06: Date Night & Batman
17:24 September 27th
Dick picked her up in his black Audi R8. He had chosen a leather jacket, a blue t-shirt, and new jeans that had only been worn once. Tennis shoes to make it easy to put on bowling shoes. Why had he chosen bowling? It had sounded stupid out of his mouth, but Skye had agreed immediately, looking excited. He prayed nothing happened this evening or night in the city while he was out with Skye. He'd have to ditch her and that would be the end of whatever was happening here.
She entered the car wearing dark skinny jeans and two layers of tank tops, an impressed look on her face. Her blue hair was pulled back out of her face, with her bangs hanging softly around her eyes.
"Guess the freelancing pays well?" she teased with a grin as she put on her seat belt.
"I guess," he replied, a smile on his face. "It's actually a loan from my father."
Sky hummed as a reply, and Dick glanced at her face as he drove to make sure she was still smiling. She was, looking out the window and seeming to enjoy the view. She made no comment about his father who loaned him expensive cars, which Dick found refreshing. And a bit suspicious, considering it was a topic that came up often with dates and friends.
Shut up, she has no underhand plan for you, he told himself. She has no idea you're Nightwing.
He decided to ask the haunting question.
"You're not going to ask about my rich father?" She looked over at him with surprise.
"Do you want me to? Sure, I'm curious, but your father isn't you so… what's the point? It's not like I'm attracted to him."
"Most people ask."
"I'm a different kind of people."
"I can see that," he replied, feeling himself relax.
The ride was filled with comfortable silence after that. When they parked at the popular bowling alley, he saw that it was relatively crowded. He glanced at Skye to get a read on her feelings about it.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing," he replied. Skye shook her head, amused, as she opened her door. He let her lead them into the building, passing a group of teens coming out. Skye seemed completely at ease here, with the people. She had a smile on her face and looked at the bowling lanes with excitement.
"I'm not sure you're going to want to go out with me again after you see how bad I am at this," Skye laughed as she put on her bowling shoes. He did the same and picked a black, shiny ball to use. One of the heavier ones, and he admit it was to impress Skye with his strength. Skye picked out a medium size blue bowling ball. Must be her favorite color, he mused.
As he punched in their names on the screen, Skye was waiting patiently, standing beside him. Her hand moved to his shoulder.
"Is Dick short for something?"
"Richard," he said, rolling his eyes. "Not my choice, but spiced it up anyway." She laughed and took the first turn.
Dick watched her as she stuck out her tongue from the corner of her mouth, concentrating on throwing the ball down the alley. He found himself looking at her behind, then immediately moved his eyes up to the back of her head to her blue pony-tail. She let the ball roll and it hit one pin. She laughed with a sigh as she turned around.
"Better than zero." He grinned as she tried once more, hitting five more. "Yes!" She raised her arms up in celebration.
"Wow, if you excited for that…."
"Like I said, anything is better than nothing in this game with me."
He had a dilemma - should he try his best or keep up with her? Not that he bowled often, but enough to be pretty damn good. Skye watched him with her legs crossed in a chair at the table in their area. She wanted someone genuine - their interaction told him that. Obviously, he couldn't be completely himself, as Nightwing was a part of that, but he could do his best. Would she care if he annihilated her at this game? Shit.
"Alright, then," he muttered. He made a point to get eight on the first roll and none on the second.
"You're holding back, Dick," Skye accused, raising an eyebrow. She stood and moved in front of him. She looked up at his face. "I saw you purposefully keep yourself from making a strike. I'm not the type of girl to get upset if you beat me. Promise. This is just for fun."
She was close, and Dick was tempted put his hands on her hips just to see how it felt. She stepped back after a few seconds of romantic staring. Her face was flushed, but that ever present smile was there.
"Are you sure? I admit I'm pretty good at this."
"Completely. I don't want to go out with you if you aren't going to be yourself." With that, she rolled and hit eight pins. The second time she hit the last two and she jumped up with a loud shout. "Look at that!"
Her excitement was infectious, and Dick joined in on it on his second try. Skye and Dick touched each other randomly - a hand on the shoulder, brushing fingertips, a few hugs. In the end, Dick beat Skye with a large number, but she didn't seem phased.
"209 to 87. I thought I'd do worse," she said with a shrug as they chomped on nachos at a table near the concession stand. They had moved away from the alley to make room for the people coming in to play after them.
"So, why did you drop out of college?" Dick wanted to kick himself. That was a major change in subject. He saw her hesitate before the smile was back on her face.
"It wasn't the right place. You know, that gut feeling? It was a nice school, just… " Skye shrugged. Dick knew there was more to the story, but he didn't want to push it at the moment. "You grew up in a circus? I've never met anyone in that situation." Change of subject, Dick could handle that.
"Yeah, my birth parents were acrobats." He shrugged, like it was no big deal. To him, it wasn't, but Dick saw her eyes light up with curiosity.
"No kidding? Cool. So… your father is your adopted father?" The tone told Dick she wanted to know why, but was polite enough not to push. He liked that about her.
"Yes," Dick answered. He didn't add more, just popped another cheesy chip into his mouth.
"My parents divorced when I was very young - before I started school." Skye took the hint, and he was grateful. "I was back and forth until I graduated high school. I moved here and haven't looked back."
"Where are you from?"
"Near Jefferson City, Missouri. You?"
"Jersey."
"What brought you to Chicago?" Skye had taken another chip and was nibbling on it.
"Work, a new scene, that kind of thing."
Suddenly, his phone went off, the tone making him want to groan. He kept his calm, though, and looked at it.
Batman
In town. Club Arctic employees are being held hostage.
Shit, it was her place of work. Fantastic!
"Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, just my dad texting me some family news. Nothing to worry about." Dick smiled at her as he sent Batman a text.
Nightwing
Busy
Batman
I know, bring her. She may be able to help
What? No, no way in hell was he doing that. He stood, feeling awful to do this.
"Can you give me a minute? It might be more than just nothing to worry about."
"Of course!" Skye answered. "Its family, I'll wait here."
He nodded his thanks and moved a few feet away from everyone
Nightwing
.How am I supposed to keep my cover?
Batman
I'm on site, no need to come as Nightwing.
"Fine," he mumbled. With a sigh, he turned around and walked back to the table. Skye looked at him with worry. "Don't ask how, my dad has connections, but there is trouble at Club Arctic. I know you work there."
"What?" She jumped up and frowned. "How do you know?"
"Social media," he shrugged sheepishly. Nodding, she looped her arm in his and led him to the doorway of the bowling alley.
"What did he mean by trouble?" she asked as they hurriedly got into the car and sped off.
"Hostage situation."
"What?" Skye looked panicked.
