Four Seasons
Chapter 1: Winter
"Master Bruce, he's only at nine years of age. He needs more than support."
"Yes, I know."
"Right now, he needs a father figure, not a mentor."
"Alfred, the criminal who killed my parents was never brought to justice. That's a burden I won't let Dick carry for the rest of his life."
Dick Grayson moved away from the door he'd been listening through and sat against the wall. He frowned and shook his head.
Not only is Bruce Wayne the Batman, but he cares about me too?
He felt like he was supposed to smile. But he couldn't. How could he when his parents just died yesterday? Everything was like a blur. One minute, he was standing on the trapeze platform, reaching out to grab hold of his mother's hands. The next, the were on the ground, not breathing with their eyes shut. And now, he was in Wayne Manor, one of the finest places in Gotham City. It was all too much for him to handle. And to top it off, Batman had found himself a partner. Him. Dick wasn't sure if he could handle it, but he wanted to bring Gotham to justice, just as he will when he gets his hands on Tony Zucco.
"Master Richard?"
Dick looked up to see the butler standing next to him. Alfred gave him a weak smile as he nodded his head towards the door.
"Master Bruce is a little tied up in his work. Do you want me to take you on a walk outside?" he said as he grabbed Dick's new coat.
Dick shook his head and retrieved his coat.
"No, it's okay. I'll go on my own thanks."
"Are you sure? You've only been in Gotham for less than a week."
"I'll manage thanks."
Dick nodded and made his way outside, where all he could see was white. It had been snowing this morning, and the midday sun was hidden behind the grey sky. He sighed as we walked down the path and unlocked the front gate. Locking it one more, he proceeded in his walk.
Alfred was right. He'd only been in Gotham for less than a week, and only knew one other place well, other than the manor.
After a few minutes, Dick found himself standing in front of two gravestones, carved with the name of the only two people who could make him feel better at that moment.
"Hi mom. Hey dad."
He longed for a response from them. He wanted to feel their warm embrace again. He missed them more than enough to wish that he was dead too.
He felt his face, and looked at his fingers to see that they were wet. The sleeve of his coat was pulled longer in order for him to wipe away his bitter tears. Out of all the people in the world, why did this have to happen to them? Why them? Why now?
He couldn't bear it any longer. Full of grief, Dick left the cemetery, and began to wonder around the streets of Gotham with his head hung low. He didn't care about where he was going. He just wanted to be with his parents again. People around him looked down with pity, but he didn't notice their sorry expressions. He didn't care.
"Hey gloomy! Whatcha doing?"
Dick turned his head to see two boys about his age, running his way. One was chubby and short, with black curly hair that bounced as he 'waddled'. The other was tall and skinny with blonde hair and with a nose that looked like a fishing hook.
"Helloooo? Are you deaf? Greg, I think he's deaf!" asked the blonde one, sneering.
"I think he is, Ralph!" chuckled the chubby boy, knocking on Dick's head with sarcasm.
"CAN YOU HEAR ME?" Ralph yelled in his ear.
Dick flinched and pushed him away, and began to pick up his pace. Greg gasped.
"Is that how you wanna play? Huh?"
Ralph pushed him over, leaving him landing face first into the snow. The other two began to laugh at him, pointing and kicking snow at his head.
"I like this game!" shouted Greg.
Dick sat up steadily and frowned at the other two. He wanted to hit them, like he learnt when he was training. But he couldn't do it. Cowardly, he buried his face in his arms and prayed that they'd just stop and go away. He wished everything would just go away.
"HEY! Leave him alone!"
Suddenly, the snow that spat on him seemed to stop, and there was a scowl.
"Aw man, it's the commish's kid." growled Ralph.
"The kid is everywhere we go!" muttered Greg.
Dick was still hiding in his arms, but he could still hear this 'commish's kid' coming this way. Was he some kind of gang leader? Was he going to hurt him?
"Did you hear me? I said leave him alone! Buzz off!"
Strangely, this 'gang leader' had a girly high pitched voice.
