A/N This Batman idea popped in my head randomly on day, and I have not been able to forget about it. So I had to start writing it, and decided it couldn't hurt to post it. This world is mostly based on the Batman cartoons I used to watch as a kid, including events that happened in Batman Beyond (mainly including events that happened in the Batman Beyond movie, Return of the Joker). Also some elements from the Christopher Nolan trilogy is loosely tied in here.

As for a timeline, This story takes place soon after Batman's third Robin (Tim Drake) isn't living or working with him anymore.

Chapter 1 : New Home

Confusion was the only thing I understood anymore. I didn't know why I was in this overly huge mansion. I was confused why this rich important man had suddenly brought me to his home. I didn't know why I was no longer running in the streets, constantly looking over my shoulder in fear. I just knew I hardly cared anymore.

The other man, the butler I guess, looked shocked to see me here. He seemed to be feeling the same way I was, except his confusion was shown all over his face. Outwardly I kept mine well hidden and undetectable. I couldn't trust these people to show them anything other than my emotionless mask. I was going to have to run away from here soon anyway. I could never stay in one place, even a huge luxurious place like this.

Things seemed to be happening in a blur and very quickly. I heard the man, who had introduced himself as Bruce, ask the butler for some light food to give to me. I didn't say anything to stop him like I should have since I wasn't hungry. So within minutes a tray of food was brought into the room and placed in front of me.

I didn't make any move towards it.

"You need to eat," Bruce said gently. "You need to rebuild your strength and get healthy."

I didn't move or say anything. The only outward change I made was to allow myself to scowl slightly. I was annoyed. Nobody had helped me before, I was always left to fend for myself and get hurt. Why would this strange man help me now when others had turned their backs on me. My entire body and mind was on alert, ready to make a quick escape if all this was some kind of trap.

"Alright, I need to go take a shower, so I will leave you alone. I'm expecting to see that entire tray of food gone when I come back," he sighed after realizing I was not going to say anything.

It wasn't like I was going to even touch the food, let alone finish the entire tray. I didn't move or say anything as the man and then the butler left the room. It was quiet, the only sound being the softly ticking clock. Now that I was alone I took the chance to get up and look around. I could learn a lot from the stuff a person has.

I soundlessly stood from my stiff perch on the small armed chair. Using observation and examination skills was something that had been drilled into my head for as long as I could remember. I deliberately and slowly began closely looking at the room from the middle to the entire perimeter, leaving no signs that I had touched anything.

It was already clearly obvious the man was rich. I had also seen there didn't seem to be a tv or a computer, which was odd to me. This meant even with time off work he had other things to do besides surfing the internet or television channels. There was nothing very personal around either. No family pictures, no decorations that showed personality. The entire place looked like something from a fancy magazine. I knew other rooms would probably hold more information, so I poked my head through the hallway to try to get a look into any with open doors.

It was then that the door at the other end of the room opened again. Bruce was walking in, with damp hair and loose fitting clothing. He stopped and looked at me, and it actually gave me the chills. How could someone like this seem so frightening? "I thought I told you to eat," he growled in a low voice. His eyes narrowed, and he glared at me suspiciously.

I jumped at his tone of voice. I knew this voice. It was one engraved in my head. If this meant what I thought it did, it made every confusing thing that had happened to me in the last few days make sense. It meant maybe I could safely stay here at least a little while. I knew the recognition was showing in my face, and I was allowing this man to see some of what I was thinking. I felt a little satisfaction at the look of guilt and apprehension on his face.

That was when the butler came in. "Perhaps, master Bruce, I should show our guest to her room," he said calmly. I could pick out a slight touch of fear or maybe anxiety in his voice too. I understood that to mean he was in on the secrete I was pretty sure I had just figured out. This meant the butler was more to Bruce Wayne than just a butler. An ordinary butler wouldn't know a secrete like this.

I could remember the exact words that exact voice Bruce had just used had told me once. I had repeated them over and over in my head to think about them after I heard them. "Have you ever thought about making decisions for yourself?" he had asked quietly. "You need to seriously consider if you think what you are doing is right, because you don't need to be a tool being used for the wrong reasons." The glaring eyes, and the natural intimidation of the man who had spoken those words were unmistakable as the one and only Batman. It was after he spoke those words that I began to question my parents and what I was doing and therefore hesitated with the bomb I was supposed to set. That gad given Batman the time he needed to stop me and my parents. I had failed the most important task my parents had ever given me that night and everything started changing. But when I begged Batman for help, he had turned his back on me.

