Part 2
7:30pm
"Attention, favored guests of the annual Wayne Charity Ball," Bruce said grandiosely, his voice rich as it carried jovially though out the hall and ballroom of his home. "If you would all be so kind as to join me in the dining hall, we'll have dinner."
There was slight applause and a stringed band resumed, louder than before with slightly more lively music, fit for chitchat and talking, the background setting for the clink of silver on china and crystal on teeth.
"Allow me," Cailan looked over her shoulder to see a white and gold mask, filigree decorating the outer edges of it. The nose was slightly long, beaking over a bit. It was in the shape of a Domino mask, except for the beaked nose.
"Uh, thank you," she said, sitting softly on the chair he'd pulled out for her.
"My pleasure," he gave a little bow; he was in a rich crimson shirt-waist with white and gold detailing. His outfit was every bit a Renaissance costume, the pantaloons and boots all in place. He wouldn't have been different from most of the other party-goers, except that his own clothes were of such regality that he almost looked like he'd come straight from the Renaissance.
She couldn't place him, though he was familiar and she was sure she knew him from somewhere. Nodding in thanks to him again she looked around the table. Dick had taken a protective seat not too far from her; Wally was sitting between Artemis and Megan. As she looked around the table, Conner was sitting with—
Kaldur. He looks handsome.
"You're not used to these kinds of things are you?" the young man who'd pulled out her chair asked with a good-natured sneer.
"No, I'm not," she said honestly, looking on at the many servers bringing trays that were covered and steaming with plates for all the guests. "But, I take it you are?" she returned her gaze to him, returning the question.
His smirk spread to a smile. "Nice observation," the young man reclined, putting his body towards her, his arm over the back of the chair. "How'ya liking it?"
There was something casual and daring about him, like he was constantly egging her on in all he said. Why is that so familiar?
"From what I've experienced so far, it's been pretty wonderful,"
He made a neutral 'mhm' sound and looked back to the table where his dinner had appeared before him. The waiter's hand was just coming around offering champagne. He caught the bottle and thanked the waiter with a 'that wont' be necessary'.
"No thank you, please," Cailan said just as the bottle was brought to the rim of her glass. "Water for me as well,"
"You don't look underage," the young man in crimson commented.
"How do you know that I am?" she asked back, letting the waiter settle a napkin on her lap with a docile gaze to him.
"Most people wouldn't refuse champagne in these circles," he shrugged calmly.
"Yet you did,"
"I am underage," he shot back at her pleasantly, their voices dropping as someone was giving a toast down the table; his eyebrows rose in that same challenge he continually spoke to her in. "So, naturally I—"
"Naturally, you assumed that I too am underage," she said. "You know what it is to assume, right?" she questioned with a coy smile as she lifted her glass of water in unison with him to the toast.
"…my hope was that I hadn't made that mistake," he quipped back playfully.
"Oh, no need to worry. You didn't. This time you were right," her face held a slight smile, sly as her glossed lips pulled up softly at the corners.
She was rather pleased to see a short look of surprise cross through his eyes; his face—what she could see under his mask—wasn't smiling cockily now either.
"Touché,"
…
"Before we begin, I would like to purpose a toast," Bruce said, standing up. "We all came here tonight to donate money and funds to the many charities that Wayne Company has created over the years since my father created it. And just the same we know that, while we are doing a service to those in great need, I must admit we are still here for our own ends: after all, what could be better than drinking free booze with a pretty woman on your arm and everyone laughing at your jokes, am I right?"
"Is that Roy sitting with Cailan?" Kaldur whispered, nearly inaudible to Conner; he knew the super-boy's ears would hear it.
"Seems like it," the other boy murmured back. "Why?"
Kaldur shook his head.
The dining hall tittered with pleasant laughter at his joke. "Now, before I bore you further, let me extend our many thanks to the ones who look after us tonight, and many thanks to my esteemed guests. None of this is possible without your efforts,"
A round of applause went on around the table for a minute.
"And now, let's eat!" Bruce said with a smile on his face.
"It is more comforting to see her with a friend, that is all," Kaldur smiled, glancing back to the girl. He couldn't deny that there was something stirring in him nonetheless.
"Looks as though we've been split up evenly around the table," Conner noted quietly as he began eating his meal, his eyes continuing to dart over to Megan all the while.
…
8:47pm
"Now that we're all happy and fed, would you care to join me for entertainment and dancing in the main hall?" Bruce said as he stood; Alfred struck up the order for music to be played. It was more up-beat but slower, beginning with older waltzes and Christmas music for the older audience who was in attendance to dance to while the night was young.
"Care to dance?" Cailan's new found companion asked as he stood, again pulling her chair for her and offering her his hand.
"Uhm," she cast a glance around the table and saw that Kaldur was busy talking with a man in a king's costume ('Auqaman?' she thought) and though he looked to her he was unable to make any move towards her.
'so much for going with him…' she sighed to herself.
"If you think you're a worthy dance partner," she teased, accepting his hand and standing.
"My, my, you're full of challenges," he said, taking her on his arm towards the main hall.
…
"Aqualad," Auquaman said, taking his student firmly by the shoulder. "Do not worry, I believe that Red Arrow is to…look over her when you and the other's are on duty,"
"Yes, my King," Kaldur agreed, returning his eyes to his mentor.
"There's been some concern regarding…"
Kaldur listened but almost by osmosis. He knew that his Lord was giving him invaluable advice on leading his team, especially in this divided sense for the party, as they were working fully with the League, though unbeknownst to the party-goers.
Cailan was supposed to be his date; he hadn't realized it was problematic until he realized they wouldn't actually be attending together. Now Roy was assigned to look after her.
…
"So, how am I doing so far?" the man she was with asked furtively, his lips curled unevenly.
"Not bad," her tone was even and he couldn't read if there was a 'but not good either,' attached.
