A gasp filled the oversized room of a young boy as he sat straight up in his bed blue eyes wide with fear and pain. Lightning flashed outside his window as he placed his head in his hands rubbing at his eyes when there was a knock at his door. Knowing who it more than likely was he got himself to move the sheets as the door opened and closed quickly, a silent figure ran in jumping into the bed beside him.

"Ann, you alright?" he asked quietly.

She buried herself under his sheets shaking her head as a flash of lightning filled the room momentarily with the rubble of distant thunder following. Dick sighed calming himself before turning to the bundle that was his sister, sitting with his legs crossed.

"Annie... please talk to me."

"Scared." came a whispered answer.

The older of the two smiled even though his sister was terrified, he was happy to hear her actually speaking even if it was just a single word. Then there was another crack of thunder that shook their bed causing Ann to whimper in fear hiding further under the covers.

"I know." Dick told her looking down at his lap. "I'm scared too."

"R-Really?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah I guess I just don't show it..."

Ann peered out from beneath the covers watching her brother silently forgetting her own fear for a moment though still shaking as another crack echoed through the room.

"Wanna go see Mami and Tati?" Dick asked throwing the covers off himself.

"S-Sure." she responded quietly slowly getting out of her brother's bed.

Dick took her hand as they headed for the door quietly, looking up and down the long hallway of the large house. Hoping that he wouldn't get them lost as he navigated through the halls of the Manor in order to find the room that Alfred had showed them just the other day. It was a place where they had spent their day in silence unless they were with the English teacher or therapist that Bruce had called in for them. Their guardian seemed alright and was a good man but other than random appearances they barely saw him within the walls of the Manor.

"Here we are." Dick muttered finally entering the large study.

Bookshelves adorned two walls while the others had large windows and a fireplace with furniture placed throughout. The twins headed for a large armchair that would fit both of them comfortably looking at the wall above the fireplace that illuminated the room with flickering light. Upon the wall was a painting of a woman and man in a loving embrace; the two people the twins knew well and wish they could have back. The dark curtains helped to block out the flashing lightning outside but did little for the thunder that still rumbled outside.

They both stared at the painting that Bruce had had made for them so that they could always see their parents as they were before they fell. And though those images still haunted them and they were grateful to the man they barely saw because he had done something that no one else would have. Even when he had a reputation as a playboy, he still took in two children that he barely knew anything about for a reason that they didn't know. There was this feeling that they both got when he looked at them like he knew somehow what they were going through. It was well into the night when the storm finally dissipated with the twins still sitting in the armchair sleepily. For since coming to the Manor they had found that they could sleep if only for a few hours or in each others rooms. A noise from behind them had both jumping fully awake and peering into the room around the chair staying hidden. They held their breath as the grandfather clock moved to reveal Alfred stepping out into the study. Silently they watched the older man as he did something with the clock then left the room without a sound.

Blue eyes locked as they waited to see if Alfred would return before they moved toward the clock curious of where Alfred had come from. Ann watched Dick repeat Alfred's movements holding onto the sleeve of his pajamas when the secret door opened once more for them.

"Woah." Dick muttered stepping into the brightly lit what he guessed was an elevator.

Ann followed him amazed by what she saw wondering where this would take them and why Bruce would have such a thing. They jumped when the door closed behind them then began to move taking them down into a new secret place.

"Dick." Ann muttered looking around the elevator.

"Come on." Dick said leading the way out of the elevator when the doors opened.

They found themselves in a massive cave, lights flipping on much to Ann's relief as they took in the sight before them. There was a giant computer to the left near the bottom of the stairs that they found themselves at the top of with statues (one being a giant penny that amazed them as much as the T-rex) in their own places together like they were trophies or something, other pieces of tech and equipment were scattered throughout the cave, and then there was a ramp that had an empty space like something should have been parked there. And then there was the the giant crevice that seemed to have no bottom being shrouded in darkness which Ann noted to stay away from.

"What is this place?" Dick asked looking around amazed as they descended the stairs.

Ann shook her head both amazed and afraid of what they would find here in this strange place deep underground. She wandered toward toward the statues when there was a roar that echoed around the cave causing them to hide in fear of being caught by whoever was coming. Poking their heads out from their hiding places they watched as a black car sped into the cave before coming to a stop in what they guessed was its parking place. They watched as a man in a black cape jumped out of the car, covering their mouths when they recognized who he was. And they didn't want to be caught by this man even if he had helped them with the mob boss and his gang before their parents murder because they had no idea what he would do to them. After he passed their hiding place the twins stepped out in order to make a break for the stairs and elevator but found their path blocked.

"Y-You?" Dick stuttered staring at the Batman.

The man before them scowled, his hands reaching up to remove the cowl from his head shocking both of them with the face they saw. Blue eyes stared back at them narrowing with hidden emotion as both Ann and Dick took in the appearance of their guardian Bruce Wayne.

Minutes passed and the twins found themselves back in the chair of the study with the portrait of their parents but this time they were not alone. Alfred stood off to the left of the fireplace while Bruce was knelt down on one knee in front of them.

"This was not how I had planned for you both to find out." he told them watching them both carefully. "I was going to tell you after I finished with an ongoing case which is what has been keeping me from spending time with you. And work does not help with my schedule."

"What's the case you're working on?" Dick asked eyes not giving away anything.

"A case that neither of you need to worry about."

The way his eyes narrowed slightly made Ann think that he was trying to hide something from them as his body tensed watching them.

"Is it him?" Dick asked which was what she had been thinking as well.

"Yes I'm looking for him. To put him away for what he did to you two." Bruce answered eyes softening slightly.

"Why?" Ann asked quietly surprising everyone. "Why do this for us?"

"Because I want to put the man who did this to you away and get justice for your parents in a way that I couldn't for my own."

"You mean...?" Dick whispered taking in the information.

"My parents were killed when I was just about the same age as you but their murderer was never found."

He told them his story and though they were surprised by everything it all made sense to them with why this man would take them in. Then the name Tony Zucco came up and both twins tensed listening to Bruce tell them that he was close to finding the man.

"We're in." Dick said cutting Bruce off. "We want to help."

"No." Bruce said in a low voice. "You both are going to stay out of this."

"We deserve to be the ones to give him justice."

"Your justice may well turn into revenge and then you'd be lost."

The twins stared at him, Dick wanted to argue but Ann stopped him with a look and a shake of her head though neither were giving up.

"I do believe that it is well passed Master Dick and Mistress Ann's bedtime, Master Bruce." Alfred suddenly spoke up. "This discussion can wait until morning."

"There is no discussion." Bruce said getting to his feet.