Forbidden

"She's different."

"I don't know if I like you hanging around her." Bruce Wane spoke as he opened the newspaper.

"Bruce, it's fine. I just have to talk to her. Make her feel that she can be normal."

"Do you believe that?" He questioned.

"Believe what?"

"That she can be normal?" Dick was offended and disgusted by this comment.

"She is normal. And that's why she has trouble opening up to people. People say she's a freak. Nothing makes a person feel more terrible than being called a freak."  Bruce set down his newspaper and took off his reading glasses. He just looked at Dick's serious face.

"What has gotten into you?"

"Me? You're the one judging her!"

"She's dangerous!"

"She's a girl!"

"You're just a boy! You're blind! Don't fall for her charms! She will manipulate you. She's evil and she'll do things to you."

Dick looked long and hard at Bruce. Then, he got up from his chair and said, "she's different." And he left the room.

Dick didn't understand. He had a good time with her today. Sure, sometimes she made him feel a little uncomfortable, but hey, what can you do? It's just her and how she's always been. Dick had to be strong and get the information he needed. He also didn't care what Bruce said. He saw a little piece of her today that looked different from any other piece he had seen. He saw a bit of laughter and happiness. Usually villains are filled with hate in their heart. But not her, Dick knew that. He'd get her to see that she is normal and that she didn't have to put on a mask for anyone. Especially him. Teenagers sometimes put that mask on. For whatever reason, they just aren't comfortable with people seeing who they really are. Dick didn't want her to be afraid. Because he knew that she probably was. Maybe she didn't show it, but he knew. After all, he gets scared too. We are all human, and we can't understand that somewhere out there, someone is going through the same thing.