Yes, it's incredibly short, and I'm very, very sorry about that. But it's something- for awhile I thought I'd lost my knack for this sort of fic, but I guess I found something, because I'm still here. Anyways- please review. You guys keep me going on fics like this when I'm ready to give up, and it absolutely means the world to me. 3
Within three days, they'd begun to wean her off the painkillers. She could sit up, with some difficulty, and she'd eat the meals Alfred brought her.
It became harder for Bruce to look at her, though- every time he saw how pale she was, how frail she looked- he was reminded of his failure as a father.
By the time she could gingerly walk around was when he elected to tell her.
"Scarlet- Sparrow is finished."
"I figured that, yeah. At least until I'm healed, I'd just slow you down..."
Bruce winced, realizing she didn't understand. "No. Sparrow is finished for good."
Her eyes widened slightly, blue eyes alarmed as she realized what he was saying. "I... you're kidding, right, Dad?" she laughed nervously. "I mean, I'll be fine- I just need some time to heal, then I can go back to helping you..."
"No. Sparrow is finished."
"Would you just listen to me for two seconds, Dad!?" her voice rose as her temper boiled higher.
"There is nothing you could possibly say to change my mind." Bruce ground out, expression unwavering.
When she saw the dead-serious expression on his face and realized he wouldn't budge on the matter, her expression crumbled. "You can't do this to me! Sparrow is my life, you can't just take it away!"
"You don't know what you're saying. You're nine years old, Scarlet, and I realize I made a mistake in letting you join me..."
"The only mistake you're making is taking it away from me! What did I do wrong!?" she demanded, tears running down her face.
"This isn't about what you did or didn't do, Scarlet- it's about my duty to you as a father-"
"No it's not! You're just afraid that I'll get killed in the field! I knew I might die when I signed up for this- I knew, Dad! You can't just take it away from me now, just because you're scared of what might happen!"
The conviction behind his voice shocked him, and he fought the urge to step back. Here he was, standing before his nine-year old daughter who'd nearly died in his arms a mere few days ago, as she professed her willingness to die for his cause. The seriousness in her voice stung- she couldn't be serious, she didn't know what she was saying- she was nine, for god's sake- and it only confirmed the fact that she'd grown up far too fast due to the activities he'd allowed her to take part in.
"I'm doing this because it's what's best for you, Scarlet."
"No, you're doing it because you're scared! I hate you!" she turned, tears still streaking down her face. She stumbled and nearly fell, and he reached out to catch her only to be shoved away roughly as she leaned heavily against the wall, glaring heatedly at him before stumbling up the stone steps, into the manor. He heard the door slam behind her, before he was left alone in the silence.
Footsteps echoed across the stone floor, then, as Alfred strode past him, duster in hand, and set to work cleaning the computer console. "that appears to have gone well, Sir." Alfred remarked sarcastically.
Bruce sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I was hoping she'd take it a bit better..."
"You are destroying an integral part of her identity, Master Bruce. I highly doubt she could 'take it better' than she already has."
"Well what do you want me to do, Alfred?" Bruce snapped. "Patch her up and let her heal and let her go back to running the streets with me, with all those psychopaths? She almost died in my arms, Alfred- I'd rather have her frustrated and alive than a martyr."
"Indeed, Sir. But your decision will have many repercussions..."
"You think I don't know that?" Bruce snapped. "If there was any other way to do this, I would... What do I do, Alfred?" Bruce looked over at him, desperate for the man who'd raised him to impart some sort of wisdom on him to make the situation easier.
"Sometimes, Master Bruce- there are no good answers to the dilemmas life throws at us." Alfred said simply. It was all the old man could say on the subject, and, having finished pretending to clean the computer and offering all the advice he could, he turned on heel, leaving Bruce standing alone in the empty cave, wondering about his next move.
Once again- all of my readers are absolutely amazing, and your continued support has kept me hanging onto this fic when sometimes I just wanted to throw in the towel since I was so frustrated. It's not over yet, either- we still have a couple more defining moments to get through before the end, I just have to sit down and hash it out in my head before I let it go to print. Please, please, please review- I know I didn't reply to any of your reviews in a mailbag this chapter, but that's simply because you are all amazing guessers and I don't wanna spoil anything! :)