"It looks like we're getting some attention," he said, letting his gaze shift around; he felt her body tense.
The way he looked around the room told her that he didn't mean they were being watched because they made a good pair. That was possibly more nerve-wrecking than having people stare at you in anticipation of a great performance you weren't sure you could deliver. She was used to expectations.
"Doin' alright?" he asked her evenly, his attention brought back to her.
"Yes, did I step on your foot?" her tease fell a little flat.
"No, I'd be extremely concerned if you'd done that," he said.
"So tell me, Sir, when was it that we met?"
"What would make you say we had?" his voice was light and he added a laugh to his voice, but she felt like he was covering.
"Then we haven't,"
She was leading him. His eyes narrowed at the challenge.
"Maybe we have…should I know you?" he tried turning it around on her.
"Oh, something tells me you know me. Your question should be mine,"
He only laughed and spun them around, just up a beat from the song that was playing from the band. "You are a clever girl,"
…
"What a delightful song," a man in an elaborate mask said as he walked by. "My you two looked wonderful out there,"
Following her partner's slight bow, Cailan gave a dainty curtsey and walked towards the refreshments table to speak with him. Cailan felt a slight rush doing so; there was something almost conspiratorial about it.
'Maybe it's because I know the League is here? No, not that. The other party goers are aware of the 'security' of this place, that's for sure. Then why…does it feel like I'm in on something?'
Her dance partner placed a hand on the small of her back—respectfully placed; she knew that sign. It was a 'watch out' signal to the other men in the room. She was used to it from dancing; two partners had to look after each other, and it just happened that it was the lead's job to keep her safe.
'…keep me safe…'
"Oh! Robert is this that lovely little thing we watched on the dance floor? My, you're such a lovely thing. Wherever did you learn to dace like that child?"
Cailan felt the praise fall on her shoulders heavily. "Uhm, my parents, Ma'am."
"Marvelous, not many kids these days know how to dance. Not like what they're doing out on that dance floor, moving like that." The man—Robert—grumbled. Her dance partner suppressed a chuckle with a slight cough.
"Well, really, it's all up to the lead," she said, coquettishly, purposefully shoving the man she was with under the spotlight.
"Quite right! Now m'boy, you are a fine gentleman to be sure," Cailan excused herself to get a drink to keep from laughing at her partner's sudden fluster.
…
"That wasn't very nice," the man said after a few minutes, meeting her by the drink table.
"Mm…no. But it was funny." She handed him a drink. "So what do I call you? I know we've met."
"…heh, call me Roy."
"That like Cher?" she teased, leaning back and stepping towards the windows.
"Don't stand too close to the windows," his voice was gruff and hushed as his hand wrapped around her arm and pulled her off towards the corner of the room, closer to the Christmas tree.
' "Hey!" the guy growled, grabbing her arms and giving her a rough shake. "Calm. Down." She remembered the guy saying; it'd been one of the super heroes…'
"Red Arrow," she breathed out, little more than a little gasp of air.
"Hn, you really are smart kid," he smiled down at her. "Sorry,"
He let go of her arm; he hadn't realized he'd held her arm that hard. "It's dangerous for you to be near the windows."
"…then you are here like a bodyguard," she tried to keep the playful façade up.
"Something like that," he nodded to a group passing by, more comments on masks, dancing skills.
"So you're Roy," she allowed herself to be lead back out onto the floor.
"Figured you knew enough already, one more name wouldn't hurt."
"Then you trust me?" she couldn't keep the surprise from her voice.
"…more like I trust our ability to keep you from the wrong hands." There was the gruffness she remembered from that night.
"Oh." She hadn't really thought of herself being in danger before. "I guess that's why no windows…huh? But…no one knows that I…"
"We can't be sure of that."
"I think I liked it better before I knew who you were," she smiled at him and her voice was soft and sweet.
He swallowed. "Really? And why was that?"
"Because even if you were suspicious of me I didn't know it. Heh, but I guess ignorance is bliss,"
"Willful ignorance is surrendering control," he said, they were slowly moving along the dance floor.
"Why do you feel you need to be in control?" he could hear the honest question on her voice.
…
9:23pm
"Roy," the dancing pair paused at the tap on Roy's shoulder.
"Kaldur!" Cailan brightened.
"No need to ask to cut in man," Roy said, placing a hand on Kaldur's shoulder.
"Unless of course you mind Cailan," Kaldur said softly once Roy had gone.
"Kaldur don't be silly." She smiled and stepped closer, waiting for Kaldru's move. "Should I—"
"No, Kaldur is fine. I am Aqualad, Aquaman my king. I do not need to hide that fact like many surface-heroes do." He said as he took her hand and led her back to the dance floor.
"I didn't know you could dance," she said, trying to find things to say from nerves.
"…well, I have had about an hour's worth of watch experience," he smiled at her.
…
'I didn't realize he was so tall…' Cailan looked up at him, then seeing him watching her through his mask she found a spot on his shoulder to look at instead.
"How are you liking the party?" Kaldur asked as he stepped back, his movements a little slower than the music's beat.
"It's beautiful. Kind of like it's out of a fairy tale. But it's gotten better with a friend,"
"Roy is a friend too Cailan. He would not let harm come to you,"
"That doesn't make a friend Kaldur. He doesn't trust me…I don't even think he likes me." she said, forcing a little laugh as they spun.
Kaldur was relaxing a little with her now that she was in his arms—so to speak. She followed anything he did; to the point it was almost like she was leading him in leading her. It wasn't so hard to dance.
"Roy has much anger and resentment. But he is very protective of us," Kaldur glanced over his shoulder to see Roy looking at them, casually from within a group of other standers-by. "He is just worried that through you, harm will come to us."
