A/N: Okay, so here's take two on this chapter. It's mostly just going over Addilyn's training and it hints a bit at the friendship building between her and Dick. I actually like this a lot better than my original version of this chapter and I really hope ya'll enjoy it too! You can always let me know with a review!

As always, I own nothing you can recognize.

FOUR: TRAINING

That first day is about as easy as it gets training wise. I thought I was prepared and would catch pretty quickly. While the physical aspect of the training came easier than I expected, it was still extremely difficult. Every morning Dick woke me up at freaking dawn to go on a seven mile jog. Seven. Miles. After the jog, we would eat the meal Alfred made for us (always something healthy and full of protein) before we headed down to the Cave. Mornings were spent sparring and learning new moves and basically getting my butt handed to me. Bruce was able to train with us for part of the morning before he needed to make his daily appearance at Wayne Enterprises but for the most part it was Dick training me at this point. I was still bad enough Alfred probably could have trained me.

We would break for lunch around noon or one every day and once again Alfred already had something extremely healthy ready and waiting for us. I was seriously starting to miss pizza and hamburgers. After lunch was more training. The first half of the afternoon, Dick would take me to his specialized gymnastic equipment and teach me some basic aerial maneuvers and work on my flexibility. I always felt extremely outclassed at this point in our day. Dick could fly. All I seemed capable of was falling.

Once Bruce came back home I would get the chance to shower and change before we ate an early (healthy) dinner. Afterwards, the mental training started. I asked once, why we did all the physical training and then the mental training. Bruce and Dick gave me roughly the same answer: to prepare for real missions. I was going to be tired and sore and ready to stop but my brain would have to keep functioning at the same capacity as when I started. I just wanted a nap somewhere in my day.

Bruce's mental training included learning how to hack through firewalls and advanced security protocols, understanding circuitry, picking up a few new languages, lip-reading and understanding body language. I would spend hours with my nose in a book or my eyes glued to a computer screen or my fingers tracing wires and figuring out each one's function. There were a lot of nights I would sit at the Batcomputer studying and learning while Batman and Robin went out on patrol. They let me listen in to their comms but I wasn't allowed to say anything at this point. I was supposed to learn how they communicated and handled things as well during this time.

Needless to say, by the end of the first week I was exhausted. By the end of the second, I felt like I was dying. My brain and my muscles were sore and I just wanted a day to sleep. Unfortunately, that didn't seem to be in the cards for me. I had a lot of catching up to do and that was only becoming more and more obvious with each passing day. Dick said I was doing well, progressing quicker than he did through most of the combat training, but I could tell I was lagging in the mental training. Languages I could get, for some reason they came to me easily, but when it came to circuitry and hacking I was struggling.

Dick tries to encourage me of course, telling me it's hard for everyone in the beginning, but I know it never was for him. I smile and nod and pretend I'm not completely frustrated. Some nights, when I can't take the annoyance of failure anymore, I use his equipment in the gym. I turn the speakers on so I can still hear everything happening on patrol but I tune out everything else. I let myself fly the way Dick has been teaching me and while I'm still nowhere near his grace at least I can see and feel my progress.

It's on one of my more frustrating nights when Dick finds me after patrol, watching me with thinly veiled amusement for a moment before approaching the edge of the mats under the bars. The bars are my favorite, I can throw myself around and around and burn off a lot of frustration. I pause now though, perching on the highest bar and looking down at Dick. He's changed back into his civilian clothing (this time just a thin t-shirt and shorts) and his blue eyes are dancing with amusement, "Rough night?"

I shrug and let myself swing until I'm hanging upside down on the bar, my knees hooking over the bar, "Frustrating."

"What was it tonight?" he asks, hopping up onto the lowest bar and facing me. Like this, we're about three feet away from each other and he's eye-level with me.

I sigh, "Hacking again. I just…can't figure it out. And I'm not use to that, failing at something."

"You're not failing. I told you before, it isn't easy. I struggled a bit too at the beginning. You'll figure it out. Bruce doesn't expect you to be amazing at it, just capable enough to unlock some doors and access protected documents for now. I couldn't do half the stuff I can now when I first started out, most of it came with practice in the field. You're doing really well."

"Thanks," I say, though I don't really believe him, "So, how are things with the Team? You had your first mission recently, right?"

Dick shrugs, "We did. It went fine, we chose a leader."

I pull myself up now, swinging around so my legs are dangling over the bar again and cock my head to the side, "Oh?"

Dick nods, "Aqaulad."

"And you're okay with that?"

He thinks for a minute and I wonder if he's thinking back over the mission. Seeing everything Aqualad did right, proving himself as their leader, "Yeah…yeah, I'm okay with it. I'm not ready yet. I thought I was, I thought since I've been working with Batman for so long I would be the natural choice. But I'm not. I know how Batman works and how he thinks, we don't really need to talk that much when we're working together, we just know. That doesn't really work with the Team. Too many different minds."

