Batgirl

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

It has been a few weeks since Jason Todd was murdered. I have been at the Manor every other day, telling my Jason that the friend I had gone to see had died. Bruce is still a mess, as I can tell from the redness of his eyes and the empty coffee cups lined up along the Batcomputer. I mean, it's not like you can ever truly "get over" the loss of a friend, but something isn't right. Ever since he has said very little, focused only on one goal: killing the Joker.

That's right. I said kill. I overheard him talking with Superman of all people about taking out the Joker for good. Not that I don't agree, but that is not the Batman I know. Plus even if they do kill the clown, I guarantee Bruce will still feel miserable, maybe even more miserable because of the fact he took a life.

He has had to wait several weeks to get his second son's body back from a contact who has worked with many superheroes to conceal their identities when one has fallen. It will be a closed casket, as Alfred had told me they had found numerous bruises and broken bones in his body that match those with a blunt object, not consistent with a single explosion. This is probably why Bruce is looking to kill: for revenge.

Today is the funeral. Dick has not been here the past few days, but that doesn't mean he won't show up here. I get out of my car, and go around to the passenger side to help Bard out of the car; he still has trouble with his knee after being shot by Killer Moth.

He grabs my arm and uses his cane to stand himself up. I close the door behind him and take his arm as we walk across the Wayne Estate to his family cemetery, now with a new addition. I straighten my hair out with my other hand as we get closer to the chairs that are set up before the casket.

"You look fine, dear," I hear Jason mutter in my ear.

It brings me a slight smile, but my heart starts racing as I see a red-head towering above the others in black. He's here. A million questions race through my mind: Why didn't he come earlier? Does he know what state Bruce is in? Does he care? Does he know I came to see him? Does he care? Does he know about me and Jason Bard? Does he care?

I see his head turn my way and catch his gaze, which quickly bounces from me to Bard.

"Hey, Barb," He says - no smile.

"Grayson..." I retort, matching his tone.

Dick extends his right hand to Jason; the hand his cane is in, making Jason quickly shift his weight and pass the cane to his other hand just to shake Dick's hand. Yep, he cares, and he is not happy. "Dick Grayson."

"Jason Bard."

"Oh, you were that cop that was shot by Killer Moth!"

Jason sighs, "Yes... that was me..."

"Well, good thing you have Babs to take care of you, but usually it's the other way around..."

"Excuse me?"

I lose my cool, "Can I talk to you for a minute, please?" I mumble an apology to Jason before walking to a nearby tree with Dick trailing behind me. "What is your problem?"

"I'm just scoping out your new boyfriend."

"HERE? Of all places?! And please, he's not new. He's been there for me since the beginning."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, you know he was a great listener when my best friend went missing for three months."

"I'm sure all he did was listen..."

I slap his shoulder as he giggles like a school girl, "Shut up! You promised to call me! Instead I had to find out from a newspaper!"