"I know it isn't like I can predict the future or anything…and that I'm not...not like you and the others or anything, but, Kaldur," she looked back at him. "You guys won't ever be in trouble because of me." she smiled and added a laugh, but Kaldur felt the edge of her words and the sudden heaviness they left.
"So, Count, I'd say you're a very good dancer," she was joking a moment later, letting him sweep her back around again.
"I would say that is a very generous statement, to come from an actual dancer," he smiled back at her. "Cailan,"
"Hm?" she adjusted when he stopped; her body moving closer to his. It was a sly move in dancing, to get the partners closer together the lead stopped moving for half a beat while the follow continued on her path towards him.
He secured his arms around her in a danceable embrace. "You look very stunning tonight. You are receiving many looks,"
Stunning; it was such a romanticized word. "Hot, sexy, fine," those were words she was used to. They were words she'd realized she hated too.
"Then I guess we must make a perfect pair," she said, feeling stupid.
"And why is that?" he seemed a little surprised at her response.
"Because all through dinner I couldn't stop thinking 'he looks handsome.'"
Kaldur almost stopped dancing he was so taken aback.
"What's wrong?" she giggled, pulling back just slightly to get them moving again.
"Surface girls are…more forward than I am used to…"
"I'm sorry," she felt her face get hot in a rush, felt her cheeks burn.
"Cailan, I did not say it was a bad thing," he tilted her face back up to look at him, then took her hand in his again.
"It doesn't seem to be much of a good one either; I always get myself into trouble that way," she laughed it off; Kaldur realized she was trying to keep things shallow, trying to keep feelings at bay.
"Cailan, that story you told the other night after dinner," Kaldur said, leading up.
"…the music's stopping…" she interrupted, looking around at the halting couples.
A modern rendition of Bach's Bourree II began and the couples took up laughing and reverting to older types of dance. The classics, as they were known, were seen on the great dance floor by the Wayne-guests.
…
"Wow…Artemis?" Wally had asked at dinner in disbelief. She'd glowered at him in response and refused to talk to him most of dinner.
"Uh…ya wanna dance?" Wally asked her as he walked up to her side, tilting his head in an amiable way.
"It's not really my thing." She said to him with a glance; she also didn't want to be dancing around next to Cailan.
"Oh. Yeah." He nodded and stood. He wasn't usually so…dull with girls. Wait, what the heck am I thinking!? What was that supposed to mean, it's Artemis!"
They watched the dancers, as the music sifted into Bach's Rondea.
"Cailan and Kaldur sure look pretty good out there don't they?" Wally asked innocently, whistling a little at the gliding couple.
"Hey were did Conner and Megan get to?" she asked to change the subject.
"Oh, uhm, I thought I saw them over by the drinks a while back," Wally said, meaning to lead her over there.
"Oh. That's fine. I've got to get back…back anyways, my times up. See ya around Wally,"
She left him looking after her; he liked how she walked in the low heels, it made the skirt of her costume flutter. He shook his head. GAh! What are you thinking?! You're insane, get a grip. Look, there are some girls over there, to talk with them!
He was dazed a little as he made his way towards the stairs to talk with some slightly younger girls who were waiting around for something interesting and gushing over the handsome older guys.
…
"Cailan, the story—if I may bring back my previous question…?" he took her following silence to be an affirmative to go ahead and speak.
"Your story of the girl and boy, by the ocean…?"
"Yes?" she asked, letting her gaze drift off over his shoulder, over hers, around the room. He felt slightly annoyed at her aloof-attitude.
He whisked her around, catching her off guard and not only forcing her to look directly at him but also, as a bonus, to cling to him. He watched her look of surprise go to a jumping-jaw and narrowed eyes.
"You said that was false," he kept his tone even and smiled at her, still letting his questioning draw itself out and linger.
"I did? I don't really remember," she said with a wistful voice, almost plaintively.
She's lying.
"Yes. In fact you admitted to receiving a very compromising letter as fact instead." He said, his smile sliding.
"Then it must have been true," Great, she is appeasing me now, Kaldur thought as she said this.
"I do not believe it is. I think that you told us two lies, one being the story of the letter, and the next was your admitting to the lie being true." He pulled her towards him, then they stepped back, swirled neatly out of the way of another couple; he felt almost suffocated in the throng of people—maybe from dancing, or from all the heady smells?
"Kal…" she said softly, sighing; she sounded so faint.
"I think your story about the little boy by the ocean was the true one Cailan." He continued on.
"I don't like to think about it." Her voice was a near whisper but it was firm and unyielding.
"It sounded like a good memory," he said, his voice gentle but neutral to hide his slight disappointment.
"It is…but…it's not…" she shook her head. "Can we talk about something else?"
His heart caught on the catch in her voice. "Please, do not let me upset you. I am sorry, I should not have—"
"You didn't upset me Kaldur," her smile, though small, was back. "It's just…"
They stopped. The music was gone now, and they were surrounded by long-stilled dancers. She didn't like the smiles; it led to a chortling applause. Cailan's hand tightened around his and she took a step back, with a flourished and hurried curtsy and proceeded to pull him into the host of people. She didn't want to be in the spotlight tonight. They were private.
"We can stop running now," Kaldur tried to hide his laugh.
Cailan gave a deep sigh and settled into the wall of the staircase, at the back of the party away from almost everyone.
"Am I that obvious?" she asked, looking up and looking down again.
"…yes, I believe you are," he continued to tease her. "But I feel the same could be said of me, could it not?"
"Then…" he saw her take a deep breath and wondered why her eyes were now locked onto his—not that he minded, "why haven't you kissed me yet?"
He opened his mouth to reply and then realized what she'd said and closed it again. He felt himself stiffen, opened his mouth only to close it a second time. His face was growing hot; he felt his hands get sweaty. Surface girls were very forward. He felt his posture revert to soldier-mode and his jaw clenched together so he could think over his words before he said them.
