Flashback (12 Years Ago...Third Person's POV)
"I think this is a bad idea." Ashley sighed as she watched Dick grab any type of arson possible.
"Well, I don't care what you think." Dick replied making Ashley frown.
"Why can't you two just...talk it out?" she asked as she crossed her arms.
"I tried Ash. He didn't listen." He explained before walking out of the armory.
"Dick, please don't do this. Stay, we can-" She began but was cut off.
"No!" Dick turned around to face her and yelled making Ashley step back in fear. "You don't understand. You're 12, you're too young to understand."
He never yelled, especially at her. And because he yelled, Ashley felt like it was her job to yell right back at him.
"You didn't say that to me when I started patrolling!" she yelled. "You said I'm smart for my age."
"Don't you know a lie?" He asked making her feel hurt. She took a step back. Dick noticed and realized what he said.
"Ash I didn't..." he began.
"Don't!" she yelled with tears in her eyes. "I hate you...I never want you to come back here! You don't deserve to be here. You don't deserve to be Robin!"
"Ashley," Dick began.
"Get out." She sternly said. "Before I throw you out myself."
No words were spoken between the two of them till 12 years later...and Ashley lived with her guilt all that time.
Ashley's POV (Present Day)
A couple days later, (which was pretty eventful considering I had to deal with the moving company completely rearranging the floor where my firm was including my personal office) Dick came over to my apartment to get the 'basics' on Jason, Damian, Tim, and my father. We knew that Alfred would understand the situation, but the other four, that was a tossup...so Dick needed to have an education on the ins and outs of the Wayne's...like he needs one...but it's always good to refresh on material...especially new material. (FYI, Dick, and I have been talking at least once a day, sometimes twice...usually before he or while he's on patrol. I don't know why he makes the half hour trek...but I have to admit, it's kind of nice talking to someone that knows me like an open book.)
"So, tell me about Jason." I began from my spot at my kitchen island. "Your time starts... now!"
Dick smirked. "Thinks he's your twin from another mother, second robin after yours truly, likes to drink and smoke, curses a lot, loves to make fun of people and... has a nickname for everyone whether you like it or not."
I looked down at my smart watch. "New record...30 seconds. Not bad."
"Told ya." Dick said leaning back onto my couch. "I totally got this."
"Yeah, you do." I smiled.
I turned back towards the legal documents spread across my kitchen counter. I sighed when I read the police reports that talked about abuse. Made me feel sick inside.
"So, I have a question." Dick said as he took off his shoes so he could stretch across my couch.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Do you miss it?" he said looking over his shoulder.
"Miss what?"
"Being Batgirl." he stated.
"Sometimes." I responded and he knew where I was coming from.
I won't lie, I did miss her. I missed the rush of adrenaline I got from it. But then I remembered the trauma I got. Over the years I was kidnapped a numerous number of times and whoever did take me, they were always harder on me than the boys because I was a girl. I've been beaten, stabbed, shot, electrocuted, I honestly could go on and on. And trust me, I have the scars to prove it. Not only was physical trauma awful, but the emotional trauma. Seeing Jason die before my eyes, seeing Dick's burned body...it was terrifying, and I still have nightmares to this day about it.
"You patrolling tonight?" I asked as I gathered up the files to move them to my dining room table.
"Me? Nah... I'm taking the night off." Dick explained. "Too tired...you can only take so much."
"Yeah, I know." I smiled as I walked towards my room.
"Where are you going?" he called from the couch.
"It's 1 am... I need to sleep." I explained. "So, this is my kind way of saying get out of my house."
"Can I stay on your 30,000-dollar couch...it's comfy." he called, and I rolled my eyes.
"Only if you're not a total asshole." I said crossing my arms.
"Aw sweetheart," he began with a smirk. "I've always been an asshole."
I raised my eyebrows and gave him a glare that could kill many. "What did you just call me?"
His face paled and his eyes widened. "Sorry."
I rolled my eyes and opened the closet in the hallway and grabbed one of the spare blankets and pillows from the top shelf. I then walked over to Dick and dropped them.
"You can use these." I explained. "Be careful though...the blanket is Louis Vuitton."
"How much did this cost?" He asked. "$25,000?"
"God no," I said shockingly. "I would never spend that much on a blanket! What do you think I'm crazy? It was like $650."
Dick shook his head. "Still a lot of money for a blanket."
