Yet another Selina fic! I've got one more for her stocked up but wanted to do this one first. I've had to look up other fics to verify my facts here and frankly this should be the second half of a story, but I liked this part more so I wrote it first. The first part, well, I'll get to that later. This is build up to, and part of, a huge turning point in their world. Can you guess what?

Dick-16

A Bird and A Cat Walk On A Ledge

"Why are you here?" Dick glared over the city while sitting on his favorite perch on Wayne Tower. Only the observation deck or rooftop access could reach it. Usually the only company he'd get there was the birds, the wind, a few bugs and bats if he was out there too late. Never a person.

Until that day. "Curiosity. What's with you kids and impossibly high places?"

"Bruce can't reach them." He glanced back to the lady behind him and scowled. "Did he send you after me?"

"No one sends me anywhere." Selina almost strolled along the ledge coming towards him. "You two shouting is what—"

"Stop. Stay where you are." The teen turned around, glaring slightly at her. His eyes looked around after a moment, possibly for an alternate route. "If you get too close you'll scare them away from their nest and they'll never come back."

"Nest? Them?" The guy inclined his head towards a barely concealed, beautiful bird's nest between the wings of a nearby gargoyle. Two robins were resting on some blue speckled eggs inside. She blinked in surprise. "Oh."

"A few soft steps left and careful on the pass," Dick suggested. "Or you could turn around."

"Kitty isn't satisfied yet." She did as he said, raising an eyebrow at the birds' home. "Pretty nest."

"I like to leave yard and ribbons for them on different gargoyles." He inclined his head another direction to the other statues. "There's a family of swallows over that way, and there were some cardinals here last year."

"Come up here a lot?" She was nearly next to his crouching frame, trying to see what he saw.

The teen shrugged, looking over the city's horizon. "Lately. Come up here when I don't want to go home yet."

"Not go home with Bruce that is." Her statement received no answer. She shook her head. "Never thought I'd hear you yelling at him, especially through the building. What was that fight about?"

"None of your business." Dick lodged his chin into his arms, resting them on his knees. He did not want to talk.

"You're right. It isn't." Selina looked over him, bitter and somewhat dejected. The fight must have hurt him pretty badly, but not enough to call it quits. That watch of his was still on and intact. "Which makes me the perfect person to rant to."

He jerked back, glaring confusion at her. "You?"

"Why not?"

"'Cause you're dating him!"

"Doesn't mean I agree with everything he does. And besides," She gave him a coy smile, "our open ended relationship isn't what I call 'dating'."

He was clearly not impressed. "Friends with benefits then?"

"Oh you know about that?" He gave her his usual glare, making her grin even more. That was the boy she knew. "Well, there's a lot more benefits than just that sweet cheeks. He doesn't control me. No ring, no commitment. Don't even have to care.

"But I am curious." The lady cocked her head at him, taking him in. "You usually don't start fights. Occasionally you have them, but never with Bruce. Usually Jason if I have my information right. The two of you just banter, teasing each other. So, your shouting…"

He looked further away from her, scowling at no one now. Dick was silent for a minute or so before talking to her. "He won't let me go out on dates."

She blinked at him. "What?"

"That's what the fight was about." He was still angry about it. "He found out about my girlfriend and freaked."

"Seriously?" That was anticlimactic.

"I mean, I'm sixteen! I'm a junior in high school and get hit on my student teachers and some of the new interns here! I think I'm doing a good job not going with any of them. I'm not an incorrigible flirt like Bruce is," Selina had to give a nod to that. She'd seen him at it, "and I take all those girls I dated seriously!"

"Wait, you've been dating?" Dick jerked an annoyed glare at her, mentally screaming 'NO DUH!'. "How long? And how many girls?"

"Lost count." He shook his head. "Very few of them went anywhere. I think I was fourteen the first time. The longest I dated most of them was a month, and they were the ones who asked me out."

"Huh. Regular playboy."

"It was only to get them to leave me alone," he insisted. The teen fidgeted a bit on his perch. Well that wasn't entirely true. "Some of them were nice, and a few of them wanted to get their boyfriends jealous…"

"Mr. Popularity is it?" Selina smirked at the idea, leaning against an empty gargoyle. Well he would be, being the rich, athletic pretty boy he was, girls would be flocking all over him.

