Vigilante Struggles

Chapter Thirteen

Dick's P.O.V
I pop another piece of popcorn into my mouth as the credits for our third movie roll down the screen. I feel Lorna's head shift on my shoulder as she looks up at me. "I should get going if I want to get back home to Blüdhaven, do you have a number for a taxi service?" She asks. I look down at her surprised." Why don't you stay over" I suggest but she shakes her head "I can't I have early college classes in the morning" she sighs. Against my better judgement I offer to drive her back." Well I could drive you home if you really want, Bruce and the others won't be back for a while so I won't be needed for anything". She furrows her brows in thought "I don't want you to drive all that way, only to drive back." I move my head to look down at her "look, if it was a burden I wouldn't offer, besides I don't think you'll get a cab at...." I check my watch and raise my eyebrows in surprise "half two in the morning". I sit up and pull on my shoes. "Come on so" I get up off the couch and smile at her" we'll head on now so you can get some sleep before tomorrow". She stands up beside me and hugs me "thank you so much Dick". I'm shocked at first but I recover quickly and wrap my arms around her tiny frame. "It's no problem, cars are in the garage". I quickly scribble a note to say where I'm going and I put it on the fridge.
--------------TIMESKIP---------------
We are about half an hour into the journey to Blüdhaven before all the good music on the radio stops and we start talking. "So where did your family go out tonight?" Lorna's soft voice asks. I turn down the radio a bit before answering. "A charity ball Mr. White is hosting". There was a moment of silence before she answers. "What do mean they went to Mr. White's charity ball? That was cancelled two days ago because Mr. White had to go abroad" I glance over at her before looking back at the road. What? My fingers clench around the steering wheel. I suppress a growl as I realise the lies I have been told.....again. I sigh. Now what do I say? I can't just tell her that 'oh yeah well that's the first I've heard of this, guess my adoptive father lied and kept more secrets again. Haha funny how he does that'. "Dick....you okay?" Shit I forgot to actually answer the girl." Yeah I'm grand, it's just that, I had no idea it got cancelled, I'll have to ring Bruce later to see where they are". Yes I may ring Bruce and ask him where he is. "Well I'm sure he's fine, probably off at another social event" she smiles at me, while placing a warm hand on my arm. The gesture was comforting and I almost protest when she quickly withdraws her hand. "Thanks Lorna, you're probably right, you know those playboy billionaires types" I force a laugh. "Yeah, I know too well" she turns her head around to look out her window. I immediately sense tension, she must have had history with someone. "Hey look, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable, would you like to talk about it?" I ask. She looks at me and smiles "no it's okay,  no point in dwelling on the past" I look at her only to find the hurt still evident in her beautiful green eyes. I lift my hand off the gear stick and take up her slightly cooler hand in mine. Her fingers wrap around my own as we sit there in comfortable silence listening to whatever song came on the radio.
-----------------------------
We sit quietly in my parked car, it's clear that neither of us want to say goodbye. I'm grateful however, when Lorna breaks the almost awkward silence with an invite and a promise of coffee. I decide to let my beef with Bruce go for now because honestly, I just want to forget that I am in mortal danger, you know, the usual.

I only realise now, getting out of the car, how much I miss Blüdhaven's polluted air, considering all I breath in now is 'febreeze' air freshener that Alfred seems to be constantly spraying around the place. It's probably not good to be breathing in polluted air, but hey at least it has some percentage of real oxygen in it. The area around here isn't bad, it looks family friendly...enough, well a lot more family friendly then my apartment block. I would die to go back to my apartment, well maybe not die but faint? That seems a little more appropriate giving my situation. I soon realise I'm still standing outside my car like an idiot with Lorna staring at me amusingly. I smile shyly at her before following her into the building.