Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Teen Titans.
w/ Dick + Kory
At times, she was like a fierce animal, so unyielding and forthright, that to tame her would have been a depreciation of her boundless core.
He was madly captivated by her and for him, there wasn't any other simpler way to dictate it. Ironically, he also knew there wouldn't ever be a simple moment with her.
His body no longer felt the need to tense at her touch. As his addiction for her grew, so did his soulful appetent for her.
And now, he mindlessly pushed her against the door, the deepened contact of their lips growing wildly. Automatically, she circled her arms tightly around his neck with a force which could have easily rivaled their kiss…until an unbidden bang at the door interrupted them.
"Of course," he ridiculed with his lips still pinned against her mouth, "…of course this would happen now," he finished. The harmless vexation caused her to giggle humorously but did nothing to stop her from releasing her encircled clasp on him.
Still, the knock didn't cease as they could feel the growing reverberation emanating from the other side.
"Go away," he hollered, with a mild grin despite the mounting loudness and urgency of the bang.
His jaded sigh ultimately gave way. "Let me just…" he brushed her lips again, "…hold on," he apologized with a feeble shake of his head before giving her a concluding kiss.
She moved behind him, resting her head behind his shoulder, her curious mind waiting to see who would be visiting Dick late into the evening. Except for him, all he desired was time alone with Kory. So whatever nuisance was at the door, he wouldn't waste anytime sending them back on their way.
With a hard pull, he opened the door and shouted. "What!"
His body tightened as morbid shock ran through his cycle of blood, his beaming smile contorting into that of a wicked frown.
In her weakened mind, Babs's eyes brushed the couple, seeing the horrified look each cultivated. On edge and shamed, she touched at her reddened bruises. The swelling, from what she could feel, had only gotten worse.
Kory gasped, raising a concerned hand to her mouth. "Oh my--"
Babs initially tried to repress her thoughts of flight, thinking this a very bad idea.
"Babs?" he called to her, breaking away from Kory almost immediately to tend to the poor woman. "What happened to you?"
She cried as she lunged towards him. "Dick, please help me."
Babs suffocated herself into his chest, keeping him close. There wasn't a bridge of air between them and he found himself breathing in the usual fragrant shampoo from her tresses, stroking the back of her head soothingly.
"Babs, tell me what happened to you?" he asked again, his concern choking from the edginess of his tone.
Not completely bothered by their abrupt closeness, Kory moved behind Babs, trying the best she could to console her at the distance they stood.
Albeit she and Babs did share a certain hostility towards each other, she wouldn't ever wish her, nor anyone else for that matter, serious bodily harm. It just wasn't in her realm of beliefs to feel spiteful, especially for someone so helpless.
She raised her arm in a soft motion, wishing to place a caring hand to her shoulder. "Hey, are you--"
Only Babs decided to interrupt her heartfelt concern, choosing to gaze deeply into Dick's eyes. "I need your help," she said through low sniffles.
"Sure, anything."
"Um…" her voice broke before looking cautiously over to Kory, hesitant to continue. Instead, she opted to whisper into his ear. "Can we talk…just you and I…alone? Only for a moment."
"Well…uh," Dick wandered his eyes over to his would-be girlfriend. "Let me talk to Kory first."
Unenthusiastically, she nodded and let go of Dick with a small degree of hesitance.
He took Kory's elbow and pulled her away to speak privately. She couldn't help but steal a few glances from the side of Dick's shoulder at the distressed woman behind him.
"What happened?" she whispered to him, luckily now out of earshot. "Did someone do that to her?"
"I have no idea what happened. She hasn't told me anything yet," he answered in the same faint voice. He gave a quick glance to assure Babs was still a safe length away.
"The thing is, she wants to talk to me…but alone," he mumbled the latter.
Dick could almost hear, and to a profound extent sympathize with the clement wavering in her mind. Because he too was having difficulties managing through his own overprotective mannerisms when it came to Kory and the opposite sex. Though he knew she was much more understanding with things like this, as oppose to his old fashion jealousy.
He reached for her hands, enclosing them tightly with his.
"I know tonight was supposed to be about you and me but," he sent a quick look to his ex-girlfriend's direction, "do you think Babs and I could have some time alone? Just until I can find out what happened."
It wasn't the first time that he'd asked something unreasonable of her, drawing up memories of their first encounter. Thus he was apprehensive causing his eyes to trail hers, hoping she would understand his predicament.
If he did expect anything, it sure wasn't the pleasant smile she graced when she looked at him.
"You…blow…my…mind," she expressed animatedly.
"Huh?" he questioned, perking his brows in amazement.
Her compliment riddled his mind. The fact that she remained undisturbed, even after he suggested canceling their night together for another woman was…well astonishing. He'd dated plenty of women to know it was never that easy.
"Babs needs you now, probably more than ever and here you are…worried about how it's going to make me feel."
He crossed his arms accompanying it with a displeasing pout.
"You know Kory, soon you're going to have to stop underestimating my feelings for you," he instructed, finishing it off with a tantalizing smirk.
And just like that, she dove straight into his arms with an unbridled joy, for she could not help herself. Every single one her emotional sentiments at his words redirected itself into her affectionate hug.
After a few long moments, she called to him. "Dick?"
His chin rested cozily atop her head and he found himself intoxicated somewhere in between her scent and warmth. "Yeah," he answered, his eyes shutting peacefully.
"I really want this."
Still snuggling her tightly, he moved a bit to look down at her. "What do you mean? What do you want?"
"This…you and me. To always feel this way." She gazed upward to face him. "I need for you to know that you can always depend on me."
"Well," he suggested with an amused look on his face. "Does this mean you'll always be around to show me?"
She tiptoed herself playfully, nearing his lips. "What do you think?"
"What do I think?" He then enveloped his hands just beneath her jaw line, thumbing her lips tenderly. "I think…I can't remember a time that I've seen anything so beautiful."
Melting into his words, Kory fixed her face into a seducing gaze and instantly he caved into temptation. He stirred closer to reach her lips until a an unclear noise, who they presumed to be Babs, was heard in the not-so-far distance. Playing it coolly, he kissed her forehead instead as they stifled their laughs, forgetting for a moment that she still waited for them a good feet away.
"Maybe we should get back out there," he voiced softly.
Not wishing to end their moment together so soon, Kory stuck out her tongue lightheartedly at him but agreed nonetheless and soon headed back to her.
He held her hand as he led her back to the living room. "You know Kory, I still can't see how you're not angry with me?"
"Why gorgeous? She's your friend after all…and she seems to need you badly right now. I'm not going to pull a jealous poo over that."
"But that friend happens to be my ex-girlfriend. The same ex-girlfriend that I coerced you into helping me win back. I mean, I could understand if you were just a little bitter at me."
"Look Dick," she stopped walking, causing him to follow suit. Nearing him, she cradled his face into her hands.
"I trust you as the days are long.Just forget about what you've ever felt for anyone…anything that has ever hurt you. You're safe with me. I promise you this."
Initially, he licked his lips and nodded shortly. But still, some rather underlying thoughts couldn't help but find their way into the back of his mind.
"And all I ask is for a chance to let me prove to you that I'll make you happy," she finished sincerely. In the end, he strongly knew he had no need for reservations about her devoted intentions.
