A Welcomed Visit [Barbara]

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

The hours seemed to pass like days while laying on the bed in his old room at Wayne Manor. He was strictly on bed rest due to the injuries he had withstood that horrible night that had only been a few days ago. Since then the swelling had gone down on lot over his body. His one eye no longer swollen shut. All that remained was a large black and blue mark over his eye. But there were a few cuts on his face that had been inflicted by the Joker. A bit more bruising on his face as well and electric burns around his neck, wrist, and ankles were still sore.

His right wrist was still wrapped tight since it had been dislocated then relocated again. His left foot was wrapped up to his ankle, it was all bruised and still sore that he would be on crutches for a while.

Dick wore a tshirt to hide the many cuts, stitches, and gashes he had gained from the many knife cuts as well as the whip lashing on his back. This torso was had large bruises where he had been hit with a crowbar and his own escrima sticks. His ribs were as sore as ever with having several broken.

He wore a pair of black sweatpants as well to keep warm since he often tried to get up and walk about the Manor even with being in pain and on crutches. Dick couldn't sit still for long. Even with Alfred's warnings, Dick still tried to get around on his own. The one nice thing about the crutches though, they came in handy to to take a swing at Jason if he had been getting on his nerves. Especially after he had found out about him texting Selina on his cell phone. Jason had returned it before Bruce had the chance to say anything to him, but he knew it was coming.

It had been raining all morning and Dick had taken to sleeping in that morning. Alfred had left him be since it was the most sleep he had been getting since Batman had brought him back to the Manor. Dick had been having many restless hours of sleep because of the flashbacks. He had been up most of the night, and found to sleeping during most of the day to avoid what flashbacks he could. Often getting up to try and clear his mind. But his body was still sore and he would just try to lay there and relax.

He was probably prawn to be talking, or yelling in his sleep with the weak voice he had from his body being so tired. He would often thrash around and flinch in his sleep over the replaying flashbacks. It had taken a toll mentally as well. But when he was awake, he'd do his best to block it out and get on with his usual life even with being on bed rest.

He hadn't gotten much news about the outside world from where he was. Even with his phone, he felt no need to call anyone. He knew he would be out of commission for something though.

And now he lay asleep in his room, it was already evening and it was still raining. As Dick lay asleep facing the ceiling he flinched at the sound of water droplets falling on the window sill, only a reminder of that consistent rhythm of the water dripping when he had been tortured. The Joker had used that to play with his mind more.

Clips of flashbacks came to his mind as he saw the Joker attacking him again. Just fragments of the memory. He had broken out into a light sweat as he threw his head from side to side and grabbed at the covers with his left had.

He heard a knocking sound and in his mind it was the sound of the whip cracking. Dick yelled out in a cry of pain at the memory in his sleep. And then the knocking was a bit more rapid and he woke up breathing heavily and jolting up only to have the sharp pain of his ribs stop him and he eased himself up bit.

"Come in," he said, his voice a bit shaky after the flashback he had only wished had been a nightmare. The door creaked open and Dick tried to relax remember where he was.

[b]

Rain was pounding on the kitchen window of the penthouse. If it had been big before, it was colossal with Dick gone. Barbara was sitting by the phone drinking coffee—again. She’d become a fixture there since Monday when that call from Alfred came. Oh my god, she’d gasped, and hung onto the counter for dear life as he explained what happened to Dick. Torture. By the Joker, no less. My god, Barb thought again, looking out the window. Everything seemed so bleak and foreboding. If this were a movie, the phone would ring and Barbara would hear of his miraculous recovery, and she’d race to the mansion. Just as she wrapped her arms around him and kiss him senseless as the rain slowed down and the sun came out. The phone didn’t ring. The clouds were black and angry. The rain showed no signs of letting up. This wasn’t a movie.

Barbara tapped the kitchen table, eyes now plastered on the phone. “Ring,” she demanded. “Damn you, RING!” It remained frustratingly silent.

It took a lot of arguing for Alfred to convince Babs to stay put when ‘Master Dick’ arrived at Wayne Manor, beaten and broken and god knows what else. She was nearly there three times before turning back and resolving to stay until Dick wanted to see her. That was two days ago. Two days. That’s 48 hours. 2880 minutes. 172800 seconds. And that’s how long Barbara had been making herself sick with worry.

If it was the Joker, Dick’s injuries had to be serious. He could be burned or maimed or paralyzed. Alfred said he was conscious, but what if after everything Dick went through he got amnesia and that was why no one had called yet? What if Dick didn’t remember her? Barbara chewed on her lip, her knuckles turned white around her coffee mug. What if he didn’t even remember Nightwing or Robin…or Bruce? What would happen to Dick? Everything he was, was a result of everything he’d been through, everything he’d done. Could someone like the Joker just take it away like that? No, Barbara shook her head. She couldn’t think like this. She just had to wait.

