Chapter One: Jealousy For Her

His eyes lifted as he felt her enter. only she could make her presence known to everyone just by one breath. Her movement was graceful, smooth, flowing. Her dark red hair was thick, and her eyes. those light blue eyes that stung the young man with each look that she directed towards him. They smiled at him, in a pleasant manner, and with that look, Dick Grayson hardened. for reasons unknown. He couldn't bear to look her back, so he ignored the girl. Trying to push her further out of his mind. "Barbara Gordon, how wonderful of you to come!" A voice shrieked in a rude manner that caused the girl to shutter almost. "Oh, hello Mrs. Cornman." Barbara managed, as she lowered her gaze, looking towards the woman. "You knew I would be here." The plump woman sneered slightly, giggling as she looked back at her husband. "You wouldn't believe who came!" There was a pause, a silence that caused almost everyone in the room to look towards the couple. It wasn't often that Mrs. Cornman remained silent. The woman was outspoken, and that was well known to almost everyone. "Who?" The question was almost a whisper. "My dear girl! Our son, Drew! Come now, you must manage a dance with him, he would very much like to meet you personally, after all, you are like a daughter to us." The woman continued in her speech, but Barbara found herself ignoring the woman. 'Who does Richard Grayson think he is? He can't even manage a friendly hello!' "Dreeeeew, Oh Drew, look who is here!" The shrill voice startled Barbara and brought her back to the small party. Before her stood a tall man, who smiled a dazzling smile that caused most girls around to fall into a rude fit of giggles. He had thick blonde hair and dark green eyes that caught in the light, causing them to shimmer. "Mss. Gordon I presume?" He leaned down and kissed her hand. "Oh Drew stop it, you know this is Barbara Gordon!" His mother laughed as she nodded. "How about you two dance while I talk to Mrs. Billard, she has been dying to speak with me all night, and I must not ignore her!" Then with that, Mrs. Kornman left. "I would love to." Drew sighed with a smile. "My dear, you look splendid tonight!" He led Barbara off to the dance floor, and the two began to spin in a manner that caused Barbara to feel slightly sick. 'Great, I get the blonde who doesn't know how to dance.' She tried to smile as the twirling continued. 'Dick. he could dance, he always knew how to get to me.' But just the thought of the young man caused a hidden rage to surface. 'Oh that Grayson, he ignores me, and insults me! I don't see what happened.' "You know what I am thinking Barbara?" Drew questioned with a smile. 'Oh spare me.' "What are you thinking Drew?" "About how wonderful this is. I am dancing with a beautiful girl, to a slow and flowing song." He went on, and Barbara tried to look happy, but she couldn't help a frown to sneak in. 'I am thinking that Dick is a jerk.leaving me like that. then ignoring me. then. he must hate me or something!' She sighed, and looked around. She spotted Bruce talking to a young woman by the wine table, trying to led the girl on. and she saw Tim fast asleep in a corner, obviously bored out of his mind. but there was no Dick. 'Oh well, I have had enough of Mr. Grayson. for all I care he can leave and never return.' She focused on Drew who was still talking about how he felt. Maybe she could be happy with someone else.