"Unfortunately." His eyes returned to the sky scape. "It's frustrating when every other person either wants to be in my life or end it. So I went on one date with those girls to get their fantasies over with then moved on. A few of them are still friends of mine. Played wingman to one or two even."

"And you've been doing this for two years. Behind Bruce's back." Now she was seeing where the fight started from.

"Not like he'd approve anyway," Dick growled, glaring even more at the skyline. "He flipped when I told him I was going out the first time. Said I was too young. Said he didn't know who that girl was and that it was too dangerous. I had to sneak out and got grounded for a month when he found me that night. Haven't talked to him about it since."

"And now he's found out about your girlfriends."

"Girlfriend." A pout came out. "Babs and I've been going steady for the past three months. Dunno how he found out… I mean…" He looked at her in complete honesty for the first time. "I've been crazy about her for years, been friends longer. He should have suspected something years ago, but when we're actually together he just…"

Dick ran a hand through his hair. This really shouldn't be so complicated. "He brought her dad in on it! Both of them are against us dating."

"Why? Is he a company rival?" Selina couldn't help but be mildly amused by this. "I don't remember hearing about any corporate daughters around your age."

He rolled his eyes. "No. Family friend. It isn't the who apparently. It's because we're 'too young'. And something about me being jailbait."

"Oh. So she's an older woman." A grin grew across her face, aggravating the kid.

"She's eighteen, that's all!" The aerialist turned completely towards her, ignoring the ledge he was on as he tried to convince her. "I've known her almost as long as I've known Bruce. She's always been in the grade above mine and really, two years isn't an age gap!"

"Is she pretty?" Selina just had to know.

A slight loving smile crossed his face. "Gorgeous."

"Pregnant?" she teased.

"NO!" His immediate denial could only be matched by his infuriated face.

"Just checking." Now she was laughing.

The teen started to turn red. "This isn't funny Selina!"

"Oh no, it's hysterical." She tried not laughing for a moment but it didn't work. "You've dated so many girls and been going steady with one girl you've loved since… what, elementary school? And you still have your V-card!" Dick's face became crimson at the implications, not liking her thought processes. "I'd think your dads would be ecstatic you two haven't taken it to the next level."

"It's not about that!" His relationship with Barbara meant too much to him to focus only on the physical side. "I—"

"You're right, it's not." She raised her hand to quiet him. "But it is a factor, one you have to keep in mind. Bruce and her dad have thought of it and they're trying to stop the two of you from making a huge mistake. That's all."

"That might be true for her but not for me!"

"What makes you the exception?" She smirked, seeing his frustration and the parents' position at the same time. "It's hard to believe with that many girls in your past you haven't even thought about it."

He stopped, speechless for a moment before glaring death upon her. It didn't faze her though; Batman's looks still gave crooks nightmares, and she liked it. Dick started to struggle to his feet. The ledge was getting a bit crowded. "You're just like them, making assumptions before even considering—"

"I was thirteen."

That stopped him. The way she looked at him, he knew she wasn't lying. "On my own and starving. It was before I learned how to really pull a heist. I didn't just become who I am all the sudden you know. I had to learn the hard way. I didn't have boyfriends growing up. Didn't have anyone to tell me no, or to care if I lived or died because of who I was with. It was all about survival. You should be glad they care enough to say no."

"But we aren't…" The young man had lost his anger hearing her story. What kind of life did she lead?

"I know. And I also know you're not the kind of guy who'd throw it all away over some silly little thing that may not pan out. You care too much." Selina looked out over the skyline, remembering her childhood and her wild years. She was still a wild one, but now she knew what she was doing. She wished she had the kind of sense this boy had back then. "But so do they. That's why they're butting in. They're trying to protect you from yourself."

"I don't need protection," he mumbled halfheartedly. He settled back on his perch, nearly in the same position she found him in. Some guilt and compassion played across his face he tried to keep stony. Never was good at hiding his feelings.

"Tell them that." She scratched her neck before suppressing a shiver from the wind. It was getting late. "Like they said, you're jailbait. Some people can't see when someone's grown up. Sounds to me like Bruce can't let you go if it's really the dating thing that's the problem."

