Sing Sweet Nightingale

Part 5

Dick groaned inwardly as he watched the various swarms of girls glance at him and giggle. When he had been thinking forward to this night, he honestly hadn't even thought about how hard it would be to get close to one girl without her entire friends group hanging around, most of them hoping he would notice them instead of their friend.

"Have you picked out one yet?" Wally asked as he came up to his friend's side. Dick shot him a look and Wally chuckled. "Yeah, I didn't think so. They really are close knit groups aren't they?" Wally looked over to a smaller group. Just an older woman and two younger. The older was obviously the one in the pair that was meant to attract attention. She knew she had an effect over people and was desperately using it to further herself. The younger was more nervous. Almost as if she hoped no one would actually talk to her. As Wally continued to study her, she turned and looked at him. Her face twisted in surprise at finding him watching her. He gave her a flirty smile and wink. Her eyes widened further, but she gave him a smirk back. Just was Wally was about to go to her, something caught his eye.

A beautiful maiden had entered the ballroom and was skirting the edges, studying not the people in the room, but the room itself. He watched as she scanned the room, her eyes lighting on the women he had just been staring at, she cringed and ducked her head, hugging the wall as she moved in the opposite direction. She was gorgeous, the way her hair was arranged and the way her dress hugged her, but what really stuck out was how she didn't join one of the hordes of girls. She stuck to herself and watched the others, seemingly content to just be there.

Wally leaned over to Dick, his eyes never leaving the mystery girl. "Dude, I think I found your future wife." Dick snorted, but Wally grabbed his arm. "I'm not kidding. Check out the girl over by the doors to the garden."

Dick rolled his eyes but complied, his eyes scanning the area Wally had pointed out. His breath caught in his throat when he found her. She was everything he had dreamt of as far beauty went, but he knew that was only a first impression. "I need to talk to her." He mumbled.

It was Wally's turn to laugh. "Then go get her, tiger." The redhead chuckled as he pushed Dick forward.

Dick slipped through the crowd, making it look like he was leaving the room, but instead he edged around the wall until he reached her. She didn't notice him approach, but that didn't calm the nerves in his stomach.

"How is it the most beautiful woman in the room hasn't managed to find a partner for dancing yet?" He said quietly. She started slightly, finally noticing him. Her eyes widened slightly as she realized who he was. She bowed slightly out of respect for his position and gasped when he reciprocated. "Would you dance with me?"

He watched joy light up in her eyes, only for them to could with some unknown emotion. She looked towards a particular woman, fear painting her features. Dick felt a surge of protectiveness flood him. "We don't have to dance if you don't want to. We can just talk." He said quickly. She relaxed and nodded. He offered her his arm and led her out the door.

They walked to a garden lit by lanterns. His heart warmed as he saw the awe on her face. He was thankful Bruce had hired gardeners to make sure everything looked magical. He led her to a bench and sat down with her.

"I just realized we don't know each other's names." Dick chuckled. "My name is Richard, but most people call me Dick." He felt his heart leap at the laugh she tried to hide. "I know, it is a bit silly, but it is a bit late to change it."

"I'm sorry for laughing." If his heart leaped at her laugh, it soared at her voice. "My name is Y/N."

"Y/N." She flushed a bit when her name rolled off his tongue. She shifted a bit and winced. "What's wrong?"

She looked at him sheepishly. "My feet are a little sore. I am not used to wearing these shoes."

Dick laughed. "Then just take them off."

"I am pretty sure that would break a couple different rules of propriety." She said, wincing again as she shifted, smoothing her skirt.

"Then just take one of them off." Dick teased. "That would only be bending the rules a bit."

Y/N laughed and reached down, taking of the shoe and setting it on the bench. "Much better." she sighed.

"Now that we are comfortable, what do you want to talk about?" Dick said as he straddled the bench and faced her.

She shifted to face him and smiled brightly. "Everything."

Dick laughed at her enthusiasm. "How about we start with something easy like your aspirations.."

It seemed as if no time passed as they sat on the bench and talked, pouring their thoughts and hearts out to each other. Y/N almost cried when she heard about Dick's parents and Dick's heart broke when he heard about Y/N's. They were deep in a political discussion about how to help the lower class when Y/N froze. Dick turned to see a group of three women exiting the ballroom.

"I have to go." Y/N said as she got up.

"Wait, stay for a little while longer." Dick said as he gently grasped her hand.

"You don't understand, I need to get home before stepmother." Y/N pleaded. Dick released her and watched as she flew towards the carriage. She got in and it flew off down the road.

Dick sat down and rubbed his eyes. Of course the woman he showed interest in would have to leave quickly. Dick opened his eyes and laughed. He picked up a satin shoe, the same color as the dress Y/N had been wearing.

"Should I be worried about that?" Wally said as he plopped down next to Dick.

"Did you find someone to talk to?" Dick said, taking his eyes off the shoe to look at the redhead.

Wally smiled as he thought of the blonde he had seen earlier. After Dick had left with mystery girl, he had walked up to her and spent some time talking to her. He learned her name was Artemis. It had taken some working, but he had eventually gotten her past meaningless small talk. He learned a bit about her family, mostly that she felt a little guilty about the way her stepsister was being treated. He had changed the topic quickly because of the way her face fell, but he did feel like he should have Roy, the captain of the guards and a good friend of both Wally and Dick, check out Artemis's story later.

"Earth to Wally." Dick said as he poked his friends shoulder.

"Hm? Oh yeah, I met someone." Wally said. "Although, I am a bit more interested in hearing about your lady."

Dick's smirk fell. "There isn't much to tell. She was beautiful and smart and passionate and kind and now she is gone. She left in a pretty big hurry. Said something about getting home before her stepmother."

"Sounds like your sweetheart is actually a bad girl." Wally snorted. "Boy do you know how to pick them."

Dick rolled his eyes before studying the shoe once more. He wasn't sure if he would ever see her again, but his heart wouldn't let him rest until he tried.