You've been dying for glory
You've been looking for love
Why don't we read the signs
When we're about to get lost
The Wicked Symphony, Avantasia

I stood in front of the fridge, debating what to make for dinner. Because it was New Year's Eve, I felt I should make something nice and treat myself. But it was also dependent on whether I could be bothered.

It was still early anyway, so I grabbed a can of Coke and headed back into the loungeroom. Before I could decide what to do next, my phone buzzed with a message.

It's Dick here. Are you free tonight?

I was pretty surprised that he'd messaged at all, and I replied mostly out of curiosity. You don't have plans with Bruce?

Bruce isn't really the type to celebrate New Year's. If you're busy, we could do tomorrow?

I laughed a little. I couldn't imagine Bruce Wayne partying or anything like that. I'm free. What do you have in mind?

While I waited for a reply, I opened my drink. I was really just diving right into this without thinking, but alright.

The botanical gardens are doing a fireworks show. I can pick up dinner, then get you, and we can go watch?

Sounds good to me. Pick me up at 7? I sent my address to him, then got up to get ready.

After lazing around all day, I needed to shower and put my make up on before I would even be the slightest bit presentable. What would I even wear? It was so cold outside, I couldn't really wear my nice clothes while rugged up to my eyes.

I decided to just toss out the idea of wearing something super nice, and make sure I was comfortable instead. No way I was going to shiver my way through the evening just to look good.

At almost exactly seven, my phone buzzed again. When I saw it was Dick, I picked up my warm coat and bag, and headed downstairs. Stepping outside, I found him leaning on the car, scrolling through his phone. He looked up, giving me that smile again.

"Hi. Ready to go?" He asked, opening the door for me.

"Yep." I climbed in, closing it and settling in.

It was only a short drive, and we somehow managed to get a parking space very close to the entrance of the gardens. Getting out, I pulled on my warm coat, and watched as Dick pulled the food out of the back seat.

"Do you need a hand?" I asked, walking over to him.

He passed me a picnic blanket. "You can carry this."

I did as I was told, following him into the gardens. We set up near the back of the crowd, so we could still talk without too much noise around us. As I sat down, I noticed him watching me curiously.

"Is there something on my face?" I asked, with a grin.

He shook his head, sitting beside me. "I just noticed how many layers you're wearing. Are you cold?"

"A little." I admitted. "This is my first winter here, and I'm not used to it. If I wanted to see snow in Australia, we had to drive for hours out of the city, so I basically never saw it. I wasn't prepared for quite how cold it is here."

"Are you here on a work visa?" He asked.

I shook my head. "No. My father was born here in Gotham, a US citizen. I have a dual citizenship between the two countries."

He handed me one of the boxes of food, and I opened it to find the chips and gravy I'd asked for. They weren't as good as what I used to get back in Australia, but they were still pretty good.

"Did you visit Gotham often?"

"Only every couple of years. My parents didn't have a lot of money, so it took a while to save up for each trip." I hesitated for a second, eating a chip as I looked around at the crowd. "But what about you? How did you end up with Bruce Wayne?"

"I was part of a circus troupe with my parents." He paused for a moment, looking down at his wine. "They… were killed during one of our trapeze acts. Bruce adopted me."

I reached out, softly touching his hand. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

He shook his head. "It was a long time ago. I moved to Blüdhaven, but it's not far, only an hour away, so I come back to help Bruce with the business when he needs me."

"I guess I don't need to worry about you running off then."

"I wasn't planning to anyway." He laughed.

I shivered slightly in the cold, and gasped as he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close for warmth.

"How did you end up switching your work from the Mayor to Fox?" He asked, looking up at the explosions of colour above us.

"I came here to look after my Aunt, who passed away not long after I arrived. She left me her paid-off apartment, but there were still bills to pay. I'd worked for a big company back in Melbourne, so I guess my résumé was impressive enough that he contacted me. I thought it would be a good job, but it was awful. I was basically on call 24/7, I never had any time for myself, and it was exhausting and draining." I sighed, remembering the late nights and lies. "I'd spoken with Lucius a few times to organise meetings, etc. When his old assistant retired, he called me up. He promised better pay and better hours, so of course I jumped at the chance."