He smiled. "You're too wonderful for me. Do you know that?"
She tilted her head, her face crinkled in a playful sort. "Hmm…yeah. Yeah I do, actually," she teased. "And don't let your sexy behind forget it."
Her hands drew away from his face and settled onto the collar of his shirt, giving it a minor tug.
"Ok, Mr. Grayson. It's high time you went and played detective," she mocked in an authoritative tone but promptly reverted back to her natural timbre. "So go do what you were born to do…maybe save a life or two…and call me later."
Babs could hear their indistinct chatter several feet away but didn't dare look at them. Watching their every move would only make her feel worse, if it was at all possible for her to feel worse. At the feel of a furry tickling near her feet, she nearly leaped a mile away when she looked down to see Silkie making himself comfortable at her ankle.
Since when did Bruce have ferrets in his home?
She turned when she heard the coupling's footsteps grow closer. The embittering sight of their intertwined hands and euphoric smiles made her want to wail in misery.
"There you are," Dick chaffed as he captured the rascally Silkie, who wanted anything but to leave. "You don't want to leave me too, do you buddy?" he joked.
"Serves you right, Dick…turning him against me like that," Kory drew out, scouring around in her purse until she heard the metallic rustling of her car keys. "Poor thing, he must get that nasty stubbornness from you."
"What? No way. His charming good looks maybe," he kidded as he handed his old accomplice to her.
"Uh…no," she amorously bound her lips with his for a brief second. "My parents would happily agree that he gets that from our side. Thank you!" she taunted cutely.
So much under the spell of their sugary relationship was she, that Babs failed to notice when Kory waved goodbye…twice. Perhaps it was the wounded churning of her stomach at the display of their "picture perfect family" that distracted her.
Babs breathed in deeply. Just look at you, Dick. So satisfied, are you?…and it has nothing to do with me. It's just not right…
Dick escorted Kory to the threshold and they spoke quietly amongst themselves as he held the door for her. He kissed her goodbye, compassionately though not ambitiously due to Babs's delicatesake. He mutely used his fingers to signify that he'd call her.
"I'll wait up for you," she promised, leaving an enriching kiss on his chin as a parting gift. "Remember, take it easy on her. It looks like she's been through a lot," she reminded him in a whisper, to which he nodded, before heading to her car.
Reaching her Mustang, she opened the door but for some unexplainable reason halted to give a final look at the mansion. Dick had already disappeared inside, perhaps to tend to Babs's emotional state. She thought again about Dick's innate supportive character, his bleeding heart, the same sentiments that magnetized herself to him. Could she really blame Babs for choosing to run to him with her troubles?
No, I can't.
She sat in her car with the engine idly running. Ideas filled her mind on the possible scenarios of what could have happened to Babs but none made any sense to her.
"Babs…" she uttered with a sigh, shaking her head resignedly. Easily the world could ascertain why she fell in love with Dick in the first place. At long last, things simply didn't work out for them, so…
Now Dick's feelings are for me…right?
Would Kory have to surrender to the inevitable notion that his ex-girlfriend would always, one way or another, be a part of his life whether she liked it or not?
Well she's certainly making a mission out of it.
Imagery of all the days she and Dick spent together, conversations they shared, emotions felt, their reveling love-making, it all came deluging back to her.
Just as she was about to shift into first gear, a figure became visible in her peripheral vision. With a small fright, she turned to the manor and there at one of the elongated windows was Babs, half-hidden behind a grand curtain, staring back at her. On account of the lightened room, her visage behind the window grew deeper.
In the air a strange chill was brewing, while the equally cold repelling gaze Babs sent her rightly confirmed her worries. It seemed to Kory as if an abnormal roiling of shadows had enclosed her, warning her to stay away.
She shook her head vigorously hoping she was only seeing things, just her green-eyed mind mischievously playing tricks on her. And when she took another look, she was gone from the window.
She pushed aside the mild panic that Babs had initiated because she truly believed the attachment she had formed with Dick, absolute and full of passion, was potent enough to withstand anything his ex-girlfriend could throw at them. Still, that didn't stop her from cringing at the thought of Babs and Dick sharing somewhat of a moment together.
She gazed at her ferret who had already rolled himself into a comfortable spot on the passenger seat.
"What do you think, Silkie?" she stroked his head delicately. "Do we have any room for worry?" He purred softly, wishing to be left alone with his nap.
But internally, she repeated a foreboding mantra…
I trust you, Dick…it's her I don't.
w/ Terra
"Thanks a lot, Toni."
Terra griped into her cell phone, gazing through the outside window of the Argent Video Rental. To her left, she viewed the pink neon sign indicating it was closed.
"Well I'm standing in front of the shop right now…and guess what? It's closed," she emphasized to her friend.
"So then I basically came over here for nothing?"
She began her trip back to the car, which unfortunately was parked around the corner into the next block.
"Nah, I'll try again tomorrow. We might come over after I'm done finishing up my mom's errands. They never do end, do they?" she added to her friend, then took a quick glimpse to her watch, "…so I'm jetting now."
No longer on her phone and walking down a now empty street, she was able to narrowly survey the nature of her surroundings. The night had brought about a sparse mist and it had unevenly spread throughout the city.
"Great," she hugged herself from the rising darkness. "Cute and alone…in an empty street…a serial murderer's dream come true."
It was then that she heard the sound of footsteps quicken behind her. With broadened eyes, she looked back, a little unnerved.
She coiled her cobalt blues, however, when she recognized the figure behind her.
"You again," she tempered, choosing to look forward and ignore his presence.
Her feet moved faster, wishing to lose him. Not that it mattered as he, too, quickened his pace to reach her, ready with a piece of paper in hand.
She stressed at the sound of the zephyr brushing against the note he held. "Listen, can't you take a hint? I don't feel like dealing with you or your zany messages tonight."
Yet he ignored her nagging and handed over the small sheet of paper. Presuming she didn't have much of a choice, she grabbed at it.
"Dinner," she read aloud then gazed at him with confusion. "What?"
He stopped briefly only to shell out another message but caught up instantly. He moved the message intricately closer to her line of sight as she continued to walk swiftly to her car.
YOU HAD DINNER WITH HIM
"With who?"
He tore off the message from his book and handed her the paper this time. MY FATHER JOSEPH
At the spot of the penned words on the paper, she suddenly stopped walking to turn to him, in return causing him to bump into her unexpectedly.
'Sorry', he signed in his given language.
"For the last time…I don't know any Joseph, ok!" Her temper dropped when she saw that his attention was no longer on her but solely on finishing his next message.
She moved her head just beneath his, a childish play to divert his attention away from his writing. She grinned at the timid glance he gave at their new proximity, but just as quickly he continued with his writing.
"You're a persistent little man, aren't you?" She beamed as he kept his concentration on his message.
"Hey I'll admit, you're not as dangerous as you look but you're definitely a little…kooky," she chuckled somewhat at the thought. Truth be told, she couldn't see how this guy could even hurt a buzzing bee.
"If you don't mind--"
But she stopped and looked down to her wrist, which he held softly to stop her from leaving. He motioned for her to grab the message.
YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL. HE'S GETTING CLOSER TO YOU
Just as she was beginning to feel safe with him, he had to snuff it by delivering another unsettling warning. Though she wouldn't openly admit it, his messages were beginning to startle her.
