Chapter 1 Lindsey

I ran, I ran and ran until I couldn't no more. Tears and rain stinging my eyes as I ran to nowhere. My brown hair was soaked making it look black as the night I was running in and my blue eyes red from crying. I slipped and fell landing in a puddle with a plash scraping my right knee. I lay there for a while thinking, if this would be a better fate then going home to my alcoholic Aunt and Uncle.

I used to live with my parents when I was four but a terrible disease that has no name took my Mother from me causing my Dad to go insane. He spent years trying to perfect a cure but he couldn't get it right. One night he was staying late trying, another recipe for the cure using cryogenics. He slipped and fell in the giant vat of the ice cold solution transforming him into a monster bent on killing. Mister Freeze.

My name is Lindsey Fries. I know what my Father has become and what he's doing. Since my Fathers accident I was put in the care of my legal guardians. My Uncle Rick and Aunt Shelley from my mother's side. I was put in witness protection along with my Aunt and Uncle we had our names changed and every time the names were compromised we moved. And that was a lot.

Growing up I never made friends. Mostly because I sent out the leave me alone vibe. Being alone made me a victim of bullying a lot. I've been called every name any 6-10 year old could come up with. But, being alone was easier then having friends because, the only way to survive in this world is too keep to yourself and have no weaknesses. The couldn't know my secrets. Who I was. It would have ruined everything and I'd have to move again.

Life at home wasn't much easier. I would come home go to my room and stay there. I was scared to come out cause if I did they would see me and get mad the would tell me to bring them things and if I didn't move fast enough I would get hurt whether it be the belt. Or a backhand to the face.

I was brought back to reality with the pounding of feet coming my way. I didn't want anyone to find me so I curled up into a ball as small as I could hoping they wouldn't notice me.

"Lindsey!" The figure called seeing me he ran faster his flashlight pointed at me.

Dick? What was he doing here I thought.

"Holy shit." he said kneeling beside me.

"Go away." I moaned. "Leave me alone."

"Are you alright? What happened?" He asked obviously not hearing me.

He turned my knee towards him he touched my scraped knee. I sucked in a quick breathe. It hurt. A lot.

"Damn.." he murmured. He out his flashlight in his pocket and picked me up in his arms. Being 12 I was pretty light. Even to a 13 year old.

"No, put me down." I muttered. "Leave me alone."

Ignoring me he started walking. In minutes we at his house. Well house isn't the best word. I would say mansion. Yeah that's the right word.

Dick lived with Bruce Wayne the Multi-Gaggillionare after his parents died in an accident. He woudn't tell me much but, then again I wasn't that forthcoming with my past either.

I didn't realize how far I had ran from my small apartment. When we got inside the first thing I heard was there butler Alfred's British accent.

"Master Dick. What happened."

"It's nothing Al. Can you get me the first aid kit please?"

"Yes sir." He left the room.

Dick carried me too the couch and sat me up on it. He pealed my drenched sweater of my cold wet body I automatically covered my wrists not wanting him to see the bruises and he left the room for a moment to get me a blanket. He wrapped the blanket around me. Alfred came back first aid kit in hand.

"Thanks." Dick said never taking his eyes off me. " Make her some hot chocolate please Al."

Alfred bowed and walked off.

I stared at dick as he prepared disinfectant for my knee. His black hair was soaked and hanging over his eyes. It was really different from how I was used to seeing it which was gelled back and neat looking. His eyes were so blue the stood out more than any other feature. He had a hard expression on his face. He was wearing a navy blue leather jacket and black jeans. He turned to me and pulled up the blanket to clean my scraped knee. I turned my head away avoiding eye contact.

" I didn't need help" I said hugging the warm blanket closer to me. I looked at him out of the corner of my eyes. I saw him sigh and continue cleaning. He must've found a bad spot because I gasped in pain as the disinfectant touched my knee.

"Shoot." He said under his breathe. "Sorry." He was acting detached and distant. It was really unlike him. Usually he'd be asking me questions. Pestering me. But he wasn't. Why?

"Are you okay?" he asked me. I turned my head towards him. He was staring at me into my eyes.

"Yeah. I-I guess." I said.

"I know you're not, But-" he sighed mid-sentence. He turned and got out a bandage. And wrapped my knee in it.

He stood up saying "We should get you out of those clothes. You'll catch a cold or worse." He left the room to get me clothes I assume. Alfred came around the corner bringing me my hot chocolate and another for Dick. He set them on the table beside the couch.

"Thank you." I said as he walked away.

He turned and smiled at me "Your very welcome miss." Then he left.

I smiled to myself. He was so nice and kind. He is what I think a grandfather would be like. I never had one so I wouldn't know.

Dick came back he looked angry. In his hands were a t-shirt a pair of sweatpants and a sweater.

"There boys clothes I hope you don't mind." He said tossing them to me . They landed on my lap. "There's a bathroom down the hall to the right." He turned and left.

I stood up letting the blanket fall. I grabbed his arm. "Hey," he turned towards me. "Are you okay?" I asked.

He touched my hand reassuringly. "Yeah," he smiled at me "I'm fine." He let go of my hand and it fell to my side. "Now go get changed k? We can talk after if you want."

"K." I said. I walked down the hall to the right and went in the bathroom. I peeled of my wet clothes and put on Dicks warm and clean ones. I turned and looked at myself in the mirror. Man I look like shit. I thought. But, I did look the same the first time I saw Dick.