"I could see that being an issue. You and Bats have worked together forever. I'm sure it's the same for the others too though. They know what their mentors expect of them but now they have to relearn too."

Dick nods with a smile, "Yeah, you're about that. Aqualad is a good choice though. He proved as much during the mission."

"Good. Sounds like the Team is doing well."

Dick glances up at me, "Yeah, but you already knew that."

I shrug with a smile, "True. But it's different being here and experiencing it, not just watching it on television."

"Sounds trippy."

"A bit, yeah," I laugh.

Dick drops off the bar now, "Come on, it's getting late and Alfred hates when we don't get a solid four hours of sleep."

I sigh and nod, "Alright, alright. I think I've calmed down enough to actually sleep now anyway."

I stand up, balancing precariously on the bar before launching off, managing to flip and twist my body before my feet connect solidly with the ground. I've gotten a lot better at sticking my landings recently. I guess all the venting sessions in here are helping more than I realized.

"You're getting better," Dick praises, tossing me a small towel.

I wipe at my face and drop the towel around my neck, "Thanks. I just wish Bruce thought it was enough."

"You're getting closer. I'm sure within the next month or so you'll be out on the streets and working with the Team."

I groan, "I can't imagine another month of this."

He cackles, "It's not so bad. At least you'll have school soon so you won't need to train all day, every day anymore. Plus, Alfred is really picky about homework being done before any nighttime activities.""

"Ugh, I forgot there would be homework."

"Don't worry, I'll help you. Oh, and you'll get to meet Babs. She's pretty smart too so you're covered."

Babs. I smile at the nickname. Barbara Gordon. Dick's best friend and occasional love interest depending on who you ask and which story you're following. I've always like her. She's sassy and tells Dick the truth, even if it hurts them both. Honestly, meeting her is almost as exciting as meeting the Team. I'm actually pretty surprised I haven't already met her.

"I'll see you in the morning, Addi," Dick waves as he passes my bedroom door and heads into his room.

"Night, Dick," I call as I step into my own room.

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The next morning, I get to sleep in somewhat. As in, the sun is kind of up when Dick bangs on my door. I groan and throw a pillow at the door, "Go away."

There's a cackle, "Come on, Addi. Time to get moving!"

I grumble and roll back over to sleep.

"If you aren't up in the next five minutes I'm sending Alfred in and we all know how that went last time."

I nearly jump out of bed and fly across the room, flinging the door open, "I'm up. Don't you dare send him in here."

Dick laughs, "I won't but hurry up. Nice hair by the way."

I flick his shoulder, "Shut up. I'll see you downstairs in a little bit. Now go away."

Dick winks and turns away, "Twenty minutes, Addi. Then I'm sending Alfie in."

I groan and shut my door, leaning against it and coaxing myself into getting ready. The only reason I'm able to push myself off the door and into my bathroom is the thought of Alfred. He doesn't play games when it comes to morning calls. Last time, he threw the curtains open, yanked the sheets off my bed (practically tossing me to the floor) and when I didn't move to get up proceeded to pull me up by my ear. It wasn't pleasant.

I rub at my ear absently as I turn the shower on, yawning and wishing I could curl back up for just ten more minutes. I really am not a morning person. The water helps wake me up a little bit, easing my tense back and shoulder muscles and clearing some of the fog from my brain.

By the time I'm showered and changed into my usual workout clothes (stretchy tank and calf-length leggings) I'm coming up on my twenty minute mark. I grab the headphones and MP3 Alfred bought for me at some point during the week, already loaded with a ton of my favorite music, and make my way toward the kitchen. Alfred is coming up the stairs as I head down and he pauses when he sees me, "I was just coming to fetch you Miss Addilyn. It's good to see my services are not needed today."

"I couldn't agree more, Alfie," I tell him, grinning and following him back down the stairs into the kitchen.

Dick is sitting at the bar, drinking a green concoction of some kind and I groan. Anytime he has a shake for breakfast I'm usually in for a world of hurt. I slide onto my own bar stool and Alfred hands me my own shake. I sip at it, trying to ignore the weird taste and look over at Dick, "You're going to kick my butt today aren't you?"

"We are," somehow I manage to keep from jumping as Bruce walks in from the hallway to the side, dressed in a loose shirt and basketball shorts. I forgot it was Saturday which means Bruce will be home all day with us. Saturdays and Sundays are the hardest days of the week. Dick doesn't go easy on me but Bruce is tough and he expects a lot more.

I sigh and drink the rest of my shake in silence. There's a steady thrum of soreness covering my whole body and while it's nowhere near as bad as it was during the first week it still make me fidget a few times.

Bruce, being Bruce, notices of course, "You need to stretch more. Did you remember to stretch after your workout last night at all?"

