A/N As always, a special thanks to Purplehood and Meritt for their support.
I also want to thank those who have taken the time to read/review/favorite/follow this story. You guys are awesome. :)
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Jason pressed his face up against the windowpane. Dick pressed his face up next to his.
Snow covered the ground around Wayne Manor, a crystal white blanket over everything as far as the eye could see.
Jason didn't think he'd ever seen this much snow before in his life.
"It's…everywhere," he whispered, awestruck.
"Kinda what snow does, Little Wing," Dick whispered back. "It gets on everything."
"Don't call me that!" Jason shot back quickly, but his voice lacked any real conviction. He fell silent for a moment, keep his face pressed against the glass. "Should… should we go out?" he asked, returning to the subject of snow.
"Yeah," Dick answered, "yeah we should." He laughed a little. "Seems like it would be a shame to ruin it, though, doesn't it?"
Jason nodded wordlessly, eyes still glued to the frost covered ground outside, before he grinned at Dick. "Yeah… but I could still kick your butt in a snowball fight."
"Really?" Dick took mock offense. "You want to put that theory to the test?"
"Jason? Dick?" Bruce's voice interrupted them a moment before their guardian entered the room. "Someone's here to see you boys."
Dick and Jason exchanged confused looks, but before either one could speak up, someone followed Bruce into the room.
"Hey guys!" Barbara Gordon greeted them, two books clutched down by her side as she entered the room, clearly unsurprised by the two of them leaning against the windowsill.
Silently, Bruce left the room, leaving the three of them alone. His departure went unnoticed.
"Babs?" Dick quickly climbed to his feet, followed suit by Jason, and feeling a little sheepish at having been caught at the window like this.
"Dreaming of a white Christmas, huh?" Barbara asked, eyebrow quirked as she gave them both an amused grin.
"Not dreaming anymore, Babs." Dick jerked his head indicating the outside. "It's past that point."
"Yeah, I noticed." Barbara laughed, holding up a book as she did so. "I brought you that book you said you needed for your literature class, Dick. Ballad of the White Horse, right? Dad wanted to see Bruce for something, so I just tagged along."
Dick grinned, taking the book from her outstretched hand. "Thanks, Babs."
"So," Barbara looked from them to the window and back to them again, "what were you guys up to? Besides smudging up Alfred's perfect windows, that is?"
"We were just discussing how I was gonna bury Dick's butt in a snowball fight." Jason flashed Dick a wicked smile. "Wanna join in?"
Dick sputtered indignantly. "What? No! You can't just turn her against me! That's not fair!"
"You against the two of us, Dick? You don't think you'd stand a chance?" Barbara asked innocently, raising her eyebrows.
"Against you guys?" Dick asked. "You think you can beat me?" He tapped his chest. "I'm the king of snowball fights."
"Yeah, right," Jason snorted. "Have you ever even been in a snowball fight, Dick?" he asked skeptically.
"Are you doubting me?" Dick asked incredulously. "Of course I've been in a snowball fight, Jason! What kind of childhood is one without snowball fights?"
"A childhood in the desert maybe," Barbara suggested.
"Not many snowball fights in Crime Alley either," Jason said blandly.
"That settles it then. We're having a match. Right now." Dick grabbed Jason's upper arm, prepared to drag him out the door if need be. "Don't you dare say no!"
"Ow!" Jason pulled his arm from Dick's grasp. "I thought you were the one who didn't want to get your butt kicked a minute ago." Jason rubbed his arm, frowning at him.
"And that was before my favorite baby brother announced that he had never been in a snowball fight before. A situation that needs to be rectified. Immediately." He ignored Jason's offended "Hey!" at the words "baby brother" and looked to Barbara for support. "You're with me on this one, right Babs?"
Barbara tilted her head, staring at the both of them. "As unopposed to the idea as I am, I kind of feel the need to point out that I brought no snow clothes. My dad will kill me if I come home soaking wet and end up catching a cold."
Dick waved a hand, completely unconcerned. "So? Just borrow something of ours. Alfred can probably find something for you."
Barbara rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Of course. You guys have everything, don't you?"
Dick grinned. "You know it," he answered. "All courtesy to Gotham's resident bat. Now… we're going to see Alfred about those snow clothes."
Alfred was more than happy to help, promising hot chocolate when they were finally too cold to stay outside any longer and came in. "I hope you're not planning on staying out there too long," he said, glancing at the three of them. "Wouldn't want to be catching any colds, now would we?"
Alfred rummaged through one of the many old storage closets for a few more minutes before finally emerging with a pair of snow clothes. "Here you are, Miss Gordon," he said, handing them to Barbara. "I'm afraid I can't promise they'll be perfect, but they're what we have at the moment."
