human
It was just another night in Gotham, for most. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, and the chill in the air was the same as any other, but things were certainly not as they seemed. The vigilantes that protected this city were scrambling, hoping that word of Batmans absence wouldnt be spread into the criminal underworld. If they knew, there would certainly be a surge in crime. One that the bat family might not be able to handle, especially with their fearless leader down for the count.
For Barbara the problem was two fold. Getting back into the swing of things had been more difficult than she would ever admit. After years of being Oracle, hitting the pavement as Batgirl was certainly an adjustment. Despite having been training, she was still out of practice and a little rusty. Muscles she hadnt worked in years would scream at her, but she powered through the pain, determined to get back to where she was. Surpass what she was.
The warehouse was silent, save for the few whispered voices coming from below the scaffolding she was perched on. The men were low level drug peddlers, handing out their latest shipment and going over who had what area of the city. There were four that she could see, but she had a feeling more were hidden in the shadows out of view. The haul was too big to only be guarded by four men, none of which were very impressive looking. The conversation was wrapping up though, and goodbyes were being said. The redhead couldnt let them walk out, needed to strike when she could feasibly take them all out in a short span of time and hope none of them ran.
The only warning would be the metal clang of a canister hitting the ground, before smoke started to rise up and billow along the floor. Barbara hit the ground silently, landing behind the ringleader and immediately wrapping her arm around his throat. Bat! A voice yelled out from the left of her, and she quickly spun, dragging the man in the chokehold with her as a leg kicked out. The heel of her boot hit something solid, and the sound of a pained grunt affirmed her hopes that it was the one who had called out.
In a matter of moments she already had two down, but she could hear footsteps moving toward her. Certainly more than those that belonged to the two men she knew of.Shit! Three? Five? Batgirl was trying to focus while still staying out of reach, trying to gather as much information as she could before the fight broke out. The smoke was helping, buying her much needed time to regroup and formulate a plan, but it was starting to dissipate.
Do you see anything?No, this damn fog...you really think it was a bat?
There was obvious fear in their voices, and it irritated Barbara that they probably wouldnt be nearly as terrified if they knew it wasnttheBat that had crashed their party. It was that moment of unfocus that proved to be a downfall, a hand reaching through the clearing smoke and grabbing hold of her cape with a violent tug. Ha! Its a girly bat!! Heeey beautiful. Nice of you drop in.
The only response the man received was growl, as the redhead quickly recovered and swept her leg around. The thug was knocked off balance as soon as she made contact with his calves, knocking his legs out from underneath him and sending him towards the ground. There wasnt much time to celebrate though, as more bodies started to close in on her. It was too many, and she knew that, but her pride wouldnt allow her to turn tail and. Of course she could hear Bruce in her head, lecturing her on choices, but she quickly pushed that all knowing voice aside.
Looks like its a party. Despite her worry, there was a confidence to her voice that was a little unsettling to the men surrounding her.Had I known, I would have brought some dip or something. With that she was rushed from all sides, each man having his own reasons for wanting to get their hands on her.
gpt
The very first thing Dick had done when he became Nightwing was to get rid of the cape. It was an encumbrance and it screwed up his movements. All those years as Robin he'd been pretty good, but losing the cape felt like a weight was lifted. Of course Robin's cape was nothing compared to the one Batman wore with all those built in features. It was large by design, too, meant to intimidate and to make it seem as if the Bat were a part of the night itself. Anyway, Bruce had his reasons, and now, unfortunately, Dick had to live with them.
Bane had already put the word out that the Bat was done, and Bruce hadn't actually asked Dick about taking over until two days after being injured. That was two days and two nights of the city still dealing with the breakout from Arkham and rumors spreading like wildfire that the Bat would never return. Criminals were emboldened and the signal shone in the sky only to be ignored. It was dangerous for this to continue, and Bruce knew from his initial consultation that he would be in no shape to fix things for months, if ever.
He'd asked Dick on board his private plane on the way to seek treatment in Europe just a few hours ago. Of course Bruce had a suit in Dick's size already, because preparing for even the unimaginable was just Bruce being Bruce. "The city needs Batman," Bruce said, "and right now that's you."
The city might need Batman, but did Batman need this stupid cape? He was getting used to it, but he was being more cautious than he wanted to be while he adjusted. Not too cautious, though, Batman needed to make his presence felt, and that meant leaving bruises.
"You did bring a plus one," he said, his voice a deepened growl to emulate how Bruce did it. It seemed to come from nowhere, and in the split-second of hesitation it caused the thugs, it was already too late. Dick launched out of the shadows (that's one for you, cape) and drove a foot into the back of the first man's knee while his elbow smashed into a second man's side, driving the breath from his body a he crumpled. In the same motion he spun, a swirl of black fabric, and swept into a crouch, his leg taking a third man's feet from under him.
Without pause, Dick shot to his full height, fist driving upwards with all the power in his body to catch yet another man in a brutal uppercut. He saw red misting the air as he stilled and the man dropped and briefly wondered if he might've overdone it just a bit. It had been a matter of something less than a second since his joke (did Batman joke? He should probably try to be consistent), and the last of the men was trying to flee while Dick observed Barbara. She shouldn't be doing this, but damned if the girl didn't still have the moves.
human
The voice booming from the shadows caught her off guard as much as the men rushing towards her. There wasnt much time to contemplate it though, as the action picked up almost immediately after the shadowed figure had made his presence known. It was instant, the recognition. Barbara had spent years fighting alongside Dick, and there was no mistaking the way he moved. It was hard to focus at that point, and she probably looked a little silly just standing there slack jawed as Batman dispatched most of the goons without much effort.
There was a rush of emotions. Relief, excitement, annoyance and irritation. Dick represented a lot of things for the redhead. The one thing she would never live up to, the line she had never crossed and a bunch of other confused feelings that had never been worked out over their years together. It was only as the last thug started to make a run for it that she snapped back, reaching for her belt and hurling a batarang in his direction. The metal made contact with the back of the goons head, sending him sprawling forward, body limp before it even hit the ground.
Barbara tried to to show the relief she felt in actually hitting her target, as her aiming had been a little off lately.The situation was under control.The aggravation would be obvious in her tone, only turning to look up at the man next to her after the words had left her lips. Bright green eyes narrowed and burned into him.I didnt need your help.
Maybe it was a bit of a lie, but Dick knew better than anyone that Babs was prideful to a fault sometimes. It even overrode the fact that part of her was happy to see him, and had this been a different situation she probably would have welcomed him with a hug. That wasnt on her list of things to do though, simply glaring at him before shooting her grappling hook up towards the ceiling in order to make her way to the roof. GCPD would be here soon to clean up the mess, and as always...they needed to be elsewhere when that happened.
The fresh air felt nice, the wind gently rustling her cape behind her as she took a moment to compose herself. The question of why he was here...was a stupid one, but she couldnt help but ask herself anyway. Grumbling to herself as she did so.Stupid Boy Wonder It was mumbled under her breath, just as she moved to kick an empty water bottle that had no doubt been left up here by one of the warehouse workers on break. The plastic crumpled a little as it skidded across the roof, stopping as it reached the edge of the building.
I did not bring a plus one. The redhead was pacing a bit now, arms crossed over her chest. Not caring if Grayson had followed her or not, which she suspected he would. The man had a tendency to be annoying like that. Why was she so wound up over him being back? Seeing him again? It was a road of questioning she wasnt really willing to go down. Memories rushing back to her mind, years of tension and arguments...friendship and laughter.Ugh!!
gpt
Dick was obviously more in character than he thought as he managed to keep the joke in response to himself and said, "I know," even though it was a lie. He had enough faith in Barbara and her skills that he doubted a handful of idiots would take her down, but it was obvious as he approached that she'd rushed in and let herself be surprised.
He crouched down and checked to make sure the man he'd dropped so brutally still had a pulse as he said, "the more memorable appearances Batman makes tonight, the better. And I was looking for you anyway." At the sound of sirens, Dick glanced up toward the door. In his ear, Alfred confirmed having alerted the police, who were eager to pick up this gang who appeared to be involved with smuggling in some of the venom that Bane was flooding the city with. Did Barbara even know about that? Would she have been so reckless if she knew about the performance enhancing drug that made users superhumanly strong and aggressive?
As he glanced toward the sirens, she was gone, and Dick allowed himself a rueful smile as he wondered if she was going to make him chase her. It had been the sort of thing she'd do all those years ago, and despite all his training and skill, his longer legs and the fact that (not that he'd admit it) he knew the scent of her perfume or shampoo or whatever it was and could recognize it from twenty yards.... despite all that, he only caught her about half the time.
He shot up onto the roof (the grapple was still calibrated for Bruce, so that's at least one thing he overlooked) and landed with the cape billowing out around him in that over-the-top dramatic way that Bruce favored. Dick had seen it so often that he really felt like Batman for a second as he stood up.
His serious veneer collapsed as he saw Barbara, unscathed, a little mad. He shouldn't have noticed the way her cheeks flushed after all this time, but it was just good detective work, right? He took a second to repress that thought (and the scent was still the same? Brand loyalty, or Miss Gordon knew what worked for her?) and to rethink his impulse to express concern or surprise to see her out like this. How long had it been since the wheelchair? Not long enough.
"I guess you heard about Bruce...?" He walked a few steps closer to her, wondering if it was a good or bad thing to talk with real names. It wasn't like anyone could overhear, and Batman talking about Bruce Wayne might just help confuse the issue for anyone close to figuring it out, anyway. Plus, was he supposed to talk about Batman? He was Batman. That thought seemed blasphemous, but it was true.
"I stopped by your place, but obviously you were elsewhere. How long have you been... back?" He gestured toward the outfit in a way that was a struggle not to move his hand in an hourglass-y way to indicate her figure. He might've failed at that a little, but at least he kept any hint of judgment from his voice about her being back in the cape and cowl.
human
The redhead turned as soon as she heard his voice, something comforting about it.Of course I know about Bruce. The words were soft, sullen. Green eyes peered up at him, teeth digging into her bottom lip. A tell that she was nervous or frustrated, in this situation possibly both? It had been a long time since they had seen one another, Dick had his own life now, his own city. It was strange seeing him now, as Batman. It felt wrong, like a kid playing dress up in his father's clothes. In some ways, it was exactly like that.