Barbara looked at the phone again. Nothing. She called it for the thousandth time on her cellphone. No, it still worked. Barb hung up and continued staring. “Ring…” she coaxed softly. “Riiiiiing…” Still nothing. “Please,” Barbara begged in small voice. Still nothing.

“DAMMIT!” Barb pushed herself out of her chair, nearly knocking over her coffee. She paced the kitchen floor. She couldn’t handle this anymore! All this sitting around, waiting. It wasn’t her style. Babs was going to go mad if she didn’t find out what was happening soon. She’d called Bruce, but he wasn’t helpful. Jason was just…well…Jason. Even Alfred couldn’t be relayed upon to get a decent picture of how Dick was doing. Was it any wonder she was slowly losing her mind? “Why am I surrounded by such idiots?!” Barbara asked the kitchen angrily. “What will it take for a girl to get a straight answer?”

And the worst part? She hadn’t even been there to pick him up. Dick was hurt, probably hurt more than he’d ever been before and Barbara hadn’t even been there. You know who had? Bruce, Bruce was there. So was Dinah. Dinah. Dick didn’t even know Dinah that well. Where was she? Oh, you know, just categorizing books. BOOKS. Never had Barbara experienced such contempt for the things than in the last two days. She couldn’t even go to the library because she was afraid of what might happen while she was at work. The first night Barbara had gone out on patrol like usual, but when she started seeing the Joker around every corner, and hearing his laugh echo down every alley the way it did in her nightmares as a kid, Barb knew she wasn’t fit to be on duty. She knew she’d lose it. If it wasn’t killing a thug, it would be hunting down the Joker by herself—like Dick had done. Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god…

“That’s it!” Barbara yelled, dumping her coffee in the kitchen sink. She grabbed her cellphone and marched down the hall. She cursed her shoes that seemed to have shrunk overnight; she damned the bastard who made raincoats so hard to put on; and hoped the asshole who made her defective key rotted in hell. It was a matter of seconds before Barbara was out in the pouring rain, but not nearly soon enough pounding on Bruce’s front door.

It opened slowly and Barbara bolted inside, creating a small river of water behind her. “He’s in his old room, right?” she checked, marching up the stairs. He was. Barbara kept marching. She didn’t stop until she was outside Dick’s door. Barbara raised her fist, but stopped midair.

Dammit, what was she doing? Her arm dropped to her side and Babs turned around to lean against the wall outside Dick’s room. She really had lost it. What did she think she would accomplish by throwing a fit and barging in like a madwoman? She didn’t think. That was the problem. Barbara pushed the soaking hair stuck on her neck behind the collar of her jacket and sighed. Her hand smeared the water on her face. Babs looked down at her dripping sweats and rolled her eyes. Oh yeah, she thought frustrated with herself. You’re a sight for sore eyes. Barbara shook her head and pushed herself up off the wall. She stepped in front of the door again and rapped on the door.

Dick’s screaming nearly knocked her over, but the closed door gave her enough time to realize he was having a bad dream. Barbara put her hand on the doorknob and knocked again. Dick’s tired voice greeted her from the other side of the door. Babs felt her heart pounding in her chest. Just breathe, she thought, mentally preparing herself for whatever she would find. Be strong, be happy. Barbara opened the door slowly with a shy smile. “Hey, Boy Wonder,” she said softly. “How you holdin’ up?”

Shit, he really was in bad shape. Barbara took in the cuts, bruises, and bandages. There wasn’t much swelling that she could see, but then again, two days was a long time. Babs noticed the burns on his wrist and neck and felt her chest tighten. What did you have to go through? Barbara thought to herself, meeting his eyes. They were still big and blue, but some of the humor was gone. She walked over to his bedside and, careful not to get his bandages wet, bent over to give him one, deep kiss. Barbara pulled away and laid a cold hand on his cheek. She smiled and straightened up, taking note of the crutches leaning by Dick’s bed.

Babs grinned. “I thought you were supposed to be bedridden,” she teased. She could just see Alfred’s disapproving gaze. The old man would be forgiven for not calling if he brought up food, Babs decided as her stomach grumbled. She suddenly felt extremely hungry and realized that she hadn’t eaten a proper meal since Monday night. “No,” Barbara corrected herself. “Let me guess. They’re dangerous weapons, right?” Her eyes twinkled. “For Jason or Bruce?”

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Dick leaned back on the many pillows that lay behind him to prop himself up a bit more so he as no longer just laying on the bed. There was a slight spark of recognition as soon as he saw the fiery red head step into the room. His blue eyes met with her own green ones.

Relief over it being Barbara, washed over him. He hadn't seen her since during the day before he had run off to go patrol and when things went wrong. At her words, Dick replied, "I'm held together with ace wrap, but I'm here." His voice was still weak. He was more referring to his mind. Though it has been scarred by the memory and the event. Though he had yet said a word to anyone about what had went down. And there hadn't been a trace of Batman getting that DVD the Joker had been talking about.

