"R-Rachel? W-What, what have you done?" Her voice rose, a sharp tone cutting into the words. She dropped, grabbing onto Trigon and checking his pulse, not believing what her eyes were telling her. His chest was unmoving. Her fingers pressed into his neck, pushing harder when she couldn't feel anything.

Rachel's mouth hung, she wasn't sure what happened, all she could remember was a blurry image of her father's head cracking against the floor. Denial flooded her body, he was just unconscious. No way would a huge man like that be taken down by a crack to the back of the head. It was just impossible.

"R-Rachel, h-he's dead." Her voice dropped to that of a mouse. So quiet she might have missed it had the words not slapped her repeatedly with each syllable. Dropping to her knees she crawled forwards, staring at her father's face. He couldn't be. No, she didn't believe it. He wasn't so weak as to die from a hit. She never wanted him to die. Just to stop.

What the hell had she done?

Taking a step away Rachel backed into the wall, her body stiffening at the contact. Some part of her mind convincing her that it was a policeman come to take her away for eternity. Her already pale face blanched all the more, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Rachel." Arella couldn't comprehend it. Her Rachel, her baby, killed him.

"M-Mum, mum, I-I'm so, so sorry." She whispered, her voice shaking from the tears choking her.

"Get out." Her voice was barely audible but it rang like a shotgun in Rachel's ears. Tears slipping from her eyes as they registered in her mind.

"Mum-"

"Get out. Get out!" She screeched towards the end, her voice breaking multiple times.

Her body felt like it was going to crumble, what was she saying?

"Mum."

"Get out! Leave and don't bother coming back." She stumbled back, feeling as though she'd been slapped.

Staring at the woman and man both laid on the floor together she span on her heels running as quickly as she could. Not stopping to close the door behind her she ran, feeling the eyes of the neighbours boring into her flesh. Though none could have seen inside she knew they were all judging her.

oooo

Robin stood from his position on the roof, his eyes following the fleeing teen. True he shouldn't have followed her but he couldn't have been more glad he did now. Whatever Rachel was didn't matter to him, he just had to stop a girl doing something stupid over what was clearly an accident.

Turning on his heels he ran after her, her body already beginning to turn the corner from her road, eyes following her from every window. He jumped over the gaps between the houses, barely fazed by them in the slightest solely focused on catching her. He could hear the banging of her feet in front of him but didn't risk jumping down. He'd waste time, not to mention she was still far too emotional. He'd let her run and release her anger. Who knew what she was capable of when angry?

Reaching the last house on the road he watched to see where she was going, she ran head on. Cursing he reached into his belt and pulled out his modified grappling hook. No matter how skilled he was there was no way he could jump that distance.

Throwing the device it latched onto the chimney of the house, forming a solid grip. The houses were in stark contrast to Rachel's, he feared falling through just standing on them. They could withstand Bruce and he in full gear easily.

Watching her like hawk he jumped from one building to another stumbling the first few times having gotten used to spreading his weight differently on the abysmal buildings behind.

Rachel made another turn, one that seemed far more random than the first. She turned down the alley in front of him, during one of his jumps and forcing him to make a sharp turn.

Her movements were starting to slow as she ran, her ragged breath reaching him. He stopped momentarily, his fingers clenching. Should he go down? The more he listened the more the sound became clear. It wasn't breathing, it was suppressed sobs. It made his decision for him, jumping down he wrapping his arms around her, not realising how terrifying it must have been for her.

A sharp force hit his stomach, sending him flying back into an alley wall. A pained groan left his lips as she span on her heels, eyes filled with tears and fists raised to fight.

"Don't even try it creep." She spat, a strange underlying tone filling her voice as she glared at the masked teen. Unable to see his face thanks to the gloom.

"Wait a second." Robin groaned, raising a gloved hand and revealing himself, as much as possible, to the other girl. She froze, her eyes landing on the hand. It triggered something in her mind, not many people walk around in bright green gloves after all.

"Robin?" She asked, her voice wavering, before something snapped inside her. "What the hell is your problem? You scared the life out of me you idiot!" He stumbled to his feet, holding onto his stomach fearful he had internal bleeding.

"Sorry, you were crying what was I supposed to do?"

"You weren't meant to act like a creepy stalker!" Rubbing furiously at her eyes she turned her back to him, storming off. Though she didn't stop speaking to him. "How long have you been following me?"

"Since we parted back there." He responded easily, jogging to catch up. He could see her freeze, her back tensing.

"How much did you see?"

"Everything."

The tension left, a defeated sigh slipping out. No sense trying to hide anything.