I met him 2 years ago when my family moved from Dakota City to Gotham. My first day was really bad. My Aunt and Uncle were poor so I couldn't get the uniform. They couldn't even afford to put me into this fancy school. The only reason I was here 'cause I aimed for it and got in on a scholarship. Why? Cause I'm a freaking genius. For a 10 year old. I showed "Potential" and "could benefit from this school" at least that's what the administrators said.

I walked to my locker on the first day. Fumbling with the lock. My hair was a mess and in a ponytail. My clothes had holes in them. As I tried to get my locker open some girls walked by and whoisperd "OMG who let that thing in this school." I ignored them. I was used to it. It's sad you know, when you experience something so much you can say "I'm used to it". I finally got my locjk open after much frustration I sighed about to put my books in when someone came up behind me and shoved me into the lockers. I dropped my books and fell to the ground. I sat up sitting there while everyone laughed at me. Not everyone laughed some just stood there and watched. Except for one kid. As the crowd dispersed he knelt beside me and picked up my books. I stood up fast ready to catch my books if he threw them. But he just stood up and handed them to me. He was white and his black hair was gelled back, his eyes were a deep blue and he smelled like money.

"Here." He said. He smiled at me.

I grabbed my books and left as fast as I could without running. I sighed in aggravation. There was always that one kid who tried to make friends with me but I never let them in. Even to this cute boy.

Two weeks later I was sitting alone at lunch outside in the yard. I was eating my sandwhich when I heard a thump beside me. I looked over and there he was. Sitting right beside me. The nameless boy who helped me on my first day. I scooted away from him and he followed. I sighed.

"What do you want?" I asked. "Who are you?"

He oustretched his hand "My name is Dick Grayson."

I turned away from his hand.

"What's your name? Where are you from?" he asked.

I ignored him. We sat there for a few minutes in scilence. I hated it but I t was better than him talking.

I jumped when he put his hand on my arm. "Look," he sighed "I know it's hard coming to a knew school especially one as presteged as this one. But you can't go through life being alone and not having friends. I used to be like you-"

"No." I said

He looked at me with confusion.

"You were never like me." I said raising my voice. " You don't know me and I don't want you to. I don't need friends and I don't need you. The only way to live in this world is alone. That way you have no weaknesses and no one get's hurt. YOU DON'T KNOW ME! SO STOP PRETENDING TOO!" I screamed the last sentence tears dripping from my eyes. I turned and ran leaving the cute boy and my lunch there.

Apparently my yelling didn't faze him because the next day he was back. In the same spot and he sat with me in silence he wouldn't leave and neither did I. It went on like that for months occasionally he would tell a joke or do something funny with his lunch or make a mistake and I would laugh. The first time I did he stared at me with surprise as if I didn't have a sense of humour. I don't know how but slowly he was getting me to open up and climb out of my shell. A couple months after my first laugh with him. I spoke to him.

"Lindsey." I said loud and clear.

He coughed choking on his sandwhich. "Huh?"

"My name," I repeated "it`s Lindsey."

He smiled at me. "Nice to meet you." He said smiling at me.

I smiled back then went back to my lunch.

We started talking every once and a while but never about me if he asked me a question I would change the subject. But he seemed satisfied that I was opening up to him. He told me about himself but nothing to personal and I listened and rememberd everything. I liked listening. Part of me wanted to keep listening but the other half said I should leave and distance myself. But I didn't because for once in my life I was happy. Soon I realized the more I hung out with Dick the more I was left alone less people bothered me. I thought it was because I started dressing nicer and keeping my hair in order. But it was because of who his dad was. Bruce Wayne. Their parent sprobably worked for him so they had to show his kid respect.

Soon, Dick introduced me to his friend Barbara Gordon who quickly became my friend to. We were different but very much alike at the same time. Spending more time with them made me want to spend less time at home and more time with them. Dick thought it would be fun to teach me how to fight. I'd always wanted to learn and learning gave me the confidence to tell people to back off. Babs and I would just sit in her room and watch movies and talk it was fun. My aunt and Uncle never realized if I was there or gone. They didn't care. They still bullied me though but they stopped the day I got my uniform.

Dick gave it to me for my birthday so I could feel like I belonged. When I showed up at school with my uniform people stared at me mouths wide open. I didn't care they had nothing to pick on me about anymore. But, 3 boys showed up and stood infront of me in the hallway.

"Look who got a uniform." One of them said with a smug grin. I think his name was Shane. " I hope you don't think you belong?"

"How'd you get it?" Rick asked "Did ya steal it." He shoved me back a bit.

I looked around and saw Dick really far back he was trying to get to me.

"Or did u make it? What's it made out of?" Jackson asked.

I looked him dead in the eyes and said "Your mom's chest hair!"

He flung a fist at me and I caught it twisting his hand till he gasped in pain.

"You think you're so tough!" I yelled. "What kind of tough guy can't even hit a girl."

Shane took a swing and I ducked letting go of Jackson's hand. I swept my leg underneath his and took his feet right out from under him. He fell with a thud. I got up and said "You should really learn to hold your toungue boys." And I walked away.

Even though were hung out a lot these past months m Dick and I have been drifting apart. I don't know why but I never see him anymore. Is it because I have more friends now that he thinks I don't need him anymore? I don't know.

A knock on the door made me jump snapping me out of my memories.

"You okay in there?" Dick called.

"Yeah I'm fine. Be out in a sec." I said.

I sighed and walked out of the bathroom.