Chapter 2

Bruce and Dick jumped up in shock.

"What was that for?!" Dick yelled.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Piper started crying. "I didn't mean to! It was instinct. I didn't mean to hurt him!"

Bruce pulled the knife out of the wall. "You didn't hurt him. It went straight through his jacket. Perfect aim."

"Please Mr. Wayne, don't have me arrested!" Piper begged. "I…I…" She collapsed on her knees and cried.

Bruce went over to Piper and put his arm around her. He helped her to her feet.

"If you won't tell me, will you talk to Dick?"

"What?!" Dick protested. "After the stunt she just pulled?"

Bruce looked at him sternly. "You said you'd help. You said you'd do whatever you could. Are you backing out on that now?"

Dick relaxed his muscles and took a deep breath. "Alright."

Bruce turned to Piper. "Miss Baker, we need you to tell Dick here what happened to you. Can you do that?"

"Ok," she said in a weak voice.

Dick took Piper's hand and led her to the study. The room was lit by multiple reading lamps. There was a dark wooden desk in front of the big widow. The walls were lined with bookshelves filled to brim with books. Newspapers littered the desk. One of the titles grabbed Piper's attention especially. It said Batman and Robin Save the Day Again. Piper slid her fingers over their names. Dick pulled her attention back to him. He motioned for her to sit down and she sat on a red cushioned chair.

"First of all, what's your name?" Dick asked.

"Piper Ann Baker."

"How old are you?"

"I'm 10 years old."

Dick crossed his arms and gave her a harsh look. "Why did you throw that knife at Alfred?"

Piper took a deep breath. "It's an old habit. My dad would always slam the door before he attacked me, so I would throw whatever I had in my hand at him. Most of the time, it would be a knife."

Dick stared in disbelief. "Your dad…attacked you? What did he do? How did you end up on the street?"

"My mom left me alone with my dad. And he would attack me. Especially when he was drunk. Finally I had enough. So I ran away. I figured if knives didn't keep my dad away, maybe money would. So I started pickpocketing, a trick my dad taught me. I'd been out on the street for five days before you and Mr. Wayne found me."

"And the bruises on your face and arms?"

Piper looked at her arms. "Courtesy of my dad."

"That's horrible!"

"Mr. Grayson-"

"Please, call me Dick."

"Dick, I don't want to go back. I…I can't go back. I know that if I do…my dad will kill me."

"I'm sure he won't actually."

Piper shook her head. "No Dick. My dad will actually kill me."

Dick, overwhelmed by all this new information, slammed his fist on the desk. "No, he won't. Stay here, I need to talk to Bruce."

Piper jumped up and grabbed Dick's arm. "No! Please don't tell Mr. Wayne! If my dad ever found out, he'd hurt him!"

Dick put his hand on Piper's gently. "I doubt it."

He ran out of the room, leaving Piper alone to question what he was really going to tell Bruce. Dick went back into the dining room where Bruce and Alfred stood talking about their unique guest.

"Bruce!"

"Dick, what did you find out?

"Her name is Piper Baker. Bruce, you have to help her. She told me everything."

"Why did she attack Alfred?"

"She attacked Alfred out of fear. Whenever she heard a door slam at home, it would usually be followed by a beating from her father."

"A beating?!"

"She can't go home Bruce. She's afraid her dad will kill her." He paused. "Bruce…we can…give her a home."

Bruce thought about it for a moment. "Are you sure Dick?"

"Piper may not have a past like mine. But her father beats her. No parent should do that to their children. No wonder she ran away."

"I'll go talk to her. I think I know where I heard the name Baker before." Bruce walked out of the dining room and into the study, where Piper stood holding herself. She looked up him when he came in.

"Mr. Wayne?"

"Piper Baker. Are you related to Clint and Ann Baker?"

Piper's eyes widened. "You know my mom and dad?"

"Unfortunately, I do know your dad. I was at his trial."

"Trial? What trial? What did he do?"

Bruce closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. He knelt in front of her and grasped her shoulders.

"I can't tell you quite yet Piper. You will understand soon."

