Closer Than Your Shadow

Cover Me Up

December 12th 12:56 a.m.
Gotham
Bruce Wayne's Manor

Walking up to the doors wasn't as scary as being surrounded by dark brown walls and golden light. This place could've easily been an evil lair if it wasn't the home of a billionaire vigilante.

Dick led me through hallways and past closed doors with delicate carvings. It was beautiful here. The wooden floorboards were covered with lush rugs and the walls decorated with paintings of green landscapes that certainly weren't Gotham. Every so often Dick would look back and make sure I was still following while I stared at the pictures in awe.

Once we got to the staircase Dick took a right and his hand went back to find mine. Our fingers interlocked and he gave me a small squeeze.

"This is insane. You can't be serious." A voice echoed through the warm hall. Dick stopped and I almost ran into his back.

"We don't have anything to hide. She already knows. It's better to keep her in a contained area for now."

I shot him a steely look and I could tell he regretted this already.

Maybe I couldn't keep my promise of not saying something bitchy.

"Me and you, right?" He whispered as we got closer to the half-opened doors. "We'll deal with it together."

I nodded but I knew he was afraid to go in there with me. And it cut me at my core. Even before the Robin shit, I worried about how different we were. How different we still are.

We finally got to the doors and Dick pushed it open. Three pair of eyes turned to us and I tried my best not to hide behind his large frame. The room was a study of some sorts with shelves filled with books and a desk piled with paper and files. The fireplace was blazing and showering everything in a cozy orange light.

Bruce Wayne was sat in a brown leather chair next to the desk.

He was a handsome man, that was never up for debate, but he was fucking intimidating. His eyes should've been bright and blue but they were cold like gray steel. I could physically feel him size me up. He looked between me and Dick and I could've shriveled up and died right there.

Alfred, who seemed a little more pleased to see me, gave us a warm smile.

But the red-haired girl I remembered from the coffee shop and the gala was fuming. Barbara Gordon. Batgirl. His ex-girlfriend? His ex-something?

She was the only one standing and her arms were crossed like we were the last people she wanted to see. Her face wasn't exactly angry, more stand off-ish. Her body language said all it needed too though. I wasn't welcome here.

"Master Grayson," Alfred nodded to Dick. "Ms. Nightengale, welcome to the manor."

"Thank you," I said in the silence of the awkward staring match between Dick and Bruce.

"Did you bring it?" Bruce's voice was menacing. I didn't think he needed a voice changer; the tone and low octave was probably enough to scare anyone shitless. He never sounded like that on the news.

"It's why you called right," Dick answered. I gave his hand a light squeeze because his tone was the same as his anger from the cops earlier. If I could see the guard he was putting up, I knew they could see it too.

The room was getting stuffy, and I wanted more than anything to leave, but I stayed next to him.

"Are you coming with us tonight?" Barbara finally spoke and it was relieving that she broke her silence, but she couldn't even look at me.