"Look, the only thing getting to me…is you. You and your constantfollowing me around everywhere I go. Why can't you go bother some other girl?"
Before he could begin to write yet again, a habit that she found herself becoming accustomed to, Terra snatched the notepad and pen away from him.
She smiled as Joey tried to grab at it but she playfully tucked it behind her back, out of his reach.
"Joey, was it?" He nodded, not enjoying the moment.
"You want your little pad back…Joey?" she grinned puckishly, waving the writing pad in his face.
With a fast lunge, he tried to grab at it again but good reflexes allowed her to pull it away. Giving up, he all together mouthed and signed a simple 'yes'.
"Then…" she sang sweetly before throwing it into the far distance of the side street. "Go fetch!"
She giggled at the picture of him running after it, like a cute bouncing puppy.
"Good boy! Good boy, Joey!" she taunted.
Ignoring her chaffing, Joey traveled with speed down the concrete walk in search for his notepad. With the city street lamp as his only guide, it was somewhat becoming a difficult task. Though he was amazed for such a petite girl, her effortless throw was spot on.
Up a few feet, he found his notepad near the corner of a building and turned back to look at the girl only to discover her already gone. He changed his pace and continued to walk slowly to retrieve it. He sighed…no one ever listens to me around here.
Upon bending to pick it up, he fell back onto the stony ground when a gruffly boot slammed on it. Shocked and a little wary, he looked up to see a spurning but very familiar face staring back at him.
"Long time no see, hey Joey," gritted the man nastily, energized by Joey's shaken expression.
The man bent down and picked up the notepad, flipping through a few pages. Joey crawled rearwards as he viewed the man creep towards him, countering his every move.
"What's the matter?" The sound of his boots stomping onto the hard road echoed in the barren street. "No hello for your big brother? After all, it has been a year."
"Ghr…rra…aan--"
"Yye…es…sss," he imitated his brother's unskilled vocalization. "It's me. Still can't talk worth a shit, I see."
Grant held up the notepad in one hand, "And just what were you going to tell her, Joey? Another one of your lies?"
Joey rose off the ground, but before he could answer him in his language, Grant shook his head sneeringly and proceeded to tear up his writing pad, flickering a snidely smile…
Yes, she could be indecisive at times, but even Terra could not excuse her behavior with Joey just now. So she traveled back to him, readying herself with a mental rendition of an apology. But why did he choose to pester her so much, exclusively about his own father, someone whom she's never even met? Besides that, why did he care enough to "protect" her from this individual?
"Who is this guy he keeps talking about?" she asked herself almost nearing the corner from whence she came.
As she approached, she could hear an odd and disturbing conversation taking place. Smartly, she decided to hide behind a corner building adjacent to the street, gaining a safe view of the commotion.
It appeared to be Joey with another man in the middle of what seemed to be a light argument. With the same honey-blonde hair, or what she perceived to be due to the lack of illumination, he appeared to be an elder version of Joey. His physique was muscular and daunting as he towered over the boy.
However that was all she could absorb until she viewed the mysterious man punch Joey square in the gut. She jumped at the sudden attack, covering her mouth to muffle her gasp. From the look of things, this man wasn't someone she was gearing to make an acquaintance with. Only then did her terror spiral, as did her concern for him, when the man kicked Joey to the ground. She could hear him grunt in pain but after a few seconds, she forced her eyes to return to the scene.
"No…" she whispered into the cool air at the display of him on the ground.
She listened intently as the man spoke again yet more audible this time…
"You know, it's one thing to split up our family because of your insane accusations," the man paced back and forth, leaving a commanding impression with each step. "But to go and involve this bitch…"
Terra watched closely as he squatted down to the ground, inching near Joey's face…then abruptly smacked him upside the head.
"What the fuck were you thinking!"
He forced Joey to face him by grabbing a handful of his hair. "Stop trying to play the goddamn hero," he pointed threateningly at him, "…and stop making up disgusting lies about Dad. Consider this your final warning."
He let go of his brother when the alarm on his pager sounded. "Damn," he mumbled, setting off the ring.
"Hate to cut our little reunion short but don't worry," he patted his shoulder insultingly and stood back up. "I'm sure you'll be ss..see..ing mmee…sssoon," he mocked again before making his exit.
Seeing Grant nowhere in sight, Terra felt it was secure enough to call out to him. "Joey!"
At the mention of his name, he was stunned to see her return. She ran to him, helping him off the ground.
"Are you ok?"
Amid a soft whimper sounding from his mouth, he nodded. He hugged his stomach while he waited for the pain to weaken slowly.
Terra fixed her face into a frown. She knew she was being lied to, but in his current condition, she couldn't bring herself to argue with him.
"That guy just now…he was your brother?" Joey affirmed diffidently.
"What did he want? Why did he attack you?"
He searched for his notepad, which was now sprinkled over the sidewalk in pieces. Picking up the shredded papers, he reflected back to his brother, wondering how he managed to find him in the first place.
"Come on," she sympathized. The girl stood beside him, as he released the papers back onto the ground jadedly. "I'll take you home."
Regardless, he shook his head steadfastly and gestured that he'd prefer to walk home.
"I'm not letting you walk home, especially in your condition." Again, he indicated that he'd be fine.
"Right…and with your luck, your missing grandmother who you haven't seen in ages might come and attack you with a bowl of her stale tapioca. Yeah, like I really need that on my conscience right now."
He smiled meekly at her antics and she was glad to see it. "Let's go," she uttered earnestly.
Reluctantly, he permitted her to maneuver herself alongside him, aiding him in his walk.
The gait to her vehicle was a quiet one. She didn't know what to expect once they reached the safety of her car. Other than the fact that they both shared screwed-up families, she didn't know much, if anything, about Joey Wilson.
The noise drowned out as she turned the engine to her car. Going over tonight's events, she realized something that needed clearing up. She paused before putting the gear into drive and looked over to Joey, who held a puzzled expression at her breather.
"And contrary to popular belief, mainly your brother's," she huffed, "I'm not a bitch."
w/ Babs
Dick held back his questioning nevertheless perked a brow atthe picture before him. He saw as Babs gazed outside past the window, her fingers wrestling with the golden curtain in her hand.
He loomed behind her ear and whispered, "What are we looking at?"
Quickly, she drew away from the glass. "Oh," she expressed nervously. "I just wanted to make sure she got to her car safely. She did."
He nodded calmly and extended a mug of decadent chocolate to her. "…some hot chocolate? Kory made some earlier. It's very good."
She took the beverage gratefully and found herself a seat on the same couch which had previously been occupied by the harmonious lovers.
"I'm sorry to have ruined your evening but I didn't know where else to turn."
"Babs, please don't think you have to apologize to me. I mean, it's me, Dick. Besides, despite everything that's happened between us, it's nice to know that you can still come to me."
Smiling for a moment at his response, she raised the mug nearly halfway to her lips, stopping once she caught sight of the warm liquid.
Dick perused her reluctance clearly. "Hot chocolate," he shrugged. "What can I say, it's her favorite."
All the while, Babs resisted the urge to coil her eyes unkindly at Kory's immature tastes…in just about everything this side of the moon. She wasn't an avid fan of hers, not in the least, nor was she eager to try out any kind of concoction she may have produced.
