Hey everyone. My last reviewer kicked me in the butt to get something out, so I decided to leave you with a (sort of) cliffhanger. I know it's short, but so are all of my other chapters! Hope you like it.

Disclaimer: I wish I owned Batman. Man, that would be the sweet life. But as it stands, I'm broke. breaks into sobs

As the doors slammed, I could almost sense my doom. Batman was infamous for his harsh temper and cold calculations, but he had never turned those talents on me before. Now his trademark glare was centered completely on my bent head.

'This isn't the end', I thought defiantly, stiffening under his chilly gaze. Ice and fire do not mix, and I was about to melt him like the noon day sun.

"What did you think you could gain from that temper tantrum? A lollipop?", the hiss didn't catch me by surprise. I knew that he was angry, but the 'why' was not as evident. "You show disrespect to me, to my colleagues. Your manners have vanished! I didn't raise you to scream and throw a fit if you do not get your way." Ah, there it is.

"Manners? You're concerned with my manners?", I shrieked back, my voice cracking as I tried to reign in my anger. How dare he talk about how he raised me! "What about my training sessions? Or when I sneak out at night to god knows where? Do you care about where I go or what I do? Of course not. You only care about what the public sees us as."

"I've always had your best interests in mind.", my father answered hastily. Maybe a little too hastily.

"Yes, you've always cared for my well being. Those blond bimbos that you brought home every evening when I was six years old were just for me. Or how about the nightly outings against the Joker, or your exchange of witty banter with Catwoman.", I was treated to quite a sight at that comment, probably one few have ever seen. A look of shock crossed the emotionless face of Bruce Wayne at my sarcastic tone. "You think I had no idea of your nightly escapades! My adopted uncle is the Flash, for god's sake. I'm not stupid!"

"You're dim enough not to know when to keep that mouth of yours shut.", Bruce snapped back. I flinched. Yes, I wasn't the sharpest crayon in the box. And he had to remind me of my stupidity at every turn in the road.

"Fine, you think you're so great? That you know everything? I bet you can name every country in the world from memory, but do you know who my Kindergarten teacher was? Do you know the first word I said, or what book I first read? Do you know my favorite color?", I paused, watching his face. It had become a stony exterior once again, his eyes not even reflecting his thoughts. Those ice blue eyes that so many of Gotham's thugs had looked into and run away in fear. I shivered slightly.

"The answer is no. You don't remember. So stop trying to act like a father when you've never been one to begin with. I can take care of myself." At that I rose, and headed for the door.

"Daddy." His baritone voice made me freeze in place, my hand already on the knob. "Your first word was daddy."

He never saw the tears as I walked out of the office.

I returned to my room soon afterwards, ignoring the anxious shouts outside her door. It seemed Jason had decided to take my recovery upon himself. Well, he could rot in the hall for all I cared. I was busy tying my sheets together as a makeshift rope.

"Come on, Hope. You can't stay in there forever. You need to talk about this thing with your dad or you'll go insane!", Jason yelled once again, pounding on the door as if I were deaf. Unfortunately, my death glares seemed to have no effect on the oak door that separated the two of us. Bundling up my makeshift rope, I quickly opened the window and threw the bulk of it out. Tying one end securely to the bed, slowly I climbed down the outside of Wayne Manor. Luckily I had changed into more suitable clothes (ie my baby doll blue tank with worn out jeans and a light jacket instead of that hideous uniform that I'm forced to wear at school every day) because the way down wasn't the easiest. In fact, I landed on my face at the bottom. So much for stealth.

K, that's it. Review if you want the next update! It only takes a few seconds. Love yas!