"What are you gonna do about it?"

"I don't exactly know. But you can see it's not fight. What the hell happened back there?"

"You're asking me, I thought you saw it all. Saw what I did." Her voice wavered, though she didn't turn to face him.

"You were just protecting her. It wasn't your fault. It's classed as self-defence." He tried to persuade her, stepping closer to her, trying to get her to face him.

"It wasn't meant to happen. I was just trying to help." Sobs were clear as day, all defences she had up falling.

"I know, I swear, nothing bad will happen to you." Taking yet another step closer to her he placed his hand on her shoulder, squeezing tight. He didn't know what she'd do but he was confident it was nothing harmful.

"You know nothing. Mum won't want to see me again. I killed her husband."

"That's her loss, not yours. You're incredible. You helped her and loved her. Don't blame yourself for that. She should stand by you no matter what. I saw what happened, he was abusive and deserved every second of what he got."

"He didn't deserve to die."

"Maybe not, but we can't go back in time. There's nothing we can do to change the past." He may have been hard on her, but she needed to hear every word of what he was saying. Who knew what a woman like her could do when emotionally unstable?

"Robin, I-I don't know what to do." She span, grabbing onto him and burying her head in his shoulder. Tears fell from her eyes and he held on, holding her as close as she'd allow. He'd never comforted anyone before, he hoped these tears weren't the result of him making things worse. "What do I do? Robin, help me, I'm lost."

"Rachel." He didn't know what to say, only able to say her name and hoping that by some miracle that would fix everything.

"Robin. Help." Seeing the girl he'd only just met, had only known as strong and cold broken before him he couldn't turn her down.

"I-It's alright, I'll help you. I promise." She nodded, burying her head in his shoulder. "I'll help you." He repeated, not even aware the words had passed from his lips.

oooo

Bleary eyes cracked open, staring up at the pristine white ceiling. Nothing like her dingy mould rotten one. She attempted to pull her arms up to rub at her eyes, thinking it a mere trick of the mind. But they were under far more resistance than usual. Looking down she saw, not her usual scraggy bed sheet but a thick duvet that could block out even the harshest of chills.

Her mind worked furiously, though it was still clogged in sleep, constantly telling her that this was her home. One it finally caught up and everything flooded back she bolted upright, the covers falling and revealing a large baggy, but clean and new, white shirt. Gripping tightly at the clothing she almost tore it in her anger. She'd lost her family. She'd broken down in front of a boy she barely knew. Everything had been flipped upside down and her world was in shambles.

Kicking the covers away she dropped from the bed, her feet shaking as they landed on the plush carpet.

She had to get out of here. Before he came back. She had to get away. She was dangerous. The police were probably out looking for her. She shouldn't be hiding with a boy who was a vigilante, it just didn't make sense. Why would he help a girl like her?

Her plan to escape didn't go as intended as the door swung open revealing a boy she'd only seen once. No mask covering his eyes and black hair hanging limp, no gel present in the thick strands.

"I'm guessing I call you Richard now." She didn't give him a chance to speak, his eyes betraying him. While he looked calm and collected his eyes flitted about, almost as though he was scared.

"Yeah, so, uh, you're up." He observed, his voice losing any enthusiasm it may have attempted to hold.

"I am. I think I'll go home now. I'm sorry for last night." Tension was rife in the air, neither knowing how to speak to the other. He'd seen her at her most vulnerable, after committing a crime he should be reporting. Hell, he should have taken her in himself.

"No, it's no trouble. Stay for breakfast at least. Bruce would take it as an insult to his cooking if we left. He's finally doing it not Alfred."

"Who?"

"Alfred is our butler Bruce is my adoptive dad." He explained, somehow managing to lead her from the bedroom towards the dining area.

Before she realised what was happening she was outside the double oak doors.

Robin pushed the door open, revealing an elongated table, three places set out. An oldish man sat at the head of the table, the two other plates on either side of him. The table looked empty as Robin lead her to their places.

"That's Bruce. He was out when you came in last night. Bruce you don't mind if Rachel stays. Right?"

"Of course I don't, Richard's told me everything, I'm fine with you staying as long as you want."

An old man dressed in a pristine black suit strode in, carrying three plates expertly, he settled them before the three giving a small bow before leaving.

Pulling her chair out for her Robin explained who the old man was, before slipping around the table and dropping into place. He earned himself a stern look from Bruce before a comfortable silence washed over them.

As they ate Rachel couldn't help being amazed, she'd never had such a peaceful meal before.

please read review