"Did Alfred leave any of his English teas around? I could--"
He answered by the shaking his head. "Give it a try. You'll like it."
She shrugged off his suggestion but raised the mug no less. Sipping her drink lightly, she could feel his impression as he sat down beside her.
"Just a scintilla too sweet for my taste," she lied, wrinkling her forehead to further prove her statement.
"Really?" he asked, her critique just about surprised him. "I thought it was one of the best hot chocolates I've had."
If she ever wondered what being gagged with a silver spoon must've felt like, it was now. More so when she viewed his perky smile at the thought of Kory.
What am I doing here? This is all pointless…so pointless.
Amid dashed spirits and a thwarted plan, she was but an inch away from her defeat. That was until she felt the warmth of Dick's fingertips feel at her face, smoothing over her contusions.
Seconds passed before she herself placed her own fingers over the bruising, then with a seducible mingle, she placed them over his. Her touch stunned him visibly as he wasn't expecting her to be so…touchy-feely.
"Does it look as horrible as it feels?"
He coughed weakly before answering. "It doesn't look too bad." Hastily, he pulled his fingers away not wanting to tempt her with any ideas. "But then what do I know, I'm not the one in pain."
Dick found it difficult to tear his eyes away from her bruises. So much that Babs moved about uneasily under his scrutinizing stare. He concentrated on every detail, the swelling, its redness in color. Yet, there was something peculiar about her contusions though he couldn't figure out what.
"So are you going to tell me what happened or not?" It wasn't really much of a question as it was more of a demand.
"Always the detective, aren't you?" she quizzed with another fast sip of her beverage.
"Don't treat me like your father, Babs. I'm still your friend and I do care about what happens to you."
There was something in his stern disposition, something that she rarely witnessed spring from Dick, that excited her.
"Does what happened to me really matter?"
"What are you talking about? Of course it matters!" He moved about in his seat, trying to keep his composure. "Why would you even ask that?"
"Dick, let's not make a big production about this. I made a mistake. It happened, it's over."
"What mistake? Will you clue me in on what you're talking about?" He waited but grew tired when she refused to say any more. "Babs, you can't--"
"Yes I can!" She bowed her head dejectedly, upset at her own outburst. In turn, her distress made Dick soften his opposition.
"I understand how you might feel a little…conflicted," he comforted her. He grabbed her chin, raising it to look at him, to hear his commiserating words.
"Hey, it's me, Dick. Remember?" he assured with his capering smile. "You can talk to me about anything. I'm not here to grill you."
"All I really want is to forget everything that happened…please."
"I know you want nothing more than to forget what happened but I really want to help you through this. Only I can't do anything if you won't at least tell me what's going on. If you could just tell me who…what, why…anything!"
Dick Grayson was a phenomenon. She truly believed this because this was her only logical answer. What with everything he endured throughout their relationship…all for her.
Even when she treated him coldly or simply put her feelings above his at times, it didn't stop him from going against the current for her. Nor did he stray from her shortcomings, he accepted her for who and what she was. And for that, he presented himself so godly in her eyes.
She realized a little too late how much of an ignorant fool she was for thinking she could've done better than him when she reached college.
So now she had made an adamant decision. There was no imaginable way she could allow this girl, the next slap of silicone and a simple bimbette off the street at that, to test the might of their love.
She looked back to him, longing now filling the void in her eyes.
"You really want to help me, Dick?" The steep nod of his head was enough of an answer for her. "Then hold me," she answered, her voice in its own fragile state.
"Hold you?"
"Put your arms around me like you used to do. Tell me that everything is going to be fine. That's what I need from you."
She ignored the seeming battle waging in his mind, especially when he looked to the front door that Kory had exited through a while ago.
As he placed her in a nurturing embrace, Babs could feel an encompassing sensation. She hugged the most of him she could, resting her head along his chest. Though it couldn't compare to the splendor of when he stroked the back of her head, rocking her back and forth slowly.
"Everything's going to be alright, Babs."
The comfort of his voice, she had taken it for granted so many times before…but she vowed to no longer. She lost count of the minutes they remained this way.
Regardless of their contact, it pained her to feel the reserved distance between them. His mind was with her but his heart was elsewhere. That much she knew.
She suffered a firm panic at the contemplation that she might not ever get him back. Or maybe it was the inkling she sensed every time he carefully watched not to overstep his boundaries with her.
A trickle of a tear glided down her face, ultimately landing on Dick's navy buttoned shirt. If he felt it, he didn't make it known.
"Dick?" she muttered quietly, still pressed against his chest.
"Hmm?" he responded absently from his surprising weariness.
"Since I left you…it's been one nightmare after the next. And when I need you the most, you're so far away. You are one of the few people I trust, Dick. I promise to tell you what happened to me but in time. Ok?"
She moved away from his arms when he hadn't responded.
"Dick? Did you hear--" but stopped shortly after viewing his closed eyes. "Most likely not," she sighed sadly.
Maneuvering out of his embrace, she positioned him back on the couch where he could remain comfortable. She sat beside him but nonetheless, kept up her conversation with him as he slept.
"Where are you, Dick?" Her eyes studied his sleeping form, inching closer to him than before.
"You're here but…you're not with me." She found herself raising her fingers to touch his lips, perhaps subconsciously hoping he'd waken by it. But he didn't.
"You might think I'm crazy after everything I've done to us…but I still love you. I think I always will," she sniffled through her soft tone of voice, her fingers still converging with the tenderness of his lips.
"If only you knew how much it hurts to see you with her."
She could feel his breath on her fingers as he respired quietly in the midst of his sleep. She pressed herself near his resting body, removing her fingertips from his mouth, and without warning, replaced them gently with her own lips. Seconds later, even after her abbreviated kiss, she wasn't completely satisfied as he remained immobile on the couch, showing no signs that he even acknowledged the caress of their lips.
"This isn't right. I shouldn't have to steal a kiss from you, Dick…because we shouldn't be apart," she breathed out loudly, clearly aggravated with her situation.
"I think you still love me. After all our time together, I know you couldn't just have stopped loving me. Especially for this…this girl," she scowled at the thought.
"So," she whispered desperately with a final stroke of his cheek. "…just come back to me."
The air confessed a cool chill and she hugged herself but ultimately decided to get up from her seat.
"I'm going to get us a blanket." And without a moment's notice she disappeared out of the room.
Now in the safety of solitude, a pair of dumbstruck caribbean blue eyes stared open, almost as if they had just seen a ghostly apparition.
He breathed hard as dread filled his lungs. Just when he was ready to celebrate his unequivocal feelings with Kory, the same woman he had come to envision as grace personified, why did life choose to make his more complicated?
Even after Babs announced to him of her lasting love, Dick did not possess the reaction he expected to. Shock, apprehension…panic were more along the emotions spewing from his conscience mind at the minute.
As much as he knew he should've, he certainly couldn't tell her that he didn't feel the same enamoredness for her, at least not anymore. With her current state in shambles, he couldn't plague her with such news. Nor, did he want to deal with any other issues that his ex-girlfriend might have pushed on him if she knew he was awake.
He shut his eyes soundly after hearing the proximate noiseof Babs's heels hitting the parquet floor.