I shake my head, "I forgot last night."

"Don't skip it. You're going to make it harder on yourself and you won't make any progress."

"Yes, sir."

Bruce nods, seeming satisfied and hands his empty glass to Alfred. He stands and moves toward the back door, "Let's go."

I down the last of my shake and hand the glass to Alfred as well, Dick following right behind me as I trail after Bruce. I stretch my arms as I walk, pulling them across my chest and twisting my torso. There's a painful twinge up my back and I wince. Definitely shouldn't have skipped the stretching last night. We wind our way across the property, heading for my favorite trail at the far edge. I like this trail because it winds through trees and requires a little more concentration. I can almost forget we're going for a run when we go on this trail.

Bruce is standing at the head of the trail, stretching his legs and shaking out his limbs. I follow his lead, feeling the pulls and tugs I've grown used to by now. Dick stretches beside me, "You ready to lose Addi?"

I scoff, "As if. You didn't beat me last week, what makes you think you can this week?"

He smirks, "I've been training."

"When?"

"Before patrols."

My eyes dart to Bruce, "You covered for him so he could train?"

Bruce chuckles, not answering as he takes off down the trail.

"Dammit, Bruce!"

Dick is cackling as we start our own run. I shake my head, even more determined not to lose.

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Thirty minutes later I'm waiting at the end of the trial for Dick. I'm panting, covered in sweat and my legs feels like jello but I won. I even managed to keep up with Bruce. It's the first time I've managed to keep so close to him. Usually, I can see him through the trees, far enough ahead I lose him on turns. This time though, I kept pace. I'm feeling pretty proud of myself as Dick comes running out of the trees, looking as tired as me. He looks over at Bruce, "Did it work?"

"Like a charm," Bruce says as he pats Dick on the shoulder.

"Did what work?" I ask, glancing between the two of them.

Dick's flat out beaming now, "Bruce wanted to see how fast you could really go."

I blink, "Wait, so you knew I would probably beat you?"

Dick shrugs, "You're fast. That much is obvious but you're always holding back. Bruce wanted to see how fast you could go when you weren't holding back. Turns out, you're extremely fast. Not just anyone can keep up with Bruce."

Bruce chuckles, "I wasn't going as fast as I could but your speed is impressive."

Now it's my turn to smile, "Really?"

Bruce nods, "Really."

I feel pride swell in my chest. Bruce doesn't give praise lightly and this is the first real praise he's ever given me. Sure, I've seen the twitch of lips whenever I get something right like he's trying not to smile and every now and then he'll give me a little nod of approval during a sparring match with Dick but never outright praise. Maybe all the soreness and exhaustion will be worth it after all.

"Come on, it's time for some sparring."

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Our sparring session ends up running until lunch, leaving me sore and breathless but also feeling extremely accomplished. I managed to beat Dick three out of seven times (my best record so far) and Bruce sparred with me for a few rounds as well. I didn't beat him but I felt like I was holding my own against him fairly well. Our bouts were growing longer and longer these days, my reflexes getting better and my ability to predict Batman's next move growing.

Of course, that didn't keep me from being slammed onto the sparring mat at the end of one of our bouts. I groan, "Totally almost had you that time."

Bruce smirks and offers me a hand, "Not quite. But you're getting closer."

I take his hand, letting him pull me up, "One of these days I'm going to knock you to the mat."

"You'll have to stop leaving your left side open first and don't pull your punches so much," he glances at Dick, "her footwork is much better. Good job."

Dick drops his feet to the ground, gracefully releasing his handstand, "It wasn't easy but she caught on eventually."

"I'm right here you know," I grumble, grabbing a towel and wiping at the sweat pouring down my face.

Robin winks, "Its okay, one day you'll be an adult and join in on these conversations too."

"Speaking of, it's been almost a month since I came here. I'm coming up on my third week of training too. Any idea how much longer it'll be before I can join the Team or even just go on patrol?"

Bruce hesitates, "I've considered letting you at least meet the Team. I don't think you're ready to officially join them yet or go out in the field but you're getting there. I want to test you in Gotham first, where I can have both your back and Robin's. One I'm certain you can handle it, I'll let you officially on the Team."

I nod, "I can work with that. Will I get to listen in on their missions, like I do here? It would probably be helpful for me to get an idea how they mesh. Watching it on television and living it? Totally different."

"I think we can work something out. You'll remain in the Mountain though, the temptation to interfere will be too great otherwise."

I don't like the idea of being practically useless very much but I nod anyway, knowing there's probably no convincing him otherwise, "Fine."

"Good. Now, one more match before lunch and then we can go over an alias for you."

Now that's a conversation I'm looking forward to.

So? I hope that wasn't too boring for any of ya'll! I do plan on bringing the Team in either with the next chapter or the one after, I'm still deciding on that. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and will stick around for the next one!

Until next time,

Mercy