Or so I had thought.

I shook my head at the idea of going to bed, and gestured toward the food to say I planned to eat. I could see their surprise as I sat by the tray of food and slowly ate. I wasn't about to let everything I'd been finding out stop now by going to bed too soon.

"Alfred, could you prepare a bath?" Bruce asked in a much more human voice again.

"Certainly," the butler bowed and left the room.

"You're an odd one aren't you," Bruce said, sitting in the chair next to me. "Would you at least tell me your name?"

I didn't respond, give any indication I had heard him, or show any emotion again. I couldn't give away another possible way to show who this man really was. In truth he should know my name, and I was hoping for him to slip up and call me by it so I could prove who he was. He seemed to give up, so we continued to wait in silence.

"The bath is ready, young miss," the butler said, entering the room. "Shall I show you the way?"

I nodded silently, having finished the food on my tray. I stood and followed the man to the bathroom where there was a full tub of hot water. I was going to have to trust these people at least a little if I wanted to find out the truth. I knew it was right now that ignoring my instincts to escape could be the most important decision I ever made.

"I will leave you to clean up," the butler said lightly and bowed himself out of the room.

I sighed and undressed. The soak in the tub felt great. I could feel all my sore muscles relax, and remains of dirt and blood washed away. The hot water even helped my bloated belly relax after forcing down too much food. I tried not to look at the bruising still visible all over my body. I was getting used to it, but the sight of any injury always made me feel faint. Even the sight of a simple multicolored bruise.

Running away and struggling so hard to stay hidden had taken its toll. I had received nothing to eat and little to drink in two days, and my body was exhausted and still recovering from the recent displeasure at my failure from my parents. Aside from Batman's words to me, it was my parents' attempt to kill me that ultimately made me decide where my loyalties were and weren't.

I didn't give myself a very long time before I got out, dried, and dressed in the shirt and underclothes laid out for me. I slowly walked back to the living room.

"I'm just hoping this girl isn't a mistake," I heard the butler say through the door.

"I've wrongly abandoned her once when I thought she was safe, I can't do that again," Bruce said. "But I think it's time to end this discussion," he continued swiftly.

Without hearing his footsteps, the door suddenly opened revealing Bruce glaring down at me. "Listening to others' conversations is rude," he growled.

I took a step back, then cursed myself for showing fear. But I couldn't help it. "I know who you are, and you can't deny it," I exclaimed, speaking out loud to another person for the first time in years and showing the most emotion I had in months. "You are Batman." I was shocked at myself. It was strange to say something out loud, and even though I felt confident I was safe I could feel my body prepare for the wrath of my parents for using my voice.

Bruce stopped and seemed to be debating how to handle the situation I had just placed him in. Even with the fear I was feeling, I couldn't help but smirk knowing I had just caused his discomfort. "There's probably no point in struggling to hide it," he finally sighed, moving away from me to sit down. He looked at me again, and his eyes were firm, scary, and menacing. "But don't think you can use this information against me. I'm not exactly known for my generosity."

He was scary looking, but this time I didn't let the fear I felt show. "Won't tell," I whispered after a long and tense silence. Now that the initial excitement of my discovery had worn off slightly my trained habit to remain perfectly silent was taking over. It was difficult for me to even continue whispering, and I had to force myself to say what I wanted to. "I thought Batman…you I guess, had abandoned me forever. This means you did help me after all."

"Yes, but I was a little late." He turned and sat down, his eyes gazed regretfully out the dark window.

I had gone over my limit for the day in verbal communication. Instead I looked intently into Bruce's eyes, and silently tried to convey that I really was grateful for his help. There was probably no place safer in the world from my parents. Bruce seemed to understand, because he returned my gaze and nodded gently. The small gesture meant a lot to me, and I felt my body almost relax completely.

Everyone remained silent for a while after I spoke. It was the butler, Alfred, who eventually broke the silence. "Would you like me to show Mss Jayden to her room?"

I smirked at both Bruce and the butler as if to let them know I had been quite sure they both already knew my name. Batman had known my name the first time I ever saw him.

Bruce sighed quietly in response to me, and then turned to Alfred. "No, I think I would rather show her."

Alfred gave him a surprised look, but nodded. Bruce rose to show me the way and I followed silently. Without a word between us he pointed out the bedroom, opened the door, and waited while I climbed into the bed. Then he stood next to me.

"I knew you could talk," he said quietly. "And I knew you do have the ability to show emotion. I would like it if I could hear your voice and see expressions on your face more often while you stay here."