"I'm back and I brought you a little something to keep you warm," she spoke quietly to her sleeping ex-lover. "Well, other than me," she grinned knowing he couldn't hear her anyway.
"So peaceful and quiet. I wonder what you're dreaming about." Sitting closer than before, she snuggled up near him, draping the throw over each of them. She settled her head alongside his arm.
All the while, Dick remained still and careful not to utter a single sound. Oh please, let this night end quickly.
w/ Kory
She was pleasantly surprised at the dwindling traffic in the streets of the city center as she commuted back to her suburbia neighborhood. And now she had received a call from Koma, mostly to warn her of their parent's scheduled return from their trip tomorrow.
Kory turned down the volume from her car stereo to better hear her sister's apprehension through her cell phone."Yes, I know they're coming back tomorrow, Koma."
"Will you turn down the stress meter just a notch before you pop a vein. You won't be getting blamed for anything. I told you I'd take care of it and I did. She's back in the garage where she belongs, safe and sound."
"And after only four days, I know."
"Well, I don't know how he did it, but let's just be thankful that he did," she continued with their conversation. "Or else…you know what, let's not go there."
"Remember Koma, this is our father we're talking about. It would've been punishment of galactic proportions."
Before decamping out of the metropolitan area, she drove out to an eatery at a nearby plaza, thirsting for a tropical fruity slush. This particular eatery was one that she and her friends frequented often, mainly during their school's lunch period.
"Yes…as long as you didn't tell Ryan anything--"
"Good. Then, we'll be fine," she said, pulling into the parking lot right outside the plaza.
"Actually," she chuckled at the thought, "in the beginning, I had my doubts about Dick. Yes, the guy who's fender I rearranged, but…"
Only the words froze at the tip of her tongue when she looked up ahead. Thanks to the bright beams of the headlights, she had a sure view of a pedestrian making his way into the same parking lot, who at the exact moment, crossed right before the front of her car.
"Oh, no…" she gasped, forcefully slamming down on the brake within time before contact could be made with the man.
Strangely the gentleman, blinded by the lucent lights, immediately halted his walk and remained anchored in place when the car stopped suddenly before him, letting what he carried in his hand fall the ground.
Kory trembled into her phone, disregarding her sister. "I…I have to go." Yet Koma continued to talk freely, without a care.
"Koma! I…have…to…go!" she shouted before shutting her phone completely and quickly exited her car. She shuddered drastically with the horrible notion of what she could've just done.
Oh, God…please…don't be hurt!
Paying no heed to her idling car with its door ajar, she shouted. "Are you alright!"
She dashed to the gentleman for a clearer examination, hoping he wasn't injured. "I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there and…oh God, are you alright! Are you hurt!"
"You mean, other than the slight cardiac arrest," he stated unmoving, gaining a more watchful look at her. "No, I'm unscathed."
Kory shook her head fearfully. "I'm so sorry. I…I can't believe I just did that." She could feel her heart pulsate to its utmost level. "I can't…that was really stupid of me. I wasn't paying attention because of…" she looked back to her car.
"That's it. No more talking on the phone for me."
"Well, thank you. I'm sure that would appease the majority of Gotham."
Kory didn't dare blink back at his berating, she surely deserved every bit of it. "I really am sorry. If you need…"
Her words became mumbled when she took a fast look to the ground as the man bowed to pick up what appeared to be a nice arrangement of roses. In turn, she bent helping him retrieve them, reaching the bouquet first.
"Your roses, they're…ruined. I'm so sorry," she frowned but quickly changed her outlook.
"But don't worry because I'll buy you a new bunch," she offered briskly, as if somehow it would make everything better.
"Really, don't concern yourself too much, my dear." His chilling demeanor thawed somewhat once he realized who he was speaking with exactly.
"But--"
"…They'll do just fine," he finished for her in his husky undertone of a voice. He observed the intriguing stare the girl kept on him which made him loom closer.
"Why do you keep staring at me? Am I that grotesque?" He allured at her sweet virtue, kindly grabbing the bouquet from her hands.
Yes, his unmistaken memory had placed this dashing beauty, also from the day at the diner, as the same nostalgic innocence that got away the first time. It appears as if fate is choosing to make a believer out of me.
"No…no," she amused, almost as if their "accident" was a now distant memory. "I don't mean to stare, it's just…well, do you ever get that funny feeling when you know you've met someone before?"
He kept quiet for a time but resignedly shrugged his shoulders. "I suppose it happens."
"Like now, it feels as if I've met you before but I can't place you anywhere. It's surreal."
"Perhaps I simply remind you of someone. Perchance someone special."
She nodded agreeably with a grin. "Maybe that's it, you just remind me of someone."
Kory took a glance at the time from her watch, absent of the reality that now it was the gentleman who kept an attentive but desirous gaze on her.
"Ooh, I gotta go," she divulged, straightening her silver designer watch.
Though before leaving, she insisted, "Are you sure I can't get you a new bouquet or…anything? Look," she pointed to the roses, "these are wilting."
The man gave a skimmed eye to the floral bunch. "Maybe they're just depressed to see you go," he uttered in a friendly whisper, bending to etch closer to her face.
Not that she was full of herself or even narcissistic in any way, but this man wasn't the first to flirt with such crafty affection. Many had tried long before him and many had deemed unsuccessful in doing so. He was, however, the first attractive 40-something year old, with his almost white hair and evenly matched stubble of a beard, who oddly wore an eye patch, something of a contrast to his deep gray spiffy suit.
"Well thanks," she grinned at his compliment, "but my main concern is if you're fine."
"I'm impeccable. Thank you for asking."
"Great," she breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm really late," she indicated by pointing to her car, "but it was nice not running into you, uh…well you can guess what I mean," she beamed.
She got as far as her car door until being summoned back by the gentleman. "Excuse me?" he called out to her.
Kory turned around with confusion but still walked back to him, yet stopping gently when she saw him pull out a single long-stemmed rose from the fresh bouquet.
"For me?" He nodded tightly. "I almost killed you and you're giving me a rose for it?"
He carelessly shrugged, his body language speaking volumes. Although he did speak up when she, within seconds, touched the stem.
"Even with the most beautiful love, one must be careful," he advised, his sole blue eye diving straight into hers, "…because every one does have its thorns."
Kory couldn't help but draw back at his choice of words but, in any case, took the flower nicely. There was something questionable about this man's presence and she found herself wishing to get back to her car as soon as possible.
"Don't go breaking too many hearts, huh," she kidded nervously before leaving back to her waiting vehicle, thankfully uninterrupted this time around.
She seemed to have not cared enough or plainly forgotten why she initially came to the plaza since she exited the parking lot just the same way she entered.
Visually, he followed her car out of the lot, focusing on the license plate more than anything else. As he finally reached his own car, he brought out his phone, the echo of the speed dial sounding in his ear.
"Yeah?" came a voice over the phone.
"I need you to do a run for me…"
Kory lazed about at the end of her bed, lying down on her back, watching commercial after commercial of useless endorsements. She swiveled around the Dum-Dum lollipop stick that protruded from her mouth.
"…you need an upgrade. New Pearl tam…"
"Ugh…upgrade this," she winced at the overplayed advert, turning off her television set by the flick of the button.
At all costs, she would try to avoid glimpsing at the time. But because of her weary eye's persistency to close, she knew it was getting late. Yet she refused to go to bed until she heard from Dick, her newly acquired boyfriend.
