A.N. Please comment. Again, Idk if this story is weird or not because I always get the weirdest ideas.

Bruce fingered the picture he always kept close by him. The edges were worn but smoothed out due to his constant touch. He was smiling in the photo, an expression he hadn't worn on any of his facades in years. Not since he was sixteen to be exact. His smile was wide and almost innocent, without a care in the world. The girl next to him was nudging his side, although it couldn't be seen in the picture, and her face adorned the same expression, just a little bit sadder. His eyes lingered on the girl for more time that he liked to admit before he tucked it away, inside his suit, close to his heart.

----------------------------------------------------------------20 years ago-------------------------------------------------------

11-year-old Bruce Wayne packed his backpack with all of the essentials: flashlight, snacks, bandaids, water, and other items he thought he would need. Alfred came up to him as he was zipping it shut.

"Master Bruce, are you absolutely sure you don't require my assistance?"

"I'm sure Alfred, this is something I have to do alone. I'll be back before dark."

Alfred sighed in agreement. He knew, that once Bruce had made up his mind, he could do little to nothing that would change it.

Bruce left the manor and walked towards the woods. He and his father had a custom. Once a year, they would go on a hike, the same path each time. They would light a fire at the top and stay awake to watch the sunrise. This would be Bruce's first year going alone and as a result, he could only participate in the hike, not the overnight stay. He walked up through the woods, his mind dwelling on certain things his father would always point out to him. That specific tree that always had a nest of squirrels. The fallen trunk that never seemed to decay, even after all those years. It both upset and comforted him that many of those things remained the same, even though his father was gone.

At one point, he reached a very small clearing where he and his father would always choose a rock to bring to the top with them. He picked one up for himself. Then he hesitated and, on a whim, picked one up for his father. When he reached the end of the hike, he came across two pyramids of stones, one considerably smaller than the other. One rock in each pile had small words carved into it. He placed one of his rocks on the smaller pile and then hesitated again before putting the other on the bigger pile. He stared at them. He picked up the rock with writing from the bigger pile. The words Thomas Wayne were engraved in small, neat handwriting. He stared at it, fury rising in him, hot and fast. He growled and threw the stone furiously, as far as it would go. He picked up another and another and another chucking it harder and harder each time.

He proceeded to kick both piles, not caring that he was most likely bruising his feet. All that mattered was that his father was gone and this tradition just brought back more memories he tried so hard to forget. Tears rolled down his face as he expressed his rage violently. He finally picked up the stone with his own name and threw it farther than any of the other ones had gone.

But he didn't expect to hear a thud, followed by a painful groan and an "ow!"

His eyes widened in surprise as he followed the voice to a small spot a little down the hill.

He walked until he saw the form of a small girl who looked the same age as he was. She was lean and looked dainty until he saw the defined muscles in her arms. She had a mess of pitch black hair that went just past her shoulders. She was clutching her head in pain, and Bruce winced in apology. She looked up to see him and suddenly he was staring into the greenest eyes he had ever seen. Wait, no they were actually a mixture of blue and green and they seemed to swirl. She was looking at him with a little bit of anger and bewilderment. She moved her hand off of her skull and Bruce was horrified to see some blood on her palm.

"I-I-I'm sorry!" he said frantically, reaching to help her, " I didn't know you were there, I swear! Are you okay?!"

The girl just groaned, but the anger faded from her eyes to Bruce's relief.

"Do you normally throw stones furiously into the forest? Because if you do, I seriously think you need to find a better hobby." She was back to clutching her head, trying to keep the blood in.

Bruce made a choking sound that sounded like a laugh and blushed. "Not every day..." He trailed off and was shocked by his own actions. Bruce couldn't remember the last time he had joked.

This time the girl in front of him laughed. "Percy," she stated.

"Huh?"

She giggled slightly and explained, "My name's Percy, well actually Persephone, but that's way too fancy."

"Bruce," he introduced himself, extending out a hand to Percy.

This time, she was confused.

"You're supposed to shake it," Bruce said.

"I know that silly, but..." she trailed off.

"But what?"

"But...nothing," she stuck out her own hand and shook his. Bruce was odd she decided, after all, what kind of boy threw rocks in the woods and shook hands, but she liked him and so she didn't really question it.

A sharp stab of pain entered Percy's head and she groaned again, this time reaching up with both hands. Bruce jumped to her side, immediately steadying her.

"My butler, Alfred, is medically trained. If you want I can bring you to him?" Bruce told her, guilt coursing through his head.

Percy just groaned again and nodded.

They both made their way to the manor, Bruce's anger forgotten in the need to help this strange girl.