As she got closer, Dick's eyes followed her, taking in her appearance, just glad that she was there. He wasn't sure what had been going on with everyone else. But he could tell she looked stressed out. Dick knew Babs well enough to notice these things.

When she leaned in to kiss him, Dick didn't want the kiss to end. He wanted Barbara near him. He was slightly disappointed when she pulled away after the kiss even with her cold hand against her cheek. He wanted to place his hand on her's but he felt a bit too sore to want to move his right hand.

His eyes followed her as his chest rose and fell slowly as he lay there. At her next comment, his eyes looked over to the crutches. He didn't get to reply before Barbara guessed what they were for. He could see her eyes light up over this new found bit of conversation.

A weak smile came to his face at her comment and then the question of who they were for and not what. "Jason," he replied. Dick was one to carry on a threat against someone if they didn't take him seriously. And he would do just that to his 'adoptive' brother. If it was the only way to get his point across against him as well. "He had my phone. Did you know he had my phone?" Dick looked at her again. His cell was now sitting on the night stand near his bed, it have hardly been touched since Jason had returned. Dick had looked over it once to make sure Jason hadn't messed with it.

Though he did discover the text conversation that had gone on with someone. He wasn't all that concerned at the time, but more annoyed that Jason would do that. Leave it to Jason to try something like that with someone's phone. He didn't trust the kid.

"Please stay," Dick said as he looked up at her. He didn't want her to leave him right now. He just wanted to be with her. Having Barbara around was better than having the lectures of argument with Bruce and better than dealing with Jason. He looked down at the bed, he wanted her to sit down if she wanted.

"You can call for Alfred if you would like? I'm sure he's probably getting dinner ready," Dick replied. He had notice her stomach grumbling. Dick hadn't been all that hungry lately. His body wanted rest more than anything, but his mind wanted to stay alert and away from the world of flashback that occurred when he slept.

[b]

Dick’s response wasn’t exactly comforting. Babs nodded and smiled gently at him. What had he gone through? She desperately wanted to know, but didn’t dare ask. From the sound of his nightmares just moments before she came in were any indication of his mental state, he wasn’t ready to talk about it just yet—and secretly Barbara wondered if she was ready to hear. “Good!” she replied encouragingly. “That’s what I like to hear. Positive attitude.” Babs grinned at Dick. At least he was making jokes. That was a good sign, right?

“Do you need anything?” Barbara asked quickly, turning her back to Dick before the tightening in her throat got the better of her? She walked into Dick’s bathroom, surprised to find it exactly as it was all those years ago. She carefully removed her raincoat and draped it over the shower so that she wouldn’t create any more pools on Alfred’s clean floors. Babs bent over the sink and looked in the mirror. “Hello, Mrs. Franks,” Barbara muttered, taking a good look at her pale face and dark circles. “Welcome back from the dead.” Babs pulled her hair back between her hands and twisted some of the excess water into the sink. She glanced up and grabbed a towel off the rack before walking back out.

She snickered and pulled a chair over to Dick’s bedside. “Poor Jason.” Batgirl hadn’t been working with the new Robin much, in fact she’d been going solo most nights lately—if Barbara Gordon wasn’t stuck on night duty at the library. With the FBI crackdown it was getting harder to get any real work done.

“So is that why I couldn’t get through to you?” Barbara asked looking up with a raised eyebrow. Dick had been the first person she’d texted when Alfred told her the news, and she texted again and again and again until she had convinced herself that everyone lied to her and Dick really was in a coma. Then she’d gotten a few hours’ sleep and realized he was probably just resting. “You’ve probably got a full inbox by now,” she commented, nodding at the phone. It was just like Dick to get mad about someone actually using his phone and then turn it off and not think of it again.

Barbara finished situating the chair and looked up in surprise at Dick’s request. Not that he asked, but the way he asked. A hot wave washed over as she stood for a minute, just looking back at him. She wanted nothing more than to grab him, kiss him, and feel his arms wrapped safely around her, but that probably wasn’t part of the doctor’s orders and Babs wanted Dick out of that bed ASAP—not something she ever thought she’d have to say. “Ha!” she laughed. “Did you think you’d get rid of me that easy?”

Babs shook her head and stuck her hands on her hips. “You don’t know it yet, Mr. Grayson, but you’ve just hired your own personal nurse.” She leaned forward, lips parting in stupid smile. “You and I are going to get very well-acquainted.” Barbara smirked and plopped herself down in the chair. “Unfortunately my uniform didn’t make the trip.” She laughed and started rubbing her hair with the towel. “You’re gonna be just fine, Mr. Grayson.”

