Disclaimer TEEN TITANS and all other related characters and material are the property of DC comics and Cartoon Network, I claim no ownership.

Chapter 33: Dances part 2

By: Ansa

"So are you going to ask her to dance or what because I'm getting sick of sitting here watching you sulk?" Barbra leaned back in her chair her arm stretched across the back, her eyes looking quite annoyed from behind her bandit mask. Next to her Dick had been sitting in his chair for three songs straight, eyes focused fully upon the girl with hair red like hellfire across the room. Starfire herself seemed to be in the disposition as he, only slightly more upbeat occasionally dancing with Cyborg when he wasn't sharing the floor with Jynx.

"Why don't you go dance then?"

"Because, I have to stay here and make sure you actually make a move rather than sitting here all night…that and make sure you don't do something stupid again."

"Something stupid; like what?"

"Like get drunk, start raving about the Honeymoon Conspiracy, or both."

Dick scoffed at her, although he knew he had that one coming it still stung. Looking back he was quite ashamed at his own behavior as of late, even if he couldn't help himself. Something inside him told him that something was wrong with this whole thing, and with his friends involved, he was willing to be a little irrational. If it turned out to be nothing he could live with the fact that he had made an ass out of himself…but just in case…he wanted to be sure.

"Ugh…you're so damn stubborn, like a child you know that?"

"You know instead of complaining you could try having a good time yourself and stop worrying about me for once."

"Most people would be glad to know others cared about them so much you know…"

"Please Barbra we've been here before and it doesn't work."

Batgirl's eyes widened and her cheeks flushed a light hue of pink. Of all the things he could have said, that was the one that she had not expected. The issue of she and him had not been touched for some time now, not since the break up. Things were hard at first, much harder than normal due to the fact that both had decided to say not a word to each other on the subject. So the years passed between them with such unresolved tension…and she wondered how she got this far through it until now. For him to bring such a thing up now under this pretence, angered her beyond all rational. How dare he?

"…I can't believe you…you're just so…so…"

"So, what?" Dick turned to face her, the look on his face neither of anger nor of somberness, but rather a genuine curiosity if not with a slightest hint of resentment. Meanwhile Barbra tried her best to find her words, staring towards the ground with a foul look upon her face letting her breath out in sharp bursts.

"You know what Dick…you win…you're not going to have me playing babysitter with your life anymore." Barbra was never one to shed a tear easily, and now was no exception. Instead she stood fast from her chair and grabbed her purse, turning and taking a few steps away before looking back over her shoulder. "Just know that you only have yourself to blame for the ruin you bring into your life. If she can make you happy…take her back, and just hope you don't drive her away again. I know that'll be hard for you…"

Her words cut him deep, the pain like that of a searing hot blade of a butcher knife piercing his heart. He watched her as she walked up to the happy couple and gave them her best wishes before making her way through the door and once again out of his life. Would he see her again he did not know, and this only made the pain even more evident. The wound he had received from her he knew hurt for one reason only…not because he still cared for her, not because of the time they once had, but because she was absolutely right. He needed a drink, he needed the sweet fog of denial and delusion to come rolling in, but he also knew that fog would hid from him the rocky shore and risked running ashore of tragedy yet again.

No…there was another way, there was something out there other than booze to make himself right in his mind. Something else out there that made him feel better than the sweet fog of denial ever could have…and she was sitting directly across from him. The girl with hair red like hellfire, the only woman he knew that could look so frail on the outside, yet on the inside be much stronger than most other people he knew. He had his chance once with her, and regrettably he blew it. His second chance was before him now…the question was, was he going to take it or let it slip through his fingers?

Barbra watched from behind the doors of the reception hall as an awkwardly determined Dick Grayson rose from his feet and made his way across the room and towards the girl whom he loved not too long ago. She smiled; only know quite sure that her little show back there had had its desired effects. As stubborn as Dick could be, he was also known on occasion to be quite gullible as well, and for once it was actually being used against him with consequences beneficial to his life.

"I hope I'm not too late for the party."

Barbra's eyes widened in both surprise and fear as a familiar voice sounded from behind her. Although the owner of the voice was no cause of fear for her, she was rather afraid of the consequences should her former college, now timidly dancing upon the open floor with his old flame should find out.

