If you don't know the comics, i don't think some of you will know who Athena's other "father" is, however, he is DC's and not mine. i am not taking an credit for the character because he is not mine. However, he is a great character and if you don't know about him, i suggest wikiing (that's not a word but i'm making it now. the act of going on Wikipedia to look something up) him because he really is a cool character.

Please enjoy and tell me what you think. :)

L.L.A.P

~Laces

Chpt.24

Athena sighed as she looked over at Ramon. They were in his room, drawling.

"You look worried." Ramon informed, and she nodded.

"I am." She sighed. "This charity thing is going on tonight at Wayne Manor and Bruce wants me to make an appearance. He says he will officially announce that he adopted me." the girl informed.

"Why is that something to worry about?" Ramon inquired, and Athena let out a heavy sigh.

"I can think of a number of things that could go wrong." She whispered.

Her flight accidently going off, her laser eyes frying everyone, her super strength breaking someone in two, her telekinesis throwing everyone back, or maybe a completely new power would go off and hurt people. She was terrified that something terrible would happen to the people due to her.

"Hey, I'm sure everything is going to be okay." Ramon smiled. "The only time your powers went off when you were around me was when you were shot. Do you plan on getting shot at this charity thing?" the boy inquired.

"Well… no…"

"Then you have nothing to worry about." Ramon grinned. Athena's worried look melted away and she smiled at the boy.

"I guess you're right."

Athena then laid on her back, her head resting lightly on Ramon's back as the boy continued to draw, unfazed by the girl lying on him. She then hummed lightly to herself happily.

"Do you ever sing out loud?" Ramon inquired. Athena quickly shook her head.

"No. I'm too scared." She informed.

"By the way you hum, I think you have a beautiful voice. I can't think of anything you could be scared about." Ramon shrugged.

"What if I sound horrible though?" the girl questioned.

"I don't think that's possible. Can I hear you sing?" Ramon inquired with a small smile.

Athena was quiet for a moment, and Ramon figured that she truly was too afraid to sing out loud.

"Lord almighty,

I feel my temperature rising

Higher higher

Its burning through to my soul…" Ramon smiled, listening to Athena sing as he continued to draw. Suddenly all those Elvis pictures that Athena drew started to make sense.

"Girl, girl, girl

You gonna set me on fire

My brain is flaming

I don't know which way to go."

Athena, your voice is so pretty. Ramon thought.

"Your kisses lift me higher

Like the sweet song of a choir

You light my morning sky

With burning love."

Ramon waited for her to keep singing, but Athena was completely silent.

"Sorry." She whispered. "I probably sound really bad." Ramon looked up from his picture and looked over at her.

"You sound really pretty." Ramon smiled, and quickly felt the girl hugging him tightly.

"Really?" he heard her whisper in a small voice.

"Of course. I will never lie to you." He informed, and Athena hugged him tighter. Ramon smiled at her bashful look. He didn't see her look so shy before except for the first day he met her, and that was only for a few moments.

"What are you drawing?" she questioned, however she was still hugging him tightly. She was trying to get off the topic of her singing, and Ramon knew it. But he wasn't just going to let it drop.

"Athena, you have a really pretty voice." Ramon stated seriously. "You sound great, and you should sing out loud more. Didn't you like singing in front of me?" he inquired.

"Yes." She nodded. "But I was scared too."

"You shouldn't be scared of singing. It's what you do when you're happy, and you're happy a lot. You should always sing." Ramon smiled.

"What songs do you like?" Athena questioned in a soft voice.

"Anything really." Ramon shrugged. Athena was silent for a moment, like she was thinking. She then questioned,

"Do you like Elvis?"

"Yes. I like Elvis." Ramon nodded. Athena was quiet again for another moment. She then took in a deep breath.

"So… so if I sang you one of my favorite songs… you wouldn't mind?" she questioned timidly, and Ramon smiled.

"I'd love to hear your favorite song."

Athena sighed, trying to remember the words even though she had them memorized. Singing in front of someone just made her all the more nervous.

"When you're weary

Feeling small

When tears are in your eyes

I will dry them all" Athena paused to look at Ramon, and he was looking at her with a rapt expression on his face, smiling at her.

"I'm on your side

When times get rough

And friends just can't be found

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down." she looked at him, waiting for the criticism. Instead, Ramon questioned,

"So, you'll be my bridge over troubled water?" Athena pause for a moment, but then smiled at him.

"Yes. You're my friend. I'll always be your bridge over troubled water." She grinned.

"Me too." Ramon nodded. "I will lay me down."

The two laughed together, and then Athena saw what Ramon was drawling. It was a picture of her with that shy look on her face. And in the picture, he drew her with wavy black hair and green and blue eyes.

Because Ramon and his mom knew her secret, Athena was allowed to be out of disguise in their house.

"You like me better with Black hair?" Athena inquired.

"I think you're pretty as both, but I do like you when you look like yourself." He informed.

Athena looked at the picture, and smiled at how it looked so much like her.

"Ramon, when you become a famous artist, can I be invited to your first art show?" she inquired and Ramon chuckled.

