Disclaimer: I don't own Young Justice or anyone in the DC Universe. I own the OC.
A/N: I AM SO FREAKIN SORRY! I haven't updated this in months! In my defense, I just switched from a college prep Physics class to an Honors level, so I've had a whole semester of catch up work to do. And I've had Driver's Ed taking up my afternoons. Before that I lost most of my stories. I would also like to explain both part of why I've been so late and the inspiration for this chapter. Recently I rediscovered how flippin' much I adore Shakespeare, more specifically Romeo and Juliet. I have started several stories revolving around that universe, which has taken time away from this. However, a guest review jarred me back into motion on this story, but I also wanted to do some more stuff with Shakespeare, so this happened. I cast Serafina as my favorite character in the play: props to anyone who can figure it out before it tells you and without looking at the play. It's probably been made to obvious, but whatever.
Spoilers for Batman Incorporated 8 here. I would just like to take a moment and say... WHAT THE HELL DC?! YOU KILLED DAMIAN! NOOOOOOO! THAT BOAT ALREADY SAILED WITH JASON TODD, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! GAH!
Okay, rant over. Sorry about that. For now, please enjoy... and don't kill me for being so late…
Serafina staggered back, her curls falling in her face. Black wedge heels clicked on the hard wood floor, the belt cinched at her waist rubbing uncomfortable against her skin through the fabric of her inky blue circle top. She pressed her hands hard over her stomach, hissing in pain. 'What is with me? Why can't I think, why is the room spinning? Damn it, this is not what I signed up for… why won't my brain work!'
"Stop, stop!" Serafina glanced up at the 40-something year old woman sitting directly in front of her. She was rubbing the bridge of her nose, frustration seeping into her voice. "You missed it again!"
The scarlet haired youth straightened up and tossed her hair over her shoulder, setting her hands on her hips. "For the record, my cue is for him to do his evil laugh thing. He's the one screwing me up."
"Thanks so much, 'fina. Thanks." The brown haired boy who's named escaped her at the moment rolled his eyes and cracked his back. The youngest Grayson smiled and returned to her first position, picking up the long metal weapon she had dropped. She glanced at her brother, who was pulling at the collar of his royal blue shirt. She laughed and nudged him with the tip of her blade. "Having fun?"
"Ha ha." He said sarcastically. "Absolutely fantastic. Just remember that it was your idea to put me in this monkey suit, Ser-bear."
"Yeah, but you know you love the attention." Serafina slid her blade into its sheath and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Besides, you're great at this! A natural Romeo."
"Ms Grayson, to you position please." The woman, Mrs. Coddle, stood and crossed her arms over her white blouse. "Tommy," she addressed the brown haired boy, "start with your drawing."
Tommy nodded as Serafina stood in front of him, legs apart and fingertips brushing the hilt of her weapon. He outright drew his. "What wouldst thou have with me?"
She brandished her own sword, tossing it from hand to hand and smiling teasingly. "Good King of Cats, nothing but one of your nine lives."
He returned with a threatening grin of his own. "Then I am for you."
She felt Dick's warm skin touch hers, wrapping his hand around her wrist. "Gentle Mercutio, put they rapier up."
She threw him off. "Come sir, your passado."
The first swing came fast from the left. She blocked it with ease and lunged, the tip of her blade narrowly missing his stomach. He batted it away and stabbed, and she caught it on the hilt. She forced the blade to the ground and set her foot down on it, trapping it between the hard wood stage and the heel of her shoe. She brought her knee up to his face, knocking her opponent backwards. The force wrenched the blade free of her foot. Tommy growled in the back of his throat and swung his sword above his head while he ran at her, jaw set in determination. He swung at her over and over, and she parked each strike like it was wind whispering in her ear. She heard her brother shouting something to one of the other actors, and then he was between them. "Hold Tybalt! Good Mercutio!"
Tommy shoved Dick out of the way and grabbed Serafina by the shoulders, yanking her forward onto his blade. The redhead felt her breath hitch in her throat, the cold tip pressed against her stomach sending shivers down her spine. Dick's hands grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back toward him, her sword slipping from her lax grip and clattering to the floor. She again pressed her hands against her stomach, but this time a deep chuckle rang in her ears, followed by feet pounding against the floorboards as he fled. Her eyes widened and she stared at the ground, clenching the fabric of the shirt around her "wound" in a fist. "I am hurt!" Her voice was soft but clear, almost a hiss of disbelief. She looked up at her brother, anger burning in emerald irises. "A plague on both your houses! I am sped. Is he gone and hath nothing?"
She heard a voice behind her call out, "What, art thou hurt?"
Serafina freed herself of Dick's grip, staggering away from him while waving a hand dismissively, trying to maintain composure. "Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch." Her hand flew back down. "Marry, 'tis enough."
Dick furrowed his eyebrows. "Courage man. The hurt cannot be much."
She laughed. "No, 'tis not as deep as a well, nor as wide as a church door. But 'tis enough, 'twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man." She slipped down to her knees. "I am pepper'd, I warrant, for this world." Her voice abruptly changed from resigned and calm to angry. "A plague on both you houses!" Turning to Dick, she threw a hand out like she as questioning him. "Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under you arm."
At that moment Dick resembled something of a helpless baby. "I- I thought all for the best."
