One month before the escape

Two years ago

I sat on Robin's bed, carefully wrapping his bruised ribs by way of candle light. Seems Father had been rather harsh during their latest sparring match.

Robin hissed as the bandages tightened.

"You're lucky he didn't kill you" I whispered, wary of my Father's ever knowing presence.

"C-can't have him hurtin' you Princess'' he wheezed. Hitting his head back against his pillow. He was covered in his own blood, even the whites of his mask had gone a sickening shade of pink.

Grabbing a wet rag out of a bowl, I began the gruesome process of cleaning his showing skin, praying I wouldn't uncover yet another injury that could get infected. "I can take it. He wouldn't risk damaging my mind too much, it's you I'm worried about"

"I'll be fine.." Robin waved me off, his voice dropping. "Can nev'r keep me down"

"You're delirious and you need to sleep. I'll sneak you some aspirin and water in the morning." I held his hand for a moment, ensuring he did as I said while I continued to wash off the blood as best I could.

Then like I was on a mission. I practically stormed out of his room, making my way toward the den.

Little whispers in the back of my mind warned me against what I was about to do, but I was too emboldened by my friend being hurt to listen.

"Father" I spat, approaching his chair, the very same one he used to watch said friend for months as he planned. "You will not do that again"

He was on his feet in an instant. Quickly, I backed up, fear churning in my gut, the anger draining out of me like water.

No no. Bad Maddie. You made him angry.

Father held his hands behind his back, scrutinizing me with his one eye. "Was that a disrespectful tone?" He said it so calmly, deceptively so. "I could have sworn I heard disrespect"

Shaking my head, my eyes found the floor. How could I be so careless? I disrespected him and I knew what would happen.

Robin warned me this is what he did. That Father was manipulative and cruel. The knowledge had been a blow, it had crushed my very soul.

My own flesh and blood? Abusive? To me? That isn't how the story is supposed to go.

"Look at me when I'm speaking to you Madolyn" the command made my heart drop. He was angry, so so angry. I raised my gaze to meet his, slow as it was.

Who was I to come barging in here? This was Father's domain. I was lucky to be living here and not on the streets.

"What is it exactly that I won't be doing again, something you decided to bring to my attention?" He grit out, his posture tense, like he wanted to lash out. When I didn't answer, he took a step toward me.

I immediately responded in kind, stepping back for every step forward." I'm sorry father. I don't know what came over me." My heartbeat quickened, pounding so hard I felt it in my head.

When I realized this couldn't go on forever, especially since I was running out of space, I stopped, throwing my hands over my head protectively.

"You will do well to remember the fear you felt, daughter." He warned, his voice full of promise. "I will forgive this bout of lunacy. Do it again and I'll throw you into The Room." Father then made his way back to his seat, calling back to me as I lowered my hands. "Oh and tell Robin, should he put thoughts in your head again, I'll give him worse than what he's already had"

I returned to Robin's room, feeling more defeated than ever. Now father was more angry at Robin and it was all my fault. I shouldn't have done that.

And father seemed to know that Robin and I were talking, even though we'd been doing it quietly for months. Going so far as to only meet in Robin's room at night.

Of course he knew.

I've never been able to hide anything from Father.

He'd threatened The Room. Something I avoided at all costs. I quickly pushed thoughts of that horrible place to the back of my mind because Robin was awake.

"Maddie" the way he said it, so disappointed. "Why'd you do that?"

"You heard?" I wrapped my arms around my stomach. Somehow this hurt more than my father threatening me.

"Kind of hard not to." Robin shifted to his side slowly, pain lacing his every move, scooting closer to the wall his bed was pushed up against. "C'mere" he patted the now empty space.

"You're hurt"

"I know. However I know how scary facing him can be and I want to be there for you." he patted the bed again. "Please Maddie"

With a long suffering sigh, I climbed in, pulling his covers onto us both as we squished on the small bed. "Happy?" I huffed.

"Very" Dick laid a protective arm across me. "Now go to sleep"

"Fine, only if you do too" I leaned against his shoulder, trying to keep as still as possible so his injuries wouldn't be jostled.

When we'd first met, I had an aversion to anyone touching me, but the more I got to know him and realized his love language was touch, the more I'd touch his hand or put my arm around him in those moments where he missed his family the most.

Then it snuck up on me.

Robin would hug me or grab my hand when I was nervous. He'd soothe the thoughts he somehow knew existed or reinforce the truth when my father tried to manipulate me.

I trusted him, I realized, and it was such a foreign experience. I used to think I trusted my father, but it was really just falling for his lies.

"Do you think we'll ever get out?" Robin whispered, his gaze on the ceiling. The candle light flickered across his features, casting half his face in shadow.

"I think we'd be able to if we timed it right" I replied in kind. After a moment, I stopped tossing my fathers words around in my mind. "You said you heard what happened"

Robin hummed. "Most of it yeah"

"He meant your scar didn't he, not how you are right now"

My friend touched the X shaped scar near his mouth.

"What happened?"

I remember that day. Father had been extraordinarily angry, more so than he usually was and he took Robin, locking them both in the medbay.

There was a lot of yelling, none of which I could discern through the door. Then there were the screams, blood curdling and seemingly unending.

When Robin came out, there was so much blood. It'd taken a month to heal and another to fully scar over.

"Doesn't matter. I understand loud and clear" he grumbled. "But I'm not going to stop. I'd still rather take much more than let you face this alone"

I turned on my side so that I could face him, cradling his hand in mine. "Why do you care so much?"

"It's what I do best" Robin grinned, wincing when he accidentally shifted too much. "I'm going to save you, you have my word"

"Is it because I know your friend's identities?" I asked quietly, not really wanting the answer.

Robin was quiet, it made my heart race. Would I lose my one and only friend? "No" He replied firmly, squeezing my hand. "You deserve a chance to live in the real world and I'm gonna help you do that"

We both drifted off, barely managing to stay on the small bed frame.