The Newest

The Newest, Chapter Four: The Secret Scars

(Robin's POV.)

As we walk the streets of Gotham, I wonder what's going through Swindle's mind. I hope she doesn't think that this is a waste of her time.

All I have to do is listen to Dick's directions: Keep an open mind, be a gentleman, and be flirty with her. I can so do this... I think...

As we see our destination, I try not smile. Swindle glances over, "Rob, this is it, isn't it?" She asks wide eyed and excited. She was right; this is the right place.

It's a small Italian place, family owned. They've got the best pizza in the city, so I was thinking; Why not?

I sigh, "Yes. This is it." I said, while smiling down to her. She's shorter than I thought she was. I'm only 5 foot 4. She looks to be only 5 foot or 4"11. That's a perfect height for a girl; It's what I like. I don't really like tall girls, I'll feel small.

We walk into the pizzeria and get greeted by a waitress, she brings us to a booth, "What would you like to drink?" She asks as if we were good friends.

"I'll have water," Swindle says politely. I think about it and I'm in a soda mood; "I'll have a diet coke," I say to her.

She rights it down on her pad and smiles, "I'll get that now." She then walks away to the kitchen.

I look to Swindle, she looks to me. I'm starting to get nervous.

Remember what Dick said; Keep an open mind. Start a conversation with her. Get to know her more.

"So Swindle, how long have you lived in Gotham?" I ask her, curious of her past and recent places. She smiles her genuine smile, "Well... I've lived in Gotham my whole life. I was born here. Even though there thugs and criminals almost more than every city in the world here, I still call it home."

I smile, her and I were both born in the same city and still call it home. Even after all the crazy things that has happened to it in the last 25 or so years.

"Same here, so when's your birthday?" I ask her. I want to know how many months we are apart.

She doesn't even think about it, "July 16th. Yeah, I know; It's coming up soon," she says and sighs.

"Mines July 30th. You're only 14 days older than me." I smile, I didn't know this at all. I'm happy I'm learning more about her.

I hope she'll get to tell me what happened with her scars. There seemed be a lot when Nightwing pointed them out. I never even noticed them this morning.

She sighs again, "Well... The thing is..." She starts to scratch the back of her head awkwardly, "I never enjoyed my birthday..." She says quickly, so I wouldn't understand her; but I heard every word she said.

Why doesn't she like her birthday? "Why don't you enjoy it? It's the day you were born?" I ask, digging up her past.

She looks at me, then the booth, "Well... Every year I spend my birthday alone." She says softly and sounded a bit embarrassed.

"W-Well, I'm not going to spend it alone this year! I've got you and the team to help me celebrate it," she says and smiles, trying to lighten the mood.

I smile back, "Yeah. So, what do you want for your birthday? If you want anything, that is." I want to get her something special, even if we are friends.

I'll be her best friend before Arsenal and maybe she'll fall for me by then. She's just so sweet and I don't want to lose her to a one armed, womanizer.

She thinks about this for about 30 seconds, that's when the waitress came back. She set down our drinks and got out her pen and pad, "What would you guys like to order?" She asked us in a polite tone.