Chpt.3

Livy skipped happily down the street, getting herself reacquainted with her birth city while the sun was out. She noted the new buildings that were constructed and different roads. She made mental notes where she noticed were good places to hide and possible places where people sold drugs.

However, she also knew she needed to talk around, but she planned to do that after she got the layout of the city down.

This was a dual purpose trip though. A new book came out and she wanted to see what it was all about. Livy's love for reading never died.

However, since she was often on the move, her books didn't travel with her. Often enough, people who moved into locations that Livy stayed in and were surprised to find a mini library in the room.

Livy didn't care though. She was happy to read the books when she could and to share the books with others.

As Livy continued to note different landmarks, and daydream about her new book, her eyes locked on someone very familiar looking.

Is that… it could be. She debated what she wanted to do. If it was who she thought it was, it was perfectly acceptable to do what she had in mind. However, if not, a very awkward conversation and apology would follow.

Oh well! If it is him, it'll be so worth the look on his face. Livy shrugged.

The girl sprinted to where she saw a boy with black hair and a darker complexion walking with a pale red-headed boy.

She quickly jumped onto the darker boy's back like it was a piggy back ride, and no matter how hard the boy tried, he couldn't throw her off.

"Hiya there." She smiled.

"Who the hell are you!?" the boy spat, and Livy smiled.

It's him!

"Aw, I'm so hurt you don't remember me. I mean, it wasn't like we talked or hung out last night or anything." She pouted, and the boy, Damian, glared at her.

"Livy…"

"So you do remember me!" Livy smirked.

"Colin, get this harlot off of me!" Damian exclaimed and the boy, Colin, looked at the two confused.

"You know her?" he questioned.

"She is the imbecile that you met last night." He grunted. "Now Livy, get off of me or I will stab you."

"You're no fun." Livy pouted as she ruffled his hair and jumped off of his back. Her attention then turned to Colin.

"So you were that giant monster guy with the awesome hook punch?" she questioned. Colin was unsure of what to say.

"Uh… I guess." Livy grabbed his hand and shook it enthusiastically.

"Nice to meetcha… again. When you're not a big-ass monster."

"You're braids still look awful." Damian stated, and Livy turned her attention back to him.

"And your personality is still lacking." She shrugged. "Anyway, what are you two doing out and about?"

"I'm walking with Colin to keep him company on his way to his job." Damian informed matter-of-factly.

"So, where d'you work at?" Livy inquired, cocking her head to the side and looking at Colin with interest.

"Um… I work at the Book Store."

"That's awesome! I'm heading that way to get a new book!" Livy exclaimed with excitement.

"Ah yes, you're obsession with Harry Potter." Damian nodded. "You do know that the woman hasn't made new Harry Potter books in several years, right?"

"I read other stuff besides Harry Potter, y'know." Livy grunted.

Colin listened to the two of the fight and bicker as they made their way to the book store, and he couldn't help but smile.

"So, how long did you two know each other?" Colin inquired.

"Not that long. Only a few months. I got shot-"

"She got shot by being stupid and then she needed to recuperate in my home." Damian stated.

"I wasn't being stupid." Livy snapped, then turned back to Colin. "My Dad was in trouble and I knew I needed to help him. I'm his nurse, so when he was hurt, I needed to fix him. But this guy shot me instead of him, and Alfred had to look after me." Livy explained.

"As I said, she was being stupid." Damian grunted.

"I wasn't being stupid, and you didn't help with my recovery either. You were always sitting in my room and saying how my drawing were stupid and such."

"You enjoyed my company."

"You could have put anybody in there and I would have enjoyed the company."

"So if I stuck the Joker in your room, you'd-" Damian didn't see the punch to his face coming. He fell to the ground and rubbed his cheek.

"What the hell was that for!?" he spat, jumping up ready to punch her back, but Colin stood in-between the two.

"Cool it, guys." He state seriously.

"Don't mention Joker." Livy stated, her light hearted tone gone completely from her voice.

"What? He kills your Dad with a crow bar and some dynamite, and now you punch anybody who says his name?" Damian questioned. He didn't know what Joker had did to her. Nobody told him.

Livy realized that and immediately felt guilty.

"I'm sorry." She whispered. "I didn't mean to punch you. Just… don't mention Joker. I don't like him." she informed.

"Nobody likes him." Damian stated. "Get over it."

The three continued their walk in silence with Colin in the middle of the two. Livy looked guilty with a painful expression on her face, and Damian looked pissed, and a bruise was forming on the side of his face.

They entered the store, and Livy brightened when she saw the book she wanted and quickly paid for it at Colin's register.

However, by that time Damian had left.

"Sorry about punching him." Livy sighed, and Colin shrugged.

"I didn't know you felt that strongly about Joker."

"Yeah… me and the guy personally don't have much of a good history." Livy informed and she headed towards the door.

"Personally?"

"Bye Colin. Nice seeing ya again." Livy smiled brightly, and was out of the store.

She then returned to scoping at the city as she clung to her book happily, trying to push the memories of the Joker out of her mind.

~*~*~*~*~*~In Wayne Manor~*~*~*~*~*~

"Wow. How'd you get the bruise Little D?" Dick questioned once he noticed Damian sitting at the kitchen table, holding an apple.

"That stupid girl Livy punched me." he grunted, and Dick raised an eyebrow.

"Livy's back in town, huh? So why did she punch you?" he questioned.

"I mentioned something about the Joker. Honestly, I know her father was killed by the man, but it gives her no reason to not like me for simply talking about him." Damian grumbled, and Dick sighed.

"Little D… Livy was attacked by Joker a few years ago." Dick informed, and Damian's eyes widened.

"What?"

"We were out of the city for a mission, and Joker kidnapped Livy. He did some awful things to her that were emotionally and physically scaring. Jason had to take her away from Gotham for a few years just to get her to be more calm." Dick shook his head. "Joker almost broke that girl entirely. Last time I talked to Jason, he said she still had times when she went into post-traumatic stress." Dick explained.

Damian felt like kicking himself, and he ran a hand through his hair.

"How old was she?"

"When it happened?"

"Yes. How old was she when it happened?"

"Eleven, or maybe twelve. I think she was eleven though." Dick mused, trying to think back.

Damian didn't say a word and made his way to his room.

"You okay, Damian?" Dick questioned.

"I'm fine, Grayson." The boy snapped.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~Later~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Damian was jumping rooftops and his eyes settled on another figure. He ran up and realized that it was Livy in her Little Red outfit.

"We meet again." Livy smirked, but then got more serious. "Look, I'm sorry about punching-"

"I apologize for mentioning the Joker. It was my fault." Damian stated quickly. Livy's eyes were wide in surprise.

"Did you just apologize to me?"

"Don't get used to it." he snapped.

Before Livy could make a remark there were loud sirens in the direction of Arkham.

"Wanna check it out together?" Livy questioned with a smile.

Damian didn't answer her as he ran towards the sounds, but Livy took his silence as a 'yes' and followed after.