"There you two are," Conner said, leaning around the banister, making them both jump. "Been looking everywhere for you,"
"Conner," Kaldur managed to say; thankful for the interruption.
"Yeah, look you and me need to go talk with, uh, Bruce. Said he had a favor to ask." The tone of his voice indicated that it was something to do with a mission, or the security. Kaldur found the grandfather clock in the hall; it was only ten fifteen. He wouldn't be on shift until later that night.
"Of course," Kaldur eased into his role as leader. "We need to find Megan or Wally to accompany Cailan, or Dick if you have seen him,"
"Hm…Megan's busy with her uncle. But Roy's right over there," Conner jerked his chin to where the elder boy stood talking with some senators and other high-ups; he seemed to fit right in.
"Right. Conner, I'll be there momentarily. "Cailan," he offered his arm stiffly.
"Catch'ya later Conner," she smiled and gave a little wave; it was almost impossible to tell with her that something had happened between her and Kaldur.
…
"Excuse us," Kaldur said as he led Cailan to the group. It was not long before they were immersed into a conversation; about how great he heroes were, about the crime, about the charity. The old men seemed to be willing to talk about anything, and the slightly younger women on their arms or the wives at their sides were not wont to throw their two cents in, causing a great argument on ever subject, it seemed.
"I must excuse myself, pardon me," Kaldur said quietly, knowing if he wasn't heard no one would even notice his absence.
"Guess you're stuck with me again," Roy snickered good naturedly.
"I could think of worse things," Cailan said evenly, giving a friendly smile; her voice betrayed that a friendly smile was as far as it went.
"Wait, young lady you were out there on the floor a moment ago, weren't you?" one of the women said, peering over her hand-held mask and squinting for lack of her glasses.
"Yes Ma'am."
"Oh my, but you are quiet a lovely dancer. And you're costume too! I'd say the swan princess, yes?"
"Margret, leave the girl alone," a man—her husband—said through laughter. To Cailan "Don't mind her young one, she's a busy body,"
"Charles! Now, as I was saying before my husband interrupted, you look lovely dear. Are you with the Gotham Theater? I could swear I've seen you on stage before now."
"Margret, she's dancing ballroom, not a ballet!" Charles said, a little more loudly than before but his voice made his smiling face all the more comical.
"Oh, hush. Am I right child?"
"Uh…actually, I'm still…in school," Cailan said, unsure how to answer.
"Don't be silly, you've got the skill and movement of a dancer. The Gotham Troupe then?"
"Margret I am telling you, let that poor girl alone!" Charles' robust voice chuckled out loudly.
"Well, we'll just have to talk to Bruce about this, I'm sure he'll have a remedy for it," Margret said, taking her glass and tossing her furs back around her neck, starting to walk towards the young millionaire.
"That's really not—" Cailan tried to put in hastily.
"You will do no such thing!" Charles growled out laughter as he followed his wife.
"Excuse us," Roy put a hand on her back and, apologizing to the crowd, swept her back towards a refreshment table. "Are you always in the spotlight?"
She couldn't tell if he was joking with or berating her and wasn't sure how to respond.
"I dunno…"
"Relax."
"It's hard to do; I can't tell if your distrust is causing you to mock me or if you're trying to make me comfortable,"
"…maybe it's a bit of both," he admitted, shrugging.
"Then how am I supposed to relax?"
"Look," he sighed, his voice getting a little rougher than before. "I don't hate you, okay?"
"You're protective of your friends. I get it." She said complacently.
"Yeah. I am."
"Are you…"
"I'm here if they need me," he said quickly, turning his eye back to her, not suspicious but rather curious as to how she made such a quick connection.
"Do…you think something might happen?" she asked quietly.
"You're…scared." He stated more out of surprise than accusation.
She shot him a look.
"If anything happens, it'll probably be from the Joker. He has trouble leaving Wayne enterprises alone; the Bat has always protected it fiercely. Now that Wayne Company has such a standing in supporting the League, with more heroes to annoy, the Joker has picked up his tenacity in causing problems. He also doesn't work well with others.
"That's good for us. The other villains, Luthor in particular, refuse to work with him because of his insanity. However, if they were to join with each other, or if a few were to 'attack' at the same time, we would need this extensive security."
"…but do you think they will?"
He paused and looked at her. With a resigned sigh: "I don't know. They're unpredictable, honestly. With so many important people here, and so many League members, it's a tossup between being a great idea for money, ransom or just eliminating their problems, and having to contend with the good guys."
"Oh, right,"
"Don't worry. We can assume no one knows you have information they want. Even if something happens they won't come after you."
"Wow, you really know how to reassure a girl," she said dryly, looking at him through skeptical eyes.
"Hey guys," Dick said waving happily as he walked towards them. He rather admired Roy.
"You look like you're having fun," Cailan said, smiling at him.
"Eh, I got used to this kinda thing ages ago," he let slip. "Uh, anyways, it's not that bad. Just humor a few adults, eat some cake and sneak a sip of champagne here and there." He winked at his own joke.
"Hey kid, stick with her, I've got some stuff to take care of," Roy said as he started off towards a group of adults; Black Canary had made an appearance.
"Tch. Kid my a—"
"He's just trying to prove to the League he's an adult," she placed a hand on his shoulder.
"…what do you mean?"
"He wasn't there to make the stand you guys did, when you first became a team. He 'quit', he walked away from his partner. His struggle is to make it out on top and be just as great, maybe greater, than his mentor. It's the right of passage for the path he took."
"…how old are you again?" Dick asked, crossing his arms.
"Seventeen going on eighty, it seems,"
"Oh Richard! There you are!" a very robust woman was waving frantically, her double chins jiggling with her long earrings.
"Quick, we're dancing!" Dick grabbed her hand and yanked her around towards the dance floor again.
…
12:47am
"Okay, I'm pretty sure that she's gone Dick, we can stop running all over the place now," Cali laughed.