"Actually, this was a gift." I explained. "Got it on my last trip to Paris. It was from a business associate."
"That's nice." he said grabbing the blanket.
"Yeah...so don't mess it up...cause they only made like 4." I explained before walking back down the hall.
"Goodnight Ash!" he called after me. He sounded annoyed.
"Night Jackass." I called back.
That night I had issues sleeping. Not because I had Dick sleeping on my couch, but the fact that I was reminded of all of the physical trauma I endured during my time as Batgirl. My dream that night was flooded with pain.
I was in the Gotham Opera House, a place that I knew all too well from my years touring with the American Ballet Theatre along with the fact that I had many shows here when I was younger, though this time it was different. Instead of a packed audience that gave me a standing ovation every time I walked onto that stage, the audience was empty. I looked behind me to see if there were any soloists or corps since I was considered a 'principal' dancer which meant that I was used often for the main characters in a ballet. In other words, I got to play the main parts like Giselle, The Sugar Plum Fairy, Clara, or The Firebird. This time however, I was dressed as Odette AKA the white swan from swan lake as I was wearing a white pancake style tutu. (Though honestly, I was more of the Black Swan).
Just then the music started. It was Swan Lake No. 5 Pas de Deux - Tempo di Valse (which was one of the famous scenes of the black swan, which was weird because I was dressed as the white swan.) As the music began to play, I started to move. I knew this part all too well. You see when you are cast as Odette in swan lake, you also have to play Odile AKA the Black Swan. Many said I embodied the black swan more than the white swan due to my personality, but I blamed that on my upbringing not my overall personality.
Ballet always came natural to me. Like walking for a baby, ballet was the easiest way for me to calm down. Maybe it was the music, and the body movements, but all I knew was I always calmed down when I did ballet. It was my happy place...all of my troubles and pain went away when I did ballet. As I began to start to do the final part of the dance, right before the final pirouettes, I saw a figure walk towards the stage. I couldn't see them very well, so I continued to dance and ignore them. As they got closer...that's when I realized it was too late. I was in the middle of the final pirouettes at the end of the song, that's when I heard the gunshot go off right when the music ended. I glanced down and saw that my pure, crisp, white outfit was starting to turn dark red. I looked up and started to cough up blood as I stumbled backwards.
I jolted up in my bed letting out a blood curdling scream. I started hyperventilating as I pulled my knees to my chest. I was shaking like crazy. I haven't had one like that in years. It was so chilling. Sure, I've had nightmares like that when I was a kid...but I haven't had one like that since I was Batgirl which was six years ago. I have no idea what triggered it...but it was awful.
I thought I was alone, until I heard footsteps run down my hall before someone practically busted down my door. I literally forgot that Dick was sleeping on my couch for the night.
"What's wrong?" he asked in a concerned tone as he turned on the light and looked around the room.
The poor guy thought I got attacked.
"Sorry to wake you." I said softly. "I had a nightmare."
"Oh," he said with a sigh. He turned off the lights. "Well, goodnight."
He was about to leave my room, but I knew the next thing that was going to come out of my mouth was going to literally make him either pass out, leave, or make him really happy. Or I could just be overreacting.
"Dick," I began.
"Yeah?" he asked.
I sighed before saying the words I'd been dreading. "Wil you stay with me?"
I heard him let out a very quiet sigh. I couldn't see his facial expressions, but I will say he didn't sound weirded out or angry when he said: "Sure."
He walked over to my bed and climbed onto it. He got under the covers and laid on his right side so he could face me. I was laying on my left side. Both of us were just staring at each other blankly. Like it was two awkward for either of us to talk.
"Is this too weird?" I finally said after a long time.
"It's actually not that weird...I mean we've been closer before...I can start talking about the time we were practically on top of each other in the sewers." he said, and I rolled my eyes.
"I just...don't want to be alone." I explained.
"I know the feeling. I get them too." he said. "Why don't you get some sleep."
I sighed before rolling onto my right side, so I faced away from him.
"Promise me you'll wake me if I start having one." I mumbled.
"I'll be right here." he said quietly.
As I started to drift off, I heard him mumble something else, something that made me realize how close our relationship actually was.
"Always." he mumbled.
And of course, that was the exact moment that I fell back to sleep.
Chapter Soundtrack (In Order):
Swan Lake No. 5 Pas de Deux - Tempo di Valse