Dick and I locked ourselves in his bedroom at the manor, both of us on the unnecessarily comfortable bed.

After some disgruntlement on the secret identity of Batman and his butler, they relented in letting me stay with the injured bird.

I helped him settle on the bed, checking his bandages for myself even after watching Alfred do it. I sat beside him, not wanting to look him in the eye. I was the reason he was like this.

"What's wrong?" Dick grabbed at my wrists gently.

"I'm sorry" I whispered, my gaze on my lap.

"Hey" Dick winced as he shifted, placing his hand on my cheek as he leaned on his elbow. "Tell me what happened"

I sighed, carefully pushing him back into a resting position. He reluctantly followed the silent command. "I went back to my apartment while you were on your mission"

"I know"

"What? How?"

"You think you can really hack the League systems I built? You barely know how to hack as it is" He teased.

"Hey! I knew enough to figure out people's identities" I defended.

"Whatever, continue."

I hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Father was there"

His eyes were wide with alarm. "How did you escape?"

"You. I used you. I told him that he wouldn't take me because of how you'd react" I looked away again, guilt churning my stomach. "H-he hurt you to reach me a lesson"

"But I'm okay now." He assured, taking my hand in his. "We both know he let you walk out of there."

"Why?"

"It's all part of his game. He wants you to feel like you have choices so that it makes it all the more devastating when you lose."

"How are you always so good at reading him?" I wondered as I laid down beside him, scooting close enough to comfortably lay my head on his uninjured shoulder.

He leaned his head on mine. "He did the same thing to me with the Titans. Manipulated me into thinking I could save them if I did his bidding"

"Do you ever think about going back to them?"

"All the time, but they're doing well for themselves. Cyborg is doing amazing as the leader and the biggest threat to them followed me when I took you away. Without you, Slade has lost his informant and can't find their weaknesses, smart as he is. The Titans are safer without me there"

I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "I'm sorry that you lost everything because of me"

"I didn't lose everything" Dick kissed the top of my head. "I still have my best friend"

Humming, I let myself fall into his warmth, just as we used to do to keep one another sane. "He's going to come at us again. We either need to tell the team or at least Batman or we need to move to another place"

"No Batman," Dick replied firmly. "He'd get all overprotective and then go after Slade himself and I'm not letting him interact with that psychopath"

"Okay, well what about the team?"

"Half truths at best. Only what they need to know. I'm still set on keeping the Titans out of the League's eye as much as possible"

"Traveling?"

Dick seemed to consider it for a moment. "Slade has contacts all over the world. We'd have to go deep underground. Maybe the League of Shadows could offer safety? Talia owes me a favor"

"Can't do that, he has loyalists there. He used to be Ra's Al Ghul's third in command before Slade turned on him"

"So telling the team it is, if only for their own safety" Dick sighed heavily.

We lapsed into silence, just taking a moment to enjoy the fact that we were both safe and with each other.

I settled against his side, ever mindful of his injuries. My eyes began to droop even if I tried to fight it.

It only felt like a second before Dick was moving, he laid a hand on my cheek. "Go back to sleep. I'll be right back" he promised.

"Where're you going?" I slurred, subconsciously reaching out for him as I struggled to stay awake despite the bright light.

"Just need to talk to Alfie" Dick soothed. "Nothing to worry about Mads"

"Okay" I sighed, allowing my eyes to shut. Dick's warm hand left my cheek, that much I was aware of as well as his injured stride when he moved away.

"Master Dick, would you and your guest like to join us for dinner or will you be dining in your room?"

"I think I'd like to come down but I'll ask her what she wants to do" Dick answered the butler and I was grateful that I was facing away from the door or my identity would have been exposed.

"Very good sir, dinner is ready whenever you are."

"Okay Alfred, just give me a minute and I'll be down"

There was a space of silence before Dick shut the door again, the sound of the lock re-engaging following the action.

I sat up on the bed, squinting against the lights as I fought a yawn. "You sure you want to go?"

"I think it's time" Dick shrugged as he sat down next to me, casually clutching his torso.

Nodding, I grabbed the sunglasses off the nightstand, putting them on as Dick leaned into my side.

"We can still run" I suggested, halfway between joking and serious.

"We'll be okay as long as we stay out of the public's eye. My injuries are apparent and Slade's most likely watching major news outlets for you"

"Agreed" I eyed the bandages peeking out of his shirt. "We should go down then"

Dick hummed, although he made no move to get up. "We should before Bruce comes up here looking for us." He stood slowly, moving toward his bags, pulling out a domino mask. Dick then made his way over to me, grabbing his mask glue before standing in front of me. "Okay, it can get a little itchy the first few times you wear the glue, but eventually you'll get used to it."

"Dick-"

"I know the glasses bother you so try this out and see if you like it" He continued, applying the adhesive to the back of the domino mask. "Ready?"

Sighing, I nodded. "You're persistent"

Dick grinned, carefully lining the mask up to my eyes before pressing it to my skin. "How's that? Can you see?"

Despite the slight film over my eyes, everything was clear. "This one of your old masks?"

"Yeah. I didn't really need night vision during my titans days but Blüdhaven and Gotham are darker cities at night"

He stepped back, offering his hand to me to help me stand. "I should be the one doing that, last I checked, you were the injured one."

Dick didn't reply, instead he leaned on me slightly as we walked to the dining room.