TEN
Barbara looked angry when she stormed into the Bat-cave. She chucked her mask to the ground as she moved further in. She didn't usually come here after a night of work; she usually went straight home and tried to avoid any and all meetings with Bruce.
Damian was playing with Bat-cows ear and trying to figure out a better name for her than Bat-cow before she came in. Titus watched in that jealous, patient way that all dogs have when someone else is getting the attention. Alfred was busy with the bat-computer.
"What's gotten your cape in a twist?" Damian asked
"Oh, nothing that concerns you."
At the sound of her voice Alfred looked towards her for the first time. He pulled off his headset and approached her with open arms and they embraced quickly. "Oh, Miss Barbara, it's such a pleasure to see you. It's been weeks. It's a pity you don't come round as often as you used to."
"Sorry for that, Alfred. I really should come and visit more it's just time and…"
Alfred cut her off by lifting his hand in the air. "You don't need to make excuses Barbara, I know a little of what's going on between you and Master Bruce. I just wish you wouldn't ignore the rest of us."
"I'll try not to Alfred." Barbara smiled a little but everyone in the room knew there was no joy in her statement.
"Why did you come here?" Damian said.
"I actually wanted to speak to you."
Damian didn't let the surprise show in his face. "Me? You're annoyed at me now too? It'd be great to know what I supposedly did to upset you so."
"You're so quick to judge."
Damian ignored her and went back to thinking of a name for the Bat-cow. She looked like a Daisy but it was such a girly name that he couldn't bring himself to tell the others it if he decided on it; they'd all laugh at him, especially that idiot Todd.
"It's about the girl we saved from Dollmaker's men a few nights ago, remember?" Barbara said.
"No, I don't remember. It's not like that's the reason I can't go out for the next month."
"She told me that she was hanging out with you, as in Damian Wayne not Robin, before it happened."
"When did she tell you this?"
"You went to get your bike."
"Oh, I thought you'd been chatting about shoes or something."
"Why didn't you walk her home?" She raised her voice a little.
"I was following her. –tt- I wasn't going to let her get hurt."
"If she's your girlfriend you should…"
"Who said she was my girlfriend. Because she's not. Definitely not." Damian refused to let his cheeks go red
"Okay then but…"
"Why even bring her up? It's nothing to do with you."
Alfred watched with a nonplussed expression; he and Titus shared a look of befuddlement.
"I just want to make sure you're not taking after your father with the way he treats women and letting you know proper etiquette when it comes to girls."
"I don't need your opinion." Damian crossed his arms and lifted his chin up.
"Maybe Miss Barbara is right, Master Damian."
"Not you too Alfred."
"Your father, while a great man, is not someone you should try to emulate when it comes to the ladies unless you want to be alone all your life with only the memory of the hearts you broke."
"That's rather judgemental coming from you, old man, or did you forget that you're alone too."
Barbara scowled at Damian. "That was really rude, Damian. Apologise."
"The difference is I'm happy this way, Master Damian."
"I'm sorry for snapping, Alfred. It's her I'm annoyed at." Damian pointed at Barbara and glared from the corner of his eyes.
"Now, now, Master Damian, Miss Barbara was only showing concern for you."
"Well, I don't need her concern or her advice." He turned to Barbara. "And do you really think that Dick didn't tell me all this years ago?"
Barbara blushed. "I guess I didn't think about that."
Damian jumped down from the table he'd been sitting on and stormed towards the door. "C'mon Titus," he said and the dog followed at his heel.