The look on her face must’ve told Dick she was still extremely worried about him, but could he blame her? In all fairness, he looked like hell, sounded like the Devil force-fed him brimstone, and acted like he broke every bone in his body on the way home. If she wasn’t worried there’d be something wrong with her. Still, Babs wanted to keep both their minds off the unpleasant things and focus on the benefits of having nothing to do for a few weeks (she would say a month, but Barbara knew Dick better than that). “I should warn you, though,” she added solemnly, letting the towel fall to her lap and her damp hair stick to her back and the sides of her face and neck. “I have a bad case of the flu. I could be out for quite a while…”

Barbara grinned and kissed him again, just a light peck on the lips this time, but one look into those deep, baby blues and she was leaning over him, her mouth on his. Her hand wrapped around the back of his neck, forgetting or not caring that she was still soaked to the bone. All of her worry and frustration and longing came flooding back in one large tumult of emotions and suddenly, Babs was a teenager again, completely in love with the boy who drove her crazy, and desperately afraid she was going to lose him.

When the kiss finally ended, Babs was leaning on Dick’s bed, holding his hand and stroking it with her thumb. “Mmmm…” she nodded in response. “I can wait a little bit,” Barbara decided with a contented smile. “Unless you’re hungry…”

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

"No, I'm alright," he replied to her. His eyes followed her as she walked around for a moment. When she got back, he looked over at the cell phone she had been saying about it probably having a ton of messages. He had shut it off after Jason gave it back. He hadn't wanted to deal with it at the time when he had handed it back.

"I'll check it over later," he said, noting it was on the bad side that he would have to use his right wrist to get it. Oh, well, it wasn't going any where any time soon. If there would be messages, he'd get back to them when he was feeling more up to it. Right now he felt too tired to worry about it.

Dick gave a slight smile at her response of getting rid of her that easily. He knew it would take a lot to get her to leave given the situation of the events that had taken place. He was glad she was going to stay for a while. At her next comment, he raised an eyebrow at her comments. "Very well-acquainted? Well, then I look forward to the company," Dick replied to her.

He could see how stressed she was. It was written all over her body. And her eyes always had a lot to say. It wasn't all that easy for her to hid her concern over a subject to him. Dick knew her too well for her to be able to pull something passed him. Well...most of the time.

When she leaned in to kiss him, Dick was only excepting a peck on the lips. But then, Barbara totally surprised him with her sudden serge. He could feel her wrapping her arms around the back of his neck. Though his mind was lost in the moment. His hands in return, he had one along the side of her head and other placed along the side of her chest. Dick pulled her in slightly more towards him as it continued.

And when it ended, he let his hands drop a to the bed and the one now in Barbara's one hand. He tightened his grip a bit to squeeze her hand in return to her action with his right hand. "Well in that case, I wouldn't mind catching it myself," he said with a slight smile on his face.

"I'm not all that hungry," Dick replied to her comment. "But you go ahead and get anything you want at any time, alright?" He just wasn't hungry. He'd get something when he was. Well, at least ask Alfred to get something for him.

Dick glanced outside the window for a second and saw it was still raining. "Was there anything about the weather clearing up any time soon tonight," Dick asked. It was more of a random question off anything to do with his injuries at the time.

[b]

There was no doubt Dick had been through a lot. Everything that had happened was obviously still playing in the back of his mind; even though he was trying to hide it, Barbara could see it on his face. So she smiled just a little bit brighter, laughed with a smidge more mirth, and talked with more animation and enthusiasm—whatever it took to capture Dick’s full attention. She felt like the love that missed her chance, except this time her competition wasn’t something she could imagine feeding to crocodiles. “That’s the spirit!” she laughed. Babs leaned forward and cupped her mouth as if she were sharing a well-kept trade secret, “The key is optimism. Laughter is the best cure for those with your condition,” she explained, anticipating he question what exactly his condition was.

Babs laughed gratefully for Dick playing along. She always took it as a credit to her jokes whenever anyone piggybacked them. Barbara kissed his cheek and smiled. “I’ll bet you wouldn’t,” she teased, raising her other hand to lightly ruffle his dark hair. “But you’re already on sick leave,” her eyes widened in innocent worry. “If you come down with something else, they’ll know we’re faking it!” The idea of being carefree enough to call in sick from work and school for a week or two to play hooky with her boyfriend sounded so far-fetched, Barbara could hardly believe there had been a time when that was not only possible, but plausible. She smiled at Dick affectionately and silently wondered what life would be like if they weren’t Nightwing and Batgirl, if they were just Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon. Although, she thought bittersweetly, returning the squeeze. If it weren’t for them, I probably wouldn’t have you.