A few months.Of course she noticed the subtle movement of his hand, hinting at the curves of her body with its motion.Its been...an adjustment.
Babs wanted to stay mad, but it was impossible for her to hold a grudge against Grayson. They had been through so much together, in some ways he was her best friend. Or had been before he left. Even though she understood his reasons, she still felt a little like he had abandoned her. It was childish, but even in knowing that...it didnt shake the feeling.
Ive missed you, its good to have you back. Even if...its a little weird having you allThe redhead motioned with her arm towards his costume. It was weird for other reasons too, but she wasnt about to breathe a word of the emotional effect he was having on her. Mainly because she wasnt sure she really understood it. All she was doing right now was fighting the urge to hug him. Or just be close to him. Dick had always been her comfort, made her feel safe, and even with everything that had happened...that remained the same.
Bet you love having a cape again, huh? There it was, the teasing words and that bright smile that taunted him playfully...as it had so many times in the past. Some of the tension eased in that moment and it almost felt like old time. Almost.So, whats the plan, boss?
It was strange to think that he was now in that position. Of course Bruce would probably still be calling most of the shots from the sideline, but on the street...Dick was going to be the leader. It wasn't that much of a stretch, given their history. Nightwing had lead the Teen Titans, so it was an old hat."Don't get too bossy with me though, I might like it."
Arching an eyebrow at him she let out a chuckle, having always enjoyed pushing his buttons. Nothing had ever came of their flirtations, but no matter how much time passed or where they were in their lives...it never really stopped.
gpt
Dick rolled his eyes, not that it was all that visible behind the mask. Bruce had wanted Batman to appear pretty impassive, and so the mask covered most expressions. The depth of the protective filament also allowed for various tech lenses to slip out to allow for targeting, night vision, or heat signature tracking. It all made for the inert, scary batman that the criminals of Gotham feared and prevented rolling eyes from making the city's Dark Knight look frivolous, even though the man behind the mask just now certainly felt that way. "Don't get me started on the cape... If Bruce doesn't hurry back, by the time he returns Batman's going to really different."
He smirked then. This was not a facial movement that the cowl could conceal. He rapped his gauntlet-ed fist gently on the sleek armor over his thigh. "Hell, I oughtta change over to yellow tights on the legs. See how he likes it."
His smirk was just starting to fade when Babs threw in that little flirtation. He was incapable of making his smile vanish at that point even though he really should. Something about those lips calling him boss as she laughed gently at the idea made him move smoothly to stand nearer. His hand reached out to barely brush her hip as he said, "You never struck me as the submissive type."
His fingers slid down over the curve of her armored leg and he tipped his chin slightly before moving away, "but I don't think you're gonna be thrilled with following these orders. I can throw in you having to wear stockings, though, if it'll make it easier." Another grin and then his smirk vanished.
"Here's the thing, Alfred's running things for me from the cave, but..." He reached up and did something at the side of his cowl which would keep Alfred from hearing any of this. "He's not really here. He needs to go help Bruce, at least for a little while, but I need somebody watching the systems even more than Bruce ever did. So..." He gestured toward the gorgeous redhead, "you'd be great to have here... or in bed or on that rooftop over there..."
He grinned now. "Seriously, though, you're an asset in the streets for sure," this he said sincerely, though truthfully Dick wasn't excited about Barbara being in costume so soon after her recovery. She was certainly great, but how fragile was she? How rusty? "But what I need is eyes on the whole city and Alfred needs to go help Bruce. It's the only way I see us getting the city under control and getting rid of Bane."
human
Barbara tried to remain fairly stoic as Dick moved closer, commenting on how she didn't seem to be a certain type. Still she could feel the light brush at her hip, swallowing hard as she just chalked it up to a accidental bump and not a intentional touch. It didn't stop her heart rate from picking up for a moment."It's cute that you think you know me so well." Then he mentioned stockings and she couldn't help but chuckle, the joke distracting her from the turn in conversation that was sure to make her unhappy.
As he continued she finally turned to look at him, eyes narrowing a bit as he started to ease into his point a little more. The flirtations were still distracting, seemingly peppered in there to keep her from flying off the handle too quickly. Still, he did have to eventually make his point."You're trying to bench me?" O f course she knew his point was valid, but it didn't really help ease the sting of what he was saying."I mean, I understand what you're saying...but..."
The logical part of Babs was on board with his reasoning, but the hotheaded little bat was internally screaming at him for coming into her city and making changes like he had the right."What about a compromise? I can make some calls, pull some strings, and find someone suitable to help out manning the systems."Of course she would still need to help out, as most of the people capable of taking over the job of Oracle had other things on their plate as well. Still, it would keep her from having to be a permanent behind the scenes fixture. Not now that she didn't have to be one.
There were numerous people that could help, but if she were able to get a hold of Julia AKA Penny-Two, they would be set. Alfred's daughter knew the system as well as anyone, but she was almost impossible to get a hold of these days. Hopping from country to country. Still, she could try. If not, there were some people who owed her favors that would work in the interim. At least free her up a little so she could run around and fight the baddies. Dick's reasoning had been logical enough to where she didn't question his motives too carefully. No clue that he was concerned if she was ready or not to be back in the mask.
Had she known that...this conversation would be going very,verydifferently.
"Fishnets or the kind with the seam up the back?"There was a small smirk pulling at her lips as she teased him about the stockings. Hinting that these types of items might very well already be tucked away in a dresser drawer somewhere. Clearing her throat with a light shake of her head she focused back in on reality."Can I finish off my night before you send me to the bull pin? I've got one more stop on my usual route."
gpt
Dick didn't anticipate the offer, but he really should've. The mask did keep from revealing the momentary consternation as she suggested a compromise. With her connections and all that time with the Birds of Prey and the other Batgirls it stood to reason that she would have a few potential replacements to call in. They probably weren't as good as Oracle, but then neither was Alfred, and that was how Dick had phrased the whole problem, wasn't it?
"I just need somebody behind the comms who knows this city and the systems as well as Penny-One and that I can depend on. Obviously you're the best choice, but I'm willing to consider alternatives." Maybe he ought to just flat-out tell her that he was worried.... but of course he could easily imagine how well that would go over. And maybe he'd just caught her at a bad moment, too. Her error earlier could've been a one-off thing.
And he's not going anywhere tonight," he said as he switched back on the audio connection with Alfred, "so you're good to finish your rounds. Let me tag along, though..." He grinned and his hand deliberately grazed her thigh and around toward the swell of her ass as he moved around her. "I need to observe you in motion before I can decide, but I'm thinking fishnets..." He squinted and let his gaze move over her body, "and maybe nothing else...?" His smirk broadened.
human
The redhead was relieved as Dick agreed to her terms, but she sensed on some level hi didn't really want to. Babs wasn't going to push her luck though, he had agreed to her terms and that was all she really needed right now. The relief she felt as he said she could finish her rounds was short lived by the fact that he would be tagging along. Lips parted to protest, but the words caught in her throat as soon as she felt his touch along her thigh.
It was purposeful, and she was amazed that such subtle contact could send little bolts of electricity through her body the way it did. It wasn't the touch, on some level she knew that. It was who was touching her that was causing the reaction. Still she tried to hide the effect it had as best she could, although it was made all the more difficult with what he was saying to her.
The image played through her mind, as much as she was trying to will it not to. Sitting at her station, nothing but fishnets on...Dick coming in all sweaty from fighting...Whoa! Stop it!Shaking her head she pushed the thought to the side. No completely banishing it, as it might be of used later after she had crawled into bed and called it a night. Which was...horrible of her, but Dick had a way of making his way into most of her fantasies. The cocky bastard.
"In your dreams."Lame comeback, but she had to say something before too much time passed."Just try to keep up, huh?"With a smirk her hand moved to her belt and she started running, leaping off the edge of the building, only to come swinging back upward, and landing without a sound on the next rooftop.
The last stop was an easy one. Just checking on an abandoned house that used to be a hide out for some rather seedy Gotham villains. It had been abandoned for a long time, but Barbara had been making it a point to check on it...just in case. It was old and dilapidated. Looking as though it might have been pulled from some post apocalyptic move set. There wasn't much inside. Some dirty mattresses, an old dresser which only housed one drawer and a slew of empty liquor bottles. Hoping in through the upstairs window Batgirl let out a sigh. Everything appeared to be as she had left it last time.
It was a bit of a disappointment, as she really felt she needed to work some aggression out now...or more...frustrations. When Dick no doubt made his appearance, as she hadn't actually been trying to lose him, she would turn to him and shrug."No more action for me tonight...unless you wanted to tumble."The redhead playfully stretched her arm out, lightly punching his shoulder.
gpt
"Only every night," he said in response to her come-back. It was timed so that even if it made the redhead flush (and her pale cheeks showed a flush so easily it was impossible not to try and make it happen) it wouldn't screw up her launch off the building. And of course it wasn't entirely true. The fishnets were a new thought, to be honest, but the frequency of Barbara in his dreams was decidedly regular.
He watched her dive off the building and swing up and across the city skyline, telling himself it was to assess her form and technique. Of course the fit of her uniform was more what he noticed. "A bit distracted, Master Dick?"
He broke into a jog to follow her, and as he did, he said, "I'm cutting the visual feed," he said, then added, as if it would cover where his eyes had been, "does Bruce still have biometrics built into the batgirl costume, or did Barbara find those and pull them out? I want some readouts on her performance since she got back at it if possible... see how she's getting back into the swing of things."
Something about the "Very good, Master Dick," suggested that Alfred didn't buy it, but at least recognized that it was a good idea. He punched in the code on the palm of the glove that shut off the feed to the cave just as he dove from the rooftop, and for a few minutes Dick was Batman, trailing Batgirl through the night air. It was probably his imagination that he could smell her perfume leading him as surely as that streak of telltale red hair.
