…: My disclaimer took off in the Batmobile. Anyways, you didn't think I would actually say it, did you? Because it goes without saying…
Note: Most of this chapter is meaningless. It has absolutely nothing to do with the plot. I think you could probably just read the last quarter of this chapter and understand the story. BUT, being a writer, I would love it if you read the whole thing. Now, on with the story.
Bats in Jump City Chapter 8:
"- and so all of a sudden Killer Moth is down and out, and Kitten – KITTEN!! – is kicking the crap out of Tim!" Babs was giving Bruce and Selina the blow-by-blow version of a five minute fight with Killer Moth and insane offspring. They were already fifteen minutes into the ride and Wayne Manor was still another half hour away. No doubt, Babs will find a way to stretch the battle out for at least another twenty minutes.
The family was sitting in a large limo (Bruce, and Selina on one side, Dick, Babs, and Tim on the other) having a generally great time despite the earlier mentioned tension between the Batman and the first boy wonder.
"Before you can humiliate me any more, how did you get the anti venom for that paralyzing serum Kitten was using?" Tim cut across.
"Piece of cake, Tim. If you'd done the research I've done on the Teen Titans," Babs smirked at Robin and went on, "then you'd know that Kitten's boyfriend Fang did more than just spew webbing. Then it was just a simple matter of collecting the real venom from him and creating something to counteract the muscle relaxant."
"Should I even ask how you got it from him?" Dick asked cautiously.
"It would lead to a dramatic turn in the conversation, so why not?" Babs shrugged smiling happily. This was her family, not a police commissioner and his new wife Sarah Essen living in Chicago. "I got it the same way Kitten did."
"So you…" Dick said trying to imply the meaning of the statement without saying it.
"So I… It's a good start, Dick. Why don't you finish your sentence?"
"You're going to make me say it, aren't you?" Dick groaned sensing the direction the conversation was going in.
"Say what?" Babs grinned feigning innocence.
"Say something so idiotic, so completely sexist and outraging and all that, that you'll just have to blow up at me!" Dick said trying to sound annoyed.
"Hmm, considering my options, it sounds pretty fun, but should I really? Yes, yes I think I will."
"So you…" Dick started.
"Oh for God's sake, I'll finish it! So you seduced him didn't you, Babs?" Tim finished with a roll of his eyes.
"'Seduced?' Barbara Gordon, you seduced a boy?!?! I knew my lessons would work!" Selina cried out happily.
"'Lessons?' Selina Kyle, you –" Bruce started but Selina had already nestled up closer and was kissing him on the neck while the teenagers acted mature and made gagging faces at each other.
Bruce coughed slightly. "Selina, not in front of the kids!" He whispered in a not-so-discreet whisper. "Babs just continue with the story." Bruce Wayne (millionaire and world-renowned philanthropist) blushed.
"'Seduced?' Please boys, Barbara Gordon has standards." Babs smirked at the couple in the corner.
"'Standards?' Says the girl screwing Roy Harper." Dick snorted.
"I walked into his room and asked him to spit!" Was the indignant reply. "Except when Kitten did it, Fang was probably in his bedroom and not his jail cell… and she probably used flattery as opposed to threats…and she was probably wearing considerably less clot-alright, alright, so we didn't exactly do the same thing." She said correcting herself at the looks the boys gave her.
"You carry around various anti venoms and my bee allergy medicine and coffee and probably a bunch of other random stuff around in your pockets?" Dick asked.
"You're allergic to bees?" Tim asked. I should be very ashamed…
"I asked a Zatanna to magic my belt so I could carry anything in my pockets," Babs said. "They're like bottom-less pits now."
"So, Bruce, what's on the agenda tonight?" Tim asked eagerly to get off the topic. "Has the Batman found anymore rat holes the Joker's been hiding in?"
"You, Tim, are going home as soon as we get back," Bruce scowled, "You said you'd already told your father you were going out for the weekend!"
