Rain drummed softly against the trees surrounding Wayne Manor as you stumbled through the forest.
Branches snagged at your clothes. Your legs ached from running for what felt like forever. Every snapped twig behind you made your rabbit ears twitch nervously.
You didn't know exactly where you were anymore.
Only that you couldn't go back.
The towering gates of a massive estate appeared through the darkness. Beyond them stood an enormous manor, its windows glowing warmly against the storm.
You hesitated.
It looked important. Expensive. The kind of place someone like you shouldn't be.
But exhaustion won.
You slipped through a gap in the hedges and made your way toward the mansion.
Inside Wayne Manor, several pairs of eyes noticed immediately.
"Alfred," Tim said, glancing at a security monitor, "either we've got a very determined trespasser or I'm hallucinating."
Bruce looked up from his work.
On the screen was a soaked figure creeping across the grounds. Rabbit ears poked through tangled hair, and they kept looking over their shoulder as if expecting someone to appear from the woods.
"They're scared," Dick observed.
"Or bait," Damian replied.
"They can barely stand," Jason said. "Not exactly assassin material."
Bruce studied the footage silently.
The figure stumbled.
Then collapsed near the front steps.
That decided things.
You were only vaguely aware of the massive front door opening.
Footsteps approached.
Instinct screamed at you to run.
You tried.
Your body refused.
A deep voice spoke calmly.
"You're safe."
Safe.
The word sounded impossible.
You blinked up through rain-soaked lashes and saw a tall man kneeling nearby. Behind him stood several others, watching carefully.
No weapons pointed at you.
No restraints.
No orders.
Just concern.
Your ears flattened automatically as you prepared for the worst.
Instead, an older man holding an umbrella stepped forward.
"My goodness," he said gently. "Let's get you inside before you catch pneumonia."
The kindness caught you completely off guard.
And for the first time since escaping, you weren't sure what to do.
Because nobody was chasing you.
They were trying to help.