He dropped in the window of the derelict building, one of the various red hoods' old hide outs as he recalled. As she punched his shoulder, Dick smiled. "Aren't you a little rusty to be challenging Batman?" He shifted back into an easy stance, rolling his shoulders. "But if you want to make things interesting, you in stockings sounds like pretty good stakes for when I win..."
human
"I wouldn't dare challenge Batman.." The smile on her lips was friendly enough, but there was a mischievous little twinkle in her eye that usually hinted that she was up to something."...and when I win, you get to bust out those yellow tights." Part of her knew there was a good chance she wouldn't come out on top, but every now and then the underdog would pull out a win. That, and she had some tricks up her sleeve.
Sparring wasn't new to them, had done it countless times in the past, but a lot of time had passed. Barbara wasn't convinced she could predict him quite as well as she used to be able to. That, and he wasn't rusty. Everything inside of her told her to back down, but that damn pride of hers was once again overriding logical though. Plus, it might be fun...and maybe a small part of her just wanted to touch him.
Taking a step the side she squared up with him, looking him over for a moment...having forgotten how tall and toned he was. Trying to hide any intimidation from her features she let out a sigh and rolled her shoulders back. They shouldn't be doing this, it was childish...but Dick and Barbara seemed to be bad influences on each other sometimes."Age before beauty."
The redhead had a plan, goading him into moving first. The goal was simply. Dodge his advance and get her hands on that cape. Dick wasn't used to having one, and that was certainly an advantage. If she was successful, the girl would move in fast fluid motions to maneuver herself behind him, working to pull that cape up and over his head before leaping onto his back in an attempt to keep it there. Toned legs would wrap around his waist, her chest pressed firmly to his back. Even in the situation it would be hard to ignore how close they were.
If there was one thing she was happy about though, it was that he didn't have those damn sticks. Having been shocked by those more than once...she wasn't a fan of being on the other end of them. Nightwing was an annoying little bugger to fight. The thought made her chuckle to herself, realizing just how odd this all was. Didn't make it any less fun though, as she knew that neither of them would actually do any serious damage to the other. Not like when the brothers went at it sometimes...that could get pretty ugly pretty past. With Babs they had always kept it fairly playful though, and if anyone did get hurt, it was purely accident.
There was an advantage to Dick dressing up like Batman though, it almost neutralized him in her mind. At least a little, which made her head and her heart less of a mess.
gpt
Dick inclined his head slightly and said, "I think the idea is that the Bat is an ageless, immortal symbol of the heart of Gotham... or something, so I'm not sure technically how 'age' stacks up, but...." He stepped forward with his nearer foot as if about to rush at her and then smoothly pushed off that toe and lifted his whole body on it. Something between a ballerina and an acrobat, that movement was the opposite of what his body language indicated - and by design. If Dick were fighting himself he'd know how much he hated that damn cape just as much as Barbara did. He'd go straight for it.
So instead of giving her access to it he pivoted up on his toe and swung his other foot up and out, snapping a kick toward her torso that would send anyone sprawling -- but not much worse. The shift would be even more effective if she was going to feign to his weak side (like he would have done) before darting around him to get near his back the other direction.
And it would've worked, too, except that the weight of the cape. As Dick shifted his body in that artful way the cape just kept moving and his kick was thrown off by the fabric overlaying his foot as he swung it. He barely connected and was hopelessly open for a second, desperately crouching to block whatever she was about to throw at him with one arm while the other reached for his shoulder. He was taking this damn cape off! There was no way this ended in anything other than Barbara in fishnets... or, ideally, out of them....
human
That leg of his would make contact, but just as she had predicted...the cape was throwing him off. Didn't stop her from being knocked back though, taking a few steps to recover but not creating as much distance as he probably wished he would have gotten from the move. As he crouched she moved, the floor creaking beneath her as he rushed forward."Yea, yea...doesn't change the fact that I'm prettier."
The goal wasn't to land a blow, so much as it was to knock him off balance, skidding down to one knee as she approached and kicking her leg out towards his dominant knee. If successful she would follow through, pushing up and into him, knocking Dick onto his back.
This house couldn't take much, dust filling the air as the foundation seemed to groan with each movement they made. The walls were falling apart, and it was possible that the floor beneath them might give way at any moment. None of this seemed to phase Babs too much though. The girl was quick, and much lighter than her sparring partner. Plus, it wouldn't be the first time she had been tossed through drywall or fallen through the floor if it winded up happening.
If the move wasn't successful, and he had managed to keep his footing she would step back and regroup. Smart enough to not stay too close to him for too long. The reality was he was stronger than she was, so best to stay out of reach if at all possible.
Whatever outcome the same words would make their way past her lips."You kick like a girl." It was snarky, teasing and...well...just what one would expect the redhead to say in this situation."A six year old girl."
gpt
A week from now this would have gone very differently. After he'd had more than a night to acclimate to the costume, there was no way he'd be this off-balance. And anyone except Barbara would have had a much harder time taking advantage, too. She knew how Dick moved and she knew how Bruce moved. She'd trained and sparred with both of them, in and out of costume, for years. In one sense this was actually ideal; Babs was the perfect person to highlight all these flaws for him before he was in a situation against someone who would really punish him for the mistakes like Shiva or Bane. It was just not the first thought on his mind, to be grateful, as she caught the side of his knee with her foot and rushed forward to bring their bodies together briefly before her momentum pushed him backwards.
He landed heavily on the tired old wood with a grunt, turning to take the fall on his shoulder instead of his back so his breath wouldn't get knocked away. As he hit he was already planting his hands and rolling backwards, though. He threw his weight back and dug his fingers into the floor as he kicked up with first one foot and then the other. If she were too cocky to move back after knocking him down, his feet would catch her under her pretty chin... otherwise they'd just arc through the air and carry him into an elegant flip to his feet, cape flowing back after them and, for once, doing what he wanted it to do.
"A six year old Kara, maybe..." Did she kick hard when she was six? Dick seemed to remember Clark not getting powers until he was a teenager, but it sounded good... He reconsidered getting rid of the cape, instead trying to feel it's weight and remembering how Bruce used it. Batman fought two ways, either waiting and reacting to an opponent or going in for the kill. He shifted his weight and dragged his eyes over Barbara's body, touching his tongue to his upper lip. "You're lucky you caught me on my first night in this cape or you'd already be undressing...."
human
Dick recovered quickly, and as he flipped back up to his feet she was thankful she had taken a step back. Catching a boot to the chin was not her idea of a good time."Pfffft..."Well, that was possibly the worst comeback of all time. Wasn't even really a comeback as much as it was a noise.
It was possible that even in the dimly lit room, where a nearby street lamp was the only source of light, he would see the blush creeping in on Batgirl's cheeks. There weren't many people out there who had this effect on her, in fact...there was only one. Being out of practice in dealing with him wasn't helping either, but it seemed that at least for the moment she had forgotten that she was mad at him for leaving in the first place.
"Hey! I agreed to fishnets, not...naked fishnets."Okay, so she had caught onto that a little a late. Did she really agree to be naked? This was distracting her, and maybe that was the point, but just the thought of it was making her heart pound. It had been hard enough getting back into the swing of things recently, adding Dick Grayson into the mix was going to make it damn near impossible. At least until he got distracted by some gorgeous blonde.
Which would no doubt make her a little jealous, in a weird way...there was really no winning. Maybe it was a good thing he had left. At least for her sanity. Didn't matter though, as he would be back at least until Bruce was back up and running. Who would be none too pleased that the two were 'fraternizing' like this right now."Maybe it's not the cape. Maybe...you're just...losing your touch? It happens sometimes. Spending all that time in cushy Budhaven...Gotham might just be too much for you now."
gpt
"Maybe," he said as if he might agree with her. The tone was noncommittal, almost conversational, and as he said it he took a second to feel the weight of the cape and of the body armor and really let it sink in for maybe the first time. He was not about to lose.
Dick shifted his weight back and then rapidly forward, closing the distance between them lightning fast and rearing back to strike out at her. "Or maybe," he said now as he changed direction abruptly to spring to the side, leaving her (hopefully) poised to defend a blow that wasn't coming. He used his momentum to run a few steps up the wall of the old building and turned so that the bulk of the cape was between them, obscuring his movements.
"...I'm distracted at the thought of you," behind the cape he kicked out with both legs, one shooting toward the back of her knees as the other scissored in toward her stomach. Unless she were quicker and stronger than he thought he'd catch her between them and drop her to the ground, captured and on her pretty ass as he knelt over her. "in those fishnets." He reached for her wrists and grinned. "And. nothing. else."
human
Barbara fell for the bait, letting out an annoyed little grunt as she hit the ground. Even more irritated that he had used the damn cape to pull it off. With her lower bod trapped under his weight she went to move her arms, but Dick was a step ahead of her, already grabbing for her wrists. The words he spoke caused her breath to hitch in her throat, heart thudding in her ears.
The term 'you could cut the tension with a knife' would have been an understatement. With so many years playing cat and mouse with each other it had reached a whole new level. Arching her back she tried to push up against him, wriggle herself free, which she knew wouldn't do her much good. Dick was stronger, and smart enough to get to her hands before they could get to her belt."How are you...even more annoying...than you used to be?"
Each cut in her words was filled with a little grunt as she tried to get some kind of leverage against him. Noticing the creak that rang out when her hips swayed to the left. Also noticing, and ignoring the fact that she could feel some slickness between her thighs. Again her hips moved, the house groaning beneath her. Maybe, just maybe, the floor would give out. Falling would hurt, but it would at least give her an opportunity to get out from under Dick. Not that she was banking on it working. It hadn't given out when she fell after all.
Still, she had to try?
"I will give you...fishnets...with bra and panties...and no touching."Barbara was just trying to buy time at this point. Come up with a plan, or have the floor give out. Maybe get struck by lightning? Anything would be good at this point, the last thing she wanted to do was lose. Losing to Dick was...the worst.
gpt
Dick shifted his weight forward and down toward her, pinning her more securely as his hands tightened around her wrists. It was easy to bring her two wrists together and spread his fingers wide to grab both of her wrists in one strong hand. Barbara had a lot of assets, but being stronger than him was certainly not one of them. "Years of practice," he said as he tightened his grip and brushed his now-free hand down her cheek. "I figured you'd appreciate the effort."