"As long as I can come to your first singing concert."

~*~*~*~*~*~Later At Wayne Manor~*~*~*~*~*~

Athena placed her contacts into her eyes and placed the wig onto her head, bobby pinning it into place.

She looked into the mirror, eyeing her reflection. She was wearing a red dress with long sleeves and black stockings, covering up her scars.

Bruce walked into the room and gave the girl a warm grin.

If it were up to him, he would still try to keep Athena a secret from society, but there were many rumors speculating how there was a little girl living in the manor and some pictures from nosey reporters were taken, so Bruce figured it was better that he just come out that he adopted Athena.

"Are you ready?" he inquired, and Athena nodded, running up to Bruce, holding his hand tightly.

The Charity banquet was trying to raise money for a Foundation that helped children who were abused.

Athena noticed how people were staring at her and whispering. She felt like she wanted to disappear. However, Bruce gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and she walked closer to him.

"May I have everyone's attention?" Bruce questioned in a higher suave voice. He sounded different than he usually did. More innocent, and a little stupid. All eyes were on him and the small girl gripping his hand.

"I know there have been rumors about me having a girl here." He informed. "And they are true. This is the new member of my family, Athena Laurel Prince."

There was polite clapping, and soft murmuring throughout the men and women.

"She was the one who gave me the idea to raise money for the Foundation of Abused Children because Athena was abused in her previous family." Bruce informed. "So let's give her a warm welcome and raise money for other children like her." He smiled, and the group clapped politely, then went on to their conversations.

"Now what do I do?" Athena inquired in a soft voice.

"Stay close to me or Dick, and try to have a good time." Bruce informed, and Athena nodded, holding Bruce's hand tightly.

Athena quickly found out what Bruce meant by saying to try to have a good time. Bruce or "Brucie" as the women called him, was always pulled aside, talking to old acquaintances and when Dick was there to watch over her, he was quickly chased by women.

It was only a matter of time before Athena was alone.

Athena was looking for either Dick or Bruce. She didn't want to disobey Bruce's orders of staying close to him, but she just couldn't find him through the mass of talking rich people.

"Vikki Vale, Gotham Gazette." A woman with bright orange hair smiled, quickly in front of the girl once she was spotted. "Would you care to answer some questions, Miss Athena?" she questioned.

"Actually, I…"

"Great." The reporter cut off. "So, what is it like to live with Bruce Wayne?" she inquired.

"I really can't answer questions right now. I have to find Bru…"

"It's okay. You can find him after the questions." She informed, but Athena shook her head. She promised to stay near Dick or Bruce, and that was what she was going to do.

"I have to find him." she stated firmly, trying to keep her temper down as the woman opened her mouth again, still not moving to let Athena through.

"You can find him later. So, how is living with Bruce different from your old family?"

"Ms. Vale, I really can't…"

"You can answer a simple question, can't you?" Vikki Vale was trying to be sweet, and appealing to the young girl, but Athena wouldn't be having it.

"It's none of your business." Athena stated.

"Come now…"

"Stop harassing the girl." A man stated, and the woman looked at him with a glare. "Can't you see she obviously doesn't like you pressuring her."

The woman huffed, then walked off. She figured that she'd have other opportunities to get the scoop on the girl.

Athena looked up at the man and he had a warm smile on his face. His face was angular and his hair was a dark red that was slicked back. His eyes were a deep emerald green. In fact, his eyes were the exact same color as Athena's one green eye.

However, he seemed familiar. Somehow.

"Are you alright?" he inquired. Athena nodded mutely, and the man smiled at her.

"You are Bruce's newly adopted girl, aren't you?" Athena nodded once again.

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm one of Bruce's old friends. My name is…" just then a woman accidently fell backwards, and her glass of water flew back and hit Athena in the face, some of it getting in the girl's eyes.

"I am so sorry." The woman apologized.

"It's okay." Athena smiled, but rubbed her eyes, her contacts now irritated.

The woman went back to mingling with her group, and the man noticed how Athena's eyes seemed to be bothering her.

"Athena are you… alright?" he questioned, and he noticed how one of the contacts fell out of her eye due to the irritation, revealing a blue eye. The other contact followed shortly, revealing a green eye that was identical to his. The view was brief, and Athena quickly put her contacts back in, but the man still saw.

He slowly smiled.

Project Power. How nice it is to finally meet you. He thought.

"I'm okay." Athena nodded.

"Well, that is great to hear." He grinned. "Now, my name is Thomas Elliot." He informed, taking pride in his name. "And I believe I saw Bruce outside. I can show you to him if you like." The man smiled, and Athena grinned.

"Thank you, Mr. Elliot." She said, grateful for the man's help.

"You can call me Tommy if you like." He informed as he walked outside, Athena following closely behind.

"So, where is Bru-" Thomas Elliot hit Athena in a nerve spot. Perks of being a doctor was that he knew the body very well.

Athena's vision slowly started to fade as she drifted into unconsciousness. The last thing she heard was Elliot whispering,

"Hush."