his mask the tiniest bit, Virgil couldn't help but return the favor and revealed a sliver of her broken, depressed, self. Dick didn't shrink away. He only held her tighter as she let the long suppressed tears shred her. Her wailing sobs could not be contained. They wracked her body until she could not cry anymore.

"I have to hide," she whispered, voice hoarse from the cries she had omitted. 

"Why?"

"Because- because- I don't want them to know. What I'm like. How broken I am."

Dick nodded. "There's a balcony on the top of the mountain."

She was gone.

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Virgil had successfully located the balcony in question. The metal railing enclosing it felt like a frail barrier between Virgil and the great wide open. She leaned desperately over the rail and reached one hand up to the clouds, the other steadying her on the railing, a reminder of where she truly belonged. Virgil didn't even realize she was crying again until the wind stung her wet cheeks.

"Hi."

Virgil jumped. She hadn't heard Connor follow her.

"Hey." She wiped her eyes. "I'm fine."

Connor didn't reply. Virgil looked down the mountain, to where the sea crashed against the rocks below. God, it looked inviting. She put her other hand on the railing and leaned further over it. Strong hands held her back.

"You shouldn't do that."

"Why not?"

"It isn't safe."

"Go away." Virgil was beginning to cry again. Connor didn't need to see it.

"Go away is just another way of saying, 'show me that you care enough to stay.'"

Virgil just hugged Connor and cried quietly into his chest. He found himself hugging her back.

"Where do you get this?"

"I was taught it by the genomes."

Connor felt her smile into his shirt, so he went on, "It's a long road to recovery, but you get there eventually."

"Did the genomes teach you that one, too?"

"No, I made that up. It's true, though."

For the first time since she was four, Virgil truly laughed.

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Let me know if you want more to this story. Otherwise, this is the end. I'll give whatever readers I have (thank you very much, those of you that do read this) until September 7th. Okay? Great. :D So great to finally reach an end. And feel free to comment on whatever could have gone a different way. I may just edit it to fit your guys' ideas.