He smiled and let his hand trail down her neck as she continued to struggle. "Bartering, huh?" He pressed his body down to try and pin hers, hips pressing forward and man was he glad that the batsuit was basically armor. Those old Robin costumes weren't exactly built to conceal the sort of reaction a gorgeous, squirming redhead could generate. His gauntleted hand slipped down to very near the top of her breasts. "The deal wasjustfishnets, Babs.... but if you're conceding then I suppose--"
With her last shift the floor gave out and Dick's words were cut off as their movements sent them through the rotted wood. He had to let go of her wrists, but he snatched one of her hands as his other shot out to grasp for purchase. The floor felt stable enough as he lunged to the side, but no sooner had he gotten a grip than the wood began to crumble. It was just enough to keep them from falling, but once Barbara's weight was caught along with his the wood shattered and he dropped. She would only have a few feet to go to hit the floor beneath, but Dick had the whole level below to drop before he'd stop -- assuming the floor on that level was sturdy enough to not shatter under the weight of the man and the suit.
human
Barbara was trying to keep her breathing under control, but as his covered fingertips brushed along her cheek and down her neck she couldn't help the somewhat ragged breaths she was starting to take. Every move he made seemed to bring their bodies closer together and it was making it all the more difficult to focus. Part of her had hoped that she had grown out of it, that her silly little crush on Dick Grayson had run its course...that was apparently not the case though.
Just as his hand dipped lower, and he was about to give in to her terms, the floor gave way. The sound was almost deafening given how quiet it had just been, and as the redhead started to free fall to the floor below she felt a hand grasp her own, stopping her descent...at least for a second. Before she could even think to breathe a sigh of relief, the wood Dick was grasping gave way as well.
Given she only had a few feet to fall she landed with ease on her feet, but as Dick hit the ground...there was another loud creak, followed by a snap."Shit, shit, shit.."Not wanting to rush towards the floor that was caving in Barbara went for her belt, pulling out her grappling hook and sending flying just in time to wrap around Dick's calf before the floor once again gave way.
Barbara knew this house, the first floor...didn't even really exist anymore. The wood completely rotted away. If Dick did fall, he would be heading two floors down to the basement. Which wasn't somewhere he wanted to be, as it had been flooded with some pretty questionable water.
As soon as his weight caught on the line, she was dragged forward, quickly fumbling for another line on her belt as she tried to dig the heels of her feet in. It was her off hand she was working with, so it took a minute, but she eventually tied the rope off to her suit before shooting the hook. It sailed through the air, cutting through the side of the house before attaching itself."Unnnng...you need...to go...on a diet..."There was no where to tie of the line that was holding Dick, so she was stuck taking all of his weight on herself. Not that she thought he was going to want to hang there for long. At least she had sopped moving forward, and if the floor did give way, hopefully the second line would hold and keep her from falling.
gpt
The hook wrapped around his calf just as he started to plummet, perfect timing to arrest his fall but also, unfortunately, perfect to hurt. He could almost feel the bruise develop in a line along his calf as the line caught his weight and the hook circled his leg. Dick pointed his toes at just the right moment to catch the hook so that it wouldn't accidentally dig into his flesh, but the metal still jerked back hard on his boot as he stopped falling and started swinging toward the wall. He heard Barbara grunt with the effort of stopping him and once more mentally cursed the cape that kept him from seeing behind him.
Going to have to go forwards.
He reached for his belt as he started to sway, looking through the window and trying to ignore the two story drop below to what appeared to be either a swamp or a sewer. Somebody's sump pump was not up to the task. "It's the armor," he said conversationally as he reached for his own grapnel. "Must weigh 40 pounds, or didn't you ever wonder why Bruce was always smashing through walls." He did a hanging sit up and took the gun off, then pulled himself up further and wrapped a gauntlet into the line she had fired. It took a second to get a little slack in the line so that he could work his leg free.
"All these years I thought he just hated walls," he said with a laugh as he finally got his leg free and hung for a second before firing a shot up through the opening he'd fallen through. The line dug into the ceiling - the beams there seemed sturdy enough - but he held onto her line anyway. Dick shot upwards rapidly, releasing his line as he got higher and dropping down near her. As soon as he did he yanked her toward him with the line he still held, lifting his arm and stepping aside in an effort to wrap her up and draw her close, almost like a dance move... "Nice catch, Babs," he said.
human
There was a roll of her eyes as he mentioned it being the armor, teeth gritting as she felt the weight on the line shift."This isn't...story time..."There was a hint of a laugh at the end of her words, amazed that he was trying to just have a normal conversation with her given the situation. It was then she saw the hook shoot up, and the weight on the line she had been holding disappeared. The sudden shift causing her to stumble a few steps back.
"You-"The words were cut short as she was tugged towards the figure that had landed in front of her. Using the line she had used to catch him in order to manipulate her movement. Hands hit his armored chest, resting there as she peered up at him. It was still a little strange...having Dick dressed as Batman. It kind of messed with her head. Then he complimented her..."Well...I've had a lot of experience saving your ass Grayson."
Deep down she knew she should pull away, even more so she knew that they needed to get the hell out of this house. On the bright side...it probably would be off the list of possible hideouts."Maybe we should have tried this in a place that wasn't falling apart. Especially since you're fat now." It was teasing, the redhead even moving to push against his stomach...which she knew was probably nothing less than toned muscled perfection...but had to pick on him anyway.
gpt
They weren't that far from where the floor had just given way, and common sense dictated getting clear. But then common sense didn't account for Batgirl with a line of cable around her body held close in his arms, her hands on his chest, did it? Common sense was a terrible guide. His brow went up even though it was invisible behind the mask and he smirked. "I think you're confusing 'saving' with 'staring at'," he said.
As her hand moved from his chest to his stomach his own hand rested on her waist. Well, not quite. At her mention of his ass his hand had dipped a few inches lower, just past the small of her back where her amazing ass just started to curve away from her body. Just on the edge of inappropriate, which seemed to be where Dick and Barbara always spent their time. "You picked this place, Batgirl," he said finally and moved his hand from her body to catch her wrist again. She wasn't going to be able to feel his stomach through the armor anyway, but he stopped her from even trying.
He bent down so that his breath was warm near her cheek as he spoke, "And if you wanted to find out if I was fat now, you should've won..." His lips lingered near her cheek, tantalizingly close, and then he pulled back and said, "Let's have the fashion show someplace less derelict, hmm? I haven't seen your new place yet." He grinned.
human
This wasn't a new dance they were doing, but it still managed to throw her off balance. Feeling his hand slip further down her back, just to stop right at the curve of her lower back. That line, they had walked it for a long time and it showed in ever little action, every flirtatious comment. It always pushed the limit, but never broke the imaginary barrier they had created."I didn't pick this-"
The words stopped as he leaned in, warm breath trailing along the sensitive flesh of her neck. Causing her skin to tingle and light shiver to run down her back."Not sure how you've come to the conclusion that you won..."Finally she took a step a back, even if it was a bit hesitant. Tossing him a smirk she slipped past him, moving toward the window with a gentle sway of her hips."I'm still set up in the clock tower. Hard to give up that view."
With that, she slipped out the window and started making her way over the rooftop across town. There was no need to follow her, Dick no doubt knew where the clock tower was...unless he had completely forgotten the layout of Gotham. Even then, the damn thing was like a beacon looming over the city. No doubt she would make it there before him though. Knew the fastest route and had gotten a bit of a head start.
The metal door swung open with a push, the redhead stepping inside and taking a quick look around. Having not been ready for any kind of guest, her place was a bit of mess. Clothes strewn about the floor, chinese take out containers and empty water bottles on the coffee table. With a heavy sigh she pulled her cowl back and off of her head, tossing it on the counter near the door before moving further into the room. It was hard to ignore the anxiety rising up in her, wondering if Dick really expected her to...
A nervous little chuckle left her lips as her arm reached around her back, tugging at the zipper and pulling it down her back. Before actually pulling the costume from her arms she picked up some pajamas off of the floor, that..looked clean enough and set them on the couch. From there she would change as quickly as possible, slipping on a black tank top and a pair of sweat pants Tim had gotten her for Christmas with Gotham U printed on the left leg.
gpt
"I can think of better views," he said from behind her, eyes glued to the sway of her hips. He really should call it a night. If he were Nightwing he wasn't sure if he'd feel like he should go to the clocktower or not, but he was Batman. And Batman shouldn't be mesmerized by the sway of any pair of hips or thinking with anything other than the most incisive detective's mind the world had ever known... Too bad that Batman was undergoing preparations for nerve-repair surgery and the cowl was on Dick Grayson's stupid head.
And he needed to check on Babs' set up at the tower anyway, right?
He switched on the audio feed to the cave before he followed, telling Alfred to get a report to condemn the building they were in and telling him to call it a night. He'd let himself in and unlike Master Bruce, he could cook an egg or make a sandwich for himself if he was hungry. They'd talk tomorrow about how things would work going forward... but Dick didn't mention the plans to send Alfred to assist Bruce... not yet.
He dropped to the floor of the clocktower apartment-slash-hideout far less heavily than Bruce would have, seeming to almost stop falling just before he landed. The cape did make for an impressive entrance, though, billowing out and actually almost mimicking the wings of a bat for a moment as he touched down before it settled around him like a midnight cloak. It felt a bit like being Darth Vader, except there was nothing on the utility belt half as cool as a lightsaber.
"I'm sorry, Barbara," he said, his diction taking on that deeper, distant Batman-impersonating tone, "but it seems that I may have overestimated your qualifications to serve as my eyes and ears in the city. I was sure a woman of your unique skills and training would be an asset," he said and now his smirk finally returned as he glanced at her, eyes dragging over her body in the sweats and tanktop, "but clearly anyone who doesn't know the difference between Gotham University sweatpants and fishnet stockings is out of her depth when it comes to tracking the criminal element of this city."
human
Even with how experienced she was in dealing with the men in this family, and how sneaky they could be, Dick's entrance caught her a bit off guard. The surprise faded quickly though, the redhead rolling her eyes a bit at the dramatics of it all. Even if she did secretly think it looked pretty badass, she would never voice it...as she would never hear the end of it if she did.