We talked a while longer, even as the fireworks ended and the crowd began to disperse. It was somehow still getting colder, but I didn't really want to end the night yet.

"I should get you back into the warm." He said, standing up. "You're shivering again."

"I suppose so." I laughed a little, taking his hand and getting up.

We packed up and slowly walked back to the car, still talking all the way. By the time we got home, I was feeling much warmer.

Dick walked me up to the door of the building, hesitating as I tapped my keycard on the scanner. I turned to him, holding the door open with my foot.

"You're welcome to come in." I said quietly.

"I'd like that."

I took his hand, gently pulling him along behind me to the lift up to my apartment. As we stepped out, I felt him slide his arm around my waist again. It was nice, and I felt myself blushing.

I was just getting out my keys when he took me by the arm and turned me around, pressing me up against the door. His hands held mine up near my face, and he was standing so close I could almost feel his nose brushing against mine.

"I can't let us in if you've got me trapped here." I whispered, letting the keys dangle from one of my fingers. "Unless you want to do it for me."

He took the keys from me, but didn't use them yet. Instead, he leaned in even closer and gently kissed me. I could taste the wine on his lips as he deepened the kiss. It was more than I expected and everything I didn't know I wanted.

The sound of an apartment door opening surprised me, and we sprang apart. I grabbed the keys back and unlocked the door, pulling him inside with me.

"Do you want a drink?" I asked, trying to control the embarrassed blush that was heating up my whole face, as we walked to the kitchen. "I have Coke, wine, maybe some rum? I'm not sure."

"Coke is fine." He leaned back against the bench, watching me. "I do need to drive home at some point."

"Well, you don't have to." I reached into the fridge to get a can for him, then pointed towards another room. "That door there is the spare room."

He gently caught hold of my hand, pulling me close. I gasped, suddenly in his arms again.

"Do you want me in the spare room?" He asked, his fingers drifting along the curve of my back.

I bit my lip, shaking my head. "No… I really don't."

I opened my eyes, comfortable in the warmth of Dick's skin against mine. It was so nice to wake up like that, and I didn't really want to move at all. I gently pulled his arms tighter around me, keeping him close.

"Did I wake you?" He whispered, pressing a kiss to my shoulder.

I shook my head, rolling over to face him. "Even if you did, I wouldn't mind. I like this."

He kissed me, pulling me close. I snuggled up to him, my hands pressed to his warm chest.

"Will you tell me about this?" He asked, tracing the tattoo on my right thigh.

"That's the paw print of my childhood cat, Milo. He was my best friend until his death when I was fifteen. I kept a paw print he made, and got it tattooed on my eighteenth birthday."

"Have you thought about getting another cat?" He asked, gently brushing my hair from my face.

I nodded. "A lot, actually. I just haven't got around to seriously searching yet."

We fell into a comfortable silence, and I almost could have fallen asleep, if he wasn't gently pressing kisses to different places on my face.

His fingers drifted down my body, and he sighed. "I want to stay in here all day, but I do need to go."

"Can I see you again soon?" I asked, watching as he got out of bed and pulled his clothes back on.

"Do you own a nice dress? Bruce is hosting a party tomorrow night, and I need a date." He buttoned up his shirt, then leaned over to kiss me. "I do actually enjoy these parties, but it's nice to have someone who's not part of that world as a breath of fresh air."

I thought for a second, then climbed out of bed, pulling the sheet around me for warmth. Opening my closet, I pulled out a purple cocktail dress.

"Will this do?" I showed it to him. "Mayor Hill made me attend a few parties, so I figured it was important to own a nice dress."

"Perfect." He slid his shoes on. "I'll pick you up at six."

Taking hold of the sheet, he pulled me close and kissed me softly. I reluctantly let him go, feeling a little unsteady. I sat down on the edge of the bed, wondering how to spend the rest of the day.