Why We're Here

Friendship Never Fails

"Honestly, dad, you don't have to stay here. Lucy can help me."
Barbara new wheelchair sparkled. The chrome frame was so shiny you could see yourself in it, and the foam on the seat looked as comfortable as a yoga mat. Even so, Barbara shifted herself with her arms. It would take a lot of getting used to, and a lot of courage, but she would learn to live with her new situation. And, if I knew Barbara, she would make it work for her.
"No," Commissioner Gordon hung his work pack on the coat rack, "Since you refuse to come home with me, I'll stay here for a few days to make sure you're alright. I'll sleep on the couch."
Barbara and I exchanged glances. We knew very well that a person like Commissioner Gordon would be dangerous staying in the home of two one-time superheroes. Even if it wasn't the same home they had always had.
After Joker had found our first apartment, Gordon refused to let Barbara go back. Of course, we lived there, we couldn't not. Gordon let us stay the night at his house as he helped us rent another apartment. Gordon and I managed to pack up all of our belongings, with me sneaking both Barbara and my suits out the night before, within two days. Now, Barbara, and I were in our new home in a totally new section of town. This time, we were closer to Gordon, but further from Bruce.
"You know, we have an air mattress," I stated, "I'll blow it up for you, and you can sleep on that."
Barbara glanced at her father, "It'll save your back."
"I suppose."
"Great, I'll go get it."
I went to retrieve it from the hall closet. This apartment was a lot like our old one, except it had an extra bedroom. Barbara and I decided to make that our study/guest bedroom. One day, we would get a couch that could transform into a bed, and a real chair for the desk. For now, we dealt with what we had.
I opened the closet and frowned. The air mattress was rolled up on the very top shelf, nearly a foot above my head. I could barely get my fingertips over the edge of the shelf, let alone around the mattress. Luckily, I was experienced in such things.
Using the doorframe as a ladder, I braced my back on one side and my feet on the other. As I began to shimmy up the frame, my phone rang. It took a bit of fishing to get it out of the back pocket of my shorts, but I managed.
"Brimsey," I stated, getting myself higher.
"Lucy, how's Babs?" Dick replied.
I smiled, "She's alright. Her Dad's staying a few nights."
"Really? Why?"
"He's nervous," I sighed, "I think we all are. It'll be fine, I'm getting the air mattress."
I could almost hear Dick's frown, "Dang, I was going to pop in tonight."
"Probably not a good idea."
Both of us knew he meant as Nightwing. Obviously, that would be very suspicious. Only one time had any of us ever gone to Barbara's house in costume, and that was when I went to get her. She wasn't answering anything, and we needed her to help hunt down a few villains. Him coming in costume would surely mean the exposure of our entire operation.
"You could come tomorrow," I replied, "You know, when you're not at work."
Bruce had gone over us a hundred and one time how to allude to our night jobs without ever actually saying it. It had become like a second language to us.
"Maybe I will," Dick replied.
I smiled, "Bring her flowers, chicks dig that."
"What?"
"You know exactly what."
I could feel Dick's blush from miles away. I grinned as I tugged the mattress off the shelf. It fell to the floor, closely followed by me.
"Do you know-"
"Roses," I interrupted, "A classic."
"Seems kind of cheesy."
"Sometimes cheesy is good."
Dick hesitated, "I gotta go. Tell Babs I said hi."
"Alright, bye."
With that, we hung up. I flung the mattress over my shoulder and grabbed the pump from one of the lower shelves. Returning to the living room, I found Barbara reading a book and Gordon cooking eggs.
"Dick says hi," I told her, "Commissioner Gordon, do you want to sleep in here on in the other not-bedroom."
Barbara glanced up at me, but didn't comment on my titling. Gordon didn't even look up from his eggs, "The guest room works."
"Okey dokey, I'll set it up."
I turned down the hall and into the guest room. So far, all we had was Barbara's desk and an armchair. There was also a bookshelf on one wall and a chest under the window. Barbara had her laptop sitting on the desk. Most of the room was empty space.
I unrolled the air mattress and began to blow it up. After ten minutes, the bed was ready. I returned to the living room, "all set."
"Thanks, Lucille," Gordon smiled.
I smiled back, "Call me Lucy."
I fell backwards over the couch, grabbing the TV remote from the table as I went by. Barbara glanced up from her book and rolled her eyes.
"Let's watch a movie," I stated, "I don't know about you guys, but I'm thinking Star Wars."