"Mr. Wayne, I'm sorry about attacking your butler."

"It's ok Piper. Dick told me everything. He said that you can't go home."

"Please don't send me home Mr. Wayne."

Bruce held up his hands. "Dick also suggested that you spend the night here at Wayne Manor. We'll talk to your father tomorrow. And then you can come and live with us."

Piper looked at Bruce in surprise. "Did…did you really mean that Mr. Wayne?"

"Yes I did. But tomorrow morning, we need to have a talk with your father. Come back into the dining room and finish your dinner. We'll just remember to keep knives away from you."

Piper smiled and followed Bruce back into the dining room. Her dinner was still on the table, but her knife was now gone. Dick sat at his seat, Alfred had gone in the other room, and Bruce now joined Dick at the table. Piper took her seat next to Bruce and finished her dinner.

Afterwards, Bruce took Piper upstairs and showed her to her room. It was huge compared to the one she used to have. There was a giant window that overlooked the north section of Gotham, with central Gotham looming on the horizon. The bed was against the opposite wall. It was a queen size bed, which was a big improvement to the pallet Piper slept on at her old home. Lying on top of the covers was an old gray T-shirt and loose blue sweatpants. Piper went straight to the window and looked out at the city.

"The T-shirt and sweatpants are Dick's. We're a bit short on girl clothing so he's letting you borrow them. If you need anything, His bedroom is right next door and mine is down the hall."

"Thank you Mr. Wayne."

He smiled. "You can call me Bruce."

Piper bowed her head. "I really don't deserve all of this. I'm a thief."

"You may not know it, but you deserve this and more. Dick told me you've been through a lot."

"He seemed so sympathetic. Why?"

"I'll let Dick explain that himself. As for you, I suggest you get to sleep soon. Tomorrow's a big day." Bruce began to close the door. He popped his head back in and smiled. "Good night Piper."

She smiled back. "Good night Bruce."

Bruce closed the door and Piper turned back to the window. Tears stung her eyes. She was overwhelmed by Bruce. He was so different from her father. She didn't deserve his kindness or his acts of charity. Or Dick's for that matter. Piper heard the door click behind her and she turned, expecting Bruce. Instead, Dick was standing in the doorway. They just stood and stared at each other for a few minutes.

"You settling in ok?" he asked as he walked in. He was wearing an army green long sleeved over black sweatpants.

Piper wiped her eyes. "Yeah, I think so. Is something wrong?"

Dick shook his head. "No, I was just thinking. You told me your back story. The least I can do is tell you mine."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive." Dick sat down at the end of Piper's and she sat on the windowsill.

"I was originally part of the Flying Graysons, an acrobatic act at the Haly's International Circus. One day, a gangster came and ordered Jack Haly, the owner of the circus, to give him and his gang money. Jack refused. That night at the show, during my family's trapeze act, the wires were sabotaged, and my mom, dad, aunt, uncle and cousin…fell." Dick sniffled and wiped his nose on his sleeve. "There was no net. That was the thing that made it so popular. We did all our stunts without a net. That was the one night I wish they used one. They all were killed except for my uncle, but he was paralyzed. Bruce was there that day and he paid for the funeral. After that, he took me in, and that's where I am today."

Piper absorbed all this information. "And you watched all this happen?"

"Every minute of it unfortunately."

"Oh, Dick, I'm so sorry. And here I was thinking my life was hard. Did…did Batman show up?"

Dick looked surprised. "Batman?"

She smiled a little. "Yeah. And Robin. I've always admired them." She turned and looked out the window over Gotham, which was sparkling in the darkness. "I was hoping that one day, they'd save me from my dad and let me join them." Piper turned back to Dick. "We're they there?"

Dick shook his head. "No, they arrived too late."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

He wiped his eyes. "You should get some sleep," he said with a sigh.

"You should too." She smiled at him. "I'll see you in the morning."

Dick smiled back. "See you in the morning."

He left the room. Piper changed into her pajamas and climbed into bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. The bed was warm and soft. She fell asleep instantly.