Family- Ft. D*ck Grayson-

"Why are you so quick to shut us out? You need a family that cares, Rose."

Her head turned to the side as her gaze fell to the ground below. A quiet scoff under her breath slipping past her lips that was just barely auditable. "Because, D*ck ... cruelty has left me no choice ... When you allow people close, you open yourself to weakness. I'm tired of being weak."

His brows knitted together and a look of slight confliction littered his features. The former Robin had seen it all. So why was this something that seemed to pull at his heart strings a little harder? Taking a step forward, he reached a hand out to her as if pleading with her in his own way to just take it. "The world has been cruel to us all, Rose. What makes us strong isn't isolation. It's coming together. We can do this ... YOU can do this. Just come home."

His words sounded genuine to her. There was a hint of sorrow in them that bordered on sympathy. There was no doubt in her mind that he wanted to truly help her. She didn't dare lift her gaze from where it fell. If she did .... She was afraid she would crumble. What emotion she felt remained perfectly hidden. Albeit if one were trained to tell, the falling of her gaze was more than enough to give her away.

"I have no home." She retorted. Placid words fell from parting lips as she turned her back to him. Walking away briskly and without a second thought. She silently cursed herself for agreeing to meet up at all. The others would be back from their mission soon and she knew what she had to do. Shoulder pushing against the training room door, she turned to cast him one last look as it opened. Her next words were her last, and perhaps the most powerful.

"Besides .... nobody truly wants me here." Her tone cracked as she got them out. A noticeable pain stitched within them. It was a pain that hit D*ck close to home, and that was evident by the very vivid look of regret that reflected in his icy blue eyes. It was almost as if he somehow blamed himself for her feeling that way. He went to step forward, and right as he did, her heart felt like it was sinking in her chest. Frozen in place, she couldn't move. Not because of any special effect, but because he was getting to her. His next words ...



"I want you here." Four simple words held such power over her for no other reason but because of the sincerity behind them. Shifting to face him as she rose a arm behind her head. A deep sigh of surrender rumbled up from her chest. Fingertips tips meading and scratching at the base of her neck with slight nervousness. Her free arm reached out as she slowly took his hand. She felt weird as her fingers curled around his palm, and even more so as he did the same. She didn't need to say anything else. It had become clear by the smile that was forming on his face as he looked at her back, that he knew he had convinced her to stay.

At least for now.