NO CELESTIAL / dick grayson

ten, the lovers

"ARE YOU DONE?"

"I'm just here to make sure you're safe," came his dry response.

"I'm more than capable of taking care of myself."

"It's either me or Tim tailing you—which one do you prefer?"

Remiel let out a hiss. "I'm just going to the bloody museum."

"A place where many robberies happen, and a few assassinations too if I remember correctly. You're not getting rid of me. Consider it a date."

She almost stumbled on her feet. "Dick, no."

"Dick, yes. You won't be able to get rid of me, Remy. You know you can't. Just suck it up. I won't bother you. You can just ignore me like I'm not here at all."

"Then stop talking."

She was hoping to look for any signs of the Pit. There was a cave system under this museum, one that had been often used by thieves in order to get into the museum. It made it rather unlikely that the Pit had formed here, since surely someone would have figured it out by now?

But it was also the easiest place for her to check. Which was why she'd come out this morning, except she'd found herself with a tail halfway through the journey, one who refused to leave her side.

"Which museum exhibit are we checking out today? Anglo-Saxons? Gotham history? Ooh, Tang Dynasty China."

"Tang Dynasty China," she said adamantly. With Dick here, searching for the Pit would be near impossible. The only option was to genuinely make it seem like she was here to see the exhibits.

Might as well choose the one most interesting to her.

"Knew it," he sighed. "Remember the last time you came here? There was a Qing Dynasty exhibit. Just your luck, huh? Every time you come to Gotham, there's a Chinese history exhibit here."

"Just my luck."

She got herself a ticket. And then turned to him. "I'm not paying for you."

"Don't need you to. I got a whole-year membership card."

Of course he did. She decided not to dignify him with a response, heading straight inside after getting her ticket scanned. No doubt he followed, though she didn't turn to check on him. But she could hear his steady footsteps pacing behind her. It was oddly comforting, even though it shouldn't be.

He was dashing all her plans. But she couldn't even be mad.

It was kind of nice, walking through exhibits with him just a few steps behind. She let herself be a little less alert, to let herself genuinely enjoy the exhibits. She couldn't get any work done now. And in a way she was even a little relieved, even though she suppressed that feeling as soon as it appeared.

She had a mission to accomplish and he was in the way.

She should be angry.

She couldn't be angry.

She banished all those thoughts from her head.

The women of the Tang Dynasty were arguably the most fascinating in Chinese history. From Empress Zhangsun to Wu Zetian to Shangguan Wan'er to Princess Taiping, it was a dynasty when women could flourish and not just under the shadow of men. It was one of her favourite dynasties. And one of Seraphina's favourites too, which was why she'd been told to read so much about it from an early age.

In a way, she wondered if that was Seraphina's silent protest to Ra's refusal to name his daughters as heir. Seraphina was too soft. That was understandable. But what of Talia? Talia was just like Ra's. Just as manipulative, ambitious, with the same vindictive streak. But before Damian it was Deathstroke. And when Damian was born, Talia was skipped over again. The title of heir went straight to Damian.