The door opened and Alfred started to speak.

"Master Bruce, I have been worried about you! It is extremely late and -"

He stopped when he saw the girl.

"And who is this?"

"This is Percy, Alfred. She needs medical attention. Her head is bleeding," Bruce brought her inside and took her to the family room.

Percy was amazed as she entered the Wayne Manor. It was huge, with elegant draping curtains and some of the biggest windows she'd ever seen. She could play hide and seek in here forever, she marveled. Bruce and his butler, Alfred, ushered her to a living room and she laid down on the couch.

"If you don't mind me asking, miss, how did you get hurt?" Alfred asked her and she was about to answer when she mentally hesitated. Bruce had been pretty upset when he was throwing those rocks and while they had joked around, he never actually revealed why. From the look on his face, he didn't seem to want to share it with his butler either so she spun a small story.

"I was walking in the woods when I tripped and started to fall. I hit my head on a tree on the way down," she said, smiling sheepishly to make it seem realer, and it worked. Alfred nodded ad walked away to get medical supplies.

Once he was gone, Bruce turned to look at her with confused, but relieved eyes.

"Why'd you do that? Why did you lie?"

"The whole throwing rocks thing didn't seem like something you wanted to share," Percy shrugged as best as she could.

"Oh, well, thank you," he said sincerely. Percy smiled at him and was pleased when he offered a small tentative smile in return.

When Alfred returned, he cleaned the cut on her head and peered at.

"It seems as though this will require stitches, miss. Do you mind if apply them or would you like to go to the hospital?"

"You can do them," Percy replied, wanting to spend more time here.

Alfred started to stitch her up and she winced at the needle. Bruce looked nervous and a little awkward for a second before opening his mouth.

"Do-Do you want to hold my hand?" he blurted out before rushing on, "It might make the pain easier."

Percy only nodded and clasped his warm hand and Alfred continued. Percy gritted her teeth as she squeezed Bruce's hand.

The entire time, her eyes never left his.

"All done, miss." Alfred said after some time, "Although I'm afraid that's going to leave a scar."

Percy shrugged again. "My very first scar," she said, and then thought, "Well, the first one I don't hate."

Alfred nodded, cleaned up the supplies, and left. Bruce and Percy stared at each other for a few moments.

"Do you want to go up on the roof to watch the sunrise?" he asked her, "It's not the same from the hill but it's still nice."

Percy gave a yes in agreement and the two of them went to Bruce's room. They climbed out the window and onto the roof. They stared up at the dark sky before Bruce broke the silence.

"Where do you live? Aren't your parents wondering where you are?" He spoke this with a slight bitterness to his tone.

"Well, I actually live in New York," Percy said, continuing on at the look of shock on Bruce's face, "I came here by myself. My dad is probably wondering where I am, but he's kind of used to me running away. I always go back, though."

Bruce was taken aback. This girl had run away from home, from her parents? Why would she ever do that? He voiced his thoughts.

Percy sighed and hugged her knees. "Just recently, I found out that... well, I have this condition... basically, I'm not going to have a very long life."

"What? You're going to die?" Bruce didn't really know what to say to that. A girl he had just met told him she was going to die and he was more upset than he should be.

Percy nodded sadly. "The doctor said I only have 5 years left to live. I mean, it wasn't a total surprise. I knew I wasn't going to live as long as most people, but hearing him say I only had until I was 16...well I didn't really know what to do. So I ran."

Bruce stared at Percy and then suddenly he hugged her. It was a short embrace that only lasted a few seconds, but when he pulled back, he had a determined expression on his face.

"We'll do something," he insisted, "We'll search for a medicine, a cure."

But Percy shook her head. "It's terminal, and uncurable. I guess I just have to make my days count."

Bruce didn't want to accept that, but for now, he turned his head to look at the rising run. Percy did the same. It was a sad sunrise; streaks of dull orange and yellow painted the already gray clouds.

"I should get home now. My dad's probably worried." Percy kissed his cheek briefly. A tinge of pink appeared on her cheek and she turned her face away. Bruce wanted to tell her to wait, but she had already started sliding down the roof.

"Maybe you could come back?" He called to her. He saw her face him and give him a small smile. On the ground, he saw her lips form a word before she disappeared towards the city.

He turned his gaze back to the sunrise and, this time, he noticed small slivers of neon scarlet so small he almost missed them. Almost identical to the last sunrise, the sunrise he had shared with father only a few months before that fateful day.

A.N. - Sorry if I sound repetitive, but pretty please comment on whether you like it or not. A few words is more than enough.

Thanks so much!