"He doesn't get me," Tim said scowling back. "He's been in a coma since forever and now that's he's finally woken up, he wants to be friends. Yeah, sure, I'd love to but I'm out most of the time battling evil."
"Aw, poor Tim," Babs said throwing her arms around him in a big hug. "Want me to make up an excuse for you to get out?"
"No thanks, Barb, I think I'll live," Tim said. Thank God Raven's not here, he thought as he tried not to blush.
"Well, since Tim's grounded, does that mean, I can sub for him?" Dick said after they'd dropped him off at his house.
"No, it means we're all going home to some warm chocolate chip cookies and a night of rest, relaxation, and bonding." Bruce said firmly.
"Ms Kyle has certainly improved your outlook on life, Bruce," Dick laughed.
"As Starfire had done to yours," Bruce countered.
"Hey, I think I see Alfred out front. Dick, do you think he's holding up a platter of batarangs…" Barbara asked as they neared the mansion.
"… Or a plate of something decidedly delicious? I would go with the latter." Dick grinned and jumped out of the limo before it'd come to a complete stop.
"Master Dick, very good to see you," Alfred said hugging the teenage boy. "And you too, of course, Ms Barbara."
They all went inside to unpack and talk. Bruce and Dick walked into Dick's old room and Selina followed Babs up to her room. [See the note at the bottom for my reason why Babs is living in Wayne Manor
"Soooo… how's your crush on Dick going?" Selina asked slyly as Babs tucked a few shirts back into her dresser.
Barbara spun around quickly and gasped. "Who else knows?!?"
"Let's put it this way: Everyone but Dick." Selina teased.
"I'm totally over him. Believe me, Selina, totally and completely over him," Babs said unconvincingly.
"Really," Selina said with a roll of her eyes.
"It's not like he doesn't already have a girlfriend who's prettier, smarter, and an awesome butt-kicker," Babs sighed with her eyes on the ground.
Selina tipped her chin up. "Don't sell yourself short. Anyways, Dick isn't the only dark-haired, blue-eyed, to-die-for boy in Gotham."
Tim, Babs thought contemplatively.
Three rooms away Bruce Wayne sat watching his first adopted son unpacking a few sets of clothing in an old dresser.
Finished settling in, the boy turned away from his clothes and leaned back against the dresser, both vigilantes silent.
"Dick?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry."
"Me too."
"Is this the part where we're supposed to hug?"
"I think so."
"So… uh… do you want to…?"
An alarm sounded.
"Saved by the Bat Alarm," both men said at the same time and laughed.
"Master Dick? Could you get the phone for me, please?" Alfred called up.
"I'll get the alarm, you get the phone," Bruce said and raced downstairs into the secret entrance of the Bat Cave.
By the time Dick had made it to the nearest phone, though [Wayne Manor is huge!!!, Babs was already talking to the person on the phone and her face was pale in shock.
"Oh my gosh… Tim, I'm so sorry."
"Babs, what's wrong with Tim?" Dick asked, worried.
"His dad is… dead."
And that was when the Batman decided to make his entrance. "Suit up you two. We're going to the Watchtower; the Justice League needs our help."
"The Justice League? Whoa…" Dick said stunned.
"We have to pick up Tim." Babs insisted as she pulled on her mask.
"What's wrong with Tim?" Batman asked, worried.
"I'll explain later," Babs said as she ran into the secret entrance (open the back panel of the grandfather clock in the front room).
Author's Note:
Okay, in my 'universe,' Commissioner Gordon has moved to Chicago with his new wife. Babs wanted to stay behind so she could stick with her school and still continue to be Batgirl after school. SO, Bruce Wayne, who is friends with a lot of people like the city police commissioner, offers to let the commissioner's daughter stay at his house so she can continue learning at her genius' institute.
Eh, this chapter hasn't been the most productive, I'm sorry to say. I can almost promise, though, that next chapter will have some developing plot. Here's a hint, I'm calling it The Obligatory Time-Traveling Chapter. Review!
JaxWin