Then he started talking, and an eyebrow arched. Not sure what he was getting at, or why he was getting there. Whatever his point was, he better make it fast as she was starting to get mildly offended at the words he was spewing. Then that smirk...
"You didn't win, Dick."Sure he had pinned her, and had the floor not given out she wouldn't have been able to get free...but the floorhadgiven out. If anything it was a draw. Or at least that's how she was choosing to see it."I didn't know that the intimate knowledge of sweatpants vs. fishnets had anything to do with fighting criminals...so I guess, I learned something today?"
Arms moved to cross over her chest, tugging at the hem of her tank top and exposing a small hint of the pale smooth skin that was hidden beneath the fabric."Wait...are you pushing this because secretly you want to be the one in fishnets and your trying to live vicariously through me?"There was a playful smirk on her lips, green eyes narrowing in on him. The brilliant shade of emerald now much more discernible without the cowl."I wish I could say I was surprised..."
gpt
"Yeah, itsoundsuseless," he said. "But when you send me to Planet Fitness when I'm supposed to be meeting with Zatanna because you can't tell the difference..." he trailed off and laughed. He knew that in the clock tower there was zero possibility of anyone ever seeing anything Babs didn't want them to see. The place was secure as secure could be, and so he reached up to the sides of his neck and released the two hidden clasps that kept the cowl on. All that tech built in made it more than a little inconvenient.
"And I totally won," he said. He took off the cowl and unclasped the cape as well, setting both down across the back of a chair and sighing with relief. His dark hair was wet with sweat and he pushed a gauntleted hand through it before he took the gloves off, too. "Though if you want to call it a draw, we can have a rematch in someplace that isn't collapsing around us. And..." He set the gloves down by the cowl and flexed his fingers, "I'll have you know the fishnets are a compromise."
His brow arching as he regarded her for a moment was much more obvious without the cowl over his face. He looked more like nightwing, more like Dick now. He did not go on to say that the idea wasn't to get her IN the fishnets so much as OUT of them, but there was something in his playful gaze that made it apparent. His lips curled up into a deeper smile and then he looked away and pushed his hands through his hair again. "I always used to wonder why Bruce seemed to like those snowy nights.... now I know, this suit's an oven!"
human
Well, there was no mistaking who was in the room with her now. The slight buffer the Batman persona had given Dick was gone, and she came close to asking him to put it back on for her own sake. It was easier to deal with him when she could argue that it wasn't really him."Compromise?"
The look of confusion on her face quickly turned into one of slight shock as her cheeks reddened and her eyes pulled away from his gaze. Thankfully the subject seemed to change, granting her a moment of relief as well as stopping the images starting to play out in her head."Such a baby.."The words were mumbled as she moved over to a dresser, tugging open the bottom drawer she pulled out some clothes that should fit him. From time to time other members of the bat family had crashed her, so she kept certain things on hand for convenience.
"Here these should fit. You can take a shower if you need to."It was obvious she was avoiding looking at him now. Had been having difficulties ever since he took the mask off. It had been a while since she had actually seen him, and it wasn't any easier than she thought it would be. Somehow she managed to pull her eyes to meet his though, a soft smile on her lips."You look good Grayson. I mean, the hair needs some work."
Of course she was picking on the sweaty mess that was now his hair."Bet you're going to be missing that domino mask too."There was only about a foot between them, and she wanted to both close the gap and turn away all at the same time. It was the constant struggle of being around him."So, are you strictly Batman now or are you still going to moonlight at Nightwing from time to time?"
Work was always a good thing to talk about when she was struggling to compose herself around him. It was a trick she had learned early on, and it hadn't failed yet.
gpt
Of course there were a dozen dozen reasons why Barbara Gordon would have extra men's clothes in her place. All the various Bats and other capes who might or might not come around plus her many friends and even her dad or other members of the GCPD could have left things here for a quick change in a hurry. Undercover work, secret identities... hell, practical as Babs was, she might've just gone and bought some cheap clothes to have on hand for just this sort of occasion... and yet there was a momentary stab of unreasoned jealousy.
He passed it off with a nod and another grin, lopsided and dimpled now that the cowl was gone. "Yeah, I think I might go buzz-cut with it. Or at least lose some volume. Bruce never would've made this thing so hot and thick if he'd had thick, gorgeous hair like mine." He touched the mask where it lay on the table and rolled his eyes at his own words.
Raising his hand to take the offered clothes from her, Dick almost said something complimentary in return.You look great, Babs... something about the costume makes you look happier. Puts a flush in those cheeks that really sets off your eyes and makes it hard not to....Of course he wasn't going to do that. Both because he'd pin her to that wall and taste her lips if he started and because he was still torn about how to approach her as Batgirl. He wanted her safe, but it was undeniable how much more herself she seemed since recovering and putting on the cape again.
"Nightwing's on some important Justice League business for the foreseeable future," he said, avoiding eye contact. How could she smell so good after a night out punching things? "Stephanie Brown's doing a semester in Bludhaven, which means, Spoiler-Alert," he smirked, "the Spoiler's watching things to some extent. And of course Tim's up there every weekend to see her. Between that and the fact that Bane called all the hoods to worry about down to Gotham to go after Bruce, it should be fine... This is where the mess is that needs cleaning..."
He moved past her, just barely keeping his hand off her hip as he passed, proud of himself, and got a whole step toward the shower before he laughed. "Not your apartment," he said and turned, holding something up he'd lifted from the arm of the couch, "although clearly it could use a little cleaning itself." He held what he'd found up and his brows went up a mile. In front of his face was a lacy and barely-there pair of panties that had apparently eluded her cleaning efforts before his arrival. He never would've pictured Babs in a thong before, but now it was all he was thinking about.
human
The redhead couldn't help but wrinkle her nose at the idea of Dick with a buzz cut. Mainly because as he had so modestly stated, he had thick, gorgeous hair. Certainly something she had never imagined running her hands through...or tugging on...
Thankfully he took her up on work conversation, and there was a soft sigh of relief as the business talk started up. None of it was really surprising, it all sounded fairly textbook as to how the situation was being handled, but she enjoyed listening to it. There was no confusion, it all made sense and it cleared her mind from the fact that Dick was in her clock tower. Well, somewhat at least.
Of course he just had to go and pick something up. Babs knew what it was before he did, eyes going wide as he lectured her while holding a pair of her panties in his hand. Not just any panties either, it was a lacy barely there thong that...she was kicking herself for not noticing and tossing in the hamper."Heh...well..."The redhead would try to snatch the fabric from his hands and toss it somewhere, anywhere that far far away from here. "I've been busy...and...nobody really ever comes up here."
In that moment her mind raced for something to say, although there was nothing she could possibly say that was going to hide the redness of her cheeks. Why couldn't he have just...not picked anything up? It was just as reasonable to point out her place was a mess without putting his hands on anything."You know, I don't usually...wear stuff like that. I had a date and.."Every voice that lived in her head was screaming at her to stop talking. There was no need to explain her underwear, it was none of his business."You know what, I don't need to discuss my underwear with you."
It was almost defensive, as though he had actually asked about it. Which he hadn't, the redhead had just taken the look on his face and her own embarrassment and rolled with it.
gpt
"Only because I chivalrously agreed it was a draw," he said with that raised brow. He rubbed his fingers together through the barely-there garment and kept his eye contact with her for a second before looking down at the panties as if appraising them. "You know this is probably exactly what people are picturing under those badass tights? I mean, I know that when I..." He stopped and shook his head and then flicked the thong at her, using the elastic to launch them like a rubber band toward her flushing face. Hopefully it was enough of a distraction to get her mind off what he had trailed off from saying.
"I was sure you were gonna have to buy some fishnets after losing that sparring match, but now I think I may have misjudged you Barbara Gordon. Next thing you know I'll find handcuffs and blindfolds and a paddle somewhere... I hope there's nothing incriminating in the bathroom, though... I think I'll take you up on that shower offer to buy you some time to hide the rest of your naughty little secrets." He watched her turn redder still for a second and then laughed warmly and turned to head toward the shower with the clothes she'd provided in his arm.
As he headed that way his other hand opened the clasp on the shoulder of the suit and pulled it down, revealing his bare back as he pulled the costume off down to at least his naval. He'd have to get used to how hot it was, but for now he was glistening with sweat, his muscular back somehow tanned even though he didn't see the sun often, rippling with strength as the dark grey and black of the suit folded down and he headed toward the welcome respite of a shower. A cold shower, he thought to himself.
human
The shock of the panties hitting her face was successful in distracting her from where Dick may have been going with his sentence. In fact it had pretty much stopped all of her thoughts dead in their tracks. That was of course until he brought up handcuffs, blindfolds and paddles. Of course she had handcuffs, but she would plead the fifth if he questioned her about any of the other items.
No words would come out, Dick had successfully spun her head so quickly that she had...nothing. No witty retort, no defense. All she could do was watch as he walked away, pulling down his costume as he did so. The redhead couldn't help the bite she took out of her bottom lip as she watched. That muscled back was perfection, every moved he made highlighting his toned form. All sweaty, masculine and... no!
Babs closed her eyes and shook her head, not that the image was going anywhere. As soon as the bathroom door was closed she let out a groan, running her hands over her face and up into her hair. It wasn't long before she forced herself to snap out of it though. Wanting to clean up anything else embarrassing that might be lying around. It was hustle time, the redhead moving quickly throughout her place and tidying up as best she could.
It was a decent distraction, although her mind kept wandering to the man who was naked in her bathroom right now. In the corner by her bed she did find a pair of handcuffs...which were quickly tossed in the top drawer of her nightstand, along with all her other "naughty little secrets" as Dick had so lovingly called them. Although she had yet to find anyone to actually give her what she wanted and satisfy her in the bedroom department. At least recently. That wasn't really important right now though.