"Bruce…"

To both Dick and Starfire's surprise they had found themselves upon the dance floor sharing a slow-paced and quite amorous song. Neither of them had really expected the other to ask one another for such a request, and they certainly had not expected for the other to accept. Somehow such a thing had occurred, Dick posed the question, and to both of their great surprise Starfire cautiously accepted with little more than a great flushing of her cheeks as an opposition. Her hand was given willingly, not out of eagerness, but rather out of the fact that should could not think that her legs could bring her to her feet, the shock taking all feeling out of them.

A few steps across the heavily polished parkay floor led them to an awkward entanglement of limbs as they both tried to find the best place to place their hands. Neither wanted to seem too eager, just as neither wanted to seem too evasive either, and eventually the two had settled with his hands on her waist, and hers on his shoulders. Despite its neutral stand emotionally, they still managed to feel slightly embarrassed in said position it reminding them of the way small children dance.

For the longest time only silence was exchanged between them, their eyes desperately darting back and forth, looking for something else to focus on other than each other. Neither had the courage to speak, although both had things of equal importance to say to one another. Minutes slothed by between them as not a word passed through their lips. Dick stood there, his legs moving independently from the rest of his body, it was only by coincidence and luck that they appeared in a fashion of slow dance. He knew very well that this was getting neither of them anywhere, if anything was to happen, he had to take charge.

"…so…are you, going back to the apartment tonight?" A harmless question, although if taken the wrong way it could be considered quite forward and even…well, he would hope she would not think it that way. The harsh truth was there was nothing else he could possibly think of saying to her.

"I beg pardon?"

"The apartment, do you need a place to stay or are they spending the night at a hotel?"

"I'm sorry…I do not understand. Why would I need a place to stay if they are to return to the apartment tonight?"

Dick smiled nervously, blushing slightly at her naivety, much like that of a child's. He knew that if she honestly did not understand why then it was someone's duty to explain things to her lest have things become quite awkward for both her and the newlyweds. He just wasn't sure he wanted to be the one to tell her.

"Oh…do you mean…" Thankfully for him a moment passed and Starfire finally put the pieces together, but before she could finish her question she stopped herself, her face beaming a bright red. "Well…actually, I do believe they are returning to the apartment tonight." Just realizing things now made her feel so simple, not only did she once again fail to think of traditions and custom, along with some basic common sense, but now she was without a sure place to stay for the night. "Perhaps I should think of somewhere in which to spend the night."

Dick took a deep breath and prepared himself. Although he had already asked the question before tonight, although he knew her feelings about said subject, he also knew he had to at least try. Small steps…one after another, stride after stride towards a chance at mending their relation ship, and it all starts with a chance.

"Well…I mean I know you think it's too early for us, but maybe you could just spend the one night…with me."

Starfire's eyes immediately found his, after spending the entire song avoiding them. From the look she gave him he knew that he had her full attention, he knew that while she was a bit shocked at the proposition, she was also at least on some level considering it.

"Knowing this city I'm sure it'd be hell trying to find a hotel room at this time of night, especially one for a decent price that isn't half condemned already."

"Dick…I…thank you." She paused, for the longest time these four words were the only that came to mind. A preverbal PONG game was being played in her head, going back and forth from acceptance and refusal. Every consequence was weighed, every emotion calculated…did she still love him or not? Even though such a question had little if nothing at all to do with the problem in front of her, it seemed to always show up. Despite how much she may wish to try and hid it, there was never much of a question in her mind of that. She would be her first and only love upon this planet…her love for him being the cause of both great joy as well of pain. The question now, was whether or not she could put her heart and love on the line once again. She could couldn't she? After all, it was only one night. However, if she knew anything from experience, was that one night can change many a things. Sometimes for the better…but also more often for the worse.

"I'm sorry I missed the ceremony, but you know how things are I'm sure." Bruce smiled his usual warm smile, ruffles in his suit giving away the "business" that had kept him for so long. Barbra stood in front of him, not moving out of two reasons; one being from the shock of seeing him here and second so as to keep him from entering any further into Dick's line of sight.

"Bruce…what are you doing here?" Barbra fished for something, anything to keep him busy, even such a stupid and obvious question. Things with Dick and Star have been going well all night, from what she could see, but knowing him lately seeing Bruce might be enough to turn things around for the worse.

