Don't say a word...

JPElles: Catwoman... I just. Het her. A lot. WW is much cooler. Yes, she holds my favour for Bats. Selina Kyle is weird and Catwoman is a klepto. So... yeah. And the aging rthing? Well, have you seen Batman Beyond. That explains it all (Terry McGuiness :drool: XD) Any way, as you will see from the chapter, Bruce and Dick do resolve their fight. They have to. Other wise it would be waaay too difficult to write this story. Lol. And Huntress and Batman? Ew? That's like, such cradle snatching. Huntress is too young for him (same goes for SG). And anyway, most of the time, they really don't get on. Now Huntress and Nightwing.. Aha! That's something else. As you will see (Oo spoilers). :evil laughter:

Dragonofraven: I'm soooo sorry about last chap. I did mean to send it to you. Ack. The last chapter was so typo filled. But this one is different. Of course. Anyway. No I didn't say Mockingbird had a mask before. That's because she didn't. She was purposely wearing a mask. Ya see?

Everyone else: Thank you. And please keep reviewing. It makes me feel loved, lmao.
Disclaimer: I'm not Bob Kane. I didn't create Batman. Or anything else (except my own characters. Nyx, Mockingbird, Ollie). Got it?

"I hope you can see this heart, behind my tired eyes"
- Dido, I'm no angel

Bruce tapped his chin and turned to Dick. They were in the study, talking over "what to do with Tim".

"I've been meaning to tell you that I've found some information for you." Bruce said.

Dick lifted his eyebrows. "What kinda information?"

"I've found your sister." He turned to the computer, tapping the keys and opening a file. "Olivia Parklands. She was adopted, but she ran away from her home. Picked up by the police, stealing. Clinical depression. On anti-depressants."

Dick sat down heavily in the big leather chair. "Where is she now?"

"Stolen Hill Center. It's for suicidal teens." Bruce said, his face still turned to the computer.

"Can I go there?" Dick asked, head in hands.

Bruce turned from the computer. "You can. Visiting hours are from one o'clock." He paused. "But do you really think it wise?"

Dick's head jerked up. "What do you mean? I haven't seen her in ten years! I want to see my sister!"

"That's not what I mean." Bruce said, still calm. "She might be resentful. You've done well for yourself a new life, and she's been shipped from an unloving home, to the streets, to a foster home, and to rehab. She hasn't had a good life."

Dick was silent. Taking in his words. "Maybe... I should go anyway." He said softly. "I have to see her. She's my sister. I've been searching so long."

Bruce nodded. "You don't want to regret it."

Dick stood and lay a hand on Bruce's shoulder. "Thanks Bruce." he paused "For everything."

Bruce nodded again.

Two men, who didn't like expressing their feelings much. And funnily enough, they kinda understood each other. No need formore complicated words, when a look can say everything.

But neither of them said thattoo deep for nineam in the morning.

- - - - -

"Hey Raven?"

Raven had her eyes closed as she laid down on the sofa. Waking up at sixam to come to Gotham did NOT agree with her. "Mhmmm?"

"Do you think you could come with me... somewhere?" Dick asked tentatively.

"Depends onwhere it is." Raven deadpanned.

Dick sighed. "Stolen Hill Rehab Center. I want to go visit my sister."

Raven's eyes snapped open. "Your sister? I didn't know you had a sister."

"Yeah. A twin sister. We got split up when our parents died. I haven't seen her in ten years." Dick explained, rubbing his bloodshot eyes.

"Why is she in rehab?" Raven asked, slightly softer this time.

"Suicidal tendencies." He mumbled. "Visiting times are at one o'clock. Will you come?"

Raven moved over to make space for theweary Dick to sit. "Sure I'll come." She paused. "You haven't had a very good month, have you?" She asked tenderly.

Dick shook his head and put it lightly on her shoulder.

Wasn't he glad he had Raven. She was slightly like Bruce in some good ways, quietly accepting. No torrents of speeches , tirades and sermons. Just quiet advice.

Because, Dick knew, going through this with someone like Star would not be as easy as this.

Dick began to think over this, but couldn't be bothered. Raven was right. This month had been hard.

- - - - -

Ollie sat on her bed, music pouring into her room. She really didn't know what she'd do if they didn't allow music here. It would be hell.

Her room itself was dark, the curtains drawn and posters adorning the sterile white walls. Her own drawings and paintings took up one wall.

The councilors were dismayed with her art. It was dark. Devils, angels, and vampires ran across the paper.

There was a 'motivational' poster on the wall. At least, that's what Ollie had called it when she'd made it. Just to keep the minders happy.

Instead it was really more of a warning.

'The mind is a precious thing. Keep it moving, keep it working. Most of all, keep it open and who knows who will come and visit.

To anyone else, this would mean nothing, but not Ollie. She was 'gifted'. Cursed more like.

Ollie was different, as her mother had put it. She heard things that others didn't. She heard what people thought. Their darkest secrets, the ones that people lock away deep within their minds, they were like open books to her.

Even if she didn't want to hear them, she still did.

That's probably, Ollie reasoned, what made me this way. It would do the same to anyone.

She stretched out a scarred hand and picked up her teddy bear, a small lion named Cubby (That's actually my teddy bear hehehe). She hugged its small body to her chest.