The beautiful teen needed to refocus her attention on anything else.
She slid over to her cherry oak night stand and pulled out an unread magazine from the drawer, unfortunately getting a fast look at the time in the process.
11:12 P.M. and still no call from you, like you promised. Well, maybe you just haven't had time yet. Yeah, that could be it.
Once more, she laid on her back and hovered the magazine above her to read. She thumbed through the pages slothfully, browsing through the articles and celebrity photos.
Or maybe, Babs has you in a chokehold and refuses to let you use your phone. I honestly don't think I'd put it past her.
And again, it wasn't enough to keep her attention away from the clock.
11:15 P.M. Ok, this is getting ridiculous. It doesn't make sense. He would've called me by now.
"Wait a minute? I'm just as much in this relationship as he is. So why can't I just call him?" she questioned herself aloud.
She extended her arm and blindly reached for her phone where she began dialing his number. After a series of rings, she wrinkled her forehead in worry when he still hadn't answered.
No…something's wrong. He would've answered…
"Hello?" replied a groggy but still recognizable voice.
Kory immediately sat upright, shocked to hear her answering Dick's phone. "Babs?"
"Yes, who's this?"
"It's Kory. I had no idea you were still there."
It wasn't too much of a question but she hoped for an explanation. However, if there was one, Babs chose to remain silent about it. Kory cleared her throat from the awkward hush but continued on.
"Can I talk to Dick?"
Kory heard a definite, if not cutting yawn over the phone. "He's sleeping," the woman whispered tiredly.
She glimpsed back to her clock radio, a little skeptical of Babs's excuse, and the digital numbers, 11:16 P.M., shot out in bold red.
"He's…sleeping?" she asked blankly, knowing Dick usually never went to bed this early, at least not without a call to Kory first.
Babs gazed over longingly at Dick, as he slept soundlessly beside her on the couch, arms still crossed. She moved closer to him, pushing aside the loose short lock of dark hair that had fallen over his face.
"Actually, we both were," she said, rubbing her eyes. "We were so extremely …exhausted."
With a final yawn, Babs questioned. "Why is something wrong? As peaceful as he looks, I'd hate to wake him for something unimportant."
That was a cheeky remark, filled with satiated allusion, if she ever heard one. Thus she could identify Babs's avidity in the art of competition. And for this, Kory had to keep reminding herself that despite Babs being helplessly attacked, this was still the same woman who longed to "nail her ass to the wall".
"The poor thing. So he's sleeping?"
"Uh, huh." Babs mumbled impatiently.
"Well I can understand how he might be tired. I mean, after the long night we had together. And let me tell you, it was an extremely long night too," she noted with a provocative change in her pitch. "Whew! Let me tell you," she giggled.
"Oh, wait a minute. You've been with Dick. So then you know exactly what I'm talking about, right Babs?"
Babs sent an ambiguousgaze to him as he continued to nap calmly, speculating if what Kory was obscenely trying to imply was, indeed, the truth.
Did Dick really have the audacity to sleep with someone so soon after their breakup? Of course, that goes without saying that she didn't enjoy her own "moment" with Xavier so soon after she left Dick.
However, the thought of Dick sharing an intimate moment with just about anyone, specially this girl who was clearly trying her patience, sent Babs over the edge.
"You sure are a crude, foul-mouthed…boorish piece of work, aren't you?" she seethed.
Kory was surprisingly taken aback by her comment. "What? I don't think--"
"Dick was just fine until you came along. But mark my words, he and I might not be together now but I can assure you this, I won't let someone like you hurt him."
"Someone like me? Hold on, hun. Let's not forget why Dick came to me in the first place. And just so you know, I would never hurt him!"
Babs's face blended with that of revulsion and jealousy. "Ugh…I'll never understand what he sees in something as vulgar as you," she whispered through clenched teeth, her face reddening with anger.
Although eager to counter her with another entertaining snap, Kory stopped a transient moment to contemplate Dick's friendship with Babs a little more closely. It was then that guilt had ridden to her stomach. To her, she knew that he did still care very much about Babs, even if it was only in the platonic sense. The last thing she wanted was to cause Dick any uneasiness.
Kory sighed with difficulty, thus deciding that continuing this act of childishness wasn't the best way to go in dealing with "the ex from Hell".
"Can I call times here for a sec? Let's not play these reindeer games anymore, alright. I think we can both agree that Dick is important to both of us. So for once, let's try to act civil with each other. If not for us, then for his sake."
"You…civil? You must be deranged," she retorted quietly with disgust, not wishing to waken the sleeping gentleman beside her.
Kory held her tongue back. Babs wasn't going to make this mint armistice easy for her.
"Look…you had your chance with Dick, I'm with him now. If you can't…" but abruptly stopped speaking at the sound of the dial tone.
"Hello? Ba…"
She perked a speechless ruby eyebrow, her mouth fell open, fairly stunned. "The icebox hung up on me!"
w/ Xavier
…and he followed the habitual path that led him straight to his home, noticing the unmistakable black truck parked in the driveway. Apparently his father was home early from work today. Growing closer to the concrete set of steps that led to his front door, he could feel his palms begin to sweat with each new footstep.
He pulled nervously at his backpack, still slung over his shoulder, before opening the wooden door, hoping that his father was in one of his better moods…well hoping more so for his mother than himself anyway.
He continued onwards past the living room where things were startlingly quiet. "Mom?" he called out into the still air, but no response followed. "I'm home."
He traveled in and out of rooms and yet they were nowhere to be found. He walked closer to his parent's bedroom, and sure enough, he heard her sharply groans and sniveled cries come from inside the room. In a rush, he reached for the door handle only to find it securely locked.
"Mom! Open the door!" he banged. "Dad, leave her alone!"
Then an eerie quietude lingered and he stood back from the door, fearing the silence. He reached to turn the knob for a second time, however jerked back when the door immediately swung open.
Not making an effort to conceal his aversion, a rather full-bodied man appeared and propped himself against the edge of the door frame with an unwelcoming lour. "Get to your room, boy," his father threatened, the smell of alcohol evident on his breath.
His resistance as he defiantly stayed put only amplified his father's need for control. After a hard push into the wall, he glared while listening to his father's orders.
"This doesn't concern you," he slurred. "I said go!"
"No!" came a voice from behind the door. His mother emerged and stood between the duel.
"Stop!" she shouted to her husband, restraining him from going after their son. "Xavier…please," she begged with her hands, "…just go to your room. Please!" she urged fearfully.
Apart from her bruising cheek, he could see the painstaking worry in her blue eyes, and he couldn't refuse her. Long ago, she made him swear that he'd never allow himself to intervene with their familial disputes, especially when their "confrontations" escalated so violently.
Begrudgingly, he made his way to his room which was conveniently down the hall from theirs but not before hearing a triumphant scoff from his father first.
He slammed his door shut before throwing his backpack atop his bed, unwilling to accept what had just occurred. He walked past his mirror and gazed at his reflection. He generated a morose frown as he touched at his handsome features and looked away. It was not easy for him to see himself, to see the striking physical resemblance he bore to his father.
Even when he stayed over at Ryan's for too long, he would feel an immense amount of guilt for having left his mother alone with that despicable man.
