***

Considering the long night that I had found myself in I expected to be in a deep sleep by now. Instead the desire to flee Gotham and the desire to stay were burning inside of me like twin flames preventing me from even thinking about sleep. The night was getting warmer as the first signs of day break were beginning to shine through. The view of the city from the roof of my loft had always been one of my favorites it now I watched the city with a sense of melancholy.

Just as I was beginning to convince myself that it was time to go back inside the familiar sound of a cape against to wind snapped me back to reality.

"Who do you think you are to continuously seek me out?" I called out as I sat up to face the figure that I knew was lurking in the shadows. In reality I should be surprised, but truthfully some part of me expected this visit. Maybe that was why I decided to come out here to begin with. "No wait.... I know. You are vengeance. You are the night. You are Batman. Does that sound about right? Who did you say that line too again? Was it Eddie or Scarecrow? I really can't remember."

"Why are you staying in Gotham?" Batman asked instead unfazed by my words but having known him long enough I knew that practically nothing fazed him. Especially not words.

Stepping closer to him I found that I needed to look him in the eyes wanting to talk to Bruce Wayne and not Batman. This felt like a conversation that I didn't want to have with a mask, though I was beginning to think that Bruce Wayne was Batman's mask. That maybe Bruce Wayne didn't really exist at all and there was only Batman left. "I need to be here. I need to find her. Why are you here?"

"My boy...Dick," He quickly corrected continuing like he didn't just reveal a major vulnerability. I had never doubted how much Dick meant to Bruce, even if Dick himself didn't see it."he's going to need you. You could help him with training the others."

"I'm sure he can handle it."

"There's also Jason, he seems to have taken a liking to you."

"I seem to have that effect on Robins." I replied but immediately dropped the facade knowing that this wasn't time for games. And truthfully my mind wasn't in a place where I could keep it going for very long, so instead looked at The Batman with curiosity. "Your sending Jason with Dick?"

"His aggression is getting out of hand. Maybe Dick will be able to help him where I can't." He admitted and I couldn't help but feel surprised by his honesty as it was something that Bruce Wayne did not do often.

"Never thought I would live the day to hear The Bat say he can't do something."

"Not as easy as it seems." He replied a slight hint of amusement in his voice, and it seemed that maybe he was dropping his act too. Not much, but enough for me to feel caught off guard by the direction that this conversation was taking.

"I thought you didn't trust me? Why would you want me anywhere near... your boys?"

"I failed you. I don't want to make the same mistake with Jason." Bruce said and I once again couldn't help but feel surprised by his words. This was as close of an apology that I would ever be getting from Bruce Wayne and I found that I was at a loss of words.

For a moment I was overcome with emotions that I couldn't place realizing that this was something that I needed to hear from him. But I still refused to show him how his words moved me by acting indifferent to them. Maybe this was a common trait that Bruce and I shared, or maybe it was a trait that I had picked up from him. "You and Dick really do love to pick your strays."

"Think about it." He stated all traces of sincerity absent in his voice as he once again became The Dark Knight that the criminals of Gotham feared.

"Nothing you say ever feels like a suggestion." I replied as I looked away from him and back towards the city. It was odd how there used to be a time that I truly hated Gotham and now anytime I left it I felt homesick. There was no way of knowing when that change happened, but I did now that if there was one person who could get me to leave Gotham without a second though it was Dick Grayson. "Every word that comes out of your mouth always feel like an order. Except this."

When I didn't get a response in return I turned around to find him gone and that I had been talking with myself. I could hardly feel irritated by this as it was something that I should have expected.

"Fuck." I muttered under my breath as I ran my hands through my hair in frustration. My frustration didn't come the decision that I had to make because in reality my decision had been possibly before my conversation with Bruce.

***

I sighed as I came to a stop at the large iron gates that led up to the looming Wayne Manor at he end of the grave path. The gates were wide open which made it clear that I was expected and was practically being welcomed in. There was something irritating in the fact that Bruce Wayne had predicted my decision or maybe it was as simple as me being predictable.

As I approached the Manor I got my first glimpse of Jason as he leaned angrily against the black truck. Dick, Alfred and Bruce were only a couple of feet away engaging in what seemed like a serious conversation which was undoubtedly the reason why Jason seemed so upset. When Jason looked up a smile spread across his featured as his eyes landed on me. "Fuck yeah! Without you I would be bored as shit."

"Glad to see you too Little Bird." I replied and although Jason was difficult and rough around the edges I had to admit that I had groan to understand him. Maybe it was the fact that he was unapologetically himself that I appreciated.

"Miss Freemont." Alfred greeted as he stepped forward taking away one of the bags that I was carrying. It had been years since I had seen Alfred and although I didn't tend to remember my time in Wayne Manor fondly he was one of the few aspects of my stay that I did remember fondly. "Master Wayne said we should be expecting you."

"Of course he did."

"Given up the leather I see, maybe you can give Master Wayne a couple of tips so he can do the same?" He questioned as he gave Bruce a pointed look that said a thousand words and hinted that maybe this was not a new conversation between the two. I had always wondered if Alfred had supported Bruce from the beginning to his crusade or if he simply become a part of it as a lesser of two evils knowing he would be saving Bruce's life with his help.

