Batgirl

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Marry her? Seriously? Dude, you're only twenty! I take out my frustration on the punching bag in front of me, making it look like I'm working on different combinations. Jab, jab, cross, backhand, elbow, backfist. Not that I don't think he's in love with her... but really? Roundhouse, elbow, backfist, jab, cross. How can he be so sure? Nevermind that... how can I let him do this? I hit the target with an inside crescent kick and spin around and hit it with my other foot, making the bag swing wildly. I stop and hold the bag steady. Because I am afraid if I do tell him the truth that I'll never see him again.

I am driven out of my thoughts by a loud crash by the medical wing. I take off my gloves and head across the metal walkway.

"You cannot make that decision for me! I'm an adult!" I hear Dick yell.

"You're a member of my team, and you will take the precautions I tell you to take!" Bruce snaps back.

"He is all talk and you know it! There is no way he would be able to hurt me!"

"You don't know that, Dick. It's-"

"No, wait, let me guess: it's better safe than sorry, right? Please, you think taking me off the streets is the safe thing to do? You said it yourself when I wanted to stay in New York that you needed me."

"And I do, but I don't know if I can let you risk your life each night anymore."

"Unfortunately for you, that's not your decision to make."

Dick storms off to the elevator, not even noticing me as he passes. Bruce calls after him, and upon seeing the doors close, slumps down to sit in the steps, his head drooping between his arms. I stand there in awe. Things just got a little more real.

If Dick leaves... what happens then? Is it just Batman and Batgirl? Or do we try and find someone else to come help? Dinah is back on the west coast, and even though she said to call her whenever... she is needed there too. All the other heroes I can think of each have their own cities to take care of. Flash has Central City, Superman has Metropolis... but maybe since he's not too far and can fly he would help. Wait... nope, from what I've heard, Bruce is not exactly BFF's with the guy.

I stop at the edge of the walkway and look at Bruce. He is still in his suit with the cowl off, hunched over like one of the people in those cheesy anti-depression pill commercials. Not a good sign... I sit next to him and put a hand on his shoulder, just letting him know I'm there for him. He doesn't say a word. He only reaches up and puts his hand on top of mine. I figure this is the time to talk.

"You gonna be okay?"

"You two don't know the Joker like I do," He sighs, lifting his head out of his arms and looking off into the cave, "He is a psychopath but a genius. He is always looking for some way to undermine my values and drive me insane... and he knows you two are close to me, which in this line of work is not necessarily a good thing. I don't want to push him away, but if it's the only way to ensure he's safe... then I'll do it even if I'll never see him again."

"I don't like the idea of him leaving anymore than you do... but he did have a point. We chose this, and as much as you can protect us, sometimes we need to learn things on our own too."

"But at the possible cost of his life?"

"I'm just as biased as you are..." I try to laugh as I look up at the cave walls, as I alude to something I've never told anyone, not even Dinah... although she certainly acts like she knows it's true, "Maybe even more... and as much as I believe it is his choice and that we are always risking our lives when we put on those masks, I would also do whatever it takes to make sure he is safe... including limited patrols."

Here it comes: the same talk my dad probably got when he started dating Sarah. No relationships with your partner; you can and will compromise a mission, it's inevitable. But I am shocked when Bruce puts an arm around me. I look up at him to see a look of understanding. He's been in this situation before. I smile and wrap my arms around his side, giving him a big hug. He laughs and pulls me close with the arm on my shoulder.

"You're a good kid, Barb."

"You're not so bad yourself, Bruce."

"That's what I hear," He smirks, looking almost exactly like Dick.

"So that's where he gets it from!" I laugh, nudging him in the side.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

I shake my head as our laughter echoes off the cave walls. We both need this, and it sounds like Bruce hasn't laughed in a very long time, so much so that he doesn't stop. After about thirty seconds we start laughing at each other laughing. Once the laughter dies down, his tone turns serious.

"Barb, I should let you know that he's seeing someone..."

I gaze down at my feet, "I know... and he wants to marry her."

"What?" He gasps.

"He mentioned it earlier before we left in the plane... said he'd been thinking about it for awhile. He's going to ask her next time he goes to New York... and-" Oh my god... why didn't I think of this before?!

"He's probably leaving to go there now..." Bruce frowns, "I'm sorry Barbara, I had no idea."

I can feel the tears welling up in my eyes as I head towards the elevator. As the doors are closing, Bruce runs up to them.

"You have to tell him, Barb, or it will haunt you the rest of your life." He pleads as the elevator goes up.

Okay, Barb, you can do this. Just go up to his room and tell him there is a slight chance you're in love with him. Oh who am I kidding? I am head over heels in love with him, and the thought of him spending his life with someone else drives me mad. I almost pry open the doors when the elevator reaches the main floor. I race up the grand staircase and slide across the wood floor as I reach his room.

This is it. Now or never. I take a deep breath and knock on the door. That's weird no response... I knock again and notice the door is slightly ajar. I push it open to see different drawers opened with clothes hanging out of them. The lights are off, but the pale moonlight shines through the open window. I slump to the floor, defeated. He's gone. The tears come out in full force, and there's nothing I can do to stop them. He'll never know, and now he'll never come back.

I look at the clock on the dresser, which turns over to midnight. I glance at the calendar on his wall... September 23rd. Happy birthday to me... happy birthday to me. Happy birthday sad girl, happy birthday to me. I slam my fists into the floorboards, staring out at the moon. For a split second I thought I saw a figure on the roof, looking back at me, but it's probably wishful thinking.

Now at eighteen, I can easily say this is the worst birthday ever.