By the time Dick was out of the shower she had taken care of most of the clothes, and the trash that had been lying around. It still wasn't immaculate by any means, but it was better."Find anything incriminating?"It was said with confidence, well as much as she could have given she wasn't 100% sure she knew everything that had been in the bathroom. Although she was pretty sure nothing naughty was in there. "Enjoy the water pressure?" It was teasing, as her shower head was certainly one that could be removed from the wall...which the redhead found herself doing often enough.
gpt
Dick emerged from the shower after a quick rinse in water that was initially warm but wound up bordering on cold by design. He was probably imagining that he could smell anything like arousal or perfume lingering from the hand that had rubbed her tantalizing panties a moment earlier, but whether it was real or not his reaction was genuine. A little aroused, a little visibly aroused, as he got out of the Batsuit and so after rinsing the sweat from his muscular body he'd turned the water to colder in an attempt to keep that sort of thought from presenting itself again. Barbara had always had that sort of effect on him, though when she'd gone from wholesomely appealing and pretty as can be to intensely arousing and precisely as sexy as possible he couldn't tell.
He was wearing the sweatpants she'd given him, the waistband stretched and no drawstring in sight. Rather than risk them dropping off he'd tied them around his waist with the sleeves of the sweatshirt, leaving him bare from the waist up. He was rubbing the towel through his dark unruly hair, every motion bringing definition to the tanned muscles of his arms and chest. Somehow the rippled, tanned, chiseled definition of his abs even managed to get in on the action, as if he engaged every muscle with every action.
"I don't even know, to be honest," he said lightly. "All that girl stuff... there's lotions and salts, which could be incriminating, but whether they're for whatever dirty things Barbara Gordon's trying to get me imagining," his brow went up, "or for witch craft or legitimate bathing, I couldn't say." He scanned the room with his bright blue eyes and then glanced back at her. "Anything incriminating you wanted to leave out for me?"
human
There was no way to be prepared for a shirtless Dick coming out of the bathroom. Positive she had given him a sweatshirt. As she thought it her eyes wandered down, noticing it had been tied around his waist and she could only assume it was because he didn't want his pants to fall down. It made sense, but it didn't make looking at his muscled form any easier, especially as it twitched an tensed with the movement of his drying his hair.
"You caught me, Grayson. I'm a witch." There was a soft little shrug of her shoulders as she moved into the kitchen, pulling a glass from the cabinet and filling it up with water. As much as she was thirsty...it was also nice to have something to distract herself with."I'm not sure anything I could have left out you would have known what to do with."
Immediately after speaking she took a few deep pulls from her glass of water. Kicking herself for the words that had come out of her mouth. Teasing him on patrol was one thing, teasing him late at night when he was shirtless and in her clock tower/apartment...that seemed a little more like playing with fire. Not that it was new, walking that line was something they did almost expertly."The couch folds out if you want to crash here tonight."
It was a lame attempt at changing the subject, but she had to try. Not that inviting him to stay the night was really the best idea with how things were going between them. Or...not going.
gpt
"I knew it," he said as he draped the towel over his powerful shoulders. Dick wasn't as broad as Bruce, at least not naturally, but most his lifetime spent practicing and training and molding himself for combat had added powerful muscle to a naturally lean frame. If he couldn't exactly borrow any of Mr. Wayne's suits without them fitting weird, at least no one would notice the negligible difference in Batman's still-impressively broad chest. It wasn't the sort of thing anyone considered while they were being punched into oblivion.
"The fishnets should've been a dead giveaway. Only witches wear those. Or.... magicians. Anyway, it's the dark arts you fancy." Dick Grayson had many, many skills. A british accent, ala Harry Potter, was not one of them. He followed the redhead into the kitchen and leaned against the counter as she filled her glass. "Barbara, Barbara, Barbara," he said, his tone faux-lecturing. As he said her name, he pushed from the counter with his hip and walked slowly toward her bedroom.
"You've known me for half my life by now... and yet you still don't seem to know just how competitive I am with you. 'Wouldn't have known what to do with'?! Does that sound like a challenge to you? It sounds like a challenge to me." He dropped into a deft, acrobatic, effortless crouch as he reached the edge of her bedroom and laid flat on the floor to look under her bed, then, just as quick, sprang back up. "At the very least, it's an admission that there's all sorts of nefarious and complicated toys hanging around." Again the brows went up. "And now you're asking me to sleep over....? I knew I should've hung that mistletoe at the christmas party..."
human
As soon as he pushed of the counter, saying her name three times, she knew she was in trouble."No, no...not a challenge." Setting the glass on the counter she scampered off of him, feeling her heart start to race as he moved into her bedroom. Immediately moving to look under her bed before springing back up to his feet. This wasn't happening, and she was trying to think of some way to get him off topic and away from her bed."On the couch. I offered you my couch."
Babs knew that he could read her like a book, so she was doing everything in her power to not give him a tell and look over at her nightstand. The more she thought about it, and told herself not to do it, the more impossible it seemed to become."You know it's rude to just...barge into a girls bedroom." It was then it happened, those green eyes flicked from him to the nightstand and she internally kicked herself.
If he noticed it, and started to move she spring into action. Jumping up onto the bed and cutting him off before he could reach the piece of furniture which some of her naughtier stuff had been hidden away. Ass bumping against it as she backed up, nearly knocking over the lamp sitting atop its surface. There was obvious panic, and she was about as red as the hair that framed her face. For some reason she didn't want to Dick to know what she was into, as he had said before he never pegged her for leaning towards the submissive side. The last thing she wanted was to be relentlessly teased for it.
It was bad enough she could barely be around him without her mind wandering places it shouldn't go. Adding to the list of reasons he turned her tummy into knots just seemed like a bad idea."Fine. If I just admit that I do in fact own some naughty things...can we just drop it? Why do you want to know so badly? Need more fuel for your spank bank? Wait...do you think about me when you..."Eyes trailed down his body to his waist before flicking back upwards to his own."That's dirty, Grayson. We're like family."It was teasing. Sure, they were kind of like family, but there was no actual blood relation. Still, she wanted to see if she could at least pay him back for what he was doing to her...at least a little bit.
gpt
A normal girl wouldn't have even noticed the tell, and even if she had there was no way that she could've gotten between him and that nightstand before he got to it. Dick Grayson was really quick, but even he wasn't fast enough to get to Barbara Gordon's nightstand when she knew he was going for it. He darted one way and then another, but the damn nightstand was in the corner behind her and there was no way to reach it without a repeat of their sparring match (though it was certain that the clock tower had sturdier floors than that flophouse that Barbara had taken him to earlier).
"The Dark Knight cares not for your social graces," he said with farcical and utterly unconvincing gravity. His normal tone came back as he said, "What, no... I don't... " his poise to rush her and/or her nightstand faded a bit as he looked away. He cleared his throat and said, "I haven't..." He shook his head and turned away, saying over his shoulder, "not in, like, months," as if that was a long time. Without being able to see his face, she would have a hard time knowing if he were serious or not though. "And to think I almost tried to kiss you like, four times tonight..."
He began to walk away as if defeated, though he was just waiting for a clear shot at that table.
human
The fact that he admitted that he had, whether it had been months or not, was enough to make her jaw drop. It really wasn't that surprising with the way the two went at it with the flirting sometimes, but she couldn't help but feel...flattered? Of course his admission wasn't enough to make her fess up to the fact that she had thought of him from time to time as well. More often than was probably healthy for two people who were supposed to be friends and teammates.
Then he had to go and say he had tried to kiss her. It was hard to ignore the rush of butterflies that filled her belly, even if she wanted to pluck the wings off of every one of them."I didn't mean to...I was just picking on you."
Babs should have known it was a ruse, but Dick was playing it off so well and had her all emotionally frazzled...logic had left the building for a moment. With a sigh she pulled away from the nightstand, not thinking it was even something that needed to be worried about anymore. Feeling like she had actually gone a little too far. As sassy and snarky as she could be, Barbara was really just a warm gooey person. Always wanted to do what was right, take care of her friends.
Walking up behind him she would carefully place her hand along his bare back, focusing on anything but the fact that she was touching him. Even if just the simple touch felt as though it was sending little shocks through her fingers and the palm of her hand."I don't care if you...you know..." How in the hell was she supposed to word any of this?"You're allowed to think of whoever you want in your private time. I mean, I've thought of some weird people...it happens."
As soon as his intentions were made clear...she was going to be all kinds of riled up. In the way that only Dick Grayson could do. The man knew how to push her buttons, better than anyone. Maybe there was something to be said for that...
gpt
Dick almost regretted his plan, hell, he almost abandoned it. It would've been easy to just let the whole nightstand thing go and turn around. Maybe he could even try to kiss her now, or at least tell her, honestly, frankly, how she was always the girl that he thought of, and not just when he.... you know....? But she was who every girl he considered had to stack up against, in terms of care and intellect and appearance and wit... and of course the curvy, brilliant redhead had been in his thoughts for as long as he could remember. Nobody got the reaction from him that she did, so in a way it was only natural that...
But he didn't express any of that.
As she touched him and spoke only sympathy he smirked and spun as fast as he could. With one foot he caught both of hers and his arm sent her hurtling toward the bed in one swift and elegant movement. Just in case, he also threw the towel over his shoulders to cover her head while he leapt across the corner of the bed and reached the nightstand unopposed. "Gotcha!" He shouted triumphantly. Opening the drawer, he reached inside for his prize and tossed several things onto the bed between them as he found them: a blindfold, a vibrator, a collar, and what he believed was a ball-gag... he kept the last item, those aforementioned handcuffs, dangling them in his fingers, and raised that dark brow as he looked at her through one of the cuffs. "So, you wanna take back that comment about me not knowing what to do with things, or....?"
human
All it took was that smirk on his lips and she knew. Before she could even attempt to react he tripped her up, tossing her to the bed effortlessly. As though she weighed nothing. The redhead landed with a gentle bounce, and as soon as she sat up she was met with a damp towel to the face."God dammit! Are you insane?!"
By the time the fabric was pulled from her face he had already dug his way into her goodies. Laying them out on the bed. Except for those handcuffs, which he dangled from a finger in front of her. Part of her wanted to hit him, the other part of her wanted to crawl underneath her bed and hide in embarrassment. There was a third part too...but she was doing her best to ignore those feelings right now.
