***

It was impossible for me to fully comprehend why Dick seemed to enjoy training, when every bone and muscle in my body seemed to protest with almost every movement. Now that I was a couple weeks into this training routine that Dick had created for me, he seemed to be increasing the intensity level with every sessions. Regardless of how long I had been training with him now my body screamed in pain at the end of the day. 

Now he was teaching me more intense blocking exercises, and unlike before it was clear that he was no longer holding back. Usually when I started to panic or my heart beat was becoming uncontrollable the lights around me would starts to flicker. And that's what was happening right now. 

Suddenly distracted by the frustration of my inability to keep this under control I almost missed Dick's fist coming at me, and in a last minute move I got a hold of his arm. Before I knew it blue and white sparks were flowing from my hand to his arm. If it wasn't for the special gear he was wearing I was sure to have electrocuted him. 

I immediately released him backing away, although I knew I couldn't hurt him and it was irrational for me to be acting this way, I couldn't shake this feeling that I was a lost cause. "I'm sorry. I... I didn't mean to."

"It's fine." He assured be though it was anything but fine. I knew he was just trying to be nice, he was always trying to be nice to me. "You're getting much better."

"Even if I became as good a fighter as you, what purpose would it have if I can't even control my powers?" I questioned, beginning to feel frustrated at myself. At this point in training I felt that I should at least be proficient enough to prove myself to Dick and Bruce. Feeling that I was only and unnecessary and unwanted guest to Bruce, and disappointing Dick who seemed to believe that I could actually do this. 

"Maybe you just need an incentive to keep your abilities under control." Dick suggested, and I didn't have a moment to fully process what he meant when he was suddenly taking off his gloves and pulling his shirt over his head. 

I didn't give myself the opportunity to even  really glance at him as I turned around immediately, feeling that there was no other way to respond to this situation. And though I really didn't have the chance to look at him I felt my heart beating rapidly in my chest and my blood rushing through my veins effectively making me blush. "What are you doing?" 

"Giving you incentive."

"How is taking off your shirt giving me incentive?" I questioned fighting the urge to simply leave the room a pretend that any of this didn't happen. It was completely possible that I was simply overreacting and making this situation awkward myself, but I couldn't bring myself to act as if any of this was normal. 

"Because now if you touch me there's no protective barrier...so you can possibly kill me."

I wanted to laugh this plan seemed so ridiculous and stupid. I could kill him. I still had absolutely no control over my powers. "Right. I don't think that's a very good idea."

"We should try it. Why won't you look at me Cheyenne?" He questioned and the hint of amusement in his voice irritated me in a way that I couldn't explain. Although the rational part of me told me that playing along with whatever it was he was planning was a horrible I idea, I turned around against my better judgment.

"I could kill you." I told him never breaking eye contact, promising myself that I wouldn't look anywhere else. 

"I trust you."

"I don't."

"Then that right there is your problem. You have to trust yourself to gain control of your powers." Dick stated firmly also never breaking eye contact, he took a step closer and as he did my hand automatically went up before he got any closer. In that moment I forgot that he wasn't wearing a shirt, and it wasn't until my mind registered the warmth of his skin that I realized what I had just done. 

Horrified I looked down at where my hand was placed on his chest immediately taking it back.

Now that I had looked I couldn't look away. Not because of his physique, which was impressive and filling my mind with thoughts I shouldn't have, but because of the scars. For some reason in my mind Dick Grayson was a perfect human being, never really showing any flaws. And although these flaws were superficial, it made me wonder about the flaws underneath. 

Again before my brain caught up with my body which seemed to have a mind of it's own right now, I raised my hand again with the intention of touching one of the scars. However unlike before, I realized what I was about to do and dropped my hand to my side. 

"It's okay." He whispered, assuring me it was okay. Having to know what I was thinking, a part of him probably expecting it. 

I ran a finger across a scar on his chest. There was nothing sexual in the moment, only me wanting to understand. Feeling that my knowing that these scars existed I was getting to know his a little more. "Do they hurt?"

"Sometimes." He admitted, and I could feel his heart beating rapidly in his chest. It could have been the result from our training or he was nervous. I couldn't be sure, but he put his hand on top of mine, allowing me to feel his heartbeat more clearly. "Mostly, I can't feel them anymore."