He bit back on his lip, feeling more like a coward with each new pace of his feet. The haunting sounds of his mother's grunts entangled with his father's flaunts, after he would deliver a further blow, began persecuting his young mind.
"What the hell kind of love is this?" he asked himself when he heard the vague sound of shattering glass make contact with a wall.
He clenched his hands because he knew…the youthful fourteen year old knew he was too powerless to stop him. Vulnerable…he felt weak. He wanted so badly to cleanse his body of this feeling.
"I'll never be like you," he grated at the wicked thought.
He looked desperately about his room, almost as if he searched for an answer that refused to show itself in the light of day. He ran a weary hand straight through his downy hair until his eyes caught sight of something protruding from one of the side pockets of his backpack. With its beautiful array of pinks, as it contrasted so well with the midnight darkness of his bag, he realized that it was a single mid-blossomed flower.
An enduring smile cascaded off his lips, with it sending scores of images of Ryan's little sister. Kory had obviously been in his backpack again.
He slowly retrieved the floral gift out of its secured place, careful not to tear into its delicateness. He chuckled silently to himself as he examined the flower closely.
"That girl is going to break some major hearts one day."
So mulled over on his thoughts, he failed to hear the door, nor the hushed footsteps that crept their way into his bedroom. With his head bowed down, he easily noticed as a pair of boots came into view. Quickly, he looked up only to be met with a forceful fist headed straight his way.
The impact was painful to say the least as he staggered back, though he didn't fall. No…there was absolutely no way he would give his father the satisfaction of seeing him strewn on the floor.
Tipsy and furious, the boisterous man walked over to him and glowered when he saw what his son held in his hand. "What the hell?" he voiced with disgust, ripping the flower from him.
"Flowers are for sissies!" he barked, crushing the petals harshly. "I'm not raising any pansies in this family! Do you get me!" he pushed him once more, crashing him into his dresser which reeled greatly due to the strength.
In a common moment of his callousness, his father stood there, revulsion gleaming from his gray eyes at his son's flaws of frailty.
"Damn, you're pathetic," he hiccupped. "Boy, you're never going to amount to anything but a speck on my boot. Hell, I bet you couldn't even lace my boots," he laughed arrogantly.
The adolescent faced him with a foul look cast upon his face…and he was still powerless against him.
"Whew," the older man exhaled despairingly. "I need another beer." Just as silently as he had entered the room, he was gone…
The sound of the blaring clock beeped, wakening a sleeping Xavier out of his recurring dream. He raised himself up to turn off the alarm after hearing an agitated grumble from Ryan. He wiped off any sweat that had accumulated throughout the night and rubbed at his tired eyes. He looked again at the time…5:30 A.M.
Monday…practice…6:30…in the morning…
He scratched his head blearily, wishing death upon all early mornings. Skillfully, he traveled in the dark and, with no trouble, grabbed his workout sweats from his dresser.
As he exited his dorm room, en route to one of the only two showers that rested on their floor, he thought back to his dream. Only it wasn't a dream as he remembered, it was that fateful day his father passed away from that precise beer run.
His instantaneous death stemmed from "his failure to negotiate a curve in the road and slammed head-on into a nearby tree," as it had read per the newspaper article.
He stopped in the center of the hallway when his breath became shallow, his heart slowing in pace…looking back to his room, something told him to call his mother. He knew she'd be sleeping peacefully at this time of hour but he had to know she was fine.
Retreating back to his room, he searched for Ryan's cell phone which was usually always left on his desk. His fingers dialed the numbers automatically as he had done so many times before.
"Hello?" said a groggy voice, clearly awaken at this hour.
"Mom?" he whispered.
"Xavier? What's wrong, honey? Is everything alright?" the woman asked hastily, her voice riddled with concern.
He sat at the edge of his bed, burying his head as he spoke calmly. "No, everything's good."
"But it's so early and you are whispering. I just assumed something was wrong."
"I don't want to wake Ryan. I just wanted…I needed to check on you. Just to make sure you were alright."
A terse chuckle could be heard on the line as she suggested, "I'm fine."
Though he preferred to see the grin on her face, if only to calm his doubts.
"In fact, I've never been better. You shouldn't worry so much about me," she yawned slowly.
"Mom, that's like telling the sun not to shine so damn bright. It's just not going to happen."
Following a few more minutes of conversation, he ended the call, finding it necessary for her to go back to bed. He reminded himself about his shower and left the room again, at least this time with a clear mind.
w/ Helena
"To call," she smirked to no one but the bitter coldness in her room,"…or not to call."
With her free hand, she tickled her fingers at the phone's handset as it rested silently beside her elegant night stand while with the other, she took another sip of her red wine. The crystal goblet dwarfed her fine fingers whenever she would occasionally raise it to her lips, taking in the sweetness of its flavor.
Hypercritical and contemptuous, Helena had long learned how to use her manipulative ways, often working public opinion in her favor, and deceit being among her favored weapon of choice.
"Now what kind of a friend would I be if I didn't."
She immediately set aside her wine glass and grabbed the cordless phone off its base. Impatiently, she waited for a pick up on the other line. She stomped the foot of her heel restlessly, displeased with GCPD's apparent wait time.
She exhaled deeply, bored. "God forbid, I'm ever in an emergency in this city. I'd probably have--"
"Gotham City Police Department…Precinct--"
"Commissioner Gordon, please. It's very important." The raucousness of the busy police station could be heard in the background but she excused it.
"You'll need to call our non-emergency number. This is only for--"
"Then connect me to it, you half-wit," she scolded, ignoring the offended gasp from the operator. The line went quiet for a moment as she was redirected to the correct line.
"Jim Gordon's office. How may I help you?"
"Do we really need to go through this again?" she complained. "I need to speak with Mr. Gordon."
"Commissioner Gordon is under a tight schedule and isn't taking any calls at the moment. Is there anyone else I could connect you to or would you like--"
"No! You don't seem to comprehend what I'm telling you," she rudely interrupted. "This is of an important matter and I have to speak with him. Now!"
"Well, I'm sorry M'am but he's given me specific--"
"It's concerning his daughter, Barbara. So I'm sure he wouldn't mind you rebuffing his instructions just this once."
"I see," the secretary huffed sharply, holding back her temper for the unpleasant caller. "Let me see if he's available. Please hold."
She paced aimlessly around her room, waiting. "Oh, hurry up, you old--"
"Commissioner Gordon," he stated succinctly.
"Mr. Gordon?" she called, her voice now laced with nice pleasantries.
"Yes."
"Hello. I'm Helena Bertinelli. I'm a good friend of your daughters. We met--"
"Yes, I know who you are, Ms. Bertinelli. How can I help you?"
She brushed away the fluster in his question. Quickly putting her plan into effect was her main priority.
"Firstly, please forgive me for calling. I know you're quite the busy man, what with protecting our grand city. However, I do believe this news bears your utmost concern."
"That's quite alright. What seems to be the trouble?"
"Well," she uttered distantly, "I take it from your tone that you haven't spoken with Barbara yet."
"Not since this morning," he informed. "Why? Is something the matter? She's fine, isn't she?"
"I don't know if it's my place to tell you of this but," she paused, choosing her words carefully, and acting precisely, "…as she and I are such good friends, I feel it is my duty to at least to mention it to you."