"What the hell is her problem?" scowled Ralph.
"We were just playin' with him!"
Wait. Her? The commish's kid…is a girl?
"We better get going before she gives us a parking ticket or something."
There was a light thunder of running footsteps, as Dick slowly looked up from his cowardly embrace. In front on him, crouched a girl, about his age. She knelt down and brushed the snow from his hair. As she did, he studied her, careful that she wasn't looking at him.
The girl had red hair, that stood out from the white background. Her hair matched her orange woollen scarf, which seemed to be warm enough to heat up her rosy cheeks. She had a curious expression face, which lit up her green eyes.
"Are you okay?" she asked quietly as she brushed the last of the snow off his head.
Dick was speechless. As soon as her eyes met his, he pressed his lips together and looked away. He felt himself heat up, from cheeks down to toes.
Who is this girl? And why is she being nice to me? We only just met.
"Shy type, huh? I understand. People are quiet around the commissioner's kid." the little girl sighed.
Commissioner? Oh, right. 'Commish' is short for Commissioner…wait…does she mean Commissioner Gordon? The one who was investigating my parents death…
"Where are your parents? They could be worried sick about you!" she said.
He clenched his jaws together, trying to hold back the tears that were begging to come out. The girl sat there, waiting for an answer to come out of this mysterious boy's mouth.
"My parents are dead." he said quietly.
The girl stared hard at him for a moment. He looked up to see her green eyes searching in his. They stared at each other. For what seemed like hours.
"You're Richard Grayson, aren't you?" she whispered.
"The circus boy who lost his parents yesterday. My dad is…I-I'm sorry…I'm a dumbo for asking."
Dick looked away and nodded. He had every urge to hide again. He felt so embarrassed, sitting in front of this stranger, looking like he was going to cry. He wished he was a turtle, so he could go and hide in his shell.
"Hey, don't be sad,"
He felt a cold hand resting on his cheek, as he looked up to see the girl smiling.
"Come and play with me! Then you'll be happy again!"
She stood up and reached out her hand to help him up. Dick hesitated.
How can she be so happy and confident at a time like this? My parents are DEAD, and she wants to play? Didn't she hear me before? What is her problem?
He stared at her hand, then looked up to what made his eyes widen. She was smiling. The way his mother would when she saw him. The way she would when she meant, 'I care about you'.
Maybe…the problem…is me?
The moment Dick's fingers touched the palm of her hand, and she rolls hers over his, he felt like he'd been accepted. Like he belonged. For the first time in two days, he managed a smile. One that came with rosy cheeks and a glisten in his blue eyes.
"Hold on!"
"Whoa!"
The girl began to run, dragging Dick behind her, who began to stumble and awkwardly run. She began to giggle and laugh with joy as the two ran through the streets. The sky somehow seemed brighter than before, as if her smile lightened it up.
"You wanna go play at the park?" she called as she ran.
"I-I guess…we could…"
"Great!"
She turned around the corner, pulling Dick along with her until they reached the park, where the ground was blanketed with snow. They began to slow down to a walking pace, as they wandered around the area.
"Isn't it beautiful? This place is always so great during winter!" sighed the girl.
Dick looked at her, as she looked around. He smiled and squeezed her hand.
"It…it sure is."
They came to a stop, right under a snow-covered oak tree. She let go of his hand and stooped down to grab a handful of snow. He raised an eyebrow in suspicion.
"W-what are you doing?"
The girl stood up straight again, patting the snow she'd just retrieved. She gave him an ear-to-ear grin.
"Snowmen. I always made them with dad…when he wasn't so busy with work." she said with a frown.
She looked down at her feet awkwardly, looking a bit disappointed. But it soon became a smile when Dick put a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry. I'll help."
She smiled as she watched him gather snow with his hands, making a large sphere. He heard a giggle from her when he finished the bottom part of the snowman. The girl was laughing…at him?
"Great job! It… looks just like the size of your head…" she chuckled.
"Ha ha."