"Exactly!" Relief flooded Dick's face as he straightened and looked at her. "He still won't let me babysit the others and I always have to have supervision on trips. Dating's completely out of the question even if he did give me those rules back then."

"Oh great, more rules." Selina rolled her eyes at the idea. The man lived for them. And the teen agreed with her. "Well I say screw whatever rules he's got about dating or whatever is completely unreasonable. You're nearly a grown man. You should be dating and he needs to get past it. If he can't get used to you growing up, then he's doomed. Kids don't stay kids forever and you're just the first in line."

"Seriously?" He started to gape at her in disbelief. "You really think so?"

"Sure I think so. Wouldn't say it if I didn't. It's your life," a smirk came back to her face, "live it. Bruce can't control you, and I certainly can't. Bet he's pretty upset you kept it hidden from him instead of had it out in the open though."

"He didn't exactly leave me much choice." A relieved smile escaped his features. "You should have seen his face when I tried to go on my first date."

"That must have been fun." She shivered again. "I don't know about you, but I'm getting cold. Coffee? There's this great café down the street."

"Alfred doesn't like us drinking coffee," Dick answered hesitantly.

She shrugged, looking around for a moment. "I don't see him around. If you want to keep obeying their little rules blocking you from growing up, that's your business. I'm sure they've got cocoa or tea there if that's your preference."

As Selina pushed away from the statue behind her, the teen jumped to his feet. "This way," he ordered. "The route's a bit riskier, but it won't disturb any nests."

"I love a good risk." Their eyes met and both of them smirked knowingly. That was one thing they both had in common.

Bruce looked from his phone to the coffee shop window, blinking in surprise at what he saw. Dick's signal came from it and he could now see him, but it was hard to believe he was sitting there, laughing, straight across from Selina. They looked like they were having a good time too. Alfred had taken Damian and the others home over an hour ago and he was busy tracking down a boy he had argued with earlier that afternoon. They still had to finish their talk.

And yet seeing both his eldest and his maybe-girlfriend actually getting along for once, he couldn't keep his planned speech straight in his head. What were they laughing about?

As soon as he was in the shop, he knew exactly what. Him. "—Tore them so badly, you could swear the mob got to him and tried dragging him through the street behind a car."

Selina's feminine laugh rang through the air, getting quite a few smiles from people. Dick's was near music compared to his angry shouts at him earlier. "But did he think of that? Nope! First thing he did was go after Jason and look him over for injuries. A few scrapes and a fractured arm. And guess who was the one crying like a baby."

"Seriously?!" They laughed even more, barely keeping their cups still. "Never knew he had that much of a sensitive side."

"Yeah well," some affection came from the teen's voice as he explained, "Bruce is really big on family. Since his parents' died, he can't stand anyone hurting those he cares about. Both Alfred and Leslie could tell you how he acted when one of them got hurt. Apparently there was one time Alfie got sick and Bruce tried to take care of him. Disaster. Alfred does not take sick days."

He shook his head, remembering things fondly. "Anyway, after that one time with Jason, I took it upon myself to teach Cass and Tim how to ride bikes. Went much smoother I think."

"Not a very good teacher is he?"

"Oh he's great when it comes to martial arts, strategy, computers, and other things, but if it's something he can't control, like a bicycle or a car," Dick grinned, "he freaks out. Everything has to be in control, no surprises he can't handle. Even has a contingency plan in case Superman somehow turns evil and tries to kill all of us."

"That's ridiculous. Why would he go after you guys?"

"I know right?" They chuckled at the man's expense, shaking their heads. "Some days I have no idea what's going through his head. Others, I know so well it's scary."

"Know the feeling. But," she grinned slyly, "not knowing is half the fun." Selina spotted Bruce standing near the door. "So, how long are you going to ignore your phone?"

"As long as it takes for Bruce to stop waiting back there and actually admit he's listening in." Both adults rolled their eyes, the woman chuckling lightly as the man approached them. Dick grinned impishly, winking at her. "Saw him through the window."

"Didn't show it."

"Why should he spoil all the fun?" He gave Bruce a slightly strained smile as he came up. "Hello warden. How can I help you this fine night?"

"Cute." He gave his son a mild glare before looking over to Selina. "Thank you for keeping an eye on him."

"Who said I was doing that?" She gave him a reproving smile, shaking her head. "I was just satisfying my curiosity and learning a few of your dirty little secrets, warden."