'Of course you did. You always do.' She turned away from him and stumbled towards the other boy on stage, a blonde named Cameron, who was ready to catch her. "Help me into some house, Benvolio, or I shall faint." He began to guide her away, but she turned to face her brother, so it was more like he was dragging her. "A plague on both your houses! They have made worm's meat of me! I have it, and soundly too." She threw her head back and screamed as loud as she could at the heavens, scarlet locks brushing her back. "Your houses!" She felt herself drop out of the blonde's grip, sinking to her knees before her body gave out on her and she met the floor. Her emerald eyes were still open as they stared blankly at the ceiling before Cameron's face appeared in her line of vision. She felt his hands grip her shirt, shaking her and screaming "Mercutio!" over and over again. Before to long Dick's face was there too, fake tears in his eyes. She responded to neither, just lay there, completely still. She heard the scene going on around her, Dick- or Romeo- screaming words of revenge and savagely going after the brunette Tybalt, who had returned to the stage. She listened to Lady Capulet call for revenge and the blonde Benvolio attempt to defend Romeo. Before to long she felt his arms under her knees and armpits, picking her up off the floor and carrying her backstage. Once they were off she snapped her head back up, blinking rapidly. "God that was starting to sting. Can't I just turn my head the other way?"
He smiled. "Come on, all you have to do is stare. How hard can it be?"
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah. That and hold my breath and stay perfectly still. I'd like to see you try."
He shrugged. "I just might try that sometimes."
She snorted as they walked back on the stage. Mrs. Coddle was giving Tommy and Dick instruction: how to put more emotion into their acting, use the entire stage, etcetera. "Yeah. Remind me to bring a video recorder that day." They stayed put until their teacher finally noticed their arrival. She clapped her hands together.
"And here is the lady of the hour!" In spite of herself she felt a blush tinge her cheeks pink, and Cameron smiled at her. "Beautiful performance, Miss Grayson! Such power and emotion and-"
Serafina held up a hand. "I'm gonna have to stop you there before my face goes completely red and I turn into a tomato."
She smiled and nodded. "Of course. Go change, all of you. I look forward to the show tomorrow night."
The entire cast immediately burst into conversation as they made their way back to the back rooms of the auditorium. Serafina waved to her brother and turned into the girls changing room. All the other female cast members were already there, changed or in the process. Most of them were okey: the fifteen year old playing Lady Montague was shy and Lady Capulet was a sweet, quiet fourteen year old who went to Gotham Academy with her. She liked the girl who played the nurse: she was funny and easy to be around, and she reminded her a lot of Dick. The only girl on the cast she didn't really like was the one who played Juliet, a thirteen year old named Charm. Maybe she was being a little harsh when she said she was a loudmouth, self absorbed brat who thought herself better than everyone else, but she was being totally truthful. Charm had been nothing but a bitch to her since day one, and she didn't exactly endear herself to Serafina by trying to make Dick think her to be sexy. Honestly she didn't like the idea of Dick having to kiss her on stage, but there wasn't much she could do about it. 'At least she can't tease me about my looks like all the other girls,' the redhead thought to herself as she peeled off the top of her costume and replaced it with a shirt of her own. Her acrobatic lifestyle, coupled with her training, gave her a lean, strong figure most girls would envy, and she knew Charm hated that she was so trim. She switched out her pants and heels for jeans and flats, hanging up her clothes in one of the lockers that had been installed last month. She waved goodbye to the other girls in the room and walked out of the room, nodding to Mrs. Coddle as she passed. The cool air hit her like a slap to the face as she walked to the tell-tale black Bentley sitting at the curb. Dick was already inside when she slid into the passenger seat, scanning a text message. She buckled her seat belt as the car pulled away from the curb and Dick responded to the message, turning his phone off when he was done. Alfred glanced at his young charges in the rear view mirror. "How was your day, Miss Serafina?"
Said Grayson shrugged. "It was okay. Boring as all heck, but okay."
The trio chatted the whole way back to the Manor, talking about their respective days, homework, and the twin's upcoming performance. The discussion reminded the youngest Grayson of a pressing question. "Is Bruce home yet?"
A pause, then Alfred's apologetic voice. "I'm afraid not, Miss Serafina. He is still away on business." The redhead's face fell, though she tried to keep herself from being too disappointed. Bruce had warned her when he left for a League mission that chances were that he would be able to come see her in Romeo and Juliet. Still, after they had returned home and both of the Grayson children showered and gone to bed, she didn't object when Dick wordlessly took her hand and tugged her into his room, letting her share the bed with him.
The stage lights glared down at the stage. Cheerful music played in the background, the flute and the drum and the guitar. The Grayson twins pranced up on the stage, Serafina on Dick right and Cameron on his left. It was show night, and so far everything had gone of without a hitch. The redhead smoothly detached herself from Dick's side and wandered toward the group that was following them around, acting interested in the conversation. She heard Dick and Cameron saying lines behind her, and she took a moment to steal a glance at the audience. The auditorium was full to the brim, people jamming into any space they possibly could. Alfred was fairly easy to spot: his crisp suit stood out like a light against the casual blue jeans and t-shirts the rest of the audience had donned. And sitting next to him was the one person she hadn't expected to see: Bruce Wayne. His hair was messed up and he looked dead tired, but he was smiling at her nonetheless. Their eyes met for a split second, and he nodded slightly, a silent message of I'm proud of you.
Her green eyes sparkled, and a smile burst across her face as she turned on her heel and sauntered up to the two boys, arms spread wide and laughter bubbling on her lips. "Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance!"
It was the beginning of the best night of Serafina Grayson's life.
A/N: Yeah, it probably wasn't worth the wait, but I'm really so stressed right now it's the best I could come up with on the fly. I'm still taking suggestions for chapters, and answers to my previously stated question. Leave them in a review, please. Thanks y'all, and please review!