Dick threw his trench coat on his couch and fell into the seat, groaning slightly. The TV flickered. then shut off. He needed to get someone to fix it before he went mad, the television had stopped working a week ago and he was to lazy to seek help. "Look at me, I am Barbara Gordon!" He said in a whining, high-pitched voice that sounded nothing like Barbara's. He leapt to his feet and covered his mouth, letting out a giggle. "Oh Drew, you look absolutely divine tonight!" The young man nodded, standing straight. "And Barbara you look like money to me!" He growled in a deep voice, and as he ended the sentence he let out a squeak. "Your father is the commissioner, why else would I flirt with you!" "Oh Drew!" "Oh Barbara!" Dick giggled, pretending to be Barbara. "You silly man!" Once again his stature changed. "Barbara, at least I am not a silly goose egg!" "Hee-hee, you do know how to make a young girl go into a fit of unwanted giggles my good Drew!" "That's because I am a man with no life, other than spending my millions and billions, and picking up petty women, like yourself!" "You flatterer!" "Uh, Dick?" Dick spun on his heel, seeing Tim Drake leaning in the doorway with an arched eyebrow. "W-what. no, how did you get in here?" Tim walked towards his friend, twirling on his finger a key chain. "Bruce and Alfred have the key to every house in this city... including yours. Alfred dropped me off here. the ball was a killer. and I saw you head home. I hope you don't mind." "Mind? Of course I mind, you don't just walk into a house without being invited!" Tim nodded, plopping down on the couch. "I do." "How much did you hear?" "Oh cool down Two-Face." "Funny Tim, real funny." The younger boy shrugged, looking at Dick with wide eyes. "You silly goose egg. I walked in at that part. I figured I better stop you before you got. in depth." "Shut up you little sick-O." Tim smiled and shrugged, rolling on his back. "I'll be here till 'The Ball' is over." Dick grumbled as he crossed his arms. "I better get paid for babysitting your little butt." Tim smiled and winked. "Hey, take that up with Alfred. if you need money why I am sure-." "I am fine." "You wanna' hit some roof tops? By to sound of it you got a little too much stress on hand and need to cool off. I know a few thugs you could work your fists on." Tim told Dick with a grin. There was a pause, and Dick let out a short chuckle. "Tim, that sounds great."

"There, how do you feel Nightwing?" Robin looked up at the young man with a wide grin and laughed slightly. "The household remedy. stress in your life? Find a thug and take him down." "Shut up, I wasn't- I wasn't beating them up because I was stressed out, I was beating them up because they were robbing that store. don't get confused." Nightwing answered as he crossed his arms over his chest and looked sorely at the bruised and beaten men tied together, and all unconscious. "Uh-huh, I am sure that-." A loud beep echoed, stopping the boy from finishing what he was saying. Robin stood, looking stupid. "Uh, are you going to answer that?" Nightwing questioned as he watched the boy standing confused. "It is probably important." "Er, right, yeah." He jerked up the small communicator and cleared his throat. "Robin here." A growl sounded off. "Is Nightwing there?" "Yeah. right, um, here." Robin handed the communicator to the older boy. "He wants to speak to you." Nightwing shook his head, and accepted the small object. "What is it?" Robin put his gloved thumbs on his temples and rubbed his temples. "Do we have any manners? No hello's, no goodbyes, not even a gentle sound from." "I want you to send Robin home and follow Commissioner Gordon." Batman barked rudely. "Why? Am I the honorary babysitter of the night? What is this?" "Someone made an attempt on Jim's life, not just once, three times in the last two hours. I want him covered. Once I finish tracing what information the police have and won't give us. I will join you." Batman snapped. "Out."

Nightwing frowned as static filled the air. He handed the object back to Robin who shrugged. "It could be worse.they could have killed him. I will see you tomorrow. ok?" Robin sounded off as he leapt into the shadows. Nightwing nodded, and went on his own way.

Nightwing watched with a slow and steady gaze. His form was perfect, held with thought and concentration. He knew no one could see him, but he had the urge to go straight, to force his back up, and grip the edge of the building with nervous, tight, and wet hands. He watched in silence as the police car pulled up to the building. He listened as the engine shut down, and the humming came to a halt. He tilted his head, and let out a shrill whistle from the back of his throat, letting it come without any hesitation, clean and easy. It released a slight amount of stress that he felt in his body. Jim would be stepping out in a moment, and so far the whole scene was clear. All around there seemed to be police cars. The commissioner was covered. But something nagged at the back of the young man's head that caused a small trickle of sweat to fall from his temple and roll to his lip. "Calm, steady. watch." He slunk slightly down and frowned deeply, seeing Barbara stepping out of the double doors and looking impatiently at the cars, stealing all the attention that Nightwing had posted on the commissioner. He singled her out. just like that. it had to be a sign. She was so perfect. he couldn't help it. "DAD!" Barbara mouthed as she moved forward, but fell back, knowing she should wait. Her eyes jerked around, as if she knew someone was there. Batman. Nightwing. or even Robin. She shivered and watched with wide eyes as the car door swung open. The Commissioner grumbled as he shook his head, in his hand, a file. He looked at Barbara with concern, and then walked towards the building, talking with Montoya as he did so. As he entered, there was a huge pause. and then. everyone left, as if nothing had happened. Nightwing hated that.