"Yeah, I'm sorry. I just really hate—"
"Dick? Where've you been?"
"Oh! Barbra, uh…hey… I was, uh,"
"Helping ditch a creeper. Thanks for letting me borrow him," Cailan pushed Dick into Barbra and stepped away before she had time to hear anything more.
She walked away, glancing around at the party, looking for something to keep her occupied. She felt like she was in a production, walking around in slippered feet like she was, all the masks and laughter, the music in the background. It was like being on a real stage performing a world renowned ballet. Except, that the only dancing was structured waltzes or the lindyhop, and everyone was most definitely not a ballet dancer. Still, it was very fairy-tale esc as she looked around. Bruce Wayne spared no detail in making his home a winter sanctuary for his party-guests.
Eventually she wandered around to the donations board. It was a grand display of pictures and letters and a very large glass jar of money and checks. There were countless smiling faces and certificates. She looked on, seeing villages in third world countries had been rebuilt, relief efforts, medicine advancements, animal cruelty; one story in particular she recognized.
Dear Wayne. Corp,
Thank you very much for supporting Ms. Gracie's halfway house on tenth. Without it, I don't know where I'd go. Because of your donation, I can not only stay here and have food, but I might also be able to take lessons again.
The letter continued on for a few more lines. The structure was very base that of a child's, while there were some words thrown in that meant it was undoubtedly dictated by an adult and written in a child's hand. Most of the time she looked at letters like this and thought they were fake. This one had validation only because she was the one who had written it five years ago.
"It's pretty amazing what people can do when they get together and put their minds to it." A man said behind her.
Cailan agreed, her eyes still lingering over the board and the pictures. "Yes, sometimes I wonder how it's possible for so much good to happen in the simplest of ways. "
"I suppose the spirit of Christmas helps," the man offered.
"Maybe," she smiled and looked again at a little girl's smiling face; she was hugging a goat like she'd found her new best friend.
"You know, I've had several people come up and tell me what a phenomenal dancer you are. They've even been requesting on your behalf that I set you up in an institution to start your career,"
The man watched she smile sweep from her face as she turned to him with a shocked expression. "I'm sorry, I hope—Mr. Wayne?"
He smiled down at her. "I have it on very good authority you're somewhat of a prodigy."
"N-no…nothing like that. I just love it, that's all."
He nodded and sipped away the last of his drink while looking at the pictures on the board.
"Look, I need to put on a show, and I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to be walking around without an escort, right?" he said, turning back to her with a peculiar smile she couldn't quite place. It seemed, honest, yet, faked, as if it were once true and now was only an empty shell to appease others.
"Uh, yes, I suppose so,"
"Good. Then, would you mind making another appearance on the dance floor?"
Taken aback she agreed without thinking. Never in her life had things been so awkward. First the fiasco with Kaldur, then all the run-arounds with Roy, her friends not trusting her, now Bruce Wayne—who she had very strong suspicions about—the millionaire bachelor was asking her for a dance. If she hadn't wanted the spotlight before, she was nearly dying to stay away from it now.
His hand was warm over hers. She looked up at the masked face and settled into following mindlessly. He asked her a few questions which she found herself answering before she had time to think about answering. Sometimes she felt unaccountably stupid after saying something and she'd stutter out a question for him. How were you supposed to talk with a famous person?
But it was more than that. He was roughly six foot with broad shoulders a stern but kind face, a solid jaw line and a calming smile. Every time she looked up she saw brown eyes and sandy hair; she saw a barrel chest covered with flannel, the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. Cailan saw brown-haired arms, big and strong, and felt calloused hands on her own. She fancied she could even smell Old Spice aftershave and dirt and, maybe, even a hint of onions.
Her chest hurt.
…
1:08am
Her face felt like it was on fire. The applause seemed grueling. She felt like the people who knew her were looking on her as an attention whore and the people who didn't thought she was some stuck up brat. This wasn't the case at all, or close to it and on a deeper level she knew that. People were rarely as base as one supposed.
Stepping away from Mr. Wayne she put a hand over her stomach. She didn't feel well. Her chest felt like it'd been crushed, her body was hot, the tights she was in were irritating on her legs. Her head was buzzing.
"Thank you very much for the dance Mr. Wayne," she said curtseying quickly and trying to remember how to breathe. "Please, excuse me,"
Before anyone could follow she disappeared into the crowd of people. It was easy for her to do. She was small and vanished quickly. It was almost a worse mistake. The heat of her body increased among all of these other bodies, her head became confused and disoriented from the garbled snatches of conversations she heard and the drone of the music. Her clothes—she hated this dress, hated this mask. It was like they were attacking her body.
Panic attack. You're having a panic attack. You can't breathe, you can't think. Just relax. Get to a free space, breathe, cool off, calm down. You're fine Cali, you're fine.
She guided herself through what she needed to do and made a quiet escape into an adjacent room, through a door just outside the hall. The walls of the old mansion were thick; the second she walked into the library the chatter became all but a whisper, and the music was a fading memory. It was cooler, she fancied, in the library. She took in deep gasping breaths of air, tearing off her mask and dropping it to the ground as she cowered in a corner to support herself. Maybe she was just tired. She hadn't been sleeping well at Mount Justice.
That's not it and you know it Cali, she thought irately. No, she knew exactly what it had been.
Dancing with Mr. Wayne had reminded her of when her own father had taught her to dance. That that was opening up memories she'd been hiding away for almost ten years. She'd repressed feelings and thoughts and the pain of that day, tucked it deep inside herself locked it up and destroyed the key. Or, she thought she had. But after dancing with Mr. Wayne she felt those deep things were starting to surface and creep out.
She didn't think she could handle it.