"I-I don't...it's not.." The towel was now spinning nervously in her hands, trying to think of something to say. Pretty sure he wasn't going to buy the 'they're not mine' excuse. Which sucked because it was the only thing she could think of. Like her brain was on a loop."I would prefer to live in a world where you a good wholesome boy who knows nothing about any of this."
It was a lie, that wasn't what she wanted, but she followed the words with the most convincing smile she could muster. "Just out of curiosity though, what was going to come after the 'or'?" It was the last question she should be asking...but he had just trailed off mid sentence! That always rubbed her the wrong way, and he knew that, even when the conversation wasn't as...intense as this one it would drive her nuts. Maybe he was goading her into asking? It was irritating how well he knew her...
gpt
He raised his hand quickly and then snatched the cuffs from the air, as if it somehow symbolized having caught her. Or maybe it was just a playful thing to do with his hand besides the obvious thing that people did with handcuffs. "...or did you want me to prove you wrong?" He looked down at the various things on the bed and then knelt down on the mattress. He laid the handcuffs down on the pillow near the headboard and then picked up the blindfold and laid it across the comforter, roughly where someone's eyes would be if they were cuffed to the headboard.
He laid the ball-gag a few inches below and then he picked up the vibrator and switched it on so that it shook in his hand. He tried to ignore the thought that it had been inside her, possibly when she was thinking about him, but mostly failed. He touched it against the mattress a couple of feet below the ball-gag. The placement, well, quite precise.
"Of course that'd be weird, so..." he shrugged and switched off the toy, leaving it where he'd placed it, a suggestive outline of where her body could be. "I'll just go be wholesome and leave you to your kinky life of fishnets and ball-gags, Babs..." He touched his tongue to his lower lip and then stood up, glancing from the toys spread out on the bed to her. "Though you're damn lucky I didn't hold you to that fishnet thing, because between this discovery and that..." trailing off again. He knew it'd drive her crazy.
human
Of course these things turned her on, there would be no other reason to own them. The idea of Dick being the one to used them on her though...that somehow took it to a whole other level she wasn't even aware existed. All she could to was watch as he moved the items on the bed, putting them roughly where they would go should someone be handcuffed to the headboard. The redhead hadn't even noticed she had been holding her breath until the vibrator was brought to life, causing her to gasp a little in surprise.
Then he stood up, and all she could do was stare at him. Wide eyed and bit breathless."Weird..." The word was repeated, mostly to herself. As if trying to remind herself that they were definitely treading dark water now. Never had their teasing had props, never before had he known she had some...particular tastes in the bedroom. It almost seemed a little easier to shrug off when it was all meaningless innuendo.
All she could do was listen, still turning the towel slowly over in her hands, as if she just needed to be doing something with them. Channeling all of her nervous energy out through her finger. Then he had to go and trail off mid sentence again, and she was pretty damn near convinced it was on purpose. "Wait! What?"
Between what he had been saying and what had just happened her head was spinning. Could he really just...walk away like that? Babs was caught somewhere between mad, confused and turned on and it was...a very weird place to be."For one, I know you'e not wholesome. With a rap sheet like yours, and the fact that girls talk...I mean...I know things."I was only partially true. Whenever bedroom talk about Nightwing had started up she usually excused herself from the conversation. Not because it grossed her out...but because it made her oddly jealous."Second...stop not finishing your sentences!"
gpt
"Well I would," he almost snapped at her before the second half of the sentence came out more calm, "but you have no goddamn idea how cute you are when you're on edge. I mean, that's what's killing me, that and..."
he trailed off, knew it, was about to apologize, but then didn't and instead smirked. Dick held her gaze for a long moment and then said, "see, cards on the table, you're basically the hottest woman alive. Brilliant and funny and... flexible and those eyes...." He held her gaze a moment longer as he drank in those eyes then glanced away. "And then there's this thing we do where I frustrate you and leave you hanging and you get redder and more adorable; it's childish but it's hot as hell, and I was already about to kiss you tonight because I'm tired of wondering if you'd kiss back, and then this....?"
He gestured toward the bed and the arrangement. "Given that I already have the biggest Batgirl crush in the world and the biggest Barbara Gordon crush in the world and that frustrating you is somehow weirdly appealing, finding this stuff and imagining you cuffed and... and .... god...." he but his lower lip and trailed off for only a second as he rounded the corner of the bed. "I don't mean to trail off because you hate it so much, but Barbara, I'm... unless you stop me, I am going to kiss you right now, and I am not sleeping on your couch, so.... tell me to leave now, please, or.... don't. If it's not too weird."
human
There were a million things she might have expected to come out of his mouth. None of them even close to what he actually said. There it was, all the things she had imagined him saying in one way or another over the years. Always feeling it was just wishful thinking or the fantasies of a silly girl who was smitten with the popular boy. Yet...he was saying them. Unless she was having some kind of fever dream from inhaling all that dust.
Those lip of hers were moving, as though she might say something, but nothing came out. As he rounded the corner of the bed her eyes grew wider, breathing ragged and broken as her heart felt as though it might actually escape her chest."It's a really comfy couch.."Why that was the only thing she could think to say was beyond here. There's a gorgeous man in front of her, telling her everything she wanted to hear, but she felt it necessary to defend her couch? Genius!
"Dick, I..."Words weren't coming and she was afraid that if they did, they would come out all wrong. So instead she moved forward, herself up onto her knees on the mattress and closed the gap between them. Hands trailed up his chest and over his shoulders before she made the choice for him. There would be no need to worry about whether she would kiss back, if she kissed him first.
It wasn't hesitant, her lips crashed against his with the years of pent up frustration acting a fuel. Every nerve in her body seemed to spark at the moment of contact, legs trembling beneath her as her lips parted to deepen the kiss. With all the emotion rushing through her, the heat of the moment hanging heavy in the air...and just as it started she pulled away with a gasp. Catching her breath, lungs burning a bit from lack of oxygen.
For a moment she felt like she had done something wrong, looking up at him almost questioning. As though this might be the moment he came to his senses, pushed her away and disappeared off into the night."Stay. I want you to stay. With me. In my bed." Small sentences was all she could work with at the moment, feeling as though she might actually melt into a smitten little puddle of good at any moment."I've always wanted you to stay..."
gpt
That kiss was too much.
Almost.
It would've been too much if she hadn't pulled back just as he was recovering from the shock of it. It wasn't that it was unwelcome so much as it wasn't Barbara Gordon. Though maybe Dick didn't know Barbara Gordon as well as he thought he did, and that was an invitation he ached to answer, the truth was that he'd expected words. The sentence trailing off was the sort of thing he did, not her. Actions speaking louder than words was a maxim that Barbara Gordon usually didn't go in for, and yet her soft, warm, perfect lips on his was better than anything he could've heard. Even better than her asking to be kissed or even insisting, just doing it. God.... He reached for her body and leaned forward and then... then she pulled away.
A thousand thousand quips came to mind and died on the vine and instead he looked at her, serious for once, though the effect was dampened by the fact that his lips were slightly red from her lips. "I want that, too," he said, sincere as can be. "More than anything..." and then his smirk reappeared, "but just because I adore you, don't think I don't want to try out all that..." He cast a glance toward the toys laid out on her bed and before she could respond his hands were at her waist, sliding her shirt up as he leaned in to kiss her again. Figuring the lips were dangerous for their proximity to teeth, Dick instead kissed her jaw, down her neck, flicking his tongue along her clavicle as he drew her near.
human
The redhead followed his gaze to the toys on the bed, but all she would managed was soft little chuckle before his hands were on her. It hadn't caught up with her that this was really happening. Still expecting something to stop them. Something had always stopped them before...
With a quick effortless motion her shirt was tossed to the side, a simple black bra fitted perfectly to her body as though it had been painted on was all that now covered her upper half. Those strong hands pulled her in closer, as her own slid down his back. Fingertips tracing all the dips and valleys of his muscled form."You should use all of that stuff because you adore me."
There was something different in her voice now, a bit darker and laced with lust. Obviously he was having an effect on her, breath falling from her lips in hot little puffs. Barbara hadn't showered, and the night she had would still be evident on her skin. Nails would gently bite into his skin as her hands trailed once again down his back. Not enough to hurt, but enough to leave trails of red in their wake. Just being able to touch him was enough to make her head spin, as she had imagined it...more times than she could possibly count.
Hands reached the sweatshirt that had been tied around his waist and she gave it a little playful tug, feeling the knot he had made with the arms loosen before finally giving way and falling free."I really hope you're not as cocky as you are because you're compensating for something."It was that same teasing tone she always had, but it was heated...almost seductive.
gpt
"Here I'd been sure you'd seen me showering and that was the whole motivation behind all the flirting," he said as his hand reached down to aid her in pushing the makeshift sweatshirt belt aside. "I don't know whether to be flattered you liked me without seeing anything or worried that you're going to back out...." His grin was the same as it always was, but as his hand raised to entangle in her soft red hair and he drew her mouth back toward his, there was something backing it up. Like the subtle difference in his tone between when he teased about a fight versus just general teasing -- like he was confident in more than just chance.
His lips met hers eagerly and he pulled her lower lip between his teeth before he broke away, teasing, smiling, as he let her hand push the too-big sweats down. He was already hardening, had been semi-aroused despite the cold shower, and her hand would find him thick and long and hardening by the moment. He nipped at her lip and smiled against her lips. "I'm on the fence about the gag," he admitted as he kissed her cheek and then her neck, biting gently. "You've got thick walls and I love how you sound," he admitted before he dragged his tongue along her racing pulse.
human
Well, she certainly wasn't going to be backing out. No matter what she was going to have this moment with Dick, having waited far too long to back out now. Teeth dug into her bottom lip, causing an almost desperate little whimper to escape her throat. Those sweatpants of his were pushed down, one hand moving back up to wrap around his neck...as the other dipped between their bodies.
There was a sharp inhale of air as her fingers dragged softly along the length of his shaft. This time biting her own bottom lip as he shared his reservations about the gag."Well you're the boss, remember?" The redhead chuckled lightly as she brought up how this whole mess had started. The one comment about her possibly liking him being bossy...and this is were it landed them.
