Disclaimer: I do not and will never own characters and objects in this story.
Author's note: Okay, this is my first fic so take it easy on me if you don't like it. E-mail me for whatever reason, I don't care. It might take me a long time to get the next chapters in so, so sorry. My computer's all acting whacko so don't blame it on me. I hope you'll like it... here it goes...
But love is blind, and lovers cannot see The pretty follies that themselves commit. Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice, II,6
"Love Makes the World Go Round"
Prologue:
"Ouch!" Barbara hissed as she dabbed a cotton ball of alcohol onto her arm.
After attending a friend's barbeque party, there she was in front of the bathroom mirror. She'd just realized how much a little game of volleyball could do so much. Refreshed, wrapped in towel, and drops of water trickling off the ends of her hair, signs that showed that she had finished one of her daily cleansing. In the fact that she takes a shower twice a day; one in the evening, and one after her "night job".
She had a long night ahead of her, and she expected it. With Batman out of town, that pretty much leaves half of Gotham in her own hands. Taking in a few thugs, stopping a couple of simple gas-station robberies, and giving amateurs a good lesson why they shouldn't be doing what they're doing.
A few minutes later, in a GCPD tank-top and sweats, she headed over to the kitchen of her small and yet calm, easy going, contented apartment. she stepped into the room that's covered with light-emerald wall paper and hand painted leaves around the top corners of the room. Barbara took a glass of water and went to the living room. She glared at he clock, 'only a couple of hours until patrol time,' she thought.
Barbara walked across the room to a shelf neatly stacked with CD's, paper backs, and hard backs. After searching for a good book, she picked out one of her favorite novels. She turned on some jazz music, and when she did so, she laid herself down on the sofa. She rested her head on the armrest and started reading.
Moments later, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
The cold breeze caught her red hair and cape, making them wave through the night sky. Seeing Dick's own face being filled with hurt and anger made her afraid. Afraid of what might happen between them. From the rooftop, she watched him walk away.
In her dorm room, she sat thinking. 'should I talk to him now? Would he listen? Was he angry with me? Is he angry with me?' Numerous questions filled her head. She couldn't take it anymore, she have to talk to Dick. Running in big steps, full speed, not knowing what to say to him. But she had to get there. His building came into view and she jolted over to the entrance door. Up the steps, and into the third floor.
Then, there was his room. Barbara stood there. Tension filled the air. She walked up slowly to his door. She knocked. No one. She could feel beads of sweat behind her neck. She knocked again. Nothing. 'Oh, God. Where is he? Or is he just too upset to answer?' She tried turning the knob. Locked. She had an extra key and she opened the door slowly.
"What?!" she yelped in a quiet gasp. Empty. The room was empty! "No," she knelt down beside his bed, tears streaming out of her eyes. Friends heard something in Dick's room and came running to the door. She was too late.
There was a loud buzz and Barbara immediately sat up. Her heart was beating furiously and she was sweating. She reached up to her watch and stopped the alarm. Ten-o'clock. Time to suit up.
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
"But you have to cut down on the junk food, gentlemen.""Don't worry, Alfred. This is gonna be our last bag." Dick said munching on potato chips.
"Alright then," the well-mannered butler said as he walked out of the room.
Dick and Tim were watching their own movie marathon using movies from the manor ever since Bruce walked out the door. This time, they were watching a recorded tape of "Mortal Combat" given to Dick from one of his friends back at GSU. He got up to get a soda for both of them just as the closing credits of the movie showed up. When he came back, he noticed that the tape didn't only have a copied movie on it. Tim didn't mind watching it so he just kept on eating his bag of pretzels.
On the screen was a large room filled with young party goers dancing beneath loud music and laser lights. On the center of the screen he saw himself dancing next to a pretty red headed girl. The song became slower and everyone pared up to their partners and started to slow dance. Step by step, they danced close together in each others arms. Dick saw himself lower his head to her ear as if to whisper something to her. Her face burst to a ravishing smile when she heard the words "I love you," come out. She looked so beautiful.
Dick froze, still standing by the doorway. He felt his stomach cringe. Tim just glared at the screen not saying anything.
"Master Dick and Master Timothy," the manor's butler came up behind him.
"Yeah?" Dick turned around.
"It's time to go."
"Okay." Then at that, he headed to the cave. Tim closely behind him still holding his bag of snacks.
tbc