…
Kaldur had gotten too caught up; people could not stop asking him what it was like to be Aquaman's apprentice. After that talk it'd taken him forever to be free of people. By that time he'd lost Cailan in the throng of people. He thought he'd caught a glimpse of her once, but a girl who introduced herself as Zatanna asked him for a dance. That again distracted him.
When Kaldur finally spotted her she was out on the dance floor yet again. However, she was being guided around by none other than Bruce Wayne himself.
…
1:26am
Kaldur watched the couple dancing; her movements still had grace but now there was something…off about the way she moved. He paid careful attention when the dance ended. Cailan had a hand over her stomach when they stopped dancing. She excused herself too quickly.
Something is wrong, the Atlantian thought as he raced after her.
Dodging around bodies and people, ignoring beckons to speak with gentlemen and ladies, he surged through the murder [murder here being used as a large group of people, a clan, a horde, a throng; not the act of murder] of people trying to keep an eye on her.
I cannot be sure, but maybe—
He burst into the library and looked around.
Kaldur froze. She was standing in the moonlight, her head pressed against the windowpane. It terrified him how still she was. He didn't have time to think or to analyze anything this time. His chest felt as if it were about to burst, he couldn't make coherent thoughts, his breathing was labored. Acting on impulse and, startlingly, relishing in the act of doing so, Kaldur rushed forward to Cailan's side at the window. He didn't waste time getting her attention, didn't bother to stutter out a request or a witty line. He couldn't give himself time to think. If he did, he would tell himself it'd be better for her if he didn't act.
It wasn't like the movies. It wasn't the most romantic kiss in the world; it wasn't a ravaging, all consuming kiss of passion. They didn't jump into each other's arms, or kiss so long they gasped for breath and felt like they'd been broken when their lips separated. There was no sloppy noises, no body-gripping, no swooning, no foot-pop.
Kaldur simple went to her at the window, tilted back her head and gave her a soft, gentle kiss.
…
It lasted only a moment before he was pulling away. Her brain went half-way into auto mode, preparing her body for more. She was ready for the next kiss, ready for an extreme kiss, or make out, or whatever he was planning on doing. Her mind was saying 'great! A diversion!' It was, in effect, telling her to let Kaldur use her for what he wanted so she didn't have to feel.
But the moment was up and his lips—which had stayed remarkably motionless against her own—were pulling away.
He looked startled, as if he hadn't known what he was doing. There was a genuine fear in his eyes, not a mortal fear that she'd hate him slap him or that what they'd done was wrong. The fear was that he'd kissed her wrong, that he'd upset her.
"I…am sorry that it…it took so long," she distantly heard him force out, blinking rapidly as he looked down at her.
Her mind was still telling her to wait for the next part.
There was a silence that dragged out; the silence began cutting into her mind's override operation; she felt that same loss stirring in her chest. There was a dull aching there that her mind was beginning to get desperate to keep in. This was survival; the mechanisms were coming into place. Yet it was so quiet. Neither was saying anything, just staring dumbly at the other.
Kaldur's jaw jumped and he took a step forward. Her face was blank…something he had not expected. Then again, he wasn't quite sure what was expected. He again cupped her face in his hand and placed his other at her waist and pulled her up on her toes toward him. He moved slowly; Tula had been the only other girl he'd loved, and they had never made it far past courting.
But Cailan's mind was craving anything and so it let her body respond slowly to Kaldur's advances. His lips were soft and gentle against hers; she was used to force and movement and a general aggression when guys kissed her.
Kaldur's kisses were something new though. They were simple, really. It was a soft kiss that lingered for a moment or so and then ended. Then there was another, and his lips again lingered over her own. But his lips were so soft, and warm against hers. He didn't make his kisses sloppy with movement, or slobbery with tongues. It was like when he spoke, when he worked. Each movement was deliberate, precise, thought out; yet he wasn't cold, wasn't emotionless in it. There was a hidden reservoir she felt, and it, like her own hidden box, was starting to leak.
…
"Cailan…" he said, pulling away and looking at her, startled. "You are…"
He drew his thumb smoothly over her cheek and it shimmered in the moonlight.
"I'm not crying," she shook her head and blinked quickly, her eyes leaving his face.
"Please, do not," he said, his webbed hand against her cheek guiding her face back up. Her lashes hid her eyes—she was looking down, hiding something perhaps. He just wanted to look on her face.
"Will you kiss me again?" she whispered; she didn't know if he heard the words the way they came out (broken) or not, but he didn't acknowledge it if he did.
Instead he wrapped his arm around her waist to better lift her up to him and complied, kissing her again in his gentle, careful method. All her mind let her think in these moments was that she liked this style of kissing.
…
"Hey, have you guys seen Cailan?" Roy asked Megan and Conner, who were enjoying the night as an official couple.
"Actually, it's been a while," Megan said, a finger to her lips.
"Last time I saw Cailan she was with you, where Kaldur dropped her off," Conner shrugged, pulling at the collar of his shirt.
"Right. Batman's gonna kill me." Roy hissed under his breath. He knew he should never have left her with Dick. "Where's Dick?"
"Uh, I dunno. He's pretty good at disappearing," Conner shrugged.
By the time Roy had finally found Dick he was extremely ticked off.
"C'mon kid, how could you lose her, didn't the Bat tell you to keep a close watch on her, isn't that why you were both here together yesterday?" Roy growled under his breath to Dick.
"Hey, it isn't my fault. Barbra came over and Cailan kinda just shoved me into her and then disappeared. I think she's better than I am at it," he mused, looking around the crowds again. "What's it so important that you find her anyways, can't you ask Megan to find her telepathically?
Roy hadn't thought of that.
"Have you seen Kaldur? We've got to get back on duty together, we're already a little late," Conner said as Roy walked over to the couple again.
"No. I haven't. Hey, Megan, can you use your…to talk with those two and tell them to get their butts out here?" Roy said, slightly calmer now that he had a solution.