"Ms. Bertinelli, you're beginning to worry me. If something is wrong with Babs, please let me know," he suggested, apprehension etching across his face.
She let out a clear sigh, ringing a mock sympathy for her friend.
"Earlier today, Barbara phoned me and told me about an incident that occurred this evening. If you wish to call it an incident."
"What incident?" Mr. Gordon's, or Jim as those close to him preferred, heart raced at the unsettling hint in Helena's voice. "I've been in my office all day. And from what I can remember, Barbara has spent the whole day home alone."
"Well yes, but that was until she received a visitor."
"A visitor?" he asked suspiciously.
"As I'm sure you already know, Babs recently broke off her relationship with Xavier Redd. Correct?"
"That's correct. I can't say that I'm heartbroken about it though."
"Yes, neither can I. She was far too good for him. I can't fathom what she ever saw in him in the first place, but I digress," she stated.
"You see, Xavier was none too thrilled with the idea that he was…jilted," she underlined the latter happily. "So he went by to speak with her this evening. That was when things quickly turned…sour."
"What happened?"
"She informed me that he initiated a heated argument."
His voice began to quicken. "Concerning what?"
"I suppose he was still a bit resentful about the falling out of their farce of a relationship," she said, holding back the urge to scoff.
"I'm not sure one way or the other. Barbara tried explaining herself to him but he declined to listen to anything she had to say. Therefore she suggested that he leave, but again he refused."
"What do you mean he refused?"
"Exactly that. She said that he appeared to be…oh what was the word she used," she asked herself aloud, "…oh yes, crazed."
"What did he do to her?" he threatened, parts of his mind considering the worst.
"He began insulting her with some rather disgusting names that I'd rather not repeat. It was when she refused to listen to him anymore that he attacked her."
"What!"
Helena was unprepared for the shout of his voice and swiftly found herself pulling away from the earpiece.
"I'm not sure the gravity of the situation or how violent it escalated. I believe she mentioned it was only a couple of slaps but--"
"A couple of slaps! I'll kill him! I…will…kill…him!"
"No, calm down Mr. Gordon. There's no need for that," she panicked. "Besides, he left quickly after. He's no longer there."
"Ms. Bertinelli…with all due respect," he gritted harshly. "He went into my home and attacked my daughter! There most definitely is a need for that!"
"Oh, dear," she feared. "I suppose this is why Barbara insisted upon not telling you."
"I knew it," he uttered, more so to himself than the woman on the other line. "I always told Babs there was something shady about him. I, for one, never trusted him."
"Yes, I can see that now. I truly do believe that something needs to be done to ensure that this animal can no longer come near her. He's a menace to society and who knows what else he'll do or who else he'll hurt."
"Believe you me, society won't have to worry about him once I get my hands on him. I can promise you that! You can guarantee, Babs will definitely be pressing charges on that miscreant punk!"
The commissioner's reaction was priceless, if not unexpected. The stupendous grin on her face was interrupted when he spoke again.
"Where is she now…at home?"
"No, she was still shaken up when she spoke with me last. Since then, she went over to be with Dick Grayson. She'll be spending the night there. She always did say she felt the safest with him."
"What I want to know is why she didn't tell me. Why didn't she come to me? This is more my domain, not Dick's."
"For obvious reasons, of course. Fear that you might have gone hysterical, as any father who loves his daughter would."
"Ok, so I'll give her that. I suppose she does know me rather well." He rubbed at his forehead, worried beyond belief about his daughter's whereabouts. "I'll go by Bruce's and make sure she's fine."
"Actually," she cleared her throat. "Seeing you right now might make her a little uncomfortable. Trust me on this, I know Barbara. She'll tell you about this when she's ready."
"But I'm her father. She shouldn't feel uncomfortable with me. It wasn't her fault."
"True. Yet the best thing to do is to give her some time. She's been through quite an ordeal. She'll be fine, Mr. Gordon. Dick is her love and maybe some time alone with him will perk up her spirits. I think we can all agree that she needs all our support now."
"It doesn't seem right for her not to tell me about this but…maybe you're right. Though uncomfortable or not, I will be stopping by tomorrow."
"Barbara always said you were such an understanding father. Now I can see why," she rolled her eyes apathetically.
"It's easy when you have a daughter like Babs," he smiled.
In the privacy of her own room and away from his eyes, she easily gave him and his sappiness the finger. "Please, let me not keep you any longer," she concluded.
"Ms. Bertinelli?"
"Yes?"
"I do thank you for reporting this to me. I'm not sure if Babs would have had the strength to tell me."
"As I said before, she is one of my good friends and I felt obligated to say something."
"Yes, you're a sincere friend. Thank you."
"Goodbye." She clicked off her phone before he could continue with any more nonsense where his daughter was concerned.
"Old fool," she laughed, positioning herself comfortably on her bed.
"I'm looking forward to the goldmine coming out of this one," she finished off with a strident snicker. Sinking further into her bed, she was rather proud of her cunning work.
She turned her head slightly to the left and there rested the day's issue of the Gotham Gazette, the city's longest running newspaper in circulation, at her bedside table. Helena reached for the paper, its pages already folded to a particular article.
Her eyes skimmed through the column, CHARITY BALL AT WAYNE MANOR A SUCCESS, though her main concern remained on the picture below.
A picture of Bruce Wayne with his fellow colleagues in a full discussion took up much of the photo. Though in the background, Dick and his date for the evening were pictured in mid dance and laughing together.
Sky-blue threatening orbs rested on that focal point, piercing through the inked page with a heated passion. Soon, she crinkled the article before throwing it down to the carpeted floor.
Running a slim hand through her bountiful black mane, the only thing that could give her any kind of solace at the moment was the idea of the possible events that were about to unfold with her callous stunt.
"That'll teach you and that whore to go outside your social circle."
Consumed with a profusion of alcohol, she stumbled somewhat when she relieved herself off the bed and headed out of her luxurious quarters. Though before long, she entered straight back in through the door with an apologetic frown plastered on her face.
"Oh my darling, now how could I have forgotten about you?" she consoled to her wine glass before downing it whole.
Hey all, I know it's been months since I've last updated so thanks for being patient with me and my snail-like updates. There's just too many things going on in my life right now, though nothing major. But I've returned with this chapter…ok, so maybe not the best but…raspberries
Let me just add that I know I'm not a candy factory ergo I'm not good at producing any kind of sweet balls of sugary fluffs. I did try my best though. I hoped all enjoyed it. Even though it was a little more darker than the rest.
And for the record, if anyone is wondering…yes Dick was actually sleeping when Kory spoke to Babs over the phone and didn't hear a thing that was said.
The poor guy though, he's all in a panic because he found out Babs is still in love with him. Funny how things change like the wind. Silly little Robin, but if he's thinks he panicking now, wait till he wakes up the next morning. snickering
Also, I appreciated all the views and reviews left for me. To all the loyal ones, thank you for sticking with me and my craziness. And thanks to the new reviewers: RobStar14, KawaiiUsako, $ToTaLLy InSaNe$, rite4fun
I have some of the best audiences out there. You guys are totally great!
And of course, The First to Sin, my bestest friend…thank you! (Oh and sorry hun…but that update will be coming along soon, I hope anyways)
Until next chapter, guys…