A Super Thief and a Teen Titan Can Never Be Together - Chap.8

Rose's eyes fluttered open and looked around at the room she was in. Rich, dark colors surrounded her, reds and browns; it was all a drastic change from the last thing she remembered... coldness and pain. She silently slid out of the warm bed and grabbed a jacket from the closet to throw over the only clothes she had, her Jester clothes. Then the door opened and the sound startled her, but then she saw Bruce Wayne's butler... Alfred? Was that his name?

"Oh, you're awake," he said surprised.

"I'm a fast healer," she stated, eyeing the old man suspiciously.

"Well then, Mr. Wayne is in his study if you'd like to see him. He'd be thrilled to see that you're well," Alfred smiled kindly at her and her eyes softened.

"Thank you," she smiled back timidly as he turned to lead her to the study. She couldn't quite put her finger on it but there was something soothing about the old man, almost grandfatherly.

"Master Wayne?" Alfred called into the dimly lit room.

"Yes?" Bruce called from his desk.

"Go on, Miss Roseate," Alfred said to her and she stepped in and Alfred quietly closed the door behind her.

"Rose?" Bruce asked turning on a light next to his desk.

"I suppose I want to thank you," Rose said, lingering by the door.

"Thank me?" he asked.

"For your kindness," she added stepping in a little more. "Mostly for talking me out of killing my- Winters."

"I think you have me confused with someone else," Bruce said standing up to feed the fire in the large marble fireplace, she looked at the fire and it grew and she flinched.

"Don't deny it, I'm a lot of things, but I'm not stupid," Rose said finally coming into the room and joining him by the fire, careful to keep her eyes away from the flames. "You gave yourself away when you called me by my nickname. If Robin had told you anything about me he would have used my official name, he's all business."

"You're good," he chuckled.

"Not good enough," Rose stated. "Winters is right about me, I'm weak. I dreamed about getting my revenge and then when I finally had him... I couldn't do it."

"No you're not," Bruce said and she looked at him. "You showed strength that night, strength that your father or most people couldn't possibly understand."

"Strength from a heroe's perspective, right?" she said sarcastically. A log in the fireplace cracked and Rose jumped in surprise, forcing herself not to look at the fire; Bruce watched her as if he was trying to figure her out.

"The Titans are worried about you," Bruce stated, drawing her attention from whatever was bothering her.

"You told them I was here?" she asked, her anger flaring.

"How could I not? They're worried about you, Morgan," Bruce said.

"Don't call me that!"

"Sorry, I-"

"Master Wayne?" Alfred asked opening the door. "You have some guests, should I show them in?"

"Sure," Bruce said, relieved to have the distraction; he never was the greatest with dealing with emotions, especially other people's. Rose quietly slipped out of the room behind Alfred. She walked down a hallway, huge pillars lined the hall and the sunlight shined through the windows. A few tables were placed in various places there were tables with various items but one caught her attention, a vase with wilting flowers. She stopped by it and softly touched one and life flooded into the delicate petals.

"Rose," a familiar voice said and she turned to look. Once she saw him the tears she had been holding in burst free like flood waters. She almost tripped as she started running for him, quickly closing the distance between them and he willingly and lovingly took her into his strong, protective arms. He held her in his warm but cool touch as she cried and soothed her with gentle kisses.

"Cy, I don't know if I can be the hero you want me to be," Rose finally said when she had calmed down.

"I never asked that from you, I just want you," Cyborg said with a smile. She couldn't help but smile in return as she kissed him like she never had before, fully and totally without any fear.

** Time Jump **

"Cyborg! Why didn't you tell me you were coming by?" Rose asked quickly trying to fix her hair by running her fingers through.

"You look beautiful," he said stopping her hands, "And the place looks great." He looked around at the restored house with approval.

"It's not finished," she laughed playfully punching him.

"You're still painting," he commented, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. "You have paint streaks on your face," he chuckled and she just smiled. She couldn't believe things were finally coming together. Her father was in prison thanks to her testimony, she was finally able to get her inheiritance from her mother, and she had reconstructed her childhood home. She was happy... but happiness was too much for some people to let her have.

There was a loud knock on the door and Rose reluctantly pulled herself from Cyborg's hold to open the front door to see Robin. "Robin, what's up?" she asked, surprised.

"Are habbits too hard to quit?" he questioned, demandingly.

"What are you talking about?" Rose asked defensively.

"The Black Rose Returns?" Robin asked showing her the front page of the paper and Rose's eyes widened in shock.

"But I didn't- that's not me!" she said surprised.

"If that's not you then she looks just like you. There were witnesses to the robbery, they describe you exactly."

"But- I swear!" Rose said completely flabbergasted.

"Don't worry, we'll get to the bottom of this," Cyborg said soothingly kissing her forhead before stepping between Robin and Rose.

"I don't have a doubt that it's Rose, how can you not look at the facts?" Robin demanded.

"I trust her." Cyborg stated clearly and flatly. "It can't hurt to look into it a little more." Robin glared at Cyborg, who returned the expression but he turned and left. "I promise we'll figure out what's going on," Cy assured her before left. Rose closed the door behind them feeling completely confused, she leaned against the door and looked at her wet wall. The sun had all ready set and so the house was dark. She went into the living room and flipped on a lamp and almost screamed, but he moved too fast. In the blink of an eye he had her pinned against the wall by her neck. If it were under any other circumstances she would have been relieved that the walls were all ready dry in that room.