"Oh Alfred, if he doesn't listen to you he certainly won't listen to me." I replied a slight smile forming on my lips as I realized that in some way I did miss the butler.

"Right you are." Alfred agreed as he walked past me to continue placing luggage and cases that undoubtedly carried weapons I to the truck.

For the first time I met Dick's eyes and the hope and relief shining in them was undeniable as he approached me. "Cheyenne..."

"Help me with these will you?" I quickly interrupted as I handed him my other luggage case not really wanting to hear whatever else he wanted to say. Dick seemed to understand this as he simply nodded and left to help Alfred load the truck. I felt a pang if guilt for acting so indifferent, but seeing the hope in his eyes was a worse feeling as I knew I couldn't live up to what he wanted. At this point it almost was an instinct to push him away.

"I knew you'd change your mind." Bruce declared snapping me out of my thoughts and there was nothing preventing me from rolling my eyes at his statement.

"Because you know everything?" I replied sarcastically although in many ways it was true, the only other people who could match Bruce in intelligence were Edward Nygma and Lex Luther. A thought that was unsettling considering that although incredibly smart that's what made them dangerous, especially considering the Ed and Lex were prone to madness.

"Exactly."

I felt a certain level of uncertainty about which topics were open to discussion to Bruce as he would undoubtedly brush away any subject he didn't wish to discuss, but this would be a question that would haunt me if I didn't ask it. And if he didn't give the answer that I wanted I wouldn't be able to leave Gotham with a clear mind. "Will you continue looking for her?"

"I never stopped." He assured and although a part of me suspected this that didn't change the fact that I was surprised to hear him voice it. Nevertheless his words lifted some of the guilt I felt for leaving knowing that if there was anyone who could find Selina it would be Bruce Wayne.

"People call you the World's Greatest Detective, but I'm beginning to wonder if you gave yourself that name considering she's a mystery you have yet to solve." I stated as I walked away knowing that there was nothing else that needed to be said. My relationship with Bruce Wayne was complicated and it would continue to be, but last night the hidden animosity I felt towards him had disappeared. And like Dick we had found common ground. 

It wasn't long before Dick, Jason and I were on the road on our way to pick up Gar and Rachel from the hotel that they were currently staying at. Since leaving the Wayne property the three of us settled on a silence that was less than comfortable. Understandably there seemed to be many mixed emotions between the three of us which was something that we would clearly need to be fixed. 

"He talked to you, didn't he?" Dick questioned breaking our silenced I came to the realization that Bruce hadn't informed Dick about his visit. In fact, my showing up at all must have been a surprise to Dick. 

"What can I say The Bat has much a way with words." I replied nonchalantly as I looked out the window watching the gothic architecture as we drove by all the buildings and structures that I knew like the back of my hand. 

I could feel Dick's hesitation to continue attempting to continue some kind of conversation. While I was aware that he was trying I couldn't understand my unwillingness to do the same. "He regrets having placed you in Arkham."

Although that might have been true it didn't change the fact that it was something that he had to do. I was dangerously close to crossing one too many lines a couple of years ago and my time in Arkham made me realize my mistakes no matter how miserable I was. 

"I would really rather not talk about it." I immediately stated as an uncomfortable silence settled between the three of us. With I a sigh I realized that my indifference was cruel and not the way to start this new little partnership between the two of us. Living under the same roof as Dick Grayson was not going to be easy and I didn't need to complicated the situation more. "I suppose it could have been worse. I could have been placed in Belle Reve, forced into the Suicide Squad."

"Actually, Waller did request for your transfer." Dick confessed and although I truly wasn't surprised by the statement considering that everything Harley has told me about Amanda Waller she was capable of anything to ensure that the best were part of Task Force X.  It as much as she wanted the best everyone was disposable to her and considering the rising death count of the Suicide Squad she was always in need of more members. "Batman intervened."

"How thoughtful of him." Jason quipped his irritation towards Bruce couldn't be more clear though I could hardly blame him. In many ways he had to feel abandoned which was a feeling that was not new to him as he was an orphan after all. And unlike Dick it was clear that Jason loved every second of being Robin and fighting alongside Batman. Coming with us must certainly feel like a downgrade for him as we would not be facing Batman level threats. "I can't believe we're going to fucking San Fransisco."

I shared a brief look with Dick as we both realized that Jason was undeniably going to be difficult though hopefully being around Rachel and Gar would help as he needed to be around people his age. From the brief couple of months I had spent in Wayne Manor and with Bruce I understood that there always seemed to be a looming darkness. Being away from the Bruce's darkness and the darkness that infected the streets of Gotham, which I realized was something that I needed too.

***

^^^A/N Yay! We're officially going to be entering the plot for season 2. I know we spent a lot of time in Gotham but as the Batman fan that I am I simply couldn't resist. This chapter had a lot of Bruce Wayne, but is there such thing as too much Bruce Wayne. Anyway as you all know a lot of drama is going to be coming your way as season 2 is very drama heavy though I will be chasing a couple minor details that were kind of ridiculous to me. Chey and Dick has definitely been a slowly burn but don't worry lots of them coming soon! ^^^