"I'm sorry." I whispered as I took a step back, feeling that the situation was shifting and now this was feeling a little more intimate that I intended it to be. Knowing that a change of subject was necessary I turned around, then turned back on the heel of my left foot to gain enough momentum to kick up my right leg. 

Unsurprisingly Dick seemed ready as he got a hold of my ankle before I was able to make contact. One would think he was ready, but the look on his face was one of surprise and he smiled. Not wanting to accept defeat I raised my arm in another attempt to make any sort of contact, once again he was able to block me move. Letting go of my leg and getting a firm hold on my arm he was able to flip me over onto the training mat. The initial pain sent a shock through my body, but the pain being one that was no longer new to me faded almost immediately.

I never expected to gain the upper hand, I never have, but I also never accepted simply being tossed to the floor like a rag doll. Standing up I ran to where he was standing, still wanting to attempt to perfect the move he had just shown me yesterday. Running up to him I realized that I never had a chance as he once again anticipated my move, but at the last moment before attempted to through me back down I was able to wrap my legs around his chest causing him to fall over not he mat. 

The victory was short lived as he flipped us over pinning my arms to my side in the process. "On the bright side you didn't electrocute me to death." 

"That's encouraging." I whispered trying not to focus on the feeling go his weight on top of me. Dick raised his hand and brushed a loose strand of hair away from my face and at that moment the sound of someone clearing their throat. The sound literally causing  Dick spring away from me, he looked over at Bruce, his usual confident demeanor crumbling from the stern look of his adoptive father. 

"Dick. May I talk to you for a moment?" Bruce asked, though it clearly wasn't a question but an order.  I felt my face immediately heat up, it felt like we were caught in some intimate moment, and although it wasn't anything like that I couldn't help but feel like I was caught doing something wrong. 

Dick offered his hand as he helped me to my feet before leaving after Bruce. 

I wasn't sure if I was expected to stay here or leave, but the pain in my lower back made the decision for me. I stepped out and heard Bruce and Dick arguing over something, and they rarely argued over anything. Knowing that remaining here would be a terrible violation of their privacy I hurried to the elevator on the other side of the room that led to the upstairs mansion. 

After a couple of weeks, knowing that there was no point in leaving me in his underground hideout, Bruce allowed me to move into the mansion. Though he wasn't initially pleased with the fact that I was able to figure our his secret identity. 

Stepping out of the elevator that was hidden behind the fireplace I headed upstairs, feeling overwhelmed by everything. "Rough day Miss Freemont?" A voice questioned from behind me, stopping my descent up the large staircase leasing to the second floor of the manor. 

"Always Alfred." 

"Miss Freemont it seems that Master Bruce and Master Dick will be out the entire evening, would you like me to take diner to your room?" Alfred asked, and I wondered if this had anything to do with their argument downstairs. 

"How about we have diner together Alfred?" I asked, knowing I was beginning to get attached to the butler. "That is if you want to."

"It would be my pleasure Miss Freemont."

***

There were nights when I wondered why I was still living in Wayne Manor. This was one of those nights. This life of luxury simply wasn't me, and this place has never truly felt like a home to me. A part of me acknowledging that I didn't belong in this world, and I never really have felt like myself here. Always feeling like I needed to prove myself. 

And nights like this I simply felt lonely. Missing the life I had to leave behind, and not even the looming danger of my parents killers could shake the feeling that I wanted to flee. Or maybe it was still the aching hole that my parent's death left behind that has prevented me from fully accepting a life here. 

A soft knock on the door ripped me away from my reoccurring thoughts. For a moment I considered on ignoring it and pretend to be asleep, however I couldn't bring myself to do this. So with a sigh I stood up and opened the door, expecting to find Alfred who always seemed to want to check up on me before bed. 

"Dick." I said feeling slightly stunned to see him in the doorway holding to mugs of a dark steaming liquid, and judging from the marshmallows floating on top it was hot chocolate. "It's late. What are you doing here?"

Dick shrugged, and although I realized I was being slightly rude he didn't seem fazed by it. His confidence never seemed to falter. "I thought that maybe we could talk. We don't really talk."

"We talk everyday."

"No we train everyday. It's not the same as talking." He replied as he looked over my shoulder. "So can I come in?"