I didn't respond or change my expression. I wasn't sure yet about everything that was happening. He had enough of my trust to get those words out of me earlier, but that was all he was going to get. The confusion and everything I had found out was making it hard to think. Staying blank and silent was the response that came easiest with the least effort and thought. So that's what I did.

"But there are some things you need to know," he continued firmly after it was clear I wasn't going to respond. "I have no problems letting you live here if you'd like to stay safe but you will not go snooping or prying into anything more about my life as Batman. It's too dangerous, and I want you to stay far away from that side of me. That also includes sneaking around at night. You will stay in this bedroom unless you need to use the bathroom." He paused and looked into my eyes before continuing, "I've also noticed you have picked up some skills from your parents.,"

I couldn't stop the wince at the mention of my parents.

"Do not use those skills to manipulate me anymore," he warned. "Do you understand?"

He waited, watching me expectantly for a response. The intensity of his blue eyes again made me realize there was something there besides his actions that pushed me to trust and respect him. I finally nodded my head slightly without looking at him. I tried not to think about what was on my mind after the mention of my parents.

Bruce looked a little closer at me. "What is it you want to tell me?" he asked seriously.

I had no idea how he could tell I was hiding something. I looked away and clenched all my muscles. My heart rate climbed as memories of all the mind games and harsh punishments from my parents came to mind. I didn't know if I could say what I wanted to. I shook my head and fought to hold back tears.

"Jayden, look at me," he said quietly but firmly.

With difficulty I looked into his intense blue eyes. The confidence, strength, and determination I saw in them calmed me down a little. I felt my muscles relax slightly.

"If there is something about your parents that you know, you need to tell me. I will do everything in my power to protect you this time, but you need to help me out. Tell me what is on your mind," he said firmly.

"It's hard," I choked out quietly, the words were barely audible, even to me.

"Try your best," he said gently. "I'm listening.

I took a deep breath and stared blankly at the empty side of the room. It was easier to say if whispered it and pretended I was alone. "My father will probably be out of Arkham by the end of the week unless you hear about this. My mother is not dead, and she works along side my father," I shuddered and fought to keep my breathing even. Each word had come out painfully slow and difficult, and I felt exhausted from the effort. For my entire life it had been engraved in me how to properly keep my mother's existence hidden, and pounded into me to always follow through with what I had been taught.

I felt a little sick from forcing myself to say what I had, but I took a slow breath and continued in a slow whispered drone. "My mother specializes in staying in the shadows, and she was there when you rescued me two days ago. That's how well she can hide herself, that not even you noticed her. She calls herself Hidden Arrow, but nobody has heard of her because virtually nobody knows her death was faked."

I closed my eyes in an attempt to hide the tears that were reforming from the uneasiness of telling someone this information. Bruce looked shocked, but understanding was showing in his face. "That explains Spartan's last escape. I'm glad I did bring you here, I'll be able to protect you better this way."

"You thought I was safe before," I whispered as I unnoticeably worked to catch my breath.

"I did," he admitted. "But I never did leave you. I've always been watching you run away from all your foster homes and live on the streets. I couldn't understand why you needed to keep running until I saw your father's attempt to kill you. But now that I have more information I don't have any worries about keeping you safe here."

"If you find and stop my mother, than you'll also stop my father," I whispered. "Otherwise even you will fail against them, and so will I."

"Finding Hidden Arrow will take top priority," Bruce said firmly. "Thank you for sharing that information with me. I know it wasn't easy."

We were silent for a few minutes, while I worked to calm down, catch my breath and relax again. When I began to feel sleepy I broke the silence, "I don't want to help them with their crimes for power ever again," I whispered. I knew they knew that and that's why they now wanted to kill me. I was to be their greatest human weapon, and they didn't want me with my abilities and knowledge to be given to someone else.

"I know," he said softly. We were quiet again, and he didn't speak until my eyes began to droop. "I will leave you to get some sleep now," he said taking another step closer to me. He reached out and touched my shoulder. I flinched slightly, then repressed the urge to shy away from the touch. I had never had good experience from another person physically touching me before. After a few seconds though, the feeling didn't make me quite so uncomfortable, and I let myself relax a little.

"Remember you don't have to run anymore, and you are safe here," Bruce said quietly. "You can trust me."

Then he removed his hand and I soundlessly rolled over to fall asleep. It was safest and most relaxed I could ever remember feeling. I couldn't remember the last time I had been able to fall asleep without looking over my shoulder, and I couldn't ever remember having a real bed like this to sleep in.