Dick threw a snowball at her shoulder, which made her gasp and throw one back at him. Soon, they'd started a rather large snowball fight, which ended moments later after one of them accidentally hit a passing old lady. So, they stuck to building the snowman, which was coming to a finish, with only the need of accessories.
"He needs buttons." said Dick.
"Yeah, Fred needs buttons."
"Fred?"
"Yeah, Fred the snowman! Who did you think it was?"
Dick put five rocks into the center of the snowman.
"What about the nose? Usually, people use a carrot, but we don't…"
He trailed off as soon as the girl stuck a twig into the head and two black rocks for the eyes.
"I think Fred's finished." she sighed.
"What should we do now?"
The girl looked surprised. One minute, he didn't even want to stand up. Next, he's asking her what they should do next?
"Let's make snow angels!"
He rolled his eyes as he watched her lay on the ground, waving her arms and legs sideways, making smooth shapes in the snow. They were being so childish and playful. So much, that it made him happy.
"Aren't you gonna join me?"
He grinned and made himself comfortable beside her. Soon, he began waving his arms and legs sideways as he stared up at the sky. As he did, he began to realize, for what seemed like hours, he'd forgotten about the grief of his dead parents.
Mom…dad…I…I forgot all about them…and…I forgot that I was sad. Because I was too busy being…happy…seeing the world around me…all because of…
Dick stopped making his snow angel and sat up. He gazed at the girl beside him. She seemed to be enjoying herself, and didn't notice that he was looking at her.
She…took away the sadness…and opened the world to me…when I needed it most…I hope…
"Thank you."
Dick's eyes widened. The girl smiled and looked at him.
"Thank you for playing with me. I know you were sad, but you came and played with me anyways. You're a great friend, Richard."
His cheeks felt like they were burning.
She called me…her friend…
"People…call me Dick. A-and…you shouldn't be thanking me. I should be thanking you, for everything…uh…"
"My name's Barbara,"
She sat up and grinned at him.
"Barbara Gordon. But my dad and friends call me Babs."
…Barbara Gordon…Babs…
Barbara took her scarf off and stood up before helping Dick up too.
"Hey, is that scarf for Fred?"
She raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"No silly! It's for you! You look cold."
Barbara wrapped the orange scarf around his neck. Though, the scarf wasn't the only thing that made Dick heat up.
"Master Richard! There you are!"
Alfred came running towards the two children, which was quite a sight, because neither of them have ever seen a butler run in the snow with a beanie on his head before. When he finally reached them, Alfred didn't seem shocked to see Barbara there with Dick at all.
"Ah, so I see you've met Miss Gordon. I'm sure you two have bonded quite well during this time."
"Hello, Alfred! Me and Dick were just playing." Barbara said pleasantly.
"And I see you have. No wonder Master Richard hasn't come home for lunch. The commissioner is worried about you too, Miss Gordon." said Alfred.
"Oh…he is?"
Barbara looked a little disappointed when she heard those words.
"Does that mean me and Babs have to stop playing?" asked Dick.
"I'm afraid that's affirmative. But I'm sure the commissioner will allow Barbara to come over to the manor when he has spare time."
Dick looked over at Barbara, whose face had lightened up again.
"Really? I'd like that!"
Alfred smiled, and nodded.
"Do you want a ride back to the Police Department?" he asked Barbara.
"No, it's okay. I know the way."
He nodded once more before bidding her farewell. Then, he led Dick back to the car. Just before he climbed in, he looked back at Barbara, who was turning around the corner of the street. She spotted him and waved a last goodbye before disappearing out of sight. The last memory he had of her at that moment, was her warm smile that melted any fragments of snow that laid in his path.
I hope I meet her again. If Bruce is too busy, and Alfred's not around, I hope she's there. I hope she'll play with me, and make sure I'm smiling. I'll look forward to that next time.
His cold hand reached up to feel the softness of the orange scarf around his neck, with the sweet strawberry shampoo scent of his new friend.
Then again…when isnext time…