There was a small voice in the back of my head, my mother's voice, who always told me when I was growing up how unladylike it was to be in a room alone with a boy. It wasn't the first time I would be alone with Dick, but for some reason this felt different than all those other times. Regardless of my scolding mother in the back of my mind I nodded and opened the door wider to let him through. 

On his way in he handed me one of the mugs and seemed to take in his surroundings. I wasn't sure why considering that this room looked just like the other ten rooms inside the mansion. 

"So what did you want to talk about?" I asked placing my mug on my dresser and wrapping my arms around my chest. 

"If I'm being completely honest I didn't really have any topics of conversation in mind."

"Well, you must have one considering that you bothered to come here at 1 am." 

Dick smiled as he looked away, placing his mug beside mine. He seemed to be in conflict with himself, the concentrated look on his face causing me to smile as I tries not to laugh. I didn't know what made me want to laugh, maybe it was the fact that this whole situation was awkward and I didn't know how else to react. 

"What's so funny?" He asked, and I shook my head placing my hand over my mouth as I tried to gain control over myself again. 

"Nothing."

"I like you Cheyenne."  Dick suddenly stated,  and through the shock it wasn't something that I completely believed. I wanted to believe this was some kind of cruel joke on his part, mostly because that would be easier than any variation of the truth. Dick continued looking at me expecting any sort of reaction that I didn't seem to have, but I simply didn't know how a person was supposed to react to this kind of news. "Isn't it obvious?"

"I'm not very good at picking up these things." Was all I could really as I continued to process this information and what it meant. And for a moment all I could think about was the fact the Bruce was now going to dislike me more than he already seemed to. 

"I've noticed."

I didn't know what to say or if I should say anything at all, because I was guaranteed to say the wrong thing. I've never given much thought about any potential feelings towards Dick. One thing I did know was that I found him attractive, which couldn't possibly be any surprise. Dick was extremely attractive and it was a fact that he was aware of. Something that he took advantage of. 

"Say something." He whispered as he stepped closer, just how I had been a couple of hours before he seemed hesitant on touching me. Although he was arguably braver than I was his finger brushed my cheek. 

Considering that I suddenly seemed to have lost the ability to speak, I simply did what my body was practically screaming for me to do. I closed the gap between us. A stupid decision? 

Maybe. 

But it didn't matter the moment that his lips touched mine.  His reaction was immediate as he pulled me closer, his hand wounding itself into my dark hair. 

Kissing him felt like I was releasing a part of myself that I never knew that I had. Maybe it was the fact that I had never been kissed in this way, or maybe it was the fact that I never seemed to have this kind of effect on anyone before. It was empowering. 

His effect on me intoxicating.

I hadn't noticed how frenzied we were becoming until Dick began pulling the hem of my shirt. Slowly I was beginning to realize what Dick wanted, and I knew it was something that I couldn't give him yet. Not even close, especially considering that I had never done anything like this before. 

He seemed to have noticed this too as his movements become more gentle and he lessened how tightly he seemed to be holding onto to me. 

"Bruce is going to kill me." Dick whispered and although his statement  wasn't a positive one there was a smile on his face. As a result there was a smile on mine. "But honestly I don't care."

"You should considering that we live under his roof."

"He'll come around." He assured me, however he didn't seem to believe his own words. As if on cue the alarm from Dick's watch went off signaling that there was a crime occurring somewhere in the city. Bruce was probably already waiting for him downstairs. 

"We should actually talk about this when I get back." He stated as he gave me another quick kiss before leaving in a hurry. When the door shut behind him I could no longer hold back the smile that was taking over my face. I had never thought about Dick in romantic way before, at least never seriously, but now with the event of the last couple of minutes I realized just how much I did. 

I felt like a teenage girl who made eye contact with her high school crush from across the room. Beginning to fantasize about different possibilities that were impossible. Except that this was real, and Dick Grayson admitted that he liked me. Even if I had no idea why. Even if I had a feeling that this wouldn't last for very long. 

***

^^^A/N Would really love it if you would vote and leave your thoughts on the chapters. Hearing your thoughts is a really great motivator to keep writing. As an additional comment I am now an admin of the titanscommunity so if your looking for more Titans or Dick Grayson consent check out our page and give us a follow! ^^^