The next two days were unbearable between Dick and Bruce. Dick wouldn't let me out of his sight especially at night, and I was effectively grounded by my own brother. Bruce was just starting his experiments on controlling my powers and it wasn't going too well. Every time I tried to focus and relax despite the stimuli he was giving me (loud music, casual dueling, trying to hack a security system) I always lost control and flared up. If anything his training sessions were putting me more on edge, but the mood stabilizers were keeping me in check at school.
Friday night was my beacon of hope, and I spent a full two hours pulling out all the stops for the opera. I put one of my best black dresses on and spent nearly an hour on my hair and makeup. I had never been one to be too confident in my appearance, but I looked like a million bucks. I met Dick and Bruce at the bottom of the stairs. It was raining but Dick held the umbrella for me as we jogged to the limo waiting in the driveway. They looked spotless in their black suits, and I leaned over to straighten Dick's red tie.
"You clean up nice."
"As do you." Came his reserved reply. I sighed. It had been getting short answers for a while now.
"Apparently the cast for this particular show is supposed to be very good. The actress singing for Christine has been awarded many times for this role." Bruce was the image of the opera-goer, browsing through a fine arts magazine. "The budget for this night alone was over a million dollars."
"Then it should bring in a good crowd." I commented. I knew Bruce had personally funded the opera ever since he had known we would be attending.
We pulled up and waited in a line of limousines to stop under the awning in the front. Bruce and Dick got out first, Bruce offering his hand to help me out in my heels. We entered the grand marble foyer and I took in the sight for a moment. The Opera House was in the richest and most modern part of town, but it's design was distinctly classical. Marble busts stood guard at the base of the stairs and chandeliers hung everywhere.
Roy stood in a sharp dark blue suit next to a marble statue of a Muse. He caught my eye and smiled widely.
"You look very handsome." I smiled as he took my hand and kissed it.
"Words can't even describe you're just…wow." He left out breathily and offered me his arm. We walked upstairs to the Wayne family box. Dick pulled back the curtain for us and Rin was sitting in one of the plush velvet seats.
"They said this was your family's so I assumed I'd wait for you here." Rin stood up and offered his hand to Bruce. "Mr. Wayne, it is an honor. I truly admire the work you do."
"Thank you, young man." Bruce looked taken back for a second. "However, I'm afraid I don't know your name."
"Javrin Napier, but my friends call me Rin."
"Very nice to meet you, Mr. Napier. This is my ward Richard, and of course you know Lissa."
"I am well acquainted with both." Rin had a death-match of a handshake with Dick before kissing my cheek. "Lissa, I hope your date has told you that you look more beautiful than any statue in this joint."
I blushed. "Rin, this is-"
"Her boyfriend, Roy." Roy shook his hand quickly. "You must be Lissa's friend from school."
"Something like that." Rin winked at me.
"If you'll excuse me, I'm going to check back stage and make sure everything is alright." Bruce nodded and left behind the curtain. The rest of us took our seats and sat in a somewhat awkward silence. Rin seemed completely at ease to my right, and Dick looked like he was having the time of his life from the far left seat.
"So Roy, I hear you're in business." Dick started, turning to face him. "What is it you do exactly?"
"I'm mostly involved in banking, although I did just acquire Queen Consolidated chemical research wing. At the moment, we're attempting to make a new water treatment chemical that is safe for direct output into the ocean."
"Fascinating." Rin yawned. "Who knew water could hold such mysteries."
"I think it's interesting." I shot him a dirty look before turning to Roy. "How far along are they?"
Rin's comment seemed to have drained all the confidence out of Roy, who mumbled something about test phases and experiments. I rolled my eyes; disappointed Roy could be intimidated so easily. Rin smiled and moved closer to me.
"So we never got to finish on the beach last night, it was-"
The lights flashed, cutting him off. A small roar of the other people entering kept our conversations down. Bruce arrived just before the curtain rose, taking the seat to Rin's right.
It was beautiful. All of the costumes were perfect, and the props were gorgeous. Every actor's voice was beautiful and they fit their roles well. By intermission, I was almost on the edge of my seat. The lights flared on and Bruce led us to the bar, ordering champagne for us and a scotch for himself. I sipped from my glass.
"This is by far the best production I've seen. Everything is absolutely perfect."
"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself." Roy grumbled.
"Lissa?!" Stacy and a tall handsome man came out of the throng of people. She hugged me and asked why I was there.
"To see the play of course." I smiled. "You know Rin and my brother. This is Roy Harper. Roy, my best friend Stacy."
"You're Roy Harper?" she looked like she was going to faint as he shook her hand. "Wow, I've heard so much about you."
Rin seemed to deflate at this a little, counterbalanced by Roy growing a smile. "Really? All good things I hope."
"Of course, of course. Oh this is my cousin, Zander. Zander, this is Mr. Wayne, his wards Lissa and Richard, Lissa's date Roy Harper, and Rin from school."
Zander shook Bruce's hand first and then went down the line, kissing my knuckles. "I've heard a lot about you as well, Lissa. And Roy, my old friend."
"Zander, I didn't know you would be here." The two shook hands warmly. "How is the firm these days?"
"Well enough, still a lot of gang cases so not much money to be made."
"You can't be doing too badly for yourself if you're here." Roy smiled.
The lights flashed again, calling everyone to their seats. We said our goodbyes and Stacy gave me a sly wink before they headed to their own eats and we re-entered our box. The rest of the play was as magnificent as the beginning, and tears had welled up in my eyes as the curtain dropped for the last time.
