The Forgotten Speedster

This is Why I Don't Socialize

I let out a long yawn as I slowly woke up from one of my few good dreams. While stretching, I glance over to the clock on the bedside table. 7:00 am. Great. 4 hours of sleep. Dick and I got back around 1:00 am from patrol, but we stayed up talking until 3:00 am, until Alfred came in and ordered us to go to sleep. And he made it pretty clear that he meant to do so in our separate rooms. Not that we would actually do anything nasty. Suddenly the door slammed open. Speak of the devil.

"Why are you still in bed? Up! We have work to do!" Dick yelled ripping off my sheets gaining a groan from me as the ice cold air hit my legs.

"It is a Saturday. What could possibly be going on today?" I groaned while placing a pillow over my head.

"Your ball." He said with his hands on his hips and a smirk on his face.

"But I don't wanta!" I complained while throwing my pillow at him.

"Well too bad!" He said grabbing my leg and before I could register what was happening, he was dragging me towards my closet. I slowly stood up and rubbed my eyes as I let out a yawn. When I opened them I found Dick standing in front of me with a bundle of clothing and an excited look in his eyes.

"What?"

"You just look so darn cute!" He said before kissing my cheek, placing the bundle of clothing in my hands and shoving me towards the bathroom. Getting the hint, I quickly changed into the shorts and t-shirt he gave me and followed him down the stairs to where 4 stylists were waiting with an excited looking Artemis and M'gann beside them. Dick gave me a scolding look, seeing Artemis is here, assuming that I told her about the Bat family. I simply shrugged and enveloped my two best friends in a hug.

"Ava." Alfred cut in before anyone could say anything. "Master Bruce requires your presence in his office." He said before walking back in the kitchen to continue preparations for the ball. I walked into Bruce's office to see a scolding look on his face as he sat at his desk.

"Okay. I know you said no more people should know, but keep in mind that I have never had friends before." I said crossing my arms as I sat in an armchair in front of his desk. His scolding look turned into an exhausted one. 'I wonder how many hours he slept tonight?'

"Fine I will let it go this one time, but no more. Promise me no more!" He said while rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Only if you promise to get some sleep before the ball. 4 hours minimum or no deal." I said stubbornly gaining a slight smile from him. 'I don't care what other people say, Batman is a real softy.'

"Fine." He said reaching over his desk to shake my hand in agreement.

"Oh. And by the way, she doesn't know about Dick and your night time activities, only mine. The story I told her was that Batman hooked Bruce up with a girl needing a home, paying back the favor Bruce owed to Batman. Then to cover up the fact that Dick and I are dating both in civilian and hero forms, I'm going to tell her that Dick and I are just pretend dating for the press and Robin approved of it." I said, having already thought out everything. He nodded, approving my plain, making me jump from excitement inside from the fact that the Batman just approved of one of my plains!

"Oh, another thing too......I want to be announced as Avery Wayne. With my parents dead, I have nothing to fear about someone coming for anyone, but Wally still needs to earn back my trust. So for now we stick to the backstory we made up accept crossing out Ava and putting Avery."

"I can do that-" He said but was cut off as I abruptly stood up from where I was sitting.

"Yeah...After you do your part of our agreement and get at least 4 hours of sleep." I said placing my hands on my hips, in a serious manner.