Babs lowered her chin and laughed. She looked up at Dick through her lashes and asked, “Two years ago, if someone told you we’d end up like this,” she raised their hands briefly to indicate what she meant, “what would you have said?” Barbara had always been mildly curious just how much of Dick’s flirting had been due to his over-active teenage hormones and not due to the fact that he actually liked her as Babs knew he liked her to believe (and probably thought she believed).”I know I would’ve laughed in his face,” she teased, scrunching her nose. Barbara leaned in for another kiss. She looked down at all his injuries and wondered if they were more serious than he was letting on. She smiled at Dick again and squeezed his hand. Barbara placed her other hand on his stomach and smoothed out some of the wrinkles in his shirt. She wanted to ask about what had happened, wanted him to explain she could do to help him, but Babs held her tongue. If someone had told me back then that I’d love you this much, she thought, looking at their hands. Part of me wouldn’t have believed it, but part of me would have been terrified. Every instinct in my body would’ve told me to keep away from you. She met his eyes again and grinned. And you’re still nothing but trouble, Dick Grayson.

She should’ve insisted on Dick eating something, but she had something other than food on her mind. “Will do, Sir,” she replied with a mock salute. “But you see, Sir, I haven’t seen my boyfriend in ages,” she continued coyly. “And nothing could take me away now that I’ve finally got ‘im back!” Babs laughed and leaned in to nuzzle his nose and plant another kiss on his lips. She pulled back mid-kiss to ponder seriously, “Well, except for maybe Alfred’s lasagna.” Barbara looked back at Dick, still millimeters away from his face. [gold=color]“You don’t think he’s making lasagna, do you?”[/color] she asked, only half-joking.

Barbara could only laugh at Dick’s question, as she settled back into her chair. “Way to kill the mood, Grayson,” she teased, glancing out the window. “Weather—really? I thought you were supposed to be a smooth operator, or was all that just rumor too?” The rain was still pounding heavily against the pane and didn’t look like it was going to stop soon. There didn’t seem to be any thunder or lightning at the moment, though, so maybe there was hope yet. Just to humor him, Barbara took out her cellphone to check the whether when she had an idea.

“Hey, Dick,” she said, pressing the camera button on her phone. “Act miserable.” Babs grinned and held the phone up, waiting for him to comply. “I think I know how to get our dinners up here without lifting a finger.” Barbara took the photo read allow the message she was typing. “Jason, Dick needs food. Bring up two plates and we promise not to kill you.” She looked up and grinned. “Well?” she asked. “I think it’s almost sufficient punishment for stealing your phone and keeping me in the dark. Your thoughts?” she asked, thumb hovering over the Send button. There really was nothing like a game of Torture Robin to lift one’s spirits—as true today as it was two years ago. Barbara smirked. Some things never change.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

”And what condition might that be,” Dick asked. ”I barely qualify to be in a body cast. It might hurt to laugh too hard though” His next remark was more or less half joking. He had a bit more fight in him than that. As only as he wouldn’t go back to the memories of the event of what happened. He had been fine for the last few days. And with the rehab Bruce had been putting him through to keep his muscles and help him recover, other than that he had had time to rest up. Sure, his body hurt all over, but he could forget about that while Barbara was there.

Dick was enjoying having Barbara by his side. She helped him to forget about his worries, if even temporary, it still helped. ”Huh, so this is what being on sick leave feels like? Rehab, conditioning, lectures,” Dick commented sarcastically, though jokingly. ”I think I prefer the type of sick days you are talking about.”

He gave a smile when he felt her squeeze his hand in return. As she went on, he quietly listened. When she had answered her own question with her thoughts, he pretended to give the question real thought about it. ”Hmm...Good thing you didn’t go any earlier than that. But I’d have to think I would have thought it wouldn’t have happened, it almost felt like you were out of my league,” Dick replied. He was joking about the first part. When the two of them had first started working together they had been a tension between the two over working together. But as time had gone on, that had dissolve between them. Well at least for Dick it had, he had been shot down by Barbara many times for his flirting with her.

Dick winced slightly as she ran her hand over one of the spots on his stomach. She had just hit on of the tender spots where there were some stitches there. There were still a few spots that were tender like that. He tried not to show it at all, but there were a few things that were still bothering him. It had only been two days yet. Though he had to admit it was better than the morning after the event.

At her next comment, Dick gave a fact look of being insulted by her words. ”So, I’d come second to Alfred’s lasagna?” A slight playful smile coming to his face as he tired to keep up the act. ”Though he does made the best tasting lasagna,” Dick replied in understanding as he joked.
At the last part of her comment, he smiled a bit at that. ”With you stopping by, I’m sure that what he has probably working on since you came,” Dick replied. Alfred always seemed to have away of knowing what someone wanted before they wanted it themselves. Of even when someone was going to be at the door before the door bell rang.

He pretended to be annoyed with her next comment. ”Hey, I am,” Dick responded. ”Just right now the rain is making me feel a bit stir crazy with just it being rain all day.” He tried to block out the words of the memory that he didn’t want to think of. The continuous dripping of the water.