Finally her hand wrapped around him, eyes widening at the thickness of the cock now pushed against her palm. It was a little intimidating, but she tried not to let on to as much. Slowly she would start to stroke him, feeling him harden ever more in her grasp."Is it too late to back out?"The redhead snickered playfully, finding it ironic that she had thought if she were going to back out it would have been because he had nothing to work with...not the other way around."You're going to ruin."
Babs didn't really mean it, at least not the part about backing out. There was a part of her that questioned if after this night anything would ever compare. Not just because of the massive length she was currently stroking, but because of the man it was attached to. Everything he made her feel, the rush of his touch...it wasn't like anything she had experienced before.
gpt
As she spoke and chuckled, Dick leaned in and pressed a kiss beside her lips and then against them. "Is that supposed to stop me?" he asked. His hand slid up from her flat stomach to cup her breast through the sheer fabric of her bra and he nipped her lower lip before speaking, "because ruining you for everyone else is pretty high on my agenda, Barbara Gordon." He leaned down and let his lips trail her jaw and along her neck as she began to stroke him. He hadn't exactly been concerned about his size, but her teasing comment might've meant that he was actually too big rather than, as he'd hoped, just big enough.
"I mean, I'm the boss, so... unless you've got a serious complaint..." He smirked and let his hands come together at her back, finding the clasp of her bra and opening it as he leaned down further and let his lips press to her clavicle. His mouth very nearly reached the edge of her bra before his fingers unclasped it and he pushed her strap aside with his lips.
"Are you sure you trust me with a blindfold and handcuffs, Babs? I swear you won't regret it..." his tongue moved up her neck toward her lips again as he tossed her bra aside, for once sincere in every word.
human
The fact that ruining her was high on his list, even if it was said only in teasing, sent a shock through her system. All the attention he was paying her, each press of his perfect lips to her skin, she thought she might explode."Nope. No complaints thus far. I'll be sure to fill out the comment card at the end though." The soft sound of her bra unhooking hit her ears a moment before she felt the fabric loosen around her. One strap fell from her shoulder as the other was pushed with his lips down her skin.
In a quick fluid motion she pulled her arms free, the cups catching for a just a moment before Dick tossed the flimsy fabric aside. The redhead's perfect perky breasts were free, pink nipples hardening even more now that they were exposed to the open air. Barbara was every bit proportioned as her costume suggested. Truthfully she had a body more built for sin than crime fighting. Which sometimes had given her the advantage in certain situations.
"I trust you."As she said it her nose wrinkled a bit, as though he had just said something absolutely ridiculous."I don't want you to feel like you have to do it though...if it's not your thing. I mean, having a girl who wants nothing more than to be used for your pleasure and belong to you in every dirty little naughty way possible...it isn't for everyone." As she spoke she leaned in just enough to where her nipples brushed against his chest, her breath hot on his neck. "I'm sure I could find someone else willing to put a collar on Batgirl and make her beg."
gpt
His lips dragged lower down her perfect body (Dick would never, ever dare to fuel her ego by letting her know it was perfect, but somehow the way he looked at her probably betrayed it and had for the last decade) and over the swell of her breasts as he threw her bra aside. "Shut up, Batgirl," he said just as his lips found one of those hardening nipples. He flicked his tongue out over it and said, "Batman has entirely too much work to do in the city to need to spend any of it going around punching people for getting the attention of his girl."
He hesitated a second as he heard himself call her his girl. Maybe she'd chalk it up to the Batman/Batgirl thing... but secretly he felt a little thrill at the hint of possessiveness that was, admittedly, different from the thrill of the situation generally. He stopped himself from saying anything else that might cause trouble by parting his lips to take her nipple past them. Smirking and sucking, his tongue flicked the hard, sensitive nub slowly while his hand at the small of her back dragged lower until it was pushing down the elastic waistband of her sweats.
Unwilling to entirely trust himself to speak for the moment, Dick released her nipple and moved to the next, the faint stubble on his chin scraping the soft pale flesh for a moment before his lips claimed a second victim. The only sound escaping his lips was a low moan as he felt her breath catch as he teasingly brushed his teeth across her nipple, hand dipping lower, pushing past sweats and whatever was underneath to cup her bare ass gently.
human
The statement caused Babs to pause as well, not sure what he meant by it...if anything...but the same little thrill went coursing through her veins as it had his. The only response she would have for him would be a soft little moan as his lips wrapped around her nipple. It didn't seem real, and part of her still felt that at some point they might come to their senses and recognize that this might be a terrible idea. There was still time to walk away, chalk it up to a late night and teasing that had gone to far. At the same time, she couldn't bare the thought of it ending. Felt that she finally had him, after all these years. Or at least would have this one moment with him.
The position of his head shifted, taking her other hardened sensitive nub between his lips. Those hands of his dipping beneath he fabric of her sweatpants and the pair of black panties she had been wearing to grip at the bare flesh of her ass cheeks. It was hard to keep her breathing steady at this point, hands running up through his hair and down his back as her teeth took purchase in her bottom lip. Soft little moans filling the room between breaths. It felt as though her body was on fire, and she knew each sensation felt more intense because of who it was.
"Well then I guess it would be beneficial for you..." The redhead paused, another soft little moan filling the space between them. It was hard to focus with the pleasure ripping through her body."To keep my attention focused on you. Keep Batgirl happy, and she has no reason to wander elsewhere." Part of her knew that she was hinting at this being a one time event, and she couldn't help but wince inwardly. This must have been the same reason Dick had stopped talking after his somewhat possessive statement. It had taken them how many years to get here? It was obvious neither of them wanted to potentially ruin it by saying something stupid.
gpt
It was a complicated thing to consider what this might mean, but then that would require considering anything at all. Should they stop? And if they didn't, could it possibly mean anything more than a late night confluence of teasing and stress and attraction? If he could have thought about it then, really, Dick would've admitted to having as many various outcomes in mind at different times as were possible with Barbara. Did he love her (and if so, was it platonic or was it like a sister or was it romantic)? He definitely had fantasized about her more times than he'd admit on purpose, but whether those fantasies extended beyond the bedroom (or the occasional daring rooftop) varied regularly.
But those considerations were beyond him now. Now, all Dick was concerned about was the way that Barbara's perfect nipple seemed to harden ever-so-slightly as his tongue slid closer to it, first curving below before flicking up over the sensitive pink flesh. His fingers on her ass -- how many times had he stolen glances at her as she stood or ran or even pushed up from her wheelchair back before her recovery. She'd caught him once, actually. Pushing up from her chair with relative ease to slide over onto a couch when he'd been visiting and him frozen, staring.How could she even exercise to keep her ass looking that great...?He'd looked away quickly and probably redddened. Now, though, he could feel her, was cupping her soft, firm ass in his fingers and drawing her closer.
He pulled back with a soft pop as her nipple escaped his lips and his breath poured out warm over her perfect breast. "Oh, I'll keep Batgirl happy," he said with a smile and a quick kiss to her breast, moving his mouth up toward Barbara's. His hand on her ass closed tighter, almost possessive, sliding down further and pushing her sweats down below the curve of her ass. "And if I don't, there's always the handcuffs to keep you from wandering too far, Babs." Was he hinting at this lasting past tonight? Was he trying to? Dick Grayson didn't really know in the moment, but he was sure that he wanted this. His hand slid back up and then quickly pulled away and swatted her, spanking her hard enough to leave a hand print and to make her cry out in surprise -- and his mouth waiting to intercept her if and when she did with a sudden, hungry kiss.
human
Every time her mind wandered into'what the hell are you doing?'territory, it was quickly pushed to the side by some action on Dick's part. It was actually impressive how well times his movements were, even though there was no possible way they could be intentional. Unless he had picked up a fun new mind reading trick she wasn't aware of. Which seemed just as unlikely as the situation she currently found herself in...so maybe it wasn't that impossible after all.
The soft pop of a his lips leaving her sensitive hardened nipple pulled a gasp from her lips. Every breath she took causing her chest to rise and fall heavily. How many times had she thought about this happening? Wondered what it would be like? Not that she was alone in fantasizing about what a night with Dick Grayson would be like. Although none of them knew that the man spent his time moonlighting as a hero protecting the city streets. A downfall of trying to have any kind of normal relationship with the lives they led.
The fabric of her sweatpants was tugged down further, feeling his fingers take purchase in the soft flesh of her ass. Pulling her body closer to his, her knees at the edge of the bed as he stood in front of her. The swat did surprise her, the cry of shock and slight pain she let out was quickly muffled by his lips on hers. The sudden warmth was followed by a tingle, skin almost vibrating where his hand had made contact. The mixture of both the kiss and the smack to the bottom were enough to distract her from what he had hinted at with his comment about handcuffs. At least for now, once her head stopped spinning it would probably come back...and raise more than a few questions in her overly analytical mind.
For now though she was fine staying lost in the sensation of that kiss, parting her lips and deepening the lip lock as her tongue sought out his own. Those perfect pink nipples would brush along his bare chest as she leaned in closer, wanting more, a hunger behind every moved she made. If it was just this one night, if they woke in the morning regretting everything, Barbara was going to make it worth it. Both hands moved, one wrapping around the back of his neck as the other moved to his shoulder, gently tugging him towards the bed as she backed up on her knees to allow him more room to join her. The redhead would do everything in her power to keep that kiss going through her movements, not wanting it end. There was only so much she could do though, and the need to take a deep breath was becoming more and more necessary with how ragged her breathing was.
"I can run in handcuffs, Grayson."The tone was very much the know-it-all he would be used to. The girl who was always more than willing to correct him should the opportunity present itself. It seemed that even in this situation, Barbara Gordon couldn't resist."Something that acted as more of a tether, like...a rope or leash, would be far more effective in keeping someone from wandering away." There it was, that smirk that always seemed to paint her features when she corrected him. Which seemed to be all the more devious when she was in her current state.
Whether he moved on to the bed with her or not, it would be obvious she was having a hard time keeping her hands to herself. Fingertips running along his chest, walking across his flesh, gliding along every dip and valley of his muscular form that she could. Trying to commit it to memory, the feeling something she never wanted to forget.