The next day-
Robin-
Today there's the annual Gotham Masquerade police ball. It honors the police force while all of Gotham can watch. Bruce tells me that we can't attend but that Barbara will, while we watch and if need be we will intervene. She will be Bruce tonight under cover as a paid employee, and will make the expected Wayne speech that everyone anticipates.
Batman-
Dick is upset that we can't participate in the Masquerade, and be part of it even if he doesn't complain about it his emotions aren't that hard to read. Alfred tells me I am being overprotective of the city. In a sense he's right, the entire armed force of Gotham will be in presence, I should have nothing to worry about. Yet if something did happen and their families and their friends become endangered on their one day off, I would never be able to forgive myself; it would forever haunt my conscience. Barbara will take my place and be there to donate the money to the armed forces fund. She'll do the usual social stuff that is constantly taking up my time. Alfred is a little upset with me already that I let her help us with crime as 'batgirl'. Maybe this can be her contribution to the Wayne house.
Robin-
Bruce and I have been training all days, whether with simulators or just plain acrobatics. We eat and when I'm done Bruce has already showered and his heading back down to the bat cave. I hop into the shower quickly and by the time I met Bruce downstairs he's already in the bat suit. I slip my mask over my wet hair and smile a little anxiously. I was hoping he wouldn't notice but of course he does and scowls in return.
"Is this all a game to you Dick?" I hang my head a little bit and feel ashamed, wishing I didn't feel as embarrassed as I did. I turn on my heel slowly not wanting him to see my facial expression and how close to tears I am.
"I'm sorry Bruce, every second I am not out there doing something every second haunts me. The news the next day drives the knife in even deeper taunting me as if I might have been able to stop it from happening" There is a moment of silence and then to my surprise I feel his strong hand on my shoulder and when I bring my wet eyes up to his I see a look of understanding. He sighs and gives a small weary smile.
"I know exactly what you mean Dick, I- I have a hard time with it all too, I was perhaps a little overly passive with that last statement." He drops his hand and it is him that turns away to hide his face or even his thoughts to me. "I have a lot of my mind right now. Let's head down to the batcave and watch the security cameras.
Unknown –
I watch as the entire city of Gotham prepares for the police masquerade ball tonight, the way the mayor is left almost unprotected half the time through those open windows in his office. Watch as the thugs bustle amongst the street and as nobody pays any attention to them. I turn slightly and glance over my shoulder at the sun as it starts to blend with the colors in the sky behind Wayne manor. Almost unnoticed there is an ever so slight disturbance amongst the trees as something heavy clanks back into its rightful place. Nobody below the many floors beneath me is any bit perturbed by this startling detail. It's a perfect day for something unplanned, everybody is so busy with their pretty little party. I raise my face to the last dying ray of warmth cast from the sun and eagerly await the nights covering darkness. Ah yes it's a perfect time for a little mischief.