"As long as they keep me from getting wet and my dad from killing me," Barbara joked wryly. She took them gratefully. "Thanks, Alfred. You're the best."
"I wouldn't dream of being anything else, Miss Gordon." Alfred answered dryly, though the corner of his mouth gave the faintest hint of a smile.
Jason huffed, impatient and overeager, and Dick nudged him, keeping him quiet, despite the death glare Jason immediately sent his way.
Alfred sent the two of them a disapproving frown. "Perhaps it would be more productive if the two of you prepared yourselves rather than merely gaping in the hallway?" he suggested mildly and Barbara shot them an exasperated look, before leaving to get ready herself.
"At least it fits, right?" Barbara announced ten minutes later, walking in as Jason finished tugging his boots on.
Ace chuffed softly at her from his place at Jason's side, tail thumping eagerly against the floor.
"Finally," Jason groaned, setting his foot down and looking from Dick to Barbara. "Can we go out now?"
Dick gently flicked the back of his head. "Hold your horses, Jay." Irritated, Jason swatted at his hand, and hitting nothing but air as Dick quickly yanked his hand back and climbed to his feet. "We'll go… before Jason kills me and feeds me to the dog." He gestured to the two of them.
Barbara laughed. "As much as I'd like to see that happen, I don't think we're quite ready for you to die yet, Dick."
"Good to know" Dick answered cheerfully. Jason was already on his feet and halfway to the door, Ace more than happy to follow his lead.
He stopped at the door, turning back to frown at them impatiently. "Come on!"
Barbara tilted her head in Jason's direction. "Shouldn't make him wait, should we?" she asked.
Dick shook his head. "No, we shouldn't."
Jason grinned at the two of them. "Barbara and I still get to kick your butt," he declared, before disappearing out the door with Ace at his heels.
"Wait! That's still a thing? We're still doing that?" Dick glanced at Barbara who shrugged.
"Looks that way," she said and smiled. "But I thought you were pretty confident you could beat us, boy wonder. Unless you're suddenly not."
"Not in a million years." Dick tugged one of his gloves tighter around his wrist and grinned at her, his eyes shining. "Let's go… before Jason makes good on that threat."
"What is it with boys and violence?" Barbara followed Dick out the door, cold air hitting her full in the face and she sucked in a quick breath.
Dick trudged forward, eyeing the fresh boot and dog prints in the snow. "Okay, Ja… oomph!" Something cold, wet and hard hit the side of his face mid-sentence and Dick instantly brought a hand to his cheek, whipping around to face the direction from which the projectile had flown. "Jason," he finished, wiping the snow from his jaw.
"Barbara!" Jason called, waving to her from his position several yards away. "Get him!"
"What?!" Dick protested, spinning around quickly, prepared to block any attack that coming from Barbara. "You haven't even given me a chance!"
"You wanted this," Dick," Barbara reminded him, raising a handful of snow above her head.
"Not leaving you any choice here, is he?" he said cautiously, backing away slowly. Barbara threw and he dodged, the projectile breaking apart in the snow a few feet away.
Barbara gathered up another handful of snow. "No, I don't think he is," she said, "but I kind of like the odds."
"Two against one? Yeah, that sounds about fair." He laughed, throwing his own snowball and Barbara gasped, bursting out into laughter as snow rained down on her face.
Dick grinned at her triumphantly as she brushed strands of wet hair out of her face. "You've asked for it now, circus boy."
"Oof!" Another ball of snow hit Dick from behind and Jason cheered.
"You're losing, Dick!" he crowed. "Better hurry if you want to catch up!"
"One to two! I've got time!" Dick shouted, brushing the snow from the back of his head. He spun, dodging the next shot that came from Barbara and ran in Jason's direction, scooping up a handful of snow as he went.
Jason turned, fleeing as fast as the snow allowed him to. Ace followed at his heels, gleeful barks mixing together with all of their laughter.
The cold air nipped at his cheeks, stealing his breath from him as he ran. He kept running, laughter filling up in his chest and escaping.
Dick was right behind him, catching up, and behind him Barbara. He could hear them.
His boot caught on a branch, buried and hidden beneath the snow, and he went down. Ace was instantly at his side, nudging him, licking his face and whining, urging him to get up.
Jason gasped out a laugh, struggling to push Ace away from his face. "I'm trying! I'm trying!"
Dick was gaining on him. In a few seconds, it would all be over and he'd be caught.
Jason rolled over, scrambling to his feet, but he was still winded. His balance wasn't what it had been a short while ago.