"Are you, are you crying?" Rin asked with a laugh.
"Oh be quiet." I took the handkerchief Dick offered me and dabbed at my eyes. "Just because you have the artistic appreciation of a goat doesn't mean it wasn't beautiful."
"Eyes as pretty as yours shouldn't cry." He reached up and wiped a tear away, holding my gaze for a moment.
"Ahem." Roy cleared his throat, standing up and offering me his hand. I took it and we left down the grand staircase. I recalled every detail of the play with Bruce, who had enjoyed it as well. We stood in the foyer talking for a moment before Rin interjected.
"I think it's best I take my leave, then. Lissa, would you mind walking with me for a moment?"
"Mr. Napier, I was intending to go to dinner after this."
"Really, I couldn't make such an intrusion. Besides, I will be wanted home soon." He shook Bruce's hand again and led me off to the door.
"That was…interesting."
"You didn't have to be so pushy."
"How else would he know he has a more superior opponent?" he took my hand and kissed my knuckles, far more passionately than Stacy's cousin had. "I would love to go to dinner with you, but my dream date has a few less people involved."
"I understand. Bruce seems to like you well enough."
"We'll see." She smiled sadly. He kissed my forehead and walked out into the rain.
I returned to the group who were debating where to go for dinner. Dick suggested a high-end steak house a few blocks away and it was quickly agreed upon. We piled into our limo and drove the short distance, getting a table immediately. The place was filled with those who had also attended the opera, soft classical music flowing around the room.
"So Mr. Harper, you're a businessman?"
"Yes sir." Roy seemed a lot happier since Rin had left. "I am a branch manager for Oliver Queen."
"Oh, you must enjoy it. How is he?" Bruce recognize Mr. Queen's name, but I was praying he didn't connect the dots.
"He is alright, I suppose. He is rarely in the office, so I don't deal with him directly. The only time I've ever actually spoken to him was when I was promoted. I usually deal with his assistant."
"Oh, well better than micromanaging I suppose." Bruce then engaged him in a conversation about business, giving Dick a chance to taunt me.
"So that went well."
"I wish Stacy hadn't shown up. I love her but she has just awful timing."
"I very much enjoyed it. I don't believe Jarin liked the 'and this is Rin from school' part."
"If someone isn't rich or connected, Stacy doesn't care much for them. Something she has in common with certain other people." I muttered as the waiter served us our first course
The rest of the evening's conversation was light and pleasant, mostly about business and school. Bruce invited Roy to join to Wayne Academy for his last year, and he seemed entirely too enthusiastic in his promise to consider it. We went through the rest of the three courses and ended with a lovely soufflé. Bruce drove Roy back to the opera house which was still awash in light for the after-party, making sure his driver found him alright. They parted with a firm handshake, and modestly kissed my cheek before climbing into his car, the driver shutting the door behind him. I began to doze off on the ride home, Dick having to wake me up when we got to the house. He offered to carry me inside but I declined. Heels in my hands, I climbed the stairs and sleepily walked to my room. I pushed the door closed with my foot and collapsed on my bed.
"Roy seems nice, not much competition there though."
I rolled off the side of the bed, my instincts kicking in. I used the bed for cover and pulled out the knife I kept secured under my nightstand.
Rin sat on the chaise next to my closet, hands held up. "Easy, it's just me."
"How did you get in here?!" I whispered, checking the hall. Dick was already in his room with his music turned up.
"I climbed, of course. Some things were moved but I was careful not to trigger anything."
"You really shouldn't have done that; Dick will be furious."
"Nah, I can take him. How was dinner?"
I walked over to my vanity and began to take off my jewelry and let down my hair. "It was nice. Roy and Bruce get along really well, and for the first time in days Dick held civilized conversation with me."
"Such a pity to take off all that class." He chuckled as I wiped all my makeup off. "You look much better without it though. Natural beauty outshines artificial any day."
"I like getting dressed up every once in awhile. It gives me an excuse to wear a dress." I grabbed my jammies and walked toward my privacy screen.
"No need to be modest on my account." He walked up behind me, slowly unzipping the back of my dress.
I turned sharply and stopped him. "No sir, that is reserved for boyfriend status. While you neglected to attend, Roy and I had a lovely time at dinner. It only made me realize how much I am actually fond of him."
"Fond? I know you rich people use flowery language and all, but I can show you a lot better than fond." He kissed my bare neck, placing his hands gently on my waist.
"Rin, I said no. And you should leave; Dick or Bruce might come in to check on me."
"I'll be fine. Your brother caught me off guard last night. It normally isn't so easy to sneak up on me."
"And what if Bruce walks in right now?"
"I was never here." He whispered in my ear. He reached back and slowly unzipped my dress, letting it fall to the ground. He draped my pajamas over the back of the chaise and ran his hands over me. The first kiss was intoxicating; the second was a broad side of emotion. I barely felt him push me onto the bed and kiss me everywhere and anywhere he wanted to. He sat up to remove his jacket and shirt, and he kicked his pants on the floor.
My phone lit up, shattering the moment. I looked over, and noticed it was a call from Stacy. I hit decline, but the damage was done.
"You should go." I cleared my throat, pulling the covers around me.
"I figured." He smiled sadly and pulled on his pants, slinging his coat over his shoulder. "Don't go do anything too crazy without me."
I nodded and watched him leave. Sighing, I pulled the covers farther around me and slept like the dead.