Dick and I sat on a rooftop near the edge of Gotham, our feet dangling hundreds of feet in the air, he'd said his goodbyes to his family, only explaining the bare minimum and a promise to visit as soon as I was settled.

I wish Dick could go live at the manor again. I'd already done so much damage by keeping him from them because I couldn't hide well enough from my father.

Maybe I should go back.

if he got one of us, then he might leave the other alone. Especially if it were a condition of my homecoming.

The thought made me feel exhausted. Living with my father meant playing a game, a very dangerous 'if I slip up he'll figure out I'm not actually on his side' kind of game. It's satisfying that I believe in what he believes because he's always right.

His way of living was so screwed that he couldn't tell the difference, not really, between reality and what he'd created as truth in his mind.

It was tiring and some days I felt like I was always seconds away from breaking.

The day Dick told me what my father was, my whole world fell apart. Everything I've ever been taught, it was all fake or twisted to fit my father's ideals.

Slade was already angry at me for what I'd done, the level of disrespect would get me The Room. He'd probably make me stay there until I gave him the information he'd always wanted.

The very thought of spending time in The Room made me want to give it to him.

I suppose that's what it's for.

But I couldn't betray Dick like that, not after he threw his life away, his friends and freedom, his family. All in the name of helping one person.

Was I even worth it?

As if sensing my thoughts, Dick wrapped his arm around me, pulling me into his side. I hadn't realized how tense I was until I'd practically melted into his touch. "What's wrong?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're making the 'I'm thinking about my dad' face again" he leaned his head against mine.

"I'm so tired" I let out, watching the ant like cars move through the city.

His grip tightened ever so slightly. "I know" The why was unspoken, we both knew what I meant. "Promise me you'll hold on, that you won't let him win"

"He already has." Pulling my knees up was tricky but I managed to curl up beside him. "Look around you Dick, we're constantly on the run. You always have to lie to your friends and family."

"No, not against us. In your head" he tapped my forehead. "Because that's one place I know he can only win in if you let him"

"My whole life—" I bit my lip, my chest aching and tears threatening. Even after all this time, it still hurt me.

I'd been lied to, manipulated and gaslit to aid in my father's lifestyle. And I had believed him, like any daughter would a parent because I trusted him. Why would I have any reason to doubt him?

"I know," Dick whispered. "I know. I'm sorry that I was the one to break it to you, that you went through that. I'm sorry that you found out like that"

I fought the emotion, the tears, the heartbreak. Anything to avoid crying. I hated every aspect of it, especially because if I let that dam break, there'd be no stopping what came after.

"You're hurting and you haven't really had any time to process what happened. It can be hard to watch your entire world crumble, especially because it was all you knew, but I know that you're going to get through this, you're a strong person Maddie and maybe I've been the only one to see how truly amazing you are." Dick kissed the top of my head.

"I hate to break up such a touching moment" my stomach dropped at the voice, Dick assisted in helping me up as we both turned to face my father. "But I'm here to take you both back"

"Over my dead body" Dick put an arm over me protectively. We were much too close to the edge for comfort.

"Not ideal, but that can be arranged" Deathstroke's one eye gleamed menacingly. "I know my daughter has been playing hero. Imagine all the information she can give me now" He casually took his sword out, brandishing it. "I've been looking for you both for too long"

Slade moved forward an inch and it startled me, causing me to lose my balance and as hard as Dick tried, he couldn't stop me from falling.

Wind whistled past me, and I couldn't help but be thankful I wouldn't see the unforgiving ground rushing to meet me.

Dick dove after me, one hand outstretched as the other threw a weighted rope. Time seemed to slow and I watched as father joined our free fall.

The look on Dick's face was heartbreaking.

Oh

Oh

His parents fell too.

Finally the rope wrapped around me and Dick yanked it up as hard as he could, forcing me up to meet him.

Time began to speed up as soon as I was caught, Dick immediately wrapped a rope around me, securing me to him as he shot out a grappling hook. I held on for dear life, watching father gaining on us.

And then the chase was on, over the roaring wind and speeding passerby, I could just make out a figure jumping from rooftop to rooftop.

Despite the speed we were going, I knew where we were headed. The zeta tubes could put us anywhere in the world and Slade would be left trying to figure out where we went. We hit the alleyway hard, Dick stumbling from the messy dismount, but he was already firing up the computer as he ran to the booth, still intent on carrying me there.

We didn't have time to stop, not even for a second.

I could barely hear the soft voice of the computer as Dick closed the door behind us. The old phone booth was a tight fit but we both managed, although the sight of my father running at us full speed was terrifying, we disappeared before he could make it within ten feet of the booth.