"Gotcha!" Dick tackled him from behind, the two of them going down and tumbling through the thick snow.
"No!" Jason squirmed, trying to wiggle out of Dick's hold. "No! Let go, Dick!"
"You're not getting away that easily, Jay!" Dick tightened his grip, pulling himself up so that he was resting on the balls of his feet.
Jason kicked out, struggling to free himself. "Let go of me, Dick!" He sputtered as Ace was suddenly upon him, licking his face, and he turned his head away from the onslaught. "Ace!"
"Good boy, Ace!" Dick encouraged, holding Jason still. "You get him, boy!"
Ace whined happily, pawing at Jason's coat.
"Let go, Dick!" Jason shouted. "Ace, stop! Stop!" He held up his hands, trying to ward of Ace. His breath came out in short, breezy laughs.
"Dick!" Barbara shouted, catching up to them. She grinned, displaying a snowball. "You might want to think about letting go now."
Dick spun around on his heels, getting Jason between the two of them. "No, not this, Dick," Jason pleaded in between giggles.
"Too late, Jason." Dick held a handful of snow over the back of Jason's winter coat. "I'll do it," he warned, his tone making it hard to take him seriously.
"Like hell you will!" Jason gasped. "Dick, let go!"
Barbara stood where she was, snowball raised above her head.
"Dick!" Jason whined.
"Using Jason now? A little underhanded, don't you think?" Barbara asked, holding her position.
Dick shrugged, but his eyes sparkled. "Whatever's necessary, right?"
"Dick!" Jason said again, pulling harder against him.
Ace barked, running circles around the two of them, and Jason squirmed harder, finally wriggling his way out of Dick's grasp.
"Ha!" Jason darted away, before stopping at a short, but safe distance away. Dick jumped to his feet quickly as Jason suddenly lunged for it. At the same moment, Barbara let her snowball fly and it met Jason head on, crashing into the side of his head.
"Hey, ow! Barbara! You're supposed to be on my side!" Jason cried, rubbing the side of his head, as Dick cackled, dodging aside when Jason swiped at him.
Jason made a face at him. Dick could be so annoying anyway.
"Oh my gosh! Sorry!" Barbara called out, rushing forward. "I'm sorry!"
Jason frowned at her, still rubbing his head, but let it go. After all, they did have one very annoying former circus acrobat to catch.
He gathered a handful of snow, rolling it into a tightly packed ball, flinging it after Dick. The snowball met its mark, exploding into a flurry and showering the ground… and Dick's jacket… with a heap of powdery snow.
"Gotcha!" Jason tossed his hands in the air and whooped, triumph written all over his features.
"You haven't beaten me yet!" Dick hurled his own snowball, catching Jason in the shoulder. "Got you!" he cheered, victorious for the moment as he formed another snowball.
"Oh, yeah?" Belatedly, Dick realized he had forgotten Barbara as someone crashed into his side, knocking him into the snow. "Take that, Boy Wonder!" She stood grinning above him, fists raised as if she were ready to fight. More than likely, she was.
Without missing a beat, Dick smirked at her, before he swept her legs out from under her and, with a small gasp, she landed flat on her back in the snow.
Dick made a move to leap to his feet, but, before he could, arms wrapped around his neck and shoulders and Jason launched a full-scale attack from behind.
"Hey!" Feeling both amused and slightly alarmed at the turn of events, Dick attempted to shake him off, but he had to give the boy credit.
Jason really knew how to hang on.
"I got him, Babs!" Jason shouted, wrestling to keep his hold on his older brother. "I got him!"
"Really?" Dick challenged. Cripes, the kid really knew how to hang on, but with one final twist, he was able to break free of Jason's hold. He jumped away as gracefully as the deep snow allowed him to. "Because I don't think you do."
A snowball crashed into the side of his head. "Ow! Hey!" Barbara smirked and shrugged at him.
"Gotcha."
She tilted her head, red hair spilling out from under her hat in a wild tangle and hanging loosely over her shoulder.
"And there are plenty more where that one came from." She tossed a second snowball into the air, catching it in the palm of her hand.
With a battle cry, Jason had suddenly launched himself at Dick from behind once again, taking the acrobat by surprise and knocking him to the ground.
"Jason!" Dick sputtered through a mouthful of snow as Jason straddled his back, buffeting his head and shoulders with handfuls of loosely packed snow. "Jason!"
Dick grabbed hold of Jason's wrists and with one quick twist, reversed their positions. Jason had not been maintaining nearly as tight a grip as he had been before.
