Why We're Here

Damsel Doesnt't Need Distress

Walking home from school at midnight would generally tire anyone out, but I was still just as energetic as this morning. After living on two hours of sleep per night, I had gotten used to these kinds of things. While most students drug themselves along, I bounced as I walked.
"You should talk to her," Barbara told me.
I had to stop at the store before heading home, and Barbara had called me to tell me a list. After she told me, we got distracted, and plunged into a conversation.
"But, how?" I asked, "She's so pretty, and I'm so bleh. She's normal, and I am not! How does one flirt?"
Barbara laughed, "Bat your eyelashes and say she's pretty, it gets them every time."
"Why am I asking you, have you ever even had a boyfriend?"
"I had one in high school," she retorted.
I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, for like a day."
"I don't have time for dating," Barbara replied, "You, however, have all the time in the world."
"Yeah, now."
"Exactly, so what's stopping you?"
"I don't know, I'm scared I'll mess it up."
I passed by an alley. I was passing through Gotham's crime district, but only the edges of it. The Eastern edge stood between home and The University. It was the only way that didn't take an extra hour.
As I passed, a hand grabbed my arm. I was jerked into the alley and flung against the wall. Someone pressed their elbow into my collarbone.
"Hey, pretty girl," he breathed.
His breath smelled like alcohol, and he reeked of pee. Five more men were behind him. They all looked hungry, which made me sneer. This was not going to end well, mostly for them.
"You have to be kidding me," I whispered.
"What's going on?" Barbara asked.
I sighed, "I'm going to have to call you back, Babs."
As I hung up, the first man pressed a knife against my neck. I didn't even flinch, staring him dead in the eyes. He simply smiled, "Give us all your money, and you'll walk away a-okay."
"Yeah, sure," I snorted, "I bet you say that to all your victims."
One of the other men laughed, "Cut her real good, Johnny!"
"Yeah, cut her real good!"
"LEt's see somethin'!"
The one pressing a knife to my throat smiled, "Maybe we'll have a little fun before we kill ya."
"Maybe some other time," I smiled.
I grabbed the hand with the knife and jerked back. His elbow snapped, and he cried out in pain. The others took a step back as I kicked the first man, Johnny, away.
"I can never catch a break!" I exclaimed, "Get over here, I want to punch someone!"
I didn't take the time to count them. There were only four men in front of me, when there had been five just a few seconds ago. The fifth snuck up behind me and tackled me. He pinned me on my stomach, my legs stuck between his knees and my hands pinned behind my back. He leaned close to my ear, so close that his breath sent chills down my spine, "You're gonna get it now, missy."
"Not likely, creep."
I groaned loudly. I knew that voice, there was no way I could ever forget it. Someone jerked the man off of me and threw him in the nearby dumpster. I didn't even bother looking up as Nightwing easily took care of the other four thugs. By the time he finished, all five were unconscious in the dumpster.
"That'll teach you," Dick mumbled, "It's alright, miss, you're safe."
He knelt next to my head. I was tempted not to look up, so he wouldn't know it was me. Dick always had a thing for making sure the people he saved were alright. I knew he wouldn't leave until I told him I was fine.
"I had it under control," I flung my head up.
Dick snorted, "Lucy? Ha!"
"Shut up."
"Sure, because you had it sorted," he stood, offering me his hand, "It definitely seemed like you were winning."
I used his hand to help pull me up, "You should've arrived five seconds earlier, I broke the other guy's arm."
"But you let that one pin you."
"Shut up," he continued laughing and I sneered, "Quit being such a dick."
He glanced at me before laughing again. I grabbed my bag, glaring at him the entire time. He had actual tears coming out of the corners of his mask. He even had to lift it to wipe them away.
"I hope you know I am never letting this go," Dick grinned.
I sneered, "That's what I'm afraid of. Need I bring up The Gala?"
"Shut up."
"You first."
Dick glared at me for a moment before bursting out in laughter. His body bounced as he laughed, making my sneer deepen. When he wiped his eyes again, he took a deep breath, "Come on, I'll take you home."
He offered me his hand. I stared at it before glaring back at his face, "Yeah, no."
"Come on, Lu."
"I can make it there myself, thank you very much," I replied, "I might not be jumping off rooftops anymore, but I can make it there all the same."
He smirked, "You might be jumped again."
My glare told him all I needed to know. He kept laughing as I began to stomp out of the alley. Luckily, it was dark, or else he would have seen my cheeks turning red.
"Stay safe, miss!" he sarcastically exclaimed.
I sneered, "Screw off, Nightwing."
***
I hung upside down from my bed, holding my book in front of my face. I was supposed to write an essay on it by morning. Generally, I would have no problem with that. In classes like math, science, and engineering, I would write the essay in a matter of minutes. But, as a first year in college, I was required to take literature as well. That meant reading boring books like Pride and Prejudice.
"I hate this," I muttered, "I hate this so much."
I turned the page just as a knock came from the door. Barbara was in the living room, so I knew she would get it. I heard the door open and shut quickly, followed by Barbara asking, "Dick, what are you doing here?"
"Can't I visit my friends?" Dick asked, "Also, here, these are for you."
I heard the shuffling of papers, followed by a light gasp, "Dick, how did you know I love roses?"
"Just a hunch."
I smirked. Part of me didn't want to go out there, due to our encounter last night, but I knew I had to. He was my brother, after all, even if he was a bit of a dick.
I closed my book and abandoned it on the nightstand. Opening the door, I shuffled out, sliding my socks against the hardwood. I came around the corner to find Dick sitting on the couch. This was the first time since we left The Manor that I've actually seen him in jeans and a t-shirt rather than his costume.
"What's up?" I asked, leaning against the doorframe.
Dick glanced at me, smiling, "Howdy, Damsel."
Barbara lifted a confused eyebrow. I glared at Dick, doing my best to refrain from any obscene gestures. Dick simply grinned.
I pushed off the frame to go to the kitchen. Barbara was searching for a vase in the lower cabinets. I took the upper cabinets.
"Hey, Babs," Dick leaned against the bar, "I've got a great story for you."
I spun around, "Not. Another. Word."
"What?" Barbara asked.
Dick's smirk grew, "Last night, I stopped this mugging, and it turned out to be-"
"The Pope!" I exclaimed, "The President! The Queen! Literally anyone!"
"Lucy," Dick continued.
Barbara slowly turned to look at me, "You got mugged?"
"I had it under control!" I exclaimed.
"Yeah," Dick snorted, "A guy pinning you is totally under control."
"You let him pin you?"
I threw up my arms, "For, like, five seconds! If that! I broke another guy's arm!"
Barbara stared at me while Dick did his best to contain his laughter. My cheeks heated up three times over. All I wanted to do was hide under my blankets for the next century.
"She was like a damsel in distress," Dick pretended to faint, "'Oh, save me, Nightwing!' That was her."
This time, I didn't hold back on the obscene gesture. Barbara gently slapped my wrists as I continued to sneer at Dick, "Shut up, Grayson! Like I haven't saved your ass countless times!"
"You two are just like children," Barbara commented under her breath.
I finally found the vase in the cabinet in the corner. Setting it on the counter where Barbara could get it, I glared at Dick, "I would prefer Pride and Prejudice to this."
"That's a terrible book," Dick wrinkled his nose.
"Exactly!"
I spun on my heel and left. My fists tightened by my sides, and I'm sure my face was about to boil off. I could still hear Dick laughing even when I shut my bedroom door.
"Stupid muggers," I muttered, "Stupid retirement. Stupid Gotham."
I fell on my bed and groaned. If this was what retirement was going to be like, then it was going to be a long life ahead of me.