Dick looked at Barbara as she said something and got her phone out. ”I think I probably look miserable enough in this bed,” he said, but still crossed his arm and tried to look the part more so. At her reading out the message she wanted to send, Dick looked at her and raised an eyebrow slightly at her words. ”Very charming, Barbara. Great way to convince the kid that likes to steal cars for fun,” he replied jokingly.

”Yeah it will work though,” Dick replied. ”Just don’t expect him to be all that nice about it. He’s been a bit irritated lately with what all is going on around here.” Dick just wanted to warn her,, just in case Jason was more of a pain than usual.

”You know I can’t wait to be out of this bed,” Dick replied changing the subject again a bit. ”You alright at the penthouse by yourself?”

[b]

There it was. Barbara grinned, pleasure oozing out of her. That’s why I keep you around, bucko, she thought, looking admiringly at her hunk of a boyfriend. If you couldn’t finish my jokes, you’d’ve been kicked to the curb a long time ago. “Mhmm…” Barbara nodded, grabbing his hand in both of hers. She leaned towards his ear with a suddenly solemn expression, like she was breaking the news to a terminal patient. “You’ve got a terrible case,” she announced, “—of Girlfriend Withdrawal.”

Barbara laughed into Dick’s shoulder. “But don’t worry,” she said with a wink, looking up at his profile wickedly. “This isn’t the first time I’ve seen it (though I must say, yours is very advanced). I know just what to do.”

Before he could say another word, she was smiling into his lips as she tasted sweetness his mouth. Barbara curled up next to him and wrapped one arm around his neck while the other rested firmly on his chest. She ran her fingers through Dick’s hair and arched her neck. Her tongue pressed against his teeth. Barb’s hand moved up his chest and found a home behind Dick’s neck. Her fingers massaged the skin just below it on his upper back as the kiss became deeper and more enthusiastic. Barbara’s body pressed against Dick’s as electricity shot through her, all the way to her toes.

Even after all the time she’d been with Dick, all the kisses they’d shared no different than this one, it never ceased to amaze her how the touch of his lips, the feel of his skin brushing hers, the—you get the picture—it drove her crazy to know that the dopey kid from two years ago could make her feel so seductive. It was impossible to think about, but it was true. With Dick, Babs felt beautiful and sexy and cute, and maybe that was why she wasn’t thinking about the state of his body when she pulled him closer. Something about his movements sent a signal to her brain.

Barbara gasped as she came up for air. “Oh, Dick!” she exclaimed, realizing how careless she’d been and feeling bad that she didn’t feel as bad as she probably should. “Are you alright?” Babs asked hesitantly, looking up and down Dick’s damaged torso, and back at his face, searching it for any signs of pain. “Does it hurt?” she asked quietly, hands still on his shoulders. Barbara sat back on her knees and brought her hands into a fidgeting knot in her lap. “Sorry,” she whispered guiltily, looking down so that her still-damp, red hair covered most of the violent shade of pink spreading across her face. Babs peaked out at Dick from behind her curtain of hair and grinned mischievously at him.

“Well,” she interjected, clearing her throat for effect as well as to make sure her voice didn’t shake. Barbara leaned forward with hand raised as if to check Dick’s temperature, but instead of pressing the back of her hand to his forehead, Babs lightly kissed the top of his head and grinned into his hair before pulling away. “I believe the treatment worked, Mr. Grayson. Your fever seems to have gone down.” But now I’ve caught it, Barbara thought with happy exasperation as head rushed up her neck.

Despite her near mortification induced death after attacking an injured man, Babs had enough thick skin to continue teasing Dick shamelessly. She stuck her tongue out at his comment and flipped her hair playfully. “First of all, Man Wonder,” she said, wagging a not-so-pruney finger at Dick. “Sarcasm is my territory and I can’t have you stealing my thunder just because you scraped your knees a little bit.” It might have been a bit tasteless, but Dick would know by now that downsizing her fears vocally was the only way for Barbara to cope with how worried she really was and how colossal everything seemed.

“Secondly, are you referring to the ‘sick days’ in which we call each other out and spend our time making sweet love until killjoy Bruce sends out a search party?” she asked innocently, “because that’s what I was talking about. Not the ‘cough, cough,” she faked a cough into her arm “sneeze kind.” Barbara looked at Dick, wide-eyed and innocent, holding back a slew of laughter building up in the back of her throat, in hopes of getting a reaction out of him.