"I was invited."

"Oh…right."

"Mind if I get by you?"

"What? Why, you want to get in?" Small beads of sweat started to form on her forehead, getting quite embarrassed at her own stupid tricks. They would not hold him for long, she knew this, but right now it was the best thing she had.

"Yes?"

"Um…actually, erm Bruce, I was wondering if you could show me something real quick…outside?"

"What? Barbra, is something wrong?"

She had nothing else to do now; at this point she was only making a fool of herself. The best thing she could do now is hope for the best. Dick seemed to be getting better control of himself in the days leading up to now. Maybe he could manage to handle himself with Bruce there. Maybe…was all she had to go on for now.

"...I really didn't think I could sink that low. I mean, I've seen the bottom of the barrel as far as people go and what they have done with their lives, but I never thought…" Dick sighed, still delirious as to why or how he was managing to talk so openly to the woman he pines over so after what seemed like an eternal sentence of uncomfortable silence and sporadic conversations, and of all the things to discuss…his own failure, as he saw it, as a man. But somehow, he didn't seem uncomfortable with this, despite the fact that they were still dancing, and had been for quite some time now. Song after song passed and with each subtle movement of the hands on the clock the two slowly opened up to each other more and more until here is where they had arrived.

"It is alright, I have heard of such things many times before. It seems to be quite common. You are only human after all."

"I know…but I still feel like I have to be better than that…" Dick paused, only now realizing just how ridiculous that sounded. To be better than the rest of humanity, to be better than everything that man had become after so many years on this planet. So much had he put upon himself, so much expectation, so much responsibility when he had forgotten all along that he was after all, just a man…like anyone else, if only with slightly bigger aspirations and ideals than most. The bottom line being, that the only one expecting so much of him…was himself…and only himself.

"Why? I believe I always thought that you were just fine the way you were…even with your flaws." After being so comfortable with him for so long, for the first time in what seemed forever Starfire blushed, hearing the words as they passed through her lips.

"No matter how numerous right?" Dick laughed at himself, only half serious, but also knowing the truth that was within his statement. He himself know better than anyone his own flaws, even if he didn't like to show it. How anyone could put up with him was beyond him in his mind he had already become that which he had hated long ago, the headstrong, obsessive, cold, unfeeling…the Bat.

"I would not bother with someone who was not worth the trouble they create, even if it did hurt others around them…including myself."

"Why would you? You deserve much better than someone like m-…someone like that." A slip; a slip that could quite possibly cause some trouble, accusations of assumptions of feelings and the lot, but of course he was being assumptuous. Just because they had been getting along better than they have recently didn't mean a damn thing. Why would she change her mind? Why should she? Like he said…she deserved better than him. Why was he even here? Why? What was he hoping for? Some fairy tale ending where everyone lives happily ever after…no…at least, not for him.

There was a change on his face that mirrored his thoughts within his mind, and she knew it. Even if she couldn't read his mind, she didn't have to. She could tell by the look in his eyes exactly what he was thinking. Every ounce of her wanted so much to kiss him…to be held by him again, right then and there. She didn't care if others saw, she didn't care about old wounds, she didn't care about anything…but him. Her lips trembled, not enough to be noticed but enough for her flesh to tingle. The scene continued to play through her head, the perfect scene, the perfect ending as if something from those movies she had been introduced to since coming to this planet. But…despite all the things she did not know about this planet, there was one thing she did know. No matter how much she wanted it to be, no matter how many tears she would shed in desperate wishing, this was not one of those happy endings from the movies she loved so much. Such happiness wouldn't come so easily, and as the music continued to echo through the hall, she rested her head on his shoulder gently and whispered so only the heavens and herself could hear her…

"I wish…"

If you haven't guessed by now, I'm being realistic in my fics. This means no easy solutions, just like life. If I have learned anything from experience, is that if something is going to happen between two people, you have to work at it. If you want a simple solution go read something of an amateur writer, one who still uses "she said/he said" after ever flipping dialogue! sorry, it's a HUGE pet-peeve of mine and I tend to get really irritated when I read that kind of stuff, regardless the writer. Oh well, hope you like this chappy, see you next time. Later Days!

ANSA