The Day After
For once around this place, it was quiet. Barbara had let all the costumed community that Oracle would be off line for upgrades this evening. It wasn't a total lie. It had been forever since Dick and her could be alone so they needed this "upgrade".
"Hiya, Gorgeous!!!," Dick shouted as he entered the window in his Nightwing outfit.
"One of these days I'm gonna hurt you, boy wonder"
"What? Can't have my favorite girl getting lax concerning her security can I?"
"Funny. And here I thought you were here to see me"
"I am beautiful."
And as he leaned to kiss her, she pushed him away, "No way! If Oracle is off line so is the Nightwing. Your change of clothes is in the room".
And just smiling that dare devil smile, Dick went to go change. While he was in the bed room, Barbara turned the lights down and put on some soft music.
"It's not every day we get this chance so I am going to make the most of it", thought Barbara.
Dick came out and saw the mood and instantly picked her up.
"So, bat girl, got any rope to swing from?"
"NO! no bad puns, Mr. Grayson, or your ass is out of here!"
"Yes, my lady, anything you wish"
And as they settled down on the couch and got confortable with each other, Dick and Barbara began to kiss. And then her perimeter alarm went off.
"The best laid plans of mice and men my foot," said Babs under a hushed voice. But still it caused Dick to laugh out loud.
And as Babs was rolled herself over to her terminal Dick, in the voice, added, "Dick, suit up. I want you at so and so in 5 min!"
Barbara could help herself from laughing, "It better not be him. I've already told him what our plans were for this evening"
"Why do that?"
"If I didn't he would have called you too so and so in 5 minutes," Babs added in her very poor imitation of Bruce.
And while Dick was rolling in the floor laughing, Babs uttered a small, "damn"
Immediately, Dick stood up, "What is it?", ready to get into action.
"Nothing like that, boy wonder", as she pushed the button to let who ever it was in, "but you and I need to talk"
"…."
And when the door opened, Dick wished to God it would have been Darkseid or Bane or any other villains. Instead it was his worst nightmare, The Titans.
"Man, oh, man", began Roy, "we didn't by chance intrude on anything did we?"
But before Dick could respond, Roy was already making his moves on Babs.
"Well, Miss Gordon, you are the light of my life. What do you say you ditch Bat boy and us reds get out and play?"
"Oh God, we've done it again", Garth blurted out.
"Done what again, Garth?", Babs asked as she snatched her hand playful away from an ear to ear grinning Mr. Harper.
"Uh….."
"They did this to me when Clancy was over at my place and thought they had intruded then. Then no problem, Now….."
"Dick, we should have called", began Donna, "we just thought since Oracle was off line for upgrades you would want to go out and have a bit of fun. We figured Robin would be here helping her out". And bending down to hug Barbara, "Hello Barbara, sorry to spoil your evening".
"Well since everyone is here, we might as well order out. Pizza or Chinese?", Barbara said.
"Oh, God what did I ever do to deserve this?"
"That's easy, Dickie-boy", a devilish Roy yelled back, "you grew up with him. Wally told me to make sure you don't". And with the voice, Roy added, "and I always do my job!"
and as the laughter began, so did a night of stories, jokes, and games.
And after a few hours had passed, Donna began clean up.
"Okay, you two, lets get out of here so these two can have a couple of hours alone"
"I'll help you with those, Donna", and she and Dick strolled in to the kitchen.
Barbara was left alone with Garth and Roy swapping insults and laughing her head off at them. But since Dick and Donna were taking a while getting back from the kitchen, she picked up a few things and began to roll over there. And she stopped as she neared the door. She was beginning what would be the longest week in her life.
"Dick, you promised me you would tell her if you and her got together. Why aren't you doing that?"
"Of all the things for you to remember…."
"Oh, no you don't, Mr. Grayson. You are trying to play Bruce now and it just will not work with me, do you hear me?"
"Yeah. Sorry. Really, I am. I just can't bring myself to tell her"
"Tell me what, Dick?", Barbara finally rolled in. She had taken enough. She was so damned tired of people trying to protect her for one reason or another. It was usually out of pity but she knew this man here and that was not the reason. "I'm a big girl and I believe I can handle it!"
"Let it go, Babs, you know how secrets run in my family".
"NO!! I have no idea what this is all about but if you think….."
"DROP IT!! I'll call you later".
And with that he was gone. I tried to talk to Donna but she wouldn't tell me what was going on.
"He has to tell you, sweety, I can't betray a trust".
Roy didn't even have any vile comments to make which let me know how bad this was. Why would he not just open up. My God, he even pulled the voice with me and I let him go. the Titans left and let me be. Poor Garth looked like he was itching to tell me but no one did. Dick called and no surprise how awkward things were between us. Finally I had enough of it and told him to call me when he felt like he was tired of holding out on me. That was two days ago. A solid week had passed before I received any response from the Bat clan after that. I knew Robin was in school with finals so I really didn't expect to hear from him. The biggest surprise was that not even Bruce had called. I guess in some round about way I had hurt his son in his eyes. But that was not even close to the truth.
Around 10 in the evening I received a call
"Oracle?"
"I'm here, Batman, what do you want?"
"Some one is here to talk to you. They will be at your place within the hour. DO NOT refuse their visit. It will answer some of your questions. Batman out".
"Bruce, wait….", but the connection was lost. At the time I wasn't even thinking about Dick. It had not even crossed my mind what it was about. I was to wrapped up in my anger with Bruce pulling his 'don't mess with me' attitude that I wasn't even trying to guess what this was all about. I took care of a few calls and in no time it was 11.
I had just assumed that whoever this was wasn't coming. And then my perimeter alarms went off. Nothing to worry about. They were coming up the stairs like a normal person would. I half expected some one to fly through my window or something. But then the door bell rang and then, through my camera, I saw who it was. With all the people I deal with on a daily basis, this is one I thought would never show up. and as soon as I knew who it was, I knew what questions were going to be answered.
I opened the door and we stared at each other probably just for a second or two but felt like an eternity. It was awkward to say the least. And finally we spoke.
"Hello, Barbara"
"Hello, Koriand'r"