Inflorescence • Poison Ivy's Daughter

chapter thirty ~ dancing with danger

The gala was electric. Music pulsed, conversation buzzed and alcohol flowed steadily. Dick looked over the see of black a gold, champagne in hand. Yet he couldn't make out a word of the conversation he was in.

He fiddled with his cuff links and nodded absently whilst his mind wondered. A soft hand touched his shoulder. Calla? He spun around. 

Green eyes and red hair greeted him, 'You doing alright there?'

'The usual Babs.' Dick smiled, ignoring the sudden pang of disappointment. Despite the electric atmosphere, pulsing music and flowing alcohol, Dick was painfully bored. This definitely isn't Calla's scene. But the thought of her being was enough to lift his mood. 

In this world of glitter and plastered smiles, she would be a breath of fresh air, unfitted dress, curly bob and uneven fringe, tripping over her feet and stumbling over words, but oh so painfully real. With her impulsive mouth would land her in trouble within minutes, and he doubted she had the will power to resist an eye roll at all the pointless gossip. Dick couldn't help but smile as he sipped his champagne.

Barbara nudged his shoulder, 'What you thinking about lover boy?' she teased. 'It wouldn't be a certain friend now would it?'.

Dick's eyes widened, in disbelief. Barbara's intuition was terrifying at the best of times. 

Barbara scoffed, 'Don't look so shocked, you're an open book, Dickie. You don't exactly hide how smitten you are with that girl.'

Dick frowned, 'I'm not smitten, Babs, Calla's a close friend, has been since we were kids. I don't think of her like that.'

Barbara observed him for a little while, 'You'd have to be the dumbest smart person I know,' she smiled, taking a light sip of champagne, 'You and I, Dick. we're close friends. You and Calla? That's something else.'

Dick just shook his head against the heat rising against his cheeks, 'I'm not having the conversation with you.'

Barbara raised her hand in surrender, 'Sorry sorry, forgot how shy you get.' Dick felt a need to snap back at that but she didn't give him a chance, 'Hold my glass for me, dear, I'm heading to the restroom. Try to get rid of that depressing face while I'm gone.' She placed the glass in Dick's hand and gave him a quick wink over her shoulder as she disappeared into the crowd.

Dick took a sip of his champagne as a golden light caught his eye. He wasn't the only one entranced as peoples heads turned towards the girl in the dress of liquid gold.

Thin straps held the flowing fabric forming a plunging neckline which tightened around her shaped waist only to billow outwards in a waterful of fabric which glided behind her. A slit in the dress showed her toned legs as she walked with a graceful swagger. Her long hair pulled over her shoulder with golden flowers weaved into loose curls. Her eyes were hidden behind a mask of gold but as people parted around her, her lips showed a familiar sensual smirk. 

Belladonna.

'Hey little bird.' she flashed a smile as she slipped Dick glass from his hand and took a sip, 'did you miss me?'

'What are you doing.' Dick hissed. 'You're going to expose me.'

Bella frowned a little as she licked some champagne from the corner of her mouth, 'Don't be so dramatic. As far as anyone knows, I'm just a pretty little thing asking Gotham's most infamous sons to a dance.' She placed the empty glass on a passing waiters tray before bowing slightly to Dick and extending her hand, 'Shall we?'

Dick hesitated, this was a trap he was sure of it. He didn't know what, but nothing good was written in her smile. But his hesitation was suspicious as all eyes were on them, with a tight smile, he placed Barbara's glass on the tray, took Bellas hand and led her to the dance floor.

He took her waist in his palm as they stepped in time to the band. Bella hissed an apology as she stepped on his toe for the second time.

'You're really not great at this are you?' Dick asked, more amused then cruel.

Bella began to scowl at him, but quickly checked her expression to an empty smile 'Ballroom dancing was never highly placed on my rapture.'

'Suppose martial arts and knives were the priorities?'

Bella rolled her eyes, 'You have no idea.'

 He smiled, 'Don't I?'

Bella startled, looking into his blue eyes an seeing his dazzling smile it was easy to forget who he really was behind his mask. A boy, trained as a weapon.. like her. His smile faltered slightly under her unwavering stare.

'You know Grayson, you're different then what I thought.'

Dick cocked his head, 'In a good way I'll assume.'

'No...' breathed Bella as she leaned in, 'in a really fucking bad way.'

He froze as her lips brushed against hers, his breath hitching. Bella looked up to find his blue eyes wide, she felt a sharp pang of guilt as she smiled slowly.

'I'm sorry.'

Then everything fell into chaos.

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Hey guys,

wow, sorry about the inactivity. Year 12 has hit me like a brick and Senioritis with it. 

I'm currently on break so I'll be working hard to get ahead to avoid any long absentees like this one. Next chapter will be up in a week

Thank you for all your support and kind comments, I hope you're having as much fun reading this story as I am writing it! xxx