Author's note: Dick thoughts are in bold italics
DISCLAMER: I don't own any Batman characters, they belong to DC Comics.
The batcave was quiet.
Too quiet.
Alfred stood at the combat, tapping his fingers on the desk, bored. Soon, the familiar sound of the batmobile came into distance. Alfred straightened up, stood up, and waited for Batman's orders. The batmobile sped in, and came to a sudden halt in the middle of the cave. Batman came out, with his two sidekicks trailing behind him.
Batgirl took off her cowl, exhausted.
"Man, was this a tough night."
"Tell me about it!" answered Robin, taking off his cowl and cape.
"Who knew The Riddler could be so much trouble!"
Batgirl smirked. "And you've been Robin how long?"
He returned the smile.
"Good work, you two." Said Bruce, now in street clothes, nodding at them.
"All is well in Gotham City, sir?"
"Yeah!" responded Dick enthusiastically.
"All for the fact that Dick and I kept fighting over which radio station to listen to in the batmobile!" Barbara punched Dick playfully in the shoulder.
They both shared a laugh.
Dick had found himself enjoying Barbara's company. It was fun to have a partnership with the three of them. When it was just him and Batman, he felt it wasn't as exciting or fun without Barbara. Whenever he saw her, his stomach flipped.
Bruce had taken off his costume and was in street clothes.
"I'm going up to the manor. Why don't you two practice with the batrobot, or do some sparring?" suggested Bruce, heading toward the elevator, with Alfred trailing behind.
"Sure, Bats." answered Barbara, getting her batarangs in place.
"Hey Dick, why don't we use the batrobot?"
Dick almost didn't answer her; he was staring in her eyes too much.
"Dick?"
"Huh? Oh, uh…sure."
Dick waited until Bruce and Alfred were up to the manor and out of the elevator.
They were finally alone.
Babs had started up the batrobot Bruce had made especially for them. It was 10 feet tall, and had two sides, 2 legs, and 4 arms. There were small lights they could hit with punches or with their batarangs. Each time they hit a light, the closer they got to turning the machine off. It was pretty much sparring, but they were both working together. Dick and Barbara started practicing. During this, they made conversation.
"So…what are you doing tomorrow night?" asked Dick as he somersaulted up to the top of the robot, ducked from a punch it attempted, and punched out a light.
"Nothing. I'll probably just watch a movie." Said Babs, ducking from another blow, and throwing a batarang at a light.
Good!
"Uh…..you sure?" he asked intelligently, flipping onto the batrobot's arm, and throwing his batarang at a light.
"Would I lie to you, Boy Wonder?"
"No…"
Just ask her, you idiot! his head was screaming.
"Positive?"
Babs just stood there, starring, one eyebrow raised in suspition. She nearly got hit by the robot.
"Absolutely. Do ya want to tell me why you're acting so weird?" She hit two lights with her batarang.
Why am I so nervous…should I just tell her how I feel? Pondered Dick. He punched another light.
"Well…uh…"
JUST SAY IT!!!
"Well, what?" She punched another light. He punched 3 more.
The robot shut off. They both dropped down to the batcave cement floor.
Dick ran a had nervously through his hair. "Uh…the reason I was wondering, Babs, is cuz…uh…"
Barbara was getting peeved. "What?" Babs asked, trying to not sound too annoyed.
"Do you wanna hang out tomorrow night?" Dick finally blurted out quickly, to get it over with.
"You mean….like a date?" asked Barbara, slightly surprised and trying not to seem excited. She had always liked Dick, and had hoped it would result in this.
"No…." he said again quickly.
"So…it's not a date?"
"No!" Dick was nearly yelling. The people on TV make this look so easy…ya gotta stop babbling, and TELL HER THE TRUTH ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL!
"Huh." Babs smirked. She enjoyed watching him sweat.
"So, if it's not a date, or a hangout, what is it?"
"Well, I guess….I guess you could call it a date…but you don't have to go if you don't want to." He stammered.
Barbara was so happy, she could barely contain herself. She tried to answer calmly as she said, "Sure, that might be fun." She smiled, making Dick's stomach do a summersault for the umpteenth time.
"Cool. Have you seen 'Night at the Museum'?"
"No, which makes it perfect."
"8:00, after the prowl?"
"Sounds like a plan. See ya then, Boy Wonder." She winked, slipped on her cowl, and swung with her batline out of the cave and home.
Dick let out a sigh.
He went to the elevator, and up to Wayne Manor, a very slight, hardly-even-there love-struck look on his face. It was almost not even noticeable, but as soon as Dick came out of the elevator and into the living room. Bruce noticed "the look" right away.
"Going to your room, Dick?"
He barely seemed to notice that his foster father was talking to him.
"No, sorry." Dick said, starring straight ahead. "I'm going to my room."
He walked dryly toward the door, opened it, and closed it with a dull thud.
Bruce chuckled. "Yep. She said Yes. Lucky kid. First time I asked a girl out, she said no."
He pointed to the computer monitor behind him. "Got it all on tape, too."
"A most excellent idea to add hidden mikes and cameras in the cave, sir." Complimented Alfred.
"Yeah." Smiled Bruce, "Brilliant, if I do say so myself."
Love it? Hate it? Please review. I am for sure going to add more chapters. In your reviews, tell me what you think I should do better in, and what you think should happen next!