"I'm not—"

"Seriously, he's sixteen. He can make his own decisions." She waved over a waitress. "Check please. This kind, fair, understanding man will be paying for us."

"Selina—"

"Sounds fair," Dick agreed, getting up at the same time as his companion was. "We were going to return to the office when we were done and split the check, but well you're here and the money's really coming from you so," he grinned at him impishly, "let's just skip the middlemen shall we?"

"That was Leslie Thompkins from the free clinic on Crime Alley you were talking about right?" Bruce nearly had a heart attack at the mention of the family doctor who had a hand in raising him, but the check being handed to him brought him back to reality, a little.

"Yep." They were still ignoring the man as they started moving towards the door. Bruce had to rush paying the check to follow. What were they talking about for so long? "She's got some great stories, that's if you can stand hospitals and get her to admit she knows us."

"Don't like hospitals?"

"Hate them. Tim's not fond of them either, but mostly because he hates getting shots."

"Who knew." They were practically out the door before Bruce caught up to them. Selina gave him a swift, sweet smile and a peck on the cheek before he could say a single word to her. "Thanks for the coffee big guy. I'll be seeing you tomorrow. Later sweet cheeks."

"Later." The man gaped at her then at Dick who casually started walking towards Wayne Tower once more, where he assumed the car would be. "Alfred have dinner ready?"

"What… where… Where have you been all evening?" He stormed after his adoptive son, not sure what was going through his head. Didn't Selina and Dick have some kind of rivalry going on? Last he checked they didn't get along.

"Where do you think?" the teen waved his hand with his watch, making it clear he didn't go off the grid. "You don't have to ask every single time."

"You should have told me you were heading out," the CEO insisted. "You could have been—"

"I can take care of myself." He spotted the car and strode over to it, trying to end the discussion.

"Dick—"

"Look," the teen bout faced, glaring slightly, "it's late, we're both hungry and neither of us can seem to agree on that. You think one way, I think another. For now, can we just agree to disagree and not talk about it?"

"It's not that simple." He had to get the kid to understand. Dick just didn't see—

"Actually it is. You're not ready for me to be dating. I see it now." Dick took a step towards his father figure, a slight edge to his gaze. "But I'm not giving up. I'll prove it to you. You and Commissioner Gordon. I'm serious about Barbara and I'm not going to do anything to screw it up. You may not be ready, but I am."

"Dick you're too young." That was the main issue. He was too young to even look at girls! Barbara Gordon wasn't the issue (frankly he was relieved it was her and not some strange girl he never heard of). It was the boy's age. Too young!

But the boy just rolled his eyes and went to the passenger side of the car. "Whatever. Let's just get home. I need some serious food in my stomach."

"Didn't have any in the café?" Just what did those two do there?

A slight smirk grew on the teen's face. "No, just coffee."

A/N: okay, whenever me and my siblings were upset with our parents or when they restricted us (I was actually a very obedient child, who didn't get caught when I wasn't) we called them our wardens. Sometimes they were parole officers. Side joke.

Now this is clearly a build up to the 'argument' which I think is important in their world. I know some people hate it when Dick and Bruce didn't get along, but I think it's important. Bruce is very possessive and hesitant to let anyone grow up, so the oldest (Dick) is sure to have the hardest time trying to get him to let him go. Having Dick date for two years without Bruce knowing was something I started in 'Big Brother's Privilege' with Jason using said dates as blackmail on him. Other rules were stated in 'The Question'. Yes Dick's been flirting at parties not long beforehand, but I'd think Bruce wouldn't have noticed with Jason's state at that point or thought it was good practice for the future. I know I should have more Barbara involvement to make this all workout, but I haven't figured out any Babs/Dick stories yet. Babs/Cass stories would be good too, all things considered. Ideas? Only idea I've got is when Bruce finds out about them.

As for Selina being the one to help Dick out here, I thought it was logical. She's curious, goes out on a ledge after him, and even asks why the high places. Sure Batman could make it there, but Bruce Wayne? heh, that was fun. I kinda gave Selina a tragic backstory that's a mixture of different ones I've heard about for her, so please don't bite me for what I did to her. 3X nothing's set in stone with her in DC.

I think I've covered everything. Til the next one!