"After losing her parents at such a young age, Olivia has turned to things instead of people for comfort, making her introverted and cut off from the outside world." Hadn't that been what the psychiatrist had said? Some crap like that.

Who knows, maybe it was true. The thing was, she really couldn't give a rat's ass what some academic know-it-all thought about her. He thought she was weird. She heard him think it.

The red numbers of her alarm clock, pointless piece of equipment it was, glowed sadistically at her. 13:20.

All the other kids would have their parents with them now. Brothers and sisters. Ollie hugged Cubby tighter. Lucky them.

Her white door creaked open, hailing the clicking footsteps of Mandy, one of the minders on duty today. "Ollie, dear. You have a visitor."

Ollie sat up, turning her darkened eyes towards the woman. "It's not Doctor Stanton again, is it?"

"No no. It's a nice surprise though." Mandy said mysteriously.

She opened the door wider and a tall, black haired boy walked into her shadowy room.

"Who are you?" Ollie asked rudely. No one could ever accuse her of being a ditherer.

The boy smiled and scratched his head nervously. "Um, I'm Dick. Dick Grayson."

"What?" Ollie spat. If this was a joke, it was soooo not funny.

"I've been looking for you, Ollie. For a long time." Dick said sincerely.

But Ollie wasn't gonna be that easy to please. "Like I can believe that. You were adopted into a good home. By a billionaire nonetheless. I hardly think you spared a thought for me." She knew she was being a bitch, but she couldn't help it. And she could hear his hurt thoughts too.

'Ollie likes to test people' her father had said. Meaning that she's as difficult and stubborn as a mule.

Dick shook his head. "I know you can hear what I'm think, Ollie. I remember that much. You know I have been looking for you. Whether you'd like to believe it or not."

Ollie bit her lip. She should give the boy some credit. He was her twin. "Why?" She mumbled.

She did not do well with emotions. Hazardous, capricious things.

Dick kneeled down and lay a hand on her cheek, causing Ollie to flinch. "You're my sister. Did you really think I'd just leave you?"

'Oh, damn you Dick!' Ollie exclaimed angrily in her mind. 'You always did have a way of making me cry.' She bit her lip harder, blood flowing into her mouth, desperately trying to hold back tears, not to mention failing miserably.

Dick continued, when it became clear Ollie wasn't going to say anything else. "Look, I hate the thought of you being here. The psychiatrist, well, me and my friend both think he's an idiot. I don't want you here. I want you to come stay at the manor with me."

Ollie shook her head. "But they said I was-"

"A danger to yourself? Yeah I heard." Dick interrupted, before asking, "But are you? Do you seriously think you are?"

Ollie shook her head and held up her hands. "I used to cut, but I haven't thought about it in... a long time. It's... not worth it."

"I'm glad you said that." Dick admitted, smiling slightly. "I'm taking you out of this place." He looked over to her wall of art work. "Nice paintings." he said.

Ollie smiled shakily. "Thanks."

Dick stood, opening the door. "I'll get my friend, Raven, to help you pack."

Raven walked in, blinking at the sudden darkness. Though she had to admit, the dark was nice. Ollie was a girl after her own heart.

- - - - -

Ollie's jaw dropped. She'd never seen such a luxurious house in her life. It was amazing that some kind of royalty didn't live here.

Instead it was just a billionaire business man come vigilante.

Dick had filled her in on all of that. She knew half of it anyway. Empathy did come in handy sometimes.

Dick led her through the house, into the study, where Bruce was waiting, typing up 'business propositions'.

"Bruce." Dick called. "This is Ollie."

Bruce spun around in the plush leather spinny chair (I can just imagine Bruce Wayne spinning around on it, giggling like a little girl). "Pleasure. You've eluded our searches for a long time, Ollie."

Ollie blushed. "Yeah. I'm good at that."

"You are welcome to stay at the manor as long as you wish." Bruce offered. "I know that Dick would prefer it if you stayed here."

Ollie looked to Dick for conformation. He nodded. "I don't want you in Bludhaven." he explained. "It's too dangerous there."

"But what would I do here?" Ollie asked. She didn't want to be stuck here, people watching her every move for 'suicidal tendencies'.

"I'd already thought of that." Dick told her. "Bruce and Diana would help you with your... abilities."

"Abilities?" Bruce asked, bemused.

Ollie shifted uncomfortably, whispering to Dick, "You know I don't like talking about that."

Dick smiled. "Don't talk then. Show."

Ollie sighed and looked deep in concentration. Through the back of her clothes burst huge, black, feathery wings. Surprised? She whispered through Bruce's mind.

The answer, Ollie knew, was yes. Very.

She reigned them back in, back under the lumps on her back. "I'm an empath and telepath. It's an... inconvenience."

Bruce's eyes widened slightly. "I wouldn't be moaning if I had your... abilities."

"That's because," Ollie snapped, "you aren't kept awake at night by other peoples thoughts and dreams." She stomped out of the room and down the steps, leaving a bewildered Dick and a thoughtful Bruce.

"I think I hit a nerve." Bruce mused.

Dick turned to his mentor, a mocking look on his face. "Ya think?"

It's getting easier. I liked this chapter. I like Ollie. She's a cool character, or so I think. Don't forget to R&R or no cookies for you!
Umbra