Jason squirmed, his wrists still trapped in Dick's firm grip. "Get. Off. Me. Circus Brat!" he ground out between clenched teeth.
"Circus Brat, huh?" Dick was probably enjoying this far too much, but it wasn't like he could help it. "I don't think so. Not unless you say 'please' anyway."
"Not on your life, Dick!" Jason made another attempt to throw him off, but Dick had every advantage here, being the stronger and heavier of the two.
Unable to do anything else, Jason glared silently up at him, lips pressed into a very thin line. Dick smiled innocently. "Surrender?"
"Never!" Jason cried. He bucked, trying once again to throw Dick's weight off of him. Frustrated, he grit his teeth, mouth dipping all the way into a frown as he studied him, trying to find a weak link.
A way to break through and out.
"Dick!" Barbara pelted him from behind, the snow shattering at the base of Dick's skull and showering over Jason's face.
Jason gasped, coughing violently, twisting his head to the side, and shaking the snow from his face.
Barbara stood back, unwilling to interfere quite yet. The two of them tumbling in the snow, combined with Ace running circles, yapping his head off, was a sight worth watching. She wasn't sure that she should interfere quite yet.
Maybe when things got out of hand, but not yet.
She smiled, thoroughly amused by the whole thing.
Jason was laughing now. It looked like Dick was tickling him. Is that what this had escalated to? A tickle fight?
It sure looked like it.
"Dick, stop! Stop!" Jason sounded breathless, words gasped out at intervals between bouts of giddy laughter. "Stop!"
Okay, maybe now was the time to intervene.
Barbara moved swiftly. They'd forgotten all about her, wrapped up as they were in their little squabble, which made it easy to catch them off guard.
Barbara felt a thrill of satisfaction as she wrapped her arms around Dick's shoulders, dragging him down so that they both toppled into the snow.
For a moment, all either of them can do is lie there side by side, and Barbara felt a rush of exhilaration tickling her insides as her own laughter mingled with Dick's. Nothing but sheer joy as the wind nipped her cheeks and tried hard to blow her hair in every which way.
Then, they were scrambling to their feet, struggling to regain their bearings.
It was Dick who succeeded first. Figured, seeing as he was the born acrobat. No amount of Gymnastics or martial arts classes would ever have Barbara equaling that.
Jason was already on his feet. His cheeks have already turned pink and the snow has plastered his bangs to his forehead.
It was the same with Dick and she knew that if she looked in a mirror at that moment, she'd find that she was the same too.
They were a mess all right, but they were a big, happy, laughing mess at that.
Barbara wouldn't trade that for all the hot chocolate in the world right now.
It was then that the wind carried the sound of Alfred's voice to them, calling them back to the Manor. It was high time they returned, it would seem, and Jason, out of the three of them, looked none too pleased with this turn of events.
"Already?" he whined. Ace rubbed up against his leg, giving him a whine that is almost sure to mean that he agreed with Alfred. "I was this close," he held up two fingers to emphasize his point, "this close to kicking your butt, Dick!"
Dick snorted, trying valiantly to hide his amused look and failing miserably. "Whatever you say, Jason." He rolled his eyes, but couldn't resist reaching out to ruffle the boy's hair.
Jason stepped out of reach, tugging his hat tighter around his head as he shot a very indignant frown Dick's way. "I'm not three, Dick," he muttered, glowering darkly.
Dick shrugged his shoulders, glancing sideways at his brother. "Are you sure?"
Barbara quickly stepped between them before a brawl could break out again. "Okay, enough. Both of you." She held her hands out, preventing Jason from making an attempt to get past her. "Enough!"
Jason stopped where he was, frowning up at her before wrinkling his nose and making a face at Dick.
Barbara rolled her eyes, giving Jason a little push in the direction of the Manor as Alfred called out again. Something about hot chocolate getting cold.
She hadn't been paying that much attention if she were honest.
"Hear that?" Dick said, looking alarmed. "It's getting cold! The hot chocolate's getting cold!"
"Race you!" he shouted over his shoulder, before he took off at a run in the direction of the Manor.
Barbara and Jason took a moment, glancing at each other quickly. Then they were off, both fighting to keep ahead of the other, Jason hollering as they ran.
"Dick, no fair! You had a head start!"
The only answer was Dick's resounding cackle.
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A/N My first attempt at writing Barbara. I'm hoping to have more of her later on, both in this collection here and in several other stories I've got planned, but not written.
I wrote this chapter back when there was still snow on the ground, lol. I didn't know I would publish it a few weeks before the first official day of summer.
Anyways, see you in 1-2 weeks with an update! Please review and let me know what you think!