One Last Dance | R. Grayson

[13] Past Mistakes

She had called him several times by then but it almost always went directly to voicemail. There were a few rare instances when his phone was powered off but he had never once picked up the call, intentionally or otherwise.

She could have convinced herself that he was busy but she couldn't keep herself in the dark anymore. He had always made time for Barbara even when he was swamped with work, the reason he wasn't doing so anymore wasn't a secret from her.

"Hi, you've reached Richard Grayson. I'm probably busy right now or else I would have answered right away. Please leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Have a great day, bye."

Barbara had been hearing that cheerful pre-recorded voice every time she had called. But she couldn't bring herself to leave a message, besides, what was she supposed to say?

An apology could never suffice for the pain and heartbreak he had gone through due to her.

He hadn't called her back either even though he would have seen the loads of missed calls from her side. It was clear that he still didn't want to talk to her and on his part, it was rather justified.

There was a time when they were closer than the other's heartbeat but one wrong decision had torn them apart, setting fire to everything that existed between them. One impulsive decision and the need to keep it a secret had led to a domino effect of trust breaking between them and then finally, that shattered trust took its toll on their relationship.

Now as months had passed and they had still not talked to each other, Barbara feared that it had severed their friendship as well.

She never wanted things to end on such a terrible note but she never got to explain when she still had some time to set things right.

It was all in shambles now; their love, trust, and years long companionship.

All due to one mistake that she should never have made in the first place.

The call disconnected yet again and she couldn't leave a message, all her words choking up inside her. She put her phone down with a resigned sigh, hands reaching up to massage her throbbing temples. All that silence and distance was driving her to the edge of her wits but there was nothing she could do to make it stop.

She had tried to do all she could to move on but it was to no avail. After being shot by the Joker, she could no longer go out as Batgirl, but she returned to her vigilante life as Oracle, operating behind the screen of the Batcomputer and supervising the Bat vigilantes on their missions.

She had returned to that dangerous side of her life despite her father's reluctance because she needed to keep herself occupied or else her thoughts spiraling with guilt wouldn't let her live.

A knock on her bedroom door startled her and she looked up, realizing it was almost time for her to go to the Batcave and get ready for her duties as Oracle. The knock sounded again so she turned her wheelchair to face the door and said, "Come in."

Shortly after, Jason Todd stepped in with his bright smile and stormy blue eyes. He was Batman's young protégé; another orphan adopted by Bruce and holding the title of Robin that was passed down to him from Richard.

Batman. Another topic she'd rather avoid for the time being.

"Hi, I was coming back from my theater class and thought we should go to the cave together," Jason remarked, his cheerfulness lightening the dull atmosphere that Barbara was in earlier.

"Great, how did your practice go?" She asked, putting a smile on her face as she knew the boy was brimming with excitement to spill his day out to her.

After Richard had left, Jason only had Barbara other than Bruce and Alfred to talk to. He preferred sharing everything with her rather than the older men as according to him, they were too serious for his liking.