Barb grinned and poked Dick in the ribs. “A year earlier, you weren’t even on my radar, kid,” she threw back at him and added a dazzling smile just for affect—as dazzling as it could be with her dark circles and crummy hair. “Let’s see, how old would that have made you, Dick? Fifteen?” she teased, running her fingertips along his ribcage. In truth, Barbara had been madly in love with Batman at the time, or at least the image of Batman she’d cooked up at the time, along with the cute track star in her Calculus class. By the time he was even a blip, they’d already been working together for a while and though Dick stared in a few of her fantasies, most of them consisted of him dying or losing his memory while she and Bruce walked off into the sunset. Babs looked at Dick with a silly smile, hardly believing that she could have ever turned him down. Even looking like hell, Dick could still pass for someone in an underwear ad. He was, without a doubt, the best thing that ever happened to her; and she wouldn’t change a single thing about their relationship. Even though theirs was a long time coming, it was a love worth waiting for. Barbara squeezed Dick’s hand again, hoping he felt the same.

“And just so we’re clear,” she added with a grin. “I’m still out of your league.” Barbara winked, reminding him just how lucky he was. In the back of her mind, however, Barb knew that the tables had turned since Dick started college. Not only was he good looking, charming, and perfect, Richard Grayson was also loaded. Babs was a librarian. Albeit a very sexy librarian with a winning personality, but a librarian nonetheless. She entwined her fingers between his and propped her other elbow on the edge of his bed. Barbara’s smile faded slightly at the flinch that briefly distorted his features. “Are you sure you don’t want anything?” she asked concernedly. Barb didn’t want to press Dick, but if he needed painkillers or sleep or anything, she wanted to know. Babs thought about the kiss and looked at Dick’s bandages guiltily.

“If I’m doing more harm than good, Dick,” she ventured, not looking him in the eye. “Tell me. I-I can go.” Her voice faltered at the end, betraying her. She didn’t want to go, especially now that she could finally see Dick after being so worried, hear him, touch him, smell him; but if she was hurting him…well, even Babs couldn’t refute that argument.

Barbara brightened up at Dick’s returned joke. “It’s not just good,” she spat. “Pizza is good, my Rice-A-Roni is good.” Barb shook her head at Dick in disappointment. “Alfred’s lasagna is art.” She closed her eyes and pressed the tops of her fingers together in homage of the butler’s exquisite dish. Babs peaked out of one eye. “Ya think?” she asked, excitedly. She knew Alfred was practically psychic, but she figured that Dick would be getting spoiled with his favorites for the time being. She opened both her eyes and slid her elbows forward on Dick’s bed until his leg stopped them. Barbara smiled dreamily and propped her chin on her fists. “That would be really nice…” She closed her eyes and pretended to smell the lasagna.

The banter was encouraging, Barbara thought. Though Dick was obviously still troubled about what he went through, he was obviously fighting hard not to dwell on whatever happened between him and the Joker. Barb chuckled lightly. She didn’t want to handle him with kid gloves. Barbara knew Dick would see right through that and probably feel even worse, she didn’t even know if she would be able to manage it if she tried seeing as she couldn’t keep her hands to herself for five minutes, but there was something dark lurking behind Dick’s eyes. Babs smiled softly at him and brushed back her matted hair. “I know,” she replied simply and took his hand again, rubbing her thumb up and down his palm. Barbara didn’t know as much as she’d like to know, but she knew Dick wouldn’t be himself, not after he went through, not so soon. ‘Stir crazy’ didn’t quite cover it.

“Oh, pish-posh,” Babs replied, waving her hand at Dick’s warning and rolling her eyes. “He can throw a hissy fit for all I care,” she said, adding Jason’s number into the Contacts box. “As long as he brings me food, he’s welcome to swear and cry and throw flower pots.” She hit Send and waited anxiously for a reply or sign that nourishment was on its way. Barb chose not to comment on the fact that everyone was having a difficult time, and being the new Boy Wonder didn’t give him special permission to brood in his own misery. That right was singularly reserved for Batman—though mainly just because Barbara knew she had no control over Bruce’s temper.

She looked up at Dick’s change of pace and thought a moment before answering. “Well…” she admitted, setting her phone down next to Dick’s. “It loses its charm fast.” Barb shook her head. “I don’t know how you lived there by yourself.” With Dick there, the penthouse was a home—as cheesy as that sounded—without him, it was just a nice place with a lot of empty rooms. Babs shrugged shyly, pushing back her hair again. “Guess I just missed you too much,” she teased, shooting him a silly look, though she meant every word. Barbara wouldn’t admit it, but she definitely wasn’t looking forward to going back. “I finally figured out how to work your stupid dish washer, though,” she added, changing the subject. Barbara Gordon was no ditz and she could operate every piece of technology that came into her hands, given enough time, but that one crappy dish washer had eluded her from the first time she encountered it. It wasn’t a home device; it was a demon from hell. “Apparently,” she explained, unamused, “it doubles as a space-equipment for NASA.” It had to, with all the buttons she had to press and all the nobs she had to turn just to clean a few dishes.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Dick wished he could just smile about the whole situation over Barbara’s behavior. She seemed to be the one suffering from withdraw, he wanted to laugh. She had been all over him since they had started talking. Not like he didn’t mind. He was loving this attention from her. But his body was preventing him from the emotion a bit. The pain was still there. And in his mind.

