Electric Flame

2.12

As my eyes began to expeditiously shift underneath my closed eyelids, distant tapping echoed through the halls. 

Click. Clack. Click. Clack.

The pitter-patter of feet grew louder and more frequent, until it stopped altogether right in front of the bedroom door. I rolled over on my side, my heart beating faster than normal. My breathing became labored, like that of a victim in a horror movie; I always hated those. 

My rapid breaths were the only sound, and I felt violated in a room of zero external noise, waiting for something or someone to attack. I felt like a sitting duck. I raised my guard, along with my hand, readying my powers to surge through. The old oak door creaked as the intruder twisted the knob, pushing it open with little force before I shot a bolt of electrical energy out of my palm.

"Gah," someone shouted before they thumped onto the carpet. "What the?"

I leaned over and flicked the lamp switch, spreading light throughout the dark room. "Dick?" I inquired, now fully awake and no longer frightened of my own imagination. I ran over to him and helped him up; a newly formed hole in his button down shirt revealed his extremely attractive six-pack and v-line. What memories that brings back.

"Again?" he laughed, stripping off his shirt and waltzing into the closet to grab a replacement. "At least last time you didn't try to kill me in my own room.

"Sorry, and I didn't try to kill you," I apologized sarcastically. "I thought you were--"

"So the girl raised by villains is afraid of them. Man, have we done a number on you," Dick joked as he pulled on a fresh and hole-less gray v-neck.

I laughed and crawled back onto the mattress, situating myself under the silk blankets. I rested my head against the firm pillow, my hair sprawled out everywhere as I tried to fall back asleep and revisit my dreams.

The bed dipped and I knew Dick had joined me.

"How are you feeling?" he asked me.

"Fine," I told him. 

"Are you sure?" he didn't seem very convinced.

"Yes. I don't even know why I felt that way in the first place," I confessed. "Maybe I was sick or something."

"You don't get sick for an hour or two then feel perfect," Dick interrogated. "Don't lie to me, (y/n)."

"I told you I feel fine," I almost yelled. "Do I look like death now?" 

He opened his mouth, "Well--" I slapped his arm as he caught my hand, his hero reflexes having a mind of their own.

"Don't answer that. I could run a marathon, Dick. Seriously. How much proof do you need?" 

He was about to speak again when a light knock on the door interrupted my questioning.

"Master Dick, Master Bruce wishes to have a word with you. He's down in the-- er, office. Please hurry," Alfred called.

"Go," I ordered while turning to face the wall. "Let me sleep."

Dick gave me a longing kiss on my forehead and left, closing the door as he exited.

"It's far too quiet," Batman said as he looked through a set of binoculars. We were currently 'observing' Lex Corp Tower, as Bruce put it, but it seemed as if we were stalking. Then again, he was Batman, I expected no more than creeping aside, hidden in the shadows.

"Superman's not exactly Mr. Yappy," Dick complained, repositioning his foot on the ledge. "Maybe he's already tossed Luthor in jail and left for Metropolis."