"Oh, sure!"
…
1:43am
"Kaldur? Kaldur! You and Superboy need to get back on duty! Your break is up!"
"Cailan, hey girl, where are you? We've been looking everywhere! Come out and find me on the dance floor, we'll show these boys how to party, okay?"
Both Cailan and Kaldur jumped; each had received a separate message at the same time.
"I am sorry. I will be there momentarily," Kaldur thought back. Somehow, he didn't feel at all ashamed.
"I must go…but…" he leaned down and gave her a slightly harder, longer kiss. He couldn't help just looking at her face; when she looked back at him he could see the tears caught in her lashes. She had been crying.
I'm not crying. She'd said to him. She didn't want to talk with him about it, not yet. "Are you alright alone Cailan?" he asked, his attitude suddenly that of hero and protector.
"I'll be fine, I'm going to find Megan," she said. "I just need to find my mask.
Kaldur nodded, hesitated, and then left the library. He felt exhilarated and yet, at the same time almost sad and longing. There had been someone on her mind that she wouldn't tell him. But, there was hope too. He knew he'd have time to take down her walls, even if the chore was brick by brick.
…
"Oh, sure Megan. I'm just touching up my makeup, sweating so much from dancing!" Cailan thought back, hoping Megan couldn't read emotions telepathically the way she could read thoughts. She seemed to buy it.
Cailan had thought she'd be fine when Kaldur left. She even managed a smile. And wasn't that what she'd wanted for a long time, a kiss from him? She had gotten that. So she should have been happy.
She wasn't happy. In fact, as the minutes ticked by since he'd walked out the door, she began feeling more and more empty. It was like, instead of being the putty to fix the cracks of her box, Kaldur had been a sledge hammer against them, and the cracks were bigger than ever. She wasn't sure what to do with that. She couldn't remember having felt this bad before…no, that was a lie. She could remember. She'd broken down in the gym before she'd dropped out of school. Had that been the same hollowness that ate away at her now?
As she thought about her memory of the gym another, older memory began to fester its subtle way into her thoughts. It was like smoke, not really a tangible thought, but there were feelings attached that were strong and their potency made her frightened and all the more determined not to remember.
…
2:10am
Megan had just taken off for her own shift. Cailan wasn't sure if she really wanted to see Kaldur, or if she really didn't want to see Kaldur. There was a giddiness she couldn't remember having with her other boyfriends. Roy kept a close eye on her; she didn't mind. Playing his coy game of 'like you hate you' kept her mind from other things. She was able to smile and fake laughter and talk about the mindless party things that everyone talked about. She didn't know that she was wearing her school smile, or that Kaldur had learned to tell the difference between the two.
He realized that he had been right about something being wrong as he walked back towards her after his shift. She was wearing that smile again. It was such a gruff, cold smile, practiced and calloused. He didn't like it at all.
"It seems the party is beginning to wear down," he said conversationally to Roy as he reached their group.
"Good. Maybe if everyone goes early enough we can get out of here too."
"Yes, it is looking hopeful—" Kaldur began to reply.
There was a loud, popping bang and suddenly glass was raining down on them with a rush of cold air and a heavy impact of smoke.
"You've. Got. To. Be. Kidding. Me!" Roy growled out.
It wasn't a joke.
…
Dozens of Joker's cronies waltzed through the windows and busted through the doors. People were screaming men trying to calm their wives, wives screaming in fear of the attacking hoodlums. The security was instantly on the attack, a real fight breaking out right before the party-goers eye. However, the fact that it was the joker's henchmen made that a very bad idea. The fighting quickly became scattered and chaotic. Joker's people were, while not as insane as him, crazy. They had no structure to their fighting, had no qualms about innocent people getting in their ways, and the worst part of all, they were most of them psychopaths. They had no intention of self preservation, and that made them dangerous and unpredictable.
Kaldur leapt to the fray while Roy—a magical costume change happening covertly for nearly all the of the heroes—wrapped an arm around Cailan and swept her up and back away from the main area of fighting. He was playing body guard tonight. Where useful, he let one of his arrows fly if a member of the League or the Team needed him, but he stood protectively in front of Cailan.
"Red Arrow!" she hissed.
"What now?!" he demanded. "Kinda busy!"
"Stop guarding me,"
"What?"
"I said stop guarding me. You'll only draw attention. I'll just be like everyone else if I don't have a bodyguard hanging off me. They haven't noticed us yet, so go," she urged. She didn't know where she was getting this logic, but a deep gut feeling told her she was right.
As long as she wasn't seen being guarded, no one would know she was important. And, if anyone should come after her, a random hero could save her like any normal citizen.
Reluctantly he agreed when he saw Artemis take a hit from a blockbuster-venom hybrid meta human.
Cailan was right, oddly enough, in her reasoning. Now on her own, she looked like any normal, frightened party goer. However, she and Red Arrow hadn't been quick enough. Someone had seen him protecting her to a point of his refusal to move without her.
Now, Baal didn't know it was Cailan because she was wearing her mask. But he saw a very pretty thing with legs all alone having just been protected from the start of the invasion by one hero. That was interesting in and of itself.
Cailan had her back pressed against the wall and was feeling her way through the smoke to a corner to get to to say out of the way. She wasn't going to draw attention, she wasn't going to cause problems for the heroes. She was just going to disappear until it was all over, like a dream. When her back came to the banister and then there was nothing behind her, she turned, ready to get up the stairs and hide on the upper level.
Except that she came face to face with someone who'd been in her nightmares. Baal was leering at her chaotically saliva dripping through his yellowed teeth, his clown-makeup greasy like his hair. His hand flew up and tore the mask from her face—she'd forgotten she'd put it back on.
"Well well well, if it ain't the nice piece of ass from the alley. I remember you, oh, yeah, I remember you ya little bitch," He began laughing hysterically.