Before he had the chance to reply with another remark to her, he was force to focus on her again. Dick just wanted to pull her in and hold her, but the pain in his chest reminded him of what had happened. There was just this spark about her.

His wincing in pain was enough to warn Barbara of the pain he was in. He felt sad when it had to end, but his ribs where bugging him. It pained him to have to withdraw like this. He needed to do what was best for his health though. And Barbara knew that. But it wasn’t going to completely stop Dick from everything. Hence the reason the crutches were out.

”Yeah, I’m fine,” Dick replied, trying to readjust to a comfortable position again. ”It only hurts a little.” Dick lied about the pain. He’d stick through it. He wasn’t going to let the pain get to him like it had during the event. He was pass that. Dick didn’t want pity.

He looked up at Barbara as she pulled away from him and sat back. Her green eyes peering through her fiery red hair as she looked down at him. He saw that wicked little smile coming on to her face. Something was going on in her thoughts in an amusing way. Dick looked back up at her. ”What,” he asked and then Barbara had leaned in and kissed his forehead.

At her response, he gave a slight smile to her. ”That’s good to hear, I guess,” he responded. He knew his accident probably had Barbara all worked up over this. It was quite serious, but Dick would do his best to down play it. He didn’t want her to worry. He’d pull through this. He was still alive.

Dick sat back and listened to Barbara ‘lecture’ him on sarcasm being her thing and other answers to his questions. He couldn’t help but to smile slightly back at her reaction. Despite all that had happened, Barbara was always able to reach down into him and pull that liveliness out of him.

At her questioning him over the ‘sick day’ thing, a slight spark came to his eyes as a bit of a smirk came to his face. ”Like you had to ask,” Dick retorted. He was only playing but it would get his point across. ”Though I do enjoy the chance to just lay around and miss classes.” He leaned back and closed his eyes as to relax on a day off.

He then opened one eye and looked over at Barbara. Then opening both he looked at her and gave a smirk again. ”Then again, I do prefer your company on those sick days.” he replied quickly after his first statement as if to fear a reaction from Barbara for saying he enjoyed the average sick day of laying back. He was only playing around with her. Returning her teasing to show that he was still there and he didn’t want her to worry so much about him.

At her teasing he smiled at her responses. His muscle tensed up when she poked him in the ribs. Luckily she missed the broken ones on that. And looking at her, even when she wasn’t all dressed up and was lacking sleep, she was still perfect in his eyes. That’s what he loved about her, and he liked that he could make her a bit nervous at times when she sometimes worried how she looked. He didn’t care how she looked at the time, it was that she was with him that mattered to him. ”Yeah I was fifteen. Did you have a problem with that at them time,” he asked as if his feelings were hurt that she was starting on that after what she said. Dick held tight to her hand in return to the squeeze. Gentle, but tight to not let her hand go at that moment.

”No, I’m fine,” Dick replied after he first question. He watched her as her eyes had that guilty look to them. As if she had done something wrong that he was in pain right now. Truthfully he had been in pain the whole time, but he was strong enough to fight it off to a point. Though within, he was sure Barbara knew that about him. He was just one to keep things secret at time, such as feelings and his personal problem. It just wasn’t in his nature to be that open. It was just one of those things that tied him back to Bruce. Like his mentor, he didn’t open up all that much. But with Dick. you could push him to a point. And if he felt like the problem needed to be addressed he’d say something.

”No, I want you to stay. You’re not doing anything harm,” he tried to reassure her that having her around was having making him feel better at least to move pass the events of a few nights ago. ”Besides after teasing me like that, you’re not going to be leaving that easily,” he said playfully a bit of a wicked smile coming to his face. He knew she would know what he meant by, it was more than just the sarcasm.

Dick would have laughed at her reaction, but lacked the energy after that kiss. That and it would hurt his ribs too much if he started in on a good laugh. ”I’ll bet you he’s has already been predicted that your were coming a while ago. That man seemed to be able to answer the front door before the person even knocks,” Dick commented.

Dick listened to her go on about letting Jason go on with a tantrum if he wanted. ”Ha, you don’t know what your in for from that kid. I’d swear he’s still more like to want to steal a car just for the fun of it,” Dick replied.

At her next comment after seeing that she had sent the message, Dick looked at her. ”Well after living in the Manor here, I think you can get an idea of how I got so used to such living conditions,” he said. He looked at her. To be honest he missed being with her of course. Being back at the Manor wasn’t like being on his own with her at his place. ”Glad to here that,” he said. ”Though, I’m a bit surprised you of all people had trouble with it. After all the computer work you can pull off.” Dick was just getting on her case to tease her back after her teasing him over so many things.