It Hurts Sometimes

11. You're Grounded

"And remember: This is a covert mission." Batman growled. "Do not engage unless it is completely necessary."

Batgirl and Robin sit opposite each other on the bio-ship, giving each other intense bat-glares. Earlier the Tema had heard a lot of shouting in Batgirl's room, but no one could tell what it was about, since it was all in Romanian.
"Okay, Artemis, you take control of Beta." Robin ordered.
"Are you sure? Batgirl should prob-" the blonde began.
"I'm sure." Robin growled, which just earned another bat-glare from Batgirl.

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"How much longer?" Wally whispered.
"It's only been a few minutes, KF. Just have some patience." Robin huffed.
"A few minutes to me is like a day to you. Do you have any idea how slow you guys sound to me?"
"Yes." He replied.

"What's going on with you and Robin?" Zatanna asked as she and Batgirl crept around the perimeter of the Biyalian base.
"Nothing. At. All." She growled.
"No, not like that! What're you fighting about?" Zatanna said quickly.
"Stuff." Batgirl said bluntly, hacking the door security.
"B..."
"Z..." Batgirl mocked her friends tone. "Sorry. I just don't feel like talking, okay? It's civilian stuff. Secret identity."
"Secret identity indeed!" A high pitched cackle came from the shadows.
"Klarion!" The girls screamed, and instantly started reciting spells and throwing batarangs.
"Please." He flicked his claw, and held the two girls against the wall. "Coke along."

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The two girls were tied back to back, on a machine with two spikes on the end.
"See, it's simple. You can either remove your mask now, Batgirl, or I'll leave it to someone else to decide who walks away." Klarion explained, stroking his cat Teek'l.
"Never." Batgirl spat.
"Now that's just rude." The witch-boy moved his hand, levitating Robin next to the machine, tying his hands to both chairs. "Okay, now we'll see who Robin really wants to save. It's simple. He pushes you, you die. He holds, you live, and both walk out of here freely."
"Robin, push me, the world needs magic more." Batgirl said, holding back her tears. If she cried, Robin wouldn't be able to kill her.
"No, he needs you!" Zatanna protested.
"No, they need you!"
"No, you!"
"No, you!"
"No-"
"Just shut up, okay?!" Robin yelled, making both girls quiet in shock. "Batgirl..." They gave each other their look. He shifted his hand so it touched her shoulder.
"Do it." She hissed.
"I'm sorry." He sobbed, and threw her chair towards the spike. But they were Bats. They didn't die.

When Robin touched her shoulder, he had actually just the roped just enough for Batgirl to get her hand out and throw an ice pellet in her tracks, giving her enough time to escape.
"What?!" Klarion screamed. "That's against the rules!"
"Sorry, pilgrim. I choose option C." Robin taunted.
"A little less talking, a little more flying?" Batgirl interrupted. Both of them shot their grapple hooks, and Zatanna conjured her platform.

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All the way back on the bio-ship, Batgirl and Robin were crying into each other's shoulders, whispering Romanian to each other.
"Imi pare rau." (I'm sorry) Robin cried. "You know I would never actually do that, right?"
"Obviously-" Batgirl broke down even more and the tears were coming so fast that both their uniforms had dark stains on them. "Boy Wonder."

"What's up with them?" Wally asked.
"Something Klarion did." Zatanna explained.
"Oh."

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"Hey." Barbara walked into the Gym.
"Hey." Dick replied.
"You wanna keep punching the bag or go a few rounds with me?" He stared at her. "Of sparring, Grayson." She laughed.
"That sounds good too." They took up their positions.
Barbara lunged at him, but Dick grabbed her leg. She kicked him in the jaw, then he swiped his leg under her. He had his whole body on top of her, they were both blushing. But no one was moving.
"It seems like I've caught you, Miss Gordon." Dick whispered.
"Things aren't always as they seem." She replied, about to kick him off, when Bruce walked in.
"What're-You're both grounded." He growled before walking back out.
"Wait, what?" Dick and Barbara realized what they looked like to Bruce, and quickly moved away from each other.
"Sorry..."
"Yeah..."
"Screw it." Dick shrugged, moving dangerously close to Barbara.
"What're you-mmph?" His lips pressed to hers, and unlike their New Years kiss, this wasn't some silly tradition. "You can still surprise me after all these years." Barbara whispered in between kisses.
"Maybe so. But Bruce is gonna be pissed."