Cailan took a step back, waiting for a chance to—she bolted around, dodging an off duty officer taking a hit from someone else dressed up as a clown. It was a great escape and had she gotten very far she would have lost Baal in the crowd and been safe for a time. But as it was, she ran into someone who scared her far more than Baal ever could. And it wasn't because he had no actual head, or that he wasn't actually in any human; Jack scared her because his eyes bored into her so deeply, and it felt like as he did so he was scorching her soul with Lucifer's own flames. The Jack-o-lantern face glared at her, a scar down the pumpkin head. The eyes and mouth were set in a grotesquely angry face. His hands gripped her so hard there was an instant bruise there.
"Nice work Jack," Baal said, breathing foul breath into her face. Jack turned his horrible eyes onto Baal.
Cailan felt like she could see through those eyes right into Jack's soul. And she saw he was so bent on revenge for her—not hitting him, but stopping him from killing Kid Flash—that he didn't want to kill her, but to hear her scream until her throat was so ragged it bled. Shivers over took her body and she wanted to look away from those eyes.
While Jack's eyes were on Baal, obviously thinking over handing Cailan to the rapist or not, she took the opportunity to use a little of her ballet skills; a rough, strong kick made Jack let go of her and she was able to duck under Baal's own outstretching hands. Then Baal went flying and someone else grabbed her arm.
"You really know how to have a good time Cailan," Wally was joking as he flew around the room. "I didn't know you knew karate,"
"That was actually ballet," she said as he set her down; she felt light headed. "Lookout!" she screamed.
Instead of moving he played the hero and pushed her out of the way, which he hadn't needed to do in the first place. While thrown off balance and therefore off his own terms, Kid Flash was able to bounce right back into the fray of things and continue on uninjured.
Cailan's head whipped around, taking everything in at once. She backed herself into a wall and slid down, hoping to stay out of sight here. She'd never seen fighting on a scale like this before, it was an all out war. And people were screaming. Some of them tried to run but Joker's men kept them in the mansion. Some fought back and were knocked down; she heard rapidly firing guns and the sounds of battle, but she wasn't sure with all the smoke and movement if anyone had died or not.
She scuttled out of the way just as a limp body came flying towards where she'd been crouching. It was a masked villain, she saw as she looked back. She wasn't sure, but he looked like he was still breathing. On her feet again she wanted desperately to get to a group of other normal people. She wouldn't be singled out, maybe. She was scared Baal or Jack would come back for her. She didn't want that to happen, something deep inside of her told her she didn't want that to happen.
But if thoughts could attract, hers certainly did. Jack found her.
His face twisted in a sick pleasure as he pursued her through the insanity that was now Wayne manner. Cailan knew she shouldn't go up stairs or get too quick to run into another room—one that might be smaller, or have only one exit. But Jack was making it a very hard thing not to do. He was a psychopath, he was crazy, but he was obviously the smart one of the group. He was toying with Cailan, like a cat does a mouse—for the sheer sport of torture. Pretty soon she got caught; it was either leap into the fray and try and fight him off or it was make a run for it up the stairs and try to find a solid door to hide behind. She knew she'd be no good at fighting. She was small and she'd never actually fought anyone before, never thrown a punch or even slapped anyone. Cailan was good at using words; Jack was the kind of crazy that words wouldn't even slow down. There was no reasoning with him.
She lunged forward and then spun and bolted as fast as she could up the stairs. She knew she'd surprised him but he caught on fast and started chasing after her. She could hear him coming for her, could feel him behind her. He grabbed at the hem of her dress a few times; she was lucky it was pieced together in thick strands or he may have had something to grab onto. She made it to the first landing and turned, leaning on the banister, she supported her upper body and gave him a sharp kick to his gut. He stumbled backwards a few steps and she resumed her flight; she'd bought herself a little time.
But she'd also made him angry. He took after her now with more resolution than before to grab her. He managed it right as she was turning around the landing on the first floor. She caught the top of her foot on the stair in her hurry and tripped up, stumbling. She righted herself but it was too late. He grabbed her and turned her around, holding her fast. Her hands were weak against his chest, her kicks did nothing to him as he anticipated her moves.
…
The league members were doing fine aside from the sheer numbers of minions attacking and the innocent people in their ways. There were just so many it was like a small scale war. They couldn't figure out where Joker had come up with so many bodies.
Kladur was fighting on meta human that had been enlisted. It was strong and ugly. Catching Kaldur off guard through a decoy clown who ended up getting his nose broken for his trouble, the meta grabbed Kaldur and sent him crashing through the banister on the opposite side of the first floor landing that Cailan and Jack were on.
By this time Jack was trying to lift her over the banister and drop her below. From this height the fall would break her legs and leave her utterly helpless. Broken legs mortified Cailan. Jack was distracted by the crash for just a moment, leaving Cailan half hanging over the banister and half in his clutches. Cailan stared on horrified.
"Aqualad," she breathed out, her mind automatically changing his name for his protection.
Jack looked back at her. However, Jack was clever, Jack was smart. He saw the way her eyes were rooted to the spot where the Aqua-boy had landed over on the other side of the landing. He saw how she was more focused on the hero than she was on her own safety. He hated it, it was sickening when people cared for others. But there was something useful in it too. Jack knew. Oh, he knew.
…
Something collided with her face and then she was falling backwards. She didn't scream, she didn't have time. She was too stunned to scream out.
"I've got you," someone said; she was in someone's arms now. She was dizzy. Had she landed?
Blinking a few times, she realized she'd been caught before she'd hit the ground. Batman had saved her.
Go figure that one. She thought.
Looking over Batman's shoulder and trying to distinguish shapes as actual individual objects, her eyes lighted on Jack. And, though she couldn't seem him clearly, she could feel the angry waves of psychotic hate roiling off of him. She shivered and passed out.