A/n: I'm sorry this took forever. I'm doing a project in one of my classes that is taking up so much of my time I never got this posted! I'm sorry. So this is the seventh chapter, a free story to anyone who can tell me why the batgirl mentioned in this chapter became the oracle. I will only be giving the request to the person who first guesses it. Please enjoy. *bow*
Virgil clenched his teeth and kept his eyes closed. Richie bit his lip and turned away. The silence was killing the blonde, but he didn't get a chance to speak before Virgil started to laugh. Not those belly laughs that meant I don't believe you or the soft chuckles that meant it doesn't matter or even the giggles of amusement. It was a dead laugh, one that would make Batman's toes curl and his mind to see the Joker as a harmless villain. Richie looked at Virgil in fright, "God, that's irony for me."
"Virg?"
Virgil looked into deep brown eyes and shook his head, "I'm getting you back just to lose you again. Even the League is looking for you. Well, for the Mad Hatter killer anyway." Richie shifted uncomfortably, "Every one is trying to figure out who you are, why your killing, and how to stop you. There aren't any foot prints, hair samples, wounds or even blemishes. No one knows what to do."
Richie smiled faintly, "I'm Richie Foley, I don't mean to kill them, and there isn't really a way to stop me. As for the deaths, it's all pressure, they suffocate. There's so much pressure on their bodies that they can't breath or scream or anything. I don't know why. I don't have all the answers just yet." Virgil smiled as well and pulled the blond back to him, wanting Richie closer then ever.
Virgil shifted, "What ever happened to Ragtag, Run and Jump?" Richie laughed.
"Ragtag got the cure and went insane, he's at the Hatter Institute." Virgil flinched. Hatter Institute was like Arkum in Gothim. The memories are painful and the building was… scary. Instead of threatening with spankings and groundings, some parents would threaten a trip to Hatter Institute. Everyone knew the stories and myths, nothing good happened at Hatter, but good people left Hatter. The Bang Babies had been there, each and every one, and not a single one enjoyed the visit. Richie had been treated to vast amounts of Shock therapy, and Virgil had been kept drenched so he couldn't get a charge. The mayor finally shut down the project and freed Gear and Static, allowing them to continue protecting the city, "Run and Jump are at Hatter. They went insane when their powers really kicked in."
Virgil sighed and shifted slightly, "Saw that one coming, none of the Bang Babies are actually sane." the two sat in silence as Virgil finished his coffee and as Richie reached for his lap top and went back to work. The silence was fitting, it was their day, and this snuggling was the perfect way to spend it.
Nightwing paced his hotel room in annoyance. Virgil should have come back to him, Virgil shouldn't have felt anything for Foley! Virgil should have found him, stayed the night, learned what it really meant to have a lover and forgotten about Foley in every way, shape, and form. What was Foley anyway? A scrawny blonde with mud brown eyes, no body to speak of and a horrible secret.
That only brought up why the League was protecting his identity. Foley was of no real importance. A soft laugh came from the desk behind him, "Oracle, you always show when I don't need you."
A saucy red head with piercing blue eyes and an hourglass to kill for walked up next to him. She wore a sleek black dress with formal flats and a black choker, "Dick, I haven't seen you this worked up since Bruce brought Tim to us. You weren't happy with that, so what has the Boy Wonder so worked up?" she sat on the end of his bed with a sweet smile on her black lips. No one could ever truly escape Batman, or Bruce Wayne. Once you were a Bat-child, you were always a Bat-child. Babs was the best example of that.
"Richard Osgood Foley. I want everything you can find on him. From his birth certificate to now. Anything that has his name on it, I want it." Oracle smiled faintly and stood up, her blue eyes sparkling gently as she brushed a few hairs from his face like she'd done so often in their youth.
"Is this you jealous? You become so obsessed with the object of your newest flame's affections that you forget how to be kind? Your more like Bruce then anyone else. I thought Alfred saved you from that."
"I'm not jealous! I'm rightfully pissed!"
Barbara sighed and jotted something down on sticky note before sticking it in her purse. She stood and smiled sweetly at him, "Your just following revenge. Remember, it's a dish best served cold." her red hair swayed like a dancer's hips are her heels clicked on the floor, "What ever happened to Kori?"
Richard glanced at the retreating figure bordly before looking back at the city, "Her interests were more under the sea then I could give her. Not that it matters, Virgil is a sweeter catch."
Barbara nodded and left the room. When she closed the door, her eyes traveled to the sticky note in her hand, "What a poor, unfortunate soul."
a/n: I'm rather fond of Batman if no one can tell. The characters are some of my favorites. Anyway. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Thank you for reading, and please review. *bow*
